University Of California-Davis Research Articles

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.

Assessment of Biological Soil Amendments of Animal Origin Use, Research Needs, and Extension Opportunities in Organic Production

The use of biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs) to improve soil fertility and quality plays an important role in organic agriculture in the U.S. However, organic practices, such as untreated manure application, may introduce foodborne pathogens and consequently increase the risk of fresh produce contamination. Certified organic farms follow the USDA-National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which stipulate a 90- or 120-day waiting period between incorporating raw manure into the soil and crop harvest, depending on whether the edible portions of the crops come into indirect or direct contact, respectively, with the soil. To determine knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices of organic farmers related to use of biological soil amendments, we employed three evaluation tools: a national workshop held at the University of California-Davis (UC-Davis); multiple in-person focus groups (listening sessions) conducted around the United States, and an online survey. Results reveal that untreated BSAAOs (untreated manure and immature composted manure) are critical tools in organic production for managing soil fertility and improving soil quality. Overall, organic producers surveyed in this study agreed that there is a need for more science-based data to evaluate and establish an appropriately protective time interval between untreated manure application and crop harvest to reduce the risk of surviving foodborne pathogens contaminating organic fresh produce. This study highlights the need for development of outreach and educational tools intended to help organic producers implement mitigation strategies to reduce food safety risks related to BSAAOs in organically grown produce covered by the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This study informs and will aid prioritization of research (e.g., on a time interval protective of fresh produce food safety when soil is amended with animal-biological amendments in organic fresh produce systems) and outreach programs (e.g., GAPs, food safety programs, soil testing, pre-harvest food safety mitigation strategies, and organic rules and regulations) aimed at improving food safety for organic vegetable, fruit, and nut growers who use animal-based soil inputs, including amendments and rotational grazing.

Exaggerated cardiovascular responses to muscle contraction and tendon stretch in UCD type-2 diabetes mellitus rats

Patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have exaggerated sympathetic activity and blood pressure responses to exercise. However, the underlying mechanisms for these responses, as well as how these responses change throughout disease progression, are not completely understood. For this study, we examined the effect of the progression of T2DM on the exercise pressor reflex, a critical neurocardiovascular mechanism that functions to increase sympathetic activity and blood pressure during exercise. We also aimed to examine the effect of T2DM on reflexive cardiovascular responses to static contraction, as well as those responses to tendon stretch when an exaggerated exercise pressor reflex was present. We evoked the exercise pressor reflex and mechanoreflex by statically contracting the hindlimb muscles and stretching the Achilles tendon, respectively, for 30 s. We then compared pressor and cardioaccelerator responses in unanesthetized, decerebrated University of California Davis (UCD)-T2DM rats at 21 and 31 wk following the onset of T2DM to responses in healthy nondiabetic rats. We found that the pressor response to static contraction was greater in the 31-wk T2DM [change in mean arterial pressure (∆MAP) = 39 ± 5 mmHg] but not in the 21-wk T2DM (∆MAP = 24 ± 5 mmHg) rats compared with nondiabetic rats (∆MAP = 18 ± 2 mmHg; P < 0.05). Similarly, the pressor and the cardioaccelerator responses to tendon stretch were significantly greater in the 31-wk T2DM rats [∆MAP = 69 ± 6 mmHg; change in heart rate (∆HR) = 28 ± 4 beats/min] compared with nondiabetic rats (∆MAP = 14 ± 2 mmHg; ∆HR = 5 ± 3 beats/min; P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the exercise pressor reflex changes as T2DM progresses and that a sensitized mechanoreflex may play a role in exaggerating these cardiovascular responses.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to provide evidence that as type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) progresses, the exercise pressor reflex becomes exaggerated, an effect that may be due to a sensitized mechanoreflex. Moreover, these findings provide compelling evidence suggesting that impairments in the reflexive control of circulation contribute to exaggerated blood pressure responses to exercise in T2DM.

Companion rats (Rattus norvegicus) with cutaneous lesions: a retrospective study of 470 cases at two university veterinary teaching hospitals (1985-2018).

