Assessing different cross-validation schemes for predicting novel traits using sensor data: An application to dry matter intake and residual feed intake using milk spectral data.

Feed efficiency is important for economic profitability of dairy farms; however, recording daily DMI is expensive. Our objective was to investigate the potential use of milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectral data to predict proxy phenotypes for DMI based on different cross-validation schemes. We were specifically interested in comparisons between a model that included only MIR data (model M1); a model that incorporated different energy sink predictors, such as body weight, body weight change, and milk energy (model M2); and an extended model that incorporated both energy sinks and MIR data (model M3). Models M2 and M3 also included various cow-level variables (stage of lactation, age at calving, parity) such that any improvement in model performance from M2 to M3, whether through a smaller root mean squared error (RMSE) or a greater squared predictive correlation (R2), could indicate a potential benefit of MIR to predict residual feed intake. The data used in our study originated from a multi-institutional project on the genetics of feed efficiency in US Holsteins. Analyses were conducted on 2 different trait definitions based on different period lengths: averaged across weeks versus averaged across 28 d. Specifically, there were 19,942 weekly records on 1,812 cows across 46 experiments or cohorts and 3,724 28-d records on 1,700 cows across 43 different cohorts. The cross-validation analyses involved 3 different k-fold schemes. First, a 10-fold cow-independent cross-validation was conducted whereby all records from any one cow were kept together in either training or test sets. Similarly, a 10-fold experiment-independent cross-validation kept entire experiments together, whereas a 4-fold herd-independent cross-validation kept entire herds together in either training or test sets. Based on cow-independent cross-validation for both weekly and 28-d DMI, adding MIR predictors to energy sinks (model M3 vs. M2) significantly (P < 10-10) reduced average RMSE to 1.59 kg and increased average R2 to 0.89. However, adding MIR to energy sinks (M3) to predict DMI either within an experiment-independent or herd-independent cross-validation scheme seemed to demonstrate no merit (P > 0.05) compared with an energy sink model (M2) for either R2 or RMSE (respectively, 0.68 and 2.55 kg for M2 in herd-independent scheme). We further noted that with broader cross-validation schemes (i.e., from cow-independent to experiment-independent to herd-independent schemes), the mean and slope bias increased. Given that proxy DMI phenotypes for cows would need to be almost entirely generated in herds having no DMI or training data of their own, herd-independent cross-validation assessments of predictive performance should be emphasized. Hence, more research on predictive algorithms suitable for broader cross-validation schemes and a more earnest effort on calibration of spectrophotometers against each other should be considered.

Estimation of genetic parameters for feed efficiency traits using random regression models in dairy cattle.

Feed efficiency has become an increasingly important research topic in recent years. As feed costs rise and the environmental impacts of agriculture become more apparent, improving the efficiency with which dairy cows convert feed to milk is increasingly important. However, feed intake is expensive to measure accurately on large populations, making the inclusion of this trait in breeding programs difficult. Understanding how the genetic parameters of feed efficiency and traits related to feed efficiency vary throughout the lactation period is valuable to gain understanding into the genetic nature of feed efficiency. This study used 121,226 dry matter intake (DMI) records, 120,500 energy-corrected milk (ECM) records, and 98,975 metabolic body weight (MBW) records, collected on 7,440 first-lactation Holstein cows from 6 countries (Canada, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States), from January 2003 to February 2022. Genetic parameters were estimated using a multiple-trait random regression model with a fourth-order Legendre polynomial for all traits. Weekly phenotypes for DMI were re-parameterized using linear regressions of DMI on ECM and MBW, creating a measure of feed efficiency that was genetically corrected for ECM and MBW, referred to as genomic residual feed intake (gRFI). Heritability (SE) estimates varied from 0.15 (0.03) to 0.29 (0.02) for DMI, 0.24 (0.01) to 0.29 (0.03) for ECM, 0.55 (0.03) to 0.83 (0.05) for MBW, and 0.12 (0.03) to 0.22 (0.06) for gRFI. In general, heritability estimates were lower in the first stage of lactation compared with the later stages of lactation. Additive genetic correlations between weeks of lactation varied, with stronger correlations between weeks of lactation that were close together. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the change in genetic parameters across the first lactation, providing insight into potential selection strategies to include feed efficiency in breeding programs.

