@article{gonçalves_bressan_roballo_meirelles_xavier_fukumasu_williams_breen_koh_sper_et al._2017, title={Generation of LIF-independent induced pluripotent stem cells from canine fetal fibroblasts}, volume={92}, ISSN={0093-691X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.01.013}, DOI={10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.01.013}, abstractNote={Takahashi and Yamanaka established the first technique in which transcription factors related to pluripotency are incorporated into the genome of somatic cells to enable reprogramming of these cells. The expression of these transcription factors enables a differentiated somatic cell to reverse its phenotype to an embryonic state, generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSCs from canine fetal fibroblasts were produced through lentiviral polycistronic human and mouse vectors (hOSKM/mOSKM), aiming to obtain pluripotent stem cells with similar features to embryonic stem cells (ESC) in this animal model. The cell lines obtained in this study were independent of LIF or any other supplemental inhibitors, resistant to enzymatic procedure (TrypLE Express Enzyme), and dependent on bFGF. Clonal lines were obtained from slightly different protocols with maximum reprogramming efficiency of 0.001%. All colonies were positive for alkaline phosphatase, embryoid body formation, and spontaneous differentiation and expressed high levels of endogenous OCT4 and SOX2. Canine iPSCs developed tumors at 120 days post-injection in vivo. Preliminary chromosomal evaluations were performed by FISH hybridization, revealing no chromosomal abnormality. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the ability to reprogram canine somatic cells via lentiviral vectors without supplementation and with resistance to enzymatic action, thereby demonstrating the pluripotency of these cell lines.}, journal={Theriogenology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Gonçalves, N.J.N. and Bressan, F.F. and Roballo, K.C.S. and Meirelles, F.V. and Xavier, P.L.P. and Fukumasu, H. and Williams, C. and Breen, M. and Koh, S. and Sper, R. and et al.}, year={2017}, month={Apr}, pages={75–82} }
 @article{jeong_nelson_niedziela_dickey_2016, title={Effect of Plant Species, Fertilizer Acidity/Basicity, and Fertilizer Concentration on pH of Soilless Root Substrate}, volume={51}, ISSN={["2327-9834"]}, DOI={10.21273/hortsci11237-16}, abstractNote={The objective of this study was to determine how plant species, fertilizer potential acidity/basicity rating (PABR), and fertilizer concentration affect root substrate pH. Three experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, 13 herbaceous species were grown in a root substrate of three sphagnum peatmoss: one perlite (v/v) with deionized water and a neutral fertilizer (NF) with a PABR of 0 for 78 days to determine species relationships to substrate pH. The decrease in substrate pH ranged from 0.14 to 2.45 units, depending on species. In the second experiment, four of the 13 species from the previous trial representing the range of pH suppression were grown under similar growth conditions as the first experiment for 70 days. Substrate pH was lowered in the range of 0.47 to 2.72 units. In the third experiment, three fertilizers with PABRs of 150 kg·t CaCO3 equivalent alkalinity, 0 neutral, and 193 kg·t L1 CaCO3 equivalent acidity were applied in a factorial design at 100 and 200 mg·L N at each irrigation to kalanchoe (the species with the greatest pH suppression from the previous experiments) for 56 days.When applied at the lower fertilizer rate (100mg·L N), the PABRs resulted in the final substrate pH levels of 4.68, 5.60, and 6.11 for the acidic fertilizer (AF), NF, and basic fertilizer (BF), respectively. At the high fertilizer rate (200mg·L N), substrate pH declined continuously to 3.97, 4.03, and 4.92 for the AF, NF, and BF, respectively. Expression of PABR depended on the balance between the abiotic (chemical) effect of the fertilizers vs. the biotic (physiological) effects of the fertilizers on microbes and plants. The PABR was best expressed when the fertilizer supply was just adequate or lower indicating a closer connection to the biotic effect. It is relatively easy to set the initial target pH of a root substrate by matching lime type and rate with the acidity of the substrate components. The challenge lies in maintaining this target pH throughout crop production. Factors that impact pH over time include irrigation water alkalinity (Bailey, 1996); residual content and properties of liming materials (Huang et