The Problem With The School System

From the beginning of America, schools have existed in some shape or form. However, once the school system became standardized its failings started to show through. The modern school system is discriminatory against disabled students and students of a low socioeconomic status. It also does not properly prepare students for their future, and promotes poor mental health. In order to fix the school system, it is important to recognize the current failings in regards to students and aim to improve them

Influence of stress induction on trace mineral homeostasis and metabolism in ruminants

Cattle are exposed to stressors throughout the production cycle, many of which occur simultaneously. These stressors may include weaning, transportation, vaccination, and arrival into the feedlot which can be associated with co-mingling, as well as adaptation to dietary changes. Furthermore, these factors can create numerous challenges in terms of supplying adequate trace mineral nutrition to cattle, as these periods are also associated with decreased feed intake, which can further exacerbate a trace mineral deficiency. However, there is limited understanding of how stress impacts trace mineral homeostasis in the ruminant. Thus, by improving our understanding of alterations to trace mineral homeostasis in the presence of stress it may be possible to develop strategic trace mineral supplementation strategies to improve animal efficiency. Stress is a broad term that can be experimentally induced by several methodologies including, but not limited to, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, and feed and/or water restriction. The overall goal of this research was to evaluate the response to stress induction in ruminants with either differing trace mineral statuses or receiving differing trace mineral supplementation strategies. The first experiment sought to understand how ACTH challenge would affect the absorption and retention of trace minerals, in lambs receiving a moderately Zn deplete diet or the same diet with supplemental Zn. The results suggested ACTH may negatively impact Zn apparent absorption, regardless of Zn status of the animal. Furthermore, it was shown that ACTH administration can alter plasma Zn status of the animal; collectively, these data suggest that Zn metabolism is altered in response to stress in ruminants. The second trial sought to understand if Zn supplementation with either NASEM (2016) recommended concentrations of 30 mg of Zn/kg DM or industry standard supplemental concentrations (Samuelson et al., 2016) of 100 mg Zn/kg DM to receiving steers, would affect the innate immune response or plasma TM homeostasis in response to injection of LPS at one of two doses. Lipopolysaccharide is a potent stimulator of the innate immune system. There were minimal interactions between supplemental Zn concentration and LPS injection treatment; however, a nutritional immunity response was observed in which plasma concentrations of Zn and Fe were dramatically decreased in response to LPS, although with slightly different time courses. Interestingly, it appears that increased supplemental Zn may have allowed steers to recover plasma Zn status more rapidly than those receiving only 30 mg Zn/kg DM. While the first two projects included a targeted injection treatment to create stress, the final project sought to mimic production conditions. This was accomplished by limiting feed intake over a 5 d period in steers that were either Cu deficient, receiving a Cu deficient diet or steers with marginal Cu status, but receiving a Cu adequate diet. Copper critically supports macronutrient metabolism; thus, this study sought to evaluate the effects of Cu supplementation and feed restriction on the plasma metabolome of steers. The results of this study suggest an impaired ability of Cu deficient steers to utilize mobilized fatty acids as a fuel source during feed restriction. This is of interest, because while a role for Cu supplementation in supporting mobilization of lipids has previously been established, these data suggest Cu is also important in the utilization of these mobilized lipids. However, minimal effects were observed on the plasma metabolome due to Cu supplementation. Collectively these data support the assertion that stressors can disrupt ruminant trace mineral homeostasis. However, further research is needed to establish the underlying mechanisms creating these outcomes, to develop trace mineral supplementation strategies for the stressed ruminant

Influence of stress induction on trace mineral homeostasis and metabolism in ruminants

