Animal welfare monitoring relies on sensor accuracy for detecting changes in animal well-being. We compared the distance calculations based on global positioning system (GPS) data alone or combined ...with motion data from triaxial accelerometers. The assessment involved static trackers placed outdoors or indoors vs. trackers mounted on cows grazing on pasture. Trackers communicated motion data at 1 min intervals and GPS positions at 15 min intervals for seven days. Daily distance walked was determined using the following: (1) raw GPS data (RawDist), (2) data with erroneous GPS locations removed (CorrectedDist), or (3) data with erroneous GPS locations removed, combined with the exclusion of GPS data associated with no motion reading (CorrectedDist_Act). Distances were analyzed via one-way ANOVA to compare the effects of tracker placement (Indoor, Outdoor, or Animal). No difference was detected between the tracker placement for RawDist. The computation of CorrectedDist differed between the tracker placements. However, due to the random error of GPS measurements, CorrectedDist for Indoor static trackers differed from zero. The walking distance calculated by CorrectedDist_Act differed between the tracker placements, with distances for static trackers not differing from zero. The fusion of GPS and accelerometer data better detected animal welfare implications related to immobility in grazing cattle.
Virtual fencing systems have emerged as a promising technology for managing the distribution of livestock in extensive grazing environments. This study provides comprehensive documentation of the ...learning process involving two conditional behavioral mechanisms and the documentation of efficient, effective, and safe animal training for virtual fence applications on nursing Brangus cows. Two hypotheses were examined: (1) animals would learn to avoid restricted zones by increasing their use of containment zones within a virtual fence polygon, and (2) animals would progressively receive fewer audio-electric cues over time and increasingly rely on auditory cues for behavioral modification. Data from GPS coordinates, behavioral metrics derived from the collar data, and cueing events were analyzed to evaluate these hypotheses. The results supported hypothesis 1, revealing that virtual fence activation significantly increased the time spent in containment zones and reduced time in restricted zones compared to when the virtual fence was deactivated. Concurrently, behavioral metrics mirrored these findings, with cows adjusting their daily travel distances, exploration area, and cumulative activity counts in response to the allocation of areas with different virtual fence configurations. Hypothesis 2 was also supported by the results, with a decrease in cueing events over time and increased reliance with animals on audio cueing to avert receiving the mild electric pulse. These outcomes underscore the rapid learning capabilities of groups of nursing cows in responding to virtual fence boundaries.
Oryx gazella gazella (oryx) is an arid-adapted wild ungulate species from southwestern Africa. Oryx have developed numerous physiological and behavioral traits, some of which are unique to their ...species, which enable them to thrive in harsh environments characterized by extreme aridity and low forage production. Because of this ability, they were introduced to the Chihuahuan desert of southern New Mexico in the 1960s as an experimental big game species to increase hunting opportunities. Their adaptations have enabled them to increase in numbers and range rapidly. Oryx provide hunting opportunities and revenue to the state of New Mexico, but their presence as an exotic invasive species has complex impacts on the local environment, society, and economy with varying degrees of benefit or harm. Some of these impacts have been readily documented, studied, and understood; but their influence on vegetation communities of the Chihuahuan desert and livestock ranching practices are undetermined. This preliminary study seeks to increase understanding and guide future research of how oryx interact with ranching systems and livestock, specifically for a breed comparison study at New Mexico State University. We utilized data from an existing network of 40 game camera traps and cattle equipped with GPS trackers to analyze oryx spatial distribution and the effect of cattle presence on these patterns. During cattle absence we also measured forage utilization of perennial grasses to estimate oryx grazing impacts and preference.In this preliminary study we found that oryx have heterogeneous spatial distribution patterns over very large home ranges that vary over time and season. The presence of sympatric domestic ungulates also had an effect on oryx. Cattle-oryx interactions appear to be driven by oryx creating spatial and temporal partitions from cattle. Oryx presence may be positively correlated with utilization of Bouteloua eriopoda, which may have some impact to the availability of key perennial grasses for livestock and create confounding variables for environmental studies in areas where oryx are present.
