Validating genomic predictions for economic traits in purebred US dairy heifers.

Most genotypes in the National Cooperator Database now originate from cows, but most previous studies validating genomic predictions have primarily focused on bulls. This study paired official within-breed genomic PTA (GPTA) and parent average (PA) for genotyped heifer calves born between 2019 and 2021 using the August 2021 database with their corresponding performance deviations (PDEV) for 17 different traits. The PDEV data became available when the heifers completed their first lactation and were extracted from the August 2023 database in which at least one PDEV value for those 17 traits existed for each genotyped heifer record.

Mesenchymal stromal cell extracellular vesicles improve lung development in mechanically ventilated preterm lambs.

Novel therapies are needed for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) because no effective treatment exists. Mesenchymal stromal cell extracellular vesicles (MSC-sEVs) have therapeutic efficacy in a mouse pup neonatal hyperoxia BPD model. We tested the hypothesis that MSC-sEVs will improve lung functional and structural development in mechanically ventilated preterm lambs.

New mutation within a common haplotype is associated with calf muscle weakness in Holsteins.

A recessive haplotype resulting in elevated calf mortality but with apparent incomplete penetrance was previously linked to the end of chromosome 16 (78.7-80.7 Mbp).

Perceptions of the double value coupon program in southern Illinois.

Introduction: Purchasing produce at farmers markets represents one method by which individuals can purchase and have access to healthful and seasonal fruits. Despite the extension of nutrition assistance programs to local farmers markets, fruit and vegetables consumption has remained below the recommended guidelines, specifically in rural geographical locations.

Statement Of Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the aspects of the Link Up Illinois Double Value SNAP Nutrition Incentives Program (DVCP) and its effects on food selection at rural farmers markets for individuals enrolled in nutrition assistance programs.

Truncation of IFT80 causes early embryonic loss in Holstein cattle associated with Holstein haplotype 2.

Recessive alleles represent genetic risk in populations that have undergone bottleneck events. We present a comprehensive framework for identification and validation of these genetic defects, including haplotype-based detection, variant selection from sequence data, and validation using knockout embryos. Holstein haplotype 2 (HH2), which causes embryonic death, was used to demonstrate the approach.

Pilot dose-ranging of rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3 in a preterm lamb model of evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: Low levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) protein in preterm human infants are associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We used our preterm lamb model of BPD to determine (1) dosage of recombinant human (rh) IGF-1 bound to binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) to reach infant physiologic plasma levels; and (2) whether repletion of plasma IGF-1 improves pulmonary and cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: Group 1: normal, unventilated lambs from 128 days gestation through postnatal age 5 months defined normal plasma levels of IGF-1.

Impact of Social Support on the Physical Activity Behaviors of International College Students in the United States.

Research has suggested that international students' transition to the United States is often correlated with less physical activity after arriving in the U.S). One reason might be related to reduced social support when living in a foreign environment.

Inheritance of a mutation causing neuropathy with splayed forelimbs in Jersey cattle.

A new undesirable genetic factor, neuropathy with splayed forelimbs (JNS), has been identified recently in the Jersey breed. Calves affected with JNS are unable to stand on splayed forelimbs that exhibit significant extensor rigidity and excessive lateral abduction at birth. Affected calves generally are alert at birth but exhibit neurologic symptoms, including spasticity of head and neck and convulsive behavior.

Novel Use of a Bronchial Blocker in a Challenging Case of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia-A Case Report.

The diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Survival of neonates with CDH has improved recently, although the clinical course is complicated by sequelae of hypoplastic pulmonary parenchyma and vasculature, pulmonary hypertension, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, reduced pulmonary function and poor somatic growth. In this case report, we describe an infant with an antenatal diagnosis of CDH with a poor prognosis who underwent initial surgery followed by a tracheostomy but had a worsening clinical course due to a large area of ventilated but poorly perfused lung based on a V/Q nuclear scintigraphy scan.

Impact of social support on the dietary behaviors of international college students in the United States.

Objective: International students in the US often adopt unhealthy dietary behaviors, perhaps due to lack of familiarity and social support. This study examined the impact of social support on international college students' dietary behaviors.

Participants: This study surveyed international students ( = 318) from five public universities in one Midwest state.

Early extubation to noninvasive respiratory support of former preterm lambs improves long-term respiratory outcomes.

Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and exposure to oxygen-rich gas during early postnatal life are contributing factors for long-term pulmonary morbidities faced by survivors of preterm birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The duration of IMV that leads to long-term pulmonary morbidities is unknown. We compared two durations of IMV (3 h vs.

Development of polymorphic markers in the immune gene complex loci of cattle.

The addition of cattle health and immunity traits to genomic selection indices holds promise to increase individual animal longevity and productivity, and decrease economic losses from disease. However, highly variable genomic loci that contain multiple immune-related genes were poorly assembled in the first iterations of the cattle reference genome assembly and underrepresented during the development of most commercial genotyping platforms. As a consequence, there is a paucity of genetic markers within these loci that may track haplotypes related to disease susceptibility.

Marker selection and genomic prediction of economically important traits using imputed high-density genotypes for 5 breeds of dairy cattle.

