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Expression of GPR109A in dairy cattle immune cells
Get PDFGPR109A is a Gi-coupled receptor for nicotinic acid (NA; niacin) as well as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). In cattle, NA is known to suppress the breakdown of adipose triglycerides, primarily by acting on the GPR109A receptor. Niacin binding activates the GPR109A receptor and leads to a decrease in cyclic AMP concentrations inside the cell. Dairy cows in early lactation have high concentrations of BHB, which may have important effects on immunity via GPR109A signaling. However, it remains unknown to what extent this receptor is expressed by key immune cells during this period of time. The objective of this study was to determine mRNA abundance and protein expression of GPR109A in immune cells of periparturient dairy cows. Heparinized blood (50 mL) was collected from 5 healthy Holstein cows and diluted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at a 1:1 ratio. Ficoll was added to the samples and centrifuged to isolate immune cells. Pierce BCA Total Protein Assay Kit was used to determine the concentration of the total protein in isolated immune cell samples. 40 μg of protein sample were analyzed by Western Blot. The primary rabbit polyclonal antibody (HCAR2, ABClonal) was used at 1:500 and the secondary antibody (goat anti-Rabbit IgG, sc-2020; Santa Cruz Biotechnology) at 1:10000 to detect GPR109A protein expression. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to determine mRNA abundance in immune cell samples. Relative mRNA abundance was quantified by the delta-Ct method with control genes RPS15 and GAPDH used to normalize values. GPR109A receptor mRNA and protein were found both key types of innate immune cells (monocytes and neutrophils) of dairy cattle throughout the transition to lactation, with no significant changes detected over time. Previously-reported associations between high blood BHB concentrations and poor immune function may be linked by GPR109A signaling
Effects of soybean meal alternatives on Boer-type goat growth and related costs
Get PDFThe goat population, both in the US and abroad, has greatly increased in the past years, despite the lack of research that producers can use to make decisions for their herd. Currently there is little research on how feed impacts a goat’s growth and how cost can come into play. This study was conducted to evaluate corn dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten feed (CGF) as replacements for soybean meal (SBM) in a Boer-type grower ration. Seventy-five Boer-type goat were sorted into 25 pens with 3 goats per pen. The goats were approximately 70 d old with an average BW of 26.9 0.2 kg and were fed for 35 d. Treatment was randomly assigned to pen, therefore the pen served as the experimental unit. The treatments were; 1) SBM control, 2) 100% DDGS/0% CGF, 3) 66% DDGS/33% CGF, 4) 33% DDGS/66% CGF, 5) 0% DDGS/100% CGF. The treatments were isocaloric and isonitrogenous but varied in protein source. Goats and feeders were weighed weekly, to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. There was no detected influence of DDGS or CGF replacing SBM on the final BW, ADG, ADFI, G:F, or feed cost () per goat (P=0.0008), with the SBM control being a greater cost than the other treatments per goat per day. These results suggest that producers could chose a diet dependent on their goal for their herd; a certain amount of growth within a period of time, fastest growth possible, largest amount of growth, or growth with no deadline or minimum weight
Strong-field-induced bond rearrangement in triatomic molecules
Get PDFA comparative study of bond rearrangement is reported for the double ionization of three triatomic molecules: carbon dioxide, carbonyl sulfide, and water (D2O). Specifically, we study the formation of the molecular cation AC+ from the edge atoms of a triatomic molecular dication ABC2+ following double ionization by intense, short (23 fs, 790 nm) laser pulses. The comparison is made using the double ionization branching ratio of each molecule, thereby minimizing differences due to differing ionization rates. The rearrangement branching ratio is highest for water, which has a bent initial geometry, while CO2 and OCS are linear molecules. The angular distribution of O2+ fragments arising from CO2 is essentially isotropic, while SO+ from OCS and D+2 from D2O are aligned with the laser polarization. In the CO2 and D2O cases, the angular distributions of the bond rearrangement channels are different from the angular distributions of the dominant dissociative double ionization channels CO++O+ and OD++D+. Only the angular distribution of SO+ from OCS is both aligned with the laser polarization and similar to the angular distribution of the largest dissociative channel, CO++S+. The mixed behavior observed from the angular distributions of the different molecules stands in contrast to the relative consistency of the magnitude of the bond rearrangement branching ratio
Real-time observation of X-ray-induced intramolecular and interatomic electronic decay in CH2I2
Get PDFThe increasing availability of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has catalyzed the development of single-object structural determination and of structural dynamics tracking in real-time. Disentangling the molecular-level reactions triggered by the interaction with an XFEL pulse is a fundamental step towards developing such applications. Here we report real-time observations of XFEL-induced electronic decay via short-lived transient electronic states in the diiodomethane molecule, using a femtosecond near-infrared probe laser. We determine the lifetimes of the transient states populated during the XFEL-induced Auger cascades and find that multiply charged iodine ions are issued from short-lived (∼20 fs) transient states, whereas the singly charged ones originate from significantly longer-lived states (∼100 fs). We identify the mechanisms behind these different time scales: contrary to the short-lived transient states which relax by molecular Auger decay, the long-lived ones decay by an interatomic Coulombic decay between two iodine atoms, during the molecular fragmentation
