Escherichia coli Mastitis in Dairy Cattle: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Challenges

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the udder tissue parenchyma that causes pathological changes in the glandular tissue and abnormalities in milk leading to significant economic losses to the dairy industry across the world. Mammary pathogenic Escherichia (E.) coli (MPEC) is one of the main etiologic agents of acute clinical mastitis in dairy cattle. MPEC strains have virulence attributes to resist the host innate defenses and thrive in the mammary gland environment. The association between specific virulence factors of MPEC with the severity of mastitis in cattle is not fully understood. Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat mastitis has resulted in antimicrobial resistance to all major antibiotic classes in MPEC. A thorough understanding of MPEC’s pathogenesis and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern is required to develop better interventions to reduce mastitis incidence and prevalence in cattle and the environment. This review compiles important information on mastitis caused by MPEC (e.g., types of mastitis, host immune response, diagnosis, treatment, and control of the disease) as well as the current knowledge on MPEC virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance, and the dilemma of MPEC as a new pathotype. The information provided in this review is critical to identifying gaps in knowledge that will guide future studies to better design diagnostic, prevent, and develop therapeutic interventions for this significant dairy disease.

Rapid Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing by Deuterium Labeling of Bacterial Lipids in On-Target Microdroplet Cultures

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious challenge facing human and veterinary health. Current methods of detecting resistance are limited in turn-around time or universal detection. In this work, a new antimicrobial susceptibility test is developed and validated, which utilizes deuterium labeling of membrane lipids to track the growth of bacterial cells. We hypothesize that deuterium uptake and subsequent labeling of lipids can be detected using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Additionally, bacteria growth is performed on the MALDI target, minimizing sample preparation materials and time. When two Escherichia coli strains are grown in the presence of deuterium oxide, labeling can be detected in as little as 30 min to 2 h. The labeling efficiency, or the ratio of labeled to unlabeled lipid peaks, provides information about the growth rate of bacteria. This growth ratio can differentiate between resistant and susceptible strains of bacteria as a resistant strain will maintain ∼50% labeling efficiency between untreated and treated cultures. In comparison, a susceptible strain will see a decrease in fractional abundance of deuterium from ∼50% in the untreated to ∼10% in the treated. This approach is applied to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the resistant and susceptible strains from on-target microdroplet culture in a range of antibiotic concentrations. The first antibiotic concentration with a significant decrease in fractional abundance of deuterium correlates well with a traditionally obtained MIC using broth dilution, indicating the clinical relevance of the results.

What Is a Language? Who Is Bilingual? Perceptions Underlying Self-Assessment in Studies of Bilingualism

Research on the cognitive consequences of bilingualism typically proceeds by labeling participants as "monolingual" or "bilingual" and comparing performance on some measures across these groups. It is well-known that this approach has led to inconsistent results. However, the approach assumes that there are clear criteria to designate individuals as monolingual or bilingual, and more fundamentally, to determine whether a communication system counts as a unique language. Both of these assumptions may not be correct. The problem is particularly acute when participants are asked to classify themselves or simply report how many languages they speak. Participants' responses to these questions are shaped by their personal perceptions of the criteria for making these judgments. This study investigated the perceptions underlying judgments of bilingualism by asking 528 participants to judge the extent to which a description of a fictional linguistic system constitutes a unique language and the extent to which a description of a fictional individual's linguistic competence qualifies that person as bilingual. The results show a range of responses for both concepts, indicating substantial ambiguity for these terms. Moreover, participants were asked to self-classify as monolingual or bilingual, and these decisions were not related to more objective information regarding the degree of bilingual experience obtained from a detailed questionnaire. These results are consistent with the notion that bilingualism is not categorical and that specific language experiences are important in determining the criteria for being bilingual. The results impact interpretations of research investigating group differences on the cognitive effects of bilingualism.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Synthesis of Perovskite Electrocatalysts for Water Oxidation