al., 2010; Rippy et al., 2007, 2016); acidification due to nitrification (Marschner, 1995); plant and microbe respiratory acidification (Marschner, 1995); acidic, neutral, or alkaline biotic effect of nutrient uptake (Pertusatti and Prado, 2007), which varies among plant species (Fisher et al., 2014a; Johnson et al., 2013); and the abiotic effect of fertilizer (Hignett, 1985). There is interplay between fertilizer type and some of these pH controlling factors. Most fertilizer solutions have a low pH, thus they are abiotically (chemically) acidic, even when they are biotically (physiologically) neutral or basic. When fertilizers supply ammonium, rhizosphere biotic acidification can occur during microbial nitrification of ammonium to nitrate, where two protons are generated for each ammonium ion oxidized. Plant and microbe uptake of ions supplied by fertilizers have yet another biotic effect on substrate pH. During uptake of cationic nutrients, protons are released to the rhizosphere in exchange for uptake of positive cation charges (Havlin et al., 2014; Kafkafi, 2008; Marschner, 1995; Nelson, 2011; Zhu et al., 2009). Alkalinization occurs when microbes or plants take up protons along with anionic nutrients or release OH or HCO3 – to the rhizosphere in exchange for anionic nutrients (Pertusatti and Prado, 2007). Plant species also interact with some of the factors controlling substrate pH, namely respiration and proportion of cationic to anionic nutrient ions taken up. Release of CO2 by roots and rhizosphere microorganisms during respiration has an acidifying effect on the rhizosphere through the generation of carbonic acid (Marschner, 1995). Root respiration differs among plant species and with growth conditions (Taiz and Zeiger, 2010) and thus the potential for acidification of the substrate pH from the release of CO2 also varies across plant species. Plant species also differ in the proportions of ions extracted from the soil solution. Since nitrogen (N) is the only nutrient that is plant available in both anion (nitrate) and cation (ammonium) forms and more N ions are typically taken up than other types combined (Taylor et al., 2010), the form of N taken up by plants has the largest effect on substrate pH. Although the form of N taken up by plants is influenced to a degree by availability, plant species do vary in their affinity for ammoniacal vs. nitrate forms of N (von Wir en et al., 1997). Plants adapted to acid soils generally favor ammonium uptake, whereas those found in calcareous soils favor nitrate uptake (Marschner, 1995). As an example, ammonium uptake often predominates in blueberries (Hanson, 2006). A large differential effect of species on substrate pH during germination and early seedling growth was reported by Huang et al. (2001). Johnson et al. (2013) found a strong species effect on substrate pH when growing three bedding plant species for 4 weeks. A PABR is included on the labels or technical sheets of greenhouse fertilizers. Pierre (1933) established the early procedures for this rating, which were later refined by the AOAC (1970, 1999) and described by Johnson et al. (2010, 2013). The PABR encompasses both biotic and abiotic impacts of fertilizer on substrate pH. Although this rating system does not allow for effects of plant species, stage of maturity, or fertilizer concentration on substrate pH, it is universally used today. In many situations, it adequately forecasts pH shifts. But there are other situations where it fails. The aberrant pH shifts are usually more acidic than predicted by PABR, suggesting involvement of the abiotic fertilizer effect. In this study, it was hypothesized that the unpredicted acidification is due to application of fertilizer in excess of that used by the plant and microbes. Production scenarios leading to excess fertilizer accumulation in the substrate can include the following: 1) quantity of fertilizer applied is higher than that recommended for the crop; 2) a single fertilizer program applied to multiple species that is Received for publication 15 Aug. 2016. Accepted for publication 19 Oct. 2016. This research was funded in part by a grant from USDA-ARS and by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS), Raleigh, NC. Use of trade names does not imply endorsement by the NCARS of products named nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned. Corresponding author. E-mail: paul_nelson@ ncsu.edu. 1596 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 51(12) DECEMBER 2016 designed to meet requirements of the faster growing species will