Method for spectral phase retrieval of single attosecond pulses utilizing the autocorrelation of photoelectron streaking spectra
Get PDFWe propose an algorithm for retrieving the spectral phase of an isolated attosecond pulse based on the photoelectron spectra generated in atoms by the attosecond pulse in the presence of a time-delayed infrared laser. Instead of employing the whole set of the streaking spectra as in the previous phase retrieval algorithms, we calculate the autocorrelation (AC) of the streaking trace, and use it to extract the spectral phase. We illustrate that this method can be used to extract narrow- as well as broadband attosecond pulses. The method converges much faster and is more accurate. We also define two parameters, V and A. By comparing the AC pattern and the V and A parameters from the experiment and from the retrieved pulse, this method provides a metric to evaluate the accuracy of the retrieved pulse
Distortion of the Ionization Cross Section of He by the Coherence Properties of a C6+ Beam
Get PDFWe analyze the influence of the coherence of the projectile’s beam in scattering phenomena. We focus our study in the ionization of He by C 6 + projectiles at 100 MeV/amu. We assess the influence of this effect by performing a Born initial state and continuum distorted wave final state (CDW-B1) calculation together with a rigorous procedure to account for the initial coherence properties of the projectile’s beam. These calculations, which had been previously performed for only the scattering and perpendicular collision planes and within the First Born approximation (FBA), were repeated for an ampler set of collision planes. Additionally, a more refined method to describe the applicability of the aforementioned procedure, is used. We achieve a better qualitative agreement with the experimental results
Quantum Control of Photoelectron Circular Dichroism
Get PDFWe demonstrate coherent control over the photoelectron circular dichroism in randomly oriented chiral molecules, based on quantum interference between multiple photoionization pathways. To significantly enhance the chiral signature, we use a finite manifold of indistinguishable (1+1′) resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization pathways interfering at a common photoelectron energy but probing different intermediate states. We show that this coherent control mechanism maximizes the number of molecular states that constructively contribute to the dichroism at an optimal photoelectron energy and thus outperforms other schemes, including interference between opposite-parity pathways driven by bichromatic (ω, 2ω) fields as well as sequential pump-probe ionization
Strand rods and high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites: alternative options for seismic retrofit of existing structures
Get PDFMaster of ScienceDepartment of Architectural EngineeringBill ZhangA recent increase in the frequency and spatial variety of seismic activities necessitates the need for re-evaluation of existing structures. Many existing structures do not meet the minimum code design criteria should they be impacted by a seismic event. These structures are vulnerable to damages which could result in injuries to occupants or even loss of life. In order to avoid these failures, these structures need to be rehabilitated to provide additional resistance to the lateral effects produced by seismic events.
This report will briefly discuss the necessity of a seismic retrofit and the process in which it can be accomplished. It will then outline two alternative methods of seismic retrofit: strand rods and prefabricated high-performance fiber-reinforced cement composite panels. These methods have a promising future in seismic retrofit due to their ease of use, cost efficiency, and minimal interruption to the continued use of the structure
Feminist Narrative and Lemonade
Get PDFColene LindThis essay uses feminist and narrative criticism to analyze the multiple messages produced in the popular culture visual album Lemonade. The relevance of these messages and their distinct interpretations to current sociopolitical problems in American society are addressed and the sociohistorical context, specifically in terms of race relations in the United States, is established. Intersectionality is explored as an aid to established critical theories such as those employed in this analysis. Key features of the cultural artifact such as the central narrative, Black feminism, and empowerment are analyzed in depth. Metaphors are established as a way of allowing for multiple interpretations of different aspects of the artifact such as lyrics and visuals. Finally, implications for the current and future state of American society are discussed
Social Media Analytics for K-State Admissions on Instagram and Twitter
No full textDanielle LaGreeI have been in charge of running the social media accounts for K-State Admissions on Instagram and Twitter since July 2018. I would like to analyze the impact I have made on overall reach and engagement with the accounts by tracking audience, increase/ decrease in followers, amount of likes and retweets on various posts doing a semantic analysis as well by collecting comments and mentions. I would look at which posts do better than others and why, comparing buy-in with different types of content, as well as analyzing the impact time and day have on engagement. To get more diverse data, I would develop a comparison between the K-State Admissions accounts and two other competing accounts looking at schools in the Midwest and notable schools in the coastal regions to choose an adequate comparison. I would aim to present the data in a way that is easy to understand and adapt by others who follow me in this position