Pilot Study of Self-Distancing Augmentation to Exposure Therapy for Youth Anxiety.

This pilot examines a self-distancing augmentation to exposure. Nine youth with anxiety (ages 11-17; 67% female) completed treatment. The study employed a brief (eight session) crossover ABA/BAB design. Exposure difficulty, engagement with exposure, and treatment acceptability were examined as primary outcome variables. Visual inspection of plots indicated that youth completed more difficult exposures during augmented exposure sessions [EXSD] than classic exposure sessions [EX] by therapist- and youth-report and that therapists reported higher youth engagement during EXSD than EX sessions. There were no significant differences between EXSD and EX on exposure difficulty or engagement by therapist- or youth-report. Treatment acceptability was high, although some youth reported that self-distancing was "awkward". Self-distancing may be associated with increased exposure engagement and willingness to complete more difficult exposures, which has been linked to treatment outcomes. Future research is needed to further demonstrate this link, and link self-distancing to outcomes directly.

The Role of Maternal Anxiety in Treatment Response for Youth with ASD and Co-occurring Anxiety.

Anxiety disorders occur at higher rates in youth with ASD than in neurotypical youth. Although the efficacy of CBT for anxiety in children with ASD is widely supported, factors that influence treatment outcomes are not well understood. This study examined the role of maternal anxiety in treatment outcomes for youth with ASD. Youth with ASD and anxiety (ages 8 to 14), along with their mothers (n = 87), participated in a group CBT intervention. Results indicated that maternal anxiety did not improve over the course of treatment. However, findings suggest that high levels of maternal anxiety at pre-treatment predicted higher levels of youth anxiety post-treatment. Importantly, the relationship between parent anxiety and youth outcomes was moderated by child age. The findings of the present study may provide initial insight into the role that maternal anxiety plays in treatment outcomes for children with ASD and co-occurring anxiety, particularly when considering child age.

Moderators of Treatment for Adolescent Depression.

Objective: This brief report reviews the literature on moderators of treatment for adolescent depression. Treatment moderators can help to guide the process of personalizing intervention to individual patient characteristics.Method: We conducted a systematic search in PsycInfo and PubMed. We also reviewed references of previous reviews and searched for moderator analyses conducted secondary to published efficacy studies.Results: We review 27 studies that address the following categories of moderators: demographics, severity indices, comorbidity, contextual factors, history of abuse or trauma, and cognition and coping. We found limited evidence that demographic, contextual, or cognitive variables consistently moderated treatment for adolescent depression. There was some indication of moderation by race/ethnicity, presence of some comorbid disorders, greater depression severity, and a history of trauma.Conclusion: Our review found inconsistent findings across studies, likely due to the strong impact of predictors relative to moderators and limited statistical power. More research using innovative statistical approaches is necessary before treatment tailoring can be an empirically-based process.

Development of a Brief Group CBT Intervention to Reduce COVID-19 Related Distress Among School-Age Youth.

School-aged youth have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the pandemic will likely have long-standing effects on the well-being of youth, and access to mental health care is even more critical during this time. For the past 5 years, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) has been working throughout the state to increase utilization of evidence-based mental health practices among K-12 school mental health professionals (SMHPs). By leveraging SMHPs who are widely accessible to students, TRAILS seeks to improve youth access to effective mental health care and reduce current mental health inequities. In March 2020, TRAILS responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing a group manual designed to be delivered virtually by SMHPs to help students develop effective coping skills to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. TRAILS focuses on promoting use of CBT and mindfulness, as these skills are ideally suited for school-based delivery, and thus the new manual, Coping with COVID-19 (CC-19), was grounded in these modalities. This article will describe the design, development, and deployment of the CC-19 program to address the mental health needs of students in the context of the pandemic. Early acceptability and penetration data will also be discussed.

Group Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Anxiety in Autistic Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability evidence significant anxiety. This study aimed to adapt a group cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) programme designed for youth with ASD and anxiety to meet the cognitive, communication, and behavioural needs of adolescents with intellectual disability, and assess initial feasibility and efficacy of the intervention. METHODS: Structural, content and procedural adaptations were made to a 14-week family-focused CBT intervention. Twenty-three adolescents with ASD, intellectual disability and anxiety were included. Treatment acceptability along with adolescent anxiety symptoms was assessed via parent report measures. RESULTS: Of the 23 participants, 19 completed treatment and attended 94% of sessions. Parent acceptability was high. Significant reductions were noted on anxiety symptoms post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the CBT group was feasible and acceptable. Preliminary outcomes suggest that adolescent anxiety improved, although replication with a larger sample and comparison to a control group is needed.

Attention bias to threat faces in severe mood dysregulation.