Multiple-trait random regression modeling of feed efficiency in US Holsteins.

Residual feed intake (RFI) and feed saved (FS) are important feed efficiency traits that have been increasingly considered in genetic improvement programs. Future sustainability of these genetic evaluations will depend upon greater flexibility to accommodate sparsely recorded dry matter intake (DMI) records on many more cows, especially from commercial environments. Recent multiple-trait random regression (MTRR) modeling developments have facilitated days in milk (DIM)-specific inferences on RFI and FS, particularly in modeling the effect of change in metabolic body weight (MBW). The MTRR analyses, using daily data on the core traits of DMI, MBW, and milk energy (MilkE), were conducted separately for 2,532 primiparous and 2,379 multiparous US Holstein cows from 50 to 200 DIM. Estimated MTRR variance components were used to derive genetic RFI and FS and DIM-specific genetic partial regressions of DMI on MBW, MilkE, and change in MBW. Estimated daily heritabilities of RFI and FS varied across lactation for both primiparous (0.05-0.07 and 0.11-0.17, respectively) and multiparous (0.03-0.13 and 0.10-0.17, respectively) cows. Genetic correlations of RFI across DIM varied (>0.05) widely compared with FS (>0.54) within either parity class. Heritability estimates based on average lactation-wise measures were substantially larger than daily heritabilities, ranging from 0.17 to 0.25 for RFI and from 0.35 to 0.41 for FS. The partial genetic regression coefficients of DMI on MBW (0.11 to 0.16 kg/kg0.75 for primiparous and 0.12 to 0.14 kg/kg0.75 for multiparous cows) and of DMI on MilkE (0.45 to 0.68 kg/Mcal for primiparous and 0.36 to 0.61 kg/Mcal for multiparous cows) also varied across lactation. In spite of the computational challenges encountered with MTRR, the model potentially facilitates an efficient strategy for harnessing more data involving a wide variety of data recording scenarios for genetic evaluations on feed efficiency.

Effect of milking frequency and α-tocopherol plus selenium supplementation on sheep milk lipid composition and oxidative stability.

The aim of this research was to study the effect of milking frequency [once-daily milking (ODM) vs. twice-daily milking (TDM)] and antioxidant (AOX) supplementation on fatty acid (FA) profile and oxidative stability in sheep milk. Sixteen Assaf ewes were used; 8 did not receive any vitamin-mineral supplement (control), and the other 8 received an oral dose of 1,000 IU of α-tocopherol and 0.4 mg of Se daily. The experiment consisted of 2 consecutive periods; the first was 3 wk with TDM of both mammary glands. The second period was 8 wk and consisted of ODM of one mammary gland and TDM of the other gland. All ewes were fed ad libitum the same total mixed ration from lambing and throughout the experiment. There were no differences in plasma or milk Se concentrations between control and AOX ewes. However, plasma and milk α-tocopherol concentrations and AOX capacity were increased in ewes receiving the AOX supplement. Milk FA profile was practically unaffected after 21 d of AOX supplementation. However, after 77 d, AOX supplementation increased the relative percentage of C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 and reduced the proportions of some saturated FA with less than 16 carbons and cis-9 C12:1. Antioxidant supplementation had no effect on the proportions of conjugated linoleic acid or total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) but decreased the proportion of trans-7,cis-9 C18:2 and increased that of n-6 C20:3. Once-daily milking did not affect α-tocopherol, Se, or fat resistance to oxidation in milk. Total monounsaturated FA, cis-9 C16:1, and several cis and trans isomers of C18:1 were increased and total saturated FA were decreased in milk from ODM glands. Compared with TDM, ODM increased the proportions of cis-9,cis-12 C18:2 and several isomers of C18:2 and reduced those of cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 C18:3 and some PUFA of 20 and 22 carbons, but total proportion of PUFA was unaffected. Once-daily milking and AOX supplementation modified milk FA profile, but the effects of ODM could be considered of little biological relevance for consumer health. Supplementing ewes with α-tocopherol plus Se could be considered an effective strategy to improve plasma AOX status and reduce milk fat oxidation without substantial changes in the milk FA profile.