Oxide perovskites have attracted great interest as materials for energy conversion due to their stability and structural tunability. La-based perovskites of 3d-transition metals have demonstrated excellent activities as electrocatalysts in water oxidation. Herein, we report the synthesis route to La-based perovskites using an environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of choline chloride and malonic acid. The DES route affords phase-pure crystalline materials on a gram scale and results in perovskites with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction. A convenient, fast, and scalable synthesis proceeds via assisted metathesis at a lower temperature as compared to traditional solid-state methods. Among LaCoO3, LaMn0.5Ni0.5O3, and LaMnO3 perovskites prepared via the DES route, LaCoO3 was established to be the best-performing electrocatalyst for water oxidation in alkaline medium at 0.25 mg cm-2 mass loading. LaCoO3 exhibits current densities of 10, 50, and 100 mA cm-2 at respective overpotentials of approximately 390, 430, and 470 mV, respectively, and features a Tafel slope of 55.8 mV dec-1. The high activity of LaCoO3 as compared to the other prepared perovskites is attributed to the high concentration of oxygen vacancies in the LaCoO3 lattice, as observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. An intrinsically high concentration of O vacancies in the LaCoO3 synthesized via the DES route is ascribed to the reducing atmosphere attained upon thermal decomposition of the DES components. These findings will contribute to the preparation of highly active perovskites for various energy applications.

Distinct Cecal and Fecal Microbiome Responses to Stress Are Accompanied by Sex- and Diet-Dependent Changes in Behavior and Gut Serotonin

Although diet- and stress-induced perturbations in the microbiome (biotic and abiotic factors) associate with changes in host behavior via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, few mechanisms have been identified. The identification of causative pathways by which the microbiome influences host behavior therefore would benefit from the application of evidence-based conceptual frameworks. One such causal framework is microbial endocrinology which is the study of neuroendocrine axes as avenues of bi-directional neurochemical-based host-microbe crosstalk. As such, we investigated the relationship between diet- and stress-induced alterations in behavior, regional gut serotonergic response, and concomitant changes in the cecal and fecal bacterial populations of male and female mice. Our results demonstrate that sex is a dominant factor in determining compositional changes in the gut microbiome in response to stress and diet modifications. Intestinal serotonergic responses to stress were observed in both sexes but dietary modifications uniquely affected region-specific changes in males and females. Likewise, behavioral alterations diverged between male and female mice. Together, these results demonstrate distinct sex-dependent relationships between cecal and fecal bacterial taxa and behavioral- and serotonergic-responses to stress and diet. The present study demonstrates the importance of including both male and female sexes in the examination of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. As different microbial taxa were identified to associate with the behavioral and gut serotonergic responses of male and female mice, certain bacterial species may hold sex-dependent functional relevance for the host. Future investigations seeking to develop microbiome-based strategies to afford host stress resilience should include sex-based differences in the microbiome.

Exploring the Dynamics of Virulent and Avirulent Aphids: A Case for a 'Within Plant' Refuge

The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is an invasive pest that can cause severe yield loss to soybeans in the North Central United States. A tactic to counter this pest is the use of aphid-resistant soybean varieties. However, the frequency of virulent biotypes that can survive on resistant varieties is expected to increase as more farmers use these varieties. Soybean aphids can alter soybean physiology primarily by two mechanisms, feeding facilitation, and the obviation of resistance, favoring subsequent colonization by additional conspecifics. We developed a nonlocal, differential equation population model to explore the dynamics of these biological mechanisms on soybean plants coinfested with virulent and avirulent aphids. We then use demographic parameters from laboratory experiments to perform numerical simulations via the model. We used this model to determine that initial conditions are an important factor in the season-long cooccurrence of both biotypes. The initial population of both biotypes above the resistance threshold or avirulent aphid close to resistance threshold and high virulent aphid population results in coexistence of the aphids throughout the season. These simulations successfully mimicked aphid dynamics observed in the field- and laboratory-based microcosms. The model showed an increase in colonization of virulent aphids increases the likelihood that aphid resistance is suppressed, subsequently increasing the survival of avirulent aphids. This interaction produced an indirect, positive interaction between the biotypes. These results suggest the potential for a 'within plant' refuge that could contribute to the sustainable use of aphid-resistant soybeans.

