Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of young post-pubertal dairy bulls alters the fatty acid composition of seminal plasma and spermatozoa but has no effect on semen volume or sperm quality.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary supplementation with rumen protected n-6 or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the quantity and quality of semen from young post-pubertal dairy bulls. Pubertal Holstein-Friesian (n = 43) and Jersey (n = 7) bulls with a mean ± s.e.

Analyzing dyadic data with multilevel modeling versus structural equation modeling: A tale of two methods.

Multilevel modeling (MLM) and structural equation modeling (SEM) are the dominant methods for the analysis of dyadic data. Both methods are extensively reviewed for the widely used actor-partner interdependence model and the dyadic growth curve model, as well as other less frequently adopted models, including the common fate model and the mutual influence model. For each method, we discuss the analysis of distinguishable and indistinguishable members, the treatment of missing data, the standardization of effects, and tests of mediation.

Divergent functional isoforms drive niche specialisation for nutrient acquisition and use in rumen microbiome.

Many microbes in complex competitive environments share genes for acquiring and utilising nutrients, questioning whether niche specialisation exists and if so, how it is maintained. We investigated the genomic signatures of niche specialisation in the rumen microbiome, a highly competitive, anaerobic environment, with limited nutrient availability determined by the biomass consumed by the host. We generated individual metagenomic libraries from 14 cows fed an ad libitum diet of grass silage and calculated functional isoform diversity for each microbial gene identified.

Proteomic analysis of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in neutral and alkaline conditions.

Background: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of diarrhea in children and travelers to endemic areas. Secretion of the heat labile AB toxin (LT) is induced by alkaline conditions. In this study, we determined the surface proteome of ETEC exposed to alkaline conditions (pH 9) as compared to neutral conditions (pH 7) using a LPI Hexalane FlowCell combined with quantitative proteomics.

Clinical interventions, implementation interventions, and the potential greyness in between -a discussion paper.

Background: There is increasing awareness that regardless of the proven value of clinical interventions, the use of effective strategies to implement such interventions into clinical practice is necessary to ensure that patients receive the benefits. However, there is often confusion between what is the clinical intervention and what is the implementation intervention. This may be caused by a lack of conceptual clarity between 'intervention' and 'implementation', yet at other times by ambiguity in application.

Early onset of puberty in cattle: implications for gamete quality and embryo survival.

Advancing the age at which puberty and subsequent sexual maturation is attained in cattle is central to the reproductive and economic efficiency of both beef and dairy production systems worldwide. Onset of puberty in both male and female cattle is regulated by a complex network of biochemical processes and involves interaction among many key metabolic, neuroendocrine and reproductive tissues. Although our understanding of the biochemical interplay that conditions and eventually triggers the pubertal process has improved in recent years, much of the intricate mechanistic detail still eludes us.

Initial Experience with Elective Perventricular Melody Valve Placement in Small Patients.

Perventricular Melody valve placement has been described as a bailout approach or alternative RVOT approach in patients >30 kg. We present three patients <20 kg and two patients with limited venous access, where we electively performed the perventricular approach. Retrospective analysis of patients <30 kg and vascular access limitation undergoing elective hybrid pulmonary valve replacement were reviewed.

Compensatory growth in crossbred Aberdeen Angus and Belgian Blue steers: Effects on the colour, shear force and sensory characteristics of longissimus muscle.

The effect of feed restriction (99days) followed by compensatory growth during a 200day re-alimentation period on the colour and sensory characteristics of meat from Aberdeen Angus×Holstein-Friesian (AN) and Belgian Blue×Holstein-Friesian (BB) steers was examined. Compensatory growth had no effect on muscle pH and temperature decline, chemical composition, drip loss, fat colour, or juiciness, but increased (P=0.009) Warner-Bratzler shear force and decreased tenderness (P=0.

Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries: 2. Avulsion of Permanent Teeth.

Avulsion of permanent teeth is one of the most serious dental injuries, and a prompt and correct emergency management is very important for the prognosis. The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) has developed a consensus statement after a review of the dental literature and group discussions. Experienced researchers and clinicians from various specialties were included in the task group.

Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Dental Injuries: 1. Fractures and Luxations of Permanent Teeth.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) of permanent teeth occur frequently in children and young adults. Crown fractures and luxations are the most commonly occurring of all dental injuries. Proper diagnosis, treatment planning and followup are important for improving a favorable outcome.

Comparative Analysis of Two Strains using Genomics and Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics.

, a gastroenteric pathogen believed to have co-evolved with humans over 100,000 years, shows significant genetic variability. This motivates the study of different strains and the diseases they cause in order to identify determinants for disease evolution. In this study, we used proteomics tools to compare two strains.

Surgical repair of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm following perventricular device closure of muscular ventricular septal defect.

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm formation following perventricular device closure of a muscular ventricular septal defect is a rare complication. We describe a case of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm in an infant with Swiss-cheese ventricular septal defects who initially underwent closure with an Amplatzer device using a hybrid approach. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully resected surgically.

Dynamic platelet function on von Willebrand factor is different in preterm neonates and full-term neonates: changes in neonatal platelet function.

Unlabelled: Essentials It is unclear if platelet function differs between preterm and full-term neonates. Platelet behavior was characterized using a flow-based assay on von Willebrand Factor (VWF). Preterms had increased platelet interaction with VWF and glycoprotein Ibα expression.

