A Survey Study of Elementary Teachers\u27 Perceptions of Student Classroom Behavior

In a midwest, rural, and high-poverty elementary school, teachers expressed concerns about difficult student behaviors in their classrooms. It was important to address the problem because student misbehavior disrupts the learning of all students in the classroom. To provide information to the school that could inform possible interventions, a survey was conducted that measured the perceptions of 24 classroom teachers about concerning student behaviors, their methods of dealing with such behaviors, their needs for further support, and their confidence in dealing with difficult student behaviors. The conceptual frameworks that guided this study were the behaviorist theories of Watson and Skinner. The survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted for each of the survey questions to determine whether any statistically significant differences between the survey responses of independent variable groups of grade level (Kindergarten-3 and 4-6) and teacher experience (novice and veteran teachers). Findings showed only 1 statistically significant difference between the Grades K-3 and 4-6 teachers\u27 use of books and published materials to deal with concerning student behavior. A professional development initiative was created that will use professional learning community groupings already present in the school for teachers to research and implement changes to their professional practices in dealing with concerning student behaviors. This study may lead to an improved learning environment for teachers and students, an enhanced school reputation, and further parental and community support

Relationships between pig birth weight and expression of the immediate early gene EGR-1 in umbilical cord Wharton's jelly

Citation: Morton, J. M., Rathbun, T., & Davis, D. L. (2016). Relationships between pig birth weight and expression of the immediate early gene EGR-1 in umbilical cord Wharton's jelly. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 149-149. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-317In humans the expression of EGR-1 in umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly has been related to birth weight. In umbilical cords of small for gestational age (SGA) babies the expression of EGR-1 is increased compared to normal weight contemporaries. Expression of EGR-1 appears to indicate prenatal programming resulting from growth restriction. It is known that SGA babies develop slower compared to normal sized babies and in many ways are comparable to small birth weight pigs. Therefore we investigated whether EGR-1 expression in pig umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly is related to birth and weaning weights. Fifty-seven umbilical cords were collected from 5 litters (PIC; 326 × 1050), along with birth and weaning weights. Wharton’s jelly tissue was snap frozen and stored (?80°C) until RNA was extracted (Trizol method), RNA quantity determined using the Nanodrop method and quality was evaluated with an Agilent Bioanalyzer. Quantitative PCR was used to determine expression of EGR-1 compared to 18S and the data converted to relative expression using RNA from newborn pig testis as a calibrator. Birth weight (P < 0.003) and wean weight at d 21 (P < 0.026) were correlated negatively with EGR-1 expression. Larger pigs had decreased expression of EGR-1 compared to smaller pigs. The umbilical cords from the 14 pigs with the lowest expression of EGR-1 (bottom quartile) included only one pig with a birth weight < 1.11 kg while the top quartile included 9 pigs weighing less than 1.11 kg at birth (P < 0.002, chi square). In response to rising global demands for pork, swine producers have increased litter sizes and this has resulted in more small pigs at birth. We have identified that pigs with a birth weight below 1.11 kg have increased mortality rates by weaning age (3–4 wk). These pigs do not grow as well as their heavier contemporaries and result in lower value carcasses. Expression of EGR-1 in umbilical cords of low birth weight pigs appears to reflect prenatal programming comparable to that identified in SGA babies

Maturation of the gilt\u27s uterus before puberty: response to progesterone at different ages

We determined the age at which progesterone induced certain responses in the gilt\u27s uterus. The prepubertal maturation permitting each response is being studied currently with the intent of using the information to develop methods to improve litter size in pigs, perhaps by identifying markers for uterine function that could be used before gilts enter the breeding herd.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 16, 199