A C-to-O atom-swapping reaction sequence enabled by Ni-catalyzed decarbonylation of lactones

Advances in site-selective functionalization reactions have enabled single atom changes on the periphery of a complex molecule, but reaction manifolds that enable such changes on the core framework of the molecule remain sparse. Here, we disclose a strategy for carbon-to-oxygen substitution in cyclic diarylmethanes and diarylketones to yield cyclic diarylethers. Oxygen atom insertion is accomplished by methylene and Baeyer-Villiger oxidations. To remove the carbon atom in this C-to-O "atom swap" process, we developed a nickel-catalyzed decarbonylation of lactones to yield the corresponding cyclic diaryl ethers. This reaction was enabled by mechanistic studies with stoichiometric nickel(ii) complexes that led to the optimization of a ligand capable of promoting a challenging C(sp2)-O(aryl) reductive elimination. The nickel-catalyzed decarbonylation was applied to 6-8 membered lactones (16 examples, 32-99%). Finally, a C-to-O atom-swapping reaction sequence was accomplished on a natural product and a pharmaceutical precursor.

Fermentation performance and nutritional assessment of physically processed lentil and green pea flour

BACKGROUND

Significant amounts of nutrients, including dietary fibers, proteins, minerals, and vitamins are present in legumes, but the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) like phytic acid, tannins, and enzyme inhibitors impact the consumption of legumes and nutrient availability. In this research, the effect of a physical process (sonication or precooking) and fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici on the ANFs of some legumes was evaluated.

RESULTS

Total phenolic content was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced for modified and fermented substrates compared with non-fermented controls. Trypsin inhibitory activity (TIA) was reduced significantly for all substrates except for unsonicated soybean and lentils fermented with L. plantarum and P. acidilactici. When physical processing was done, there was a decrease in TIA for all the substrate. Phytic acid content decreased for physically modified soybean and lentil but not significantly for green pea. Even though there was a decrease in ANFs, there was no significant change in in vitro protein digestibility for all substrates except for unsonicated L. plantarum fermented soybean flour and precooked L. plantarum fermented lentil. Similarly, there was a change in amino acid content when physically modified and fermented.

CONCLUSION

Both modified and unmodified soybean flour, green pea flour, and lentil flour supported the growth of L. plantarum and P. acidilactici. The fermentation of this physically processed legume and pulse flours influenced the non-nutritive compounds, thereby potentially improving nutritional quality and usage. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Targeted transcriptomics reveals signatures of large-scale independent origins and concerted regulation of effector genes in Radopholus similis

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is an economically important plant-parasitic nematode that inflicts damage and yield loss to a wide range of crops. This migratory endoparasite is widely distributed in warmer regions and causes extensive destruction to the root systems of important food crops (e.g., citrus, banana). Despite the economic importance of this nematode, little is known about the repertoire of effectors owned by this species. Here we combined spatially and temporally resolved next-generation sequencing datasets of R. similis to select a list of candidates for the identification of effector genes for this species. We confirmed spatial expression of transcripts of 30 new candidate effectors within the esophageal glands of R. similis by in situ hybridization, revealing a large number of pioneer genes specific to this nematode. We identify a gland promoter motif specifically associated with the subventral glands (named Rs-SUG box), a putative hallmark of spatial and concerted regulation of these effectors. Nematode transcriptome analyses confirmed the expression of these effectors during the interaction with the host, with a large number of pioneer genes being especially abundant. Our data revealed that R. similis holds a diverse and emergent repertoire of effectors, which has been shaped by various evolutionary events, including neofunctionalization, horizontal gene transfer, and possibly by de novo gene birth. In addition, we also report the first GH62 gene so far discovered for any metazoan and putatively acquired by lateral gene transfer from a bacterial donor. Considering the economic damage caused by R. similis, this information provides valuable data to elucidate the mode of parasitism of this nematode.

Exercise duration modulates upper and lower respiratory fluid cellularity, antiviral activity, and lung gene expression

