293 Evaluation of the Water Footprint of Beef Cattle Production in Nebraska

Data were compiled from an experiment evaluating the effects of month of calving, wintering system, and calf management on cow and calf performance to model the amount of water (green and blue) required to produce beef in Nebraska production systems. The referenced study was conducted over four years utilizing 217 cow/calf pairs per year. Cows were wintered on either native range or corn residue and month of calving was March, June, or August. Calves were managed as calf-feds or yearlings and only steer calves were included in the model. A 365-d period was utilized to estimate the cow’s contribution of water inputs based on dry matter intake throughout the year varying by production system. Diet characteristics, dry-matter intake, days on feed, average daily gain, and hot carcass weight were measurements used to estimate water utilization by the calves. The total water footprint was calculated by dividing the total amount of water used for each system (L) by the amount of boneless beef produced (kg). Production systems where cows were wintered on corn residue utilized 18% less water than systems utilizing native range as a wintering source, because of water allocations using the value fraction method. Increasing the dietary inclusion of distillers grains from 0% to 40% decreased the water footprint in the finishing phase by 29%. Utilizing by-products in replacement of primary crops decreases the overall water footprint of production. Across all scenarios modeled, more than 50% of the water footprint was allocated to the cow grazing rainfed pasture (green water) and over 98% of the water footprint was allocated to growing feed. Improvements in crop water use efficiency will benefit livestock production. The water footprint of the beef systems analyzed was 80% green water as rain, minimizing the environmental impact of beef production on freshwater use and ecological water balance.

Abstract 3373: Identification of KRAS membrane bound states using an integrated computational and experimental approach

Driver mutations in KRAS occur in almost 30% of human tumors, primarily in pancreatic, colorectal and lung tumors. These mutations result in increased cell proliferation and survival predominantly mediated through the MAPK signaling pathway. MAPK signal transduction is initiated by the interaction of RAF kinase with active RAS at the plasma membrane. The precise molecular details of this process are currently unknown. The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research has partnered with the Department of Energy to harness high-performance computing and experimental data to generate models and hypotheses of how KRAS engages with RAF kinase at the plasma membrane to initiate signal transduction. The initial phase of this work has focused on identifying membrane bound states of KRAS. We have used a variety of biophysical approaches (including NMR, protein foot-printing and neutron reflectivity) to investigate the structural orientation of KRAS at the membrane. In addition, large scale coarse-grained simulations of membrane bound KRAS spanning the millisecond time scale, have been completed. Three predominant membrane bound KRAS states were observed computationally: an exposed state (where switch 1 is available for RAF binding), an occluded state (where switch 1 is unavailable for RAF binding) and a transition state (where helix 5 is perpendicular to the membrane). These three states are also identified in the experimental data. Cumulatively, experimental and computational data predict KRAS exists in a dynamic equilibrium on the plasma membrane, interconverting between 3 states on the nanosecond time scale. The experimental data indicates the most populated conformation of KRAS is the transition state. Future efforts will address the significance of these three states for RAF interaction and signal transduction. This in depth understanding of RAS activation of RAF and the MAPK pathway is critically important for developing effective therapeutic interventions for cancers harboring mutant RAS.

Citation Format: Andrew G. Stephen, Animesh Agarwal, Angel E. Garcia, Gnana S. Gnanakaran, Jeevapani Hettige, Christopher Neale, Timothy Travers, Harsh Bhatia, Peer-Timo Bremer, Tim Carpenter, Jim Glosli, Helgi Ingolfsson, Piyush Karande, Felice Lightstone, Tomas Oppelstrup, Liam Stanton, Shiv Sundram, Xiaohua Zhang, Debsindhu Bhowmik, Arvind Ramanathan, Christopher Stanley, Debanjan Goswami, Gulcin Gulten, Frantz Jean-Francios, Dhirendra Simanshu, Tommy Turbyville, Rebika Shrestha, Que Van, Frank McCormick, Dwight Nissley, Fred Streitz, Constance Agamasu. Identification of KRAS membrane bound states using an integrated computational and experimental approach [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3373.

