University Of California-Davis Research Articles

The Nagoya Protocol and nitrogen-fixing maize: Close encounters between Indigenous Oaxacans and the men from Mars (Inc.)

In this article, we discuss the Nagoya Protocol and its implications for access and benefit-sharing (ABS) agreements related to genetic resources and biodiversity. We analyze a case study of the appropriation of olotón, a maize variety with an unusual nitrogen-fixing trait grown in many communities throughout Oaxaca and probably beyond that region. Samples of olotón were acquired by scientists affiliated with Mars, Inc., the University of California-Davis, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The article unpacks how the olotón ABS agreement with the single Oaxacan community of Totontepec became a topic of controversy despite its approval by the Mexican government under the auspices of the Nagoya Protocol. We pose the question: Is the olotón ABS agreement to be considered “fair and equitable” or could it be an example of the unjust appropriation of genetic resources known as “biopiracy”? To answer that question, we proceed to analyze the “procedural,” “distributive,” “commutative,” and “representational” forms of justice as they apply to the acquisition of olotón. The Nagoya Protocol was created in part to impede biopiracy by providing a framework for acquiring and using biodiversity in a “fair and equitable” way, but the Nagoya Protocol’s provisions are ambiguous and allow for confidentiality clauses that favor the acquisition of genetic materials in ways that we do not consider fair and equitable. We join other researchers and academics who cite the need for an improved approach for ethically accessing, using, and sharing genetic resources and knowledge.

Breed predispositions to congenital and juvenile cataracts in horses at two academic institutions

AbstractBackgroundDetermination of horse breeds predisposed to congenital and juvenile cataracts will enable investigations into potential genetic mechanisms for cataracts in horses.ObjectiveTo investigate horse breed predispositions to congenital and juvenile cataracts in two academic referral populations.Study designRetrospective case series.MethodsMedical record identification of horses diagnosed with congenital or juvenile cataracts at the Cornell University Equine Hospital (2000–2022) and the University of California‐Davis (UCD) Large Animal Clinic (1990–2021). Signalment, examination findings and treatments were recorded. Descriptive statistics were performed, and breed over‐representations were determined using Chi‐squared or Fisher's exact tests.ResultsThirty‐one (Cornell) and 70 (UCD) horses with congenital or juvenile cataracts were identified, for a total of 101 affected horses. Seventy‐eight horses were affected bilaterally and 23 were affected unilaterally, for a total of 179 affected eyes. Standardbreds were significantly over‐represented at both institutions, comprising 32.5% of congenital/juvenile cataract cases and 10% of the equine hospital population at Cornell (p < 0.001) and 4.3% of cataract cases and 1.3% of the equine hospital population at UCD (p = 0.03). Thoroughbreds were under‐represented for congenital and juvenile cataracts at both institutions (p = 0.03 Cornell, p = 0.01 UCD).Main limitationsRetrospective study, potential for selection bias.ConclusionsThe over‐representation of the Standardbred breed for congenital and juvenile cataracts at two institutions suggests an underlying genetic basis in the breed. Future genetic and genomic studies are warranted to investigate heritable cataracts in Standardbred horses.

Phyllosphere 2022: 11th International Symposium on Leaf Surface Microbiology

This Meeting Review article offers a synthesis of the science presented and discussed at the recently held 11th International Symposium on Leaf Surface Microbiology, also known as Phyllosphere 2022, at the University of California–Davis (UC Davis), 17 to 21 July 2022. Twice postponed due to Covid-19, this in-person conference covered wide-ranging but intersecting topics related to the microbiology of leaves (and other aboveground parts of plants), including phytopathology, food safety, plant physiology, microbial ecology, fluid physics, vegetation science, single-cell biology, canopy architecture, and human health. The overarching theme of the meeting (“understanding the rules of phyllospheric life”) was explored in 46 podium and 12 poster presentations. It also fueled the formal and informal discussions among 90-plus conference participants about existing and new questions in phyllosphere microbiology. Are there first principles underlying the acquisition, assembly and succession of microbial communities in the phyllosphere? How best to define, recognize, and exploit phyllosphere fitness of microscopic leaf dwellers? At what scales do or should we sample, interrogate, and understand the phyllosphere? What still needs to be learned that keeps us from new insights, resources, and tools to produce healthier or more nutritious plant foliage? Having the conference at UC Davis in the summer presented a unique opportunity to “vertically integrate” high school students from the COSMOS program into the Phyllosphere 2022 conference and allow face-to-face interactions with early-career scientists and prominent senior career professionals in phyllosphere microbiology. Students thus experienced first-hand the ways in which scientists address problems that affect society and seek understanding and solutions to those problems. It represented an effective approach to engage a younger generation into thinking about research and stewardship of plants and their foliage and, more generally, about the merits of a science career.

