Analysis of within-pen and between-pen fenceline temporal contact networks in confined feedlot cattle.

Though contact networks are important for describing the dynamics for disease transmission and intervention applications, individual animal contact and barriers between animal populations, such as fences, are not often utilized in the construction of these models. The objective of this study was to use contact network analysis to quantify contacts within two confined pens of feedlot cattle and the shared "fenceline" area between the pens at varying temporal resolutions and contact duration to better inform the construction of network-based disease transmission models for cattle within confined-housing systems. Two neighboring pens of feedlot steers were tagged with Real-Time Location System (RTLS) tags. Within-pen contacts were defined with a spatial threshold (SpTh) of 0.71 m and a minimum contact duration (MCD) of either 10 seconds (10 s), 30 seconds (30 s), or 60 seconds (60 s). For the fenceline network location readings were included within an area extending from 1 m on either side of the shared fence. "Fenceline" contacts could only occur between a steer from each pen. Static, undirected, weighted contact networks for within-pen networks and the between-pen network were generated for the full study duration and for daily (24-h), 6-h period, and hourly networks to better assess network heterogeneity. For the full study duration network, the two within-pen networks were densely homogenous. The within-pen networks showed more heterogeneity when smaller timescales (6-h period and hourly) were applied. When contacts were defined with a MCD of 30 s or 60 s, the total number of contacts seen in each network decreased, indicating that most of the contacts observed in our networks may have been transient passing contacts. Cosine similarity was moderate and stable across days for within pen networks. Of the 90 total tagged steers between the two pens, 86 steers (46 steers from Pen 2 and 40 steers from Pen 3) produced at least one contact across the shared fenceline. The total network density for the network created across the shared fenceline between the two pens was 17%, with few contacts at shorter timescales and for MCD of 30 s or 60 s. Overall, the contact networks created here from high-resolution spatial and temporal contact observation data provide estimates for a contact network within commercial US feedlot pens and the contact network created between two neighboring pens of cattle. These networks can be used to better inform pathogen transmission models on social contact networks.

Stable inhibition of specific estrogen receptor α (ERα) phosphorylation confers increased growth, migration/invasion, and disruption of estradiol signaling in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Elevated phosphorylation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) at serines 118 (S118) and 167 (S167) is associated with favorable outcome for tamoxifen adjuvant therapy and may serve as surrogate markers for a functional ERα signaling pathway in breast cancer. It is possible that loss of phosphorylation at S118 and/or S167 could disrupt ERα signaling, resulting in aggressive ERα-independent breast cancer cells. To this end, MCF-7 breast cancer cells were stably transfected with an ERα-specific short hairpin RNA that reduced endogenous ERα. The resulting cell line was stably transfected with wild-type ERα (ER-AB cells), or ERα containing serine to alanine mutation at S118 or S167 (S118A cells and S167A cells, respectively). These stable cell lines expressed approximately equivalent ERα compared with parental MCF-7 cells and were evaluated for growth, morphology, migration/invasion, and ERα-regulated gene expression. S118A cells and S167A cells exhibited increased growth and migration/invasion in vitro. Forward- and side-scatter flow cytometry revealed that S167A cells were smaller in size, and both S118A and S167A cells exhibited less cellular complexity. S118A and S167A cells expressed pancytokeratin and membrane localization of ß-catenin and did not express vimentin, indicating retention of epithelial lineage markers. Expression of ERα-target genes and other genes regulated by ERα signaling or involved in breast cancer were markedly altered in both S118A and S167A cells. In summary, attenuated phosphorylation of ERα at S118 and S167 significantly affected cellular physiology and behavior in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, resulting in increased growth, migration/invasion, compromised expression of ERα target genes, and markedly altered gene expression patterns.

[Species determination of mammals based on the hair cuticle pattern--a comparison of domestic mammals and their wild ancestors from the forensic viewpoint]. / Untersuchungen zur Artbestimmung von Säugetieren anhand des Haarkutikulamusters--ein Vergleich von Haussäugetieren und ihren wilden Stammformen unter forensischer Sicht.

Based on a computer-assisted method, mammalian species were determined according to the cuticula pattern of guard hairs, comparing domesticated mammals and their wild parent species. The results obtained demonstrate that relevant species identification can only be done for the wild species, whereas this is prevented in the domesticated animals by the variety of breeds and the domestication defects included. The consequences related for a forensic use of hairs are discussed. With regard to this purpose it is not reasonable to use mammalian hairs for species determination, because of the high variations of most of the structural parameters of the hairs of domesticated mammals normally found in human habitants.

A computer-assisted method for the determination of hair cuticula patterns in mammals.

The study describes a rather simple, computer-assisted method for the determination of different mammalian species or groups with the aid of the cuticula pattern of guard hairs (primary hairs) following SEM presentation. The method is based on an image analysis program developed for metallographic investigations, and includes the evaluation of five parameters (scale area, scale perimeter, number of scales per mm2, ratio of scale width and height, scale index). The scale index as a combination of scale numbers per square unit and the width/height ratio proved to be most useful for a relevant species or group identification of mammals according to the hair cuticula pattern.

Remarks on specific adaptive scale structure of the hair cuticle in some European bats.

Specific regional variation of scale structure of the hair cuticle was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy in five vespertilionid bat species. Only the tip region of hairs here showed unequal hastate coronal scales with long free parts (blades), and free edges that were distinctly dentate or narrow lobate. This regional peculiarity of the hairs could be explained as an adaptive help to maintain a turbulent boundary layer of air around the body to aid hovering or gliding flight.