Computational Tracking of Shear-Mediated Platelet Interactions with von Willebrand Factor.

The imaging of shear-mediated dynamic platelet behavior interacting with surface-immobilized von Willebrand factor (vWF) has tremendous potential in characterizing changes in platelet function for clinical diagnostics purposes. However, the imaging output, a series of images representing platelets adhering and rolling on the surface, poses unique, non-trivial challenges for software algorithms that reconstruct the positional trajectories of platelets. We report on an algorithm that tracks platelets using the output of such flow run experiments, taking into account common artifacts encountered by previously-published methods, and we derive seven key metrics of platelet dynamics that can be used to characterize platelet function.

The Combined Effects of Measurement Error and Omitting Confounders in the Single-Mediator Model.

Mediation analysis requires a number of strong assumptions be met in order to make valid causal inferences. Failing to account for violations of these assumptions, such as not modeling measurement error or omitting a common cause of the effects in the model, can bias the parameter estimates of the mediated effect. When the independent variable is perfectly reliable, for example when participants are randomly assigned to levels of treatment, measurement error in the mediator tends to underestimate the mediated effect, while the omission of a confounding variable of the mediator-to-outcome relation tends to overestimate the mediated effect.

Experiments with More Than One Random Factor: Designs, Analytic Models, and Statistical Power.

Traditional methods of analyzing data from psychological experiments are based on the assumption that there is a single random factor (normally participants) to which generalization is sought. However, many studies involve at least two random factors (e.g.

Identifying attachment ruptures underlying severe music performance anxiety in a professional musician undertaking an assessment and trial therapy of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).

Introduction: Kenny has proposed that severe music performance anxiety that is unresponsive to usual treatments such as cognitive-behaviour therapy may be one manifestation of unresolved attachment ruptures in early life. Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy specifically targets early relationship trauma. Accordingly, a trial of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy with severely anxious musicians was implemented to assess whether resolution of attachment ruptures resulted in clinically significant relief from music performance anxiety.

Examination of the molecular control of ruminal epithelial function in response to dietary restriction and subsequent compensatory growth in cattle.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary restriction and subsequent compensatory growth on the relative expression of genes involved in volatile fatty acid transport, metabolism and cell proliferation in ruminal epithelial tissue of beef cattle. Sixty Holstein Friesian bulls (mean liveweight 370 ± 35 kg; mean age 479 ± 15 d) were assigned to one of two groups: (i) restricted feed allowance (RES; n = 30) for 125 d (Period 1) followed by ad libitum access to feed for 55 d (Period 2) or (ii) ad libitum access to feed throughout (ADLIB; n = 30). Target growth rate for RES was 0.

Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is a genetically inherited, life-threatening condition that affects major organs. The management of cystic fibrosis involves a multi-faceted daily treatment regimen that includes airway clearance techniques, pancreatic enzymes and other medications. Previous studies have found that compliance with this intensive treatment is poor, especially among adolescents.

Hybrid pulmonary artery plication followed by transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement: Comparison with surgical PVR.

Objective/Background Historically, the sole option for patients with a dysfunctional native right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) requiring re-establishment of pulmonary competence has been surgical PVR. We sought to compare early outcomes of hybrid pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) combining surgical plication of the main pulmonary artery followed by transcatheter PVR, with a contemporary cohort of surgical PVR patients. Methods Retrospective chart analysis of all patients with a dilated native RVOT eligible for surgical PVR over 36 months was performed.

Characterisation of the Whole Blood mRNA Transcriptome in Holstein-Friesian and Jersey Calves in Response to Gradual Weaning.

Weaning of dairy calves is an early life husbandry management practice which involves the changeover from a liquid to a solid feed based diet. The objectives of the study were to use RNA-seq technology to examine the effect of (i) breed and (ii) gradual weaning, on the whole blood mRNA transcriptome of artificially reared Holstein-Friesian and Jersey calves. The calves were gradually weaned over 14 days (day (d) -13 to d 0) and mRNA transcription was examined one day before gradual weaning was initiated (d -14), one day after weaning (d 1), and 8 days after weaning (d 8).

The Use of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for Early Detection of Myocardial Dysfunction in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Cardiac complications are the leading cause of death in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Two-dimensional echocardiography is the current standard for monitoring of LV systolic function in these patients, but it might not detect early systolic dysfunction. The current study examined the use of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) to detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction in DMD patients.

Increased soluble GPVI levels in cirrhosis: evidence for early in vivo platelet activation.

Cirrhosis is a consequence of prolonged liver injury and is characterised by extensive tissue fibrosis: the deposition of collagen-rich extracellular matrix. The haemostatic balance is disordered in cirrhosis and coagulation activation appears to promote fibrosis. In spite of recent studies demonstrating a role for anticoagulant therapy in preventing cirrhosis progression, there has not been a change in clinical practice, suggesting that physicians are reluctant to anticoagulate patients with cirrhosis due to bleeding risks.

The effects of neurodynamic straight leg raise treatment duration on range of hip flexion and protective muscle activity at P1.

Study Design: Randomized, single blind, same subject crossover trial.

Objectives: To compare the effects of two neurodynamic treatment doses on range of hip flexion (ROM HF) and electromyographic (EMG) activity of semitendinosus, at first onset of pain (P1).

Methods: A total of 26 healthy participants without low back or leg pain received each treatment in a random order with at least 48 hours between sessions.