scholarly journals Assessment of the Impact of the Recombinant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Horsens Strain on the Reproductive Performance in Pregnant Sows

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 772
Author(s):  
Sandra Genís ◽  
Lise K. Kvisgaard ◽  
Lars E. Larsen ◽  
Lucas P. Taylor ◽  
Jay G. Calvert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Field Strain ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Lung Lesions ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Virus Recombinant ◽  
Performance Results ◽  
Primary Variable ◽  
The Impact

This study assessed the impact of a PRRSV (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) recombinant strain (Horsens strain) on the reproductive performance of naïve pregnant sows in the last third of gestation. Fifteen sows were included: four negative reproductive controls (NTX), five infected with a PRRSV-1 field strain (Olot/91, T01), and six infected with the recombinant PRRSV-1 strain (Horsens strain, T02). Piglets were monitored until weaning. Reproductive performance was the primary variable. In sows, viremia and nasal shedding (T01 and T02 groups), and, in piglets, viral load in blood and in lungs, as well as macroscopic lung lesions (T01 and T02 groups), were the secondary variables. The reproductive performance results were numerically different between the two challenged groups. Moreover, viral loads in blood were 1.83 × 106 ± 9.05 × 106 copies/mL at farrowing, 1.05 × 107 ± 2.21 × 107 copies/mL at weaning from piglets born from T01 animals and 1.64 × 103 ± 7.62 × 103 copies/mL at farrowing, 1.95 × 103 ± 1.17 × 104 copies/mL at weaning from piglets born from T02 sows. Overall, 68.8% of T01 piglets and 38.1% of T02 piglets presented mild lung lesions. In conclusion, the results suggest that Horsens strain is less virulent than the field strain Olot/91 under these experimental conditions.

Commercial porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-2 modified live virus vaccine against heterologous single and dual Korean PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 challenge

2018 ◽  
Vol 182 (17) ◽  
pp. 485-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiwoon Jeong ◽  
Seeun Kim ◽  
Changhoon Park ◽  
Kee Hwan Park ◽  
Ikjae Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Virus Vaccine ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
Lung Lesions ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Live Virus Vaccine ◽  
Ifn Γ

This study evaluated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-2 modified live virus (MLV) vaccine against heterologous single and dual challenge of Korean PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2. Pigs were administered PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine intramuscularly at 21 days of age and inoculated intranasally with both genotypes at 56 days of age. Vaccination of pigs with PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine resulted in reduction of viral loads of both PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 after heterologous single and dual challenge with PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2. In addition, pigs vaccinated with PRRSV-2 MLV vaccine exhibited higher frequencies of PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 specific interferon-γ secreting cells (IFN-γ-SC) and showed a significant reduction in lung lesions and PRRSV nucleic acid within the lung lesions after single and dual challenge compared with unvaccinated challenged pigs. Taken together these results demonstrated that vaccination of pigs with PRRSV-2 is efficacious in protecting growing pigs from respiratory disease against heterologous single and dual PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2 challenge.

scholarly journals "Girls can't play": The effects of stereotype threat on females’ gaming performance.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Katherine Kaye ◽  
Charlotte Rebecca Pennington
Keyword(s):  
Stereotype Threat ◽  
Implicit Association Test ◽  
Implicit Attitudes ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Performance Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Harmful Effects

The current study examined the impact of stereotype threat on female online gamers’ performance and further examined whether manipulating the availability of multiple social identities effectively eliminated these performance decrements. Further, participants’ implicit attitudes towards female online gamers were assessed. Eighty-one participants (60 female) were assigned to one of four experimental conditions: 1), stereotype threat, 2), multiple social identities, 3), female control, and 4), male control. They completed an Implicit Association Test and a gaming task. The number of coins collected in a five-minute time period provided a measure of gameplay performance. Results indicated that stereotype threatened females underperformed on the gaming task relative to males in the control condition. The intervention of multiple social identities successfully protected females’ gameplay performance from stereotype threat. Additionally, differences were found between conditions in implicit attitudes pertaining to gender-gaming competence. This research highlights the harmful effects of negative stereotypes on females’ gaming performance, and suggests that these decrements may be eliminated when females identify with an alternative positive social identity.

scholarly journals No detectable effect of Wolbachia w Mel on the prevalence and abundance of the RNA virome of Drosophila melanogaster

