Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station Research Articles

‘Gallagher’ and ‘Iba’ hard red winter wheat: Half‐sibs inseparable by yield gain, separable by producer preference

AbstractCornerstone cultivars earn their status as much by their genetic fortitude and successive progeny as by their own visibility. ‘Duster’ hard red winter (HRW) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) established a foundation of yield potential, pest resistance, and baking quality on which two half‐sib progenies named ‘Gallagher’ (Reg. no. CV‐1177, PI 667569) and ‘Iba’ (Reg. no. CV‐1178, PI 667570) were released by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station in 2012 and subsequently assumed significant commercial hectares in the U.S. southern plains. Our objectives were to characterize and compare Gallagher and Iba with their parent Duster for a wide array of agronomic, end‐use quality, and wheat sensitivity traits. Bulked descendants of sister F4:5 lines, Gallagher and Iba were tested as experimental lines OK07214 and OK07209, respectively. In one breeding cycle, they showed an 8% yield gain in grain‐only environments, with 10–17% increases in kernel weight, divergent wheat protein responses, unidirectional responses in total fructan content, and wide bidirectional responses in flour levels of immunotoxic gluten epitopes. Both cultivars remain excellent sources of yield potential and functionality, yet their ultimate adoption histories did not align with institutional expectations at the time of release. This retrospective analysis provides a non‐abstract reminder worthwhile for any agent of wheat improvement: wheat producers may exercise cultivar choice on seemingly modest characteristics but with yield‐equivalent precedence.

Brain MRI Phenotypes Associated with Polymorphisms at or Near the SLC39A8 (ZIP8) Metal Transporter Gene

Abstract Objectives The SLC39A8 gene encodes a divalent metal transporter, ZIP8. ZIP8 polymorphisms are associated with pleiotropic effects including altered risks for schizophrenia. Our objective is to determine the different brain MRI phenotypes associated at or near the SLC39A8 (ZIP8) genetic locus using a phenome-wide association (PheWAS) approach followed by joint and conditional association analysis. Methods Using the summary statistics database containing brain MRI genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we systematically selected all brain MRI phenotypes which were associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 1 million bp of the SLC39A8 genetic locus, as defined as reaching a P-value significance cutoff of P < 5.0 × 10–8. For all brain MRI phenotypes reaching significance, we used GCTA-COJO to determine the number of independent association signals using settings of P < 1.0 × 10–5 and a window of 10 million base pairs. Using SNPclip and the European 1000 Genomes linkage panel with a linkage disequilibrium cutoff of r2 > 0.8, we identified SNP candidates at each index SNP. Linkage equilibrium for brain phenotypes with multiple independent signals was confirmed by LDpair. Results We identified 25 brain MRI phenotypes that vary due to MRI type and brain region that all contain a SNP associated with the SLC39A8 locus. All of these datasets have at least 1 index SNP directly labeling or in high linkage disequilibrium with rs13107325, which encodes a missense mutation in the SLC39A8 (ZIP8). Among the 25 datasets, an additional 4 association signals were identified by GCTA-COJO and confirmed to be in linkage equilibrium with rs13107325 using LDpair. For these additional association signals, probable causative SNPs were identified from the index SNP using SNPclip. Conclusions From the 25 brain MRI phenotypes, we identified new probable causative SNPs in addition to a previously reported missense SNP (rs13107325) associated with schizophrenia. This study provides leads into how SNPs in genes involved in trace metal transport influence brain structures and affect risks for schizophrenia. Funding Sources This work was funded by grants from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Brain MRI Phenotypes Associated with Polymorphisms at or near the MAPT (Microtubule Associated Protein Tau) and COASY (Coenzyme A Synthase) Genes