Rats are popular companion animals that are often presented to veterinarians for treatment of skin diseases. However, descriptions of dermatoses in rats have primarily been limited to case reports and text books. To document skin diseases and their prevalence in companion rats examined in northern California, USA and Nantes, France and to investigate predilections for the most common conditions over a 33 year or 15 year period, respectively. Four hundred and seventy rats from two hospital populations met the inclusion criteria. A retrospective study was performed by searching computerized medical records of rats seen at the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis (UCD), USA from 1 January 1985 to 1 January 2018 using the key words "skin" and "dermatitis". The medical records of rats presenting to Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS), France from 1995 to 2016 were reviewed for evidence of skin disease. The presence of lesions as noted in the key search words for the UCD records were used as the inclusion criteria for both institutions. Of 494 rats examined at UCD, 231 (47%) had skin disease, with neoplasia the most common diagnosis. Of the 619 rats examined at ONIRIS, 239 (39%) had skin disease, with ectoparasitism being the most common diagnosis. Cutaneous conditions in companion rats are common. Clinicians should include a dermatological examination when examining these rodents, especially in regard to neoplasia, ectoparasites and pyoderma.

Skin disease in donkeys (Equus asinus): a retrospective study from four veterinary schools.

Donkeys are important throughout the world as work animals and occasionally as pets or a meat source. Most descriptions of skin disease in donkeys are reported in small case series, textbooks or review articles. To document skin diseases and their prevalence in donkeys and to investigate predilections for the most common conditions. Case populations at four veterinary schools totalling 156 donkeys. A retrospective study was performed by searching computerized medical records, using the key word "donkey", at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis (UCD). Records of donkeys from the veterinary schools in Nantes, France; Utrecht, Netherlands and Ghent, Belgium were searched in a similar manner. The time periods included in the searches varied by institution. At UCD, 83 of 346 (24%) of donkeys had skin disease noted in their records. The most common diagnoses were insect bite hypersensitivity, sarcoid and habronemiasis. At Nantes, 36 of 144 (25%) had skin disease and the most common diagnoses were sarcoid and superficial pyoderma. At Utrecht 23 of 143 (16%) had skin disease and the most common diagnosis was dermatophytosis. At Ghent, 14 of 320 (4%) had skin disease and the most common diagnosis was sarcoid. Cutaneous conditions in donkeys are common. Age, sex and breed predisposition and the most common diagnoses varied with geographical location. Clinicians should include a dermatological examination regardless of the reason for presentation.

Characterization of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 genetic variants and application towards RT-qPCR assay design.

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is the most widely prevalent and economically important of the complex of RNA viruses associated with grapevine leafroll disease (GLD). Phylogenetic studies have grouped GLRaV-3 isolates into nine different monophyletic groups and four supergroups, making GLRaV-3 a genetically highly diverse virus species. In addition, new divergent variants have been discovered recently around the world. Accurate identification of the virus is an essential component in the management and control of GLRaV-3; however, the diversity of GLRaV-3, coupled with the limited sequence information, have complicated the development of a reliable detection assay. In this study, GLRaV-3 sequence data available in GenBank and those generated at Foundation Plant Services, University of California-Davis, was used to develop a new RT-qPCR assay with the capacity to detect all known GLRaV-3 variants. The new assay, referred to as FPST, was challenged against samples that included plants infected with different GLRaV-3 variants and originating from 46 countries. The FPST assay detected all known GLRaV-3 variants, including the highly divergent variants, by amplifying a small highly conserved region in the 3’ untranslated terminal region (UTR) of the virus genome. The reliability of the new RT-qPCR assay was confirmed by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that can detect all known GLRaV-3 variants characterized to date. Additionally, three new GLRaV-3 divergent variants, represented by four isolates, were identified using a hierarchical testing process involving the FPST assay, GLRaV-3 variant-specific assays and high-throughput sequencing analysis. These variants were distantly related to groups I, II, III, V, VI, VII and IX, but much similar to GLRaV-3 variants with no assigned group; thus, they may represent new clades. Finally, based on the phylogenetic analysis, a new GLRaV-3 subclade is proposed and named as group X.

