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Sapere Aude – Dare to Be Wise: David A. Sleet
No full textSapere Aude – Dare to Be Wise is a unique editorial conversational interview-type feature. It is an attempt to deep dive into an Academy members’ background, formative experience, and education – specifically, to extract factors that contributed to their development and evolution as a professional, as well as their success as a prominent researcher in the health behavior arena. Every Academy member selected has a different story to tell and numerous models for success will emerge from this exploration of the membership
Academic Library Reference and User Services: Expertise in Response to College and University Students’ Information Needs
No full textOffering academic library reference assistance to an infinite range of informational needs is complex as reference sources, formats, and delivery platforms increase. There is satisfaction in learning reference and user service expertise through a series of master’s library and information science competency sets. Locating a professional reference librarian at the university library reference desk to ask for help either in person or via a wide variety of computer platforms is an important and necessary aspect of students’ advanced learning in higher education
Can Anogenital Distance be Used to Select Oocyte Donors with Greater Embryo Production?
No full textIn vitro embryo production has increased over the last years as a tool to obtain genetically superior animals. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration and antral follicle count are phenotypes associated with in vitro embryo production but are less accessible at the farm level. Anogenital distance (length from the center of the anus to the base of the clitoris) has been proposed as a new proxy for fertility in dairy cattle that can be collected easily and at a low cost. Bos indicus dairy cattle oocyte donors of the Gyr breed (n = 552) from six herds in Brazil were used to test the association of the historical in vitro embryo production record with anogenital distance and AMH. The historical record of embryo production was retrieved from the farms, and anogenital distance and blood samples to evaluate the concentration of AMH were collected in 2021. Donors were classified as High or Low AMH, High or Low recovered oocytes, and Short or Long anogenital distance categories. Donors in the High AMH and oocyte categories produced more viable oocytes and embryos than donors in the Low AMH and oocyte categories. However, no differences were observed between Short vs. Long anogenital distance for AMH concentration and in vitro embryo production. A limitation of our study was the use of oocyte and embryo data collected retrospectively in relation to the current anogenital distance of the animal. Thus, further studies should be performed to validate these results and to better understand the association between anogenital distance and in vitro embryo production
Toxicity, Positionality, and Ways Forward
No full textCurrently, our work in education is challenging in ways few anticipated. In such complex and contentious times, it is important to take stock of the situation as dispassionately as possible, take a step back, and breathe. We need to recognize the sincerely held beliefs and altruistic goals of the vast majority of actors seeking to drive change. There are pathways forward, if we sincerely seek common ground
Inquiry Learning for Our Students and Our Future
No full textSociety is currently experiencing a wave of misinformation and disinformation spread through social media and other means. Widespread false information threatens our social relationships and our democracy. A shift toward inquiry learning in PreK-12 education can both improve student learning in general and teach students to assess the validity of sources, assumptions, and assertions they encounter. Students who participate in inquiry learning explore real-world problems, practice critical thinking, and develop practical solutions. Inquiry learning also prepares students for democratic citizenship. Given the conventionality of many public school systems and outside political forces that might resist inquiry learning, the author suggests a developmental approach to implementing inquiry learning in schools where it is not currently emphasized. A developmental approach can be taken relative to learning level, curriculum level, and learning locale. Examples of inquiry learning in each of these three areas are provided. The author also suggests future research on the long-term effects of inquiry learning in PreK-12 education on graduates’ lives beyond school
Evaluating Calcium Administration Protocols Around Farrowing on Sow Performance