Abstract Objectives Impaired metal homeostasis in the brain has been reported in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease and can be detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Many factors, including genetics, affect brain metal accumulation and the risk of neurodegeneration or premature brain aging. Our objective is to uncover independent association signals at chromosome 17 associated with susceptibility-weighted MRI (swMRI) intensities in the caudate and putamen. Methods Conditional and joint association analysis by GCTA-COJO was performed on the summary statistics dataset from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on brain swMRI phenotypes from 7778 healthy adults of European descent aged 40–69 years from the UK BioBank. Independent association signals (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) found by GCTA-COJO were grouped further by SNPclip to identify additional candidate SNPs in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) (R2 > 0.8, P < 5.0 × 10–8) with the independent lead/index SNP at each signal. Correlations were performed to show the similarity of impacts (beta) of SNPs significantly associated with MRI differences in both caudate and putamen at one locus. Results There are 2 independent and distinct loci at chromosome 17 associated with MRI differences in the putamen, whereas there is only 1 locus for the caudate. One locus for the putamen is associated with the MAPT H2 haplotype, which has been linked to different neurological diseases. Another locus for both putamen and caudate is located near the genes COASY, NAGLU, and MLX, which are all plausible candidate genes for brain metal accumulation. For one locus identified by GCTA-COJO, there are 19 SNPs in LD (R2 > 0.8) and overlapping in both the caudate and the putamen. The effects (beta) of the SNPs in the putamen and caudate are highly correlated across both brain regions (R2 = 0.907, P-value = 0.000921). Conclusions There is likely 1 signal from the COASY/NAGLU locus on chromosome 17 affecting both brain regions. The signal from the MAPT locus only affects the MRI pattern seen in the putamen. These results connect genetics with brain MRI patterns and an individual's risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Funding Sources This work was funded by grants from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Xanthophyll Accumulation Protects Mice from Influenza Virus Infection Potentially Through SirT3

Abstract Objectives Seasonal influenza virus infection is one of the top health concerns worldwide. The beta-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) knockout mice are more resistant to virus infection compared to wildtype. We sought to investigate the effects of xanthophylls, e.g., zeaxanthin (Z) and astaxanthin (A) in the regulation of the host innate immune responses to influenza A virus infection in mice. Methods Six-week-old male and female 129S6 wild type (WT), beta-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) knockout mice, and BCO2/SIRT3 double knockout (DKO) mice were fed with AIN93M chow diets supplemented with or without Z (0.02% w/w) and A (0.02 w/w) (e.g., Z+A). After 5 weeks of the dietary intervention, mice were intranasally infected with 100 pfu H1N1 PR8 virus. Animal body weight and phenotypes were monitored daily. Animals were sacrificed 6 days post-infection. Blood and lung tissues were collected for experiments. H & E staining, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and immunoblotting were used for clinical, histopathological, and other biochemical assessments. Further, primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) cells were isolated from above three mouse strains. Mitochondrial superoxide was detected by MitoSOXTM live cell staining. Poly (I: C) was used to mimic virus infection in MEF cells. Results Much more significant body weight loss, lung damage, and cytokine storm occurred in WT and DKO mice after virus infection, as compared to the KO. Supplementation of Z+A significantly rescued the pathophenotypes in infected mice, particularly in KO mice. Basal mitochondrial superoxide levels were significantly higher in MEF cells of KO and DKO, compared to the MEF cells from WT mice. The eukaryotic initiation factor 2 α-subunit level was significantly elevated in MEF cells of WT and DKO, after Poly (I: C) stimulation, compared to KO MEF cells. Application of Z at 0.625 μM significantly decreased mitochondrial superoxide levels in KO MEF cells. Conclusions BCO2 deficiency-associated xanthophyll accumulation protects animals and MEF cells from influenza virus pneumonia and mitochondrial superoxide production. The effects are at least partially through Sirt3. Funding Sources This work was funded by grants from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Coding Polymorphisms in Zinc Transporter Gene SLC39A12 (ZIP12) Associated with Brain MRI Pattern Differences Have Reduced Zinc Transport Activity