Exercise has substantial health benefits, but the effects of exercise on immune status and susceptibility to respiratory infections are less clear. Furthermore, there is limited research examining the effects of prolonged exercise on local respiratory immunity and antiviral activity. To assess the upper respiratory tract in response to exercise, we collected nasal lavage fluid (NALF) from human subjects (1) at rest, (2) after 45 min of moderate-intensity exercise, and (3) after 180 min of moderate-intensity exercise. To assess immune responses of the lower respiratory tract, we utilized a murine model to examine the effect of exercise duration on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid immune cell content and lung gene expression. NALF cell counts did not change after 45 min of exercise, whereas 180 min significantly increased total cells and leukocytes in NALF. Importantly, fold change in NALF leukocytes correlated with the post-exercise fatigue rating in the 180-min exercise condition. The acellular portion of NALF contained strong antiviral activity against Influenza A in both resting and exercise paradigms. In mice undergoing moderate-intensity exercise, BAL total cells and neutrophils decreased in response to 45 or 90 min of exercise. In lung lobes, increased expression of heat shock proteins suggested that cellular stress occurred in response to exercise. However, a broad upregulation of inflammatory genes was not observed, even at 180 min of exercise. This work demonstrates that exercise duration differentially alters the cellularity of respiratory tract fluids, antiviral activity, and gene expression. These changes in local mucosal immunity may influence resistance to respiratory viruses, including influenza or possibly other pathogens in which nasal mucosa plays a protective role, such as rhinovirus or SARS-CoV-2.

Strategies to Assure Optimal Trade-Offs Among Competing Objectives for the Genetic Improvement of Soybean

Plant breeding is a decision-making discipline based on understanding project objectives. Genetic improvement projects can have two competing objectives: maximize the rate of genetic improvement and minimize the loss of useful genetic variance. For commercial plant breeders, competition in the marketplace forces greater emphasis on maximizing immediate genetic improvements. In contrast, public plant breeders have an opportunity, perhaps an obligation, to place greater emphasis on minimizing the loss of useful genetic variance while realizing genetic improvements. Considerable research indicates that short-term genetic gains from genomic selection are much greater than phenotypic selection, while phenotypic selection provides better long-term genetic gains because it retains useful genetic diversity during the early cycles of selection. With limited resources, must a soybean breeder choose between the two extreme responses provided by genomic selection or phenotypic selection? Or is it possible to develop novel breeding strategies that will provide a desirable compromise between the competing objectives? To address these questions, we decomposed breeding strategies into decisions about selection methods, mating designs, and whether the breeding population should be organized as family islands. For breeding populations organized into islands, decisions about possible migration rules among family islands were included. From among 60 possible strategies, genetic improvement is maximized for the first five to 10 cycles using genomic selection and a hub network mating design, where the hub parents with the largest selection metric make large parental contributions. It also requires that the breeding populations be organized as fully connected family islands, where every island is connected to every other island, and migration rules allow the exchange of two lines among islands every other cycle of selection. If the objectives are to maximize both short-term and long-term gains, then the best compromise strategy is similar except that the mating design could be hub network, chain rule, or a multi-objective optimization method-based mating design. Weighted genomic selection applied to centralized populations also resulted in the realization of the greatest proportion of the genetic potential of the founders but required more cycles than the best compromise strategy.

Microfluidic chip grafted with integrin tension sensors for evaluating the effects of flowing shear stress and ROCK inhibitor on platelets

Integrins are key players in platelet adhesion and aggregation. Integrin molecular tensions, the forces transmitted by integrin molecules, are regulated by both mechanical and biochemical cues, and the outside-in and inside-out signaling has been extensively studied. While the mechanical properties of platelets at static status have been studied by atomic force microscopy, traction force microscopy and tension sensors, the biomechanical properties of flowing platelets remain elusive. Herein, we report microfluidic chips grafted with integrin tension sensors for microfluidic-force mapping in platelets. Specifically, the process of integrin α_IIbβ₃ mediating tension transmission and platelet adhesion under low flow rates has been obtained, and the process of platelet clustering at post-stenotic regions has been demonstrated. We found that flowing shear force can postpone the integrin-mediated tension transmission and platelet adhesion. We further evaluated the effect of Y-27632, a ROCK inhibitor that has been proven to reduce integrin-mediated platelet adhesion, at a series of concentrations and demonstrated that microfluidic chips with integrin tension sensors are sensitive to the concentration-dependent effects of Y-27632. Given their low cost and scalable throughput, these chips are ideal technical platforms for biological studies of platelets at flowing status and for platelet inhibitor or potential antiplatelet drug screening.