ABC transporter polymorphisms are associated with irinotecan pharmacokinetics and neutropenia.

Neutropenia is a common dose-limiting toxicity associated with irinotecan treatment. Although UGT1A1 variants have been associated with neutropenia, a fraction of neutropenia risk remains unaccounted for. To identify additional genetic markers contributing to variability in irinotecan pharmacokinetics and neutropenia, a regression analysis was performed in 78 irinotecan-treated patients to analyze comprehensively three hepatic efflux transporter genes (ABCB1, ABCC1 and ABCG2). rs6498588 (ABCC1) and rs12720066 (ABCB1) were associated with increased SN-38 exposure, and rs17501331 (ABCC1) and rs12720066 were associated with lower absolute neutrophil count nadir. rs6498588 and a variant in high linkage disequilibrium are located in transcriptionally active regions or are predicted to alter transcription factor binding sites. While enhancer activity was not evident in vitro for genomic regions containing these single-nucleotide polymorphisms, rs6498588 was significantly associated with ABCC1 expression in human liver. These results suggest that genetic variation in ABCC1 and ABCB1 may contribute to irinotecan-induced neutropenia by altering expression of transporters involved in irinotecan metabolite disposition.

Cryptic lineage differentiation among Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the northwest Indian Ocean.

Phylogeography can provide insight into the potential for speciation and identify geographic regions and evolutionary processes associated with species richness and evolutionary endemism. In the marine environment, highly mobile species sometimes show structured patterns of diversity, but the processes isolating populations and promoting differentiation are often unclear. The Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) are a striking case in point and, in particular, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). Understanding the radiation of species in this genus is likely to provide broader inference about the processes that determine patterns of biogeography and speciation, because both fine-scale structure over a range of kilometers and relative panmixia over an oceanic range are known for Tursiops populations. In our study, novel Tursiops spp. sequences from the northwest Indian Ocean (including mitogenomes and two nuDNA loci) are included in a worldwide Tursiops spp. phylogeographic analysis. We discover a new 'aduncus' type lineage in the Arabian Sea (off India, Pakistan and Oman) that diverged from the Australasian lineage ∼261 Ka. Effective management of coastal dolphins in the region will need to consider this new lineage as an evolutionarily significant unit. We propose that the establishment of this lineage could have been in response to climate change during the Pleistocene and show data supporting hypotheses for multiple divergence events, including vicariance across the Indo-Pacific barrier and in the northwest Indian Ocean. These data provide valuable transferable inference on the potential mechanisms for population and species differentiation across this geographic range.

Reducing gut effects from Cryptosporidium parvum infection in dairy calves through prophylactic glucagon-like peptide 2 therapy or feeding of an artificial sweetener.

Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) therapy was shown previously to reduce inflammation-related gut damage from coccidiosis in dairy calves, and feeding of artificial sweetener stimulates GLP-2 secretion from intestinal L cells. The purpose of this study was to determine whether GLP-2 treatment or artificial sweetener feeding beginning 1 wk before an experimental inoculation with the coccidian parasite Cryptosporidium parvum can reduce infection-related intestinal damage in Holstein bull calves. Newborn calves were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups of 6 calves each, including noninfected control calves injected s.c. every 12 h with control buffer (CON), infected control calves injected s.c. every 12 h with control buffer (INF), infected calves injected s.c. every 12 h with 50 µg/kg of body weight of GLP-2 (GLP2), and infected calves injected s.c. every 12 h with control buffer and supplemented in the diet with Sucram (Pancosma, Geneva, Switzerland) at 400 mg/kg of dry matter of milk replacer (SUC). Treatments were initiated on d 1, and calves in INF, GLP2, and SUC were orally dosed on d 8 with 12,500 C. parvum oocysts. Fecal scores were recorded daily, plasma was collected on d 1, 8, 12, 15, and 18 to evaluate markers of inflammation, and fecal samples were collected on d 1, 8, and every other day thereafter to determine the presence of oocysts. Calves were euthanized on d 18 for collection of intestinal tissues and histological and gene expression analyses. Relative to CON, calves in INF exhibited an increase in diarrhea severity, increased plasma serum amyloid A concentration on d 15 and 18, reduced intestinal villus height, increased villus apoptosis and crypt cell proliferation, and increased intestinal mRNA expression of MARVELD2 and GPX2. However, calves in SUC and GLP2 had reduced diarrhea severity and fecal C. parvum oocyst shedding, reduced plasma serum amyloid A concentration on d 15 and 18, and, depending on the intestinal segment, increased villus height, reduced crypt cell proliferation, and reduced mRNA expression of MARVELD2, GPX2, and other tight junction proteins relative to INF. Lastly, GLP2 and SUC exhibited increased intestinal mass-to-length ratio and decreased length-to-empty body weight ratio relative to INF. Our findings suggest that GLP-2 and Sucram treatments administered before a low-level C. parvum exposure may contribute to fewer effects on intestinal integrity, morphology, and inflammation in response to infection, and shorter, denser intestines.