Abstract Objectives Zinc is important for brain function. The SLC39A12 gene encodes ZIP12, which is a zinc transport protein highly expressed in the brain. Our goal is to determine whether human slc39a12 coding polymorphisms associated with differences in susceptibility-weighted brain MRI (swMRI) patterns affect zinc transport ability. Methods We used summary statistics for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on swMRI patterns for caudate, putamen, and pallidum of 7778 human subjects aged 40–69 years from the UK BioBank. Human SLC39A12 coding polymorphisms rs10764176 and rs72778328 were associated with a reduction in relaxation spin time during swMRI in the putamen or pallidum but not caudate and met a significance cutoff of P < 5.0 × 10–8. Haploblock determination and linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the variants was determined by SNPclip, LDmatrix, and LDpair software and the European 1000 genomes LD reference panel. The effects of the ZIP12 polymorphisms on cell zinc status and zinc uptake were measured in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the reference ZIP12 version or coding variants. Cell zinc status was assessed after 18 hours by metal-response element reporter activation (n = 8). Cell zinc uptake activity was measured by stable isotope Zinc-70 uptake (n = 6) relative to endogenous Zinc-68 content using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistical comparisons were performed using ANOVA. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Variants rs10764176 and rs72778328 are present on independent haploblocks and are in linkage equilibrium with each other. Variants rs10764176 and rs72778328 have a reduction in MRE reporter activation (41.7% [P < 0.05] and 55.6% [P < 0.01], respectively) and in exogenous Zinc-70 uptake after 20 minutes (37.6% [P < 0.001] and 54.2% [P < 0.001], respectively) compared to the reference ZIP12. Conclusions Variants rs10764176 and rs72778328 are on distinct haploblocks. These ZIP12 coding variants that are associated with altered brain swMRI patterns also have reduced zinc uptake activity. Funding Sources This work was funded by grants from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Knockdown of Zinc Transporter ZIP12 by shRNA Alters Genes Related to Mitochondria and Neuronal Differentiation in Neuro-2a Cells (P24-018-19)

ObjectivesZinc is vital for brain function and preservation of cognitive potential in aging. However, mechanisms by which the nervous system regulates zinc homeostasis are poorly understood. Hence, this study determined changes in gene expression due to the loss of ZIP12 in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. MethodsWe used RNA-sequencing to uncover differentially expressed genes between cells transfected with a control short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and cells transfected with a shRNA targeting the ZIP12 mRNA sequence. Cells were transfected with NeuroMag (Oz Biosciences) (n = 6) in 6-well plates and differentiated with all-trans retinoic acid in reduced serum DMEM media for 48 hours. RNA libraries were prepared from total RNA (RNA integrity number >8.0) using the Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA Sample Preparation kit. Single-end 75 bp reads were generated on an Illumina NextSeq 500 sequencer. A transcriptome analysis pipeline including Trimmomatic, HISAT2, featureCounts, and DESeq2 was used to identify differentially expressed genes. The cutoff for differential expression was set at log2 fold change of 0.584962, corresponding to a 0.5x increase or decrease in expression relative to control. Results25 genes were found which met this cutoff, and all 25 genes had a false discovery rate (FDR) less than 1.0 × 10–9. Using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), we determined that differentially expressed genes (both upregulated and downregulated) were enriched for mitochondria-related function. These mitochondria-related genes include alcohol dehydrogenase-5, peroxiredoxin-3, and galectin-3, and translocase of inner mitochondrial membrane 8 homolog A, and these genes were more likely to be upregulated. Manual identification of genes important for neuronal differentiation in downregulated genes included dopamine beta hydroxylase, astrotactin-2, neural zinc finger-3, neuron specific gene family member-2, inhibitor of DNA binding-2, and inhibitor of DNA binding-3. ConclusionsThese findings indicate that changes in the transcriptome induced by loss of ZIP12 function may contribute impairments in neuronal function and reflect altered mitochondrial function. Funding SourcesOklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology; Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. The RNA sequencing core is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation.

Registration of ‘Contender’ Peanut

Registration of ‘Contender’ Peanut

Registration of ‘Lariat’ Peanut

‘Lariat’ (Reg. No. CV‐134, PI 676980) is a high‐oleic runner‐type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) that has enhanced Sclerotinia blight (caused by Sclerotinia minor Jagger) resistance when compared to the cultivar Red River Runner. Lariat was released cooperatively by the USDA‐ARS and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station in 2016. Lariat (experimental designation ARSOK‐R35) is the result of a cross between cultivar Red River Runner × PI 274193 in the USDA germplasm collection. In advanced line disease trials conducted over 5 yr, Lariat averaged only 12% incidence of Sclerotinia blight, whereas Red River Runner averaged 20% and the susceptible runner‐type check cultivar Flavor Runner 458 averaged 47%. Furthermore, Lariat does not exhibit a yield boost or significant reduction in disease incidence on fungicide application, as does Red River Runner. Thus, Lariat is greatly enhanced in resistance to Sclerotinia blight compared with Red River Runner and will not require fungicide application to increase yields. Results from Oklahoma state variety trials demonstrated that Lariat is indistinguishable from Red River Runner with regards to yield and grade, thus maintaining those highly desirable traits. Production of Lariat in fields where Sclerotinia blight is present will increase profits for the grower by $200 to $500 ha−1.

