Endeavors Update, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, December 2011

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) is an endeavor, started in 2005, to unite State staff with “best of breed” contractors into a performance-based model for administration of the Medicaid program.

Endeavors Update, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, January 2012

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) is an endeavor, started in 2005, to unite State staff with “best of breed” contractors into a performance-based model for administration of the Medicaid program.

Endeavors Update, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, February 2012

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) is an endeavor, started in 2005, to unite State staff with “best of breed” contractors into a performance-based model for administration of the Medicaid program.

Endeavors Update, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, April 2012

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) is an endeavor, started in 2005, to unite State staff with “best of breed” contractors into a performance-based model for administration of the Medicaid program.

Endeavors Update, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, May 2012

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) is an endeavor, started in 2005, to unite State staff with “best of breed” contractors into a performance-based model for administration of the Medicaid program.

Endeavors Update, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, July 2012

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) is an endeavor, started in 2005, to unite State staff with “best of breed” contractors into a performance-based model for administration of the Medicaid program.

Genetic polymorphisms related to meat traits in purebred and crossbred Nelore cattle

The objective of this work was to estimate the allelic and genotypic frequencies of CAST/XmnI, a calpastatin gene polymorphism, and CAPN530, a calpain 1 large subunit gene polymorphism, in different beef genetic groups (Nelore and Nelore x Bos taurus), and to investigate associations between these polymorphisms and carcass and meat traits. Three hundred animals - comprising 114 Nelore, 67 Angus x Nelore, 44 Rubia Gallega x Nelore, 41 Canchim, 19 Brangus three-way cross and 15 Braunvieh three-way cross- were genotyped by PCR-RFLP and phenotyped for rib-eye area (REA), back-fat thickness (BT), intramuscular fat (IF), shear force (SF) and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI). The occurrence of the two alleles of the CAST/XmnI and CAPN530 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a B. indicus breed, which permitted association studies in purebred and crossbred Nelore cattle, was first shown in the present work. No relationship was found between the CAST or CAPN1 SNPs and growth-related traits (REA) or fat deposition (BT and IF), since calpastatin and µ-calpain are not physiologically involved with these traits. Moreover, the association results between genotypes and aged meat tenderness (assessed by SF and MFI) showed that these markers are useless in assisted selection for purebred Nelore and their crosses with B. taurus.

Insulin-like growth factor and growth hormone receptor in postpartum lactating beef cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and the mRNA hepatic expression of IGF-I and of the growth hormone receptors GHR and GHR 1A, in postpartum beef cows. Four Angus and four crossbred (Angus x Nelore) postpartum suckled beef cows were used. Liver and blood samples were collected every 10 days, from calving to 40 days postpartum, for gene expression and for β-hydroxybutyrate and IGF-I assays, respectively. Samples for progesterone assay were collected every other day, from day 10 to 40 postpartum. Three cows ovulated before 40 days postpartum. IGF-I concentration was higher in Angus x Nelore than in Angus cows. There was no difference in the expression of GHR, GHR 1A and IGF-I according to breed or ovulatory status. IGF-I concentrations were higher in crossbred cows, but have not changed according to postpartum ovulatory status. Moreover, changes in postpartum IGF-I concentrations are not associated with changes in liver GHR, GHR 1A and IGF-I mRNA expression in either breed.

Santé au travail : approche moléculaire pour évaluer le risque de l'exposition aux bioaérosols sur les lieux de travail

