Over one-third of 700,000 military personnel who served in the first Gulf War(GW)suffer from an assortment of symptoms,including cognitive and memory problems,musculoskeletal pain,gastrointestinal discomfort,fatigue,a...Over one-third of 700,000 military personnel who served in the first Gulf War(GW)suffer from an assortment of symptoms,including cognitive and memory problems,musculoskeletal pain,gastrointestinal discomfort,fatigue,and respiratory issues[1,2].The precise etiology of Gulf War illness(GWI)is unclear.However,epidemiological and preclinical studies imply that exposures to the prophylactic drug pyridostigmine bromide,insecticides,pesticides,smoke from oil well fires,and interaction between these exposures and war-related stress underlie this illness[2].As per the Kansas case definition,GWI is a chronic multi-symptom illness displaying one moderately severe and/or multiple symptoms of any severity in at least 3 of 6 symptom domains(fatigue,pain,neurological/cognitive/mood,skin,gastrointestinal,respiratory)[1,2].While the exact pathophysiological changes underlying GWI have not been identified,alterations in immune regulation and dysregulation of the redox balance have been observed in GWI,resulting in chronic systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation[2].展开更多
Benefits of RE addition on Mg alloys strength and corrosion resistance are widely reported but their effects on biodegradability and biocompatibility are still of concern.This paper investigates the effect of RE addit...Benefits of RE addition on Mg alloys strength and corrosion resistance are widely reported but their effects on biodegradability and biocompatibility are still of concern.This paper investigates the effect of RE additions on biodegradability of Mg-Zn alloys under simulated physiological conditions.In this context,two commercial Mg-Zn-Zr-RE alloys,namely ZE41 and EZ33,with same RE addition but different concentrations are studied in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution(HBSS)at 37℃and with pH of 7.4.Weight-loss,hydrogen evolution,real-time insitu drop test,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)and potentiodynamic polarization are deployed to study corrosion characteristics.The mechanical integrity of both alloys is assessed by mechanical testing post immersion.Furthermore,in vitro biocompatibility is evaluated by indirect cytotoxicity tests using NIH3T3 cells.Results reveal that although both alloys showed similar microstructure,size and distribution of precipitates played a significant role on its corrosion response.EIS and open circuit potential results show stable film formation on EZ33,while ZE41 showed passive layer formation followed by its deterioration,over the analyzed time period.Using real-time drop test,it was shown in ZE41 alloy that both T-phase and Zr-rich precipitates acted as micro cathodes,resulting in an unstable surface film.In EZ33,Zr-rich regions did not influence corrosion response,resulting in better corrosion resistance that was corroborated by post-immersion surface morphology investigations.The higher degradation observed in ZE41 alloy resulted in higher drop in flexural and tensile strength compared to EZ33 alloy.In addition,cytotoxicity tests on NIH3T3 cells revealed that cell viability of EZ33 increased with increasing incubation time,contrary to ZE41,owing to its lower biodegradation behavior and despite higher concentrations of REs.Present results show that an increase in RE concentration in EZ33,relative to ZE41,had a positive effect on corrosion rate that subsequently controlled alloy mechanical integrity and biocompatibility.展开更多
Maternal recognition of pregnancy refers to the requirement for the conceptus（embryo and its associated extraembryonic membranes） to produce a hormone that acts on the uterus and/or corpus luteum（CL） to ensure mai...Maternal recognition of pregnancy refers to the requirement for the conceptus（embryo and its associated extraembryonic membranes） to produce a hormone that acts on the uterus and/or corpus luteum（CL） to ensure maintenance of a functional CL for production of progesterone;the hormone required for pregnancy in most mammals.The pregnancy recognition signal in primates is chorionic gonadotrophin which acts directly on the CL via luteinizing hormone receptors to ensure maintenance of functional CL during pregnancy.In ruminants,interferon tau（IFNT） is the pregnancy recognition signal.IFNT is secreted during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy and acts on uterine epithelia to silence expression of estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin receptor which abrogates the oxytocin-dependent release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2-alpha（PGF） by uterine epithelia;therefore,the CL continues to produce progesterone required for pregnancy.Pig conceptuses secrete interferon delta and interferon gamma during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy,but there is no evidence that they are involved in pregnancy recognition signaling.Rather,pig conceptuses secrete abundant amounts of estrogens between Days 11 to 15 of pregnancy required for maternal recognition of pregnancy.Estrogen,likely in concert with prolactin,prevents secretion of PGF into the uterine venous drainage（endocrine secretion）,but maintains secretion of PGF into the uterine lumen（exocrine secretion） where it is metabolized to a form that is not luteolytic.Since PGF is sequestered within the uterine lumen and unavailable to induce luteolysis,functional CL are maintained for production of progesterone.In addition to effects of chorionic gonadotrophin,IFNT and estrogens to signal pregnancy recognition,these hormones act on uterine epithelia to enhance expression of genes critical for growth and development of the conceptus.展开更多
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus are both highly prevalent disorders.There has been a recent recognition of an association between insulin resistance and sleep apnea.Continuous positive airway press...Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus are both highly prevalent disorders.There has been a recent recognition of an association between insulin resistance and sleep apnea.Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has emerged as an effective therapy for treatment of OSA and has been shown to positively influence numerous pathophysiological factors that con-tribute to cardiovascular risk.There is emerging data that explores the influence of CPAP therapy,insulin sensitivity and glycemic control.In the current review,we examine this literature critically and formulate a synopsis that summarizes the current knowledge in this field.展开更多