Identification of the PRMT1v1 and PRMT1v2 specific interactomes by quantitative mass spectrometry in breast cancer cells.

Arginine methylation is catalyzed by a family of enzymes called protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). The PRMT1 gene generates at least seven distinct alternatively spliced isoforms (PRMT v1-v7), which together contribute a significant portion of the cellular arginine methylome. The distinct biochemical and biological functions of these PRMT1 isoforms have not been well characterized. Previously we have shown that while both PRMT1v1 and PRMT1v2 are overexpressed in breast cancer cells, PRMT1v2 specifically promotes breast cancer cell survival and invasion. These isoforms also have distinct subcellular localizations, PRMT1v1 is mainly nuclear and PRMT1v2 cytosolic. To gain further knowledge into their isoform-specific roles within cells we used a SILAC-based quantitative affinity purification/MS approach to identify their individual protein interactomes in breast cancer cells. This analysis has uncovered distinct interactomes for PRMT1v1 and PRMT1v2. Consistent with their distinct subcellular localizations, PRMT1v1 enriched a mainly nuclear protein interactome, while PRMT1v2 enriched predominantly cytoplasmic interactors from whole-cell extracts. Furthermore, these interactomes revealed that PRMT1v1 has a role in regulating gene expression, while PRMT1v2 functions in cytoskeletal dynamics. These results highlight the unique functions of these isoforms and the distinct roles they may play within cells, with potential implications for breast cancer and other diseases.

Arginine methyltransferases as novel therapeutic targets for breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed female cancer in the world. Though therapeutic treatments are available to treat breast cancer and in some instances are successful, the occurrence of unsuccessful treatment, or the rate of tumour recurrence, still remains strikingly high. Therefore, novel therapeutic treatment targets need to be discovered and tested. The protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are a family of enzymes that catalyse arginine methylation and are implicated in a myriad of cellular pathways including transcription, DNA repair, RNA metabolism, signal transduction, protein-protein interactions and subcellular localisation. In breast cancer, the expression levels and enzymatic activity of a number of PRMTs is dysregulated; significantly altering the regulation of many cellular pathways that are implicated in breast cancer development and progression. Here, we review the current knowledge on PRMTs in breast cancer and provide a rationale for how PRMTs may provide novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast cancer.

Polygenic inheritance of paclitaxel-induced sensory peripheral neuropathy driven by axon outgrowth gene sets in CALGB 40101 (Alliance).

Peripheral neuropathy is a common dose-limiting toxicity for patients treated with paclitaxel. For most individuals, there are no known risk factors that predispose patients to the adverse event, and pathogenesis for paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy is unknown. Determining whether there is a heritable component to paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy would be valuable in guiding clinical decisions and may provide insight into treatment of and mechanisms for the toxicity. Using genotype and patient information from the paclitaxel arm of CALGB 40101 (Alliance), a phase III clinical trial evaluating adjuvant therapies for breast cancer in women, we estimated the variance in maximum grade and dose at first instance of sensory peripheral neuropathy. Our results suggest that paclitaxel-induced neuropathy has a heritable component, driven in part by genes involved in axon outgrowth. Disruption of axon outgrowth may be one of the mechanisms by which paclitaxel treatment results in sensory peripheral neuropathy in susceptible patients.