Registration of ‘VENUS’ Peanut

VENUS (Reg. No. CV‐130, PI 675157) is a large‐seeded high‐oleic virginia‐type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) that has enhanced Sclerotinia blight and pod rot resistance when compared to the cultivar Jupiter. VENUS is the first high‐oleic virginia peanut developed for optimal performance in the southwestern United States, and it was released cooperatively by the USDA‐ARS and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) in 2015. VENUS (experimental designation ARSOK‐V30B) is the result of a cross between the cultivar Jupiter, a non‐high‐oleic virginia peanut released by the OAES in 2000, and ARSOK‐R2, a high‐oleic advanced runner breeding line with resistance to Sclerotinia blight. Tests conducted at three locations across Oklahoma in 2012 to 2014 showed no significant difference between the yields of VENUS and Jupiter. However, VENUS graded significantly higher than Jupiter in two out of three locations. VENUS also has better resistance to Sclerotinia blight and pod rot (61 and 70% less disease, respectively) than Jupiter. Production of VENUS peanut in areas with high Sclerotinia blight and/or pod rot disease pressures will reduce the need for fungicide applications and result in increased profits for producers.

Systematic Review of Child Obesity Prevention and Treatment Trials Addressing Parenting

A systematic review was conducted to determine whether child obesity/overweight treatment and prevention trials that address parenting result in significant changes or differences in child BMIz, BMI percentile, weight status, or related outcomes. On May 14, 2015 Pubmed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched with the following search strategy “parenting OR parent OR mother OR father AND intervention OR RCT OR trial AND parenting style OR feeding style OR responsive feeding OR restrictive feeding AND child obesity OR child overweight OR child weight status OR child waist circumference OR child BMI OR child BMI percentile OR child BMI% or child BMI z OR child BMI centile OR child BMIZ or child BMI‐z,” yielding 244 unique articles. Abstract and title screening (α = .90) excluded all protocols as well as completed studies restricted to adolescents. Full text review resulted in 16 studies that included some aspect of parenting in the trial and also provided weight outcomes for children. Study sample was obese and/or overweight children in 12 studies; the remaining four included children from the full range of weight statuses. Ten of 16 studies reported a significant effect of intervention on child BMIz, BMI percentile, or other weight outcome. All 10 studies with significant effects were focused on intervention and treatment of obese/overweight children rather than on obesity prevention. Only two of the 10 were focused solely on children ages 5 and under. Results suggest obesity intervention trials that address parenting styles and similar constructs have been successful, particularly for older children. Additional efforts to increase the success of interventions for the toddler and preschool periods are needed.Support or Funding InformationUSDA/NIFA Hatch/Multistate and Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station OKLO2849; Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station OKLO2868

Breast Milk Iodine Concentration Correlated with Urinary Iodine Concentration of Infants from Southern Ethiopia

Breast milk from iodine‐sufficient mothers is considered an adequate source of iodine for the exclusively breastfed infant until the age of 6 months. A national policy requiring salt iodization was initiated in Ethiopia in 2011, but reports indicate high variability in salt iodine concentration (SIC) at the community level. Although the recommended household SIC should be 15‐40 ppm, salt from 102 rural households of lactating women in southern Ethiopia ranged from 0 to 39 ppm. Only about 20% of households had SIC >15 ppm. Mean ± SD age of mothers was 23 ± 3.9 y. Maternal BMI was 21.3 ± 2.5 and MUAC was 23.1 ± 1.9 cm. Goiter was observed in 75 of the mothers. Breast milk and urine samples were collected from these mothers and urine samples were collected from their 6 day old infants. Breast milk iodine (BMIC) and urinary iodine (UIC) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Median (Interquartile range) BMIC was 1551 (495, 2487) µg/L. Median maternal UIC was 106 (71, 160), but 47 had UIC below 100 µg/L. Median infant UIC was 212 (109, 348) µg/L. UIC of the mother correlated with BMIC (r=0.26, p< 0.007). BMIC and infant UIC were correlated (r=.34, p<0.0001) as were UIC of mother and infant (r=.63, p <0.0001). UIC of the mother and iodine of the household salt predicted 15% of the variation in BMIC while UIC of the mother and BMIC predicted 41% of the variability in UIC of the infant. Despite the fact that the study population was getting variable amounts of iodine from the recently implemented salt iodization program, BMIC at 6 days after delivery was high. (Supported by Néstle Foundation and Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station).

