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Hurricane Harvey caused widespread flooding along the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017; some areas of Houston received >150 cm of rainfall within a few days. Due to concerns over fecal contamination of floodwaters, surface water samples were collected at six locations in the southeastern Houston area immediately before and after the hurricane and then every 1 to 2 weeks thereafter over a 2-month period. Total E. coli was enumerated using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray/2000 system. DNA extracted from water samples was analyzed via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for general and source-specific total Bacteroidales and human Bacteroidales markers, and digital PCR (dPCR) for antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) and a plasmid (pBI143) associated with human waste. SourceTracker2 was used to determine human source contributions based on metagenomic analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Samples collected immediately after the hurricane had elevated levels of E. coli, ranging from 488 to 1,733 CFU 100 ml−1. After 1 week, E. coli levels decreased to <100 MPN 100 ml−1. Total Bacteroidales numbers were elevated immediately following the hurricane and remained high for 12 days. Human-source contributions, as assessed by PCR methods and metagenomic analysis, peaked within 12 days after the hurricane consistently across all sampling sites. Multiple regression analysis of environmental parameters, copies of ARG and pBI143, and metagenomic data confirmed that human waste caused the dramatic, short-term, high levels of fecal contamination of floodwaters generated by Hurricane Harvey. Fecal indicators approached normal background levels approximately 3 weeks after the rainfall ended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectinase accelerates hemp retting. An elevated temperature during the enzymatic action is favorable for bacterial colonization. Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) bast fiber was retted in a 40 °C water bath under four different conditions: water retting, pectinase retting, bacterial retting, and bacterial retting with the presence of pectinase. Bacterial communities were sampled from the retting liquid of each condition at the beginning of retting and on days 1, 3, and 5. The bacterial successions were identified by 16S rRNA gene metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that Bacillaceae dominated the hemp retting conditions containing 1% (m/v) pectinase, suggesting that pectinase can manipulate the bacterial community succession by changing the nutrients available to bacteria through the breakdown of pectin. Micromorphological analysis also observed the degradation of a gum-like substance and the aggregation of bacteria with the addition of pectinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW) is a popular early life stress (ELS) model in rodents, which emulates childhood neglect through scheduled mother-offspring separation. Although variations of ELS models, including maternal separation and MSEW, have been published for the mouse species, the reported results are inconsistent. Corticosterone is considered the main stress hormone involved in regulating stress responses in rodents—yet generating a robust and reproducible corticosterone response in mouse models of ELS has been elusive. Considering the current lack of standardization for MSEW protocols, these inconsistent results may be attributed to variations in model methodologies. Here, we compared the effects of select early wean diet sources—which are the non-milk diets used to complete early weaning in MSEW pups—on the immediate stress phenotype of C57BL/6J mice at postnatal day 21. Non-aversive handling was an integral component of our modified MSEW model. The evaluation of body weight and serum corticosterone revealed the early wean diet to be a key variable in the resulting stress phenotype. Interestingly, select non-milk diets facilitated a stress phenotype in which low body weight was accompanied by significant corticosterone elevation. Our data indicate that dietary considerations are critical in MSEW-based studies and provide insight into improving the reproducibility of key stress-associated outcomes as a function of this widely used ELS paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article surveys recent work on Vedānta, focusing on English-language secondary scholarship since the year 2000. The article consists of two parts. The first part (published previously) identified trends within recent scholarship, highlighting several promising areas of new research: the social history of Vedānta, Vedānta in the early modern period, vernacular Vedānta, Persian Vedānta, colonial and post-colonial Vedānta, and pedagogy and practice. It also covered edited volumes, special journal issues, and ongoing collaborative research projects. The second part (published here) provides an overview of scholarship on specific schools of Vedānta (Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, etc.), as well as a survey of philosophical, theological, and comparative studies. The article concludes with suggestions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article surveys recent work on Vedānta, focusing on English-language secondary scholarship since the year 2000. The article consists of two parts. The first part (published here) identifies trends within recent scholarship, highlighting several promising areas of new research: the social history of Vedānta, Vedānta in the early modern period, vernacular Vedānta, Persian Vedānta, colonial and post-colonial Vedānta, and pedagogy and practice. It also covers edited volumes, special journal issues, and ongoing collaborative research projects. The second part (published separately) provides an overview of scholarship on specific schools of Vedānta (Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, etc.), as well as a survey of philosophical, theological, and comparative studies. The article concludes with suggestions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of synthetic, free-amino acid diets, similar to those prescribed as supplements for (phenylketonuria) PKU patients, on gut microbiota and overall health are not well understood. In the current, multidisciplinary study, we examined the effects of a synthetically-derived, low-fiber, amino acid diet on behavior, cognition, gut microbiome composition, and inflammatory markers. A cohort of 20 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to either a standard or synthetic diet (n = 10) at post-natal day 21 and maintained for 13 weeks. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from fecal samples revealed decreased bacterial diversity, increased abundance of bacteria associated with disease, such as Prevotella, and a downward shift in gut microbiota associated with fermentation pathways in the synthetic diet group. Furthermore, there were decreased levels of short chain fatty acids and shortening of the colon in mice consuming the synthetic diet. Finally, we measured TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in serum, the hippocampus, and colon, and found that the synthetic diet significantly increased IL-6 production in the hippocampus. These results demonstrate the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to future diet and microbiome studies, as diet not only impacts the gut microbiome composition but potentially systemic health as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-mortem microbial communities are increasingly investigated as proxy evidence for a variety of factors of interest in forensic science. The reported predictive power of the microbial community to determine aspects of the individual’s post-mortem history (e.g., the postmortem interval) varies substantially among published research. This observed variation is partially driven by the local environment or the individual themselves. In the current study, we investigated the impact of BMI, sex, insect activity, season, repeat sampling, decomposition time, and temperature on the microbial community sampled from donated human remains in San Marcos, TX using a high-throughput gene-fragment metabarcoding approach. Materials and methods: In the current study, we investigated the impact of BMI, sex, insect activity, season, repeat sampling, decomposition time, and temperature on the microbial community sampled from donated human remains in San Marcos, TX using a high-throughput gene-fragment metabarcoding approach. Results: We found that season, temperature at the sampling site, BMI, and sex had a significant effect on the post-mortem microbiome, the presence of insects has a homogenizing influence on the total bacterial community, and that community consistency from repeat sampling decreases as the decomposition process progresses. Moreover, we demonstrate the importance of temperature at the site of sampling on the abundance of important diagnostic taxa. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that while the bacterial community or specific bacterial species may prove to be useful for forensic applications, a clearer understanding of the mechanisms underpinning microbial decomposition will greatly increase the utility of microbial evidence in forensic casework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather events can temporarily alter the structure of coastal systems and generate floodwaters that are contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria (FIB); however, every coastal system is unique, so identification of trends and commonalities in these episodic events is challenging. To improve our understanding of the resilience of coastal systems to the disturbance of extreme weather events, we monitored water quality, FIB at three stations within Clear Lake, an estuary between Houston and Galveston, and three stations in bayous that feed into the estuary. Water samples were collected immediately before and after Hurricane Harvey (HH) and then throughout the fall of 2017. FIB levels were monitored by culturing E. coli and Enterococci. Microbial community structure was profiled by high throughput sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Water quality and FIB data were also compared to historical data for these water body segments. Before HH, salinity within Clear Lake ranged from 9 to 11 practical salinity units (PSU). Immediately after the storm, salinity dropped to < 1 PSU and then gradually increased to historical levels over 2 months. Dissolved inorganic nutrient levels were also relatively low immediately after HH and returned, within a couple of months, to historical levels. FIB levels were elevated immediately after the storm; however, after 1 week, E. coli levels had decreased to what would be acceptable levels for freshwater. Enterococci levels collected several weeks after the storm were within the range of historical levels. Microbial community structure shifted from a system dominated by Cyanobacteria sp. before HH to a system dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes immediately after. Several sequences observed only in floodwater showed similarity to sequences previously reported for samples collected following Hurricane Irene. These changes in beta diversity corresponded to salinity and nitrate/nitrite concentrations. Differential abundance analysis of metabolic pathways, predicted from 16S sequences, suggested that pathways associated with virulence and antibiotic resistance were elevated in floodwater. Overall, these results suggest that floodwater generated from these extreme events may have high levels of fecal contamination, antibiotic resistant bacteria and bacteria rarely observed in other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chagas disease, caused by the hemoflagellate protist Trypanosoma cruzi , affects nearly 6 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. Hematophagous triatomine insects ("kissing bugs") are the primary vectors of T. cruzi throughout the Americas and feed on a variety of animals, including humans. Control of triatomines is central to the control of T. cruzi infection. Recent advances in mitigation of other insect-borne diseases via the manipulation of insect-associated bacteria as a way to halt or slow disease transmission has opened questions to the applicability of these methods to Chagas disease vectors. Few studies have examined the hindgut microbiome of triatomines found in North America. In the current study, two species of triatomines were collected across Texas, United States, screened for the presence of T. cruzi , and analyzed for the bacterial composition of their hindguts using a 16S rRNA gene-fragment metabarcoding approach. We compared diversity of microbial community profiles across 74 triatomine insects to address the hypothesis that the richness and abundance of bacterial groups differ by T. cruzi infection and strain type, blood meal engorgement status, insect species, sex, and collection location. The gut microbial community of individual triatomines was characterized by low intraindividual taxonomic diversity and high interindividual variation that was weakly predicted by triatomine species, and was not predicted by triatomine sex, collection location, T. cruzi infection status, or blood meal score. However, we did find bacterial groups enriched in T. cruzi -positive individuals, including Enterobacterales, and Petrimonas. Additionally, we detected Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae in three triatomine individuals; this species is commonly associated with reptiles and domesticated animals and is a pathogen of humans. These data suggest that Triatoma spp. in Texas have variable patterns of colonized and transient bacteria, and may aid in development of novel means to interfere with transmission of the Chagas disease parasite T. cruzi. Deeper understanding of the effects of parasite infection on diverse insect vector microbiomes may highlight disease transmission risk and facilitate discovery of possible intervention strategies for biological control of this emerging vector-borne disease of global health significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the history of Advaita Vedānta and its rise to prominence, we need to devote more attention to what might be termed "Greater Advaita Vedānta," or Advaita Vedānta as expressed outside the standard canon of Sanskrit philosophical works. Elsewhere I have examined the works of Niścaldās (ca. 1791–1863), whose Hindi-language Vicār-sāgar ("The Ocean of Inquiry") was once referred to by Swami Vivekananda as the most influential book of its day. In this paper, I look back to one of Niścaldās's major influences: Sundardās (1596–1689), a well-known Hindi poet and a direct disciple of Dādū Dayāl (d. 1604). Sundardās is typically classified as a bhakti poet rather than an Advaita Vedāntin; certainly he is not included in existing surveys or histories of Vedānta. In his youth, however, he studied Sanskrit and Vedānta in Banaras, and his poems present us with a mind that found no contradiction in claiming Dādū as his master and at the same time embracing the teachings of Advaita Vedānta. I argue that not only should Sundardās be included in histories of Advaita Vedānta, he should