BACKGROUND: We used a dot-probe paradigm to examine attention bias toward threat (i.e., angry) and happy face stimuli in severe mood dysregulation (SMD) versus healthy comparison (HC) youth. The tendency to allocate attention to threat is well established in anxiety and other disorders of negative affect. SMD is characterized by the negative affect of irritability, and longitudinal studies suggest childhood irritability predicts adult anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is important to study pathophysiologic connections between irritability and anxiety disorders. METHODS: SMD patients (N = 74) and HC youth (N = 42) completed a visual probe paradigm to assess attention bias to emotional faces. Diagnostic interviews were conducted and measures of irritability and anxiety were obtained in patients. RESULTS: SMD youth differed from HC youth in having a bias toward threatening faces (P < .01). Threat bias was positively correlated with the severity of the SMD syndrome and depressive symptoms; degree of threat bias did not differ between SMD youth with and without co-occurring anxiety disorders or depression. SMD and HC youth did not differ in bias toward or away from happy faces. CONCLUSIONS: SMD youth demonstrate an attention bias toward threat, with greater threat bias associated with higher levels of SMD symptom severity. Our findings suggest that irritability may share a pathophysiological link with anxiety and depressive disorders. This finding suggests the value of exploring further whether attention bias modification treatments that are effective for anxiety are also helpful in the treatment of irritability.

The curse of the firstborn: Effects of dam primiparity on developmental programming in ruminant offspring.

The first parity, or first pregnancy, of ruminant females has negative effects on offspring during fetal, perinatal, and pre-weaning periods which ultimately lead to diminished pre-weaning productivity. Offspring born to primiparous ruminant females can have decreased fetal and pre-weaning growth, resulting in lower body weights at birth and weaning in cattle, sheep, and goats. Moreover, mortality is greater during both neonatal and pre-weaning periods. Insults during these critical developmental windows likely also have long-term consequences on first-parity offspring through developmental programming, but less research has been done to investigate effects in the post-weaning period. Many potential physiological, metabolic, and behavioral mechanisms exist for the outcomes of dam primiparity. Although competition for nutrient partitioning between maternal and fetal growth or lactation is often cited as a major contributor, we hypothesize that the most important mechanism causing most first-parity outcomes is the relative physiological inexperience of reproductive tissues such as the uterus and mammary gland during the first pregnancy and lactation, or a "first use theory" of tissues. More research is necessary to explore these areas, as well as if primiparous dams respond differently to stressors than multiparous dams, and if stress during the first parity affects subsequent parities.

Effects of late gestational nutrient restriction on uterine artery blood flow, placental size, and cotyledonary mRNA expression in primiparous beef females.

Fall-calving primiparous beef females [body weight (BW): 451 ± 28 (SD) kg; body condition score (BCS): 5.4 ± 0.7] were individually-fed either 100% (control; CON; n = 13) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 13) of metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from day 160 of gestation to parturition. Doppler ultrasonography of both uterine arteries was conducted pre-treatment and every 21 d from days 181 to 265 of gestation. Expelled placentas were collected, and ipsilateral cotyledonary tissue was sampled to assess relative messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression. Placentas were separated into ipsilateral and contralateral sides, dissected (cotyledonary vs. intercotyledonary), and dried. Data were analyzed with nutritional plane, treatment initiation date, and calf sex (when P < 0.25) as fixed effects. Uterine blood flow included day and nutritional plane × day as repeated measures. We previously reported that post-calving, NR dams weighed 64 kg less and were 2.0 BCS lower than CON, but calf birth weight was not affected. Maternal heart rate was less (P < 0.001) for NR dams than CON after nutritional planes began. Nutritional plane did not affect (P ≥ 0.20) uterine artery hemodynamics, but all variables were affected (P ≤ 0.04) by day. Contralateral cotyledonary and placental weight were less (P ≤ 0.04) and contralateral intercotyledonary weight and number of cotyledons tended to be less (P ≤ 0.10) for NR dams than CON, but ipsilateral and whole placental weights were not affected (P ≥ 0.13). Ipsilateral placental weight as a percentage of total placental weight was greater (P = 0.03) for NR dams than CON. Whole placental cotyledonary:intercotyledonary weight was less (P = 0.01) for NR dams than CON. Placental efficiency was not affected (P = 0.89) by nutritional plane. Cotyledonary relative mRNA expression of GLUT3 and SNAT2 was greater (P ≤ 0.05) and relative expression of GLUT1, GLUT4, and NOS3 tended to be greater (P ≤ 0.07) for NR dams than CON. Nutritional plane did not affect (P ≥ 0.13) relative mRNA expression of GLUT5, 4F2hc, CAT1, LAT1, LAT2, VEGFA, FLT1, KDR, GUCY1B3, and PAG2. Despite less contralateral placental growth, beef heifers experiencing late gestational nutrient restriction maintained uterine artery blood flow and total placental mass and had 4 nutrient transporters and 1 angiogenic factor upregulated in cotyledons, all which likely contributed to conserving fetal growth.

