5 S,15 S-Dihydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic Acid (5,15-diHpETE) as a Lipoxin Intermediate: Reactivity and Kinetics with Human Leukocyte 5-Lipoxygenase, Platelet 12-Lipoxygenase, and Reticulocyte 15-Lipoxygenase-1.

The reaction of 5 S,15 S-dihydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5,15-diHpETE) with human 5-lipoxygenase (LOX), human platelet 12-LOX, and human reticulocyte 15-LOX-1 was investigated to determine the reactivity and relative rates of producing lipoxins (LXs). 5-LOX does not react with 5,15-diHpETE, although it can produce LXA4 when 15-HpETE is the substrate. In contrast, both 12-LOX and 15-LOX-1 react with 5,15-diHpETE, forming specifically LXB4. For 12-LOX and 5,15-diHpETE, the kinetic parameters are kcat = 0.17 s-1 and kcat/ KM = 0.011 μM-1 s-1 [106- and 1600-fold lower than those for 12-LOX oxygenation of arachidonic acid (AA), respectively]. On the other hand, for 15-LOX-1 the equivalent parameters are kcat = 4.6 s-1 and kcat/ KM = 0.21 μM-1 s-1 (3-fold higher and similar to those for 12-HpETE formation by 15-LOX-1 from AA, respectively). This contrasts with the complete lack of reaction of 15-LOX-2 with 5,15-diHpETE [Green, A. R., et al. (2016) Biochemistry 55, 2832-2840]. Our data indicate that 12-LOX is markedly inferior to 15-LOX-1 in catalyzing the production of LXB4 from 5,15-diHpETE. Platelet aggregation was inhibited by the addition of 5,15-diHpETE, with an IC50 of 1.3 μM; however, LXB4 did not significantly inhibit collagen-mediated platelet activation up to 10 μM. In summary, LXB4 is the primary product of 12-LOX and 15-LOX-1 catalysis, if 5,15-diHpETE is the substrate, with 15-LOX-1 being 20-fold more efficient than 12-LOX. LXA4 is the primary product with 5-LOX but only if 15-HpETE is the substrate. Approximately equal proportions of LXA4 and LXB4 are produced by 12-LOX but only if LTA4 is the substrate, as described previously [Sheppard, K. A., et al. (1992) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1133, 223-234]

Drought impacts, coping responses and adaptation in the UK outdoor livestock sector: insights to increase drought resilience

Drought has detrimental impacts on crop and livestock farming systems worldwide, but less attention has been given to outdoor livestock systems, particularly in humid temperate regions. This research evaluated how an intense drought in 2018 impacted the UK livestock sector and the responses adopted by key actors, though a combination of analysis of weekly agricultural trade publications and semi-structured interviews with livestock farmers. Drought impacts centred on feed and fodder availability, animal productivity and welfare, farm economics, and farmer well-being, with strong inter-dependencies observed. Most drought responses by farmers were reactive short-term coping strategies to address feed shortages, with three main strategies applied: management of available grazing and feed; selling livestock to reduce feed demand and to obtain income; and buying-in additional feed. Few longer-term adaptive measures were identified due to a range of constraints. Moving forwards, the UK livestock sector needs to convert the learning from the reactive measures implemented in 2018 into pro-active drought planning approaches. The current political changes in the UK also provides a unique opportunity for agricultural policy to better reward the desirable nationally- and locally-important non-market services or public goods that livestock farming provides. Together, these should support increased drought resilience in livestock farming and increased farming viability

Wool quality traits, body conformation and liveweight measurement changes in ewe and wether lambs supplemented with Spirulina