Estrous expression of sows after altered suckling and boar exposure

In two different experiments, we studied the influence of: 1) separating litters from their dams (altered suckling) during the last 8 days of lactation, which included a change in housing and social interaction with other sows; 2) providing boar exposure (1 hr/d); and 3) parity on the ability of sows to come into heat during lactation and after weaning. Our studies indicated that: 1) 6 hr of altered suckling and 1 hr of boar exposure may shorten the interval to heat for sows that express estrus during lactation, but 3 hr of altered suckling and 1 h of boar exposure are sufficient to induce estrus in 65 to 79% of the sows; 2) boar exposure (1 hr /day) of sows is not sufficient to induce estrus during lactation; 3) pre weaning boar exposure (1 hr/day) reduced intervals to heat after weaning; and 4) breed composition and season may alter the responsiveness of sows to treatments that induce estrus during lactation and after weaning.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 19, 198

Boar rearing: the influence of group vs individual penning from weaning to 27 weeks of age

We compared mating performance and soundness of feet and legs of boars which were reared in group vs individual pens. Individually penned boars consumed more feed from 6 to 12 weeks of age and were heavier at 12 weeks of age. However, individually penned boars also were more unsound and tended to score lower in mating tests.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 198

Estrous synchronization and scheduled artificial insemination for gilts

Gilts were artificially inseminated on the fifth, sixth and seventh days after estrous synchronization with altrenogest (scheduled AI). Contemporary controls also were synchronized but were checked for estrus twice daily. Scheduled AI gilts had farrowing rates and litter sizes similar to controls. Altrenogest is not presently available to pork producers but these results suggest that it could be used in combination with artificial insemination to schedule breeding according to a predetermined schedule.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 10, 198

Fertility with artificial insemination: gilts that lock on the insemination spirette vs. those that don\u27t

KSU breeding records show a higher farrowing rate for gilts that lock on the insemination spirette at both inseminations as opposed to gilts that lock at one insemination or at neither insemination. Continued research is focusing on factors affecting female response to insemination and fertility.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 198

The effects on boar reproductive efficiency of exposure to females during rearing

Thirty-two boars (16 littermates) were reared from 3½ to 5½ months in either an all-male group or with fence-line exposure to cycling sows and gilts. Exposure to females did not significantly increase testicle or accessory gland weights, sperm production, or libido score. Boars that displayed more sexual activity (mounts and sheath sniffs) from 3½ to 5½ months of age performed superiorly in mating tests at 5½ and 7½ months of age. Libido scores of littermate boars were very similar.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 13, 198

Transfer of fatty acids across the swine uterus and placenta

The transfer across the swine uterus and placenta of [1-14C] octanoic acid, [9,10(n)- H] palmitic acid, and [1- 14C] linoleic acid was studied in five gilts and their fetuses during late gestation, following a single bolus injection. Only trace amounts of labeled fatty acids were found in fetal plasma lipid. There were no measureable differences in free fatty acids (FFA) from umbilical artery, and veinous blood. Concentration of FFA in fetal blood was about 40% of the level of uterine values (187, 194, 73, and 82 µEg/1 for uterine artery, uterine vein, umbilical artery, and umbilical vein). In addition, fetal plasma contained larger amounts of 14:0, 16:1, 18:1, and 20:4, whereas maternal plasma contained larger amounts of 18:0 and 18:2. These results indicate that only trace amounts of FFA cross the swine utero-placental unit during late gestation, which are probably not enough to increase energy supply or lipid storage of the fetus.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 21, 198

Swine embryo culture and transfer for export to England

A major threat to swine enterprises is the possible introduction of disease when new breeding animals are purchased and introduced. So, methods of introducing new genetic material while minimizing the potential for introducing disease are needed. Transfer of embryos from a donor sow in another herd or country would minimize disease risks. Already used to introduce new breeding stock into Specific Pathogen Free herds and other closed herds, embryos now are placed in the recipient gilt’s or sow1s uterus within a few hours after their recovery from the donor. That method prevents export and limits application of swine embryo transfer in this country, so we evaluated the feasibility of using an in vitro culture system to store embryos between donor sows and recipient females.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 8, 197