There is a dialogue between the developing conceptus （embryo-fetus and associated placental membranes） and maternal uterus which must be established during the peri-implantation period for pregnancy recognition sign...There is a dialogue between the developing conceptus （embryo-fetus and associated placental membranes） and maternal uterus which must be established during the peri-implantation period for pregnancy recognition signaling, implantation, regulation of gene expression by uterine epithelial and stromal cells, placentation and exchange of nutrients and gases. The uterus provide a microenvironment in which molecules secreted by uterine epithelia or transported into the uterine lumen represent histotroph required for growth and development of the conceptus and receptivity of the uterus to implantation. Pregnancy recognition signaling mechanisms sustain the functional lifespan of the corpora lutea （CL） which produce progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy essential for uterine functions that support implantation and placentation required for a successful outcome of pregnancy. It is within the peri-implantation period that most embryonic deaths occur due to deficiencies attributed to uterine functions or failure of the conceptus to develop appropriately, signal pregnancy recognition and/or undergo implantation and placentation. With proper placentation, the fetal fluids and fetal membranes each have unique functions to ensure hematotrophic and histotrophic nutrition in support of growth and development of the fetus. The endocrine status of the pregnant female and her nutritional status are critical for successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. This review addresses the complexity of key mechanisms that are characteristic of successful reproduction in sheep and pigs and gaps in knowledge that must be the subject of research in order to enhance fertility and reproductive health of livestock species.展开更多
Purpose: This study examines acknowledgments to libraries in the journal literature, as well as the efficacy of using Web of Science(WoS) to locate general acknowledgment text.Design/methodology/approach: This mixed-m...Purpose: This study examines acknowledgments to libraries in the journal literature, as well as the efficacy of using Web of Science(WoS) to locate general acknowledgment text.Design/methodology/approach: This mixed-methods approach quantifies and characterizes acknowledgments to libraries in the journal literature. Using WoS's Funding Text field, the acknowledgments for six peer universities were identified and then characterized. The efficacy of using WoS to locate library acknowledgments was assessed by comparing the WoS Funding Text search results to the actual acknowledgment text found in the articles.Findings: Acknowledgments to libraries were found in articles at all six peer universities, though the absolute and relative numbers were quite low(< 0.5%). Most of the library acknowledgments were for resources(collections, funding, etc.), and many were concentrated in natural history(e.g. zoology). Examination of Texas A&M University zoology articles found that 91.7% of the funding information came from "acknowledgments" and not specifically a funding acknowledgment section. The WoS Funding Text search found 56% of the library acknowledgments compared to a search of the actual acknowledgment text in the articles.Research limitations: Limiting publications to journals, using a single truncated search term, and including only six research universities in the United States.Practical implications: This study examined library acknowledgments, but the same approach could be applied to searches of other keywords, institutions/organizations, individuals, etc. While not specifically designed to search general acknowledgments, WoS's Funding Text field can be used as an exploratory tool to search acknowledgments beyond funding. Originality/value: There are a few studies that have examined library acknowledgments in the scholarly literature, though to date none of those studies have examined the efficacy of using the WoS Funding Text field to locate those library acknowledgments within the journal literature.展开更多
Background:We hypothesized that supplementation of nursery and grower pig diets with coconut oil in the absence of antibiotics would yield maintenance of glucose homeostasis,growth performance,and immune function simi...Background:We hypothesized that supplementation of nursery and grower pig diets with coconut oil in the absence of antibiotics would yield maintenance of glucose homeostasis,growth performance,and immune function similar to what is achieved with nursery and grower pig diets containing antibiotics.Pigs received the same base treatment diets from d24(weaning)to d71 of age and had blood and fecal samples collected on d24,d31,d45 and d71 for measurement of whole blood glucose,serum insulin,cortisol and cytokines,and fecal microbiome.Pigs had weekly weights and daily feed consumption measured throughout the study.Animals were euthanized at d71 and subcutaneous fat and ileal contents were collected for assessment for fatty acids and microbiome,respectively.Diet treatments consisted of 2%soybean oil plus antibiotics(ABX;n=22),2%soybean oil without antibiotics(NABX;n=22),and 2%coconut oil without antibiotics(COC;n=22).Statistical analysis examined the effect of diet within each timepoint using a repeated measures ANOVA.Results:Pigs fed COC diet had decreased serum insulin levels,maintained feed intake,feed conversion and weight gain,and,based on serum cytokines and fecal microbiome,were immunologically similar to ABX-fed pigs.However,NABX-fed pigs performed similarly to the ABX-fed pigs in all parameters except for serum cytokines.Additionally,there was no difference in the incidence of diarrhea between any of the diet treatments.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that dietary antibiotics are not necessary to maintain growth performance in nursery and grower pigs.However,dietary antibiotics appear to modulate circulating cytokine levels.Dietary coconut oil is neither harmful nor helpful to growth performance or immune function in nursery and grower pigs but does modulate serum insulin levels.Therefore,while coconut oil fed at 2%by weight is a suitable substitute for dietary antibiotics,this study suggests that no substitute for dietary antibiotics is needed at all.展开更多
