Transcriptomic profiling of duodenal epithelium reveals temporally dynamic impacts of direct duodenal starch-infusion during dry period of dairy cattle

11 páginas, 4 tablas, 7 figurasPrevious research has demonstrated a positive relationship between dietary Metabolisable Energy Intake (MEI) and increased maintenance energy costs associated with the visceral tissues. Limitations in understanding this relationship include a lack of access to samples to assess regulatory control of the putative response gastrointestinal tissues to nutrients. This experiment was conducted with a single nutrient (starch hydrolysate) infused (7 d) directly into the intestine to mimic typical changes in post-ruminal starch delivery in dairy production settings. Duodenal epithelial samples collected via biopsy were evaluated using next-generation sequencing technology (RNA-Seq) to validate the use of this approach for the profiling and comparison of the transcriptome of cattle intestinal epithelial tissues. Samples of intestinal epithelial tissue were collected prior to and during the infusion of starch hydrolysate. Biopsies were collected on day 0 before and day 1, day 3, and day 7 during the infusion. Additionally, samples were collected on day 1 and day 7 after infusion was discontinued (Day 8 and Day14 of the experiment). Evaluation of RNA-seq data revealed dynamic changes in global gene expression during infusion. On day 7 of the infusion, 1490 genes were found to be differentially expressed (DE) compared to the day 0 control samples with FDR p < 0.05, vs. 105 genes on day 1 and 246 genes on Day 3. However, on day 8, after infusion was terminated for 24 h, only 428 genes were identified as differentially expressed compared to day 0 and only 107 genes continued to be identified by Day 14. Thus, the apparent differential expression of these genes is putatively a result of the single nutrient infused. Further, performing function and pathway analysis of the identified DE genes using IPA, we observe changes in digestive system development, and function pathways are among the primary functions of the DE genes, as well as immune response elements. Finally, primary transcription regulators such as PTH, JUN, WNT, and TNFRSF11B were identified as the activated upstream regulators for specific future focus. Using a serial biopsy approach we are able to identify differentially expressed genes from cow duodenal epithelial tissue in response to a short-term perturbation with infused starch hydrolysate.Mention of a product, reagent or source does not constitute an endorsement by USDA to the exclusion of other products or services that perform a comparable function. The US Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider and employer. MR-G gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a Fulbright/Ministry of Education of Spain Visiting Scholarship (FMECD-ST-2014)

Influence de l'administration directe d'enzymes fibrolytiques sur l'activité fibrolytique dans le rumen du mouton

6 pages, 3 tables.--Contributed to: 12th Seminar of the FAO-CIHEAM Sub-NetWork on Sheep and Goat Nutrition. "Nutritional and foraging ecology of sheep and goats"(Thessalonica, Grecia, Oct 11-13, 2007).Six rumen-fistulated Merino sheep were used in a crossover design experiment to evaluate the effects of a direct-fed exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (12 g/d; ENZ) on ruminal fermentation. The enzyme presented endoglucanase and xylanase activities. Sheep were fed a mixed grass hay:concentrate (70:30; fresh matter basis) diet at a daily rate of 60 g/kg body weight 0.75. Concentrations of NH3-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and enzymatic activities were determined in ruminal samples at 0, 4 and 8 h after feeding. Samples of the grass hay were incubated in situ in the rumen of each sheep to measure dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) degradation. ENZ treatment did not affect (P>0.05) ruminal pH or concentrations of NH3-N and total VFA at any sampling time. In contrast, at 0 and 4 h after feeding, molar proportion of propionate tended (P<0.10) to be greater and acetate:propionate ratio tended (P<0.10) to be lower in ENZ-supplemented sheep. No effects of ENZ (P>0.10) were detected 8 h after feeding. Both the ruminally insoluble potentially degradable fraction (b) of grass hay DM and its fractional rate of degradation (c) were increased (P<0.05) by ENZ treatment. Supplementation with ENZ also increased (P=0.009 to 0.023) effective and potential degradability of grass hay DM and NDF. Ruminal fluid endoglucanase and xylanase activities were greater (P<0.05) at 4 h post-feeding in ENZ-supplementd sheep than in control animals. ENZ supplementation did not affecf (P=0.151 to 0,815) either exoglucanase or amylase activity at any sampling time.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support received from the M.C.Y.T. of Spain (Proyect AGL2001-0130) and Junta de Castilla y León (LE040A05). L. A. Giraldo gratefully acknowledges receipt of a grant from the Fundación Carolina.Peer reviewe

Pregnancy associated glyciprotein and progesterone concentrations in plasma of sheep during gestation and post-partum period

Contributed to: 109th meeting of the British Society of Animal Production (Scarborough, UK, Mar 21-23, 1994).Peer reviewe