A high-resolution whole-genome map of the distinctive epigenomic landscape induced by butyrate in bovine cells.

This report presents a study utilizing next-generation sequencing technology, combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) technology to analyze histone modification induced by butyrate and to construct a high-definition map of the epigenomic landscape with normal histone H3 and H4 and their variants in bovine cells at the whole-genome scale. A total of 10 variants of histone H3 and H4 modifications were mapped at the whole-genome scale (acetyl-H3K18-ChIP-seq, trimethy-H3K9, histone H4 ChIP-seq, acetyl-H4K5 ChIP-seq, acetyl-H4K12 ChIP-seq, acetyl-H4K16 ChIP-seq, histone H3 ChIP-seq, acetyl H3H9 ChIP-seq, acetyl H3K27 ChIP-seq and tetra-acetyl H4 ChIP-seq). Integrated experiential data and an analysis of histone and histone modification at a single base resolution across the entire genome are presented. We analyzed the enriched binding regions in the proximal promoter (within 5 kb upstream or at the 5'-untranslated region from the transcriptional start site (TSS)), and the exon, intron and intergenic regions (defined by regions 25 kb upstream and 10 kb downstream from the TSS). A de novo search for the binding motif of the 10 ChIP-seq datasets discovered numerous motifs from each of the ChIP-seq datasets. These consensus sequences indicated that histone modification at different locations changes the histone H3 and H4 binding preferences. Nevertheless, a high degree of conservation in histone binding also was presented in these motifs. This first extensive epigenomic landscape mapping in bovine cells offers a new framework and a great resource for testing the role of epigenomes in cell function and transcriptomic regulation.

Transcriptional regulators transforming growth factor-ß1 and estrogen-related receptor-α identified as putative mediators of calf rumen epithelial tissue development and function during weaning.

Molecular mechanisms regulating rumen epithelial development remain largely unknown. To identify gene networks and regulatory factors controlling rumen development, Holstein bull calves (n=18) were fed milk replacer only (MRO) until 42 d of age. Three calves each were euthanized at 14 and 42 d of age for tissue collection to represent preweaning, and the remaining calves were provided diets of either milk replacer + orchard grass hay (MH; n=6) to initiate weaning without development of rumen papillae, or milk replacer + calf starter (MG; n=6) to initiate weaning and development of rumen papillae. At 56 and 70 d of age, 3 calves from the MH and MG groups were euthanized for collection of rumen epithelium. Total RNA and protein were extracted for microarray analysis and to validate detected changes in selected protein expression, respectively. As expected, calves fed MRO had no rumen papillae and development of papillae was greater in MG versus MH calves. Differentially expressed genes between the MRO diet at d 42 (preweaning) versus the MG or MH diets at d 56 (during weaning) were identified using permutation analysis of differential expression. Expression of 345 and 519 transcripts was uniquely responsive to MG and MH feeding, respectively. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (Qiagen, Redwood City, CA) indicated that the top-ranked biological function affected by the MG diet was the cell cycle, and TFGB1, FBOX01, and PPARA were identified as key transcriptional regulators of genes responsive to the MG diet and associated with development of rumen papillae. Increased expressions of TGFB1 mRNA and protein in response to the MG diet were confirmed by subsequent analyses. The top-ranking biological function affected by the MH diet was energy production. Receptors for IGF-1 and insulin, ESRRA, and PPARD were identified by ingenuity pathway analysis as transcriptional regulators of genes responsive to the MH diet. Further analysis of TGFB1 and ESRRA mRNA expression in rumen epithelium obtained from a separate ontogenic study of Holstein calves (n=26) euthanized every 7d from birth to 42 d of age showed increases in transcript expression with advancing age, supporting their roles in mediating rumen epithelial development and function during weaning. Additional evaluation of gene expression in the rumen epithelium of adult cows ruminally infused with butyrate also suggested that observed changes in ESRRA mRNA expression in developing calf rumen may be mediated by increased butyrate concentration. Our results identify TGFB1 and ESRRA as likely transcriptional regulators of rumen epithelial development and energy metabolism, respectively, and provide targets for modulation of rumen development and function in the growing calf.

Hot topic: Brown marmorated stink bug odor compounds do not transfer into milk by feeding bug-contaminated corn silage to lactating dairy cattle.

