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The purpose of the study was to analyse changes in the frequency of genotypes and alleles of beta-casein (CASB), kappa-casein (CSN3) and betalactoglobulin (LGB) loci among bulls (used for insemination in 1991-2021) and cows (milked in 2014 and 2021). The analysis included 1812 bulls and 2628 cows of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed. Genotypes of three milk protein loci were identified using PCR-RFLP/ACRS method (bulls) or the Illumina Bovine MDv2 Chip (cows). For bulls used in insemination between 1991 and 2021, the frequency of the desirable CSN3 allele B and allele A2 at the CASB locus increased by 44% and 8%, respectively. In cows, the frequency of allele B of CSN3 and allele A2 of CASB increased over the past seven years by 11% and 7%, respectively. The frequency of LGB allele B decreased in cows from 47% to 41%. An increase in the frequency of the rarest allele E at the CSN3 locus in bulls was also observed (from 2% to 7%). The number of animals carrying the most desirable combination of CASB and CSN3 genotypes (A2A2 and BB) reached 4.25% and 2.8% in cows and bulls, respectively. The current results showed a slow but marked increase in the desirable alleles at casein gene loci which should improve milk quality and cheese-processing properties. This positive effect was attenuated by the simultaneous decrease in the frequency of LGB allele B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic background of osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) has been studied for years, but the compatibility of the position of markers has not been reached between results, probably because of unknown additional effects that may influence the results, such as definition of the trait, gene-environmental interactions and the dynamics of trait development. The aim of the study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with the occurrence of OCD in Polish Warmblood sport breed horses in two different stages of training. Warmblood horses (87 stallions and 114 mares) were phenotyped and genotyped. Horses were X-rayed twice, at the beginning and at the end of the tests (100 days for stallions and 60 days for mares). Ten images per horse were collected using digital equipment for the fetlocks, stifles and hocks. The DNA was genotyped using the Illumina Neogen Equine Array. Statistical analysis included the Cochran-Armitage test and logistic regression assuming an additive model of inheritance. The Monte Carlo Markov Chain method was also applied to determine heritability coefficients. Nineteen and twenty SNP were identified that were significantly associated with OCD using logistic regression at the first and second stage of training, respectively. Four SNP were significant for both stages of training. The estimation of the heritability of a horse's OCD status does not achieve the same level at different stages of training. The study on the genetic background of horse OCD should include as much detailed information on their training as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insightful discussion of the relationship between the construction of metallographic and fatigue life and proposition of mathematical relationships describing this relationship was conducted in the paper. This paper presents a method for estimating the fatigue life, based on the construction of the microstructural material taking into account the grain size and the participation of ferrite and pearlite phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The aim of this study was to determine whether C/ T missense mutation within the ETFA gene is associated with sperm antioxidant enzymatic activity. One hundred and twenty Holstein- Friesian bulls were genotyped by the PCR- RFLP technique ( Mwo I). Commercial straws of frozen-thawed semen were used to evaluate the activity of three antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Among all bulls investigated, genotype CT was the most frequent (44.2%), in comparison with CC (42.5%) and TT (13.3%). Significant differences in glutathione peroxidase activity were observed between homozygous individuals ( CC vs TT) with heterozygous CT having intermediate values. Dismutase activity was significantly associated with ETFA genotype, although only bulls with the CT genotype were significantly different from bulls carrying the CC genotype. The activity of catalase showed a similar trend (but was not statistically significant). In conclusion, we found that bulls with the ETFA TT genotype produce sperm with the highest glutathione peroxidase activity and can therefore be more efficiently protected from reactive oxygen. The mechanism of this interaction needs to be elucidated in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low heritability of meat quality traits and the lack of their systematic registration in breeding programs have encouraged the search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within genes coding the proteins involved in muscle and fat metabolism. In this report, a panel of 52 SNPs was used to find which alleles and genotypes are more/less frequent in groups of pigs differentiated by extreme value of glycolytic potential (GP) and drip loss (DL). The analysis was carried out in 52 fatteners (chosen from 246 pigs), of which 28 were Landrace and 27 Landrace × Yorkshire. Two designs were performed: I, fatteners were divided into two groups showing extreme value of GP (<125 versus >145), II, fatteners