Implementing school-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety in students with autism or suspected autism via a train-the-trainer approach: Results from a clustered randomized trial.

LAY ABSTRACT: Autistic youth frequently experience anxiety that can negatively affect them at home, with friends, and at school. Autistic youth have difficulty accessing mental health care, and this is particularly true for youth from traditionally underserved backgrounds. Providing mental health programs in schools may increase access to care for autistic youth with anxiety. The purpose of the study was to train interdisciplinary school providers to deliver school-based Facing Your Fears, a cognitive behavior therapy program for anxiety in autistic youth. Seventy-seven interdisciplinary school providers across 25 elementary/middle schools were trained by their colleagues and members of the research (train-the-trainer approach). Eighty-one students with autism or suspected autism, ages 8-14 years, were randomly assigned to either school-based Facing Your Fears or usual care. Students in school-based Facing Your Fears showed significant reductions in anxiety compared to students in usual care according to caregiver and student report. Other measures involved examining change in provider cognitive behavior therapy knowledge after training and determining how well interdisciplinary school providers were able to deliver school-based Facing Your Fears. Results indicated that interdisciplinary school providers showed significant improvements in cognitive behavior therapy knowledge after training. Interdisciplinary school providers were able to deliver most of school-based Facing Your Fears activities and with good quality. The positive outcomes in this study are encouraging. Training interdisciplinary school providers to deliver school-based Facing Your Fears may increase access to care for anxious autistic students. Future directions and limitations are discussed.

Family-Based Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, and ADHD for a Parent and Child.

Children with mental illness commonly live with caregivers who suffer from mental illness. Integrated mental-health-treatment approaches can provide more convenient and comprehensive care for families. This case report describes family-based treatment (FBT) for one parent/child dyad. The parent was a 37-year-old female with a history of anxiety and major depressive disorder and concern for symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The child was an 8-year-old female with generalized anxiety disorder and concern for ADHD and behavioral problems. The parent received individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and parent management training. The child received CBT. Both also received medication management. The FBT team met regularly for coordinated treatment planning. Self-reported assessments via the Child Behavior Checklist showed meaningful improvement; anxiety decreased to nonclinical range week 12 and depression decreased to nonclinical range week 8. Clinician assessments showed improvement for both patients. Though more time intensive, FBT can yield significant improvement, particularly for children. Pragmatic approaches to treatment planning are important to minimize barriers to FBT.

Genes involved in the cholecystokinin receptor signaling map were differentially expressed in the jejunum of steers with variation in residual feed intake.

The jejunum is a critical site for nutrient digestion and absorption, and variation in its ability to take up nutrients within the jejunum is likely to affect feed efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in gene expression in the jejunum of beef steers divergent for residual feed intake (RFI) in one cohort of steers (Year 1), and to validate those genes in animals from a second study (Year 2). Steers from Year 1 (n = 16) were selected for high and low RFI. Jejunum mucosal tissue was obtained for RNA-seq. Thirty-two genes were differentially expressed (PFDR≤0.15), and five were over-represented in pathways including inflammatory mediator, cholecystokinin receptor (CCKR) signaling, and p38 MAPK pathways. Several differentially expressed genes (ALOX12, ALPI, FABP6, FABP7, FLT1, GSTA2, MEF2B, PDK4, SPP1, and TTF2) have been previously associated with RFI in other studies. Real-time qPCR was used to validate nine differentially expressed genes in the Year 1 steers used for RNA-seq, and in the Year 2 validation cohort. Six genes were validated as differentially expressed (P < 0.1) using RT-qPCR in the Year 1 population. In the Year 2 population, five genes displayed the same direction of expression as the Year 1 population and 3 were differentially expressed (P < 0.1). The CCKR pathway is involved in digestion, appetite control, and regulation of body weight making it a compelling candidate for feed efficiency in cattle, and the validation of these genes in a second population of cattle is suggestive of a role in feed efficiency.

Late gestational nutrient restriction in primiparous beef females: Performance and metabolic status of lactating dams and pre-weaning calves.