Having female role models correlates with PhD students' attitudes toward their own academic success

Research indicates that increasing diversity in doctoral programs can positively affect students’ academic success. However, little research examines students’ responses to female scholars’ representation. The two studies presented here examine how students’ exposure to female academic role models shapes students’ attitudes toward their own academic success (i.e. self-efficacy). Such attitudes are critical because they predict student retention rates. In our first study, we randomly exposed 297 Ph.D. students in one academic discipline to either a gender-diverse (i.e. 30% female authors) or non-diverse syllabus in research methods (i.e. 10% female authors). We examined the effect of the intervention on students’ perceived likelihood of succeeding in the hypothetical course. Contrary to expectations derived from the literature, we found that increasing women’s representation in syllabi did not affect female students’ self-efficacy. Rather, male students expressed lower self-efficacy when evaluating the more gender-diverse syllabus. We also found that students’ attitudes toward diversity in academia predicted their reactions more strongly than did their own gender: gender-diverse syllabi reduced self-efficacy among those students unsupportive of diversity. In our second study, we analyzed non-interventional survey questions to examine the relationship between female role models and long-term academic self-efficacy. Analysis was observational and thus did not assess causality. We found that students with more role models have higher academic self-efficacy, irrespective of student and role model gender. Nonetheless, results also suggested that some students actively seek female role models: namely, female students, and particularly those valuing diversity. Our results ultimately suggest that exposure to female role models relates in surprising ways to Ph.D. students’ self-efficacy. Having more female role models correlates with greater expectations of academic success among certain groups of students, but with diminished expectations of academic success among other groups.

Directed Assembly of Particles for Additive Manufacturing of Particle-Polymer Composites

Particle-polymer dispersions are ubiquitous in additive manufacturing (AM), where they are used as inks to create composite materials with applications to wearable sensors, energy storage materials, and actuation elements. It has been observed that directional alignment of the particle phase in the polymer dispersion can imbue the resulting composite material with enhanced mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical properties. Thus, external field-driven particle alignment during the AM process is one approach to tailoring the properties of composites for end-use applications. This review article provides an overview of externally directed field mechanisms (e.g., electric, magnetic, and acoustic) that are used for particle alignment. Illustrative examples from the AM literature show how these mechanisms are used to create structured composites with unique properties that can only be achieved through alignment. This article closes with a discussion of how particle distribution (i.e., microstructure) affects mechanical properties. A fundamental description of particle phase transport in polymers could lead to the development of AM process control for particle-polymer composite fabrication. This would ultimately create opportunities to explore the fundamental impact that alignment has on particle-polymer composite properties, which opens up the possibility of tailoring these materials for specific applications.

Crosscutting environmental risk with design: A multi-site, multi-city socioecological approach for Iowa's diversifying small towns

Globally, the influx of refugee, migrant, and immigrant populations into small centers of industrialized agriculture has called attention to a looming public health crisis. As small towns shift from remote villages into rural, agri-industrial centers, they offer limited access to amenities needed to support human well-being. Our study focused on three Iowa towns that continue to experience an increase in under-represented minority populations and decline of majority populations as a proxy for studying shifting populations in an era of industrialized agriculture and global capital. We aimed to understand the socioecological impact of built environments-outdoor locations where people live and work-and likelihood of environmental exposures to impact vulnerable populations. Urban socioecological measures tend to present contradictory results in small towns due to their reliance on density and proximity. To compensate, we used post-occupancy evaluations (POE) to examine built environments for evidence of access to environmental design criteria to support healthy behaviors. The study systematically identified 44 locations on transects across three small towns to employ a 62 item POE and assess multiple environmental criteria to crosscut design with environmental health disparities. Principal-components factor analysis identified two distinct significant components for environmental risk and population vulnerability, supporting similar studies on parallel communities. Multilevel modeling found a divergence between supportive environmental design coupled with an increase environmental risk due to location. The combined effect likely contributes to environmental health disparities. The study provides a strategy for auditing small town built environments as well as insight into achieving equity.