were divided into two groups showing extreme value of DL (<6.0 versus >6.0). Allele frequency differences between the phenotypic groups of extreme GL or DL were not influenced by the breed. The frequency of 52 SNPs alleles for each of group was calculated and a chi-squared test was used to estimate the significance of differences in allele frequencies between alternative groups in each experimental design. Three SNPs ( DECR1, PPARGC1, MC4R) and another two ( CYP21, SFRS1) showed significant differences between groups of extreme GP and DL, respectively. To exemplify and validate potential associations of candidate SNPs for GP and DL, 293 fatteners representing three commercial breeds/crosses (95 Landrace, 66 Landrace × Yorkshire and 132 Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc were genotyped for DECR1 and CYP21 by PCR-RFLP assays. DECR1 showed significant associations with GP in Landrace and Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc fatteners. CYP21 showed significant associations with DL in all breeds/crosses. Interestingly, the CYP21 polymorphism revealed adverse associations trend in Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc pigs in comparison to Landrace and Landrace × Yorkshire fatteners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oligonucleotide microarray—which allows for parallel genotyping of many SNPs in genes involved in cow milk protein biosynthesis—was used to identify which of the 16 candidate SNPs are associated with milk performance traits in Holstein cows. Four hundred cows were genotyped by the developed and validated microarray. Significant associations were found between four single SNPs, namely DGAT1 (acyloCoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase), LTF (lactoferrin), CSN3 (kappa-casein), and GHR (growth hormone receptor) and with fat and protein yield and percentage. Many significant associations between combined genotypes (two SNPs) and milk performance traits were found. The associations between the combined genotypes DGAT1/LTF and DGAT1/LEPTIN analyzed traits are presented as examples. The microarray based on APEX (Arrayed Primer Extension) is a fast and reliable method for multiple SNP analysis of potential application in marker-assisted selection. After further development, the chip may prospectively be used for dairy cattle paternity analysis and evolutionary studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of mechanical sieves has a great impact on measurement results because occurrence of anisometric particles causes undercounting the average size. Such errors can be avoided by using opto-electronic measuring devices that enable measurement of particles from 10 μm up to a few dozen millimetres in size. The results of measurement of each particle size fraction are summed up proportionally to its weight with the use of Elsieve software system and for every type of material particle-size distribution can be obtained. The software allows further statistical interpretation of the results. Beam of infrared radiation identifies size of particles and counts them precisely. Every particle is represented by an electronic impulse proportional to its size. Measurement of particles in aqueous suspension that replaces the hydrometer method can be carried out by using the IPS L analyser (range from 0.2 to 600 μm). The IPS UA analyser (range from 0.5 to 2000 μm) is designed for measurement in the air. An ultrasonic adapter enables performing measurements of moist and aggregated particles from 0.5 to 1000 μm. The construction and software system allow to determine second dimension of the particle, its shape coefficient and specific surface area. The AWK 3D analyser (range from 0.2 to 31.5 mm) is devoted to measurement of various powdery materials with subsequent determination of particle shape. The AWK B analyser (range from 1 to 130 mm) measures materials of thick granulation and shape of the grains. The presented method of measurement repeatedly accelerates and facilitates study of granulometric composition.

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to show the potential of UMTS long-term evolution using OFDM modulation by adopting a combined perspective on feedback channel design and resource allocation for OFDMA multiuser downlink channel. First, we provide an efficient feedback scheme that we call mobility-dependent successive refinement that enormously reduces the necessary feedback capacity demand. The main idea is not to report the complete frequency response all at once but in subsequent parts. Subsequent parts will be further refined in this process. After a predefined number of time slots, outdated parts are updated depending on the reported mobility class of the users. It is shown that this scheme requires very low feedback capacity and works even within the strict feedback capacity requirements of standard HSDPA. Then, by using this feedback scheme, we present a scheduling strategy which solves a weighted sum rate maximization problem for given rate requirements. This is a discrete optimization problem with nondifferentiable nonconvex objective due to the discrete properties of practical systems. In order to efficiently solve this problem, we present an algorithm which is motivated by a weight matching strategy stemming from a Lagrangian approach. We evaluate this algorithm and show that it outperforms a standard algorithm which is based on the well-known Hungarian algorithm both in achieved throughput, delay, and computational complexity.