To examine the influence of the harsh environment in plateau areas on the operating speed of vehicles,advanced speed prediction models for curved segments are established based on observed actual speed data.First,the ...To examine the influence of the harsh environment in plateau areas on the operating speed of vehicles,advanced speed prediction models for curved segments are established based on observed actual speed data.First,the speed characteristics at the starting,mid,and end points of a plane curve were observed on Lalin Highway and China National Highway 318 with Bushnell s handheld radar speedometer 10-1911CN.Second,the stepwise regression method was proposed to determine the significant parameters and propose the prediction models of the operating speed of cars and large vehicles for the two highways.Finally,reserved test group data were utilized to prove the validity and practicality of the proposed models.Compared with traditional methods,the established models can produce more accurate prediction results and deeply examine the nonlinear relationships between parameters and the predicted operating speed.This study provides a considerate direction and basis for the operating speed prediction model for other segments in plateau regions.展开更多
Inadequate delivery of nutrients results in intrauterine growth restriction （IUGR）, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in livestock. In ruminants, inadequate nutrition during pregnancy is o...Inadequate delivery of nutrients results in intrauterine growth restriction （IUGR）, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in livestock. In ruminants, inadequate nutrition during pregnancy is often prevalent due to frequent utilization of exensive forage based grazing systems, making them highly susceptible to changes in nutrient quality and availability. Delivery of nutrients to the fetus is dependent on a number of critical factors including placental growth and development, utero-placental blood flow, nutrient availability, and placenta metabolism and transport capacity. Previous findings from our laboratory and others, highlight essential roles for amino acids and their metabolites in supporting normal fetal growth and development, as well as the critical role for amino acid transporters in nutrient delivery to the fetus. The focus of this review will be on the role of materna nutrition on placental form and function as a regulator of fetal development in ruminants.展开更多
This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify...This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify the flow near the fractures,and being gridless,is computationally faster than traditional discrete volume simulations.The representation of hydraulic fractures as fractals is a more realistic representation than planar bi-wing fractures used in most reservoir models.Fluid withdrawal from the reservoir with evenly spaced hydraulic fractures may leave dead zones between planar fractures.Complex fractal networks will drain the reservoir matrix more effectively,due to the mitigation of stagnation flow zones.The flow velocities,pressure response,and drained rock volume(DRV)are visualized for a variety of fractal fracture networks in a single-fracture treatment stage.The major advancement of this study is the improved representation of hydraulic fractures as complex fractals rather than restricting to planar fracture geometries.Our models indicate that when the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks increases,this will suppress the occurrence of dead flow zones.In order to increase the DRV and improve ultimate recovery,our flow models suggest that fracture treatment programs must find ways to create more complex fracture networks.展开更多
Yield test of 41 entries, 32 new hybrids, 8 male parents restore lines and 1 inbred variety, was conducted on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) in 2012. The only inbred Francis in this experiment...Yield test of 41 entries, 32 new hybrids, 8 male parents restore lines and 1 inbred variety, was conducted on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) in 2012. The only inbred Francis in this experiment was used as the check. Francis is a popular variety and widely used in Arkansas rice production. Results showed that the yields of 7 hybrids were 25.7% - 30.7% higher than check Francis. Hybrid 28s/BP23R had the highest yield, 10846.6 kg/hectare and over check by 30.7%. The yield of hybrid 28s/PB-24, was 10628.9 kg/hectare and over check by 28.1%. The yields of hybrid 28s/PB-22 and 33A/PB24 were 10549.8 and 10539.8 kg/hectare and over check by 27.1% and 27.0%, respectively. The sterile lines 28s, 29s, 30s and 33A have good combinability. PB2, PB5, PB12, PB22, PB23, PB24, and PB25 are good restorers and most of their hybrids were over check more than 17%. Sterile 28s has DEMG (Dominant Early Maturity Gene) which can make earlier heading hybrids by crossing with late restorer lines. Sterile 30s and 33A have no DEMG but have heat resistant gene. They can make late heading hybrids by crossing with late restorer lines PB24 and PB22 and the late heading hybrids can resistant to hot temperature. These results showed that these sterile lines, restorer lines and hybrids can be used in rice production of Arkansas in the future.展开更多
A new sterile line UP-3s, which carries the Dominant Early Maturity Gene (DEMG), was bred on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). UP-3s and two check sterile lines, Jin23-A and Xie-A which do not c...A new sterile line UP-3s, which carries the Dominant Early Maturity Gene (DEMG), was bred on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). UP-3s and two check sterile lines, Jin23-A and Xie-A which do not carry the Dominant Early Maturity Gene, were crossed with a group of different maturity restorer lines, PB-1R, PB-5R,PB11, PB-13R, PB-20, PB-21, PB-22R, and PB-23R. Eighteen new hybrid rice combinations of these crosses were then tested at UAPB in 2012 and 2013. The results showed that panicle differentiation (PD) of hybrids from female parent UP-3s (DEMG) crossed with the 8 male parents, were earlier than the hybrids from female parent Jin23-A or Xie-A crossed with the 8 male parents. The PD of these earlier hybrids was before Jun 25 and heading was before July 20. Early PD and heading avoided the high temperature (over 34°C) period which usually occurs after July 20 in Arkansas. The yields of these earlier maturity hybrids with female parent UP-3s were higher than those of the late maturity hybrids thatwereF1 progeny of sterile lines Jin23-A or Xie-A (these two female parent checks with non-DEMG). These results showed that the DEMG sterile line UP-3s can be adopted in making crosses with later maturity restorer lines to obtain earlier maturity hybrids to avoid the high temperature period in Arkansas.展开更多