Tunable Hydrophobicity via Dimensionally Confined Polymerization of Organometallic Adducts

Fabrication of tunable fine textures on solid metal surfaces often demands sophisticated reaction/processing systems. By exploiting in situ polymerization and self-assembly of inorganic adducts derived from liquid metals (the so-called HetMet reaction) with concomitant solidification, solid metal films with tunable texture are readily fabricated. Serving as a natural dimensional confinement, interparticle pores and capillary-adhered thin liquid films in a pre-packed bed of undercooled liquid metal particles lead to the expeditious surface accumulation of organometallic synthons, which readily oligomerize and self-assemble into concentration-dictated morphologies/patterns. Tuning particle size, particle packing (flat or textured), and reactant concentration generates diverse, autonomously organized organometallic structures on a metal particle bed. Concomitant solidification and sintering of the underlying undercooled particle bed led to a multiscale patterned solid metal surface. The process is illustrated by creating tunable features on pre-organized metal particle beds with concomitant tunable wettability as illustrated through the so-called petal and lotus effects.

Focused ultrasound of the caudal vena cava in dogs with cavitary effusions or congestive heart failure: A prospective, observational study

INTRODUCTION

Ultrasonographic indices of the inferior vena cava are useful for predicting right heart filling pressures in people.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether ultrasonographic indices of caudal vena cava (CVC) differ between dogs with right-sided CHF (R-CHF), left-sided CHF (L-CHF), and noncardiac causes of cavitary effusion (NC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

113 dogs diagnosed with R-CHF (n = 51), L-CHF (30), or NC effusion (32) were enrolled. Seventeen of the R-CHF dogs had pericardial effusion and tamponade. Focused ultrasound was performed prospectively to obtain 2-dimensional and M-mode subxiphoid measures of CVC maximal and minimal size (CVCmax and CVCmin), CVCmax indexed to aortic dimension (CVC:Ao), and CVC collapsibility index (CVC-CI). Variables were compared between study groups using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's-Bonferroni testing, and receiver operating characteristics curves were used to assess sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

All sonographic CVC indices were significantly different between R-CHF and NC dogs (P < 0.001). Variables demonstrating the highest diagnostic accuracy for discriminating R-CHF versus NC were CVC-CI <33% in 2D (91% sensitive and 96% specific) and presence of hepatic venous distension (84% sensitive and 90% specific). L-CHF dogs had higher CVC:Ao and lower CVC-CI compared to NC dogs (P = 0.016 and P = 0.043 in 2D, respectively) but increased CVC-CI compared to the R-CHF group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonographic indices of CVC size and collapsibility differed between dogs with R-CHF compared to NC causes of cavitary effusions. Dogs with L-CHF have CVC measurements intermediate between R-CHF and NC dogs.

Gene Ontology Meta Annotator for Plants (GOMAP)

Annotating gene structures and functions to genome assemblies is necessary to make assembly resources useful for biological inference. Gene Ontology (GO) term assignment is the most used functional annotation system, and new methods for GO assignment have improved the quality of GO-based function predictions. The Gene Ontology Meta Annotator for Plants (GOMAP) is an optimized, high-throughput, and reproducible pipeline for genome-scale GO annotation of plants. We containerized GOMAP to increase portability and reproducibility and also optimized its performance for HPC environments. Here we report on the pipeline's availability and performance for annotating large, repetitive plant genomes and describe how GOMAP was used to annotate multiple maize genomes as a test case. Assessment shows that GOMAP expands and improves the number of genes annotated and annotations assigned per gene as well as the quality (based on [Formula: see text]) of GO assignments in maize. GOMAP has been deployed to annotate other species including wheat, rice, barley, cotton, and soy. Instructions and access to the GOMAP Singularity container are freely available online at https://bioinformapping.com/gomap/ . A list of annotated genomes and links to data is maintained at https://dill-picl.org/projects/gomap/ .

Do Viruses From Managed Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Endanger Wild Bees in Native Prairies?

Populations of wild and managed pollinators are declining in North America, and causes include increases in disease pressure and decreases in flowering resources. Tallgrass prairies can provide floral resources for managed honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Apis mellifera Linnaeus) and wild bees. Honey bees kept near prairies may compete with wild bees for floral resources, and potentially transfer viral pathogens to wild bees. Measurements of these potential interactions are lacking, especially in the context of native habitat conservation. To address this, we assessed abundance and richness of wild bees in prairies with and without honey bee hives present, and the potential spillover of several honey bee viruses to bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus Latrielle). We found no indication that the presence of honey bee hives over 2 yr had a negative effect on population size of wild bee taxa, though a potential longer-term effect remains unknown. All levels of viruses quantified in bumble bees were lower than those observed in honey bees. Higher levels of deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus were found in Bombus griseocollis DeGeer (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collected at sites with hives than those without hives. These data suggest that the presence of honey bees in tallgrass prairie could increase wild bee exposure to viruses. Additional studies on cross-species transmission of viruses are needed to inform decisions regarding the cohabitation of managed bees within habitat utilized by wild bees.