Fall-calving primiparous beef females [body weight (BW): 451 ±â€…28 (SD) kg; body condition score (BCS): 5.4 ±â€…0.7] were individually-fed 100% (control; CON; n = 13) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 13) of estimated metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements from day 160 of gestation to calving. Post-calving, all dams were individually-fed tall fescue hay supplemented to meet estimated nutrient requirements for maintenance, growth, and lactation in Calan gates until day 149 of lactation, which limited calves to milk only. From day 150 of lactation until weaning at day 243, dams and calves were group-fed in drylots. Dam BW and metabolic status were determined every 21 d, and BCS and backfat (BF) were determined every 42 d of lactation until weaning. Pre-weaning calf BW, size, and metabolic status were determined every 21 d. Data were analyzed with nutritional plane, calving date, and calf sex (when P < 0.25) as fixed effects. Circulating metabolites included day and nutritional plane × day as repeated measures. We previously reported that post-calving, NR dams were 64 kg and 2.0 BCS less than CON, but calf BW and size at birth were not affected. During the first 147 d of lactation, NR dams gained more (P < 0.01) BW than CON and increased (P < 0.01) BCS, while CON decreased (P ≤ 0.01) BCS and BF. Previously, NR dams had lower (P < 0.01) circulating triglycerides on day 1 of lactation, tended to have lower (P = 0.08) triglycerides on day 21, and had lower (P ≤ 0.04) non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) on days 21 and 243 than CON. Maternal glucose and urea N were not affected (P ≥ 0.73). At weaning, NR dams weighed 17 kg less (P = 0.15), were 0.67 BCS lower (P < 0.01), and tended to have less (P = 0.06) BF. Calves born to NR dams weighed less (P = 0.02) than CON by day 42 of age and were 13% smaller (P < 0.01) at weaning. Calf girth measures diverged (P ≤ 0.05) by day 21 of age, and skeletal size measures were less (P ≤ 0.08) for calves born to NR dams at most timepoints after day 63 of age. Calves born to NR dams tended to have lower (P = 0.09) circulating urea N pre-weaning than CON, but glucose, triglycerides, and NEFA were not affected (P ≥ 0.16). In summary, first-parity beef females that were nutrient restricted during late gestation experienced compensatory growth and gained body condition during lactation but were still thinner at weaning. Nutrient restriction reduced pre-weaning calf growth, likely due to decreased milk production.

Nutrient requirements increase substantially during late gestation in the beef female; however, poor forage nutrient availability can result in undernutrition. For heifers, the added nutrient requirements needed to continue growing during their first pregnancy and lactation pose an even greater challenge. It is plausible that lingering effects of late gestational nutrient restriction may exist for the dam and calf pre-weaning. We report that first-parity beef females that were nutrient restricted during late gestation and then fed to meet estimated nutrient requirements during lactation recovered quickly metabolically and experienced compensatory growth, but still had less body condition at weaning than controls. Late gestational nutrient restriction did not affect calf size at birth but resulted in calf body weight and size measures diverging early in life. Ultimately, nutrient restriction resulted in a 13% decrease in weaning weight, which was likely due to decreased milk production (in a companion paper). Despite this, metabolic status of calves born to nutrient restricted dams was not greatly altered. In summary, first-parity beef females that were nutrient restricted during late gestation prioritized partitioning nutrients to maternal growth and energy reserves over milk production during lactation, but dams were thinner at weaning, and pre-weaning calf growth was slowed.

Nutrient restriction during late gestation reduces milk yield and mammary blood flow in lactating primiparous beef females.

Fall-calving primiparous beef females [body weight (BW): 451 ±â€…28 (SD) kg; body condition score (BCS): 5.4 ±â€…0.7] were individually-fed 100% (control; CON; n = 13) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 13) of estimated metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements from day 160 of gestation to calving. Post-calving, all dams were individually-fed tall fescue hay supplemented to meet estimated nutrient requirements for maintenance, growth, and lactation until day 149 of lactation. Four-hour milk yields were collected on days 21, 42, 63, 84, 105, and 147 of lactation, and milk nutrient composition was determined. Doppler ultrasonography of both pudendoepigastric arterial trunks was conducted every 21 d from days 24 to 108 of lactation. Total mammary blood flow was calculated, and hemodynamics from both sides were averaged. Data were analyzed as repeated measures with nutritional plane, day of lactation, their interaction, calving date, and calf sex (if P < 0.25) as fixed effects. We previously reported that post-calving, NR dams weighed 64 kg less and were 2.0 BCS lower than CON, but calf birth weight was not affected. Milk weight and volume were 15% less (P = 0.04) for NR dams than CON. Milk protein concentration was lower (P = 0.008) for NR dams than CON, but triglyceride and lactose concentrations were not affected (P ≥ 0.20) by nutritional plane. Milk urea N concentration of NR dams tended to be greater (P = 0.07) on day 42 but was lower (P = 0.01) on day 147 of lactation than CON. Total milk protein, triglyceride, and lactose yields were less (P ≤ 0.05) for NR dams than CON. Total milk urea N yield was less (P ≤ 0.03) for NR dams than CON on days 21, 63, and 147 of lactation. Maternal heart rate was greater (P = 0.008), but pudendoepigastric arterial trunk peak systolic velocity, resistance index, and cross-sectional area were less (P ≤ 0.04) and pulsatility index tended to be less (P = 0.06) for NR dams than CON. Mammary blood flow was 19% less (P = 0.004) for NR dams than CON, but mammary blood flow relative to milk weight or dam BW was not affected (P ≥ 0.14) by nutritional plane. Most milk yield, milk nutrient composition, and mammary blood flow variables were affected (P ≤ 0.04) by day of lactation. In summary, first-parity beef females that were nutrient restricted during late gestation and then fed to meet estimated nutrient requirements during lactation had decreased milk nutrient yield and a similar reduction in mammary blood flow.