Afghanistan is threatened by rangeland degradation.A quantitative visual analysis of Google Earth Imagery was used to systematically locate,characterize and quantify the current extent of rangelands in Afghanistan deg...Afghanistan is threatened by rangeland degradation.A quantitative visual analysis of Google Earth Imagery was used to systematically locate,characterize and quantify the current extent of rangelands in Afghanistan degraded as a consequence of dryland agriculture.Climate data were used in conjunction with dryland agriculture locations to establish a climate envelope comprised by temperature and mean annual precipitation to create a geographical mask known to contain dryland agriculture.Within this mask we created a grid of 100 km2 cells that we analyzed individually to access dryland agriculture extent.Climatic limits to sustainable dryland agriculture and areas of high restoration priority were also assessed as was the distribution of rain-fed agriculture with respect to the location of traditional migration routes for extensive livestock producers.The extents of agriculture in Afghanistan,at both upper and lower elevations,correlated most closely with mean annual temperature（MAT） at the upper elevation limits,and with mean annual precipitation（MAP） at the lower elevation limits.In total,dryland agriculture comprised 38,980 km2 of former native rangeland.Conversion was highest in the northwestern,northern and northeastern provinces of Herat,Badghis,Faryab,Jawzjan,Sar-e-Pul,Samangan,Balkh,Baghlan,Kunduz,Takhar and Badakhshan,with the highest percentage of conversion occurring in Takhar.An MAP value of 〈400 mm is perceived by farmers as the current climatic limit to sustainable dryland agriculture across the northern regions of the country.Uder this MAP value,approximately 27,677 km2 of converted rangeland met the need for restoration priority.Climate projections indicate that Afghanistan will become warmer and drier in the coming decades.One consequence of this trend is that the MAP threshold of 〈400 mm to sustainable dryland agriculture will become obsolete in the coming decades.Restoration of currently converted rangelands is needed to restore critical grazing areas as is the adoption of prudent range management policies to prevent further land degradation and support a vital livestock industry.Food security is at stake as the conversion of rangelands to unsustainable rain-fed agriculture may leave large tracks of land unusable for either agriculture or livestock production.展开更多
Integrative physical mapping is the centerpieceof and essential for advanced genomics research.Upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)geneticstandard line TM-1 is used as the referencegenotype to develop a whole-genome,B...Integrative physical mapping is the centerpieceof and essential for advanced genomics research.Upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)geneticstandard line TM-1 is used as the referencegenotype to develop a whole-genome,BAC/BIBAC-based integrated physical/genetic map ofthe cotton genome.From the TM-1 line we haveconstructed two BAC libraries with HindIII展开更多
Interspecific introgression contributessignificantly to genetic improvement of cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.).Cytogenetics hasfigured prominently in the creation ofinterspecific hybrids,synthetic polyploids,backcrosses...Interspecific introgression contributessignificantly to genetic improvement of cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.).Cytogenetics hasfigured prominently in the creation ofinterspecific hybrids,synthetic polyploids,backcrosses,and other stocks essential to early-and mid-stage manipulation of germplasm展开更多
The 1970s and 1980s marked the apotheosis of Dar- win＇s （1871） conjecture, dismissed in its day, that mate choice driven by individual aesthetic preferences - a ＂taste for the beautiful＂ - plays a central role in...The 1970s and 1980s marked the apotheosis of Dar- win＇s （1871） conjecture, dismissed in its day, that mate choice driven by individual aesthetic preferences - a ＂taste for the beautiful＂ - plays a central role in evolu- tion. The major lines of mate-choice research were largely defined by 1990. Animal behaviorists and neu- roethologists had shown that preferences were multidi- mensional （Burley, 1981） and contingent on a multipli- city of factors （Bateson, 1978）. Evolutionary geneticists and behavioral ecologists argued that positive （Zahavi A, 1975）, negative （Parker, 1979） or neutral （Lande, 1981） fitness effects could drive the evolution of mating prefe- rences, or that preferences could ~merge from functions unrelated to mating （Endler, 1992, Ryan, 1990）. Under any of these scenarios, mate choice could play an inte- gral role in the origin and maintenance of gene flow barriers among species and in the structure of natural populations （Lande, 1981, Searcy, 1982, West- Eberhard, 1983）. Many of these ideas were crystallized in an eponymous volume edited by Bateson （1983）; progress was summarized a decade later as part of Andersson＇s （1994） encyclopedic Sexual Selection.展开更多
Background: In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the impact of insults during pregnancy on postnatal health and disease. It is known that changes in placental development can impact fetal growth and...Background: In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the impact of insults during pregnancy on postnatal health and disease. It is known that changes in placental development can impact fetal growth and subsequent susceptibility to adult onset diseases;however, a method to collect sufficient placental tissues for both histological and gene expression analyses during gestation without compromising the pregnancy has not been described. The ewe is an established biomedical model for the study of fetal development. Due to its cotyledonary placental type, the sheep has potential for surgical removal of materno-fetal exchange tissues, i.e., placentomes. A novel surgical procedure was developed in well-fed control ewes to excise a single placentome at mid-gestation.Results: A follow-up study was performed in a cohort of nutrient-restricted ewes to investigate rapid placental changes in response to undernutrition. The surgery averaged 19 min, and there were no viability differences between control and sham ewes. Nutrient restricted fetuses were smaller than controls(4.7 ± 0.1 kg vs. 5.6 ± 0.2 kg;P < 0.05), with greater dam weight loss(-32.4 ± 1.3 kg vs. 14.2 ± 2.2 kg;P < 0.01), and smaller placentomes at necropsy(5.7 ± 0.3 g vs. 7.2 ± 0.9 g;P < 0.05). Weight of sampled placentomes and placentome numbers did not differ.Conclusions: With this technique, gestational studies in the sheep model will provide insight into the onset and complexity of changes in gene expression in placentomes resulting from undernutrition(as described in our study),overnutrition, alcohol or substance abuse, and environmental or disease factors of relevance and concern regarding the reproductive health and developmental origins of health and disease in humans and in animals.展开更多