Yield and Nutrient Concentration Response to Switchgrass Biomass Harvest Date

Timing of biomass removal from stands of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) impacts the nutrient content of harvested material and fertilizer requirements for subsequent growing seasons. This study was conducted to determine the change in N, P, and K content of harvested switchgrass biomass as a function of the harvest date and to determine the economic consequences of an extended harvest window. Data were produced in a randomized complete block study conducted at the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater, with six replications over three harvest seasons from November of 2007 to March of 2010. Treatments on the established stand of cultivar Kanlow consisted of five harvest dates separated by about 30 d beginning in late November. Regression equations were used to fit yield and N, P, and K concentration response to the harvest date. Delaying harvest beyond December resulted in an average 5.4% decline in harvested biomass per month. Delaying harvest beyond November did not result in a significant change in the N concentration in the harvested biomass. However, delaying harvest did result in a significant decrease in both P and K content in the harvested biomass. Point estimates from the response functions were used to estimate production cost for each of five harvest dates beginning with 30 November and ending with 30 March. The quantities of P2O5 and K2O fertilizer that would be required to replace the P and K removed with the biomass were used in the budgets. Biomass production cost was similar across harvest dates.

Zinc supplementation decreased ZIP4 mRNA abundance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rural women in south Ethiopia (1043.4)

Understanding the control of zinc homeostasis as a result of chronic deficiency is hampered due to a lack of effective measures to assess Zn status. This randomized placebo‐controlled Zn supplementation trial in apparently healthy women evaluated effects of 20 mg Zn as Zn sulfate for 23 d on Zn transporter and metallothionein (MT) mRNA abundance and plasma Zn concentration. Non‐pregnant, non‐lactating women from rural southern Ethiopia with body mass index of 18.5‐24.9 were participants. PBMC collected from fasting blood at baseline and endpoint were stored in RNAlater. RNA was extracted from PBMC, reverse‐transcribed, and used for gene expression analyses. The mRNA abundance of Zn transporters (ZnT1/ZIP3/ZIP4) and MT1 was determined by qPCR. Plasma Zn was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Abundance of ZIP4 decreased following Zn supplementation (p =0.04), though ZnT1, ZIP3 and MT1 abundance was unchanged. Despite these differences in expression, ZnT1 and ZIP4 abundance were correlated following Zn supplementation (r = 0. 934; p = 0.002). The mean (±SD) plasma Zn at baseline was 680±105 µg/L for the Zn group and 741±92 µg/L for the placebo group. At endpoint, plasma Zn in the Zn group increased to 735±79 µg/L (p<0.01) while the placebo group (717±103 µg/L) did not change from baseline (p = 0.31). Plasma Zn was not significantly related to abundance of mRNA for any Zn transporter or for MT. The observed change in ZIP4 mRNA abundance with Zn supplementation merits further investigation.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station

Plasma zinc response to supplementation in apparently healthy women from rural Sidama in southern Ethiopia

This placebo‐controlled trial in apparently healthy, reproductive age women evaluated effects of supplementation of 20 mg Zn as zinc sulfate for 23 days on plasma zinc concentrations. The study was conducted in June/July, 2012. Participants were randomly selected from the list of non‐pregnant, non‐lactating women residing in the village. Additional exclusion criteria were body mass index (BMI) outside of the 18.5 to 24.9 range and selfreported recent illness. Thirty‐five women were included for this analysis. Demographic as well as household dietary diversity data were collected. Anthropometric measurements were taken, women were randomized to placebo or treatment groups and blood samples were collected by venipuncture at baseline, midpoint and the end of the 23‐day supplementation period. Plasma zinc was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Mean ± SD age of participants was 32.7 ± 5 and family size was 6.8 ± 2.7. Education of the participants ranged from 0 to 6 yr of school. Household dietary diversity score was 4.5. None of the participants reported consuming meat, fish or egg in the 24 hr prior to the survey. The mean plasma zinc concentration at base line was 651 ± 80 μg/L for the zinc group and 721 ± 86 μg/L for the placebo group. At endpoint plasma zinc for placebo (713 ± 112 μg/L) did not change significantly from baseline. However, in the zinc‐supplemented group, plasma zinc at 735 ± 84 μg/L was significantly higher than baseline (p<0.002). [This study was supported by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station].