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1883) ◽  
pp. 20181165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mang Shi ◽  
Vanessa L. White ◽  
Timothy Schlub ◽  
John-Sebastian Eden ◽  
Ary A. Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
Viral Abundance ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
The Impact

Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that can block viral infections in arthropods, generating interest in its potential to control the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Drosophila melanogaster is model organism for Wolbachia infection, and the w Mel strain of Wolbachia can improve host survival following viral infection. However, it is unclear whether w Mel induces anti-viral blocking against the broader native virome of D. melanogaster , or whether the major effect of Wolbachia is a reduction in viral abundance rather than viral clearance. We examined the effect of Wolbachia on viral abundance by comparing the total transcriptome of w Mel-positive and w Mel-negative D. melanogaster populations sampled from six locations in Australia. In addition, we examined the impact of w Mel on individual flies by obtaining transcriptome data from 20 w Mel-positive and 20 w Mel-negative D. melanogaster from the location (Melbourne) with highest density of w Mel. These data revealed high viral abundance in both Wolbachia -positive and -negative populations and individuals. Notably, none of the viral species identified, representing RNA viruses from at least nine families/floating genera, showed evidence of protection by w Mel. Although the viral loads of picorna-like viruses are reduced by w Mel under experimental conditions, we observed no such effect here. These data show that D. melanogaster can harbour abundant RNA viruses regardless of its Wolbachia status and imply that the interaction between Wolbachia and viruses in nature is more complex than simple blocking.

scholarly journals Glucuronides Hydrolysis by Intestinal Microbial β-Glucuronidases (GUS) Is Affected by Sampling, Enzyme Preparation, Buffer pH, and Species

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1043
Author(s):  
Christabel Ebuzoeme ◽  
Imoh Etim ◽  
Autumn Ikimi ◽  
Jamie Song ◽  
Ting Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Preparation ◽  
Reaction System ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Model Animal ◽  
Fresh Feces ◽  
Time Buffer ◽  
Exogenous Compounds ◽  
Activity Loss ◽  
The Impact

Glucuronides hydrolysis by intestinal microbial β-Glucuronidases (GUS) is an important procedure for many endogenous and exogenous compounds. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of experimental conditions on glucuronide hydrolysis by intestinal microbial GUS. Standard probe 4-Nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) and a natural glucuronide wogonoside were used as the model compounds. Feces collection time, buffer conditions, interindividual, and species variations were evaluated by incubating the substrates with enzymes. The relative reaction activity of pNPG, reaction rates, and reaction kinetics for wogonoside were calculated. Fresh feces showed the highest hydrolysis activities. Sonication increased total protein yield during enzyme preparation. The pH of the reaction system increased the activity in 0.69–1.32-fold, 2.9–12.9-fold, and 0.28–1.56-fold for mouse, rat, and human at three different concentrations of wogonoside, respectively. The Vmax for wogonoside hydrolysis was 2.37 ± 0.06, 4.48 ± 0.11, and 5.17 ± 0.16 μmol/min/mg and Km was 6.51 ± 0.71, 3.04 ± 0.34, and 0.34 ± 0.047 μM for mouse, rat, and human, respectively. The inter-individual difference was significant (4–6-fold) using inbred rats as the model animal. Fresh feces should be used to avoid activity loss and sonication should be utilized in enzyme preparation to increase hydrolysis activity. The buffer pH should be appropriate according to the species. Inter-individual and species variations were significant.

129 Genomic Relationship Between PRRSV Wild-type Infection and PRRSV Vaccination for Antibody Response and Reproductive Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 18-18
Author(s):  
Leticia P Sanglard ◽  
Felipe Hickmann ◽  
Yijian Huang ◽  
Kent A Gray ◽  
Daniel Linhares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Large White ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Indicator Trait ◽  
Type Infection