Exploring the potential of virtual reality technology to investigate the health and well being benefits of group singing

There is a growing body of academic research aiming to quantify and understand the associated health and well being benefits of group singing. The social interaction is known to strongly contribute to perceived improvements to mental and physical health but there are also indications that singing together elicits better well being outcomes than other community activities. This paper introduces the Vocal Interaction in an Immersive Virtual Acoustic (VIIVA) system, which allows the user to take part in a group singing activity in 360 degree virtual reality, hearing themselves in the recorded venue alongside the other singers. The VIIVA is intended to make group singing accessible to those unable to attend real community choirs but also as a tool for experimental research into the health and well being benefits of group singing. This paper describes the VIIVA system and presents a number of methodologies and applications which are discussed in relation to three ongoing research projects. Preliminary work indicates that the VIIVA system provides a promising tool with which to study the health and well being benefits of group singing, and in particular to control for the social interactions inherent in real group singing activities.

Exposure to nature gardens has time-dependent associations with mood improvements for people with mid- and late-stage dementia: Innovative practice

Exposure to green space and nature has a potential role to play in the care of people with dementia, with possible benefits including improved mood and slower disease progression. In this observational study at a dementia care facility in the UK, we used carer-assessed measures to evaluate change in mood of residents with mid- to late-stage dementia following exposure to a nature garden. We found that exposure to nature was associated with a beneficial change in patient mood. There was a non-linear relationship between time spent outdoors and mood outcome. Improvements in patient mood were associated with relatively short duration exposures to nature, and no additional measureable increases in mood were found with exposures beyond 80-90 minutes duration. Whilst further investigation is required before causality can be determined, these results raise important questions for policy about the integration of outdoor space into the design of dementia care facilities and programmes.

Neurocognitive and mood effects of alcohol in a naturalistic setting

OBJECTIVE

The current pilot study aimed to assess the effects of drinking alcohol in a naturalistic setting on aspects of performance.

METHODS

Thirty individuals were approached and tested individually in a university campus bar. They provided details regarding alcoholic drinks consumption. Each was breathalysed before and after completion of a computerised test battery administered on a handheld device. The battery consisted of visual analogue mood scales, a series of alcohol-sensitive psychomotor and cognitive tests.

RESULTS

There were highly significant correlations between measured blood alcohol concentrations, estimated units of alcohol consumed and scores on a 'sober-drunk' VAS (p < 0.001 in all cases). For performance, there was a characteristic alcohol-associated shift in the speed/accuracy trade-off (SATO), which was reflected as significantly more errors with less effect on speed across several measures (including maze performance and Serial Sevens). Individuals who were more intoxicated were also significantly less alert.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that controlled laboratory tests into the effects of alcohol intoxication may have ecological validity, with SATO shifts amongst the characteristic impairments seen in both controlled and naturalistic settings.

The tumor suppressor activity of SOCS-1

SOCS-1 is an inducible SH2-containing inhibitor of Jak kinases and as such can potently suppress cytokine signaling. SOCS-1 deficient mice die within the first three weeks of life from a myeloproliferative disorder driven by excessive interferon signaling. We report here that SOCS-1 inhibits proliferation signals induced by a variety of oncogenes active within the hematopoietic system. Ectopic expression of SOCS-1 abolished proliferation mediated by a constitutively active form of the KIT receptor, TEL-JAK2, and v-ABL, and reduced metastasis from BCR-ABL transformed cells. SOCS-1, however, did not interfere with v-SRC or RASV12 mediated cellular transformation. A mutant form of SOCS-1 unable to bind through its SH2 domain to tyrosine phosphorylated proteins could still inhibit KIT, but not TEL-JAK2, indicating multiple mechanisms for SOCS-1-mediated tumor suppression. We show that the steady state levels of TEL-JAK2 and to a greater extent v-ABL are diminished in the presence of SOCS-1. Lastly, we show that SOCS-1 -/- fibroblasts are more sensitive than wild type fibroblasts to either spontaneous or oncogene-induced transformation. These data suggest that loss-of-function of SOCS-1 may collaborate with a variety of hematopoietic oncogenes to facilitate tumor progression.

