Quality, nutrient and sensory characteristics of aged meat from lambs supplemented with selenomethionine.

Selenium (Se) as a co-factor of antioxidant enzymes is metabolically essential for animals. Its presence in muscle can improve the oxidative stability of meat and is a desirable nutrient for consumers. A novel approach to Se supplementation for meat-producing livestock was demonstrated in a 95-day study of young lambs.

Mammary transcriptome analysis of lactating dairy cows following administration of bovine growth hormone.

The galactopoietic effect of growth hormone (GH) in lactating ruminants is well established; however the mechanisms that mediate these effects are not well understood. The first objective of this study was to determine the effect of GH on the synthesis of the major casein and whey proteins. The second objective was to identify the genes and pathways that may be involved in mediating the effect of GH on milk synthesis.

'Ready to hit the ground running': Alumni and employer accounts of a unique part-time distance learning pre-registration nurse education programme.

Background: This study explored the impact of The Open University's (OU) preregistration nursing programme on students' employability, career progression and its contribution to developing the nursing workforce across the United Kingdom. Designed for healthcare support workers who are sponsored by their employers, the programme is the only part-time supported open/distance learning programme in the UK leading to registration as a nurse. The international literature reveals that relatively little is known about the impact of previous experience as a healthcare support worker on the experience of transition, employability skills and career progression.

Investigating micronutrients and epigenetic mechanisms in relation to inflammatory bowel disease.

Epigenomic regulation, via DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA, is increasingly recognised as having a key role in normal development and function of an organism, acting to control cellular and tissue growth and differentiation. It is also thought to be involved in many complex diseases now common in the Western world, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There is a range of evidence to suggest that nutrition plays a vital role in the protection from such diseases.

Faecal measurements of oestradiol and testosterone allow the non-invasive estimation of plasma steroid concentrations in the domestic fowl.

1. Radioimmunoassays were validated for oestradiol and testosterone in faecal and plasma samples from domestic fowls. Faecal samples were prepared in phosphate buffer.