Probiotic and Gastrointestinal Microbiology in the Broiler Chicken

Probiotics and prebiotics are used widely because of their benefits to digestive and immune health. While there is significant evidence to support their effectiveness in humans and livestock animals, interpretation of the results of this research is complicated by the wide differences in research. We have explored host-specific digestive physiology, experimental constraints, and probiotic and prebiotic functionality. The insight provided by an understanding of these important differences will provide a context in which results of host-specific studies and their broader implications to the science can be evaluated. Lactobacillus species are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract and are widely used as probiotics because of their health promoting benefits. When used as Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) in poultry, they have been demonstrated to promote growth, stimulate immune responses, and reduce intestinal colonization of pathogens. While they are used widely, the mechanisms responsible for their functionality are not well understood. While genetic tools available for use in lactobacilli are advanced, they have not been applied to investigate the probiotic functionality of Lactobacillus cultures in poultry. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the functionality of the pORI28 system in L. gallinarum ATCC 33199 by insertional inactivation of lacL, encoding β-galactosidase. The establishment of an effective chromosomal integration system for L. gallinarum will provide a platform for functional genomic analyses to investigate the functionality of this model probiotic culture in poultry. DFM and exogenous enzymes have been demonstrated to improve growth performance in poultry and are potentially important alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). We investigated the administration of a feed additive composed of a DFM products and enzymes in broiler chickens over a 42-day growth period. Evaluation of growth performance determined feed efficiency of broiler chickens which were administered the feed additive was comparable to those fed a diet containing AGPs. Characterization of the gastrointestinal microbiota using culture-dependent methods determined administration of the feed additive increased or decreased counts of bacteria enumerated from the gastrointestinal tract of the broiler chicken. Our results suggest the administration of DFMs and exogenous enzymes may potentially be an important component of antibiotic free poultry production

Probiotic and Gastrointestinal Microbiology in the Broiler Chicken

Probiotics and prebiotics are used widely because of their benefits to digestive and immune health. While there is significant evidence to support their effectiveness in humans and livestock animals, interpretation of the results of this research is complicated by the wide differences in research. We have explored host-specific digestive physiology, experimental constraints, and probiotic and prebiotic functionality. The insight provided by an understanding of these important differences will provide a context in which results of host-specific studies and their broader implications to the science can be evaluated. Lactobacillus species are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract and are widely used as probiotics because of their health promoting benefits. When used as Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) in poultry, they have been demonstrated to promote growth, stimulate immune responses, and reduce intestinal colonization of pathogens. While they are used widely, the mechanisms responsible for their functionality are not well understood. While genetic tools available for use in lactobacilli are advanced, they have not been applied to investigate the probiotic functionality of Lactobacillus cultures in poultry. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the functionality of the pORI28 system in L. gallinarum ATCC 33199 by insertional inactivation of lacL, encoding β-galactosidase. The establishment of an effective chromosomal integration system for L. gallinarum will provide a platform for functional genomic analyses to investigate the functionality of this model probiotic culture in poultry. DFM and exogenous enzymes have been demonstrated to improve growth performance in poultry and are potentially important alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). We investigated the administration of a feed additive composed of a DFM products and enzymes in broiler chickens over a 42-day growth period. Evaluation of growth performance determined feed efficiency of broiler chickens which were administered the feed additive was comparable to those fed a diet containing AGPs. Characterization of the gastrointestinal microbiota using culture-dependent methods determined administration of the feed additive increased or decreased counts of bacteria enumerated from the gastrointestinal tract of the broiler chicken. Our results suggest the administration of DFMs and exogenous enzymes may potentially be an important component of antibiotic free poultry production

Basement and Cover Structural Analysis Along the Eagle River Gorge, Sawatch Range, Colorado