Marker sets used in US dairy genomic predictions were previously expanded by including high-density (HD) or sequence markers with the largest effects for Holstein breed only. Other non-Holstein breeds lacked enough HD genotyped animals to be used as a reference population at that time, and thus were not included in the genomic prediction. Recently, numbers of non-Holstein breeds genotyped using HD panels reached an acceptable level for imputation and marker selection, allowing HD genomic prediction and HD marker selection for Holstein plus 4 other breeds.

Emergency ventilator for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the world in 2020 by spreading at unprecedented rates and causing tens of thousands of fatalities within a few months. The number of deaths dramatically increased in regions where the number of patients in need of hospital care exceeded the availability of care. Many COVID-19 patients experience Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a condition that can be treated with mechanical ventilation.

Transforming Growth Factor-induced Protein Promotes NF-κB-mediated Angiogenesis during Postnatal Lung Development.

Pulmonary angiogenesis is a key driver of alveolarization. Our prior studies showed that NF-κB promotes pulmonary angiogenesis during early alveolarization. However, the mechanisms regulating temporal-specific NF-κB activation in the pulmonary vasculature are unknown.

Major quantitative trait loci influencing milk production and conformation traits in Guernsey dairy cattle detected on Bos taurus autosome 19.

The goal of this study was to identify potential quantitative trait loci (QTL) for 27 production, fitness, and conformation traits of Guernsey cattle through genome-wide association (GWA) analyses, with extra emphasis on BTA19, where major QTL were observed for several traits. Animals' de-regressed predicted transmitting abilities (PTA) from the December 2018 traditional US evaluation were used as phenotypes. All of the Guernsey cattle included in the QTL analyses were predictor animals in the reference population, ranging from 1,077 to 1,685 animals for different traits.

Utilizing Lean Leadership Principles to Build an Academic Primary Care Practice of the Future.

This Perspective presents a case study of multidimensional clinical transformation in an academic general internal medicine practice. In the face of increasing internal and external pressures, health systems and individual medical practices have pursued multiple strategies to improve quality, patient experience, and efficiency, while reducing staff and provider stress and burnout. We describe a Lean-informed approach that emphasizes the importance of organizational alignment in goals, evidence-based problem solving, and leadership behaviors to support a culture of continuous improvement.

Low-Complexity System and Algorithm for an Emergency Ventilator Sensor and Alarm.

In response to anticipated shortages of ventilators caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have designed low-cost emergency ventilators. Many of these devices are pressure-cycled pneumatic ventilators, which are easy to produce but often do not include the sensing or alarm features found on commercial ventilators. This work reports a low-cost, easy-to-produce electronic sensor and alarm system for pressure-cycled ventilators that estimates clinically useful metrics such as pressure and respiratory rate and sounds an alarm when the ventilator malfunctions.

Illicit drug use and self-reported vision loss among military service members or veterans.

Introduction: Little is known about differences in vision loss prevalence among service members or veterans (SMVs) and civilians; further, no study has compared vision loss risk factors in these two populations. As such, we seek to fill this gap in the literature.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, we obtained data on 106 SMVs and 1572 civilians from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

Injury, Illness, and Mental Health Risks in United States Domestic Mariners.

Objective: Describe health conditions and injury and illness rates in a population of United States mariners, an understudied workforce vital to economic security.

Methods: In this survey study, mariner health data was collected and analyzed to provide injury and illness rates (including mental health conditions) and associated risk factors.

Results: In this mariner population of highly tenured vessel masters and pilots, hypertension, obesity, sleep disorders, smoking, alcohol consumption, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were common.

Genomic prediction of residual feed intake in US Holstein dairy cattle.

Genomic selection is an important tool to introduce feed efficiency into dairy cattle breeding. The goals of the current research are to estimate genomic breeding values of residual feed intake (RFI) and to assess the prediction reliability for RFI in the US Holstein population. The RFI data were collected from 4,823 lactations of 3,947 Holstein cows in 9 research herds in the United States, and were pre-adjusted to remove phenotypic correlations with milk energy, metabolic body weight, body weight change, and for several environmental effects.

High-density genome-wide association study for residual feed intake in Holstein dairy cattle.

Improving feed efficiency (FE) of dairy cattle may boost farm profitability and reduce the environmental footprint of the dairy industry. Residual feed intake (RFI), a candidate FE trait in dairy cattle, can be defined to be genetically uncorrelated with major energy sink traits (e.g.

Short communication: Phenotypic and genetic effects of the polled haplotype on yield, longevity, and fertility in US Brown Swiss, Holstein, and Jersey cattle.

Phenotypes from the December 2018 US national genetic evaluations were used to compute effects of the polled haplotype in US Brown Swiss (BS), Holstein (HO), and Jersey (JE) cattle on milk, fat, and protein yields, somatic cell score, single-trait productive life, daughter pregnancy rate, heifer conception rate, and cow conception rate. Lactation records pre-adjusted for nongenetic factors and direct genomic values were used to estimate phenotypic and genetic effects of the polled haplotype, respectively. No phenotypic or direct genomic values effects were different from zero for any trait in any breed.