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In ruminants, pregnancy results in up-regulation of a large number of IFN-stimulated genes (ISG) in the uterus. Recently, one of these genes was also shown to increase in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) during early pregnancy in sheep. Our working hypothesis is that conceptus signaling activates maternal gene expression in PBL in dairy cattle. The objectives of this study were to characterize ISG expression in PBL from pregnant (n=20) and bred, nonpregnant (n=30) dairy cows. Steady-state levels of mRNA for Mx1, Mx2, β2-microglobulin, ISG-15, IFN regulatory factor-1, and IFN regulatory factor-2 were quantified. Holstein cows were synchronized to estrus and artificially inseminated (d 0). Blood samples were collected (coccygeal venipuncture) on d 0 and 16, 18, and 20 d after insemination for progesterone analysis and PBL isolation. Pregnancy was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonography at approximately 40 d after breeding. A status×day interaction was detected for Mx1, Mx2, and ISG-15 gene expression. When analyzed within day, levels of mRNA for ISG-15 and Mx1 were greater in pregnant compared with bred, nonpregnant cows on d 18 and 20, respectively. Expression of the Mx2 gene increased in the pregnant group compared with bred, nonpregnant cows on d 16, 18, and 20 after insemination. β2-Microglobulin, IFN regulatory factor-1, and IFN regulatory factor-2 were not different between groups. The results clearly indicated that components of the innate immune response are activated in PBL during the period of pregnancy recognition and early embryo signaling. The physiological implications of these changes on maternal immune function are as yet unknown; however, they do provide a unique opportunity to identify bred, nonpregnant, cows 18 d after insemination in dairy cattle.

Sound propagation from wind turbines through the atmosphere has previously been analytically examined through numerous studies, but the amount of comparisons to measurements is limited. This paper applies three different sound propagation models; The ISO 9613-2 model, the Nord2000 ray tracing model and the WindSTAR-Pro model, to evaluate the noise at receivers in the near- and far-field of a wind turbine. The evaluation is performed by accounting for different meteorological and terrain parameters. For validation purposes, the study further uses two different data sets from measurement campaigns; Loudspeaker noise and wind turbine noise measurements. The validation evidently shows that especially the WindSTAR-Pro model and the Nord2000 model provide good agreement to the measurements for some of the validation cases, while other results are heavily influenced by the turbine wake, signal to noise ratio in the measurements or directivity of the noise source.

Pregnancy and interferon-τ (IFNτ) upregulate uterine Mx gene expression in ewes; however, the only known role for Mx is in the immune response to viral infection. We hypothesize that Mx functions as a conceptus-induced component of the antiluteolytic mechanism and/or regulator of endometrial secretion or uterine remodeling during early pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine the effects of early pregnancy on uterine Mx expression in domestic farm species with varied mechanisms of pregnancy recognition. Endometrium from cows, gilts, and mares was collected during the first 20 d of the estrous cycle or pregnancy, and total messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were analyzed for steady-state levels of Mx mRNA and protein. Northern blot analysis of Mx mRNA detected an approximately 2.5 Kb of mRNA in endometrium from each species. In pregnant cows, steady-state levels of Mx mRNA increased 10-fold (P < 0.05) above levels observed in cyclic cows by d 15 to 18. In cyclic gilts, slot blot analysis indicated that endometrial Mx mRNA levels did not change between d 5 and 18 of the cycle. However, in pregnant gilts, Mx levels tended (P = 0.06) to be elevated two-fold on d 16 only, and in situ hybridization indicated that this increase occurred in the stroma. In mares, Mx mRNA was low, but detectable, and did not change between ovulation (d 0) and d 20, regardless of reproductive status. Western blot analysis revealed multiple immunoreactive Mx protein bands in each species. One band was specific to pregnancy in cows. As in ewes, in situ hybridization analysis indicated that Mx mRNA was strongly expressed in the luminal epithelium, stroma, and myometrium by d 18 in cows. However, on d 14 in gilts, Mx was expressed primarily in the stroma, and on d 14 in mares, low levels of Mx expression were confined largely to the luminal epithelium. The uteruses of cows, gilts, and mares express Mx, and expression is upregulated during pregnancy in cows and gilts—animals whose conceptuses secrete interferons during early pregnancy, but that possess different mechanisms for pregnancy recognition.