be credited for his originality: not only did he "Vedānticize" the Dādū Panth, he "Dādūized" Vedānta. I conclude by comparing Sundardās to two Sanskrit intellectuals from roughly the same period: Mahādeva Sarasvatī Vedāntin and Annambhaṭṭa, both of whom, like Sundardās, had commitments to Advaita Vedānta as well as to other intellectual traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruminal microbes partially degrade dietary protein and synthesise microbial protein, which, along with undegraded true protein, contributes to metabolisable protein for the animal. Rumen models have been developed over the past several decades in an effort to better predict metabolisable protein supply for ration formulation for ruminants. These models have both empirical and mechanistic components. Separation of dietary protein into fractions that include non-protein nitrogen, true protein and unavailable protein has been a fundamental element of these models. Ruminal degradation of one or more true protein fractions is then estimated on the basis of the kinetics of digestion and passage. Some models use the same method to predict substrate supply for microbial protein production. Although mechanistic models have been extensively used in diet-formulation programs worldwide, their ability to improve accuracy of prediction of metabolisable protein over simpler empirical models is questionable. This article will address the potential of mechanistic models to better predict metabolisable protein supply in ruminants as well as their limitations. Metabolisable protein in ruminants is derived from dietary protein that is not degraded in the rumen and protein synthesised by rumen microbes that passes to the duodenum. Mechanistic rumen models have been developed in an attempt to improve the prediction of metabolisable protein for ration formulation. These models are more complex than are simple empirical models and their accuracy is limited by the availability of data to parameterise them. This article discusses the limitations of mechanistic models for the prediction of metabolisable protein in ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is the primary vector of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in North America. Though the tick is found across the eastern United States, Lyme disease is endemic to the northeast and upper midwest and rare or absent in the southern portion of the vector's range. In an effort to better understand the tick microbiome from diverse geographic and climatic regions, we analysed the bacterial community of 115 I. scapularis adults collected from vegetation in Texas and Massachusetts, representing extreme ends of the vector's range, by massively parallel sequencing of the 16S V4 rRNA gene. In addition, 7 female I. scapularis collected from dogs in Texas were included in the study. Results: Male I. scapularis ticks had a more diverse bacterial microbiome in comparison to the female ticks. Rickettsia spp. dominated the microbiomes of field-collected female I. scapularis from both regions, as well as half of the males from Texas. In addition, the male and female ticks captured from Massachusetts contained high proportions of the pathogens Anaplasma and Borrelia, as well as the arthropod endosymbiont Wolbachia. None of these were found in libraries generated from ticks collected in Texas. Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Mycobacterium were significantly differently abundant (p < 0.05) between the male ticks from Massachusetts and Texas. Anaplasma and Borrelia were found in 15 and 63% of the 62 Massachusetts ticks, respectively, with a co-infection rate of 11%. Female ticks collected from Texas dogs were particularly diverse, and contained several genera including Rickettsia, Pseudomonas, Bradyrhizobium, Sediminibacterium, and Ralstonia. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the bacterial microbiomes of I. scapularis ticks vary by sex and geography, with significantly more diversity in male microbiomes compared to females. We found that sex plays a larger role than geography in shaping the composition/diversity of the I. scapularis microbiome, but that geography affects what additional taxa are represented (beyond Rickettsia) and whether pathogens are found. Furthermore, recent feeding may have a role in shaping the tick microbiome, as evident from a more complex bacterial community in female ticks from dogs compared to the wild-caught questing females. These findings may provide further insight into the differences in the ability of the ticks to acquire, maintain and transmit pathogens. Future studies on possible causes and consequences of these differences will shed additional light on tick microbiome biology and vector competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bonefish (Albula vulpes) support a world-renowned fishery in South Florida, USA. However, fishing guides and anglers have been reporting significant declines in bonefish angling quality over that past three decades. In the absence of any long-term bonefish stock and ecosystem assessments, the cause of this decline in the fishery is unclear. Here we summarize our current knowledge of bonefish ecology in Florida and discuss potential causes of fishery decline. Reductions and alterations in freshwater flows from the Everglades have caused major changes in bonefish habitat, including acute (anoxic conditions) and chronic (changes in benthic flora and fauna) effects in Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay. Various pollutants from agricultural and urban runoff may also be impacting bonefish population(s) directly and/or indirectly throughout their range. Efforts to locate juvenile A. vulpes in Florida have been largely unsuccessful to date, suggesting abundances may be low, and/or juveniles have unknown habitat requirements in Florida. Further, bonefish larvae may be sourced from adult individuals outside of Florida in areas such as Cuba or Mexico, in which case bonefish conservation in other regions is highly relevant to the Florida population. Extreme weather events may have also contributed to the decline; an extreme cold spell in 2010 caused significant bonefish mortality and coincided with documented declines in the fishery. The fishery may also be impacting the population. We outline research needs and potential approaches to better understand the causes of the bonefish decline in Florida and restore populations of this ecologically and socioeconomically important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanically ventilated surgical patients have a variety of bacterial flora that are often undetectable by traditional culture methods. The source of infection in many of these patients remains unclear. To address this clinical problem, the microbiome profile and host inflammatory response in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from the surgical intensive care unit were examined relative to clinical pathology diagnoses. The hypothesis was tested that clinical diagnosis of respiratory tract flora were similar to culture positive lavage samples in both microbiome and inflammatory profile. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected in the surgical intensive care unit as standard of care for intubated individuals with a clinical pulmonary infection score of >6 or who were expected to be intubated for >48 hours. Cytokine analysis was conducted with the Bioplex Pro Human Th17 cytokine panel. The microbiome of the samples was sequenced for the 16S rRNA region using the Ion Torrent. Microbiome diversity analysis showed the culture-positive samples had the lowest levels of diversity and culture negative with the highest based upon the Shannon-Wiener index (culture positive: 0.77 ± 0.36, respiratory tract flora: 2.06 ± 0.73, culture negative: 3.97 ± 0.65). Culture-negative samples were not dominated by a single bacterial genera. Lavages classified as respiratory tract flora were more similar to the culture-positive in the microbiome profile. A comparison of cytokine expression between groups showed increased levels of cytokines (IFN-g, IL-17F, IL-1B, IL-31, TNF-a) in culture-positive and respiratory tract flora groups. Culture-positive samples exhibited a more robust immune response and reduced diversity of bacterial genera. Lower cytokine levels in culture-negative samples, despite a greater number of bacterial species, suggest a resident nonpathogenic bacterial community may be indicative of a normal pulmonary environment. Respiratory tract flora samples were most similar to the culture-positive samples and may warrant classification as culture-positive when considering clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disease characterized by the inability to convert dietary phenylalanine to tyrosine by phenylalanine hydroxylase. Given the importance of gut microbes in digestion, a genetically engineered microbe could potentially degrade some ingested phenylalanine from the diet prior to absorption. To test this, a phenylalanine lyase gene from Anabaena variabilis (AvPAL) was codon-optimized and cloned into a shuttle vector for expression in Lactobacillus reuteri 100-23C (pHENOMMenal). Functional expression of AvPAL was determined in vitro, and subsequently tested in vivo in homozygous PAHenu2 (PKU model) mice. Initial trials of two PAHenu2 homozygous (PKU) mice defined conditions for freeze-drying and delivery of bacteria. Animals showed reduced blood phe within three to four days of treatment with pHENOMMenal probiotic, and blood phe concentrations remained significantly reduced (P < 0.0005) compared to untreated controls during the course of experiments. Although pHENOMMenal probiotic could be cultured from fecal samples at four months post treatment, it could no longer be cultivated from feces at eight months post treatment, indicating eventual loss of the microbe from the gut. Preliminary screens during experimentation found no immune response to AvPAL. Collectively these studies provide data for the use of a genetically engineered probiotic as a potential treatment for PKU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The examination of the pulmonary microbiome in patients with non-chronic disease states has not been extensively examined. Traditional culture based screening methods are often unable to identify bacteria from bronchoalveolar lavage samples. The advancement of next-generation sequencing technologies allows for a culture-independent molecular based analysis to determine the microbial composition in the lung of this patient population. For this study, the Ion Torrent PGM system was used to assess the microbial complexity of culture negative bronchoalveolar lavage samples. A group of samples were identified that all displayed high diversity and similar relative abundance of bacteria. This group consisted of Hydrogenophaga, unclassified Bacteroidetes, Pedobacter, Thauera, and Acinetobacter. These bacteria may be representative of a common non-pathogenic pulmonary microbiome associated within this population of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on two of the best-known Sanskrit allegorical dramas: the Prabodhacandrodaya of Kŗṣṇamiś (eleventh century) and the Saṃkalpasūryodaya of Vedānta Deśika (1268-1369). I discuss how the plays offer competing interpretations not only of Vedānta, but of the relationship between Vedanta and non-Ved āntic traditions. The Prabodhacandrodaya is perhaps the earliest text to articulate an inclusivist vision of Vedānta as the culminating tradition within a pan-Vedic (and arguably pan-'Hindu') alliance of philosophical schools and devotional sects. The Saṃkalpasũryodaya upholds an unapologetic exclusivism, rejecting the worship of gods other than Viṣṇu and portraying philosophical schools such as Sāṃkhya and Vaiśeṣika as fighting on the same side as Buddhism and Jainism. I explore the reasons for these doxographical differences, drawing attention to the Prabodhacandrodaya's status as the first work of Vedānta to be composed for a royal audience, and I suggest that the widespread influence of Advaita Vedānta in later centuries is traceable in part to its willingness to adopt the kind of inclusivism championed in Kṛṣamiśra's play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The performance of species richness estimators can be highly variable. Evaluating the accuracy and precision of different estimators for different assemblages is common in the ecological literature, but estimator performance is rarelymeasured in terms of research goals such as detecting patterns in diversity. 2. We evaluated the efficacy of nonparametric richness estimators to detect changes (i.e. type-I and type-II error rates) in species richness using two experimental designs: a block design and a trend analysis.We also evaluated estimator efficacy across a variety of species-abundance distributions, species number and sample sizes. The evaluation was performed using simulated data that mimicked the qualities of real data to ensure real-world relevance. 3. We found that the bias and precision of all estimators evaluated had high sensitivity to sample size and shifts in the species-abundance distribution. Importantly, all estimators demonstrated elevated type-I error rates when the species-abundance distribution varied. These inflated type-I error rates resulted in spurious conclusions about patterns in species richness. 4. Results suggest that caution should be taken when using nonparametric estimators to detect pattern in species richness. Furthermore, estimator evaluations should always include measures of type-I and type-II error rates. These quantities can reveal the inference consequences of the dependency of estimator bias and precision on community and sampling characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the presence and distribution of tickborne bacteria and their vectors in Texas, USA, we screened ticks collected from humans during 2008-2014 for Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Ehrlichia spp. Thirteen tick species were identified, and 23% of ticks carried bacterial DNA from at least 1 of the 3 genera tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness of early childhood. Previous reports have suggested that genetic disease susceptibility factors, together with a triggering infectious agent, could be involved in KD pathogenesis; however, the precise etiology of this disease remains unknown. Additionally, previous culture-based studies have suggested a possible role of intestinal microbiota in KD pathogenesis. In this study, we performed metagenomic analysis to comprehensively assess the longitudinal variation in the intestinal microbiota of 28 KD patients. Several notable bacterial genera were commonly extracted during the acute phase, whereas a relative increase in the number of Ruminococcus bacteria was observed during the non-acute phase of KD. The metagenomic analysis results based on bacterial species classification suggested that the number of sequencing reads with similarity to five Streptococcus spp. (S. pneumonia, pseudopneumoniae, oralis, gordonii, and sanguinis), in addition to patient-derived Streptococcus isolates, markedly increased during the acute phase in most patients. Streptococci include a variety of pathogenic bacteria and probiotic bacteria that promote human health; therefore, this