Women's preferences for permanent contraception method and willingness to be randomized for a hypothetical trial

ObjectiveTo understand women's preferences for permanent contraception by salpingectomy or tubal occlusion following standardized counseling and evaluate the practicality of a future randomized trial. Study designWe invited pregnant and non-pregnant women planning permanent contraception at the University of California, Davis (UCD) and University of Tennessee (UT) Obstetrics and Gynecology clinics to participate. We enrolled women when they received routine counseling and signed procedure consent. Participants received standardized information sheets reviewing permanent contraception options based on pregnancy status then completed an anonymous survey with questions about demographics, method preference, and willingness to participate in a hypothetical randomized trial comparing salpingectomy and tubal occlusion. We evaluated predictors for salpingectomy preference using multivariable analysis. ResultsFrom July 2015 to October 2016, we enrolled 75 women at UCD and 63 women at UT. Overall, respondents preferred salpingectomy (63.0%); among the 47 women not currently pregnant at both sites, 40 (85.1%) preferred salpingectomy, most commonly because of higher efficacy. Although population characteristics differed significantly between the sites, only UCD site (aOR 4.2; 95% CI 1.9, 9.4) and non-pregnancy status (aOR 4.2; 95% CI 1.6, 10.8) predicted preference for salpingectomy in the multivariable model. Most participants (n=84, 60.9%) would not be willing to be randomized to a theoretical trial comparing salpingectomy and tubal occlusion procedures. ConclusionAmong a diverse group of women from two different areas in the U.S. given a choice of permanent contraception methods, salpingectomy is preferred over tubal occlusion. Most women planning a permanent contraceptive procedure would not agree to a randomized comparison of these methods. Implications statementSalpingectomy, which offers theoretically higher efficacy and potentially greater ovarian cancer protection compared to tubal occlusion, is preferred by the majority of patients and should be offered to all women seeking permanent contraception. Differences in method choices less likely reflect the patient population and more likely the counseling provided.

Six Steps for Cultivating Successful Undergraduate Research

Six Steps for Cultivating Successful Undergraduate Research

Abstract A83: Decreased nuclear expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nrdp1 in African American men compared to Caucasian men with localized prostate cancer