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB; Halyomorpha halys) is an emerging invasive species of grave concern to agriculture as a polyphagous plant pest with potential negative effects on the dairy industry. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of including BMSB-contaminated silage in lactating dairy cow rations. First, 6 dairies, either highly infested (n=3; 30 to 100 bugs per stalk) or not infested (n=3), were sampled to assess the prevalence of bug secretion compounds tridecane (major component) and E-2-decenal (stink odor component) in silage and milk. Second, using wild BMSB, a mini-silo dose-response experiment (adding 100, 50, 25, 10, and 1 freshly crushed bugs/0.5kg of chopped corn) was conducted to assess the effect of ensiling on BMSB stink odor compounds. Finally, synthetic BMSB stink odor compounds (10g of tridecane and 5g of E-2-decenal) were ruminally infused twice daily over 3 d, and samples of milk, urine, and rumen fluid were collected to evaluate disposition. Bug stink odor compounds were sampled by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Milk production and feed composition were unaffected when BMSB-contaminated silage was fed. Moreover, no E-2-decenal was detected in silage or milk (detection threshold = 0.00125µg/mL). The dose-response of tridecane in mini-silo samples exhibited a linear relationship (R(2)=0.78) with the amount of BMSB added; however, E-2-decenal was completely decomposed and undetectable in spiked mini-silos after ensiling. Both synthetic secretion compounds infused into rumen were undetectable in all milk and urine samples. E-2-Decenal was not detectable in rumen fluid, whereas tridecane was detected only at 15 min postinfusion but not present thereafter. Feed intake was unaffected by infusion treatment and BMSB secretion compounds (E-2-decenal and tridecane) were not observed in milk. E-2-Decenal and tridecane from the metathoracic gland of BMSB are not able to contaminate milk either due to the ensiling process or because of metabolism within the rumen. Concern over BMSB stink odor compounds contaminating the fluid milk supply, even on highly infested farms, is not warranted.

Growth and condition of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch relate positively to species richness of trophically transmitted parasites.

The aims of this study were first, to test the hypothesis that metrics of fish growth and condition relate positively to parasite species richness (S(R)) in a salmonid host; second, to identify whether S(R) differs as a function of host origin; third, to identify whether acquisition of parasites through marine v. freshwater trophic interactions was related to growth and condition of juvenile salmonids. To evaluate these questions, species diversity of trophically transmitted parasites in juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch collected off the coast of the Oregon and Washington states, U.S.A. in June 2002 and 2004 were analysed. Fish infected with three or more parasite species scored highest in metrics of growth and condition. Fish originating from the Columbia River basin had lower S(R) than those from the Oregon coast, Washington coast and Puget Sound, WA. Parasites obtained through freshwater or marine trophic interactions were equally important in the relationship between S(R) and ocean growth and condition of juvenile O. kisutch salmon.

Functional characterization of ABCC2 promoter polymorphisms and allele-specific expression.

Multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2, ABCC2) is an efflux membrane transporter highly expressed in liver, kidney and intestine with important physiological and pharmacological roles. The goal of this study was to investigate the functional significance of promoter region polymorphisms in ABCC2 and potential allele-specific expression. Twelve polymorphisms in the 1.6 kb region upstream of the translation start site were identified by resequencing 247 DNA samples from ethnically diverse individuals. Luciferase reporter gene assays showed that ABCC2 -24C>T both alone and as part of a common haplotype (-24C>T/-1019A>G/-1549G>A) increased promoter function 35% compared with the reference sequence (P<0.0001). No other common variants or haplotypes affected ABCC2 promoter activity. Allele-specific expression was also investigated as a mechanism to explain reported associations of the synonymous ABCC2 3972C>T variant with pharmacokinetic phenotypes. In Caucasian liver samples (n=41) heterozygous for the 3972C>T polymorphism, the 3972C allele was preferentially transcribed relative to the 3972T allele (P<0.0001). This allelic imbalance was particularly apparent in samples with haplotypes containing two or three promoter/untranslated region variants (-1549G>A, -1019A>G and -24C>T). The observed allelic imbalance was not associated with hepatic or renal ABCC2 mRNA expression. Additional mechanisms will need to be explored to account for the interindividual variation in ABCC2 expression and MRP2 function.