Abstract Immunoglobulin G antibody response, measured as sample-to-positive (S/P) ratio, to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been proposed as an indicator trait for improved reproductive performance in PRRSV-infected purebred sows and PRRSV-vaccinated crossbred gilts. In this study, we investigated the genetic correlations (rg) of S/P ratio following a PRRSV outbreak and PRRSV-vaccination with performance in non-exposed and PRRSV-exposed sows. PRRSV outbreak phase was defined based on previously described methodologies after the detection of typical clinical signs of PRRSV infection. 541 Landrace sows had S/P ratio measured at ~54 days after the beginning of the PRRSV outbreak (S/Poutbreak), and 906 Landrace x Large White naïve F1 gilts had S/P ratio measured at ~50 days after vaccination with a commercial modified live PRRSV vaccine (S/PVx). 711 and 428 Landrace sows had reproductive performance recorded before and during the PRRSV outbreak, respectively. 811 vaccinated F1 animals had farrowing performance for up to 3 parities. All animals were genotyped for ~28K SNPs. The estimate of rg of S/Poutbreakwith S/PVx was high (rg±SE = 0.72±0.18). Estimates of rg of S/Poutbreak with reproductive performance in F1 sows were low to moderate, ranging from 0.05±0.23 (number stillborn) to 0.30±0.20 (total number born). Estimates of rg of S/PVxwith reproductive performance in non-infected purebred sows were moderate and favorable with number born alive (0.50±0.23), but low (0 to -0.11±0.23) with litter mortality traits. Estimates of rg of S/PVx were moderate and negative (-0.47±0.18) with the number of mummies in PRRSV-infected purebred sows and low with other traits (-0.29±0.18 for total number born to 0.05±0.18 for number stillborn). These results indicate that selection for antibody response following a PRRSV outbreak collected in purebred sows and to PRRSV vaccination collected in commercial crossbred gilts may increase litter size of non-infected and PRRSV-exposed purebred and commercial crossbred sows.

scholarly journals Two Sides of the Same Coin. University-Industry Collaboration and Open Innovation as Enhancers of Firm Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3866
Author(s):  
Joana Costa ◽  
Ana Rita Neves ◽  
João Reis
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Industry Collaboration ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
University Industry

Open innovation is proved to be determinant in the rationalization of sustainable innovation ecosystems. Firms, universities, governments, user communities and the overall environment are called to contribute to this dynamic process. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of open innovation on firms’ performance and to empirically assess whether university-industry collaborations are complementary or substitutes for this activity. Primary data were collected from a survey encompassing 908 firms, and then combined with performance indicators from SABI (Spanish and Portuguese business information). Econometric estimations were run to evaluate the role of open innovation and university-industry collaboration in the firm innovative propensity and performance. Results highlight the importance of diversity in collaborations with the academia and inbound open innovation strategy as enhancers of firm performance. The two activities reinforce each other. By testing the impact of open innovation practices on company performance, the need for heterogeneity in terms of contact type and university is also demonstrated. Findings cast light on the need to reformulate existing policy packages, reinforcing the ties with academia as well as the promotion of open innovation strategies. The connection to the innovation ecosystem needs to be further encouraged as well as the promotion of persistent connections with the knowledge sources in an open and multilateral framework.

scholarly journals A flexible ChIP-sequencing simulation toolkit

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
An Zheng ◽  
Michael Lamkin ◽  
Yutong Qiu ◽  
Kevin Ren ◽  
Alon Goren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Truth ◽  
Peak Calling ◽  
Simulation Framework ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Ground Truth Data ◽  
Chip Sequencing ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Experimental Parameters ◽  
Differential Binding ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background A major challenge in evaluating quantitative ChIP-seq analyses, such as peak calling and differential binding, is a lack of reliable ground truth data. Accurate simulation of ChIP-seq data can mitigate this challenge, but existing frameworks are either too cumbersome to apply genome-wide or unable to model a number of important experimental conditions in ChIP-seq. Results We present ChIPs, a toolkit for rapidly simulating ChIP-seq data using statistical models of key experimental steps. We demonstrate how ChIPs can be used for a range of applications, including benchmarking analysis tools and evaluating the impact of various experimental parameters. ChIPs is implemented as a standalone command-line program written in C++ and is available from https://github.com/gymreklab/chips. Conclusions ChIPs is an efficient ChIP-seq simulation framework that generates realistic datasets over a flexible range of experimental conditions. It can serve as an important component in various ChIP-seq analyses where ground truth data are needed.

