Use of a Novel Adjuvant in a Leptospira borgpetersenii Hardjo Vaccine to Induce a Cell-Mediated Immune Response

Infection of cattle with Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo can have negative impacts on the cattle industry and pose the risk of transmission to other mammals, including humans. Current commercial vaccines used to protect against Leptospira serovar Hardjo are ineffective at providing long-term immunity, and a more cell-mediated immune response is thought to be necessary for lasting protection. IgG1 and IgG2 levels can be indicative of what type of a T cell response predominates; in a cell-mediated type 1 (Th1) immune response, interferon-ү (IFN-ү) secreted from helper T cells will stimulate B cells to class-switch to manufacture and secrete IgG2. In a humoral type 2 (Th2) immune response, helper T cells secrete interleukin-4 (IL-4) that stimulates B cells to class-switch to manufacture and secrete antibodies of the IgG1 isotype. In this study, a novel vaccine formulated with an oil-based adjuvant was shown to induce a stronger and more balanced cell-mediated response in comparison with current commercial serovar Hardjo vaccines. This was demonstrated by analyzing antibody levels in response to vaccination and challenge with Leptospira serovar Hardjo

Soybean aphid development and agronomic performance of soybean lines with the Rag1 and Rag2 genes for insect resistance

The soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) can reduce the yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars that are susceptible to the insect. Two genes that confer resistance to some biotypes are Rag1 (R1) from PI548663 and Rag2 (R2) from PI200538. These genes individually can limit the development of soybean aphids and prevent yield loss. The impact of these genes combined is not known. One objective of my research was to determine the impact of the Rag1 and Rag2 genes on the performance of lines for agronomic and seed traits. A second objective of my research was to compare the growth of aphid populations on soybean lines with both resistance genes (R1/R2), Rag1 alone (R1/S2), Rag2 alone (S1/R2), and neither resistance gene (S1/S2). The four types of lines were selected from the same backcross population to achieve a similar genetic background for traits other than the aphid resistance genes. In Experiment 1, the lines were grown at three locations in 2010 to evaluate their agronomic and seed traits. In this experiment, the mean seed yields of the S1/S2 lines yielded 17.4% more than the R1/R2 lines, 10.8% more than the R1/S2 lines, and 8.8% more than the S1/R2 lines. Even though the mean yields of the resistant types were significantly less than the susceptible type, high yielding lines of R1/R2, R1/S2, and S1/R2 lines were identified. For Experiment 2, a bulk of lines was made for each of the four genotypes. The lines were grown at a single location in 2010 to evaluate their agronomic and seed traits. The mean seed yield of the S1/S2 line was 2.5% more than the R1/R2 line, 19% less than the R1/S2 line, and 11.8% more than the S1/R2 line. In Experiment 3, a bulk of lines for each genotype was grown in netted cages and artificially infested with soybean aphids to achieve five treatment levels: aphid-free, 675 aphids per plant (AP), 25,000 cumulative aphid days (CAD), 50,000 CAD, and 75,000 CAD. The intrinsic rate of growth of soybean aphids from after the initial infestation until the population reached 675 AP or reached a plateau was significantly different for the S1/S2 line than the R1/R2, R1/S2, or S1/R2 lines. The R1/R2, R1/S2, and S1/R2 lines were not significantly different during this same time. From after the second infestation until the end of the season, the intrinsic rate of growth of soybean aphids on R1/R2, R1/S2, and S1/R2 lines were still not significantly different. The yield reduction of the S1/S2 lines was 2.1% at 675 AP, 18.8% at 25K CAD, and 26.9% at 50K CAD. Aphid development on the R1/S2 and S1/R2 lines after two infestations reached a maximum of 25K CAD at the same time. The yield of the R1/S2 line increased by 5.8% at 675 AP and decreased by 2.3% at 25K CAD compared to a decrease of 9.9% at 675 AP and a decrease of 11.8% at 25K CAD for the S1/R2 line. The maximum treatment level reached for the R1/R2 line was only 675 AP, at which there was no significant yield reduction. The results indicated that for the biotype used in the study, cultivars with R1/R2 would be expected to have less aphid development and less yield reduction than R1/S2 or S1/R2 lines

Marshalltown’s Library Service: A History of the First Fifty Years, 1860-1910

In the study, Marshalltown Library Service; A History of the First Fifty Years, 1860-1910, the researcher traced Marshalltown\u27s library service provided during three time spans. The researcher documented the services provided during the three time spans dating from March 4, 1892, to September 3, 1898, when the library was housed at the Marshall County Courthouse as a private association; from September 3, 1898, to September 22, 1903, when service was provided from above Andrew\u27s Dry Goods store by the Marshalltown Free Public Library; and concluding with the time period April 22, 1903, through December 31, 1910, when public library service was provided from the Carnegie endowed edifice at the corner of State and Center Streets in Marshalltown, Iowa. The study specifically mentions the primary forces, Andrew Carnegie and the Marshalltown Woman\u27s Club, which were instrumental in promoting the increasing democratization of the service from its more elite form as an association library to its free public library stage as the Carnegie endowed Marshalltown Public Library

Operationalizing contested problem-solution spaces: The case of Dutch circular construction

In shaping collective responses to societal challenges, we currently lack an understanding of how to grasp and navigate conflicting ideas on societal problems and potential solutions. The problem-solution space is an increasingly popular framework for conceptualizing the extent to which problem-oriented and solution-oriented views are divergent. However, this reflexive framework needs an operationalization to become useful in practice. We contribute to this debate by demonstrating how Q-methodology can be used to systematically identify, describe, and compare collectively held visions in relation to problems and solutions. We use the case of Dutch circular construction, and identify three conflicting imaginaries that inform us about disagreement and common ground. We conclude by discussing how policymakers can use different approaches to navigate contestation, presumably mobilizing actors for a collective response

Intraepithelial lymphocytes in the pig intestine: T cell and innate lymphoid cell contributions to intestinal barrier immunity

Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) include T cells and innate lymphoid cells that are important mediators of intestinal immunity and barrier defense, yet most knowledge of IELs is derived from the study of humans and rodent models. Pigs are an important global food source and promising biomedical model, yet relatively little is known about IELs in the porcine intestine, especially during formative ages of intestinal development. Due to the biological significance of IELs, global importance of pig health, and potential of early life events to influence IELs, we collate current knowledge of porcine IEL functional and phenotypic maturation in the context of the developing intestinal tract and outline areas where further research is needed. Based on available findings, we formulate probable implications of IELs on intestinal and overall health outcomes and highlight key findings in relation to human IELs to emphasize potential applicability of pigs as a biomedical model for intestinal IEL research. Review of current literature suggests the study of porcine intestinal IELs as an exciting research frontier with dual application for betterment of animal and human health