Emerging investigator series: automated single-nanoparticle quantification and classification: a holistic study of particles into and out of wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland

Single particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-TOFMS), in combination with online microdroplet calibration, allows for the determination of particle number concentrations (PNCs) and the amount (i.e. mass) of ICP-MS-accessible elements in individual particles. Because sp-ICP-TOFMS analyses of environmental samples produce rich datasets composed of both single-metal nanoparticles (smNPs) and many types of multi-metal NPs (mmNPs), interpretation of these data is well suited to automated analysis schemes. Here, we present a new data analysis approach that includes: 1. automatic particle detection and elemental mass determinations based on online microdroplet calibration, 2. correction of false (randomly occurring) multi-metal associations caused by measurement of coincident but distinct NPs, and 3. unsupervised clustering analysis of mmNPs to identify unique classes of NPs based on their element compositions. To demonstrate the potential of our approach, we analyzed water samples collected from the influent and effluent of five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Switzerland. We determined elemental masses in individual NPs, as well as PNCs, to estimate the NP removal efficiencies of the individual WWTPs. From WWTP samples collected at two points in time, we found an average of 90% and 94% removal efficiencies of single-metal and multi-metal NPs, respectively. Between 5% to 27% of detected NPs were multi-metal; the most abundant particle types were those rich in Ce-La, Fe-Al, Ti-Zr, and Zn-Cu. Through hierarchical clustering, we identified NP classes conserved across all WWTPs, as well as particle types that are unique to one or a few WWTPs. These uniquely occurring particle types may represent point sources of anthropogenic NPs. We describe the utility of clustering analysis of mmNPs for identifying natural, geogenic NPs, and also for the discovery of new, potentially anthropogenic, NP targets.

Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) as a novel model to study the relationship between the avian microbiome and microbial endocrinology-based host-microbe interactions

BACKGROUND

Microbial endocrinology, which is the study of neuroendocrine-based interkingdom signaling, provides a causal mechanistic framework for understanding the bi-directional crosstalk between the host and microbiome, especially as regards the effect of stress on health and disease. The importance of the cecal microbiome in avian health is well-recognized, yet little is understood regarding the mechanisms underpinning the avian host-microbiome relationship. Neuroendocrine plasticity of avian tissues that are focal points of host-microbiome interaction, such as the gut and lung, has likewise received limited attention. Avian in vivo models that enable the study of the neuroendocrine dynamic between host and microbiome are needed. As such, we utilized Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) that diverge in corticosterone response to stress to examine the relationship between stress-related neurochemical concentrations at sites of host-microbe interaction, such as the gut, and the cecal microbiome.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate that birds which contrast in corticosterone response to stress show profound separation in cecal microbial community structure as well as exhibit differences in tissue neurochemical concentrations and structural morphologies of the gut. Changes in neurochemicals known to be affected by the microbiome were also identified in tissues outside of the gut, suggesting a potential relationship in birds between the cecal microbiome and overall avian physiology.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides the first evidence that the structure of the avian cecal microbial community is shaped by selection pressure on the bird for neuroendocrine response to stress. Identification of unique region-dependent neurochemical changes in the intestinal tract following stress highlights environmental stressors as potential drivers of microbial endocrinology-based mechanisms of avian host-microbiome dialogue. Together, these results demonstrate that tissue neurochemical concentrations in the avian gut may be related to the cecal microbiome and reveal the Japanese quail as a novel avian model in which to further examine the mechanisms underpinning these relationships. Video abstract.