Scrotal insulation impairs spermatogenesis but not Sertoli cell endocrine function

Testicular thermal insult is detrimental to spermatogenesis and a common cause of testicular degeneration. Changes in semen quality after scrotal insulation are well understood but its effects on Sertoli cell function is still not fully characterized. Isoform-specific assays have provided opportunities for analysis of inhibin-A and B. Recent studies in stallions have shown inhibin-B decreases after treatment with a GnRH receptor antagonist but returns with spermatogenesis after treatment stops, suggesting it may be a useful biomarker for testicular damage and recovery (Ball.et.al. Theriogenology; 2019; 213:108-115). The hypothesis of the present study was that serum inhibin-B correlates positively with sperm parameters after scrotal insulation decreasing as sperm motility and production decline. Stallions were assigned to a untreated control (n=4) and treated group (n=5) that was submitted to scrotal insulation for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon, for two consecutive days, using a thermal blanket surrounding the scrotum. The intratesticular temperature was measured immediately after the blanket was removed and increased ∼10°C during the insulation period. Semen was collected twice weekly, but semen and serum samples were evaluated weekly for 98 days after treatment. Testicular response was assessed by determination of the concentrations of testosterone and estrone sulphate (interstitial compartment) and inhibin-B (tubular compartment), respectively. Spermkinetics were analyzed by CASA (IVOS Version 12 Hamilton Thorne Research, MA, USA), sperm concentration by Neubauer hemocytometer (Optik Labor®, Lancing, England), serum concentrations of inhibin- B and estrone sulfate were determined by ELISA and testosterone by RIA. Data were analyzed by ANOVA for repeated measures. Sperm motility and total sperm number decreased from day 4 to 67 (P<0.05) and sperm abnormalities increased from day 17 and did not recover until the end of our evaluation (day 98). Testosterone concentrations declined acutely. A significantly reduction in circulating testosterone concentrations occurred at 4, 9 and 37 days after onset of scrotal insulation, which is probably the result of Leydig cell impairment. However, no changes in inhibin-B or estrone sulfate were seen in response to treatment (n.s.). In summary, thermal insult appears to affect germ cells, and Leydig cell but not Sertoli cell function and, consequently, does not disturb inhibin-B synthesis. It has to be concluded that inhibin-B is no reliable biomarker for testicular damage and recovery from thermal insults. Acknowledgements: Authors are grateful to São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant #2019/01119-8 and #2022/03405-0), the John P. Hughes Endowment and the Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory, University of California-Davis.

Inhibiting Cyclooxygenase Activity Attenuates the Exaggerated Exercise Pressor Reflex in Male UCD-Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats

It is well established that prostaglandins, a product of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes contribute to evoking the exercise pressor reflex. Previous studies suggest that COX expression is upregulated in the peripheral nerves of those with type 2 diabetes (T2D), likely due to low grade inflammation associated with the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine if COX activity in the exercising skeletal muscle exaggerates the exercise pressor reflex in T2D. We hypothesized that inhibiting COX activity in the hindlimb would reduce the exaggerated pressor response to muscle contraction in T2D rats. To do this, we evoked the exercise pressor reflex by statically contracting the skeletal muscle for 30s in unanesthetized, decerebrate rats. Experiments were performed on male University of California Davis (UCD)-T2D (n=8; body weight: 526 ± 42g) and Sprague Dawley rats (n=3; body weight: 473 ± 10g). Changes (Δ) in peak mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) responses to exercise were compared before and after locally injecting indomethacin (1 mg/kg in 0.2 mL of 100 mM sodium carbonate), a COX 1 and 2 inhibitor, or its vehicle (0.2 mL of 100 mM sodium carbonate) into the arterial supply of the ipsilateral (contracting) and contralateral (non-contracting) hindlimb. Data are presented as mean ± SD. We found that local injection of indomethacin into the contracting hindlimb reduced the exaggerated peak pressor (ΔMAP: 30 ± 14 mmHg to 18 ± 8 mmHg; P&lt;0.01) but not cardioaccelerator (ΔHR: 21 ± 8 bpm to 19 ± 11 bpm; P=0.59) responses in T2D rats, but did not reduce these responses in healthy rats (ΔMAP 14 ± 3 mmHg to 14 ± 6 mmHg; P&gt;0.99; ΔHR: 10 ± 5 bpm to 13 ± 7 bpm; P=0.67). Conversely, local injection of indomethacin into the non-contracting hindlimb (n=4), as well as injection of the vehicle in the contracting hindlimb (n=4), did not affect the pressor response to muscle contraction in T2D rats. Developed tensions during muscle contraction were similar for all comparisons. In summary, our findings suggest that COX activity contributes to the exaggerated pressor response to muscle contraction in T2D rats. This project was supported by NIH R01 HL144723. This project was supported by NIH R01 HL144723. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Perspective: Emphasizing Safe Engineering Design Features of Quad Bikes in Agricultural Safety Programs