Rapid technical advances in the field of computeropened new avenues in animal behavior research.animation （CA） and virtual reality （VR） haveAnimated stimuli are powerful tools as theyoffer standardization, repeata...Rapid technical advances in the field of computeropened new avenues in animal behavior research.animation （CA） and virtual reality （VR） haveAnimated stimuli are powerful tools as theyoffer standardization, repeatability, and complete control over the stimulus presented, thereby＂reducing＂ and ＂replacing＂ the animals used, and ＂refining＂ the experimental design in line withthe 3Rs. However, appropriate use of these technologies raises conceptual and technical questions.In this review, we offer guidelines for common technical and conceptual considerations related tothe use of animated stimuli in animal behavior research. Following the steps required to create ananimated stimulus, we discuss （I） the creation, （11） the presentation, and （111） the validation of CAsand VRs. Although our review is geared toward computer-graphically designed stimuli, consider-ations on presentation and validation also apply to video playbacks. CA and VR allow both new be-havioral questions to be addressed and existing questions to be addressed in new ways, thus weexpect a rich future for these methods in both ultimate and proximate studies of animal behavior.展开更多
基金Department of Defense(W81XWH-17-1-0447 and W81XWH1910548 to AKS)Texas A&M University School of Medicine。
文摘Over one-third of 700,000 military personnel who served in the first Gulf War(GW)suffer from an assortment of symptoms,including cognitive and memory problems,musculoskeletal pain,gastrointestinal discomfort,fatigue,and respiratory issues[1,2].The precise etiology of Gulf War illness(GWI)is unclear.However,epidemiological and preclinical studies imply that exposures to the prophylactic drug pyridostigmine bromide,insecticides,pesticides,smoke from oil well fires,and interaction between these exposures and war-related stress underlie this illness[2].As per the Kansas case definition,GWI is a chronic multi-symptom illness displaying one moderately severe and/or multiple symptoms of any severity in at least 3 of 6 symptom domains(fatigue,pain,neurological/cognitive/mood,skin,gastrointestinal,respiratory)[1,2].While the exact pathophysiological changes underlying GWI have not been identified,alterations in immune regulation and dysregulation of the redox balance have been observed in GWI,resulting in chronic systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation[2].
基金NPRP grant#8-856-2-364 from the Qatar National Research Fund(a constituent member of the Qatar Foundation)。
文摘Benefits of RE addition on Mg alloys strength and corrosion resistance are widely reported but their effects on biodegradability and biocompatibility are still of concern.This paper investigates the effect of RE additions on biodegradability of Mg-Zn alloys under simulated physiological conditions.In this context,two commercial Mg-Zn-Zr-RE alloys,namely ZE41 and EZ33,with same RE addition but different concentrations are studied in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution(HBSS)at 37℃and with pH of 7.4.Weight-loss,hydrogen evolution,real-time insitu drop test,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)and potentiodynamic polarization are deployed to study corrosion characteristics.The mechanical integrity of both alloys is assessed by mechanical testing post immersion.Furthermore,in vitro biocompatibility is evaluated by indirect cytotoxicity tests using NIH3T3 cells.Results reveal that although both alloys showed similar microstructure,size and distribution of precipitates played a significant role on its corrosion response.EIS and open circuit potential results show stable film formation on EZ33,while ZE41 showed passive layer formation followed by its deterioration,over the analyzed time period.Using real-time drop test,it was shown in ZE41 alloy that both T-phase and Zr-rich precipitates acted as micro cathodes,resulting in an unstable surface film.In EZ33,Zr-rich regions did not influence corrosion response,resulting in better corrosion resistance that was corroborated by post-immersion surface morphology investigations.The higher degradation observed in ZE41 alloy resulted in higher drop in flexural and tensile strength compared to EZ33 alloy.In addition,cytotoxicity tests on NIH3T3 cells revealed that cell viability of EZ33 increased with increasing incubation time,contrary to ZE41,owing to its lower biodegradation behavior and despite higher concentrations of REs.Present results show that an increase in RE concentration in EZ33,relative to ZE41,had a positive effect on corrosion rate that subsequently controlled alloy mechanical integrity and biocompatibility.
基金supported by the following grants:USA-Israel BARD Grant OEP 9604563NIH Grant HD32534 and NIH Grant HD38274
文摘Maternal recognition of pregnancy refers to the requirement for the conceptus（embryo and its associated extraembryonic membranes） to produce a hormone that acts on the uterus and/or corpus luteum（CL） to ensure maintenance of a functional CL for production of progesterone;the hormone required for pregnancy in most mammals.The pregnancy recognition signal in primates is chorionic gonadotrophin which acts directly on the CL via luteinizing hormone receptors to ensure maintenance of functional CL during pregnancy.In ruminants,interferon tau（IFNT） is the pregnancy recognition signal.IFNT is secreted during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy and acts on uterine epithelia to silence expression of estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin receptor which abrogates the oxytocin-dependent release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2-alpha（PGF） by uterine epithelia;therefore,the CL continues to produce progesterone required for pregnancy.Pig conceptuses secrete interferon delta and interferon gamma during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy,but there is no evidence that they are involved in pregnancy recognition signaling.Rather,pig conceptuses secrete abundant amounts of estrogens between Days 11 to 15 of pregnancy required for maternal recognition of pregnancy.Estrogen,likely in concert with prolactin,prevents secretion of PGF into the uterine venous drainage（endocrine secretion）,but maintains secretion of PGF into the uterine lumen（exocrine secretion） where it is metabolized to a form that is not luteolytic.Since PGF is sequestered within the uterine lumen and unavailable to induce luteolysis,functional CL are maintained for production of progesterone.In addition to effects of chorionic gonadotrophin,IFNT and estrogens to signal pregnancy recognition,these hormones act on uterine epithelia to enhance expression of genes critical for growth and development of the conceptus.