result in excess application to the slower species; and 3) failure to reduce fertilizer application later in crop production when a plant’s specific rate of growth and nutrient demand typically declines. To test our hypothesis we 1) measured the differential effects of 13 plant species on substrate pH and 2) assessed the interactive effect of fertilizer concentration and PABR on substrate pH during plant growth. Materials and Methods General procedures. Three experiments were conducted in a glass greenhouse in Raleigh, NC, at 35 north latitude. Greenhouse temperature set points for heating and cooling were 18 and 24 C, respectively. In all three experiments, the root substrate for propagation and subsequent experimentation consisted of 75% sphagnum peatmoss and 25% perlite by volume (Sun Gro Horticulture, Bellevue, WA). In Expt. 1, the root substrate was formulated with calcium carbonate powder at the rate of 65 g·kg of peatmoss (dry weight basis). In Expts. 2 and 3, the rate of calcium carbonate powder added to the substrate was adjusted to 60.1 g·kg of peatmoss (dry weight basis) to avoid a high initial pH (>6.5) and gypsum (CaSO4) was incorporated at 0.9 g·L –1 to maintain acceptable calcium levels. The substrates also contained a wetting agent (AquaGro 2000G;Aquatrols, Paulsboro, NJ) at the label rate of 0.6 g·L. In the three experiments, all species were grown in 16.5-cm top diameter, 1.8-L green, standard, plastic pots. Fertilizer treatments were applied with each irrigation to the top of each pot using a drip system supplied by sump-pumps (model 1A; Little Giant Pump Co., Oklahoma City, OK) in the bottom of opaque, plastic, 90-L tanks containing each single-strength fertilizer solution. Acidification was determined as the difference in substrate pH between the first and final measurements for each crop. The acidification level associated with each species was later categorized as minimal (DpH < 0.5), small (DpH = 0.50–0.99), moderate (DpH = 1.00–1.49), and large (DpH $ 1.50). Expt. 1: 13 species. Seeds of fibrous begonia (Begonia ·semperflorens-cultorum Hort. ‘Encore III Pink Bicolor’), impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook. F. ‘Taboo Mix’), pansy (Viola ·wittrockiana Gams. ‘Ultima Radiance Red’), petunia (Petunia ·hybrida Vilm. ‘Petunia Easy Wave Blue’), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ‘Ballad’), and vinca [Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don ‘Pacifica XP Really Red’] were sown in 288-cell plug trays on 5 Nov. 2008. Tomato (Solanum esculentum L. ‘Early Girl Hybrid’) seeds were sown in 288-cell plug trays on 19 Nov. Cuttings of New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri W. Bull ‘Super Sonic White’) and geranium (Pelargonium zonale L. ‘Tango’) were taken from stock plants and inserted into 51-cell trays on 18 Nov. Rooted cuttings of pot chrysanthemum [Dendranthema ·grandiflora (Ramat.) Kitam ‘Kory’] and 51-cell tray liners of osteospermum [Osteospermum ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Astra White’], kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln. ‘Kerinci’), and Rieger begonia (Begonia ·hiemalis Fotsch ‘Amstel Blitz’) were obtained from commercial propagators. The following numbers of established plants were transplanted on 23 Dec. into each pot: one for geranium, New Guinea impatiens, Rieger begonia, sunflower, and tomato; two for impatiens, pansy, }, number={12}, journal={HORTSCIENCE}, author={Jeong, Ka Yeon and Nelson, Paul V. and Niedziela, Carl E., Jr. and Dickey, David A.}, year={2016}, month={Dec}, pages={1596–1601} }
 @article{bailey_heitzman_buchanan_bare_sper_borst_macpherson_archibald_whitacre_2012, title={B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography in pony mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis}, volume={44}, ISSN={["2042-3306"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00658.x}, abstractNote={REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY
Early, accurate diagnosis of ascending placentitis in mares remains a key challenge for successful treatment of the disease. Doppler ultrasonography has shown promise as a tool to diagnose pregnancy abnormalities and is becoming more available to equine clinicians. However, to date, no studies have prospectively compared this technique to standard B-mode measurement of the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP).


OBJECTIVES
The objective of the current study was to compare Doppler and B-mode ultrasonography for the detection of experimentally-induced ascending placentitis in mares.