Highlights Previous quad bike educational interventions focused solely on operator behavior, leading to positive shifts in ‘safety knowledge’ but very little change in actual rider behavior. Discussions in a recent virtual ATV Safety Symposium hosted by the University of California-Davis (2022) emphasized building agricultural community awareness of quad bike engineering controls—particularly in the U.S. and other nations. Outreach specialists in agriculture should begin to prioritize more discussion of quad bike engineering controls in training programs. Abstract. To date, most quad bike educational programs have featured an operator-focused approach, focusing on adherence to administrative controls, personal responsibility, and personal protective equipment. Though these programs lead to shifts in ‘safety knowledge’, they result in very little change in actual rider behavior. In this perspectives article, we highlight discussions from a recent ATV Safety Symposium and USDA-NIFA review of agricultural ATV safety in the U.S. that highlight the dire need for building agricultural community awareness of quad bike engineering controls such as CPDs, wider and more stable frame designs, and others. Although CPDs were introduced 15 years ago, we continue to observe low awareness of this and other important quad bike safety features among young adults in agriculture. We believe that it will be critical to apply some of the recommendations outlined in this article to improve future outreach programs focused on quad bike safety for agricultural occupational use. If rural, agricultural communities learn to accept and respect these life-saving technologies, future standards, policies, and legislative actions are more likely to be well-received. Keywords: Agriculture, All-terrain vehicle (ATV), Crush-protection device (CPD), Engineering, Operator, Outreach, Quad bike, Safety.

Identifying Multiple Myeloma Patients Using Automated Data Capture from Electronic Medical Records

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell (PC) malignancy typified by the presence of monoclonal proteins on serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation or elevation of either kappa or lambda serum free light chains (sFLC) and end organ damage. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) offer a potential source of real world data that is more generalizable than clinical trial data and more granular than registry data. However, MM cohort derivation is challenging: diagnostic codes have poor specificity, and manually created registries are time consuming and frequently focus only on patients diagnosed on site, excluding second opinions or patients transferring care. Attempts to combine diagnostic codes with procedure codes for lab tests, biopsies or radiology studies have reported sensitivities of 73-90% and positive predictive values (PPV) of 60-93%. These approaches relied on test completion, not test results, which may misclassify patients as having MM. As part of an ongoing quality improvement project at the University of California Davis (UCD) designed to identify all patients with MM treated at our institution, we hypothesized that integrating test results, rather than their utilization, with diagnostic codes would create a more specific algorithm while maintaining sensitivity and high PPV. Methods: Patient diagnostic codes, lab, and bone marrow (BM) biopsy reports were loaded from EMR into the Temporal Data Association Platform (TDAP), a patient level data matrix that integrates multi-modal clinical data and organizes it by time allowing for temporal association of clinical events and the ability to assess patient trends over time. Bone marrow (BM) biopsy reports are evaluated by a machine learning algorithm trained to identify the presence and quantity (CD138 percentage) of clonal PCs. Patients identified in the screen set are then passed through both the evaluative and fast track. The UCD algorithm then runs on TDAP and consists of two components (Figure 1): an evaluative track, and a fast-track. Like prior algorithms, the Fast-Track identifies MM specific diagnostic codes, but only evaluates visits at the UCD Cancer Center. The evaluative track classifies patients into categories based the International Myeloma Working Group diagnostic criteria (Figure 2): 1) treatment ineligible smoldering MM (SMM), 2) treatment eligible SMM, 3) symptomatic MM. Patients not meeting criteria for these categories are excluded. Patients enter the UCD MM cohort if identified as treatment eligible SMM or symptomatic MM or via the fast-track. The UCD algorithm was built using a training set of 141 unique patients identified at the UCD Cancer Registry and sampled at random from the EMR. These charts were manually reviewed and labeled as MM, including treatment eligible SMM, (n=112) or not (n=29). To assess the performance of this and a previously described algorithm (Brandenburg 2019) once predictions were made by each algorithm, we assessed accuracy (the proportion of accurate predictions), PPV, and sensitivity. Results: The UCD algorithm identified 111 of the MM cases and excluded MM in 9 of the negative cases with 20 false positives and only 1 false negative. This resulted in a PPV of 85% and sensitivity of 99% with an accuracy of 85%. The evaluative track alone identified 69 (sensitivity 62%) of MM cases and correctly excluded 19 negative cases, for an overall accuracy of 62%. The Brandenburg algorithm identified MM in 67 cases and excluded MM in 28 of the negative cases. It had only 1 false positive case but had 45 false negatives. This resulted in PPV of 99%, but a sensitivity of only 60% for an overall accuracy of 67%. Conclusions: We describe a novel approach to the identification of MM patients incorporating lab and pathology results with diagnostic codes to create a sensitive algorithm while maintaining high accuracy and PPV. Evaluating test results was inadequate, and incorporating diagnostic codes allowed for higher sensitivity. Further refinement to increase specificity while maintaining sensitivity is ongoing. Performance on a validation cohort will be presented at the meeting. By incorporating test results in a temporal framework, TDAP, we can associate temporally related events such as rise in M-spike and new end organ damage. Future directions are expansion of the algorithm to other institutions and automated assessment of MM disease status. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Outreach Efforts to Prevent Newcastle Disease Outbreaks in Southern California.