Mammary development in preparation for lactation is largely complete at the time of calving, and final prepartum mammary growth and differentiation are occurring for the first time in heifers. Nutrient requirements increase substantially during late gestation, resulting in competition for nutrient use among maternal growth, fetal growth, and mammary growth in primiparous beef females. Undernutrition during late gestation can occur due to poor forage nutrient availability or drought, potentially impacting mammary gland development and subsequent milk production. We report that first-parity beef females that were nutrient restricted during late gestation and then fed to meet estimated nutrient requirements during lactation had 15% lower milk yield, reduced milk protein concentration, and less total milk protein, triglycerides, lactose, and urea N available for their calves than controls. Additionally, previously nutrient restricted dams had 19% less total mammary blood flow, and the major arteries supplying the mammary gland were smaller.

Maternal nutrient restriction during late gestation reduces vigor and alters blood chemistry and hematology in neonatal beef calves.

Fall-calving primiparous beef females [body weight: 451 ±â€…28 (SD) kg; body condition score: 5.4 ±â€…0.7] were individually-fed either 100% (control; CON; n = 13) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 13) of metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from day 160 of gestation to parturition. Calves were reared naturally by their dams and monitored for latency times from birth to first sternal recumbency, attempt to stand, and stand; vigor scores were assigned at 2, 5, 10, and 20 min of age. Rectal temperatures and jugular blood were obtained at 0 (pre-suckling), 6, 12, 24, and 48 h of age, and blood chemistry, hematology, cortisol, and insulin were determined. Data were analyzed with fixed effects of late gestational nutritional plane (single data point) or nutritional plane, hour, and their interaction (data over time, repeated measures). Calving date was a fixed effect; calf sex was included when P < 0.25. We previously reported that late gestational nutritional plane did not affect gestation length or calf size at birth, but calving assistance and fetal malpresentation occurred more often in NR. Nutritional plane did not affect (P = 0.65) duration of parturition, but calves born to NR dams had slower times to attempt to stand (P = 0.09), slower times to stand (P = 0.02), and poorer 20 min vigor scores (P = 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin G and A concentrations at 48 h were greater (P ≤ 0.03) for NR calves. Rectal temperature of NR calves was less (P = 0.02) at 0 h, but greater (P = 0.04) at 24 h compared with CON. Circulating glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, cortisol, and insulin were not affected by nutritional plane (P ≥ 0.18). Total protein and globulin from 6 to 48 h were greater (P ≤ 0.02) in NR calves. Calves from NR dams had greater (P ≤ 0.08) gamma-glutamyl transferase at 6, 12, and 48 h. Serum aspartate aminotransferase was greater (P ≤ 0.07) from 0 to 24 h and creatine kinase was greater (P ≤ 0.04) from 6 to 24 h in NR calves. At 0 h, potassium was greater (P = 0.03) in NR calves. Calves born to CON had greater chloride (P = 0.08; main effect), sodium (P ≤ 0.09) from 0 to 48 h, and anion gap (P = 0.02) at 6 h. Hematocrit from 6 to 24 h and red blood cells and hemoglobin at 6 and 12 h were greater (P ≤ 0.09) in CON calves. These data indicate that nutrient restriction during late gestation resulted in less vigorous calves with more indicators of trauma in early life.

Early life after birth is challenging for beef calves, but a successful transition from the uterus to the outside environment is necessary for calves to survive and thrive pre-weaning. Despite this, limited research has investigated how maternal undernutrition during pregnancy affects the vigor and metabolism of beef calves during early life. Beef females in their first pregnancy were fed to meet their energy and protein requirements, or were fed 70% of these requirements, during late pregnancy. Their calves were monitored closely, and data were collected intensively during early life. Calves born to nutrient restricted females were less vigorous at birth, taking longer to attempt to stand and stand successfully for the first time, and having lower vigor scores at 20 min of age. These calves also showed more signs of calving trauma and stress (elevated aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and creatinine) and had less red blood cells, but they had successful transfer of passive immunity and minimally affected energy metabolism. Overall, the effects of nutrient restriction observed may have decreased neonatal calf health and survival in a normal production environment, but not through reduced passive transfer.