The Sawatch Range within the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado exposes Paleoproterozoic basement and overlying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks with a complex history of ductile and brittle deformation. The goal of this study is to conduct analyses of brittle structures that occur in the basement and cover units to determine geometric relationships between the structures, provide a detailed description of structures and refine a geologic history for structures along the basement-cover contact in the northeastern Sawatch Range along the Eagle River canyon and U.S. Highway 24 from Red Cliff to Gilman, Colorado. Paleoproterozoic basement rocks include the Cross Creek granite, diorites, and gneisses. The basement rocks are nonconformably overlain by the late Cambrian age Sawatch Formation. Measurements of 60 fault planes were recorded and of those, 36 exhibited dip-slip or strike-slip movement. Faults exhibited an average northeast strike throughout the study area. Measurements of 151 joint planes were taken throughout the study area and joints exhibit a northwest strike on average. Structural trends observed in this area represent different orientations that were created by multiple deformational events throughout geologic history. These deformational events include the accretion of volcanic island arcs and continental crust onto Laurentia, Ancestral Rocky Mountain Uplift and the Laramide orogeny

Effect of Phytate-Degrading Probiotics on Broiler Performance

Probiotics have been demonstrated to promote growth, stimulate immune responses, and improve the microbial food safety of poultry. While widely used, their effectiveness is mixed and the mechanisms through which they contribute to poultry production are not well understood. Phytases isolated from microorganisms are increasingly supplemented in feed to improve digestibility and reduce anti-nutritive effects of phytate. The microbial origin of these enzymes suggests a potentially important mechanism of probiotic functionality. Our objective was to investigate phytate degradation as a novel probiotic mechanism using recombinant Lactobacillus cultures expressing Bacillus subtilis phytase. B. subtilis phyA was codon optimized for expression in Lactobacillus and cloned into the expression vector, pTRK882. The resulting plasmid, pTD003, was transformed into Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gallinarum, and Lactobacillus gasseri. SDS-PAGE revealed an approximately 44 kDa protein in the culture supernatants of Lactobacillus pTD003 transformants corresponding to the predicted molecular weight of B. subtilis phytase. The phytate degrading ability of these cultures was evaluated by determining the amount of inorganic phosphate released from sodium phytate. Expression of B. subtilis phytase increased phytate degradation of L. acidophilus, L. gasseri, and L. gallinarum approximately 4-, 10-, and 18-fold over the background activity of empty vector transformants. The effect of administration of recombinant phytase-expressing L. gallinarum and L. gasseri was evaluated in broiler chicks fed a phosphorous deficient diet (0.25% aP). Phytase-expressing L. gasseri improved weight gain (P < 0.05) of broiler chickens to a level comparable to chickens fed a phosphorous adequate control diet (0.40% aP) demonstrating proof of-principle that administration of phytate-degrading probiotic cultures can improve performance of livestock animals. Additionally, this will inform future studies investigating whether probiotic cultures are able to combine the performance benefits of feed enzymes with the animal health and food safety benefits traditionally associated with probiotics

Professional Networks Among Rural School Food Service Directors Implementing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

ABSTRACT Purpose/Objectives This study was designed to explore the professional networks of rural school food service directors (FSD), the resources they use for implementing the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), and their needs for information and support to continue to implement successfully. Methods Rural FSD participated in an in-depth telephone interview (n = 67) and an online survey (n = 57). The interview asked respondents about the resources and support they used and still needed to assist with implementing the HHFKA changes, while the online survey focused on professional networks and communication among FSD. The interviews were analyzed by thematic coding, while descriptive statistics were used to summarize survey data. Results Respondents reported making extensive use of professional networks by communicating with FSD in other districts. They both sought and gave advice during this communication, and the topic discussed most frequently was implementation of HHFKA requirements. Mapping of network nodes showed that networks of communication were often geographically bound. Respondents reported using a variety of resources to implement the HHFKA and disclosed that they often relied on their colleagues in other districts for support. Self-identified needs included staffing support, additional networking opportunities, and technology support. Perceived support varied and several responses indicated that rural FSD feel isolated when implementing the HHFKA requirements. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals Rural FSD would benefit from enhanced professional networks that are tailored to their needs and constraints. It may be the case that rural schools need more support overall because existing challenges make HHFKA implementation more difficult than in larger, urban, or better-funded school districts