In May 2018, an outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease (vND) affected backyard and commercial premises in Southern California. The re-occurrence of these outbreaks since the 1970s suggests that some poultry communities may not have reliable and stable resources available regarding biosecurity and disease prevention. Therefore, staff at the University of California, Davis (UCD) School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) began organizing educational events and learning more about the gamefowl breeder community through a needs assessment exercise, during which local feedstores and neighborhoods were also visited. Focus groups were organized with breeders in various cities within the regional quarantine area, established by the CDFA during the vND outbreak. The focus groups were aimed at creating open communication networks with gamefowl breeders in the affected area, as well as to learn about their current sources of information, learning preferences, and current management practices. With the input from gamefowl breeders, as well as funding and input from the CDFA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a quality assurance program called the “Gamefowl Wellness Program” was established. Educational content was created and published through the UCD Gamefowl Wellness Program poultry health website. Additionally, with the help of the CDFA, the USDA, and pharmaceutical companies, Newcastle disease vaccines and training for their application were provided to feedstores with gamefowl breeder clientele. Nurturing trust with these poultry communities allowed us to receive the information needed to develop effective outreach strategies that could better serve them. Responding to community concerns might be a way to garner the trust necessary to prevent or at least promptly detect foreign animal disease outbreaks.

ID:16073 A Review of the Factors and Outcomes of Institutional Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation Committees: A Multi-Center Experience

The concept of a Neuromodulation Committee was created to enact a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to neuromodulation. The process has been implemented at the University of California, Davis (UCD) and Stanford University. The committee is composed of implanters, a pain psychologist who completes all pre-procedural psychological assessments, a nurse practitioner or physician assistant who sees patients for preoperative history and physicals, and current pain fellows. The goals of the committee are to weigh the risks and benefits of the neuromodulation device, approach, and patient candidacy.

University of California Cannabis Research Workshop, May 2021: Meeting Summary.

This meeting report describes the University of California's (UC) Cannabis Research Workshop on May 26-27, 2021, which was organized by the UC Office of the President (UCOP) in partnership with the University of California, Davis (UCD). The event was designed to explore ways to strengthen research collaborations within and between campuses, discuss federal and state regulations and scientific priorities, and provide updates on current or recent cannabis and cannabinoid research studies. Topical areas were highlighted in four breakout sessions, including: 1) agronomy and environmental impacts; 2) biomedicine and public health; 3) economics, law, public policy, and social science; and 4) administrative considerations for supporting university research on cannabis and cannabinoids.

The oromaxillofacial region as a model for a one-health approach in regenerative medicine.

The concept of a one-health approach in regenerative medicine has gained tremendous momentum in the scientific and public communities in recent years. Knowledge derived from this approach informs innovative biomedical research, clinical trials, and practice. The ultimate goal is to translate regenerative strategies for curing diseases and improving the quality of life in animals and people. Building and fostering strong and enthusiastic interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration between teams with a wide range of expertise and backgrounds is the cornerstone to the success of the one-health approach and translational sciences. The veterinarian's role in conducting clinical trials in client-owned animals with naturally occurring diseases is critical and unique as it may potentially inform human clinical trials. The veterinary regenerative medicine and surgery field is on a steep trajectory of discoveries and innovations. This manuscript focuses on oromaxillofacial-region regeneration to exemplify how the concept of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration and the one-health approach influenced the authors' work experience at the University of California-Davis.

A Comprehensive Cancer Center Experience with Hyper-CVAD Plus Ponatinib As Frontline Therapy for Adult Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