The mechanism for maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in horses is unknown. To maintain a pregnancy, a mobile conceptus must be recognized by the uterus before d 14 postovulation (PO). This recognition prevents endometrial secretion of PGF2α on d14 through 16, which would otherwise initiate luteolysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate gene expression in the endometrium of pregnant and nonpregnant mares during and after MRP to identify possible genes involved during this time. Twelve normally cycling mares were used in a crossover design and randomly assigned to a specific collection day. Endometrial samples were collected from a pregnant and nonpregnant (nonmated) mare on cycle d 12, 14, 16, and 18 (n = 3/d) PO. Microarray analysis comparing the endometrial gene expression in pregnant and nonpregnant mares revealed no differences at d 12. Ten genes were identified to have consistently higher or lower expression levels in the endometrium from pregnant versus nonpregnant mares on d 14, 16, and 18 (P < 0.001). The expression of these 10 genes was further analyzed with real-time PCR. d 14, 16, and 18 gene expression patterns were consistent with the microarray analysis, but on d 12, 4 of the 10 were identified as differentially expressed. Endometrial samples were then collected on d 13 PO (n = 3) and processed for western blot and immunohistochemical analysis of 2 proteins due to their reproductive significance. SPLA2 and DKK1 antibody specificity were confirmed via western blot analysis but were not different in samples from pregnant and nonpregnant mares (P = 0.114 and P = 0.514, respectively) and cellular localization was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. This is the first study to describe gene expression and cellular localization in the endometrium at the time of MRP for these genes and suggests that the uterus does not prepare to support a pregnancy until d 14. The function of these genes may be critical in the process of MRP.

This paper presents a regenerative design philosophy and a design paradigm for the built environment including 12 indicators of regenerative building design developed by Søren Jensen Consulting Engineering. The regenerative design paradigm was developed to address the challenge of designing liveable and healthy built environments whilst reestablishing planetary health. The design paradigm is based on a literature study of different discourses and methodologies relating to regenerative thinking, presentations from and interviews with researchers and specialists as well as case-studies of reference projects. The design paradigm aims to give back more than it takes of planetary resources whilst providing a living environment that promotes a healthy and happy life within and between buildings. Inspired by the Future Fit [6] methodology the design paradigm identifies break-even and positive pursuit goals for planetary and people health in the built environment.

Objective: Ethically and legally, assertions that resuscitation is in a patient’s best interest should be inversely correlated with willingness to forego intensive care (and accept comfort care) at the surrogate’s request. Previous single country studies have demonstrated a relative devaluation of neonates when compared with other critically ill patients. Study Design: In this international study, physicians in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway and the United States were presented with eight hypothetical vignettes of incompetent critically ill patients of different ages. They were asked to make assessments about best interest, respect for surrogate autonomy and to rank the patients in a triage scenario. Results: In total, 2237 physicians responded (average response rate 61%). In all countries and scenarios, participants did not accept to withhold resuscitation if they estimated it was in the patient’s best interest, except for scenarios involving neonates. Young children (other than neonates) were given high priority for resuscitation, regardless of existing disability. For neonates, surrogate autonomy outweighed assessment of best interest. In all countries, a 2-month-old-infant with meningitis and a multiply disabled 7-year old were resuscitated first in the triage scenario, with more variable ranking of the two neonates, which were ranked below patients with considerably worse prognosis. Conclusions: The value placed on the life of newborns is less than that expected according to predicted clinical outcomes and current legal and ethical theory relative to best interests. Value assessments on the basis of age, disability and prognosis appear to transcend culture, politics and religion in this domain.

Ovine endometrial RNA was pooled from nonpregnant and pregnant ewes and used to make a cDNA library that was cloned into a HybriZAP 2.1 two-hybrid vector system. Bovine (b)ISG17 cDNA was radiolabeled using a random prime reaction.

Objective: To determine whether the addition of low-cost reflecting curtains to a standard phototherapy unit could increase effectiveness of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Design: Randomised controlled clinical trial. Setting: Level-one nursery of the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malayasia. Patients: Term newborns with uncomplicated neonatal jaundice presenting in the first week of life. Interventions: Phototherapy with white curtains hanging from the sides of the phototherapy unit (study group, n = 50) was compared with single phototherapy without curtains (control group, n = 47). Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the mean difference in total serum bilirubin measured at baseline and after 4 h of phototherapy. The secondary outcome was the duration of phototherapy. Results: The mean (standard deviation) decrease in total serum bilirubin levels after 4 h of phototherapy was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the study group (27.62 (25.24) μmol/l) than in the control group (4.04 (24.27) μmol/l). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that the median duration of phototherapy was significantly shorter in the study group (12 h) than in the control group (34 h; χ2 change 45.2; p<0.001; hazards ratio 0.20; 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.32). No difference in adverse events was noted in terms of hyperthermia or hypothermia, weight loss, rash, loose stools or feeding intolerance. Conclusion: Hanging white curtains around phototherapy units significantly increases efficacy of phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal jaundice without evidence of increased adverse effects.

An abstract of a study by Hansen et al detailing interferons (IFN) during early pregnancy and fetal response to viral infection in cattle is presented. IFN are cytokines induced in cells by viral infections that provide a first line of defense against other viral infections. These cytokines are derived from a multi-gene family and classified as Type I IFNs and Type II IFNg. The impact of maternal bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection on IFNs, ISGs and fetal development was examined during pregnancy. Infection of pregnant cows (d75) with ncpBVDV induces a rapid innate immune response (IFN-I and ISGs) that decreases viral replication and leads to the induction of adaptive immune responses that clears the virus in xx 3 weeks. Clarifying the mechanisms of fetal BVDV persistence in the face of activated IFNs will lead to better management tools, detection, biocontainment and antiviral treatments.