Repair of Failing Spirit Lake Outlet Tunnel at Mount St. Helens

The 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens resulted in one of the largest debris avalanches recorded in history. The debris avalanche blocked the natural outlet of Spirit Lake. To prevent an uncontrolled and catastrophic lake break-out, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) constructed the Spirit Lake Outlet Tunnel from 1984 to 1985. Because Spirit Lake is located in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, the project was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for ownership and management. During original tunnel construction, the most difficulty occurred within the 90-m-wide Julie and Kathy L. shear zone complex. In 1996, tunnel walls within this complex experienced significant convergence, which required major repair along a 30 m segment. During inspections in 2014 and 2015, a 10 m segment at the upstream end of the complex, which had experienced slow heave in the past, was observed to have experienced an increase in heave of approximately 0.6 m, which decreased the hydraulic capacity of the tunnel below acceptable limits. The USACE, in accordance with and with funding from the USFS, designed a repair based on the rib set-shotcrete support system that was used for the 1996 repair. In addition to removing and arresting the heave, the 2015 repair was sized to be compatible with a future potential rehabilitation involving stabilizing and re-grading the invert profile of the Julie and Kathy L. shear zone complex. The 2015 repair construction contract was awarded in September 2015 for $3 million

Quick response : technology guide

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aicpa_guides/1542/thumbnail.jp

The Secondhand Effects of College Drinking: The Need For Media Relations

Heavy episodic drinking can lead to significant harmful effects for the drinker and others. Rates of heavy alcohol use on college campuses have remained high, despite increased educational interventions. This study examines the coverage of the negative consequences of drinking among college students. This content analysis looks at coverage from1996-2006 in 32 major US newspapers. Of the total 255 articles, 209 covered at least one negative consequence of college drinking. Consequences were framed as individual in nature and did not acknowledge the impact on other individuals and institutions. Those related to damage to self were covered most often in newspapers from this time period, appearing in nearly every article that mentioned a negative consequence. Damage to others and damages to institutions were mentioned very infrequently. In addition, in 2006, damages to self outnumbered damages to others 4:1 and damages to institutions 10:1. While a range of negative consequences of heavy episodic drinking are covered, the most common harm covered is death, which is severe but highly unlikely. Coverage of more commonly occurring negative consequences were far less frequent. Coverage varied by region and was not consistent with where the greatest college drinking problems are found. The focus on individual harms and particularly those that are uncommon could lead readers to inaccurately perceive the issue as episodic and unrelated to environmental determinants. The study concludes that public relations and public health professionals can use media advocacy to work with the media to illuminate the secondhand impact of episodic drinking beyond those affecting the drinker

Evaluation of Phytate-Degrading Lactobacillus Culture Administration to Broiler Chickens

Probiotics have been demonstrated to promote growth, stimulate immune responses, and improve food safety of poultry. While widely used, their effectiveness is mixed, and the mechanisms through which they contribute to poultry production are not well understood. Microbial phytases are increasingly supplemented in feed to improve digestibility and reduce antinutritive effects of phytate. The microbial origin of these exogenous enzymes suggests a potentially important mechanism of probiotic functionality. We investigated phytate degradation as a novel probiotic mechanism using recombinant Lactobacillus cultures expressing Bacillus subtilis phytase. B. subtilis phyA was codon optimized for expression in Lactobacillus and cloned into the expression vector pTRK882. The resulting plasmid, pTD003, was transformed into Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus gallinarum, and Lactobacillus gasseri. SDS-PAGE revealed a protein in the culture supernatants of Lactobacillus pTD003 transformants with a molecular weight similar to that of the B. subtilis phytase. Expression of B. subtilis phytase increased phytate degradation of L. acidophilus, L. gasseri, and L. gallinarum approximately 4-, 10-, and 18-fold over the background activity of empty-vector transformants, respectively. Phytase-expressing L. gallinarum and L. gasseri were administered to broiler chicks fed a phosphorus-deficient diet. Phytase-expressing L. gasseri improved weight gain of broiler chickens to a level comparable to that for chickens fed a control diet adequate in phosphorus, demonstrating proof of principle that administration of phytate-degrading probiotic cultures can improve performance of livestock animals. This will inform future studies investigating whether probiotic cultures are able to provide both the performance benefits of feed enzymes and the animal health and food safety benefits traditionally associated with probiotics