BackgroundPonatinib, a third-generation BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), + hyper-CVAD showed remarkable activity against Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), and may be superior to chemotherapy + earlier generation TKIs in terms of depth of remission, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS). However, this regimen's efficacy and tolerability have yet to be externally validated. Here, we summarize our real-world experience with ponatinib + hyper-CVAD for untreated Ph+ ALL and other Ph+ acute or blast phase leukemias.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all adults treated at the University of California, Davis (UCD) from March 2012 to May 2021 with ponatinib + hyper-CVAD upfront. The primary endpoints were 3-year OS and EFS. Secondary endpoints were complete molecular response (CMR), measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC), complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rates, and adverse events (AEs). Time to event analyses were done via the Kaplan-Meier method. Patients alive were censored at their last follow-up date. Patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) after 6 months of achieving complete remission (CR) were censored at the time of HCT for the landmark analysis. Patients with missing data were excluded from the response analyses.ResultsWe identified 13 Ph+ ALL patients who received ponatinib + hyper-CVAD for initial induction. The baseline characteristics for the Ph+ ALL patients are summarized in Table 1. The median follow-up was 16 months. The median number of hyper-CVAD cycles completed was 8 (range, 1-8) with ponatinib. Two patients proceeded to HCT in CR1, one at 3.5 months after starting induction, and due to difficulty controlling the patient's concurrent multiple myeloma prior to HCT and recovery from anti-neoplastic therapy, the second was delayed to 46 months after starting induction.The 3-year OS and EFS with ponatinib + hyper-CVAD were each 92% (95% confidence interval, 78.9-100) (Figure 1). Landmark analysis completed 6 months following CR showed a 3-year OS of 100% in patients treated with ponatinib + hyper-CVAD without HCT in first CR (CR1). The CMR, CCyR, and MRD-negativity by MFC rates with ponatinib were all 92.3% (12/13). The median time to CMR, CCyR, and MRD-negativity by MFC were 51 days, 22 days, and 53 days, respectively.Notable AEs with ponatinib include neutropenic fever (92%), bacterial infection (69%), transaminitis (38%), venous thromboembolism (31%), invasive fungal infection (15%), hemorrhage (15%), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (15%), and tumor lysis syndrome (8%). One patient died during induction with ponatinib due to a bacterial infection. Two patients switched to a different TKI due to a CVA after 4 and 24 months. Only 2 patients did not complete 8 cycles of hyper-CVAD, due to death during induction (n=1) and proceeding to HCT after 3 cycles (n=1).As for similar Ph+ leukemias, 3 chronic myeloid leukemia with lymphoid blast crisis (CML-LBC), 1 CML with mixed phenotype blast crisis (CML-MPBC), and 1 with mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) were treated with ponatinib + hyper-CVAD. The MPAL patient achieved CMR within 55 days, while the CML-MPBC and 2 CML-LBC patients achieved CMR after HCT. The third CML-LBC patient is in CR with ongoing treatment. After median follow-up of 25 months, all 5 were alive, and only the MPAL patient relapsed 28 months after starting treatment and 1 year after HCT.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first report externally validating the efficacy and tolerability of ponatinib + hyper-CVAD for Ph+ ALL. We also show the feasibility of using this regimen in patients with Ph+ CML-LBC, CML-MPBC and MPAL. Despite the small sample size and retrospective nature, our study supports existing data demonstrating that this regimen challenges both the designation of Ph+ ALL as a high-risk disease and the trend to transplant in CR1. Our findings support that ponatinib + hyper-CVAD should be considered a standard of care for Ph+ ALL. [Display omitted] DisclosuresKaesberg: Incyte: Speakers Bureau. Rosenberg: Takeda, Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Abedi: BMS/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau. Tuscano: Genentech, Pharamcyclics, Abbvie, BMS, Acrotech, Seattle Genetics, Takeda: Research Funding. Jonas: AbbVie, BMS, Genentech, GlycoMimetics, Jazz, Pfizer, Takeda, Treadwell: Consultancy; 47, AbbVie, Accelerated Medical Diagnostics, Amgen, AROG, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Forma, Genentech/Roche, Gilead, GlycoMimetics, Hanmi, Immune-Onc, Incyte, Jazz, Loxo Oncology, Pfizer, Pharmacyclics, Sigma Tau, Treadwell: Research Funding; AbbVie: Other: Travel reimbursement. OffLabel Disclosure:Ponatinib is approved for Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) that is resistant or intolerant to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. In this study, we described outcomes with ponatinib in combination with hyperCVAD in the frontline setting, which is off-label.

Implementation of Virtual Multiple Mini-Interviews for Fellowship Recruitment.

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe SARS-CoV Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has upended health care systems and one of the casualties has been the trainee recruitment process since social distancing and travel restrictions make an in-person experience improbable. At the University of California, Davis (UCD), our Pain Division transitioned our internally validated multiple mini-interview (MMI) process to a virtual environmentMethodsApplicants signed a confidentiality agreement prior to their interviews and were invited to watch a series of videos orienting them to the process and to the program itself. All faculty raters interviewed candidates using a total of 6 non-medical MMI scenarios with corresponding questions and scoring rubrics through the Zoom platform. Applicants were then welcomed to voluntary informal conversations with the current fellow trainees and faculty. An optional survey was sent to the applicants post-interview to assess their overall satisfaction with the virtual process.ResultsThe survey analyzed the following using a 5 point Likert scale: Overall Satisfaction, Video Overview Program, Interview Day Details, Video Tour, Web-Based Interviews, Process was Fair, and finally a question on Informed Decision regarding receiving sufficient information to formulate their rank list. All respondents (80% response rate) reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with each of the aspects of the interview process detailed above.ConclusionsWhile technical difficulties and confidentiality issues are of concern when offering an entirely web based recruitment, our group was able to transition traditional in-person MMI to a virtual platform using a similar structure which was well-received by applicants

