Feedlot and Carcass Data: Making “Cents” and Making Decisions [presentation]

Summary Baseline of calves Management decision within the cow herd impacts performance within the feedlot and carcass characteristics Pre- and post- weaning performance is important in making management decision

Factor dependent archaeal transcription termination

2017 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.RNA polymerase activity is regulated by nascent RNA sequences, DNA template sequences and conserved transcription factors. Transcription factors regulate the activities of RNA polymerase (RNAP) at each stage of the transcription cycle: initiation, elongation, and termination. Many basal transcription factors with common ancestry are employed in eukaryotic and archaeal systems that directly bind to RNAP and influence intramolecular movements of RNAP and modulate DNA or RNA interactions. We describe and employ a flexible methodology to directly probe and quantify the binding of transcription factors to the archaeal RNAP in vivo. We demonstrate that binding of the conserved and essential archaeal transcription factor TFE to the archaeal RNAP is directed, in part, by interactions with the RpoE subunit of RNAP. As the surfaces involved are conserved in many eukaryotic and archaeal systems, the identified TFE-RNAP interactions are likely conserved in archaeal-eukaryal systems and represent an important point of contact that can influence the efficiency of transcription initiation. While many studies in archaea have focused on elucidating the mechanism of transcription initiation and elongation, studies on termination were slower to emerge. Transcription factors promoting initiation and elongation have been characterized in each Domain but transcription termination factors have only been identified in bacteria and eukarya. Here we characterize the first archaeal termination factor (termed Eta) capable of disrupting the transcription elongation complex, detail the rate of and requirements for Eta-mediated transcription termination and describe a role for Eta in transcription termination in vivo. Eta-mediated transcription termination is energy-dependent, requires upstream DNA sequences and disrupts transcription elongation complexes to release the nascent RNA to solution. Deletion of TK0566 (encoding Eta) is possible, but results in slow growth and renders cells sensitive to DNA damaging agents. Structure-function studies reveal that the N-terminal domain of Eta is not necessary for Eta-mediated termination in vitro, but Thermococcus kodakarensis cells lacking the N-terminal domain exhibit slow growth compared to parental strains. We report the first crystal structure of Eta that will undoubtedly lead to further structure-function analyses. The results obtained argue that the mechanisms employed by termination factors in archaea, eukarya, and bacteria to disrupt the transcription elongation complex may be conserved and that Eta stimulates release of stalled or arrested transcription elongation complexes

Associations among Meaning of Illness, Quality of Life, Symptom Burden and Depression in Patients with Leptomeningeal Metastasis

Background Patients with leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) have symptoms related to disease within the neuroaxis, cancer sites outside the neuroaxis and treatment toxicities. Furthermore, the meaning ascribed to advanced cancer, such as LM, may impact the perceived severity, frequency and distress of symptoms as well as quality of life (QoL) and depression. Our aim was to explore and describe relationships among meaning of illness (MoI), depression, QoL and symptom burden in LM patients and to explore whether adding spine-related items from the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Spine (MDASI-SP) to the MDASI-Brain Tumor (BT) enhanced understanding of symptom burden in this population. Methods Five items unique to the MDASI-SP were added to the MDASI-BT and the difference between the mean scores of the MDASI-BT before and after addition of the spine-related items was analyzed. Thirty participants with LM were consented and enrolled into one of two groups: Newly-diagnosed (n=15) and on active treatment (n=15). Correlational analysis was done to assess relationships between variables. Results The sample was primarily white (73%), female (63%) with a median age of 54 years. Breast cancer was the most common primary cancer (50%) with the brain being the most common site of metastasis (23%). There were no associations between MoI and symptom burden (p=.12). Higher scores on the CMS correlated with better QoL (p\u3c.01) and less depressive symptoms (p\u3c.01). There was no significant difference in means between the original and modified MDASI-BT (p=.33). Conclusion Depressive symptoms and QoL in LM patients is related to the positive or negative constructs of MoI indicating a need for meaning-centered interventions. Patients may rise to the challenge of cancer, endorsing a positive construct of MoI despite poor prognosis and limited life expectancy. Longitudinal studies comparing the relationship of MoI with the MDASI-BT and the modified MDASI-BT may help clarify findings of no relationship between MoI and symptom burden

