Sentinel Case of Candida auris in the Western United States Following Prolonged Occult Colonization in a Returned Traveler from India.

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast with high mortality. We report the sentinel C. auris case on the United States West Coast in a patient who relocated from India. We identified close phylogenetic relatedness to the South Asia clade and ERG11 Y132F and FKS1 S639Y mutations potentially explaining antifungal resistance

Inter-α-Inhibitor Blocks Epithelial Sodium Channel Activation and Decreases Nasal Potential Differences in ΔF508 Mice

Increased activity of lung epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs) contributes to the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) by increasing the rate of epithelial lining fluid reabsorption. Inter-α-inhibitor (IαI), a serum protease inhibitor, may decrease ENaC activity by preventing its cleavage by serine proteases. High concentrations of IαI were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with CF and lower airway diseases. IαI decreased amiloride-sensitive (IENaC) but not cAMP-activated Cl− currents across confluent monolayers of rat ATII, and mouse nasal epithelial cells grew in primary culture by 45 and 25%, respectively. Changes in IENaC by IαI in ATII cells were accompanied by increased levels of uncleaved (immature) surface α-ENaC. IαI increased airway surface liquid depth overlying murine nasal epithelial cells to the same extent as amiloride, consistent with ENaC inhibition. Incubation of lung slices from C57BL/6, those lacking phenylalanine at position 508 (∆F508), or CF transmembrane conductance regulator knockout mice with IαI for 3 hours decreased the open probability of their ENaC channels by 50%. ∆F508 mice had considerably higher levels the amiloride-sensitive fractions of ENaC nasal potential difference (ENaC-NPD) than wild-type littermates and only background levels of IαI in their BALF. A single intranasal instillation of IαI decreased their ENaC-NPD 24 hours later by 25%. In conclusion, we show that IαI is present in the BALF of children with CF, is an effective inhibitor of ENaC proteolysis, and decreases ENaC activity in lung epithelial cells of ∆F508 mice

A Trait‐Based Framework for Assessing the Vulnerability of Marine Species to Human Impacts

Marine species and ecosystems are widely affected by anthropogenic stressors, ranging from pollution and fishing to climate change. Comprehensive assessments of how species and ecosystems are impacted by anthropogenic stressors are critical for guiding conservation and management investments. Previous global risk or vulnerability assessments have focused on marine habitats, or on limited taxa or specific regions. However, information about the susceptibility of marine species across a range of taxa to different stressors everywhere is required to predict how marine biodiversity will respond to human pressures. We present a novel framework that uses life-history traits to assess species’ vulnerability to a stressor, which we compare across more than 44,000 species from 12 taxonomic groups (classes). Using expert elicitation and literature review, we assessed every combination of each of 42 traits and 22 anthropogenic stressors to calculate each species’ or representative species group’s sensitivity and adaptive capacity to stressors, and then used these assessments to derive their overall relative vulnerability. The stressors with the greatest potential impact were related to biomass removal (e.g., fisheries), pollution, and climate change. The taxa with the highest vulnerabilities across the range of stressors were mollusks, corals, and echinoderms, while elasmobranchs had the highest vulnerability to fishing-related stressors. Traits likely to confer vulnerability to climate change stressors were related to the presence of calcium carbonate structures, and whether a species exists across the interface of marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric realms. Traits likely to confer vulnerability to pollution stressors were related to planktonic state, organism size, and respiration. Such a replicable, broadly applicable method is useful for informing ocean conservation and management decisions at a range of scales, and the framework is amenable to further testing and improvement. Our framework for assessing the vulnerability of marine species is the first critical step toward generating cumulative human impact maps based on comprehensive assessments of species, rather than habitats

Effects of Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine on Growth Performance and Economic Return of 200 to 300 lb Grow-Finish Pigs

A total of 2,099 barrows and gilts (PIC 1050 × DNA 600; initially 198.6 ± 3.72 lb) were used in a 57-d study to determine the optimal dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys level for approximately 200 to 300 lb pigs in a commercial setting. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 24 to 27 pigs per pen and 20 replications per treatment. A similar number of barrows and gilts were placed in each pen. Diets were fed over 2 phases (199 to 233 and 233 to 299 lb respectively). Dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal-based. Diets were formulated to 85, 93, 100, or 110% of the 2016 PIC (Hendersonville, TN) SID Lys gilt recommendations with phase 1 SID Lys levels of 0.65, 0.71, 0.77, 0.84%, and phase 2 levels of 0.60, 0.66, 0.71, 0.78%, respectively. Overall (d 0 to 57), increasing SID Lys increased (linear, P \u3c 0.05) overall market weight, F/G, hot carcass weight, Lys intake/d, and Lys intake/kg of gain with an increase in ADG (quadratic, P = 0.020). For economics (d 0 to 57), feed cost per lb of gain increased (linear, P \u3c 0.05) with increased SID Lys. Revenue per pig placed and income over feed cost (IOFC) increased (quadratic, P \u3c 0.10) as the amount of SID Lys increased, and marginally significant evidence of a quadratic response for feed cost per pig placed (P = 0.073). Projecting IOFC for phase 1, the quadratic polynomial (QP) and broken-line linear models estimated the requirement at 110.9% and 96.9%, respectively, to achieve maximum IOFC. For phase 2, the QP estimated the requirement at 96.6% SID Lys to maximize IOFC. In summary, the SID Lys requirement was 97% to 111% of the 2016 PIC recommended Lys requirement for phase 1 and 97% for phase 2 to maximize IOFC