Abstract: The aim of the study was to check whether different genotypes at acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL4 locus, SNP G2645A) are associated with pork quality. 132 (Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc fatteners were genotyped by originally developed PCR-RFLP method. Upon the slaughter, the samples of longissimus lumborum muscle were taken from each carcass to determine the following parameters: content of water, protein and fat, pH (45min, 24, 48, 96, and 144h post mortem), electrical conductivity, drip loss, meat lightness, glycolytic potential, glycogen and lactate contents in meat. Among several associations observed, the highly significant (p<0.01) was found for intramuscular fat (IMF) content. Pigs with genotype GG revealed the highest content of IMF — 2.47%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of PKM2 gene with glycolytic potential and meat quality traits in three groups of fatteners – Landrace, Landrace×Yorkshire and (Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc. The present study was conducted on 243 fatteners, free of RYR1T gene, which 95 were of Landrace breed and the rest were the following crosses: 66 – Landrace×Yorkshire and 82 (Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc. It has been stated, that PKM2 gene (independently from the breed) was significantly associated with GP, lactate content, R1 indicator, pH and drip loss. The presence of TT genotype may lead to increase of GP and lactate content and results in low pH24 and pH144 and bigger drip loss measured 96 and 144h after the slaughter. Except for the landrace fatteners, the association of the PKM2 gene with the glycogen content has not been statistically confirmed. Statistically confirmed interaction shows, that the association of PKM2 gene with glycolytic potential and glycogen content concerns mainly the Landrace pigs. Moreover, a high (almost 89%) conformability of the genotype of PKM2 gene with the RN− phenotype, can serve as an additional argument in favour of the thesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For over 20 years, bovine beta-casein has been a subject of increasing scientific interest because its genetic A1 variant during gastrointestinal digestion releases opioid-like peptide β-casomorphin-7 (β-CM-7). Since β-CM-7 is involved in the dysregulation of many physiological processes, there is a growing discussion of whether the consumption of the β-casein A1 variant has an influence on human health. In the last decade, the number of papers dealing with this problem has substantially increased. The newest clinical studies on humans showed a negative effect of variant A1 on serum glutathione level, digestive well-being, cognitive performance score in children, and mood score in women. Scientific reports in this field can affect the policies of dairy cattle breeders and the milk industry, leading to the elimination of allele A1 in dairy cattle populations and promoting milk products based on milk from cows with the A2A2 genotype. More scientific proof, especially in well-designed clinical studies, is necessary to determine whether a little difference in the β-casein amino acid sequence negatively affects the health of milk consumers.

This study examines the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, the gut barrier function, and inflammatory markers in athletes based on data from randomised controlled trials. Searches were conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science up to October 2021. The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021284938). Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts to identify articles on the influence of probiotics or symbiotics on GI symptoms, gut barrier function, and cytokines, and the quality of the studies was assessed using RoB2. Ten articles involving 822 athletes were included in this review. A single strain Lactobacillus bacteria was used in three studies, seven studies used a Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium multi-strain cocktail, and one study used this cocktail with a prebiotic. Only slight evidence was found for a positive effect of probiotics on GI symptoms in athletes during training, exercise, and competition, so it was not possible to identify the best product for managing GI symptoms in athletes. Due to the small number of studies, it was also difficult to find a direct association between the reduced exercise-induced perturbations in cytokines, gut barrier function, and GI symptoms after probiotic supplementation.

The aim of the study was to find functional polymorphism within two exons of the SIGLEC5 (sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin-5) gene and to examine its effects on the production and fertility traits of cows and bulls. Two hundred seventytwo Holstein-Friesian cows and 574 bulls were included in the study. Novel missense polymorphism (A > G) within exon 3 causing substitution of amino acid arginine by glutamate in position 260 of SIGLEC5 protein (R260Q) was identified by sequencing and digestion by restriction enzyme Msp I. Basic production and fertility traits of cows and estimated breeding values (EBV) of bulls were analysed. The study demonstrated a significant association of SIGLEC5 R260Q polymorphism with days open and calving interval in cows as well as with breeding value for calving interval in bulls. An opposite effect of SIGLEC5 alleles for production and fertility traits was observed: the allele G increased the breeding value for the protein yield, while the allele A increased the breeding value for the calving interval. The current study suggests the involvement of SIGLEC5 R260Q polymorphism in biological processes related to fertility traits. This finding can be applied as a biomarker for a genetic improvement programme in Holstein-Friesian cattle., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)