Abstract
The study’s objective was to investigate the use of Internet of Things (IoT) biosensors using Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRa-WAN) communication to compare the foraging behavior of two ...desert adapted cattle breeds. Two groups of mature Brangus (BA) and Raramuri Criollo (RC) cows were introduced into a small irrigated pasture (38ha) at the New Mexico State University’s Clayton Livestock Research Center during Dec-Jan, 2021 (41-days). The real-time position and activity count data (15- and 1-minute interval, respectively) were retrieved continuously from 4 BA and 5 RC cows collared with commercially available trackers (Abeeway Industrial-trackers). Response variables derived from GPS records included daily distance traveled (Dist) and daily area explored (Area). Response variables derived from accelerometers included daily percentage motion (%Act) and cumulative activity data (CumAct). All variables were grouped into six consecutive weekly periods and analyzed by a repeated measures mixed model that included the fixed effects of BREED, WEEK, and the BREED*WEEK interaction in a completely randomized design. A significant (P< 0.01) BREED*WEEK interaction was detected on all GPS-derived variables, with RC exhibiting a trend to explore larger areas than BA (P=0.06). For the accelerometer-derived variables, the BREED*WEEK interaction was only significant (P=0.01) for CumAct. Overall, BA spent a larger percentage of the day active (%Act; BA= 76.74 vs. RC= 73.16; P=0.02), while investing a significantly greater overall activity (CumAct; BA= 8816.63 vs. RC= 6311.31; P=0.03) compared to RC cows. The insensitivity of GPS-derived variables is hypothesized to be the result of aggregating errors associated with less frequent GPS location measurements coupled with position errors (~5m) and a low success rate of data packet transmission (~40%). The spatial scale of the study is hypothesized to have influenced the foraging behavior differences that were observed between the breeds, and the better performance of the accelerometer vs. GPS-derived variables.
Growing season aridity and livestock grazing seasonality can influence primary productivity of perennial grasses in dryland systems. For this study, we used a long-term dataset (1967–2004) to ...investigate the independent and joint effects of growing season aridity and season of grazing (yearlong continuous, fall, winter/spring, or summer season grazing) on the mean annual primary productivity of the perennial grasses Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama), Aristida spp. (threeawn), and Sporobolus spp. (dropseed) in a southwestern United States Chihuahuan Desert rangeland system. Over the 37-year study period, total perennial grass biomass decreased as aridity increased, but the extent of this relationship depended upon season of grazing and specific grass taxon. Aridity-related decreases in total perennial grass biomass were most severe in the summer grazing treatment. Our findings indicate that over time, summer and fall grazing can potentially exacerbate the negative effects of increasing aridity on perennial grass biomass. As arid and semi-arid rangelands globally face increasing aridity associated with a changing climate, land managers can modulate the season of grazing, dependent on dominant taxa present, to minimize these effects. Our study and those from other arid land locations indicate continuous grazing at light to conservative intensities can better sustain key perennial grasses than strategies involving concentrated seasons of grazing. However, growing season aridity levels must also be taken into consideration.
•Temporal variation of Aridity in Chihuahuan Desert.•Grazing Seasonality Treatments influencing perennial grasses.•Drylands jointly impacted by temporal aridity and grazing seasonality treatments.•Black grama and Sporobolus primary forage in CDRRC.
Obesity is common after solid organ transplantation and is associated with worse transplantation-related outcomes. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) may be the preferred bariatric operation in ...transplantation patients over other techniques, such as gastric bypass, given the concerns about medication absorption. However, little is known about LSG outcomes in post-transplantation patients.
We report the outcomes in 10 consecutive patients who underwent solid organ transplantation followed by LSG.
An academic medical center.
Primary outcomes studied were weight loss, perioperative complications, resolution or improvement of obesity-related co-morbidities, and markers of graft function following LSG.
The types of transplantation before LSG were as follows: liver = 5, kidney = 4, and heart = 1. Mean body mass index (BMI) at LSG was 44.7 ± 1.7 kg/m(2). All patients had hypertension, and 6 had type 2 diabetes. Perioperative complications occurred in 2 patients, and there were no deaths. Excess weight loss at 12 and 24 months after LSG was 45.7% and 42.5%, respectively. At 1 year after LSG, there was a significant reduction in the number of antihypertensive medications (2.4 to 1.5; P = .02). Three patients achieved complete remission of type 2 diabetes, and the other 3 significantly reduced their dosages of insulin. Graft function remained preserved in liver transplantation patients; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased by 10% in the heart transplantation subject, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased significantly in kidney transplantation patients (53 ± 3 to 82 ± 3 mL/min; P = .03).