Glucagon-like peptide 2 therapy reduces negative effects of diarrhea on calf gut.

Damage to the intestinal epithelium reduces nutrient absorption and animal growth, and can have negative long-term health effects on livestock. Because the intestinotropic hormone glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) has been shown to contribute to gut integrity, reduce inflammation, and improve nutrient absorption, the present study was designed to determine whether administration of GLP-2 to calves with coccidiosis in the first month of life affects intestinal growth and mediates negative effects of the proinflammatory response. Holstein bull calves (n=19) were assigned to 4 treatment groups of 4 to 5 calves each: (1) infected with Eimeria bovis, GLP-2 treated; (2) noninfected, GLP-2 treated; (3) infected with E. bovis, buffer treated; and (4) noninfected, buffer treated. Infected calves received 100,000 to 200,000 sporulated E. bovis oocysts suspended in milk replacer on d 0 of the study. On d 18, calves in the GLP-2 groups received a subcutaneous injection of 50 µg of bovine GLP-2/kg of body weight twice daily for 10 d, and calves in the buffer-treated groups received an equivalent volume of sodium bicarbonate buffer only. On d 28, calves were slaughtered 2h after injection of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Intestinal tissues were measured and villus height, crypt depth, and BrdU immunostaining were evaluated in segments of the small intestine. Nitrotyrosine immunostaining, a measure of nitro-oxidative damage, was evaluated in the ileum and cecum. No GLP-2 treatment by E. bovis infection interaction was observed for any parameter measured, with the exception of nitrotyrosine immunostaining in the cecum. Large intestinal weight was greater in infected than noninfected calves and with GLP-2 treatment relative to buffer treatment. Calves that received GLP-2 also had greater small intestinal weight but no difference in cell proliferation, as assessed by BrdU labeling, relative to buffer-treated calves. No treatment effects were detected for villus height, crypt depth, or villus height:crypt depth ratio in segments of the small intestine. Protein tyrosine nitration was over 3-fold greater in the ileum and cecum of infected calves relative to noninfected calves, and GLP-2 therapy reduced tyrosine nitration in infected calves by 47% in the ileum and 69% in the cecum relative to buffer-treated calves. Treatment with GLP-2 promotes intestinal growth in neonatal calves and reduces the detrimental effects of nitro-oxidative stress in the ileocecum of calves with coccidiosis.

Time-Ordered Recent Event (TORE) Volumes for Event Cameras.

Event cameras are an exciting, new sensor modality enabling high-speed imaging with extremely low-latency and wide dynamic range. Unfortunately, most machine learning architectures are not designed to directly handle sparse data, like that generated from event cameras. Many state-of-the-art algorithms for event cameras rely on interpolated event representations-obscuring crucial timing information, increasing the data volume, and limiting overall network performance. This paper details an event representation called Time-Ordered Recent Event (TORE) volumes. TORE volumes are designed to compactly store raw spike timing information with minimal information loss. This bio-inspired design is memory efficient, computationally fast, avoids time-blocking (i.e., fixed and predefined frame rates), and contains "local memory" from past data. The design is evaluated on a wide range of challenging tasks (e.g., event denoising, image reconstruction, classification, and human pose estimation) and is shown to dramatically improve state-of-the-art performance. TORE volumes are an easy-to-implement replacement for any algorithm currently utilizing event representations.

Omeprazole limited sampling strategies to predict area under the concentration-time curve ratios: implications for cytochrome P450 2C19 and 3A phenotyping.