Miraculous skin metamorphosis for beached amphibious fish

Taking those first steps on land after emerging from the primordial swamp required a lot more than simply changing the way the earliest pioneers moved and breathed. The ancient innovators must also have sealed their skins to prevent water loss in the relatively dry surroundings. They may even have repurposed their external layer to absorb oxygen when their gills collapsed. Modern amphibious mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus) probably reprise this epic transformation each time they flip in the fin prints of their ancestors on land. So how do these modern-day descendants of the earliest land colonists pull off the feat each time they emerge? An international team of researchers from China, Canada, Germany and the USA, led by Andrew Whitehead from the University of California Davis (UCD), USA, and Patricia Wright from the University of Guelph, Canada, investigated the skin of beached mangrove rivulus to find out how the extraordinary creatures carry off this miraculous metamorphosis.As mangrove rivulus thrive on the eastern shore of America, from Florida to Brazil, the team decided to compare the skins of a population from Honduras, which makes its home in brackish mangrove swamps, with another population that frequents freshwater ponds in Belize. The intrepid creatures routinely make their homes above the waterline, so Tessa Blanchard, from the University of Guelph, Canada, made sure that the fish were comfortably ensconced in individual moist containers for 1, 6, 24, 72 and 168 h before collecting portions of their skin. Scott Kelly, from York University, Canada, then scrutinised the samples and the team was amazed to see dramatic changes – even within an hour of leaving the water. The fish restructured the gaps between the skin cells that solvents, ions and other compounds usually pass through to make the skin more robust, and Kelly saw large numbers of blood vessels near the surface of the beached fish's skin, which pick up oxygen from the air and transport it quickly to the cells that balance the salts in the fish's bodies.Yunwei Dong, from Ocean University of China, also analysed the gene expression patterns in the fish's skin during a sabbatical in the Whitehead lab, and discovered that the animals reduced the expression of genes that control the amount of collagen in their skin, which could help them to absorb oxygen and water, in addition to allowing them to get around on land more easily. The beached fish also altered the expression of genes that help them to absorb oxygen and maintain their delicate internal salt balance. Meanwhile, the skins of the high and dry fish began producing a group of proteins, Rhesus proteins, which are essential for disposing of toxic ammonia – the fish equivalent of urea waste produced by humans – which they usually eject through the gills in water. In addition, the team noticed that the fish increased the gene expression of aquaporins – specialised channel proteins to absorb water from their surroundings – to prevent themselves from drying out. Meanwhile, at the University of Münster, Germany, Angela Noll and Juergen Schmitz compared the genes of the mangrove rivulus with those of non-amphibious fish, and found that several of the key genes that allow the amphibious fish to emerge from water have changed significantly, underlining their importance for life on land.‘When K. marmoratus transitions from water to air, the skin quickly alters its barrier and exchange functions to delicately balance these dual purposes on land’, says Whitehead, who is keen to understand the genetic mutations that could explain why some mangrove rivulus populations adjust better to life on land than others.

Risk factors for, frequency, and type of complications after temporary tube cystostomy in goats, sheep, and pigs.

To describe risk factors for as well as type and frequency of complications, time to occurrence of complications, and mortality after temporary tube cystostomy alone or in combination with other surgical procedures, in goats, sheep, and pigs. Retrospective case series. One hundred thirteen goats, eight sheep, and six pigs. Medical records of goats, sheep, and pigs that underwent temporary tube cystostomy alone or in combination with urethrotomy at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018 were reviewed. Signalment, presurgical and surgical procedures, urolith type and location, and postoperative complications and mortality were analyzed. In goats, logistic regression analysis was performed to determine association between the presence of complications or mortality as well as candidate predictor variables. Postoperative complications were reported in 54.9% (62/113) of goats, 37.5% (3/8) of sheep, and 50% (3/6) of pigs. The most frequent type of complication was reobstruction. Median (range) time to first complication was 171 days (1-2247) for goats. In sheep and pigs, the range for time to re-presentation for complications was 11 to 37 and 17 to 1182 days, respectively. Proportions of nonsurvivors after tube cystostomy were 48.4% (30/62) goats, 1/8 sheep and 2/6 pigs. No association between examined predictor variables and the occurrence of complications or mortality was detected. The risk of complications and mortality after temporary tube cystostomy was high, especially in goats. Owners should be made aware of the high complication rate after temporary tube cystostomy alone or in combination with other procedures. Investigation of alternative approaches to manage obstructive urolithiasis in goats, sheep, and pigs should be considered.