Registration of ‘Red River Runner’ Peanut

‘Red River Runner’ (Reg. No. CV‐116, PI 665474) peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) is a high‐oleic‐oil cultivar with the experimental designation TX994313 that was cooperatively developed and released by the USDA‐ARS, Texas AgriLife Research, and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station in 2011. Sustainable peanut production in the southwestern United States is driven by the availability of cultivars possessing high oleic fatty‐acid oil content, high yield, and superior grade. The objective of this work was to develop a high‐oleic peanut cultivar with acceptable yield and superior grade potential (near or above 70%) that would increase the peanut producer's profit per hectare. Red River Runner was selected from progenies derived from a three‐way cross between ‘Tamrun 96’, breeding line TX901639‐3, and ‘Sun‐Oleic 95R’ and cooperatively tested for several years. Red River Runner has an excellent yield and moderate tolerance to Sclerotinia blight (caused by Sclerotinia minor Jaggar). Red River Runner is similar to the existing high‐oleic runner cultivar ‘Tamrun OL07’ in many agronomic characteristics such as yield, seed size, and weight. However, Red River Runner was released because it consistently exhibits a higher grade potential than Tamrun OL07 in some locations in Texas (averaging 5.4 points higher) and in most locations in Oklahoma (averaging 4.6 points higher); therefore in those locations, production of Red River Runner will significantly increase the crop value per hectare for peanut growers.

Influence of Exercise and Weight Loss on Glucose Tolerance and Bone Mass in Young Growing Animals

Childhood obesity has been associated with increased fracture incidence, but the effects of weight loss and exercise on the bone health of children remains unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effects of exercise and weight loss on bone mass and glucose homeostasis in a young growing animal model of diet‐induced obesity. Six wk old male C57BL/6 mice (n=42) were fed a control diet (CON=10% fat) or high fat diet (HF=60%) for 12 wks. The last 4 wks of the study, mice were further divided into exercise (Ex), no exercise (NoEx), or weight loss regimen (HF→CON). At end of the study, body weight was not significantly reduced in the HF+Ex group. In contrast, the 15% reduction in weight in the HF→CON group resulted in similar body weights to mice on the CON diet. Both the HF+Ex and the HF+NoEx groups experienced an increase (P<0.05) in fasting glucose, but the glucose levels of the HF→CON group were normalized to the CON groups. The HF+Ex and HF→CON groups demonstrated a similar response in their glucose tolerance test. The 4 wk exercise protocol increased whole body and femur bone mineral density (BMD), but the HF→CON mice significantly reduced their spine BMD compared to the non‐exercising groups. These data suggest that in obese animals weight loss without exercise results in a negative effect on spine bone density.Grant Funding Source : Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station

Bone mineral density and vitamin D status in older women with and without metabolic syndrome

This study investigated associations between serum 25‐ hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and bone mineral density (BMD) in women >50 years of age with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS as defined by the International Diabetes Foundation was waist >88 cm with two additional factors from elevated blood pressure, serum triglycerides or glucose or decreased HDL‐cholesterol. Forty women, half with metabolic syndrome (MetS), had whole body, lumbar spine, hip and forearm BMD assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (Immunodiagnostics Systems Ltd., Fountain Hills, AZ). No women had 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L, 15% were between 25 ‐ <50, 55% were between 50‐<75, and 30% had ≥ 75 nmol/L. Mean (SD) for 25(OH)D was 62 (18) for women with MetS and was not significantly different (p<0.10) from the mean of 71 (15) for control women. Z scores for BMD for age were higher in the lumbar spine (p<0.0004) and hip regions (p<.0024) for women in the MetS group and BMD tended to be higher (p<0.06) in the whole body in the MetS group. BMD was not significantly different in the forearm between control and MetS groups. Overall, serum 25(OH)D did not correlate significantly with BMD in the sites measured. (Supported by Wentz Foundation and Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, W2002)

Fat distribution, insulin resistance and serum adiponectin of older women with and without metabolic syndrome