文摘Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus are both highly prevalent disorders.There has been a recent recognition of an association between insulin resistance and sleep apnea.Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has emerged as an effective therapy for treatment of OSA and has been shown to positively influence numerous pathophysiological factors that con-tribute to cardiovascular risk.There is emerging data that explores the influence of CPAP therapy,insulin sensitivity and glycemic control.In the current review,we examine this literature critically and formulate a synopsis that summarizes the current knowledge in this field.
基金USA-Israel BARD Grant OEP 9604563,USDA Grant 98–01983,NIH Grant HD32534, USDA Grant 00-35203-9137, USDA Grant 98-35203-6322,USDA Grant 2001–02259, USDA grant 2008-35203-19120NIH Grant HD38274 and USA-Israel BARD Grantfunded by the World Class University (WCU) program (R31-10056) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Republic of Korea
文摘There is a dialogue between the developing conceptus （embryo-fetus and associated placental membranes） and maternal uterus which must be established during the peri-implantation period for pregnancy recognition signaling, implantation, regulation of gene expression by uterine epithelial and stromal cells, placentation and exchange of nutrients and gases. The uterus provide a microenvironment in which molecules secreted by uterine epithelia or transported into the uterine lumen represent histotroph required for growth and development of the conceptus and receptivity of the uterus to implantation. Pregnancy recognition signaling mechanisms sustain the functional lifespan of the corpora lutea （CL） which produce progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy essential for uterine functions that support implantation and placentation required for a successful outcome of pregnancy. It is within the peri-implantation period that most embryonic deaths occur due to deficiencies attributed to uterine functions or failure of the conceptus to develop appropriately, signal pregnancy recognition and/or undergo implantation and placentation. With proper placentation, the fetal fluids and fetal membranes each have unique functions to ensure hematotrophic and histotrophic nutrition in support of growth and development of the fetus. The endocrine status of the pregnant female and her nutritional status are critical for successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. This review addresses the complexity of key mechanisms that are characteristic of successful reproduction in sheep and pigs and gaps in knowledge that must be the subject of research in order to enhance fertility and reproductive health of livestock species.
文摘Purpose: This study examines acknowledgments to libraries in the journal literature, as well as the efficacy of using Web of Science(WoS) to locate general acknowledgment text.Design/methodology/approach: This mixed-methods approach quantifies and characterizes acknowledgments to libraries in the journal literature. Using WoS's Funding Text field, the acknowledgments for six peer universities were identified and then characterized. The efficacy of using WoS to locate library acknowledgments was assessed by comparing the WoS Funding Text search results to the actual acknowledgment text found in the articles.Findings: Acknowledgments to libraries were found in articles at all six peer universities, though the absolute and relative numbers were quite low(< 0.5%). Most of the library acknowledgments were for resources(collections, funding, etc.), and many were concentrated in natural history(e.g. zoology). Examination of Texas A&M University zoology articles found that 91.7% of the funding information came from "acknowledgments" and not specifically a funding acknowledgment section. The WoS Funding Text search found 56% of the library acknowledgments compared to a search of the actual acknowledgment text in the articles.Research limitations: Limiting publications to journals, using a single truncated search term, and including only six research universities in the United States.Practical implications: This study examined library acknowledgments, but the same approach could be applied to searches of other keywords, institutions/organizations, individuals, etc. While not specifically designed to search general acknowledgments, WoS's Funding Text field can be used as an exploratory tool to search acknowledgments beyond funding. Originality/value: There are a few studies that have examined library acknowledgments in the scholarly literature, though to date none of those studies have examined the efficacy of using the WoS Funding Text field to locate those library acknowledgments within the journal literature.
基金This study was made possible through the grant USDA Formula Animal Health Fund(NIFA)to A.E.Newell-FugateThe open access publishing fees for this article have been covered by the Texas A&M University Open Access to Knowledge Fund(OAKFund)supported by the University Libraries and the Office of the Vice President for Research
文摘Background:We hypothesized that supplementation of nursery and grower pig diets with coconut oil in the absence of antibiotics would yield maintenance of glucose homeostasis,growth performance,and immune function similar to what is achieved with nursery and grower pig diets containing antibiotics.Pigs received the same base treatment diets from d24(weaning)to d71 of age and had blood and fecal samples collected on d24,d31,d45 and d71 for measurement of whole blood glucose,serum insulin,cortisol and cytokines,and fecal microbiome.Pigs had weekly weights and daily feed consumption measured throughout the study.Animals were euthanized at d71 and subcutaneous fat and ileal contents were collected for assessment for fatty acids and microbiome,respectively.Diet treatments consisted of 2%soybean oil plus antibiotics(ABX;n=22),2%soybean oil without antibiotics(NABX;n=22),and 2%coconut oil without antibiotics(COC;n=22).Statistical analysis examined the effect of diet within each timepoint using a repeated measures ANOVA.Results:Pigs fed COC diet had decreased serum insulin levels,maintained feed intake,feed conversion and weight gain,and,based on serum cytokines and fecal microbiome,were immunologically similar to ABX-fed pigs.However,NABX-fed pigs performed similarly to the ABX-fed pigs in all parameters except for serum cytokines.Additionally,there was no difference in the incidence of diarrhea between any of the diet treatments.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that dietary antibiotics are not necessary to maintain growth performance in nursery and grower pigs.However,dietary antibiotics appear to modulate circulating cytokine levels.Dietary coconut oil is neither harmful nor helpful to growth performance or immune function in nursery and grower pigs but does modulate serum insulin levels.Therefore,while coconut oil fed at 2%by weight is a suitable substitute for dietary antibiotics,this study suggests that no substitute for dietary antibiotics is needed at all.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51768063,51868068)。
文摘To examine the influence of the harsh environment in plateau areas on the operating speed of vehicles,advanced speed prediction models for curved segments are established based on observed actual speed data.First,the speed characteristics at the starting,mid,and end points of a plane curve were observed on Lalin Highway and China National Highway 318 with Bushnell s handheld radar speedometer 10-1911CN.Second,the stepwise regression method was proposed to determine the significant parameters and propose the prediction models of the operating speed of cars and large vehicles for the two highways.Finally,reserved test group data were utilized to prove the validity and practicality of the proposed models.Compared with traditional methods,the established models can produce more accurate prediction results and deeply examine the nonlinear relationships between parameters and the predicted operating speed.This study provides a considerate direction and basis for the operating speed prediction model for other segments in plateau regions.