Developing self-management and teamwork using digital games in 3D simulations

Producción CientíficaEmerging technologies are providing opportunities for designing new learning environments, especially environments in which students can learn by putting their skills into practice. Knowledge about the development of these experiences needs to be accumulated and processed so that they can be integrated effectively into training programmes. In this study we describe how transferable skills such as self-management and teamwork have been developed by 70 Spanish students of Education and Marketing. The learning experience comprised a serious game designed in a 3D simulation environment. For the analysis, two analytical rubrics were taken as references. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney U and Spearman rho were conducted for comparison and correlation analysis. Our results showed that the students performed well and had a positive perception of the suitability of using the simulation environment for the development of transferable skills. We also found that women performed better than men in activities involving teamwork, especially communication tasks.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto EDU2008-01479

Comparative study of rumen activity in churra and merino sheep

Contributed to: 107th Meeteing of the British Society of Animal Production (Scarborough, UK, March 15-17 (1993).Peer reviewe

Recent Developments in Technology-Enhanced Learning: A Critical Assessment

Producción CientíficaOur societies are considered knowledge societies in which lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, digital technologies are entering almost every aspect of our lives and now play an important role in education. The last decade has seen numerous new developments in the field of technology-enhanced learning. In 2004, George Siemens presented connectivism as a learning theory for the digital age. His ideas inspired the creation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which have recently received a great deal of attention. Theoretical works on the use of digital devices for learning have focused on the affordances users perceive in these devices. Design research has also shown us that learning environments enriched by digital technologies are extremely complex and should be viewed as learning ecologies. The discussions on connectivism and MOOCs, affordances of digital devices, and design research have taken place in different discourses that have paid hardly any attention to each other. It is important to point out, however, that the developments in technology-enhanced learning not only can but need to be related to each other.Nuestras sociedades son consideradas sociedades del conocimiento, donde el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida obtiene cada vez más importancia. Al mismo tiempo, las tecnologías digitales forman parte de casi todos los aspectos de nuestra vida y juegan un papel importante en la educación. En la última década se han visto numerosos avances en el ámbito del aprendizaje enriquecido por la tecnología. En 2004, George Siemens presentó el conectivismo como teoría del aprendizaje para la era digital. Sus ideas inspiraron la creación de cursos online masivos abiertos (MOOCs), que han sido objeto de gran atención recientemente. La literatura científica relacionada con el uso de dispositivos digitales para el aprendizaje se ha centrado en las potencialidades que los usuarios perciben de estos dispositivos. La investigación del diseño también nos ha mostrado que los entornos de aprendizaje enriquecidos por la tecnología son complejos y deben ser vistos como ecologías de aprendizaje. Las discusiones sobre conectivismo y MOOCs, las potencialidades de los dispositivos digitales y la investigación del diseño han aparecido en diferentes discursos observados de manera aislada. En este sentido, es importante señalar que los avances en el aprendizaje enriquecido por la tecnología no solo pueden sino que deben mostrarse relacionados entre sí

Efecto de la relación forraje: concentrado en raciones completas para el ganado ovino. 1. Ingestión voluntaria y digestibilidad

3 páginas, 3 tablas.-- Ponencia presentada a las VIII Jornadas sobre Producción Animal (AIDA) (Zaragoza, 11 al 13 de mayo de 1999). Publicada en un número especial de la revista ITEA.El empleo de raciones "completas" o "integrales" en la alimentación de los rumiantes presenta ventajas técnicas (simplificación del manejo, ajuste de las dietas y abaratamiento de costes) frente al manejo más tradicional de la alimentación consistente en suministrar los forrajes y el concentrado separadamente. Además de estas ventajas, el efecto negativo de la ingestión de grandes cantidades de concentrado sobre la digestión ruminal, la ingestión de forrajes y la producción de leche se atenúa cuando se ingieren como parte de una ración completa (Mould, 1988; Varga y Kolver, 1997). El uso de este tipo de raciones en la alimentación del ganado ovino podría suponer las mismas ventajas técnicas que han hecho tan común su empleo en la alimentación del vacuno de leche. Sin embargo, tal uso precisa de la determinación de parámetros tan básicos como la ingestión voluntaria, cuyo conocimiento es imprescindible para la planificacion de los sistemas productivos (Orskov, 1998). El presente trabajo se planteó para estudiar la ingestión voluntaria y la digestibilidad por el ganado ovino de raciones completas con distinto contenido en concentrado.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por la C.I.C.Y.T. (Proyecto AGF94-0026)Peer reviewe