No full textA total of 933 mixed-parity sows (Line 1050, PIC) and their litters were used to evaluate the effect of calcium administration protocols around farrowing on sow performance. Sows were blocked by parity category and past stillbirth record, then allotted to one of three treatments with 310 to 312 replications per treatment. Treatments included: 1) control in which sows received no intervention; 2) 25 g of a calcium chloride-based product (CaCl; TRIAD, Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY) top-dressed daily at the morning feeding from the time of entry (approximately d 112 of gestation) until the sow farrowed; or 3) calcium gluconate injection (CaG; VetOne; Boise, ID) where multiparous and primiparous sows received a 20 or 15 mL injection, respectively, if a sow had more than 16 piglets, longer than 1 h since the birth of the last piglet, the litter had two or more stillbirths, or farrowing duration exceeded 4 h. On a subset of females (n = 74/treatment), farrowing duration, sow blood metabolite analysis, sow urine pH, and piglet blood immunocrit were analyzed. Sow blood and urine were collected within 4 and 6 h of the end of farrowing, and piglet blood was collected within 24 h of the beginning of farrowing. Females were categorized in parity groups of P1 (n = 194), P2-P4 (n = 489), or P5+ (n = 250). Parity category, treatment, and their interaction were included as fixed effects, while the previous stillbirth category (\u3c 0.5, ≥ 0.5 and ≤ 1, or \u3e 1 average stillborn pigs per litter) was a random effect in the model. There were no differences in total born, percentage born alive, or percentage stillbirths between treatments; however, when at-risk sows (sows with \u3e 16 piglets, \u3e 1 hour since the last birth, ≥ 2 stillbirths, or farrowing lasting \u3e 4 hours) were compared, administration of a CaG injection decreased stillbirths, increasing the percentage of pigs born alive. There was an interaction between farrowing calcium protocol and parity category for birth to cross-foster mortality (P = 0.035), where mortality was lowest in P1 control sows (P \u3c 0.05) compared to all other combinations of treatment × parity category except for P1 CaG sows, which were intermediate. Sows fed CaCl had increased blood Cl and ionized Ca (P \u3c 0.05) compared to control or CaG sows. Sows injected with CaG had increased blood glucose levels (P \u3c 0.05) compared to control sows, with sows fed CaCl intermediate. Sows provided CaCl or CaG had decreased urine pH (P \u3c 0.05) compared to control sows. There was a tendency for a farrowing Ca protocol effect on piglet immunocrit (P = 0.068), where offspring from CaG sows had a numeric increase in immunocrit ratios. In conclusion, in the overall population, top-dressing CaCl before farrowing or injecting CaG peripartum altered sow metabolites during farrowing but did not influence farrowing performance. However, when comparing at-risk sows among the three treatments, administration of a CaG injection decreased stillbirths, leading to an increase in the percentage of pigs born alive
The Effect of Litter Size Relative to Functional Teat Count on Lactating Sow and Litter Performance
No full textA total of 1,005 mixed-parity sows (Line 1050, PIC) and their litters were used to evaluate the effect of litter size relative to functional teat count on lactating sow and litter performance. Sows were blocked by parity category (P1, P2-P4, and P5+) and functional teat count determined at the time of farrowing and then allotted to one of four treatments. There were 251 or 252 sows per treatment. Treatments consisted of one fewer piglet than functional teats (-1), the same number of pigs as functional teats (0), one more pig than functional teats (+1), or two more pigs than functional teats (+2). Cross-fostering occurred within 24 h of farrowing. Pigs were individually weighed after cross-fostering and the afternoon before weaning. All pigs born weighing less than 2 lb were cross-fostered onto sows that were not included in this study. Sow body weight (BW), caliper score, and backfat measurements were collected at the time of entry (approximately d 112 of gestation) and weaning. Parity category, treatment, and their interaction, as well as teat category (≤ 13, 14-15, and ≥ 16 teats) were included in the model as fixed effects. Any fall-behind piglets, agreed upon by research and farm staff, were recorded and removed from the sow, and no replacement piglet was added to that litter. As litter size relative to functional teat count increased, sows lost more weight and caliper units (linear, P ≤ 0.005). However, the sow culling rate due to failure to conceive decreased (linear, P = 0.038). Litter size and litter weight increased (linear, P \u3c 0.001) as litter size relative to functional teat count increased