Asymmetries in the superior temporal lobe in male and female first-episode schizophrenic patients: measures of the planum temporale and superior temporal gyrus by MRI

Schizophrenia has been hypothesized to be associated with an underlying brain developmental anomaly, specifically affecting normal brain asymmetries. The most pronounced asymmetries are present on the superior surface of the temporal lobes, the left plane, as measured along the sylvian fissure (planum temporale) being longer than the right in the majority of normal individuals. These asymmetries encompass Wernicke's area, the anatomical substrate for language, and have been found to be less pronounced in individuals with developmental language problems, i.e. dyslexia. Since disordered language is one of the hallmarks of schizophrenia, the present study focuses on the planum temporale and related superior temporal gyrus. Eighty-five first-episode schizophrenic patients and 40 controls had measurements of the sylvian fissure taken from coronal slices. The pattern of asymmetry in controls was for the right length to be longer than the left in anterior slices, and for left to be longer than right in posterior slices (corresponding to the planum temporale). Schizophrenic patients as a group demonstrated less asymmetry (R > L) in anterior slices, and female patients showed a trend for less (L > R) asymmetry in posterior slices. In contrast to the report of Barta et al. (1990), the volume of the anterior superior temporal gyrus did not differ from controls in first-episode schizophrenic patients. Neither the presence of formal thought disorder nor auditory hallucinations defined a subgroup of patients with reduced size or lateralization of the planum temporal or superior temporal gyrus.

Anomalous lateral sulcus asymmetry and cognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia

This study examines the cognitive functioning of first-episode schizophreniform patients within several weeks of hospitalization and at 2 years into the illness. Differences between patients and controls are also reported for measurements of the length of the lateral sulcus, which borders the planum temporal, an area of the brain integral to language function. Neuropsychological test results are also correlated to magnetic resonance imaging structural variables at the time of first hospitalization. Findings on neuropsychological summary scales reveal a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment in schizophreniform patients compared to controls, which appears to improve over time. An atypical pattern of anatomic lateral symmetry is found in female schizophreniform patients, with female appearing to have a reduction in the normally occurring left greater than right length of the lateral sulcus. Such atypical asymmetry of the lateral sulcus is also associated with better cognitive function, particularly in schizophreniform patients. These findings suggest that atypical lateralization in an area critical to language function may be related to cognitive function in schizophreniform illness.

Excretion of myoglobin in urine after actue myocardial infarction

We studied myoglobin excretion in 33 patients admitted to the coronary care unit with a provisional diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Sixteen proved to have definite and uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction and 17 possible infarction, using WHO criteria. For 5 days after admission, aliquots of every urine specimen voided by each patient were analysed for myoglobin using an immunochemical method able to detect a minimum urinary myoglobin concentration of 0-02 mg/ml. Myoglobinuria was detected in 14 of the 16 patients with definite infarction but was not found in any of the 17 patients with possible infarction. There were 3 patterns of myoglobin excretion. In 8 of the 14 patients it was excreted in one episode starting 10 to 40 hours after the onset of chest pain and lasting for 5 to 45 hours. In 3 of the remaining patients it was excreted over a much longer period (mean 83 hours) and in the final 3 patients myoglobinuria occurred in 2 or 3 intermittent episodes with periods of between 10 and 20 hours during which it was not detected. Total myoglobin excretion, which varied between 2 and 100 mg (mean 51 mg), did not correlate with peak serum enzyme levels. We concluded that in the appropriate clinical setting, the finding of myoglobinuria provides additional evidence for a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The variable myoglobin excretion pattern suggests that in seemingly uncomplicated myocardial infarction there is considerable variation between patients in the pattern of evolution of the infarction process. This may be relevant to the assessment of measures directed towards limiting infarct size.

The detection of myoglobin in urine and its application to the diagnosis of myocardial infarction

An indirect haemaglutination method was developed for the immunochemical detection of myoglobin in human urine. Myoglobin was found in the urine of 84% of 44 patients with acute myocardial infarction. In contrast, it was detected in the urine of 2.7% of 147 control subjects and in none of a control group of 15 patients who had received intramuscular injections. In patients with myocardial infarction, myoglobin was detected in most but not all urine specimens collected between 10 and 50 hours after the onset of chest pain. The results suggest that the detection of myoglobin in urine may be a valuable addition to present tests for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.