文摘Inadequate delivery of nutrients results in intrauterine growth restriction （IUGR）, which is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in livestock. In ruminants, inadequate nutrition during pregnancy is often prevalent due to frequent utilization of exensive forage based grazing systems, making them highly susceptible to changes in nutrient quality and availability. Delivery of nutrients to the fetus is dependent on a number of critical factors including placental growth and development, utero-placental blood flow, nutrient availability, and placenta metabolism and transport capacity. Previous findings from our laboratory and others, highlight essential roles for amino acids and their metabolites in supporting normal fetal growth and development, as well as the critical role for amino acid transporters in nutrient delivery to the fetus. The focus of this review will be on the role of materna nutrition on placental form and function as a regulator of fetal development in ruminants.
文摘This study applies the Lindenmayer system based on fractal theory to generate synthetic fracture networks in hydraulically fractured wells.The applied flow model is based on complex analysis methods,which can quantify the flow near the fractures,and being gridless,is computationally faster than traditional discrete volume simulations.The representation of hydraulic fractures as fractals is a more realistic representation than planar bi-wing fractures used in most reservoir models.Fluid withdrawal from the reservoir with evenly spaced hydraulic fractures may leave dead zones between planar fractures.Complex fractal networks will drain the reservoir matrix more effectively,due to the mitigation of stagnation flow zones.The flow velocities,pressure response,and drained rock volume(DRV)are visualized for a variety of fractal fracture networks in a single-fracture treatment stage.The major advancement of this study is the improved representation of hydraulic fractures as complex fractals rather than restricting to planar fracture geometries.Our models indicate that when the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks increases,this will suppress the occurrence of dead flow zones.In order to increase the DRV and improve ultimate recovery,our flow models suggest that fracture treatment programs must find ways to create more complex fracture networks.
文摘Yield test of 41 entries, 32 new hybrids, 8 male parents restore lines and 1 inbred variety, was conducted on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) in 2012. The only inbred Francis in this experiment was used as the check. Francis is a popular variety and widely used in Arkansas rice production. Results showed that the yields of 7 hybrids were 25.7% - 30.7% higher than check Francis. Hybrid 28s/BP23R had the highest yield, 10846.6 kg/hectare and over check by 30.7%. The yield of hybrid 28s/PB-24, was 10628.9 kg/hectare and over check by 28.1%. The yields of hybrid 28s/PB-22 and 33A/PB24 were 10549.8 and 10539.8 kg/hectare and over check by 27.1% and 27.0%, respectively. The sterile lines 28s, 29s, 30s and 33A have good combinability. PB2, PB5, PB12, PB22, PB23, PB24, and PB25 are good restorers and most of their hybrids were over check more than 17%. Sterile 28s has DEMG (Dominant Early Maturity Gene) which can make earlier heading hybrids by crossing with late restorer lines. Sterile 30s and 33A have no DEMG but have heat resistant gene. They can make late heading hybrids by crossing with late restorer lines PB24 and PB22 and the late heading hybrids can resistant to hot temperature. These results showed that these sterile lines, restorer lines and hybrids can be used in rice production of Arkansas in the future.
文摘A new sterile line UP-3s, which carries the Dominant Early Maturity Gene (DEMG), was bred on the farm of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). UP-3s and two check sterile lines, Jin23-A and Xie-A which do not carry the Dominant Early Maturity Gene, were crossed with a group of different maturity restorer lines, PB-1R, PB-5R,PB11, PB-13R, PB-20, PB-21, PB-22R, and PB-23R. Eighteen new hybrid rice combinations of these crosses were then tested at UAPB in 2012 and 2013. The results showed that panicle differentiation (PD) of hybrids from female parent UP-3s (DEMG) crossed with the 8 male parents, were earlier than the hybrids from female parent Jin23-A or Xie-A crossed with the 8 male parents. The PD of these earlier hybrids was before Jun 25 and heading was before July 20. Early PD and heading avoided the high temperature (over 34°C) period which usually occurs after July 20 in Arkansas. The yields of these earlier maturity hybrids with female parent UP-3s were higher than those of the late maturity hybrids thatwereF1 progeny of sterile lines Jin23-A or Xie-A (these two female parent checks with non-DEMG). These results showed that the DEMG sterile line UP-3s can be adopted in making crosses with later maturity restorer lines to obtain earlier maturity hybrids to avoid the high temperature period in Arkansas.