at both d 2 and weaning. However, litter ADG was greatest for -1 and +2 sows compared to 0 and +1 sows (quadratic, P = 0.045). Mean piglet BW at weaning (linear, P \u3c 0.001) and piglet ADG decreased (quadratic, P = 0.042) as litter size relative to functional teat count increased. On-test (d 2 to wean) removals and mortality increased (linear, P \u3c 0.001) as litter size relative to functional teat count increased. Wean-to-estrus interval was longer for sows with the same number of pigs as functional teats (P \u3c 0.05) compared to +2 sows with -1 and +1 sows intermediate. Even though piglet removals and mortality were greater as the number of pigs relative to teat count increased, pigs weaned per sow per year (PSY) increased as litter size relative to functional teat count increased (linear, P \u3c 0.001). In conclusion, the optimal litter size relative to teat count is dependent on criteria selected. To achieve the lowest piglet mortality and sow BW loss, and highest piglet weaning weight, sows should have one less pig than functional teats after cross-fostering. However, for the highest number of pigs weaned per litter and PSY, sows should have two more pigs than functional teats after cross-fostering
Effect of Two Specialty Corn Protein-Based Products on Growth Performance and Fecal Dry Matter in Nursery Pigs
No full textA total of 4,100 weanling pigs (initially 12.9 ± 0.13 lb) were used in a 42-d study to determine the effect of two specialty corn protein products, Modified Corn Protein (MCP) and MOTIV (Cargill Starches, Sweeteners, & Texturizers, Blair, Nebraska), on growth performance and fecal dry matter (DM). At approximately 23 d of age, pigs were weaned and randomly placed in pens. Pens of pigs were then blocked by average pen weight and randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 50 and 52 pigs per pen and 20 replicate pens per treatment. The first dietary treatment contained 3.5% fish meal and 7.5% enzymatically treated SBM in phase 1 and 5% enzymatically treated SBM in phase 2 (high complexity). The second diet contained 5% enzymatically treated SBM, no fishmeal in phase 1 and 2.5% enzymatically treated SBM in phase 2 (medium complexity). This treatment diet contained approximately 6 and 3% more conventional SBM in phases 1 and 2 respectively than the high complexity diet. The final two treatment diets did not contain fishmeal or enzymatically treated SBM in phases 1 or 2, and those treatments were replaced by either 10% MCP or MOTIV in phase 1 and 5% in phase 2. The amount of L-Lys HCl was adjusted to achieve a similar level of conventional SBM as the high complexity diet in both phases. Diets were fed in three phases based on a feed budget with 4 and 12 lb/pig for phases 1 and 2, respectively. Phase 3 was a common diet fed to all pigs for the remainder of the study. Overall, pigs fed the medium complexity diets had a greater (P \u3c 0.05) ADG and d 42 BW compared with pigs fed diets with MOTIV, while pigs fed the high complexity diets and those fed MCP intermediate diets showed intermediate results. Average daily feed intake was greater (P \u3c 0.05) for pigs fed medium complexity diets compared with pigs fed diets containing MCP and MOTIV, while pigs fed high complexity diets were intermediate. No differences were observed for F/G among treatments. For fecal DM, pigs fed diets with MOTIV had increased (P \u3c 0.05) fecal DM, compared to pigs fed medium complexity diets, with those fed the high complexity or MCP diets intermediate. There was no treatment effect on mortality or removals. In conclusion, the specialty corn protein products tested in this trial decreased ADG and ADFI in early nursery, which carried over to the overall performance. Additionally, increasing diet complexity in phase 1 and 2 diets did not improve performance compared to diets formulated to medium complexity
Effects of Increasing Dietary Level of ValoproWin in Low ABC-4 Diets on Nursery Pig Performance and Fecal Dry Matter
No full textA total of 360 pigs (initially 13.9 ± 0.58 lb) were used to evaluate the effect of increasing ValoproWin (VLPW) in low acid-binding capacity-4 (ABC-4) diets on nursery performance and fecal dry matter (DM). ValoproWin is a fiber ingredient that contains a purified source of coarse indigestible fiber, oat hulls, and yeast autolysate. At weaning, pigs were randomly assigned within six body weight (BW) blocks to one of the six dietary treatments in a generalized randomized block design. There were five pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment. Experimental diets were fed for 24 d, and then pigs were fed a common diet for 18 d. The control treatment was a low ABC-4 diet formulated to 200 and 250 meq/kg from d 0 to 10 (phase 1) and d 10 to 24 (phase 2), respectively. ValoproWin was added