Is everything really okay?: Using ecological momentary assessment to evaluate daily co-fluctuations in anxiety and reassurance seeking.

OBJECTIVE: Reassurance seeking, a behavior prominent in anxiety disorders and depression, is associated with poorer quality of interpersonal relationships and acts as a mechanism of stress generation. However, little research has elucidated momentary associations between state anxiety and reassurance seeking behaviors. METHOD: In a sample of 104 university-affiliated young adults, we sought to replicate cross-sectional associations of reassurance seeking with trait anxiety (Aim 1) and intolerance of uncertainty (Aim 2). We then used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate concurrent fluctuations in daily anxiety and reassurance seeking across 14 consecutive days (Aim 3). Hierarchical multi-level models for intensive longitudinal data were used to evaluate the relationship between state anxiety and daily reassurance seeking. RESULTS: In baseline analyses, trait anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty were significantly associated with greater trait reassurance seeking, controlling for depression. Analyses of the EMA data showed that daily reassurance seeking behaviors fluctuated concurrently with daily anxiety during the 14 days, while controlling for trait anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: Given evidence of concurrent fluctuations between state anxiety and reassurance seeking, the behavior should be considered as a potential target in treatment for anxiety disorders.

Dam parity affects fetal growth, placental size, and neonatal metabolism in spring-born beef calves.

To determine effects of dam parity on perinatal nutrient availability in beef cattle, data and samples were collected from 18 primiparous and 35 multiparous spring-calving Sim-Angus dams and their calves. Time to stand was recorded and neonatal vigor assessed. Jugular blood was collected from a subset of calves at 0 (post-standing and pre-suckling) 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of age, and blood chemistry panels were completed. Expelled placentas were dissected, dried, and weighed. Prepartum maternal circulating glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, and urea N were analyzed. All statistical models included the fixed effect of dam parity, and calf sex (when P ≤ 0.25) was included for calf and placental variables. Effects of sampling hour, and parity × hour were included for calf metabolites over time using repeated measures. Multiparous dams had greater body weight prepartum (P < 0.001) but similar (P = 0.25) body condition score. Maternal circulating urea N and triglycerides were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in multiparous dams pre-calving. Calves born to primiparous dams weighed 10% less (P ≤ 0.04) at birth with smaller (P ≤ 0.01) heart and abdominal girths. Cotyledonary, intercotyledonary, and total placental masses were less (P ≤ 0.05) for primiparous dams. Dam parity did not affect (P ≥ 0.58) calf time to stand, vigor score at 10 min, or rectal temperature. Serum glucose was greater (P = 0.03) at 0 h but less (P ≤ 0.04) at all other hours in calves from primiparous dams. Calves from primiparous dams had greater (P ≤ 0.02) serum NEFA at 6, 12, and 24 h although plasma triglycerides were greater (P < 0.001) at 6 h. Calves from primiparous dams had greater (P ≤ 0.04) serum urea N at 12 h and creatinine at 12 and 24 h. Plasma insulin was greater (P ≤ 0.04) in calves from multiparous dams at 12, 48, and 72 h, but parity did not affect (P ≥ 0.18) serum total protein or plasma cortisol. Serum aspartate aminotransferase was greater (P ≤ 0.04) at 6 and 24 h, creatine kinase was greater at 24 h, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was less (P ≤ 0.04) at 6, 12, and 24 h, for calves from primiparous dams. Calves born to primiparous dams had greater (P ≤ 0.02) total bilirubin and direct bilirubin at 12 and 24 h. Data indicate that calves born to first-parity heifers had decreased perinatal nutrient availability, resulting in reduced fetal and placental growth, as well as greater energy reserve mobilization and metabolic indicators of stress as neonates.

Approximately two-thirds of beef calf deaths prior to weaning occur within the first 3 wk after birth. The goal to have heifers produce their first calf by 2 yr of age likely contributes to factors that limit nutrients available for fetuses and calves immediately after birth. However, little is known about differences in heifers (first parity) and cows (later parities) regarding factors affecting calf resilience, such as fetal growth and calf metabolism shortly after birth. Our data show that calves born to first-parity heifers had altered nutrient availability, demonstrated through smaller placentas, lower birth weights, and altered metabolites in early life. Although calves had similar vigor and ability to maintain body temperature, calves born to first-parity heifers had to mobilize more energy and had lower insulin during the first 3 d post-birth. Calves born to first-parity heifers had greater indicators of stress during the first 72 h of life not associated with calving difficulties. Overall, these effects may have increased morbidity and mortality of calves born to first-parity heifers if they were in a less intensively-managed system. Better understanding of challenges faced by calves born to first-parity dams provides opportunities for their improved management.