Cattle are exposed to stressors throughout the production cycle, many of which occur simultaneously. These stressors may include weaning, transportation, vaccination, and arrival into the feedlot which can be associated with co-mingling, as well as adaptation to dietary changes. Furthermore, these factors can create numerous challenges in terms of supplying adequate trace mineral nutrition to cattle, as these periods are also associated with decreased feed intake, which can further exacerbate a trace mineral deficiency. However, there is limited understanding of how stress impacts trace mineral homeostasis in the ruminant. Thus, by improving our understanding of alterations to trace mineral homeostasis in the presence of stress it may be possible to develop strategic trace mineral supplementation strategies to improve animal efficiency. Stress is a broad term that can be experimentally induced by several methodologies including, but not limited to, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, and feed and/or water restriction. The overall goal of this research was to evaluate the response to stress induction in ruminants with either differing trace mineral statuses or receiving differing trace mineral supplementation strategies. The first experiment sought to understand how ACTH challenge would affect the absorption and retention of trace minerals, in lambs receiving a moderately Zn deplete diet or the same diet with supplemental Zn. The results suggested ACTH may negatively impact Zn apparent absorption, regardless of Zn status of the animal. Furthermore, it was shown that ACTH administration can alter plasma Zn status of the animal; collectively, these data suggest that Zn metabolism is altered in response to stress in ruminants. The second trial sought to understand if Zn supplementation with either NASEM (2016) recommended concentrations of 30 mg of Zn/kg DM or industry standard supplemental concentrations (Samuelson et al., 2016) of 100 mg Zn/kg DM to receiving steers, would affect the innate immune response or plasma TM homeostasis in response to injection of LPS at one of two doses. Lipopolysaccharide is a potent stimulator of the innate immune system. There were minimal interactions between supplemental Zn concentration and LPS injection treatment; however, a nutritional immunity response was observed in which plasma concentrations of Zn and Fe were dramatically decreased in response to LPS, although with slightly different time courses. Interestingly, it appears that increased supplemental Zn may have allowed steers to recover plasma Zn status more rapidly than those receiving only 30 mg Zn/kg DM. While the first two projects included a targeted injection treatment to create stress, the final project sought to mimic production conditions. This was accomplished by limiting feed intake over a 5 d period in steers that were either Cu deficient, receiving a Cu deficient diet or steers with marginal Cu status, but receiving a Cu adequate diet. Copper critically supports macronutrient metabolism; thus, this study sought to evaluate the effects of Cu supplementation and feed restriction on the plasma metabolome of steers. The results of this study suggest an impaired ability of Cu deficient steers to utilize mobilized fatty acids as a fuel source during feed restriction. This is of interest, because while a role for Cu supplementation in supporting mobilization of lipids has previously been established, these data suggest Cu is also important in the utilization of these mobilized lipids. However, minimal effects were observed on the plasma metabolome due to Cu supplementation. Collectively these data support the assertion that stressors can disrupt ruminant trace mineral homeostasis. However, further research is needed to establish the underlying mechanisms creating these outcomes, to develop trace mineral supplementation strategies for the stressed ruminant.</p

ADHD: A Personal Struggle

This paper attempts to show my struggles with ADHD and how not receiving proper care can hinder someone

Dietary zinc concentration and lipopolysaccharide injection affect circulating trace minerals, acute phase protein response, and behavior as evaluated by an ear-tag–based accelerometer in beef steers

To assess plasma trace mineral (TM) concentrations, the acute phase protein response, and behavior in response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, 96 Angus cross steers (average initial body weight [BW]: 285 ± 14.4 kg) were sorted into two groups by BW (heavy and light; n = 48/group), fitted with an ear-tag–based accelerometer (CowManager SensOor; Agis, Harmelen, Netherlands), and stagger started 14 d apart. Consecutive day BW was recorded to start the 24-d trial (days −1 and 0). Dietary treatments began on day 0: common diet with either 30 (Zn30) or 100 (Zn100) mg supplemental Zn/kg DM (ZnSO4). On day 17, steers received one of the following injection treatments intravenously to complete the 2 × 3 factorial: 1) SALINE (~2–3 mL of physiological saline), 2) LOWLPS: 0.25 µg LPS/kg BW, or 3) HIGHLPS: 0.375 µg LPS/kg BW. Blood, rectal temperature (RT), and BW were recorded on day 16 (−24 h relative to injection), and BW was used to assign injection treatment. Approximately 6, 24 (day 18), and 48 (day 19) h after treatment, BW, RT, and blood were collected, and final BW recorded on day 24. Data were analyzed in Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effects of diet, injection, diet × injection; for BW, RT, dry matter intake (DMI), plasma TM, and haptoglobin-repeated measures analysis were used to evaluate effects over time. Area under the curve analysis determined by GraphPad Prism was used for analysis of accelerometer data. Body weight was unaffected by diet or injection (P ≥ 0.16), but there was an injection × time effect for DMI and RT (P < 0.05), where DMI decreased in both LPS treatments on day 16, but recovered by day 17, and RT was increased in LPS treatments 6 h post-injection. Steers receiving LPS spent less time highly active and eating than SALINE (P < 0.01). Steers in HIGHLPS spent lesser time ruminating, followed by LOWLPS and then SALINE (P < 0.001). An injection × time effect (P < 0.001) for plasma Zn showed decreased concentrations within 6 h of injection and remained decreased through 24 h before recovering by 48 h. A tendency for a diet × time effect (P = 0.06) on plasma Zn suggests plasma Zn repletion occurred at a greater rate in Zn100 compared to Zn30. These results suggest that increased supplemental Zn may alter the rate of recovery of Zn status from an acute inflammatory event. Additionally, ear-tag–based accelerometers used in this study were effective at detecting sickness behavior in feedlot steers, and rumination may be more sensitive than other variables.This is the version of record for the article VanValin, Katherine R., Remy N. Carmichael-Wyatt, Erin L. Deters, Elizabeth M. Messersmith, Katie J. Heiderscheit, Katherine G. Hochmuth, Trey D. Jackson, Joshua M. Peschel, Anna K. Johnson, and Stephanie L. Hansen. "Dietary zinc concentration and lipopolysaccharide injection affect circulating trace minerals, acute phase protein response, and behavior as evaluated by an ear-tag–based accelerometer in beef steers." Journal of Animal Science 99, no. 10 (2021): skab278. Available online at DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab278. Copyright 2021 The Author(s). Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Posted with permission