基金funded by the U.S.Agency for International Development (306-A-00-06-00521-00)
文摘Afghanistan is threatened by rangeland degradation.A quantitative visual analysis of Google Earth Imagery was used to systematically locate,characterize and quantify the current extent of rangelands in Afghanistan degraded as a consequence of dryland agriculture.Climate data were used in conjunction with dryland agriculture locations to establish a climate envelope comprised by temperature and mean annual precipitation to create a geographical mask known to contain dryland agriculture.Within this mask we created a grid of 100 km2 cells that we analyzed individually to access dryland agriculture extent.Climatic limits to sustainable dryland agriculture and areas of high restoration priority were also assessed as was the distribution of rain-fed agriculture with respect to the location of traditional migration routes for extensive livestock producers.The extents of agriculture in Afghanistan,at both upper and lower elevations,correlated most closely with mean annual temperature（MAT） at the upper elevation limits,and with mean annual precipitation（MAP） at the lower elevation limits.In total,dryland agriculture comprised 38,980 km2 of former native rangeland.Conversion was highest in the northwestern,northern and northeastern provinces of Herat,Badghis,Faryab,Jawzjan,Sar-e-Pul,Samangan,Balkh,Baghlan,Kunduz,Takhar and Badakhshan,with the highest percentage of conversion occurring in Takhar.An MAP value of 〈400 mm is perceived by farmers as the current climatic limit to sustainable dryland agriculture across the northern regions of the country.Uder this MAP value,approximately 27,677 km2 of converted rangeland met the need for restoration priority.Climate projections indicate that Afghanistan will become warmer and drier in the coming decades.One consequence of this trend is that the MAP threshold of 〈400 mm to sustainable dryland agriculture will become obsolete in the coming decades.Restoration of currently converted rangelands is needed to restore critical grazing areas as is the adoption of prudent range management policies to prevent further land degradation and support a vital livestock industry.Food security is at stake as the conversion of rangelands to unsustainable rain-fed agriculture may leave large tracks of land unusable for either agriculture or livestock production.
文摘Integrative physical mapping is the centerpieceof and essential for advanced genomics research.Upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)geneticstandard line TM-1 is used as the referencegenotype to develop a whole-genome,BAC/BIBAC-based integrated physical/genetic map ofthe cotton genome.From the TM-1 line we haveconstructed two BAC libraries with HindIII
文摘Interspecific introgression contributessignificantly to genetic improvement of cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.).Cytogenetics hasfigured prominently in the creation ofinterspecific hybrids,synthetic polyploids,backcrosses,and other stocks essential to early-and mid-stage manipulation of germplasm
文摘The 1970s and 1980s marked the apotheosis of Dar- win＇s （1871） conjecture, dismissed in its day, that mate choice driven by individual aesthetic preferences - a ＂taste for the beautiful＂ - plays a central role in evolu- tion. The major lines of mate-choice research were largely defined by 1990. Animal behaviorists and neu- roethologists had shown that preferences were multidi- mensional （Burley, 1981） and contingent on a multipli- city of factors （Bateson, 1978）. Evolutionary geneticists and behavioral ecologists argued that positive （Zahavi A, 1975）, negative （Parker, 1979） or neutral （Lande, 1981） fitness effects could drive the evolution of mating prefe- rences, or that preferences could ~merge from functions unrelated to mating （Endler, 1992, Ryan, 1990）. Under any of these scenarios, mate choice could play an inte- gral role in the origin and maintenance of gene flow barriers among species and in the structure of natural populations （Lande, 1981, Searcy, 1982, West- Eberhard, 1983）. Many of these ideas were crystallized in an eponymous volume edited by Bateson （1983）; progress was summarized a decade later as part of Andersson＇s （1994） encyclopedic Sexual Selection.
文摘Background: In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the impact of insults during pregnancy on postnatal health and disease. It is known that changes in placental development can impact fetal growth and subsequent susceptibility to adult onset diseases;however, a method to collect sufficient placental tissues for both histological and gene expression analyses during gestation without compromising the pregnancy has not been described. The ewe is an established biomedical model for the study of fetal development. Due to its cotyledonary placental type, the sheep has potential for surgical removal of materno-fetal exchange tissues, i.e., placentomes. A novel surgical procedure was developed in well-fed control ewes to excise a single placentome at mid-gestation.Results: A follow-up study was performed in a cohort of nutrient-restricted ewes to investigate rapid placental changes in response to undernutrition. The surgery averaged 19 min, and there were no viability differences between control and sham ewes. Nutrient restricted fetuses were smaller than controls(4.7 ± 0.1 kg vs. 5.6 ± 0.2 kg;P < 0.05), with greater dam weight loss(-32.4 ± 1.3 kg vs. 14.2 ± 2.2 kg;P < 0.01), and smaller placentomes at necropsy(5.7 ± 0.3 g vs. 7.2 ± 0.9 g;P < 0.05). Weight of sampled placentomes and placentome numbers did not differ.Conclusions: With this technique, gestational studies in the sheep model will provide insight into the onset and complexity of changes in gene expression in placentomes resulting from undernutrition(as described in our study),overnutrition, alcohol or substance abuse, and environmental or disease factors of relevance and concern regarding the reproductive health and developmental origins of health and disease in humans and in animals.
文摘Rapid technical advances in the field of computeropened new avenues in animal behavior research.animation （CA） and virtual reality （VR） haveAnimated stimuli are powerful tools as theyoffer standardization, repeatability, and complete control over the stimulus presented, thereby＂reducing＂ and ＂replacing＂ the animals used, and ＂refining＂ the experimental design in line withthe 3Rs. However, appropriate use of these technologies raises conceptual and technical questions.In this review, we offer guidelines for common technical and conceptual considerations related tothe use of animated stimuli in animal behavior research. Following the steps required to create ananimated stimulus, we discuss （I） the creation, （11） the presentation, and （111） the validation of CAsand VRs. Although our review is geared toward computer-graphically designed stimuli, consider-ations on presentation and validation also apply to video playbacks. CA and VR allow both new be-havioral questions to be addressed and existing questions to be addressed in new ways, thus weexpect a rich future for these methods in both ultimate and proximate studies of animal behavior.