A comparison of cerebral small vessel disease severity between autopsy cohorts in the northeast of England and Sacramento County in California, USA

AbstractBackgroundCerebral small vessel disease (SVD) encompasses progressive fibrosis/hyalinosis of the small arteries and arterioles of the white matter (WM) resulting in ischemic WM damage. Few studies have compared SVD between different cohorts. Using a sclerotic index (SI) measurement, we quantitatively assessed vessel wall fibrosis in the frontal and parietal WM of human brains donated to brain banks in the UK and the USA.Method64 cases from the University of California Davis (UCD) Alzheimer’s Disease Centre Biorepository and 55 cases from the Newcastle Brain and Tissue resource (NBTR) were included. Cases were neuropathological diagnosed as controls (UCD n=18; NBTR n=25), intermediate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathologic change (UCD n=13; NBTR n=4), and definite AD (UCD n=33; NBTR n = 26). In the UCD cohort, 49 identified racially as White, 9 as Black African American, 3 as Chinese and 1 as Indian Asian. All cases from the NBTR identified racially as White. Using H&amp;E sections, images of approximately eight arteries/arterioles from the frontal and parietal WM were captured and SI assessment performed. Mean SI score was calculated per region, per cases.ResultNo intergroup differences in age were observed and age was not associated with SI score in either cohort. In the UCD cohort, race was not associated with neuropathological diagnosis (Chi‐sq = 8.39, p&gt;0.211) and no differences were seen in SI scores between White and Black African Americans (p&gt;0.69). Intergroup comparisons revealed that SI scores in both WM regions were significantly higher in the overall UCD cohort compared to the overall NBTR cohort (p&gt;0.006) and this was consistent across controls (frontal p=0.0001; parietal p=0.045), intermediate AD neuropathological change (p=0.001), and AD (frontal p=0.001) cases.ConclusionSVD‐associated vessel occlusion is more severe in the USA cohort from Sacramento compared to the UK cohort from Newcastle. This may reflect differences in cardiovascular disease and lifestyle of individuals enrolled in the two brain donation programmes.

Exploring issues surrounding mental health and wellbeing across two continents: A preliminary cross-sectional collaborative study between the University of California, Davis, and University of Pretoria.

Mental health and wellness research continue to be a topic of importance among veterinary students in the United States of America (US). Limited peer reviewed literature focusing on South African veterinary students is available. South African veterinary medical students might benefit from approaches to improve mental health and wellness similar to those recommended in the US. However, these recommendations may not address the underlying risk factors for mental health and wellness concerns or mismatch resources available to South African veterinary medical students. The purpose of this collaborative study was to compare the mental health and wellness among veterinary students enrolled at the University of California, Davis (UCD), and the University of Pretoria (UP), the only veterinary school in South Africa. Our primary research question was; Are the measures of mental health and wellness for students at similar stages in the veterinary curriculum different between the two schools? We hypothesized that mental health and wellness as determined by assessment of anxiety, burnout, depression, and quality of life between the two schools is different. A cross-sectional study of 102 students from UCD and 74 students from UP, at similar preclinical stages (Year 2 for UCD and Year 4 for UP) of the veterinary curriculum was performed. Anxiety, burnout, depression, and quality of life were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Short Form-8 (SF-8), respectively. Students from both schools had moderate levels of anxiety, high levels of burnout, mild to moderate levels of depression, poor mental health, and good physical health. Our results suggest that similar mental health and wellness concerns in South African veterinary students is comparable with concerns in veterinary medical students in the US. Recommendations and resources to improve mental health and wellness in US veterinary medical students might be applicable to South African veterinary medical students.

The Strategy of Faculty of Letters: Advocating Eighteenth-Century Studies Curriculum on a Budget

