multiple international launches the united states europe and south america

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ASAS celebrates 10 years of publishing Animal Frontiers: The Review Magazine of Animal Agriculture

In July 2011, the first issue of Animal Frontiers was published by an international consortium including the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), the Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS), and the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP). Development of an international, science-based, open access journal that provided review articles and global perspectives on the complex dynamics associated with the production of animal-sourced foods was an accomplishment in and of itself, but the ability to meet the needs of a diverse community of readers, including scientists, policy makers, educators, and the general public set Animal Frontiers apart from other journals. In 2012, the American Meat Science Society (AMSA) joined the consortium and added a valuable perspective regarding muscle-based meat products and the meat science industry. To keep the journal going (and growing) and maintaining its primary objectives across three publishers, three editors-in-chief, and an increasing number of competing journals, including numerous predatory journals, adds another level of success to the 10-year history of Animal Frontiers

Effect of exposing rams to a female stimulus before semen collection on ram libido and semen quality

peer-reviewedRams with strong libido and desirable semen characteristics can provide more insemination doses per ejaculate and produce more progeny, improving population genetic linkage to improve the accuracy of EBV. The objective of this study was to determine if teasing rams, either by sight and smell alone (Exp. 1), or physical contact (Exp. 2), could improve libido and semen quality of rams. In Exp. 1, there were 3 treatments in which rams were exposed to the sight and smell of the ewe for 1 h: control treatment (n = 5) in which rams were exposed to a ewe not in estrus; non-novel treatment (n = 6) in which rams were exposed to a ewe in estrus and the same ewe was used for semen collection; and novel treatment (n = 6) in which rams were exposed to a ewe in estrus and a different ewe in estrus was used for semen collection. In Exp. 2, rams were individually given full access to a ewe, which had a cotton apron fi tted to cover her vulva, for 15 min. The 3 treatments in Exp. 2 were: control treatment (n = 5) in which rams were placed in a pen with a ewe not in estrus; a nonnovel treatment (n = 5) in which rams were placed in a pen with a ewe in estrus and the same ewe was used for semen collection; novel treatment (n = 6) in which rams were placed in a pen with a ewe in estrus and a different ewe in estrus was used for semen collection. Experiment 1 was repeated for 5 consecutive days and Exp. 2 was repeated for 4 consecutive days. Data on reaction time, number of mounts, semen volume, semen concentration, sperm wave motion, and progressive linear motion (Exp. 1 only) were collected and analyzed as a randomized complete block design, where rams were initially blocked for breed and age. In Exp. 1, there was an effect of day (P < 0.05) and a treatment × day interaction (P < 0.05) on semen volume, whereas there was also an effect of treatment (P < 0.05) and day (P < 0.01) on semen concentration, which was most evident on d 1. In Exp. 2, there was an effect of treatment on reaction time (P < 0.05) and semen volume (P = 0.08), which was most evident on d 1. This study demonstrates an acute effect on d 1 on semen concentration when rams were exposed to the sight and smell of a ewe in estrus. Alternatively, when rams were stimulated with physical contact of a ewe in estrus, an acute increase in semen volume was evident on d 1. These effects were not evident on subsequent days and thus the overall benefi ts on ram libido and semen quality of exposing rams to ewes in estrus are minimal.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

Serum adiponectin is positively associated with lung function in young adults, independent of obesity: The CARDIA study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Rationale</p> <p>Adipose tissue produces adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory protein. Adiponectin deficiency in mice is associated with abnormal post-natal alveolar development.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>We hypothesized that lower serum adiponectin concentrations are associated with lower lung function in humans, independent of obesity. We explored mediation of this association by insulin resistance and systemic inflammation.</p> <p>Methods and Measurements</p> <p>Spirometry testing was conducted at years 10 and 20 follow-up evaluation visits in 2,056 eligible young adult participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Body mass index, serum adiponectin, serum C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation), and insulin resistance were assessed at year 15.</p> <p>Main Results</p> <p>After controlling for body mass index, years 10 and 20 forced vital capacity (FVC) were 81 ml and 82 ml lower respectively (p = 0.004 and 0.01 respectively) in the lowest <it>vs</it>. highest adiponectin quartiles. Similarly, years 10 and 20 forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were 50 ml and 38 ml lower (p = 0.01 and 0.09, respectively) in the lowest <it>vs</it>. highest adiponectin quartiles. These associations were no longer significant after adjustment for insulin resistance and C-reactive protein. Serum adiponectin was not associated with FEV₁/FVC or peak FEV₁.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Independent of obesity, lower serum adiponectin concentrations are associated with lower lung function. The attenuation of this association after adjustment for insulin resistance and systemic inflammation suggests that these covariates are on a causal pathway linking adiponectin and lung function.</p

Interactions of Adiponectin and Lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis on Human Oral Epithelial Cells

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, and characterized by the destruction of the periodontium. Obese individuals have an increased risk for periodontitis and show decreased serum levels of adiponectin. This in-vitro study was established to examine whether adiponectin modulates critical effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from P. gingivalis on oral epithelial cells (OECs). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The presence of adiponectin and its receptors in human gingival tissue samples and OECs was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and PCR. Furthermore, OECs were treated with LPS and/or adiponectin for up to 72 h, and the gene expression and protein synthesis of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and growth factors were analyzed by real-time PCR and ELISA. Additionally, cell proliferation, differentiation and in-vitro wound healing were studied. The nuclear translocation of NFκB was investigated by immunofluorescence. Gingival tissue sections showed a strong synthesis of adiponectin and its receptors in the epithelial layer. In cell cultures, LPS induced a significant up-regulation of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL6, IL8, MMP1 and MMP3. Adiponectin abrogated significantly the stimulatory effects of LPS on these molecules. Similarly, adiponectin inhibited significantly the LPS-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in cell proliferation and differentiation. Adiponectin led to a time-dependent induction of the anti-inflammatory mediators IL10 and heme oxygenase 1, and blocked the LPS-stimulated NFκB nuclear translocation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Adiponectin may counteract critical actions of P. gingivalis on oral epithelial cells. Low levels of adiponectin, as observed in obese individuals, may increase the risk for periodontal inflammation and destruction