Oilseed Crops in Beef Cattle Rations

Oilseed crops are produced throughout South Dakota for human consumption. However, when unpredictable environments create immature, frost-damaged, or otherwise poor quality oilseeds unfit for human consumption or if market prices are low, feeding livestock is an alternative outlet for oilseed crops. Meals produced from the processing of these crops have been used for years in livestock rations; however, the unprocessed whole seed is the primary focus here

Managing Annual Cow Costs

What is your annual cow costs? _________________ What is your breakeven cost ($/pound of weaned calf)? __________________ The cow/calf enterprise is a highly competitive, narrow margin business. Every day the margin seems to get smaller. Cattle producers are always looking for ways to save a dollar or get an additional dollar for their product. When you hear talk about ‘managing annual cow cost’ do you think that equates to being a low cost producer? You have been told to manage cow cost in the largest cost category, which is normally feed. Feed costs are normally 50 to 75% of the annual cow cost. At the 1995 National Cattlemen Association Cattlemen’s College, the top two ways (Table 1) to reduce costs was 1) reduce supplemental feed costs and 2) rotational grazing, both applying to feed costs. Currently, producers are using these management options to reduce cost

A Think Aloud Study Comparing the Validity and Acceptability of Discrete Choice and Best Worst Scaling Methods

Objectives This study provides insights into the validity and acceptability of Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) and profile-case Best Worst Scaling (BWS) methods for eliciting preferences for health care in a priority-setting context. Methods An adult sample (N = 24) undertook a traditional DCE and a BWS choice task as part of a wider survey on Health Technology Assessment decision criteria. A ‘think aloud’ protocol was applied, whereby participants verbalized their thinking while making choices. Internal validity and acceptability were assessed through a thematic analysis of the decision-making process emerging from the qualitative data and a repeated choice task. Results A thematic analysis of the decision-making process demonstrated clear evidence of ‘trading’ between multiple attribute/levels for the DCE, and to a lesser extent for the BWS task. Limited evidence consistent with a sequential decision-making model was observed for the BWS task. For the BWS task, some participants found choosing the worst attribute/level conceptually challenging. A desire to provide a complete ranking from best to worst was observed. The majority (18,75%) of participants indicated a preference for DCE, as they felt this enabled comparison of alternative full profiles. Those preferring BWS were averse to choosing an undesirable characteristic that was part of a ‘package’, or perceived BWS to be less ethically conflicting or burdensome. In a repeated choice task, more participants were consistent for the DCE (22,92%) than BWS (10,42%) (p = 0.002). Conclusions This study supports the validity and acceptability of the traditional DCE format. Findings relating to the application of BWS profile methods are less definitive. Research avenues to further clarify the comparative merits of these preference elicitation methods are identified

Mission Statement Creation and Dissemination in Service Organizations: Reaching All Employees to Provide Unified Organizational Direction

Scholars extol the virtues of crafting effective mission statements and the importance of its frequent communication. Especially in nonprofit business settings, mission statements can be an important way to provide goals and purpose for an organization’s staff. Creating and conveying mission statements to unify a staff whose tasks span a broad range is a difficult but important part of visionary leadership. This study explored mission statement dissemination at a university to understand its impact on staff whose tasks included limited academic work with students. Analysis of questionnaires found nonacademic staff members were not exposed to the mission statement often and were not able to connect the statement to their daily tasks

Mission Statement Creation and Dissemination in Service Organizations: Reaching All Employees to Provide Unified Organizational Direction

Scholars extol the virtues of crafting effective mission statements and the importance of its frequent communication. Especially in nonprofit business settings, mission statements can be an important way to provide goals and purpose for an organization’s staff. Creating and conveying mission statements to unify a staff whose tasks span a broad range is a difficult but important part of visionary leadership. This study explored mission statement dissemination at a university to understand its impact on staff whose tasks included limited academic work with students. Analysis of questionnaires found nonacademic staff members were not exposed to the mission statement often and were not able to connect the statement to their daily tasks