scholarly journals Achieving equitable uptake of handwashing and sanitation by addressing both supply and demand-based constraints: findings from a randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarker Masud Parvez ◽  
Musarrat Jabeen Rahman ◽  
Rashidul Azad ◽  
Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
Leanne Unicomb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Efficacy Trial ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Change Promotion ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Supply driven programs that are not closely connected to community demand and demand-driven programs that fail to ensure supply both risk worsening inequity. Understanding patterns of uptake of behaviors among the poorest under ideal experimental conditions, such as those of an efficacy trial, can help identify strategies that could be strengthened in routine programmatic conditions for more equitable uptake. WASH Benefits Bangladesh was a randomized controlled efficacy trial that provided free-of cost WASH hardware along with behavior change promotion. The current paper aimed to determine the impact of the removal of supply and demand constraints on the uptake of handwashing and sanitation behaviors across wealth and education levels. Methods The current analysis selected 4 indicators from the WASH Benefits trial— presence of water and soap in household handwashing stations, observed mother’s hand cleanliness, observed visible feces on latrine slab or floor and reported last child defecation in potty or toilet. A baseline assessment was conducted immediately after enrolment and endline assessment was conducted approximately 2 years later. We compared change in uptake of these indicators including wealth quintiles (Q) between intervention and control groups from baseline to endline. Results For hand cleanliness, the poorest mothers improved more [Q1 difference in difference, DID: 16% (7, 25%)] than the wealthiest mothers [Q5 DID: 7% (− 4, 17%)]. The poorest households had largest improvements for observed presence of water and soap in handwashing station [Q1 DID: 82% (75, 90%)] compared to the wealthiest households [Q5 DID: 39% (30, 50%)]. Similarly, poorer household demonstrated greater reductions in visible feces on latrine slab or floor [Q1DID, − 25% (− 35, − 15) Q2: − 34% (− 44, − 23%)] than the wealthiest household [Q5 DID: − 1% (− 11, 8%). For reported last child defecation in potty or toilet, the poorest mothers showed greater improvement [Q1–4 DID: 50–54% (44, 60%)] than the wealthier mothers [Q5 DID: 39% (31, 46%). Conclusion By simultaneously addressing supply and demand-constraints among the poorest, we observed substantial overall improvements in equity. Within scaled-up programs, a separate targeted strategy that relaxes constraints for the poorest can improve the equity of a program. Trial registration WASH Benefits Bangladesh: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT01590095. Date of registration: April 30, 2012 ‘Retrospectively registered’.

128 Differences in PRRSV Resilience for Reproductive Performance Between Landrace and Duroc Sows

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Felipe Hickmann ◽  
José Braccini Neto ◽  
Luke M Kramer ◽  
Kent A Gray ◽  
Yijian Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Prrs Virus ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Studies on differences in resilience to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (PRRSV) between breeds are scarce in the literature. Thus, the objective of this work was to assess PRRSV resilience in PRRSV wild-type infected sows from two breeds. Farrowing data included 2546 and 2522 litters from 894 Duroc and 813 Landrace sows, respectively, which were housed together and experienced the same PRRSV outbreak. Traits used for this study were number of piglets born alive (NBA), number born dead (NBD), total number born (TNB), and number weaned (NW). The impact of PRRSV infection was evaluated by comparing the reproductive performance of breeds between PRRS phases (pre-PRRS, PRRS, and post-PRRS). PRRS phases were defined based on the reproductive performance data. NBA, NBD, and NW were analyzed as a proportion of TNB using a Poisson mixed model. Pre-defined contrasts were used to evaluate the effect of breed on PRRSV resilience and on return to PRRSV-free performance, representing the differences between breeds for the difference between pre-PRRS and PRRS phases, and pre-PRRS and post-PRRS phases, respectively. There was a significant (P ≤ 0.003) interaction between PRRS phase and breed for all traits, as shown in Table 1. In general, reproductive performance reduced from pre-PRRS to PRRS, and then increased from PRRS to post-PRRS, as expected. The resilience contrast was significant for all traits (P ≤ 0.003). In all cases, the drop in percent reproductive performance from pre-PRRS to PRRS was lower for Duroc than for Landrace, indicating that Duroc sows have greater PRRSV resilience than Landrace sows. The return to PRRSV-free performance contrast had a trending effect for NBD (P = 0.055), and it was not significant for the other traits (P ≥ 0.515). These results indicate that Duroc sows have overall greater phenotypic PRRSV resilience for reproductive performance than Landrace sows.

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