to the control diet at 1.75, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00% without making any nutritional adjustments. A positive control, high ABC-4 treatment with pharmacological levels of Zn (3,000 and 2,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO in phases 1 and 2, respectively) was used, yielding ABC-4 values of 487 and 470 meq/kg in phases 1 and 2, respectively. As VLPW increased, BW on d 10 (linear, P = 0.033) and 24 (quadratic, P = 0.049) decreased, with a marginal reduction (quadratic, P = 0.082) in d 42 BW. For the experimental period (d 0 to 24), ADG decreased (quadratic, P = 0.029) as VLPW increased. No response (P \u3e 0.10) to VLPW was observed for ADFI. As a result, feed efficiency worsened (quadratic, P = 0.006) as VLPW increased. The formulation strategy (low vs. high ABC-4 diets) did not affect (P \u3e 0.10) BW or ADG. However, low ABC-4 diets reduced (P = 0.028) ADFI and improved (P = 0.012) feed efficiency during the experimental period. Overall, increasing VLPW tended to decrease (quadratic, P = 0.067) ADG with the lowest ADG at 2.50% VLPW, with performance returning to control levels at 5%. No responses (P \u3e 0.10) were observed for ADFI, with feed efficiency responding (quadratic, P = 0.098) similarly to ADG. No differences (P \u3e 0.10) between low and high ABC-4 diets were observed for any performance criteria. On d 10 and 24, fecal DM increased (linear, P \u3c 0.005) with increasing VLPW. Pigs fed low ABC-4 diets had improved (P = 0.039) fecal DM on d 10; however, no differences were observed on d 24. The amount of manure observed on the body on d 9 decreased (linear, P = 0.011) as VLPW increased; however, no responses (P \u3e 0.10) were observed on d 24. A marginal interaction (P = 0.058) was observed between sampling day and formulation strategy, where on both days, pigs fed high ABC-4 diets were cleaner; however, on d 24, the differences between both formation strategies were greater than d 9. In conclusion, increasing VLPW linearly increased fecal DM on d 10 and 24, and pig cleanliness on d 9, with overall ADG and feed efficiency responding in a quadratic manner. Low ABC-4 diets improved d 10 fecal DM and feed efficiency during the experimental period; however, no differences were observed for overall performance and d 24 fecal DM. High ABC-4 diets reduced the amount of visible manure observed on the body on d 9 and 23
Effects of Increasing Lactose with or without Pharmacological Levels of Zinc on Performance, Fecal Dry Matter, and Plasma Zinc Concentration in Nursery Pigs
No full textA study was conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary lactose concentration and pharmacological levels of added Zn on growth performance, fecal DM, and plasma Zn concentrations in nursery pigs. At weaning, 360 pigs (initially 13.0 ± 0.24 lb) were randomly allotted within three body-weight blocks to one of six dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. The study was arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of added Zn (110 vs. 3,000 mg/kg Zn from ZnO) and three lactose concentrations: high (20% in phase 1 and 10% in phase 2), medium (10% in phase 1 and 5% in phase 2), and low (5% in phase 1 and none in phase 2). Experimental diets were fed for 21 d (phases 1 and 2), followed by a common diet fed for an additional 21 d (phase 3). There were five pigs per pen and 12 replicate pens per treatment. No lactose × Zn interactions were observed for growth performance (P \u3e 0.10). From d 0 to 21, pigs fed pharmacological levels of Zn had improved (P ≤ 0.007) ADG, ADFI, and F/G compared with pigs fed low Zn diets. Increasing lactose increased (linear, P = 0.048) BW on d 21. However, from d 0 to 42, ADG, ADFI, F/G, and d 42 BW were unaffected by increasing lactose or Zn. There were no lactose × Zn × day interactions for fecal DM, although pigs fed pharmacological Zn tended to have decreased fecal DM on both d 10 and 21 (P ≤ 0.078). For plasma Zn, a linear lactose × Zn × day interaction (linear, P = 0.004) was observed. On d 10, but not d 0 or 21, plasma Zn concentration was greater in pigs fed 3,000 mg/kg of Zn when fed high lactose and declined as the lactose level decreased. In contrast, in pigs fed 110 mg/kg of Zn, the plasma Zn remained relatively low across lactose levels. For the main effect of Zn, on both d 10 and 21, pigs fed 3,000 mg/kg of Zn had greater (P \u3c 0.001) plasma Zn concentrations compared to those fed 110 mg/kg of Zn. In conclusion, pharmacological levels of Zn improved early nursery growth performance and influenced plasma Zn concentrations; however, these benefits did not persist throughout the overall 42-d period. Increasing lactose improved the feed intake and early body-weight gains during phase 1 but had a limited impact on overall performance