PURPOSE: To develop a limited sampling strategy (LSS) to predict area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) ratios of omeprazole (AUC(OPZ)) to its metabolites 5-hydroxyomeprazole (AUC(5OH)) and omeprazole sulfone (AUC(SUL)) as phenotyping parameters for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 and 3A. METHODS: Data were obtained from 37 (4 women) Caucasian, Chinese, and Korean healthy adults from three published studies. The AUC(OPZ), AUC(5OH), and AUC(SUL) were calculated via noncompartmental analysis. Observed AUC(OPZ, OBS)/AUC(5OH, OBS) and AUC(OPZ, OBS)/AUC(SUL, OBS) were determined. Plasma concentrations of omeprazole, 5-hydroxyomeprazole, and omeprazole sulfone at 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 h post-dose were used to generate limited sampling strategy (LSS) models to predict AUC(OPZ,PRE)/AUC(5OH,PRE) and AUC(OPZ,PRE/)AUC(SUL,PRE). Bias and precision were assessed via percentage mean prediction error (%MPE) and percentage mean absolute error (%MAE), with acceptable limits being <15%. RESULTS: For CYP2C19, the AUC(OPZ,OBS)/AUC(5OH,OBS) was [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] 2.10 ± 1.63. Five LSS models of AUC(OPZ,PRE)/AUC(5OH,PRE) were generated, but none met the bias or precision criteria. Upon stratification by CYP2C19 genotype and ethnicity, a three-timepoint (at 1, 2, and 4 h) LSS model accurately predicted AUC(OPZ)/AUC(5OH) in Caucasian CYP2C19*1/*1 subjects. For CYP3A, AUC(OPZ,OBS)/AUC(SUL,OBS) (mean ± SD) was 1.79 ± 0.67. All LSS models had unacceptable %MAE, even when stratified by CYP2C19 genotype and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: A LSS model to predict AUC(OPZ)/AUC(5OH), and thus CYP2C19 activity, was generated for Caucasian CYP2C19*1/*1 subjects. However, additional model validation is needed prior to general use. LSS models to predict AUC(OPZ)/AUC(SUL), and thus CYP3A activity, were not possible, even upon stratification by CYP2C19 genotype and ethnicity.

Relationship of endothelial function and atherosclerosis to treatment response in late-life depression.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment response in late-life depression has been linked to cerebrovascular disease notably via the vascular depression hypothesis. This study investigated the relationship between endothelial function and atherosclerosis and treatment response to antidepressant monotherapy. METHODS: Twenty five patients with late-life depression were compared with 21 non-depressed control subjects in a case control study. Nine of the depressed subjects were responders to antidepressant monotherapy and 16 were not. Vascular measures included assessment of carotid intima media thickness (IMT) representing atherosclerosis and biopsied small artery dilatation to acetylcholine to assess endothelial function in a subset of subjects. RESULTS: There were no group differences in vascular risks or sociodemographic variables. There was a significant group difference (responders versus non-responders versus controls) on both IMT and endothelial function (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) with a significant difference between controls and non-responders (p < 0.001) on IMT and between controls and responders (p < 0.05) and control versus non-responders (p < 0.05) on endothelial function but no significant difference between responders and non-responders. On both IMT and endothelial function, there was a gradient across groups, with control subjects having best vascular structure or function, non-responders worse and responders in-between. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with a hypothesis that poorer antidepressant response in later life depressive disorder may be linked to an underlying vascular dysfunction and pathology. The study is small, and the results require replication but if confirmed, trials with vasoprotective medication aimed at improving vascular function in order to alter the prognosis of late-life depression would be a rational development.

Molecular ecology meets remote sensing: environmental drivers to population structure of humpback dolphins in the Western Indian Ocean.

Genetic analyses of population structure can be placed in explicit environmental contexts if appropriate environmental data are available. Here, we use high-coverage and high-resolution oceanographic and genetic sequence data to assess population structure patterns and their potential environmental influences for humpback dolphins in the Western Indian Ocean. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA data from 94 dolphins from the coasts of South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Oman, employing frequency-based and maximum-likelihood algorithms to assess population structure and migration patterns. The genetic data were combined with 13 years of remote sensing oceanographic data of variables known to influence cetacean dispersal and population structure. Our analyses show strong and highly significant genetic structure between all putative populations, except for those in South Africa and Mozambique. Interestingly, the oceanographic data display marked environmental heterogeneity between all sampling areas and a degree of overlap between South Africa and Mozambique. Our combined analyses therefore suggest the occurrence of genetically isolated populations of humpback dolphins in areas that are environmentally distinct. This study highlights the utility of molecular tools in combination with high-resolution and high-coverage environmental data to address questions not only pertaining to genetic population structure, but also to relevant ecological processes in marine species.