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The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the relationships between daily individual DMI fluctuation and feeding behavior at the beginning and end of the finishing phase and (2) determine the ability of feeding behavior traits and DMI fluctuation during the initial 28 d to predict overall growth performance. Over 2 yr, calf-fed, crossbred Angus steers (n = 222) were fed on similar finishing diets within a year. Individual DMI and feeding behavior traits were recorded using the GrowSafe (Airdrie, AB) system. At the beginning and end of the finishing phase, 28 d were selected for characterization of DMI fluctuation and 10 feeding behavior traits. Daily fluctuation in DMI was calculated for each steer as the percent of days where DMI variation exceeded 30% from the DMI of the previous day. Non-feeding interval frequency (NFIF) at the beginning and end of the finishing phase was correlated (r = 0.50; P < 0.001). Bunk visit duration (BVDUR) and meal size at the beginning and end of the finishing phase were also repeatable (r = 0.80; P < 0.001 and r = 0.35; P < 0.001, respectively). Variation in meal intake and head-down duration expressed as the SD of each at the beginning and end of the finishing phase was correlated (r = 0.36; P < 0.001 and r = 0.38; P <0.001, respectively). Meal size variation was not associated with fluctuation in DMI during the beginning of the finishing phase (P = 0.60), suggesting they are independent measures of feeding behavior. Meal size and variation in head-down duration were the most strongly correlated (r = 0.26; P < 0.001 and r = 0.28; P < 0.001, respectively) traits with ADG over the entire finishing phase. During the early finishing phase, BVDUR was the most correlated trait with G:F (r = 0.25; P < 0.001). Stepwise regression selected 4 feeding behaviors traits (meal size SD, DMI fluctuation, head-down duration SD, and NFIF; P < 0.05) in the beginning of the finishing phase that were able to predict 19% of the variation in ADG during the entire finishing phase. Overall, data suggest some feeding behaviors are highly repeatable during the finishing phase and may increase their utility for making management decisions or in cattle selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective was to evaluate if different planes of maternal nutrition during late gestation and weaning age alter microRNA (miRNA) and target gene expression in offspring longissimus muscle (LM). Early (EW) and normal weaned (NW) Angus × Simmental calves (n = 30) born to cows that were grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue and red clover pastures with no supplement [low plane of nutrition (LPN)], or supplemented with 2.3 and 9.1 kg of dried distiller's grains with solubles and soy hulls [medium and high plane of nutrition (MPN, HPN), respectively] during the last 105 ± 11 days of gestation were used. Biopsies of LM were harvested at 78 (early weaning), 187 (normal weaning) and 354 days of age. Results indicate a role of pro-adipogenic miRNA in the control of adipogenesis in LM of NW-MPN steers between 78 and 187 days of age through upregulation of (1) miR-103 which inhibits CAV1, a protein that destabilizes INSR and leads to insulin resistance; (2) miR-143 which inhibits DLK1, a protein that inhibits adipocyte differentiation; and (3) miR-21 which impairs TGFBR2-induced inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. Among the studied anti-adipogenic miRNA, cow plane of nutrition resulted in downregulation of miR-34a expression in MPN steers compared with HPN and LPN at 78 days of age. Data for miR-34a provided a potential sign of epigenetic regulation of LM in beef offspring due to the cow plane of nutrition during late gestation.

In model organisms both the nutrition of the mother and the young offspring could induce long-lasting transcriptional changes in tissues. In livestock, such changes could have important roles in determining nutrient use and meat quality. The main objective was to evaluate if plane of maternal nutrition during late-gestation and weaning age alter the offspring's Longissimus muscle (LM) transcriptome, animal performance, and metabolic hormones. Whole-transcriptome microarray analysis was performed on LM samples of early (EW) and normal weaned (NW) Angus × Simmental calves born to grazing cows receiving no supplement [low plane of nutrition (LPN)] or 2.3 kg high-grain mix/day [medium plane of nutrition (MPN)] during the last 105 days of gestation. Biopsies of LM were harvested at 78 (EW), 187 (NW) and 354 (before slaughter) days of age. Despite greater feed intake in MPN offspring, blood insulin was greater in LPN offspring. Carcass intramuscular fat content was greater in EW offspring. Bioinformatics analysis of the transcriptome highlighted a modest overall response to maternal plane of nutrition, resulting in only 35 differentially expressed genes (DEG). However, weaning age and a high-grain diet (EW) strongly impacted the transcriptome (DEG = 167), especially causing a lipogenic program activation. In addition, between 78 and 187 days of age, EW steers had an activation of the innate immune system due presumably to macrophage infiltration of intramuscular fat. Between 187 and 354 days of age (the "finishing" phase), NW steers had an activation of the lipogenic transcriptome machinery, while EW steers had a clear inhibition through the epigenetic control of histone acetylases. Results underscored the need to conduct further studies to understand better the functional outcome of transcriptome changes induced in the offspring by pre- and post-natal nutrition. Additional knowledge on molecular and functional outcomes would help produce more efficient beef cattle.