RESUME : Dans de nombreux environnements professionnels, des travailleurs sont exposés à des bioaérosols, que ce soit des bactéries, champignons, virus ou fragments de microorganismes. Ces bioaérosols peuvent être responsables de maladies infectieuses (p.ex. légionellose), ou de maladies non infectieuses (touchant principalement les voies respiratoires). Cependant, pour une majorité des bioaérosols, les relations entre une exposition à une certaine dose et les effets sur la santé humaine sont peu connues. Ce manque de connaissances étant dû principalement à une absence de méthodes adéquates permettant de quantifier cette exposition. La real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) est un outil basé sur la quantification du DNA dont le potentiel de quantification des bioaérosols dans des environnements professionnels n'a pas été exploré. Le but de ce travail est de développer une méthode de Q-PCR permettant de quantifier des bioaérosols - en particulier des bactéries - et d'appliquer ces techniques pour des mesures préventives sur les lieux de travail. Dans ce travail, la Q-PCR a été appliquée à 1a quantification de pathogènes, de groupes taxonomiques spécifiques et de la charge bactérienne totale dans des environnements de travail, stations d'épuration et élevages industriels de volailles. Nous avons montré que la Q-PCR : 1) est capable de quantifier des pathogènes difficilement cultivables si ceux-ci sont présents en concentration importante, 2) a le potentiel pour être un outil performant dans l'étude des communautés bactériennes présentes dans l'air d'environnements professionnels, 3) est aussi performante que le comptage total des bactéries par DAPI pour quantifier 1a charge bactérienne totale et est donc une alternative prometteuse aux techniques culture-dépendantes. La Q-PCR pourrait être utilisée afin d'établir des relations doses-réponses pour la charge bactérienne ; soit dans des populations de travailleurs hautement exposés (p.ex. les éleveurs de volailles), soit en exposant des cellules à des concentrations de bioaérosols mesurées par Q-PCR. ABSTRACT : Many workers are exposed to bioaerosols such as bacteria, fungi, viruses or fragments of microorganisms. These bioaerosols can be responsible of infectious (e.g. legionellosis) or non infectious diseases (mainly respiratory symptoms). However, for a majority of them, the relationship between exposure and effects on human health is not clearly established. This is mainly due to the lack of valid quantitative assessment methods. Real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) is a tool based on the quantification of DNA, of which the potential for the quantification of bioaerosols in work environments has not yet been explored. The aim of this work was to develop a Q-PCR method permitting to quantify bioaerosols -mainly bacteria and to apply those techniques in occupational environments. In this work, Q-PCR was applied to the quantification of pathogens, of specific taxonomic groups and of the total bacterial load in two different occupational settings, namely wastewater treatment plants and poultry houses. We showed that Q-PCR : 1) is capable of quantifying difficult to cultivate pathogens; when they are present at high concentrations, 2) has the potential to be a useful tool for studying bacterial communities in the air of work environments, 3) is as efficient as epifluorescence for the quantification of total bacterial load, and is a promising alternative to the culture-dependent methods. Q-PCR could be used to establish doses-responses relationships for bacterial load, either in populations of highly exposed workers such as poultry farmers, or by exposing cells to concentrations of bioaerosols quantified with Q-PCR.