Betaine increases net portal absorption of volatile fatty acids in Iberian pigs

[EN] Betaine is an osmolyte with the potential to increase volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production and hence improve intestinal health.The present study investigated how betaine affects portal and arterial concentrations and net portal absorption (NPA) of VFA in growing Iberian pigs. Eight 30 kg BW Iberian growing barrows with indwelling catheters in portal vein, ileal vein and carotid artery were randomly assigned to a control diet or a diet supplemented with 0.5% betaine. Para-aminohippuric acid was infused into the ileal vein as a marker to determine portal blood flow using the dilution method. Blood samples were simultaneously taken from the carotid artery and portal vein at −60, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min after feeding 1 200 g of the diet. The NPA of VFA (acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate and caproate) was determined by multiplying the porto-arterial plasma concentration differences by portal plasma flow. Betaine increased NPA of acetate (1.44 fold; P < 0.001) and total VFA (0.55 fold; P < 0.001) while decreased NPA of propionate (−0.38 fold; P < 0.05) and valerate (−1.46 fold; P < 0.05) compared with control pigs. Estimated heat production potentially derived from NPA of VFA accounted for 0.20–0.27 of metabolizable energy for maintenance. Acetate and propionate accounted for most of the total VFA estimated heat production (0.83–0.89). Regarding bacterial communities, betaine apparently did not change the DNA abundance of fecal total bacteria, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides and the Clostridium clusters I, IV and XIV. In conclusion, betaine increased portal appearance and NPA of VFA, contributing to cover maintenance energy requirementsSIThis research was supported by grant AGL2016-80231-R from Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spain. M. Gómez-García was supported by grant LE131-18 from Junta de Castilla y León co-financed by the European Social Fun

Analysis of microbial populations in Rusitec fermenters fed diets of variable composition

Trabajo presentado al : Joint Annual Meeting. ADSA-ASAS. Orlando Florida (USA), julio, 2015. T485Fermenters are widely used to study ruminal fermentation, but infonnation on microbial populations developing in fermenters over the incubation period is limited. Four Rusitec fermenters were fed 2 diets representative of those administered to dairy sheep (DAI; 50:50 alfalfa hay:concentrate) and fattening lambs (FAT; 15:85 barley straw:concentrate) in a crossover design with 2 14-d incubation periods to assess the evolution of the microbial populations. There were 4 fermenters per diet. The fermenters received daily 30 g of diet DM and samples from liquid (LIQ) and solid (SOL) digesta were taken on d 3, 8 and 14, and stored frozen at-80ªC until DNA extraction. Concentrations ofbacterial and protozoal DNA and relative abundance offungi and methanogenic archaea to total bacteria! DNA concentration were detennined by real time PCR using previously validated primers and DNA from bacteria and protozoa isolated from sheep rumen as standards. Data were analyzed as a mixed model with repeated measnres using the PROC MlXED of SAS. The model included diet, incubation nm, time, and diet x tin1e as fixed effects, and fermenter as a random effect. Diet x sampling time interactions (P > 0.05) were detected for bacteria! and protozoal DNA concentrations in both digesta phases. The bacteria! DNA concentrations in SOL did not change (P = 0.002) over the incubation period, whereas concentrations in LIQ increased (P < 0.001) by 1.5 and 1.8 times for DAI and FAT diets by the end ofthe incubation, respectively. Protozoal DNA concentrations on d 14 were 37.8 and 8.0 times lower (P < 0.001; means across diets) than those on d 3 for SOL and LIQ phases, respectively. Relative abundance offungi decreased (P < 0.05) with time in both phases, and that ofmethanogenic archaea remain unchanged in LIQ and increased (P = 0.021) in SOL. Concentration of bacteria! and protozoal DNA and the relative abundance of methanogenic archaea were greater in the fermenters fed the DAI diet (P < 0.05) compared with FAT diet. The results show that microbial populations in Rusitec fermenters are affected by the incubated diet and change over the incubation periodPeer reviewe

Social presence in 3d virtual environments: Reflections upon a teaching experience in the University

Producción CientíficaLos entornos virtuales multiusuario facilitan el diseño de estrategias de aprendizaje en escenarios inmersivos y colaborativos en red. En ellos, el concepto de presencia social, basado en la proyección social y emocional del usuario dentro del entorno virtual, puede tener un impacto positivo en el aprendizaje. Por ello, abordamos el análisis de la presencial social de los usuarios en estos entornos en una experiencia con 52 alumnos de Pedagogía de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili en que se buscaba comprender e interpretar como desarrollan la presencia social en este entorno. Nuestros resultados evidencian el desarrollo de una clara presencia social positiva en las tres categorías fundamentales: expresión emocional, comunicación abierta y cohesión de grupo.Multiuser virtual environments facilitate the design of learning strategies in immersive and collaborative networking scenarios. In these environments, the concept of social presence,based on the social and emotional projection of every user within the virtual learningenvironment, can have a positive impact on learning. Therefore, our goal is to analyse theusers' social presence in these environments in an experience with 52 students of Pedagogyof the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, aimed to understand and analyse how students developtheir social presence. Our results show the development of a clear positive social presence inthe three main categories: emotional expression, open communication and group cohesion.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Proyecto EDU2013-42223-P