Interactive Web-based Data Visualization and Analysis Tool for Synthetizing on-farm Research Networks Data

The on-farm research network concept enables a group of farmers to test new agricultural management practices under local conditions with support from local researchers or agronomists. Different on-farm trials based on the same experimental design are conducted over several years and sites to test the effectiveness of different innovative management practices aimed at increasing crop productivity and profitability. As a larger amount of historical trial data are being accumulated, data of all the trials require analyses and summarization. Summaries of on-farm trials are usually presented to farmers as individual field reports, which are not optimal for the dissemination of results and decision making. A more practical communication method is needed to enhance result communication and decision making. R Shiny is a new rapidly developing technology for turning R data analyses into interactive web applications. For the first time for on-farm research networks, we developed and launched an interactive web tool called ISOFAST using R Shiny. ISOFAST simultaneously reports all trial results about the same management practice to simplify interpretation of multi-site and multi-year summaries. We used a random-effects model to synthetize treatment differences at both the individual trial and network levels and generate new knowledge for farmers and agronomists. The friendly interface enables users to explore trial summaries, access model outputs, and perform economic analysis at their fingertips. This paper describes a case-study to illustrate how to use the tool and make agronomic management decisions based on the on-farm trial data. We also provided technical details and guidance for developing a similar interactive visualization tool customized for on-farm research network. ISOFAST is currently available at https://analytics.iasoybeans.com/cool-apps/ISOFAST/.

Developing Racial Justice Allies in an Online Graduate Workshop Centering Latinx Students

This study presents data from an online course on Latinx Students in Higher Education taught at a Predominantly White Institution in the Midwest. This case study examines how students engage with content on Latinx issues across the P-20 educational pipeline to better understand and ultimately serve this population in their professional context using perspectives on allyship development and racial justice allyship. Students in the course demonstrated a commitment to social justice, but their journey to build allyship was not a straightforward process.

Numerical Investigation of Auxetic Textured Soft Strain Gauge for Monitoring Animal Skin

Recent advances in hyperelastic materials and self-sensing sensor designs have enabled the creation of dense compliant sensor networks for the cost-effective monitoring of structures. The authors have proposed a sensing skin based on soft polymer composites by developing soft elastomeric capacitor (SEC) technology that transduces geometric variations into a measurable change in capacitance. A limitation of the technology is in its low gauge factor and lack of sensing directionality. In this paper, we propose a corrugated SEC through surface texture, which provides improvements in its performance by significantly decreasing its transverse Poisson's ratio, and thus improving its sensing directionality and gauge factor. We investigate patterns inspired by auxetic structures for enhanced unidirectional strain monitoring. Numerical models are constructed and validated to evaluate the performance of textured SECs, and to study their performance at monitoring strain on animal skin. Results show that the auxetic patterns can yield a significant increase in the overall gauge factor and decrease the stress experienced by the animal skin, with the re-entrant hexagonal honeycomb pattern outperforming all of the other patterns.

Assessing Field-Scale Risks of Foliar Insecticide Applications to Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Larvae

Establishment and maintenance of milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) in agricultural landscapes of the north central United States are needed to reverse the decline of North America's eastern monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) population. Because of a lack of toxicity data, it is unclear how insecticide use may reduce monarch productivity when milkweed habitat is placed near maize and soybean fields. To assess the potential effects of foliar insecticides, acute cuticular and dietary toxicity of 5 representative active ingredients were determined: beta-cyfluthrin (pyrethroid), chlorantraniliprole (anthranilic diamide), chlorpyrifos (organophosphate), and imidacloprid and thiamethoxam (neonicotinoids). Cuticular median lethal dose values for first instars ranged from 9.2 × 10-3 to 79 μg/g larvae for beta-cyfluthrin and chlorpyrifos, respectively. Dietary median lethal concentration values for second instars ranged from 8.3 × 10-3 to 8.4 μg/g milkweed leaf for chlorantraniliprole and chlorpyrifos, respectively. To estimate larval mortality rates downwind from treated fields, modeled insecticide exposures to larvae and milkweed leaves were compared to dose-response curves obtained from bioassays with first-, second-, third-, and fifth-instar larvae. For aerial applications to manage soybean aphids, mortality rates at 60 m downwind were highest for beta-cyfluthrin and chlorantraniliprole following cuticular and dietary exposure, respectively, and lowest for thiamethoxam. To estimate landscape-scale risks, field-scale mortality rates must be considered in the context of spatial and temporal patterns of insecticide use. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:923-941. © 2020 SETAC.