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Assessment of anogenital distance as a biomarker for puberty in beef heifers
(The Ohio State University, 2024-05) Latif, Danielle; Garcia Guerra, Alvaro
Anogenital distance (AGD) is a dimorphic trait defined, in females, as the distance between the anus and the clitoris. Associations between AGD and reproductive outcomes have been identified in many species making AGD a potential biomarker for reproductive performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between AGD and puberty in heifers. Beef heifers (n = 102) were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Anogenital distance and body weight (BW) were determined at 205 d of age and at breeding (BW only) when heifers were yearlings (range 363 to 450 d). Blood samples were collected for progesterone quantification biweekly from 205 until 300 d and weekly thereafter until breeding. Pubertal onset was defined as the age at which progesterone first exceeded 1 ng/ml. Mean AGD at 205 d was 61.2 ± 9.5 mm (range 38.1 to 82 mm). The AGD at 205 d was weakly correlated with BW at 205 d (r = 0.31; P = 0.01) and moderately correlated with yearling BW (r = 0.47; P < 0.01) and average daily gain (r = 0.43; P < 0.01). There was no correlation (P > 0.10) between AGD and age at pubertal onset. Heifers were categorized, using quartiles, into long (Q4; ≥ 67 mm), medium (Q2 and Q3; ≥ 56 mm & < 67 mm) and short (Q1; < 56 mm) AGD. There were no differences (P > 0.10) in BW at 205 d between AGD groups, while yearling weight tended (P < 0.10) to be greater for long (360 ± 37 kg) than short AGD (336 ± 36 kg) heifers. Average daily gain tended (P < 0.10) to be greater for long (0.63 ± 0.08 kg/day) than both medium (0.56 ± 0.08 kg/day) and short (0.55 ± 0.08 kg/day) AGD heifers. Age at breeding was greater (P < 0.05) for long (415 ± 8 d) than short AGD heifers (399 ± 8 d), while medium AGD heifers (406 ± 7 d) were intermediate. The percentage of heifers that reach puberty before breeding was greater (P < 0.05) for long (77.0%) than short (39.5%) AGD heifers, while medium AGD heifers (64.7%) were intermediate. There was no difference (P > 0.10) in age at onset of puberty between AGD groups. In conclusion, fewer heifers with short AGD at 205 days of age reach puberty before the onset of breeding which appears to be associated with reduced weight gain and age at breeding.
A Nation's Undesirables: Mixed-Race Children and Whiteness in the Post-Nazi Era
(The Ohio State University Press, 2024) Patton, Tracey Owens
The effect of overprocessing dried distillers grains on the growth of finishing lambs
(The Ohio State University, 2024-05) Thompson, Brayden; Campbell, Braden; Relling, Alejandro
Dried distiller’s grains (DDG) are a popular by-product used in the livestock feed industry as it is a cost-effective feedstuff that is rich in crude protein and minerals. However, it is also well reported that as the concentration of DDG in the diet increases, animal dry matter intake decreases, thus extending the feeding period. To further investigate this challenge, my project involved feeding two different diets, diet A (control DDG) and diet B (processed DDG), and observing the differences in average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) in finishing lambs. Both diets were the same except for the processing of DDG; whereas diet A used a commercial DDG source directly from the mill and diet B contained the same commercial DDG source that differed through additional heat processing. For DDG processing (diet B), 40% moisture was added to the DDG and heated at 150°C for 70 minutes. After the heating process, diet B was placed in a second oven at 56°C for two days to allow for humidity evaporation. Lambs, blocked by sex and weight, were housed in pens (2 to 3 lambs per pen, 6 pens per treatment) and were fed for 42 days. Lamb DMI was measured daily, and body weight was measured every 14 days. Data were analyzed using a mixed model in SAS considering diet as the fixed effect and pen and block as random effects. The results of this study showed that there were no treatment differences (P ≥ 0.13) in ADG, DMI, and G:F in growing, finishing lambs. Although no differences were reported under the conditions of the current study, producers should remain cautious when incorporating this ingredient into finishing diets as changes in by-product processing may negatively impact feed quality, and thus animal intake and growth.
Offenders with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study
(The Ohio State University, 2024-05) Hodges, Grace; Gibbs, John
The U.S. and other western countries have an exceedingly large recidivism rate and countless resources, time, and faculty have been focused on this issue. A relatively large subpopulation within the criminal justice system (CJS) is that of offenders with developmental disabilities. Very few resources have been put toward research and interventions to prevent recidivism within this subpopulation with specialized needs. This study analyzed a data set of over 100 offenders with ASD in the UK to explore various psychological variables as they relate to antisocial indices. We used a Pearson correlation matrix and descriptive statistics to explore relationships and patterns among these constructs and other variables. We found a significant negative correlation between PCLSV Checklist scores and Autism Quotient scores, signifying that psychopathic traits and ASD are distinct and potentially oppositional, despite being previously regarded as related due to issues with empathy. This validates the hyper-arousal theory more than the hypo-arousal theory, but studies with specific empathetic arousal tests would be ideal to corroborate the hyper-arousal theory for this sample. General cognitive functioning variables were low as compared with general ASD populations, and IQ was linked to antisocial indices. Empathy was on the lower end of the standard range for populations with ASD, and not significantly linked to antisocial indices. Moral maturity was low as compared with non-ASD samples, but it is uncertain how it compares with general ASD samples, as most studies of moral maturity were completed with children or adolescents with ASD. We hope this may guide future research as a jumping-off point for more in-depth studies.
Non-viral Direct Cell Reprogramming Methods Aiming to Rescue Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes
(The Ohio State University, 2024-05) Gotschall, Andrew; Gallego-Perez, Daniel
Allogenic islet transplantation is the current gold standard cell therapy to treat patients with severe type I diabetes. However, its implementation is limited due to a lack of donor tissue, its invasive nature, and the requirement for patients to take immunosuppressants for the remainder of their lives following treatment. To address these limitations, we primarily investigated a novel method to directly reprogram fibroblasts into induced β cells. We delivered plasmid DNA encoding for a unique combination of three skin plasticity and seven β cell patterning transcription factors (3SP+7βC) to dermal fibroblasts and skin tissue using bulk electroporation (in vitro), nanoelectroporation (in vitro), or tissue nanotransfection (in vivo). Mouse embryonic fibroblasts transfected with the 3SP+7βC combination demonstrated increased insulin 1 and insulin 2 gene expression by day 14 compared to control. Moreover, these populations of mouse embryonic fibroblasts transfected with the 3SP+7βC combination stained positive for the insulin protein. In vivo studies suggest upregulated insulin gene expression, as well as acute glycemic control rescue, and are currently ongoing. Further experiments are still needed to explore the extent of induced β cell reprogramming and the glycemic control that can be driven by the delivery of unique transcription factors using electroporation-based methods. However, this study explores a step towards providing an alternative cell source to treat, and potentially cure, the lack of insulin causing homeostatic glucose imbalance in type I diabetes. Success here has potential to greatly improve diabetic patients' quality of life and relieve the financial burden faced by patients as they monitor type I diabetes throughout their lives. These improvements would also lower the financial burden faced by healthcare systems due to decreased demands for type 1 diabetes related micro-, and macrovascular disease treatments.