Abstract Background: In the U.S., the incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer (CaP) for African American (AA) men are about 1.5 and 2.3 times higher compared to Caucasian American (CA) men, respectively. CaP is diagnosed at an earlier age and is more aggressive in AA compared to CA patients. The causes for these differences are multifactorial, but include genetic effects that contribute to CaP-associated health disparity. We previously showed that in androgen-dependent CaP cells, the androgen receptor (AR) suppresses levels of the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB3, a molecule that is known to drive CaP progression, by stimulating the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nrdp1 (also called RNF41 or FLRF). The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role of the AR-Nrdp1-ErbB3 signaling axis in CaP development and progression in AA vs CA men with CaP. Methods: All data were collected with approval from the University of California Davis (UCD) or VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS) Institutional Review Board (IRB). Sections from prostate tumors of 157 patients who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy at UCD (79) or VANCHCS (78) were analyzed for these studies. Tumor and nontumor areas were identified by a pathologist and 60-µm core samples were extracted from the specific areas of the donor blocks. The specimens were arranged in triplicate in a tissue microarray (TMA) using a Beecher Instruments Manual Tissue Arrayer. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used as a reference for interpreting the additional sections of the TMA stained with antibodies to Nrdp1 and AR. Results: Nrdp1 has two major proteins isoforms of 317 amino acids (36kDa) and 246 amino acids (28kDa)--both isoforms are expressed in CaP. Subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence staining of various CaP cell lines showed that while the 36 kDa Nrdp1 was localized to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, the 28 kDa was localized exclusively in the cytoplasm. Hence, we investigated the expression of Nrdp1 in primary prostate tissues from 157 individual patients, including 19 AA, 121 non-Hispanic CA, 5 Hispanic CA, and 11 others. Using a scoring system based on immunohistochemistry (IHC) scores from 0 to 3, where 0 represents no staining and 3 represents 100% staining, we observed that Nrdp1 was strongly expressed in the epithelial cells of the prostate and could be observed in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Comparison of cytoplasmic Nrdp1 levels showed no difference in expression between the different racial groups; however, nuclear Nrdp1 levels differed significantly between races (P = 0.008), with post-hoc testing showing significantly higher expression in CA patients than in AA patients (P = 0.002). Therefore, it is likely that the difference is in the 36-kDa fragment and not the 28-kDa fragment. Further, increased preoperative PSA is associated with significantly higher nuclear Nrdp1 levels (P = 0.030), with a Spearman correlation of 0.19. Finally, we demonstrated that nuclear Nrdp1 levels are significantly higher in subjects without acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, ASA) use (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Since PSA levels are considered to be a measure of AR transcriptional activity, the correlation between nuclear Nrdp1 and preoperative PSA is supportive of our previous report showing that Nrdp1 is a direct transcriptional target of the AR. Since preoperative PSA is indicative of advanced disease, these results suggest that one reason for higher incidence of CaP and higher CaP progression among AA patients compared to CA is due to the lower levels of nuclear Nrdp1 in the former. Further, since aspirin use increased the levels of nuclear Nrdp1, these data indicate that the use of aspirin may increase nuclear Nrdp1 levels, thereby decreasing the risk of advanced CaP and perhaps reducing CaP disparities between these groups. Citation Format: Salma Siddiqui, Frank U. Melgoza, Blythe P. Durbin-Johnson, Ruth L. Vinall, Paramita M. Ghosh. Decreased nuclear expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nrdp1 in African American men compared to Caucasian men with localized prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A83.

Pathways to carbon neutral energy systems at the University of California, Davis

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 the University of California, Davis (UCD) seeks to eliminate its dependence on fossil energy sources. This study outlines a methodology to identify optimal equipment phase-in and capacities, and the major technical and economic drivers influencing the implementation of a carbon-neutral energy system. The analysis, focused on UCD, considers solar photovoltaic and thermal, biomass combined heat and power, biomass boiler, heat pump and electric boiler as replacement systems. Three cases besides the baseline are presented: 1) biomass-based system, 2) combination of biomass and electrification, and 3) electrification. Analysis period spans 2016–2035, with equipment phasing limited to the 2020–2025 period, and capacity limited to the peak campus loads of 40 MW e for electricity and 80 MW t for thermal. Results indicate that balancing the supply-demand mismatch is the greatest challenge for high renewable penetration at UCD, thus making thermal storage and generation systems which can modulate with variable loads crucial. The cost of carbon credits offset has negligible influence in the results due to its low value in the present market. Relative to the baseline 20-yr present cost of $634M, the 3 alternate cases are projected to incur between $629M (Case 1) and $704M (Case 3). • Supply-demand mismatch is the greatest technical challenge for the campus. • Thermal storage and generators that can modulate quickly based on load are crucial. • NPC of alternate systems ranges $629M-$704M, relative to the baseline $634M • Carbon cost need to exceed $170/ton CO 2 to break even on the costliest option.

Generation of multi-element reference materials on PTFE filters mimicking ambient aerosol characteristics

Multi-element reference materials (ME-RMs) mimicking atmospheric aerosol composition were generated using certified multi-element solutions on PTFE filters for use in calibration and quality checks of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The ME-RMs reference loadings were assigned using an approach based on two assumptions: the accuracy of potassium (K) measured by energy-dispersive XRF (EDXRF) analysis at the University of California-Davis, and no change in the chemical profile of multi-element solutions when deposited on PTFE filters. A subset of ME-RMs was analyzed by EDXRF and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to check the agreement between the two methods and the reference loadings. Several statistical metrics revealed good agreements for Na, Al, Si, S, K, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Se, As, and Pb. Selected ME-RMs were tested for short-and long-term stability and homogeneity of deposit; they were shown to be homogeneously deposited and, except for Cl and Br, stable when handled and stored properly. The generated ME-RMs have the potential to fill a gap in the currently available XRF quality assurance resources by providing known element loadings in the range of interest for atmospheric aerosol measurements.