Effects of Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine on Growth Performance and Economic Return of 108 to 178 lb Grow-Finish Pigs

A total of 2,124 barrows and gilts (PIC 1050 × DNA 600; initially 107.9 ± 1.31 lb) were used in a 32-d study to determine the optimal level of dietary standardized ileal digestibility (SID) Lys for 108 to 178 lb pigs in a commercial setting. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 24 to 27 pigs per pen and 16 replications pen treatment. A similar number of barrows and gilts were placed in each pen. Diets were fed over 3 phases (108 to 129, 129 to 156, and 156 to 178 lb, respectively). Dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal-based and contained 10% (phase 1 and 2) or 5% (phase 3) DDGS. Diets were formulated to 85, 95, 103, 110, or 120% of the 2016 PIC SID Lys gilt recommendations as follows: phase 1 SID Lys levels of 0.90, 1.01, 1.09, 1.17 and 1.27%; phase 2 levels of 0.79, 0.87, 0.94, 1.03, and 1.10%; and phase 3 levels of 0.71, 0.78, 0.85, 0.92, and 0.99%, respectively. Overall (d 0 to 32), increasing SID Lys increased (linear, P \u3c 0.001) ADG, final body weight, Lys intake/d, and Lys intake/kg of gain with an improvement in F/G (quadratic, P = 0.047). Additionally, feed cost per pig, feed cost per lb of gain, total revenue per pig, and income over feed cost (IOFC) increased (linear, P ≤ 0.002) as SID Lys increased. Projecting IOFC, broken line linear and quadratic polynomial models estimated the maximum IOFC at 105.8% and 113.7% SID Lys, respectively. In summary, while growth performance increased linearly up to 120% of the 2016 PIC recommended Lys requirement, the optimal IOFC was 106% to 114%

Pacific Portraits: The People Behind the Scenes at Pacific University (Volume One)

When a dormitory toilet is clogged, who’s the guy charged with fixing it? Who assures that benefits and work-study monies are paid and accounted for on time? And who is tasked with ensuring Luau goes off without a hitch or that students from Saudi Arabia know how to navigate the cultural idiosyncrasies of an American university? Meet the people who work behind the scenes at Pacific University—the community of staff and faculty—as captured by Pacific’s own creative writing and photography students. Their jobs and lives are varied, but their dedication to ensuring a dynamic educational experience in all its varieties is common between them. This book strives to capture and share their stories through the creative efforts of the students their work serves.https://commons.pacificu.edu/beetree/1001/thumbnail.jp

Harnessing a mesopelagic predator as a biological sampler reveals taxonomic and vertical resource partitioning among three poorly known deep-sea fishes.

Pelagic predators are effective biological samplers of midtrophic taxa and are especially useful in deep-sea habitats where relatively mobile taxa frequently avoid observation with conventional methods. We examined specimens sampled from the stomachs of longnose lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox, to describe the diets and foraging behaviors of three common, but poorly known deep-sea fishes: the hammerjaw (Omosudis lowii, n = 79, 0.3-92 g), juvenile common fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta, n = 91, 0.6-22 g), and juvenile Al. ferox (n = 138, 0.3-744 g). Diet overlap among the three species was high, with five shared prey families accounting for 63 ± 11% of the total prey mass per species. However, distinct differences in foraging strategies and prey sizes were evident. Resource partitioning was greatest between An. cornuta that specialized on small (mean = 0.13 ± 0.11 g), shallow-living hyperiid amphipods and O. lowii that specialized on large (mean = 0.97 ± 0.45 g), deep-dwelling hatchetfishes. Juvenile Al. ferox foraged on a high diversity of prey from both shallow and deep habitats. We describe the foraging ecologies of three midtrophic fish competitors and demonstrate the potential for biological samplers to improve our understanding of deep-sea food webs

Harnessing a mesopelagic predator as a biological sampler reveals taxonomic and vertical resource partitioning among three poorly known deep-sea fishes