We concluded that LSG, in selected patients with severe obesity after solid organ transplantation, results in significant weight loss, improvement or resolution of obesity-related conditions, and preservation or improvement of graft function. Larger studies are needed to determine tolerability standards.
Background
Hernia formation is common following abdominal operations, and transplant patients are at increased risk due to postoperative immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was to estimate ...the incidence of incisional hernia formation following primary abdominal solid organ transplantation and identify clinical risk factors for hernia formation.
Methods
We performed a single-institution retrospective review of a prospectively collected database to evaluate all patients who underwent primary liver, kidney, or pancreas transplantation between 2000 and 2011. The primary outcome was hernia formation at the transplant incision. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify risk factors for incisional hernia formation.
Results
A total of 3,460 transplants were performed during the study period: 2,247 kidney only, 718 liver only, and 495 pancreas or simultaneous pancreas and kidney (pancreas group). The overall incisional hernia rate was 7.5 %. The Kaplan–Meier rates of hernia formation at 1, 5, and 10 years were 2.5, 4.9, and 7.0 % for kidney; 4.5, 13.6, and 19.0 % for liver; and 2.5, 12.7, and 21.8 % for the pancreas groups. On univariate analysis, surgical site infection (SSI), body mass index (BMI) >25, delayed graft function, and withholding a calcineurin inhibitor or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were associated with hernia formation in the kidney group. SSI and BMI >25 were associated with hernia formation in the liver group. In the pancreas group, SSI, cyclosporine, and withholding MMF were all associated with hernia formation. On multivariate analysis, SSI was strongly associated with hernia formation in all groups. Hazard ratio: kidney = 24.71 (13.00–46.97); liver = 12.0 (6.40–22.52); pancreas = 12.95 (2.78–60.29).
Conclusion
Incisional hernias are common following abdominal organ transplant with nearly one in five patients developing an incisional hernia 5 years after liver or pancreas transplantation. Strategies focusing on prevention and early treatment of SSI may help to decrease the risk of incisional hernia formation following abdominal organ transplantation.
Wnt-activated medulloblastoma (MB) confers an excellent prognosis. However, specific treatment strategies for patients with relapsed Wnt-MB are unknown. We report two patients with recurrent ...beta-catenin nucleopositive Wnt-MB successfully treated by incorporating marrow-ablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell rescue (HDCx/AuHPCR). We also present a review of the literature for previously reported cases of relapsed Wnt-MB. We propose that patients with recurrent Wnt-MB may be treated using a multi-disciplinary approach that includes HDCx/AuHPCR with or without re-irradiation.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Wnt-MB infers an excellent prognosis, and metastatic disease is rare. However, specific treatment strategies and patterns of failure for patients with recurrent Wnt-MB are ...unknown. We report two cases of recurrent beta-catenin nucleopositive Wnt-MBs treated with an irradiation-sparing strategy, incorporating HDCx/AuHPCR. PATIENT 1: A nine-year-old female experienced local recurrence of a non-metastatic Wnt-MB nine months after gross total resection (GTR) followed by 18Gy craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with primary site boost to 54Gy, accompanied by weekly vincristine, followed by a maintenance regimen of nine cycles of cisplatin/lomustine/vincristine alternating with cyclophosphamide/vincristine every third cycle. GTR of the relapsed tumor was followed by three cycles of HDCx/AuHPCR. She is disease-free for over three years following relapse treatment. PATIENT 2: A 17-year-old male initially underwent GTR, followed by 23.4Gy CSI with 54Gy posterior fossa boost with concomitant weekly vincristine, followed by a maintenance regimen that included nine alternating cycles of vincristine/lomustine/cisplatin and cyclophosphamide/vincristine. Isolated right frontal horn metastatic recurrence developed 19 months post-treatment; three cycles of irinotecan/temozolomide/bevacizumab and gamma-knife radiosurgery produced complete response. A second isolated metastatic recurrence within the left frontal horn occurred 13 months post-treatment, which was treated with two cycles of cyclophosphamide/etoposide followed by two cycles of HDCx/AuHPCR. MRI of the brain showed no residual tumor one month post-treatment. He currently awaits follow-up stereotactic radiosurgery.
CONCLUSION
Patients with recurrent Wnt-MB may be treated with curative intent using a multi-disciplinary approach that includes HDCx/AuHPCR, and minimization or avoidance of re-irradiation.
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