The Strategy of Faculty of Letters:Advocating Eighteenth-Century Studies Curriculum on a Budget Heather King (bio) Like most faculty in eighteenth-century studies, I am the sole practitioner in our English department. This is hardly surprising: of the twenty eighteenth-century-related tenure-track jobs to begin in Fall 2017 discussed on the "Restoration and Eighteenth Century" Academic Jobs Wiki, the bulk of them sought candidates able to teach "transatlantic" or "postcolonial" material and to cover the entirety of the long eighteenth century, across genres, often throwing in Milton, Shakespeare, or Romanticism for good measure.1 That trend didn't change in jobs that will begin in Fall 2018—of nineteen jobs, the majority explicitly requested interdisciplinary interests. We are teaching in the age of the historical generalist, the pre–1800 literature job opening. There is a strong case to be made that such a generalist approach actually suits eighteenth-century studies. After all, the figures whom we study did not consider themselves bound by narrow disciplinary divisions and might in fact have mocked narrowly focused "virtuosi."2 Adam Smith lectured on belle lettres and jurisprudence as well as advancing moral philosophy and establishing the field of economics. Dramatists like John Dryden and William Davenant made it clear that texts could be endlessly refashioned across generic modes like tragedy and comedy and, indeed, across genres, like [End Page 377] turning William Shakespeare's Tempest into an opera. The practice of active, engaged relationships with respected texts is equally instructive to us today. If we combine our love of the eighteenth century with the interdisciplinary models that characterize it, we can find surprising ways to infiltrate multiple areas of our curricula, perhaps especially at small schools with smaller budgets. Taking seriously the intellectual and artistic practices that cross genres in our period—such as adaptation or embracing innovations in textual dissemination—has led me to questions that transcend my department and strategies for promoting my field as part of the humanities. Interdisciplinary connections are gaining prominence as a response to the crisis in the humanities as universities come up with innovative ways to collaborate. Many of these initiatives, however, are associated with institutions that have substantial resources the rest of us may lack. Schools like Stanford University, Rice University, the University of California-Davis, the University of Florida, or Arizona State University boast humanities institutes or centers for the humanities that run a range of innovative programming supporting faculty research, collaboration between students and faculty, speaker series, and other community outreach programs. Just down the road from my home institution, Pomona College is kicking off a Humanities Studio this fall, with support from a Mellon Grant, that will also focus on student-faculty research, speakers, and programming.3 But splashy events like this aren't possible at my cash-strapped university. In the absence of deep pockets, what can we accomplish? The University of Redlands, where I have taught for eighteen years, is a small, private comprehensive university, with approximately 2,250 students in the College of Arts and Sciences. We are tuition-dependent, with a very small endowment. In 2008–2009, I was chair of the English Department. Prompted by the recession budget crisis and anxieties about coming cuts, I began what I called simply a "Humanities Chat," inviting my colleagues who studied or taught the humanities to gather.4 It was clear after the first meeting that the feeling that we were in this together improved morale. At subsequent meetings, I pushed for pragmatic steps like coordinating our department teaching schedules so that we no longer offered eighteenth-century philosophy at the same time as eighteenth-century literature. To promote our fields, we needed to make it easier for students to delve into them, after all. Thanks to colleagues who took on leadership roles, that conversation has grown into the Humanities Advisory Council. Council members are elected at the departmental level by English, History, Art History, Philosophy, Modern Languages, Religious Studies, and interdisciplinary programs with humanities cores. We then elect a chair, who attends monthly chairs' and [End Page 378] directors' meetings with the Dean, reviews teaching schedules to look for energizing connections and avoid conflicts, and helps...

Review of and Recommendations for Monitoring Contaminants and their Effects in the San Francisco Bay−Delta

Legacy and current-use contaminants enter into and accumulate throughout the San Francisco Bay−Delta (Bay−Delta), and are present at concentrations with known effects on species important to this diverse watershed. There remains major uncertainty and a lack of focused research able to address and provide understanding of effects across multiple biological scales, despite previous and ongoing emphasis on the need for it. These needs are challenging specifically because of the established regulatory programs that often monitor on a chemical-by-chemical basis, or in which decisions are grounded in lethality-based endpoints. To best address issues of contaminants in the Bay−Delta, monitoring efforts should consider effects of environmentally relevant mixtures and sub-lethal impacts that can affect ecosystem health. These efforts need to consider the complex environment in the Bay−Delta including variable abiotic (e.g., temperature, salinity) and biotic (e.g., pathogens) factors. This calls for controlled and focused research, and the development of a multi-disciplinary contaminant monitoring and assessment program that provides information across biological scales. Information gained in this manner will contribute toward evaluating parameters that could alleviate ecologically detrimental outcomes. This review is a result of a Special Symposium convened at the University of California−Davis (UCD) on January 31, 2017 to address critical information needed on how contaminants affect the Bay−Delta. The UCD Symposium focused on new tools and approaches for assessing multiple stressor effects to freshwater and estuarine systems. Our approach is similar to the recently proposed framework laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) that uses weight of evidence to scale toxicological responses to chemical contaminants in a laboratory, and to guide the conservation of priority species and habitats. As such, we also aimed to recommend multiple endpoints that could be used to promote a multi-disciplinary understanding of contaminant risks in Bay−Delta while supporting management needs.

Probiotic Supplementation and Food Intake and Knowledge Among Patients and Consumers.

The consumption of probiotics has gained popularity, highlighting the importance for consumers and clinicians to be aware of their compositions and health effects. The primary objective was to determine incentives for taking probiotics and knowledge about probiotic composition among consumers of various education levels, ethnicities, and locations. A secondary objective was to determine brands, dosages, prices, advertised benefits, and refrigeration status of commercially available probiotics in the Sacramento region. This was a voluntary anonymous online survey conducted from May to August 2017. Surveys were administered at the University of California Davis (UCD) Dermatology Clinic, as well as at approved locations within a 100-mi. radius. Data analysis was performed at the UCD Dermatology clinic. Eligible participants age 18 years and older were asked to complete a voluntary anonymous online survey. A random sample of participants were recruited from the UCD Dermatology clinic, local schools, and health food stores within the designated parameters. We collected 396 surveys, 97% of which were completed. Of those surveyed, 39.4% have previously taken probiotics, 44.6% could identify at least one species present in their supplement, 42.5% could identify the number of strains, and 33.0% could identify the dosage. Gut health was the most common reason for taking probiotics (58.1%). Most rated price as important when purchasing probiotics (70.3%). Although probiotic use is prevalent in Sacramento, most people are unfamiliar with the composition of their supplement. More evidence is needed to guide consumers in making more educated decisions.