Seasonal changes in the critical thermal maxima (CTmax) of four species of aquatic insects were determined from February 2012 to February 2013 from a first-order stream in northern Lower Michigan. Three of these species: Stenonema femoratum (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae), Hydropsyche slossonae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae), and Dolophilodes distinctus (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae) exhibited seasonal changes in CTmax, increasing through the spring and summer and then decreasing into the subsequent fall and winter. CTmax of these species correlated strongly with both the seasonal ambient stream temperature and with a series of different laboratory acclimation temperatures, suggesting that organisms adapt to laboratory acclimation in a similar manner as they adapt to seasonal changes. In contrast, the CTmax of Parapsyche apicalis (Trichoptera: Arctopsychidae) remained constant regardless of ambient or acclimation temperature. All species exhibited greater thermal sensitivity relative to ambient temperature during the summer than the winter. Our study indicates that thermal tolerance patterns can be different among species in the same environment. It also provides the first winter and year-round thermal tolerance data for aquatic insects.

The pharmacy department's documentation of medication handling and control in a 24-suite operating room (OR) complex to justify implementation of an OR pharmacy satellite is described. At a 937-bed hospital, medication inventory, charge capture, and procedures for handling controlled substances were assessed to justify an OR pharmacy both financially and in terms of patient safety. Actual medication charges to patients using the OR billing system were compared with theoretical pharmacy charges based on medication administration records; results indicated that an OR pharmacy would increase gross revenue by $671,606 annually. New collectible revenue from increased charge capture was projected to be $71,926, considering payer mix, reimbursement rates, and current payment methods. The cost of medication inventory in the OR complex was $75,576; a $55,000 inventory reduction and $50,000 annual decrease in drug wastage was projected. First-year personnel costs associated with an OR pharmacy were estimated at $79,872 and equipment and renovation costs at $5,000. New collectible revenue to the institution, after expenses, was projected at $79,959 from the first year of operation and $277,569 after five years. Controlled-substance documentation was incomplete; 19% of fentanyl and 31% of sufentanil removed from inventory were not recorded as administered, returned, or wasted. The results indicated that, at this institution, approximately three OR complex full-time equivalents could be relieved from medication-related activities. Based on the potential for improved patient safety and new revenue generation, implementation of an OR satellite pharmacy was recommended to the hospital administration.

Use of product standardization and competitive-bid purchasing for radiopharmaceuticals and radiopaque contrast media in a 1000-bed teaching hospital is described. The hospital's use of radiopharmaceuticals was reviewed, and all agents were listed with their product specifications and order quantity or frequency. Manufacturers and wholesalers were asked to submit unit prices for each of their products. Similar procedures were followed for radiopaque contrast media; wholesalers and manufacturers were asked to submit unit prices that would be guaranteed for a 12-month contract period. A nuclear pharmacist and radiologists reviewed the submitted bids and awarded contracts, basing their decisions primarily on product acceptability and selection criteria and then on relative costs of the agents. Annual costs were reduced 16% ($16,500) for radiopharmaceuticals and 21.3% ($66,500) for radiopaque contrast media. The program also resulted in decreased inventory of radiopaque contrast media and in faster and less expensive acquisition of emergency orders. Working with the radiology department to compile a standard list of radiopharmaceuticals and radiopaque contrast media and soliciting competitive bids by vendors of these products resulted in annual savings of more than $83,000.