further species discrimination could comprehensively illuminate the KD-associated microbiota. The findings of this study suggest that KD-related Streptococci might be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of energy intake is complex, including mechanisms that act independently (e.g. distention, osmotic effects, fuel-sensing) as well as interacting factors that are likely to affect feeding via their effects on hepatic oxidation. Effects of ruminant diets on feed intake vary greatly because of variation in their filling effects, as well as the type and temporal absorption of fuels. Effects of nutrients on endocrine response and gene expression affect energy partitioning, which in turn affects feeding behaviour by altering clearance of fuels from the blood. Dominant mechanisms controlling feed intake change with physiological state, which is highly variable among ruminants, especially through the lactation cycle. Ruminal distention might dominate control of feed intake when ruminants consume low-energy diets or when energy requirements are high, but fuel-sensing by tissues is likely to dominate control of feed intake when fuel supply is in excess of that required. The liver is likely to be a primary sensor of energy status because it is supplied by fuels from the portal drained viscera as well as the general circulation, it metabolises a variety of fuels derived from both the diet and tissues, and a signal related to hepatic oxidation of fuels is conveyed to feeding centres in the brain by hepatic vagal afferents stimulating or inhibiting feeding, depending on its energy status. The effects of somatotropin on export of fuels by milk secretion, effects of insulin on gluconeogenesis, and both on mobilisation and repletion of tissues, determine fuel availability and feed intake over the lactation cycle. Control of feed intake by hepatic energy status, affected by oxidation of fuels, is an appealing conceptual model because it integrates effects of various fuels and physiological states on feeding behaviour. The control of energy intake includes mechanisms that act independently, as well as interacting factors that likely affect feeding via their effects on hepatic oxidation. Mechanisms controlling energy intake and partitioning are entwined and inseparable and are affected by type and availability of fuels determined by diet and physiological state. The conceptual model presented in this article might help improve our understanding of control of feeding in ruminant animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiology of ticks supports a diverse community of non-pathogenic and pathogenic organisms. This study aims to initially characterize the microbial community present within colony-reared Amblyomma americanum using PCR of the variable region 5 of the 16S rRNA gene followed by semiconductor sequencing and classification of sequence data using the Ribosomal Database Project and MG-RAST analysis tools. Comparison of amplicon library datasets revealed changes in the microbiomes in newly engorged nymphs, newly-molted adults, and aged adults, as well as ticks exposed to different environmental conditions. These preliminary data support the concept that microbe survivorship and diversity are partially dependent upon environmental variables and the sequence of blood feeding, molting, and aging. The maintenance and/or emergence of pathogens in ticks may be dependent in part on temporal changes in the microbial community of the tick microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research with laboratory species suggests that meals can be terminated by peripheral signals carried to brain feeding centres via hepatic vagal afferents, and that these signals are affected by oxidation of fuels. Pre-gastric fermentation in ruminants greatly alters fuels, allowing mechanisms conserved across species to be studied with different types and temporal absorption of fuels. These fuels include SCFA, glucose, lactate, amino acids and long-chain fatty acid (FA) isomers, all of which are absorbed and metabolised by different tissues at different rates. Propionate is produced by rumen microbes, absorbed within the timeframe of meals, and quickly cleared by the liver. Its hypophagic effects are variable, likely due to its fate; propionate is utilised for gluconeogenesis or oxidised and also stimulates oxidation of acetyl-CoA by anapleurosis. In contrast, acetate has little effect on food intake, likely because its uptake by the ruminant liver is negligible. Glucose is hypophagic in non-ruminants but not ruminants and unlike non-ruminant species, uptake of glucose by ruminant liver is negligible, consistent with the differences in hypophagic effects between them. Inhibition of FA oxidation increases food intake, whereas promotion of FA oxidation suppresses food intake. Hypophagic effects of fuel oxidation also vary with changes in metabolic state. The objective of this paper is to compare the type and utilisation of fuels and their effects on feeding across species. We believe that the hepatic oxidation theory allows insight into mechanisms controlling feeding behaviour that can be used to formulate diets to optimise energy balance in multiple species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bioenergy production is driving modifications to native plant species for use as novel biofuel crops. Key aims are to increase crop growth rates and to enhance conversion efficiency by reducing biomass recalcitrance to digestion. However, selection for these biofuel-valuable traits has potential to compromise plant defenses and alter interactions with pests and pathogens. Insect-vectored plant viruses are of particular concern because perennial crops have potential to serve as virus reservoirs that influence regional disease dynamics. In this study, we examined relationships between growth rates and biomass recalcitrance in five switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum) populations, ranging from near-wildtype to highly selected cultivars, in a common garden trial. We measured biomass accumulation rates and assayed foliage for acid detergent lignin, neutral detergent fiber, in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility and in vitro true dry matter digestibility. We then evaluated relationships between these traits and susceptibility to a widely distributed group of aphid-transmitted Poaceae viruses (Luteoviridae: Barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses, B/CYDVs). Virus infection rates and prevalence were assayed with RT-PCR in the common garden, in greenhouse inoculation trials, and in previously established switchgrass stands across a 300-km transect in Michigan, USA. Aphid host preferences were quantified in a series of arena host choice tests with field-grown foliage. Contrary to expectations, biomass accumulation rates and foliar digestibility were not strongly linked in switchgrass populations we examined, and largely represented two different trait axes. Natural B/CYDV prevalence in established switchgrass stands ranged from 0% to 28%. In experiments, susceptibility varied notably among switchgrass populations and was more strongly predicted by potential biomass accumulation rates than by foliar digestibility; highly selected, productive cultivars were most virus-susceptible and most preferred by aphids. Evaluation and mitigation of virus susceptibility of new biofuel crops is recommended to avert possible unintended consequences of biofuel production on regional pathogen dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus) and Pterois miles (Bennett), invasion of the Western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico has the potential to alter aquatic communities and represents a legitimate ecological concern. Several local removal programs have been initiated to control this invasion, but it is not known whether removal efforts can substantially reduce lionfish numbers to ameliorate these concerns. We used an age-structured population model to evaluate the potential efficacy of lionfish removal programs and identified critical data gaps for future studies. We used high and low estimates for uncertain parameters including: length at 50% vulnerability to harvest (Lvul), instantaneous natural mortality (M), and the Goodyear compensation ratio (CR). The model predicted an annual exploitation rate between 35 and 65% would be required to cause recruitment overfishing on lionfish populations for our baseline parameter estimates for M and CR (0.5 and 15). Lionfish quickly recovered from high removal rates, reaching 90% of unfished biomass six years after a 50-year simulated removal program. Quantifying lionfish natural mortality and the size-selective vulnerability to harvest are the most important knowledge gaps for future research. We suggest complete eradication of lionfish through fishing is unlikely, and substantial reduction of adult abundance will require a long-term commitment and may be feasible only in small, localized areas where annual exploitation can be intense over multiple consecutive years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise biology focuses on the sources, processing, and biological consequences of the inherent stochastic fluctuations in molecular transitions or interactions that control cellular behavior. These fluctuations are especially pronounced in small systems where the magnitudes of the fluctuations approach or exceed the mean value of the molecular population. Noise biology is an essential component of nanomedicine where the communication of information is across a boundary that separates small synthetic and biological systems that are bound by their size to reside in environments of large fluctuations. Here we review the fundamentals of the computational, analytical, and experimental approaches to noise biology. We review results that show that the competition between the benefits of low noise and those of low population has resulted in the evolution of genetic system architectures that produce an uneven distribution of stochasticity across the molecular components of cells and, in some cases, use noise to drive biological function. We review the exact and approximate approaches to gene circuit noise analysis and simulation, and review many of the key experimental results obtained using flow cytometry and time-lapse fluorescent microscopy. In addition, we consider the probative value of noise with a discussion of using measured noise properties to elucidate the structure and function of the underlying gene circuit. We conclude with a discussion of the frontiers of and significant future challenges for noise biology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For further resources related to this article, please visit the . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stochastic fluctuations (or "noise") in the single-cell populations of molecular species are shaped by the structure and biokinetic rates of the underlying gene circuit. The structure of the noise is summarized by its autocorrelation function. In this article, we introduce the noise regulatory vector as a generalized framework for making inferences concerning the structure and biokinetic rates of a gene circuit from its noise autocorrelation function. Although most previous studies have focused primarily on the magnitude component of the noise (given by the zero-lag autocorrelation function), our approach also considers the correlation component, which encodes additional information concerning the circuit. Theoretical analyses and simulations of various gene circuits show that. the noise regulatory vector is characteristic of the composition of the circuit. Although a particular noise regulatory vector does not map uniquely to a single underlying circuit, it does suggest possible candidate circuits, while excluding others, thereby demonstrating the probative value of noise in gene circuit analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infusion data from ruminants has shown that propionate stimulates satiety and decreases meal size, possibly because of increased propionate oxidation in the liver. In this experiment, phlorizin was used to increase glucose demand, which was expected to decrease propionate oxidation and attenuate the decrease in dry matter intake (DM1) caused by propionate infusion. Twelve multiparous, ruminally-cannulated Holstein cows (49 ± 33 d in milk, 40 ± 7 kg/d milk; mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to square and treatment sequence in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment with a 2 )< 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were subcutaneous injection of phlorizin or propylene glycol in combination with intraruminal infusion of either Na acetate or Na propionate. Following a 7-d adaptation period, phlorizin (4 g/d) and control injections were administered every 6 h for] d. During the final 2 d of inlections, Na acetate or Na propionate solutions (1 mol/L, pH 6.0) were infused continuously at the rate of 0.80 LIh. Feeding behavior data were collected during the final 2 d of treatment. Phlorizin caused urinary excretion of 400 ± 40 g glucose/d across infusion treatments. Phiorizin tended to increase plasma free fatty acid and !-hydroxybutyrate concentrations to a greater extent with Na acetate compared to Na propionate infusion (both interactions P < 0.15). Phlorizin decreased and Na propionate increased plasma insulin and glucose concentrations. Infusion of Na propionate decreased DM1 (18.4 vs. 21.1 ± 1.4 kg/d, P < 0.001) through an increase in intermea) interval (89.2vs. 77.3 ± 6.6 mi P= 0.03), resulting in fewer meals per day (11.6 vs. 13.7 ± 0.7, P < 0.001). Phlorizin did ndt alterDMI (P = 0.39) or measures of feeding behavior, nor were there interactions with infusion type. Increasing glucose demand does not limit the extent to which propionate decreases DM1 in lactating dairy cows. J. Nutr. 13]: 326-330, 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were designed to assess the potential utility of the propionate challenge test (PCT) as an index of gluconeogenic capacity. In Expt. 1, the dose-response to jugular propionate infusion was assessed in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment with 8 lactating dairy cows. Sodium propionate (4.5 mol/L, pH 7.4) was infused in an intrajugular bolus at 0 (saline), 0.52, 1.04, or 1.56 mmol/kg body weight (BW), and jugular blood was sampled over the following 2 h. Peak propionate concentration in plasma and area under the curve for plasma glucose both increased linearly with increasing propionate dose (P < 0.01). Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration was elevated by all propionate treatments at 20 min postinfusion (P = 0.03), and plasma cortisol concentration tended to increase (P < 0.10) after propionate infusions. Experiment 2 was designed to study the effect of short-term differences in fed state on responses to propionate infusion. Lactating dairy cows (n = 8) were included in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Sodium propionate (1.04 mmol/kg BW) or saline was infused either before feeding (0900) or 2 h after feeding (1300). Fed cows consumed 4.4 ± 1.4 kg dry matter before the PCT. Although fed cows had a significantly higher preinfusion plasma propionate concentration, fed state did not influence postinfusion changes in plasma propionate, glucose, insulin, glucagon, or FFA concentrations. Liver glycogen concentration decreased significantly after propionate, but not saline infusion (P < 0.05). Short-term differences in fed state do not affect the physiological responses to PCT. However, glucagon release after jugular administration of propionate is likely supraphysiologic, and postinfusion lipolysis and glycogenolysis suggest that stress responses may alter PCT measurements. Although the PCT may help to diagnose liver dysfunction, it is not a useful index with which to assess differences in gluconeogenic capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in single cell methods have spurred progress in quantifying and analyzing stochastic fluctuations, or noise, in genetic networks. Many of these studies have focused on identifying the sources of noise and quantifying its magnitude, and at the same time, paying less attention to the frequency content of the noise. We have developed a frequency domain approach to extract the information contained in the frequency content of the noise. In this article we review our work in this area and extend it to explicitly consider sources of extrinsic and intrinsic noise. First we review applications of the frequency domain approach to several simple circuits, including a constitutively expressed gene, a gene regulated by transitions in its operator state, and a negatively autoregulated gene. We then review our recent experimental study, in which time-lapse microscopy was used to measure noise in the expression of green fluorescent protein in individual cells. The results demonstrate how changes in rate constants within the gene circuit are reflected in the spectral content of the noise in a manner consistent with the predictions derived through frequency domain analysis. The experimental results confirm our earlier theoretical prediction that negative autoregulation not only reduces the magnitude of the noise but shifts its content out to higher frequency. Finally, we develop a frequency domain model of gene expression that explicitly accounts for extrinsic noise at the transcriptional and translational levels. We apply the model to interpret a shift in the autocorrelation function of green fluorescent protein induced by perturbations of the translational process as a shift in the frequency spectrum of extrinsic noise and a decrease in its weighting relative to intrinsic noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of fatty acid biohydrogenation and passage were determined for fat supplements varying in saturation using lactating dairy cows. First-order fractional passage rates were determined by dividing the duodenal flux of fatty acids by their respective ruminal pool sizes. The determination of rates of biohydrogenation required the development of a model to account for the transfer of fatty acids among pools. Ruminally and duodenally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows (n = 8) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were control and a linear substitution of 25 g/kg supplemented fatty acids varying in saturation as follows: saturated (prilled hydrogenated free fatty acids), intermediate mix of saturated and unsaturated (calcium soaps of long-chain fatty acids), and partially unsaturated fatty acids. Passage rates of 16:0, 18:0, and total 18-carbon fatty acids were linearly decreased with increasing unsaturated fatty acids and the trans-18:1 fractional passage rate was quadratically affected with a maximum for the intermediate treatment. Increasing unsaturated fatty acids increased the extent of 18:2 and 18:3 biohydrogenation and decreased the extent of 18:1 and trans-18:1 biohydrogenation. Calcium salts did not protect PUFA from ruminal biohydrogenation despite a mean ruminal pH of 6.0, and unsaturated fatty acids decreased ruminal biohydrogenation of trans-18:1, resulting in increased duodenal flow of these fatty acids. The model allows a mechanistic description of ruminal biohydrogenation and determination of the extent of 18:1 biohydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gluconeogenic capacity may be an important factor regulating dry matter intake (DMI) in lactating dairy cows. To determine whether increased glucose demand affects feed intake and hepatic gene expression, lactating Holstein cows were treated with phlorizin or vehicle (propylene glycol) for 7 d. Multiparous cows (n = 12; 269 ± 65 d in milk, mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to treatment sequence in a crossover design and were adapted to a common diet for 7 d before the beginning of the experiment. Phlorizin injected s.c. at 4 g/d caused glucose excretion in urine at the rate of 474 g/d. Although phlorizin decreased lactose synthesis and milk production (both P < 0.01), DMI and 3.5% fat-corrected milk production were not altered by treatment. A net deficit of 383 g glucose/d in milk and urine for phlorizin (relative to control) was likely replaced partially through increased gluconeogenesis. The molar insulin:glucagon ratio was decreased 17% by phlorizin (P < 0.001) and hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and pyruvate carboxylase mRNA abundance increased (all P < 0.05). Late-lactation dairy cows adapted quickly to an increase in peripheral glucose demand; adaptation mechanisms likely included enhanced gluconeogenic capacity, whereas DMI was not altered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal models have been invaluable for studying aspects of food intake regulation that for various reasons cannot be observed in humans. The dairy cow is a unique animal model because of an unrivaled energy requirement; its great drive to eat results in feeding behavior responses to treatments within the physiological range. Cows' docile nature and large size make them ideal for measuring temporal treatment effects because digestion and absorption kinetics and responses in endocrine systems, gene expression, metabolite pools and fluxes, and feeding behavior can be measured simultaneously. Thus, cows are important models to investigate interactions of short-term signals regulating food intake. Furthermore, different physiological states throughout the lactation cycle provide powerful models to study how short- and long-term signals interact to affect long-term energy status. The use of the cow as a model can lead to breakthroughs in understanding the complex interactions of signals regulating food intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Conditions were developed for the reproducible production, isolation and characterization of a novel microbial extracellular polysaccharide believed to be involved in transient viscous bulking at an industrial wastewater treatment plant. The exopolysaccharide was extracted from cell-free culture supernatants of Thauera sp. strain MZ1T grown on a minimal medium with succinate. The purified polymer was found to be approximately 260 kDa in size by gel-permeation chromatography. The GC–MS analysis of the alditol acetate and per- O-trimethylsilyl methyl glycoside derivatives revealed that the exopolysaccharide was composed of four monosaccharides including: rhamnose, galacturonic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylfucosamine. Glucose, which also appeared at low levels, is most likely from a co-eluting glucan. The FTIR and NMR spectroscopic analyses further revealed the presence of esterified component groups on the polymer. These results represent the first published description of a polysaccharide from a member of the genus Thauera, and lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the factors potentially involved