Abstract Pelagic predators are effective biological samplers of midtrophic taxa and are especially useful in deep-sea habitats where relatively mobile taxa frequently avoid observation with conventional methods. We examined specimens sampled from the stomachs of longnose lancetfish, Alepisaurus ferox, to describe the diets and foraging behaviors of three common, but poorly known deep-sea fishes: the hammerjaw (Omosudis lowii, n = 79, 0.3–92 g), juvenile common fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta, n = 91, 0.6–22 g), and juvenile Al. ferox (n = 138, 0.3–744 g). Diet overlap among the three species was high, with five shared prey families accounting for 63 ± 11% of the total prey mass per species. However, distinct differences in foraging strategies and prey sizes were evident. Resource partitioning was greatest between An. cornuta that specialized on small (mean = 0.13 ± 0.11 g), shallow-living hyperiid amphipods and O. lowii that specialized on large (mean = 0.97 ± 0.45 g), deep-dwelling hatchetfishes. Juvenile Al. ferox foraged on a high diversity of prey from both shallow and deep habitats. We describe the foraging ecologies of three midtrophic fish competitors and demonstrate the potential for biological samplers to improve our understanding of deep-sea food webs

Effects of increasing GleptoForte dosage on iron storage and growth in neonatal pigs to 21 days of age

Due to a lack of transferred Iron from sow to piglet, neonatal pigs are susceptible to iron deficiency, caused by rapid growth in the first 21 days of age. Lack of iron causes low RBC count, lethargy, and, ultimately, mortality. Common iron supplementation in baby piglets may be able to be replaced by supplementation of Gleptoforte, and injectable supplement containing gleptoferron. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dosages of Gleptoforte in neonatal pigs. 336 piglets, from 28 litters were randomized into treatment pens, with two pens per treatment, half intact male, half female, totaling 56 piglets per treatment. There was a total of six treatments: Neg. Control receiving no injection, 50, 100, 150, 200, 200mg plus 100mg booster at day 11 in nursery. Each mL of Gleptoforte contains 200mg of iron, thus, dosages were 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 1.0 plus 0.50mL, respectively. One barrow per treatment, per litter was used for blood collection at days 3, 11, and 21 of life. Blood samples were evaluated for Hemoglobin(Hgb), Hematocrit(Hct), Serum Fe, and Total Iron Binding Capacity(TIBC). Weights from the same units were taken at days 3, 11, and 21 of life. Consumption of lactation feed was also evaluated by weight, with the feed containing 110mg/kg of iron from ferrous sulfate. Overall, increasing Gleptoforte dosage increased ADG of piglets, however, the treatment with an added booster did not see any improvement in gain compared to the equivalent treatment, without. However, differences between blood parameters of the 200mg and 200 +100mg treatments were observed, with the latter having the highest Hgb count. Although the 200+ 100mg dosage saw Hgb increase, it also saw the highest Hct values at weaning. There was little to no observable differences in Serum Fe and TIBC measurements in the 200mg and 200 + 100mg treatments. It was determined that a treatment of no iron injection is by far the most detrimental to growth and health. Although the administration of the 200 +100mg dosage showed improvement in hematological factors compared to 200mg dosage, there was no observable influence of the 200 +100mg dose on growth performance

Inter-α-Inhibitor Blocks Epithelial Sodium Channel Activation and Decreases Nasal Potential Differences in ΔF508 Mice

Increased activity of lung epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs) contributes to the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) by increasing the rate of epithelial lining fluid reabsorption. Inter-α-inhibitor (IαI), a serum protease inhibitor, may decrease ENaC activity by preventing its cleavage by serine proteases. High concentrations of IαI were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with CF and lower airway diseases. IαI decreased amiloride-sensitive (I(ENaC)) but not cAMP-activated Cl(−) currents across confluent monolayers of rat ATII, and mouse nasal epithelial cells grew in primary culture by 45 and 25%, respectively. Changes in I(ENaC) by IαI in ATII cells were accompanied by increased levels of uncleaved (immature) surface α-ENaC. IαI increased airway surface liquid depth overlying murine nasal epithelial cells to the same extent as amiloride, consistent with ENaC inhibition. Incubation of lung slices from C57BL/6, those lacking phenylalanine at position 508 (∆F508), or CF transmembrane conductance regulator knockout mice with IαI for 3 hours decreased the open probability of their ENaC channels by 50%. ∆F508 mice had considerably higher levels the amiloride-sensitive fractions of ENaC nasal potential difference (ENaC-NPD) than wild-type littermates and only background levels of IαI in their BALF. A single intranasal instillation of IαI decreased their ENaC-NPD 24 hours later by 25%. In conclusion, we show that IαI is present in the BALF of children with CF, is an effective inhibitor of ENaC proteolysis, and decreases ENaC activity in lung epithelial cells of ∆F508 mice