Late gestational nutrient restriction in primiparous beef females: nutrient partitioning among the dam, fetus, and colostrum during gestation.

Fall-calving primiparous crossbred beef females [body weight (BW): 451 ±â€…28 (SD) kg; body condition score (BCS): 5.4 ±â€…0.7] were allocated by fetal sex and expected calving date to receive either 100% (control; CON; n = 13) or 70% (nutrient restricted; NR; n = 13) of metabolizable energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from day 160 of gestation to calving. Heifers were individually-fed chopped poor quality hay and supplemented to meet targeted nutritional planes based on estimated hay intakes. Dam BW, BCS, backfat, and metabolic status were determined pre-treatment, every 21 d (BW and metabolic status) or 42 d (BCS and backfat) during gestation, and post-calving. At birth, calf BW and size were measured, and total colostrum from the most full rear quarter was collected pre-suckling. Data were analyzed with nutritional plane, treatment initiation date, and calf sex (when P < 0.25) as fixed effects. Gestational metabolites included day and nutritional plane × day as repeated measures. During late gestation, CON dams gained (P < 0.01) maternal (non-gravid) BW and maintained (P ≥ 0.17) BCS and backfat, while NR dams lost (P < 0.01) maternal BW, BCS, and backfat. Circulating glucose, urea N, and triglycerides were less (P ≤ 0.05) in NR dams than CON at most late gestational timepoints after treatment initiation. Circulating non-esterified fatty acids were greater (P < 0.01) in NR dams than CON. Post-calving, NR dams weighed 63.6 kg less (P < 0.01) and were 2.0 BCS less (P < 0.01) than CON. At 1 h post-calving, NR dams had less (P = 0.01) plasma glucose and tended to have less (P = 0.08) plasma triglycerides than CON. Nutrient restriction did not affect (P ≥ 0.27) gestation length, calf birth weight, or calf size at birth. Colostrum yield was 40% less (P = 0.04) in NR dams than CON. Protein and immunoglobulin concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.04), but free glucose and urea N concentrations were less (P ≤ 0.03), in colostrum of NR dams than CON. Colostrum total lactose, free glucose, and urea N were less (P ≤ 0.03) in NR dams than CON, but total protein, triglycerides, and immunoglobulins were not affected (P ≥ 0.55). In summary, beef heifers experiencing late gestational nutrient restriction prioritized partitioning nutrients to fetal growth and colostrum production over maternal growth. During undernutrition, fetal and colostral nutrient demands were largely compensated for by catabolism of maternal tissue stores.

Nutrient requirements increase substantially during late gestation in the beef female. Even in well-managed herds, it is possible for females to be nutrient restricted during this time due to challenges of poor forage quality or availability and environmental stress. For heifers, the added nutrient requirements needed to continue growing pose an even greater challenge during their first pregnancy. However, little is known about how late gestational undernutrition impacts nutrient partitioning between maternal growth, the developing offspring, and colostrum production in beef heifers. Our data show that late gestational nutrient restriction in heifers slowed the expected maternal growth and instead maternal tissue stores were catabolized. Less nutrients were available in the maternal circulation, yet calf weight and size at birth were not affected. Late gestational nutrient restriction resulted in less colostrum produced by the dam and less lactose available to the offspring, but the total protein, fat, and immunoglobulins available in colostrum were not altered. In summary, beef heifers experiencing late gestational nutrient restriction prioritized partitioning nutrients to fetal growth and colostrum production over maternal growth and maintenance of body condition.

Technical note: colorimetric methods for accurate determination of nutrient composition in beef cow colostrum and milk.

Our objectives were to develop colorimetric methods to accurately measure nutrient concentrations of beef cow colostrum and milk, to determine if the yield of colostrum from a single rear quarter is representative of complete collection of colostrum in beef cows, and to compare data from our developed colorimetric methods with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to determine the accuracy of FTIR for beef cow colostrum and milk. In Exp. 1, colostral weight and volume of the most full rear quarter were compared with complete collection of colostrum from post-calving, unsuckled beef heifers. Both volume and weight had r2 = 0.85 (P < 0.001) between single-quarter and 4 quarter yields. In Exp. 2, colostrum (n = 35) and milk at d 35 (n = 42) and d 60 (n = 38) of lactation were collected from multiparous, fall-calving, crossbred beef cows. Subsamples were submitted for FTIR analysis and frozen for colorimetric analysis. Colorimetric analyses were developed for lactose, triglycerides (measure of fat), protein, and urea N. To validate method accuracy, spike recoveries were determined for lactose (96.8% average) and milk protein (100.1% average), triglyceride concentration was compared with fat concentration determined by the Mojonnier method (r2 ≥ 0.91, P < 0.001), and colostral or milk urea N was compared with serum urea N from the same sampling day (r2 ≥ 0.72, P < 0.001). Coefficients of determination between colorimetric methods and FTIR were determined for colostrum, d 35 milk, and d 60 milk. Colostral lactose concentration from FTIR was positively associated (r2 = 0.24, P = 0.01) with colorimetric analysis, but there was no relationship (r2 ≤ 0.09, P ≥ 0.14) between methods for colostral fat, protein, or urea N. Milk nutrient composition was positively associated for all nutrients measured at d 35 (r2 = 0.28 to 0.58, P < 0.001), and coefficients of determination strengthened for all nutrients measured at d 60 (r2 = 0.38 to 0.82, P < 0.001). In conclusion, colostrum yield of a single rear quarter can be used to indicate complete collection of colostrum for beef cows, and colorimetric methods developed have adequate accuracy for beef cow colostral and milk nutrient analysis. Based on our analyses, nutrient composition of beef cow colostrum was not accurately analyzed by FTIR. Accuracy of FTIR for beef cow milk varies with component and may be affected by the day of lactation.