Clinical Characteristics and Early Treatment Patterns of Newly Diagnosed Cystic Fibrosis–Related Diabetes in Two Tertiary Centers

The 2010 ADA/CFRD guidelines have recommended insulin for CFRD. However, these recommendations are often not followed in clinical practice. We performed a chart review of newly diagnosed CFRD patients at University of California Davis (UCD) and University of Florida (UF) for years 2011-2015. Six new CFRD patients were diagnosed at UCD and 19 at UF. A BMI over 25 was more common in UCD than at UF (50% vs. 11%), whereas a BMI below 20 was more common at UF (0% vs. 21%). The prevalent method of diagnosis was A1c at UCD (100%) and OGTT at UF (63%). One year after diagnosis, insulin was prescribed in 31% of UF patients and none at UCD. A weight loss &amp;gt;3% was observed in 21% of patients in the preceding year at UF but none at UCD. The only patient started on insulin at UCD did so 14 months after the diagnosis whereas the median time was 4.5 months at UF. Of note, the OGTT screening rate was lower at UCD. Because OGTT detects CFRD earlier than A1c, patients diagnosed via OGTT would have experienced less weight loss, not more. While it remains unclear what accounts for the higher BMI at UCD, better nutritional status could have delayed the decision to initiate insulin. In conclusion, newly diagnosed CFRD patients have divergent characteristics at different centers. Further studies assessing social and dietary differences can serve to evaluate center-to-center variations. CharacteristicsUC Davis (n=6)U Florida (n=19)OGTT screening rate in 201619%43%Mean age of CFRD at onset in years (SD)31 (7.9)28.8 (7.6)Females66%47.3%BMI 20-25 Kg/m250%68%BMI below 20 Kg/m2None21%CFRD diagnosis vi OGTT50%63% Disclosure E. McCorry: None. H. Basheer: None. J.E. Lascano: None. J. Yoon: None. J.A. Leey: None.

Analytical validation of a new point-of-care assay for serum amyloid A in horses.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein in horses. A new point-of-care (POC) test for SAA (Stablelab) is available, but studies evaluating its analytical accuracy are lacking. To evaluate the analytical performance of the SAA POC test by 1) determining linearity and precision, 2) comparing results in whole blood with those in serum or plasma, and 3) comparing POC results with those obtained using a previously validated turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA). Assay validation. Analytical validation of the POC test was done in accordance with American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines using residual equine serum/plasma and whole blood samples from the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at the University of California-Davis. A TIA was used as the reference method. We also evaluated the effect of haematocrit (HCT). The POC test was linear for SAA concentrations of up to at least 1000 μg/mL (r = 0.991). Intra-assay CVs were 13, 18 and 15% at high (782 μg/mL), intermediate (116 μg/mL) and low (64 μg/mL) concentrations. Inter-assay (inter-batch) CVs were 45, 14 and 15% at high (1372 μg/mL), intermediate (140 μg/mL) and low (56 μg/mL) concentrations. SAA results in whole blood were significantly lower than those in serum/plasma (P = 0.0002), but were positively correlated (r = 0.908) and not affected by HCT (P = 0.261); proportional negative bias was observed in samples with SAA>500 μg/mL. The difference between methods exceeded the 95% confidence interval of the combined imprecision of both methods (15%). Analytical validation could not be performed in whole blood, the sample most likely to be used stall side. The POC test has acceptable accuracy and precision in equine serum/plasma with SAA concentrations of up to at least 1000 μg/mL. Low inter-batch precision at high concentrations may affect serial measurements, and the use of the same test batch and sample type (serum/plasma or whole blood) is recommended. Comparison of results between the POC test and the TIA is not recommended.