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is an edible cyanobacterium rich in protein and several essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. This has raised its profile as a potential supplement in lamb production. Yet, the underpinning effects of Spirulina supplementation on lamb products such as wool and meat, interrelations vital to its applicability in the sheep industry is presently largely unknown. Therefore, our experimental objective was to evaluate the correlations between changes in wool quality traits, body conformation and liveweight measurements in lambs supplemented with Spirulina, as affected by sex and supplementation level. Over two consecutive years (2011-12) at the University Farm Cambridge, Tasmania, AUS, a mating ratio of 1 terminal ram to 100 Merino ewes was applied to produce approximately 1600 crossbred progeny. At 12 weeks of age, all progeny were weaned onto ryegrass pasture. At 6 months old, a total of 48 Iambs were randomly selected for each feeding trial (24 per year). These were then randomly allocated into Spirulina supplementation treatment levels - CONTROL (0 mL), LOW (100 mL) or HIGH (200 mL), and balanced by sex (ewes and wethers). Each feeding trial continued for 9-weeks including 3-weeks of adjustment, during which Spirulina was directly supplemented daily to lambs ,-ia oral drenching as a water suspension with a I: 10 w/v ration of Spirulina (g) : Water (mL). All lambs received barley grain daily (150 g) and had ad libitum access to drinking water and a basal diet of ryegrass pasture throughout the trial. Individual lamb body conformation and live weight measurements were taken at the start and end of each feeding trial on chest girth (CG), wither height (WH), body length (BL), body condition score (BCS), and live weight (BWT). Mid-side wool samples were taken and analyzed for clean fleece yield (YIELD), mean fiber diameter (FD), coefficient of fiber diameter variation (CV), fiber diameter standard deviation (SD), comfort factor (CF), fiber curvature (CURV) and spinning fineness (SF). All data were transformed to changes (Δ) in wool quality traits over the feeding trial by subtracting final from initial measurements. SAS analysis for significant (P0.05). However, in wethers, ΔBCS and ΔCURV were negatively correlated (-0.90). In the HIGH Spirulina supplementation group, YIELD was significantly correlated with ΔBL (0.86) and ΔBWT (-0.80) in wether and ewe lambs respectively. All other correlations were insignificant (P>0.05). In conclusion, this study does not only demonstrate Spirulina's potential as a nutritious lamb supplement, but the relationships and strength of the correlations between wool, body conformation and live weight will assist in product management and serve as a tool for achieving desired wool and growth goals in sheep flocks

Wool quality traits of purebred and crossbred Merino lambs orally drenched with Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Spirulina supplementation, sire breed and sex on the wool characteristics of purebred and crossbred Merino weaned lambs under a single pasture-based management system. Lambs sired by Merino, White Suffolk,Dorset, Black Suffolk breeds were randomly allocated into treatments – the control group grazing without Spirulina (0mL), low (100mL) and high (200 mL) Spirulina groups. All lambs were kept as a single mob in paddocks, grazed for 9 weeks and wool samples analysed. Differences in wool quality between the control and supplemented groups were not significant(P>0.05). However, sire breed significantly(P<0.001) influenced fibre diameter, spinning fineness, comfort factor and fibre curvature with purebred Merinos having superior wool quality than crossbreds. Wethers grew higher quality wool than ewes. Spirulina has a potential as an alternative supplementary bioresource in dual-purpose sheep feeding because it does not compromise wool quality in supplemented weaner lambs

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ovine ADRB3 gene in crossbred Australian sheep supplemented with spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) cyanobacterial microalgae

The adrenergic-receptor beta3 (ADRB3) gene is an obesity gene that is involved in the regulation of energy balance and a variety of physiological functions by increasing lipolysis and thermogenesis. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a blue-green cyanobacterial alga containing 60-70% protein with an extensive history of human consumption, and more recently, inclusion in animal feeds. We had earlier demonstrated that low level oral supplementation by drenching prime lambs with 100 mL/head/day of 1g of Spirulina powder dissolved in 10 mL of water (10%wt:vol) increased live weight and body conformation measurements in Black Suffolk (BS) x Merino crossbred sheep. The hypothesis that genetics-nutrition interactions between sheep breeds with fewer mutations at the ADRB3 locus and an optimal Spirulina supplementation level will increase lean meat production was tested in the current study. Forty-eight crossbred Australian prime lambs sired by four rams of diverse breeds under the same pasture-based management conditions were subjected to a nine-week feeding trial with Spirulina, followed by genomic DNA extraction and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Eleven SNPs in both the coding and noncoding regions of the ovine ADRB3 gene were detected. Nine of the SNPs were in exon I and two in the intron. Variations in SNP frequencies were highly significant (P <0.0001) between all sheep breeds. The maximum and minimum number of SNPs were found in purebred Merinos (4.83) and Black Suffolk x Merino (BS) crossbreds (1.67). In total, one indel and six transverse mutations were detected that resulted in six amino acid substitutions. BS crossbreds had the lowest frequency of mutation and amino acid substitutions in their population in agreement with our hypothesis. In conclusion, BS sheep genetics matched with low level (100 mL/head/day) of Spirulina supplementation can lead to higher meat production with less fat content in a typical pasture-based sheep production system

Incidence and public health burden of sunburn among beachgoers in the United States.