This study assessed associations among dietary intakes, body fat distribution and serum biomarkers in 41 women aged > 50 yrs with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS by International Diabetes Federation definition (IDF) was waist circumference ≥88cm with two additional factors: elevated blood pressure, triglycerides, or glucose; or decreased HDL‐cholesterol. Three‐day diet records and 24‐hr duplicate plates were collected. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans was used to estimate body fat distribution. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in diet and serum were measured with the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The MetS group had significantly higher serum insulin and adiponectin as well as higher homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA)‐β, HOMA‐IR, and android:gynoid ratio. TAC in serum and 24‐hr duplicate plate diet samples were not significantly different between control and MetS groups; however, dietary fiber intakes were positively associated with dietary vitamin C (p<0.03). Total body fat, android fat, android:gynoid ratio, and serum adiponectin were significantly (p<0.05) associated with insulin resistance in these older women. (Supported by Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, W2002).

‘Duster’ Wheat: A Durable, Dual‐Purpose Cultivar Adapted to the Southern Great Plains of the USA

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars that gain commercial acceptance in the U.S. southern Great Plains must provide a definitive grain‐yield advantage, season‐long dependability in dual‐purpose management systems, effective resistance to foliar diseases, and tolerance to soil acidity. Our objective was to corroborate each of those strengths in the hard red winter (HRW) wheat cultivar ‘Duster’ (Reg. No. CV‐1065, PI 644016), which was released in 2006 by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA‐ARS to complement ‘Endurance’ (Reg. No. CV‐994, PI 639233) with added dough strength and resistance to Wheat spindle streak mosaic. Duster was selected from a double cross, W0405/NE78488//W7469C/TX81V6187, made within the former Pioneer HRW‐wheat breeding program. Neither Duster nor its immediate parents are known to have a sib‐pair or parent‐offspring relationship with cultivars currently grown in the Great Plains. Duster is a descendent of an F2:3 line identified in Oklahoma in 1991, from which pedigree selection produced two F13‐derived lines that were composited to constitute breeder seed. The experimental line OK93P656H3299‐2C04 was tested in the 2005 and 2006 Southern Regional Performance Nursery, where it ranked first and fifth, respectively, for mean grain yield. Data from the Oklahoma Small Grains Variety Performance Tests were primarily used herein to demonstrate competitiveness for economic traits in a wide array of environmental conditions 5 yr following Duster's release.

Challenges to the Development of a Dedicated Energy Crop

American Journal of Agricultural EconomicsVolume 89, Issue 5 p. 1296-1302 The Promise and Challenge of Bioenergy Challenges to the Development of a Dedicated Energy Crop Francis M. Epplin, Francis M. Epplin Charles A. Breedlove Professor of Agricultural Economics Oklahoma State UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorChristopher D. Clark, Christopher D. Clark Assistant Professor University of TennesseeSearch for more papers by this authorRoland K. Roberts, Roland K. Roberts Professor University of TennesseeSearch for more papers by this authorSeonghuyk Hwang, Seonghuyk Hwang Graduate research assistant Oklahoma State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author Francis M. Epplin, Francis M. Epplin Charles A. Breedlove Professor of Agricultural Economics Oklahoma State UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorChristopher D. Clark, Christopher D. Clark Assistant Professor University of TennesseeSearch for more papers by this authorRoland K. Roberts, Roland K. Roberts Professor University of TennesseeSearch for more papers by this authorSeonghuyk Hwang, Seonghuyk Hwang Graduate research assistant Oklahoma State UniversitySearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 December 2007 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8276.2007.01100.xCitations: 60 The authors acknowledge the assistance of personnel of the Biobased Products and Energy Center at Oklahoma State University. This article benefited from comments provided by B. Wade Brorsen and Jeffrey Vitale. Remaining errors are the responsibility of the authors. Research supported by the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Project H-2574, by USDA-CSREES Special Research Grant award 2005-34447-15711, by the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, Project TEN00256, and the U.S. Department of Energy through the Tennessee Switchgrass Project GO14219. This article was presented in a principal paper session at the AAEA annual meeting (Portland, OR, July 2007). The articles in these sessions are not subjected to the journal's standard refereeing process. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume89, Issue5December 2007Pages 1296-1302 RelatedInformation