Potential Long-Term Treatment of Hemophilia A by Neonatal Co-Transplantation of Cord Blood Derived Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells and Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the Factor VIII (FVIII) gene leading to deficient blood coagulation. As a monogenic disorder, HA is an ideal target for cellbased gene therapy, but successful treatment has been hampered by insufficient engraftment of potential therapeutic cells. In this study, we sought to determine whether co-transplantation of endothelial colonyforming cells (ECFCs) and placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (PMSCs) can achieve long-term engraftment and FVIII expression. ECFCs and PMSCs were transduced with a B domain deleted factor VIII (BDD-FVIII) expressing lentiviral vector and luciferase, green fluorescent protein or Td-Tomato containing lentiviral tracking vectors. They were transplanted intramuscularly into neonatal or adult immunodeficient mice. In vivo bioluminescence imaging showed that the ECFC only and the cotransplantation groups but not the PMSCs only group achieved long-term engraftment for at least 26 weeks, and the co-transplantation group showed a higher engraftment than the ECFC only group at 16 and 20 weeks of age. In addition, cell transplantation at the neonatal age achieved higher engraftment than at the adult age. Immunohistochemical analyses further showed that the engrafted ECFCs expressed FVIII, maintained endothelial phenotype and generated functional vasculature. Next, cotransplantation of ECFCs and PMSCs into F8 knock-out HA mice reduced the blood loss volume from 562.13±19.84µl to 155.78±44.93µl in a tail-clip assay. This work demonstrated that co-transplantation of ECFCs with PMSCs at the neonatal age is a potential strategy to achieve stable, long-term engraftment, and thus holds great promise for cell-based treatment of HA. Funding Statement: This work was in part supported by UC Davis Department of Surgery departmental fund, and the UC Davis Medical Center Interdepartmental Seed Grant. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare: None. Ethics Approval Statement: All animal procedures were approved by The University of California, Davis (UCD) institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC). All facilities used during the study period were accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

The Profit of the Earth: The Global Seeds of American Agriculture by Courtney Fullilove

Reviewed by: The Profit of the Earth: The Global Seeds of American Agriculture by Courtney Fullilove Rebecca Egli (bio) The Profit of the Earth: The Global Seeds of American Agriculture. By Courtney Fullilove. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017. Pp 288. $38.00 cloth; $31.20 ebook) In The Profit of the Earth: The Global Seeds of American Agriculture, Courtney Fullilove offers an instrumental history of American agriculture through its arguably most fundamental and complex unit—the mighty seed. She demonstrates that seeds are anything but static. Indeed, through their distribution, preservation, and improvement, seeds reveal themselves to be both practical and political artifacts of [End Page 542] central importance to human history. Dividing her analysis into three parts, she documents the collection, migration, and preservation of seeds bound for the United States in the nineteenth century. In "Collection," Fullilove begins with the history of seed collection and distribution by the U.S. Patent Office. Not only did the office serve as a storehouse for seeds gathered on expeditions, it dispensed seeds—with little reference to their origins or methods of cultivation—with the hope of improving the nation's farms. "Migration" examines German Mennonites and their efforts to grow a variety of Turkish wheat on Kansas prairies. She looks critically at the wealth and land ownership that allowed these immigrants to successfully cultivate the iconic "amber waves of grain" on Midwestern plains. A final section on "Preservation" surveys the impact of changing patterns of land use. Following a pharmacist's efforts to obtain and market the native purple coneflower (Echinacea) for its medicinal benefits, she considers the impact of vast monocultures on biological diversity. Between each of these parts Fullilove has included "Field Notes" from her travels with plant genetic resource specialists in the North and South Caucasus. These sections reorient readers to the global nature of environmental knowledge and the far-flung origins of most American crops. As readers follow Fullilove on unexpected paths across time and international borders, she demonstrates the need for more global histories of plants and the knowledge that has shaped their cultivation. The Profit of the Earth resists dominant narratives about modern biological innovation that emphasize American creativity and rapid progress, revealing instead the "incremental and checkered legacies of improvement" (p. 12). Seeds, she argues "are always in a state of becoming, never fixable" (p. 211). Fullilove invites us to reconsider seeds as artifacts of prolonged human effort, deep-time technologies that contain complex social and ecological relations within. Yet the global movement of seeds has often obscured these relations. By moving a resource from its point of origin for the sake of improvement or preservation, plant collectors separated them from their human [End Page 543] histories "rendering non-Western and indigenous progenitors invisible" as stewards of knowledge (p. 65). Stripping seeds of their context paved the way for new proprietary claims. Fullilove's analysis raises valuable questions about the foundations of America's agricultural development and opens new fields of inquiry into the history of crop biodiversity and preservation. Agricultural innovation, she explains, is not only a process of creation but also one of destruction and loss. While the introduction of new and exotic varieties into the United States might ostensibly have contributed to greater agricultural diversity, modern plant breeders often eschewed those possibilities for the production of pest resistant, high-yielding monocultures. In light of modern-day concerns over input-intensive forms of production, single-crop agriculture, and biodiversity, Fullilove reminds us that for all of our knowledge, we are not masters of nature, not even those environments we create for ourselves. Instructively drawing together histories of agriculture, environment, and science, this narrative history will certainly appeal to a wide range of scholars and students, alike. Rebecca Egli REBECCA EGLI is a doctoral candidate at the University of California-Davis. She is currently writing a dissertation about American plant explorers and their impact on agricultural science in the twentieth century. Copyright © 2018 Kentucky Historical Society