METHODS
Eleven healthy pony mares in late gestation were used in this study. Placentitis was induced in 6 mares between Days 280 and 295, while 5 mares served as negative controls. All mares were intensively monitored until delivery. Fetal heart rate, CTUP, uterine artery blood flow (resistance index, pulsatility index, arterial diameter and total arterial blood flow) and physical examination findings were recorded at each examination. Mares with an increased CTUP above published values were treated in accordance with published recommendations. Foals and fetal membranes were examined at birth. Ultrasonographic parameters were compared between groups using ANOVA. Foal viability and histological presence of placentitis were compared using a Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
The CTUP was increased above normal in 5 of 6 inoculated mares within 3 days after inoculation (P = 0.05). The sixth inoculated mare was excluded from subsequent data analysis. Uterine artery blood flow, physical examination findings and fetal heart rate were not different between groups. Gradual increases in CTUP, arterial diameter and total arterial blood flow were detected with increasing gestational age in the control mares (P = 0.02, P = 0.00001 and P = 0.00001, respectively).


CONCLUSION
The CTUP, but not uterine blood flow, was different between groups (P = 0.00001). Recorded CTUP values for control pony mares were similar to previously published values for light breed horses.}, journal={EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL}, author={Bailey, C. S. and Heitzman, J. M. and Buchanan, C. N. and Bare, C. A. and Sper, R. B. and Borst, L. B. and Macpherson, M. and Archibald, K. and Whitacre, M.}, year={2012}, month={Dec}, pages={88–94} }
 @article{sper_whitacre_bailey_schramme_orellana_ast_vasgaard_2012, title={Successful reduction of a monozygotic equine twin pregnancy via transabdominal ultrasound-guided cardiac puncture}, volume={24}, ISSN={["0957-7734"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00254.x}, abstractNote={Summary}, number={2}, journal={EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION}, author={Sper, R. B. and Whitacre, M. D. and Bailey, C. S. and Schramme, A. J. and Orellana, D. G. and Ast, C. K. and Vasgaard, J. M.}, year={2012}, month={Feb}, pages={55–59} }
 @article{bailey_sper_schewmaker_buchanan_beachler_pozor_whitacre_2012, title={Uterine artery blood flow remains unchanged in pregnant mares in response to short-term administration of pentoxifylline}, volume={77}, ISSN={["1879-3231"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.08.018}, abstractNote={The objective of this study was to use Doppler ultrasound technology to determine whether pentoxifylline administration increased uterine blood flow in normal pregnant pony mares. Thirteen pregnant pony mares between 18 and 190 d of gestation (mean ± SEM, 101 ± 55) were utilized for the study during two trial periods. In each trial, pentoxifylline (17 mg/kg by mouth every 12h, diluted in syrup) was administered to half of the mares for 3 d, while the other mares were treated with syrup only. Doppler measurements were obtained from the right and left uterine arteries from each mare for 2 d prior to treatment and throughout the treatment period. The mean Resistivity Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI), Uterine Artery Diameter (D), and Total Arterial Blood Flow (TABF) from each day were compared over time and between groups. Administration of pentoxifylline did not alter uterine blood flow parameters compared with controls (values for all treatment days combined were RI: 0.517 ± 0.014 vs 0.543 ± 0.016; PI: 0.876 ± 0.048 vs 0.927 ± 0.057; D: 0.388 ± 0.018 vs 0.379 ± 0.023 cm; and TABF: 35.26 ± 7.38 vs 30.73 ± 5.29 mL/min). Uterine blood flow increased over the course of the 5 d study, irrespective of treatment, and was higher in mares of greater gestational age than in early gestational mares (RI: r2 = 0.35; PI: r2 = 0.37; D: r2 = 0.66; and TABF: r2 = 0.67 – P < 0.00001). We concluded that any immediate benefits of pentoxifylline administration in the pregnant mare were not mediated through enhanced uterine artery blood flow.}, number={2}, journal={THERIOGENOLOGY}, author={Bailey, C. S. and Sper, R. B. and Schewmaker, J. L. and Buchanan, C. N. and Beachler, T. M. and Pozor, M. A. and Whitacre, M. D.}, year={2012}, month={Jan}, pages={430–436} }