The purpose was to develop laboratory methods to measure lactose, fat, protein, and urea nitrogen in beef cow colostrum (first milk) and milk and to validate single-quarter colostrum yield as a predictor of total colostrum yield. Additionally, new methods were compared with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which is the primary method of dairy cow milk nutrient analysis. New laboratory methods were determined to be accurate for beef cow colostrum and milk analysis, and single-quarter colostrum yield was successful in predicting total colostrum yield. Overall, our data suggest that beef cow colostrum cannot be accurately analyzed by FTIR instruments, and accuracy of FTIR for beef cow milk analysis varies with nutrients and may be affected by the day of lactation.

Effect of Co-occurring Psychiatric Disorders on Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anxiety.

Co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses are very common in individuals with ASD. Little is known about the effect that co-occurring psychiatric conditions may have on treatment response to CBT for children with ASD and anxiety. The present study examined the relationship between co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses and response to CBT for anxiety in ninety youth with ASD. Psychiatric complexity did not appear to differentially impact treatment response. A notable portion of youth with anxiety and externalizing disorders such as ADHD, no longer met criteria for those externalizing diagnoses following intervention. Results indicate that youth with ASD and anxiety present with complex psychiatric profiles and CBT for anxiety may positively affect co-occurring diagnoses. In addition, thorough and nuanced assessment of psychiatric symptoms in youth with ASD is needed to ensure the differentiation between diagnoses of anxiety and other co-occurring psychiatric symptoms.

Evaluation of peripartum supplementation of methionine hydroxy analogue on beef cow-calf performance.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of peripartum supplementation of a methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) to primiparous, spring-calving beef females on dam and progeny performance. Angus heifers (n = 60) were blocked by expected parturition date, stratified by body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), and randomized to 1 of 15 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: a basal diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 15 (M15), or 30 (M30) g/animal/d of MHA (provided as MFP feed supplement, Novus International Inc., St. Charles, MO). Diets were fed from 45 ±â€…13 (SD) d pre-calving through 81 ±â€…13 d postpartum (DPP), after which all cow-calf pairs were managed as a single group on pasture until weaning (199 ±â€…13 DPP). Dam BW, BCS, and blood samples were taken at 6 predetermined timepoints. Progeny data were collected at birth, 2 intermediate timepoints, and at weaning. Milk samples were collected for composition analysis at 7 ±â€…2 DPP and at 55 ±â€…5 DPP. Serial progesterone samples were analyzed to establish resumption of cyclicity, and ultrasonography was performed at 55 ±â€…5 DPP to evaluate ovarian function. Cows were bred via artificial insemination at 82 ±â€…13 DPP and subsequently exposed to bulls for a 55-d breeding season. Pen was the experimental unit, and preplanned orthogonal contrasts were tested (linear effect and M0 vs. M15 + M30). Dam BW and BCS were not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.29) throughout the study. Week 1 milk fat concentration increased linearly (P = 0.05) and total solids tended to increase linearly (P = 0.07) as MHA increased; however, no other milk components were affected (P ≥ 0.16). Treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.16) dam reproductive parameters or progeny growth from birth until weaning. Post-calving, circulating methionine equivalents tended to linearly increase (P = 0.10) with increasing MHA supplementation. At breeding, plasma urea N linearly decreased (P = 0.03) with increased supplementation of MHA, and plasma non-esterified fatty acids were less (P = 0.04) in MHA-supplemented dams compared with dams receiving no MHA. Maternal circulating glucose, glutathione peroxidase, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were not affected (P ≥ 0.15) by treatment at any point. These data indicate that peripartum supplementation of MHA may increase milk fat composition shortly after calving, but MHA supplementation did not improve progeny growth or dam reproductive performance in the current study.