IQGAP1 is an oncogenic target in canine melanoma.

Canine oral mucosal melanoma is an aggressive malignant neoplasm and is characterized by local infiltration and a high metastatic potential. The disease progression is similar to that of human oral melanomas. Whereas human cutaneous melanoma is primarily driven by activating mutations in Braf (60%) or Nras (20%), human mucosal melanoma harbors these mutations much less frequently. This makes therapeutic targeting and research modeling of the oral form potentially different from that of the cutaneous form in humans. Similarly, research has found only rare Nras mutations and no activating Braf mutations in canine oral melanomas, but they are still reliant on MAPK signaling. IQGAP1 is a signaling scaffold that regulates oncogenic ERK1/2 MAPK signaling in human Ras- and Raf- driven cancers, including melanomas. To investigate whether IQGAP1 is a potential target in canine melanoma, we examined the expression and localization of IQGAP1 in primary canine melanomas and canine oral melanoma cell lines obtained from the University of California-Davis. Using CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of IQGAP1, we examined effects on downstream ERK1/2 pathway activity and assayed proliferation of cell lines when treated with a peptide that blocks the interaction between IQGAP1 and ERK1/2. We observed that canine IQGAP1 is expressed and localizes to a similar extent in both human and canine melanoma by qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. Deletion of IQGAP1 reduces MAPK pathway activation in cell lines, similar to effects seen in human BrafV600E cell lines. Additionally, we demonstrated reduced proliferation when these cells are treated with a blocking peptide in vitro.

LEAP-GWU-2015 centrifuge test at UC Davis

For the LEAP-GWU-2015 exercise, a relatively simple centrifuge test was conducted in parallel at 6 centrifuge facilities including the University of California Davis (UCD). The experiment consisted of a submerged medium dense clean sand with a 5° slope subjected to 1Hz ramped sine wave base motion in a rigid container. This paper explains several details of the experiment at UCD including intended and unintended deviations from the specification and the implementation of new techniques for measurement of saturation of the centrifuge model. One unintended critical deviation was the use of pore fluid that was more viscous than specified; this had significant effect on the pore pressure dissipation time. The other important deviation from the specification was the incomplete ground motion sequence. While it is not ideal for purposes of determining the replicability of centrifuge tests, the differences between experiments diversifies the data available for validation of numerical models.