in zoogloeal cluster formation and viscous bulking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the macrohabitat use, microhabitat use, and food habits of shoal bass and largemouth bass in the upper Chipola River, Florida. We electrofished two macrohabitats (pools and shoals) during the summer (May-August) and fall (September-December) of 1999 and 2000. The ratio of shoal bass to largemouth bass differed among macrohabitats, being highest in the shoals and lowest in the pools. Age-0 and adult (age-1 and older) shoal bass were collected in areas of higher-than-average percentages of rocky substrate in both shoals and pools. Age-0 and adult largemouth bass were associated with areas of reduced current velocity and those with higher-than-average amounts of woody debris. Though the diets of age-0 and adult shoal bass and largemouth bass were similar, a few differences were apparent. Age-0 largemouth bass diets contained grass shrimp spp., whereas age-0 shoal bass diets contained mostly mayflies (order Ephemeroptera: families Baetidae and Isonychidae). Crayfish and fish were the primary food resources of adult shoal bass and adult largemouth bass, and crayfish became more prevalent than fish in larger individuals of both species. Largemouth bass transitioned to a crayfish-dominated diet at a smaller size than did shoal bass. Considering that we found substantial differences in the habitat associations of these species but relatively few diet differences, habitat partitioning may be important for the coexistence of shoal bass and largemouth bass in rivers and streams. Future shoal bass conservation efforts should focus on maintaining a diversity of habitats where these species coexist and on protecting relatively rare shoals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate how dose-response effects of intraruminal infusion of propionate on feeding behavior and plasma metabolites are altered by diets differing in fermentability. Twelve ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used in each experiment. Cows were fed diets containing either steam flaked corn or dry cracked corn (30% of dietary dry matter) in expt. 1, and diets differing in forage-to-concentrate ratio (66:34 vs. 36:64) in expt. 2. For both experiments, the experimental design was a crossover for dietary treatment, and a 6 x 6 Latin square for infusion treatment within a diet for each period. Infusion treatments were mixtures of sodium propionate and sodium acetate, containing propionate at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 as a fraction of total volatile fatty acids infused. Treatment solutions were infused into the rumen continuously for 18 h starting 6 h before feeding at a rate of 23.1 mmol/min. Although propionate production from ruminal fermentation was expected to be different, dietary treatments did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) responses to propionate infusion for either experiment. However, propionate infusion decreased DMI linearly in expt. 1, but did not decrease DMI at lower rates of propionate infusion, which were much more effective at increasing plasma glucose concentration in expt. 2. Propionate had a smaller hypophagic effect at low concentrations of plasma glucose and had a greater hypophagic effect at elevated concentrations of plasma glucose, which could be explained by changes in the metabolism of propionate in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to determine interactions between hypophagic effects of propionate and ammonium in lactating dairy cows. Eight ruminally cannulated Holstein cows in mid-lactation were used in a duplicated 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors evaluated were type of volatile fatty acid (VFA; acetate vs. propionate) and type of salt (sodium vs. ammonium). Treatment solutions were infused continuously into the rumen at a rate of 16.7 mmol of VFA salts/min starting 2 h before feeding and ending 12 h after feeding. Hypophagic effects of ammonium were significantly greater for cows infused with propionate (4.3 vs. 12.1 kg/12 h; SEM = 1.3) compared with acetate (13.5 vs. 15.3 kg/12 h; SEM = 1.3; interaction P < 0.01). This interaction was attributed to a greater reduction in meal frequency for ammonium treatment compared with sodium treatment when infused with propionate (3.9 vs. 7.2/12 h; SEM = 0.8) compared with acetate (6.6 vs. 7.0/12 h; SEM = 0.8), indicating that infusion of ammonium propionate reduced hunger. Meal size was decreased by infusion of propionate compared with acetate, but was not affected by ammonium compared with sodium, indicating that ammonium did not affect satiety. Mechanisms to explain the interactions between ammonium and propionate on meal frequency and feed intake warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dose-response effects of intraruminal infusion of propionate on feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows were evaluated with eight ruminally cannulated Holstein cows past peak lactation. Treatments were mixtures of propionic acid and acetic acid containing propionic acid at eight different concentrations in Experiment 1, and mixtures of sodium propionate and sodium acetate containing sodium propionate at 4 different concentrations in Experiment 2. Experimental designs were an 8 x 8 and duplicated 4 x 4 Latin squares, respectively, for Experiments 1 and 2. Treatment solutions were infused into the rumen continuously for 14 h at a rate of 16.7 and 25 mmol/min, respectively, for Experiments 1 and 2. Infusion started 2 h before feeding and ended 12 h after feeding; feeding behavior was monitored for 12 h after feeding using a computerized data acquisition system. Total metabolizable energy (ME) intake was calculated by adding the energy of infusates to dietary energy intake. In both experiments, as the proportion of propionate of the infusates increased, total ME intake and dry matter intake decreased linearly. As infusion of propionate increased, meal size tended (P < 0.09) to decrease linearly and intermeal interval tended (P < 0.07) to increase linearly in Experiment 1; meal size decreased linearly and number of meal bouts tended (P < 0.08) to decrease linearly in Experiment 2. These observations indicate that the reduction in dietary energy intake from propionate infusion was greater than the energy supplied from infusates, and that propionate plays an important role in feed intake regulation by affecting both satiety and hunger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decision process has proven effective in three activities that are key to value creation: choosing an excellent strategy, actually bringing about change, and operating effectively with the new strategy. The dialogue is between a decision board and the strategy team as they work through six steps of a decision process. This process is focused on alternatives and implementation and is founded in decision analysis. Strategy frameworks and structuring tools are key to assessing the business situation. Risk and value trade-offs are made explicit, leading to concrete proposals to add value and reduce risk. Explicit plans for action are developed as the strategic alternative is chosen. Companies have developed strategy insights using this process, as we illustrate with examples from the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates evidence of physical constraints to forage intake and discusses dietary and animal factors limiting flow through the gastrointestinal track. Limitation of voluntary dry matter intake (VDMI); Noting of linear decrease in VDMI; Fermentation of neutral detergent fiber into the reticulorumen; Development of products predicting VDMI.