Effects of Early Lactation Milking Frequency in an Automated Milking System on Cow Performance.

Automated milking systems () are increasingly adopted for dairy cow production, promoting individualized cow management dependent on factors like lactation stage, age, and productivity. The study objective was to investigate the effects of early lactation milking frequency on cows milked via AMS. Multiparous Holstein cows blocked by parity and due date were randomly assigned to treatments (n = 8 per treatment): three () or six () milkings per day ().

Aphid species specializing on milkweed harbor taxonomically similar bacterial communities that differ in richness and relative abundance of core symbionts.

Host plant range is arguably one of the most important factors shaping microbial communities associated with insect herbivores. However, it is unclear whether host plant specialization limits microbial community diversity or to what extent herbivores sharing a common host plant evolve similar microbiomes. To investigate whether variation in host plant range influences the assembly of core herbivore symbiont populations we compared bacterial diversity across three milkweed aphid species (Aphis nerii, Aphis asclepiadis, Myzocallis asclepiadis) feeding on a common host plant (Asclepias syriaca) using 16S rRNA metabarcoding.

In vitro functional characterization predicts the impact of bacterial root endophytes on plant growth.

Utilizing beneficial microbes for crop improvement is one strategy to achieve sustainable agriculture. However, identifying microbial isolates that promote crop growth is challenging, in part because using bacterial taxonomy to predict an isolate's effect on plant growth may not be reliable. The overall aim of this work was to determine whether in vitro functional traits of bacteria were predictive of their in planta impact.

Competition between Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea and Bacteria from Freshwater Environments.

In the environment, nutrients are rarely available in a constant supply. Therefore, microorganisms require strategies to compete for limiting nutrients. In freshwater systems, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) compete with heterotrophic bacteria, photosynthetic microorganisms, and each other for ammonium, which AOA and AOB utilize as their sole source of energy and nitrogen.

Emerging strategies for precision microbiome management in diverse agroecosystems.

Substantial efforts to characterize the structural and functional diversity of soil, plant and insect-associated microbial communities have illuminated the complex interacting domains of crop-associated microbiomes that contribute to agroecosystem health. As a result, plant-associated microorganisms have emerged as an untapped resource for combating challenges to agricultural sustainability. However, despite growing interest in maximizing microbial functions for crop production, resource efficiency and stress resistance, research has struggled to harness the beneficial properties of agricultural microbiomes to improve crop performance.

A role for the gibberellin pathway in biochar-mediated growth promotion.

Biochar is a carbon negative soil amendment that can promote crop growth. However, the effects of biochar on different plant species and cultivars within a species are not well understood, nor is the underlying basis of biochar-mediated plant growth promotion. This knowledge is critical for optimal use of biochar and for breeding biochar-responsive plants.

Whole Root Transcriptomic Analysis Suggests a Role for Auxin Pathways in Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum in Tomato.

The soilborne pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is the causal agent of bacterial wilt and causes significant crop loss in the Solanaceae family. The pathogen first infects roots, which are a critical source of resistance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Quality of randomized controlled trials in eating disorder prevention.

Objective: To investigate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of eating disorder prevention.

Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library to January 2016. Studies were included if they were RCTs that tested an eating disorder prevention program.

Prevention of eating disorders: A systematic review of randomized, controlled trials.

Objective: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of universal, selective, and indicated eating disorder prevention.

Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library databases to January 2016. Studies were included if they were randomized, controlled trials (RCT) and tested an eating disorder prevention program.

Iodide Residues in Milk Vary between Iodine-Based Teat Disinfectants.

Majority of iodine found in dairy milk comes from the diet and teat disinfection products used during milking process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 4 iodine-based teat dips on milk iodide concentrations varying in iodine level (0.25% vs.

Mechanisms of quantitative disease resistance in plants.

Quantitative disease resistance (QDR) causes the reduction, but not absence, of disease, and is a major type of disease resistance for many crop species. QDR results in a continuous distribution of disease scores across a segregating population, and is typically due to many genes with small effects. It may also be a source of durable resistance.

Freshwater Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea Retain amoA mRNA and 16S rRNA during Ammonia Starvation.

In their natural habitats, microorganisms are often exposed to periods of starvation if their substrates for energy generation or other nutrients are limiting. Many microorganisms have developed strategies to adapt to fluctuating nutrients and long-term starvation. In the environment, ammonia oxidizers have to compete with many different organisms for ammonium and are often exposed to long periods of ammonium starvation.

Soil microbial communities respond differently to three chemically defined polyphenols.

High molecular weight polyphenols (e.g. tannins) that enter the soil may affect microbial populations, by serving as substrates for microbial respiration or by selecting for certain microbes.

Ecophysiological characterization of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria from freshwater.

Aerobic biological ammonia oxidation is carried out by two groups of microorganisms, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and the recently discovered ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). Here we present a study using cultivation-based methods to investigate the differences in growth of three AOA cultures and one AOB culture enriched from freshwater environments. The strain in the enriched AOA culture belong to thaumarchaeal group I.

Isolation, cultivation, and characterization of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea adapted to low ammonium concentrations.

Ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOM) generate their energy by the oxidation of ammonia (NH(3)) to nitrite (NO(2)(-)). This process can be carried out by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) as well as by the recently discovered ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). In the past, AOB were enriched in batch cultures, often in the presence of rather high concentrations of NH(4)(+).

Enteric bacterial pathogens with zoonotic potential isolated from farm-raised deer.

The raising of captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a growing agricultural industry in Ohio as it is in several other areas of the United States and around the world. Pooled fecal samples were collected from 30 white-tailed deer confinement facilities. Samples were cultured for five enteric bacterial pathogens.

Engaging key stakeholders to assess and improve the professional preparation of MPH health educators.

Objectives: We described the process of engaging key stakeholders in a systematic review of requirements for a master of public health (MPH) degree within the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, and summarized resulting changes.

Methods: A benchmarking study of 11 peer institutions was completed. Key stakeholders (i.

Applying health education theory to patient safety programs: three case studies.

Program planning for patient safety is challenging because intervention-oriented surveillance data are not yet widely available to those working in this nascent field. Even so, health educators are uniquely positioned to contribute to patient safety intervention efforts because their theoretical training provides them with a guide for designing and implementing prevention programs. This article demonstrates the utility of applying health education concepts from three prominent patient safety campaigns, including the concepts of risk perception, community participation, and social marketing.

Community coalition project directors: what makes them effective leaders?

Objective: Effective leaders, both voluntary and paid, facilitate successful coalitions. The attributes that characterize effective project directors, however, are unclear. Our aim was to identify characteristics of effective project directors leading community coalitions.