The beach environment creates many barriers to effective sun protection, putting beachgoers at risk for sunburn, a well-established risk factor for skin cancer. Our objective was to estimate incidence of sunburn among beachgoers and evaluate the relationship between sunburn incidence and sun-protective behaviors. A secondary analysis, of prospective cohorts at 12 locations within the U.S. from 2003 to 2009 (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;75,614), were pooled to evaluate sunburn incidence 10-12&nbsp;days after the beach visit. Behavioral and environmental conditions were cross-tabulated with sunburn incidence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between new sunburn and sun-protective behaviors. Overall, 13.1% of beachgoers reported sunburn. Those aged 13-18&nbsp;years (16.5%), whites (16.0%), and those at beach locations along the Eastern Seaboard (16.1%), had the highest incidence of sunburn. For those spending ≥5&nbsp;h in the sun, the use of multiple types of sun protection reduced odds of sunburn by 55% relative to those who used no sun protection (Odds Ratio&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.45 (95% Confidence Interval:0.27-0.77)) after adjusting for skin type, age, and race. Acute health effects of sunburn tend to be mild and self-limiting, but potential long-term health consequences are more serious and costly. Efforts to encourage and support proper sun-protective behaviors, and increase access to shade, protective clothing, and sunscreen, can help prevent sunburn and reduce skin cancer risk among beachgoers

Solar District Cup Competition

The Solar District Cup is a two-semester design competition sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy in which teams from across the nation compete to design the most efficient and cost effective solar plus storage system for a unique district case. The Embry Riddle team was tasked with designing such a system for New Mexico State University in Las Cruses, NM

Arthrospira platensis: a novel feed supplement improves meat eating quality of Australian lamb

Feeds and feeding account for a substantial cost of sheep production, hence the quest for alternative sources of nutrients that can facilitate fast growth in prime lambs without comprising meat eating quality is a continuous research endeavour. This study examined the effect of daily oral drenching of grazing prime lambs with a highly nutritious and edible blue-green microalga commonly referred to as Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) for nine weeks on meat eating quality and consumer acceptability. The prime lambs were weaners from Merino ewes sired by Dorset, White Suffolk, Black Suffolk and Merino rams randomly allocated to 3 levels of Spirulina supplementation (0, 10 and 20% wt/vol) with 8 lambs per treatment. The lambs were balanced by gender (ewes and wethers), body condition score (average of 3.1 ± 0.4) and body weight (average of 37.6 ± 5.2 kg). Lambs were slaughtered in a commercial abattoir and Longissimus dorsi muscle samples barbequed. A consumer tasting panel subjectively evaluated the sensory meat eating qualities of tenderness, juiciness, aroma, appearance and overall liking. The data were subjected to statistical analyses utilizing the GLM procedures in SAS with sire breed, sex, Spirulina level and their second-order interactions fitted as fixed effects and sire as a random variable. The consumer panel detected highly significant (p<0.001) differences in meat tenderness with the high supplementation group being the least tender (6.8 ± 0.2) compared with the low (7.6 ± 0.2) and control (8.0 ± 0.2) treatments out of a maximum possible score of 10. These results indicated that Spirulina supplementation at a 10% inclusion level produced leaner, healthier meats with relatively little impact on overall eating quality when compared with meat from animals at either 0% or 20% supplementation levels. This will enable prime Iamb producers to make informed decisions regarding the most economically viable use of Spirulina in their flock in targeting potential new niche markets. The study also supports the hypothesis that Spirulina lowers intramuscular fat levels and improves meat tenderness at low levels of supplementation without detrimental effects on eating quality