Le Roman de Renart

F. 1-48. Le Roman de Renart. Le manuscrit, qui a été doté du sigle O dans les différentes éditions, est incomplet de la fin et mixte, proposant une structure relativement inédite. Il a récemment fait l’objet d’une édition critique par Aurélie Barre : Édition critique et littéraire du manuscrit O du « Roman de Renart » ( f. fr. 12583), doctorat, Université Lyon III, 2005. F. 1a-14b. Branche I.F. 1a-7e. [Branche Ia : « Le jugement de Renart »]. « Pierres qui son enging et s’art / Mist es vers faire de Renart…-… Tant qu’il [re]fu en sa santé / Com il avoit devant esté ». – F. 7e-10b. [Branche Ib : « Le Siège de Maupertuis »]. « Messires Nobles l’empereres / Vint au chastel ou Renart ere …-… Et Renart ainsi s’en eschape, / Des or gart bien chascun sa chape ! ». – F. 10b-14b. [Branche Ic : « Renart teinturier, Renart jongleur »]. « Li rois a fait son ban crier, / Par tout plevir et afier …-… Puis fu Renart lonc tens en mue ; / Ne va, ne vient, ne se remue » (éd. Barre, p.117-233, v. 1-3217). . F. 14b-20bBranche II. F. 14b-20b. [Branche II : « Le duel judiciaire »]. « Messires Nobles li lions / O lui avoit toz ses barons …-… Et autre redirai aprés, / A itant de cestui vos lés » (éd. Barre, p. 235-289, v. 1-1522). F. 20b-25c. Branche III.F. 20b-22a. [Branche IIIa : « Renart et Chantecler »]. « Seignors, oï avez maint conte, / Que maint contierres vos aconte …-… Dou coc qui li est eschapez, / Quant il ne s’en est saoulez ». – F. 22a-22f. [Branche IIIb : « Renart et la mésange »]. « Que que cil se plaint et demente, / Atant es vos une mesenge …-… Assez a grant travail eü / de ce dont li est mescheü ». – F. 22f-23c. [Branche IIIc. « Renart et Tibert »]. « Que qu’il se plaint de s’aventure, / Qui li avient et pesme et dure …-… Tornez s’en est a mout grant paine …-… Si com aventure le maine ». – F. 23c-24e. [Branche IIId : « Renart et l’andouille »]. «Renart qui mout sot de treslüe, / Et qui mout ot grant fain eüe …-… Esfondree ert entr’eus la guerre, / Mes ne velt trive ne pes querre ». – F. 24e-25c. [Branche IIIe : « Tibert et les deux prêtres »]. « Thibert li chaz, dont je a dit, / Doute Renart assez petit …-… Qui touz nos a enfantosmez : / A paine en sui vis eschapez ! » (éd. Barre, p. 291-340, v. 1-1265). F. 25c-27d. Branche IV. F. 25c-26a. [Branche IVa : « Renart et Tiercelin »]. « Entre .II. mons, en une plangne / Tout droit au pié d’une montaigne …-… Fuiant s’en va les sauz menuz : / Ses anemis a confonduz ». – F. 26a-27d. [Branche IVb : « Le viol d’Hersent »]. « Cis plaiz fu ainsi deffinez / Et Renars s’est acheminez …-… Et est venuz a sa mesnie / Qui soz la roche est entasnie » (éd. Barre, p. 341-359, v. 1-524). F. 27d-29d. Branche V. [« Renart et les anguilles »]. « Seignors, ce fu en cest termine / Que li douz tens d’esté decline …-…Que de Renart se vengera / Ne jamés jor ne l’amera » (éd. Barre, p. 361-378, v. 1-514). F. 29d-31e. Branche VI. [« Le puits »]. « Prime covient tel chose dire / Dont je vos puisse faire rire …-… Et il le puet prandre en sa marge, / Sachiez qu’i li fera domage ! » (éd. Barre, p. 379-396, v. 1-537).. 31e-39c. Branche VII. F. 31e-32e. [Branche VIIa : « Le jambon enlevé »]. « [U]n jour issit hors de la lande / Isengrins por querre viande …-… .XV. jours va a grant baudour, / Onques Renars n’i fist sejour ». – F. 32c-32e. [Branche VIIb : « Renart et le grillon »]. « Renart s’en va tout son chemin. / Or veut (en) engignier Isengrin …-… Tornez s’en est grant aleüre / Et vet aillors querre droiture ». – F. 32e-36e. [Branche VIIc : « L’Escondit »]. « Atant s’apense d’une chose / Dont il sa fame sovent chose …-…Tant defoulé et tant batu / Qu’a Malpertuis l’ont enbatu ». – F. 36e-39c. [Branche VIId : « La confession de Renart »]. « Foux est qui croit sa male pense : / Mout remaint de ce que fox panse …-…L’escofle lor donne a mengier, / Qu’il en avoient grant mestier (éd. Barre, p. 397-470, v. 1-1960). F. 36c-48e. Branche VIII. [« Renart et Liétart »]. « Uns prestres de la Croiz en Brie, / Que Damediex doint bone vie …-… Ou au chiés ou a la parclose, / Qui n’est aüsés de la chose » (éd. Barre, p. 471-554, v. 1-2470). F. 48e. Branche IX (v. 1-86). [« Les Vêpres de Tibert »]. « Oiez une novele estoire / Qui bien doit estre en mémoire …-… Jel conterai a Hameline, / La foi et la reconnoissance… » (éd. Barre, p. 555-557, v. 1-85).

Color of smoked loin from animals fed with bioactive compounds added to forage

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the breed and of the addition of bioactive substances to forage on the color of smoked pork loin. Two pig breeds (Polish Landrace and the crossbreed Polish Landrace x Duroc), three types of bioactive components (organic selenium; 2% of canola oil and 1% of flaxseed oil; and 2% of flaxseed oil and 1% of canola oil), and a control treatment were evaluated. Computer image analysis included the color assessment of muscle, fat, connective tissues, and smoked loin surface. For Polish Landrace, selenium supplementation caused higher values of red, green, and blue color components of the muscle tissue, which were lower for the crossbreed. However, there was no difference in the color components of loin fat tissue of the Polish Landrace breed due to selenium supplementation. In the case of oil supplementation, values of the color components of the muscle tissue for the Polish Landrace x Duroc crossbreed were also lower. The color components of muscle, fat, connective tissues, and smoked loin surface depend on the pig breed and on the bioactive compounds added to the forage.

Degree of multicollinearity and variables involved in linear dependence in additive-dominant models

The objective of this work was to assess the degree of multicollinearity and to identify the variables involved in linear dependence relations in additive-dominant models. Data of birth weight (n=141,567), yearling weight (n=58,124), and scrotal circumference (n=20,371) of Montana Tropical composite cattle were used. Diagnosis of multicollinearity was based on the variance inflation factor (VIF) and on the evaluation of the condition indexes and eigenvalues from the correlation matrix among explanatory variables. The first model studied (RM) included the fixed effect of dam age class at calving and the covariates associated to the direct and maternal additive and non-additive effects. The second model (R) included all the effects of the RM model except the maternal additive effects. Multicollinearity was detected in both models for all traits considered, with VIF values of 1.03 - 70.20 for RM and 1.03 - 60.70 for R. Collinearity increased with the increase of variables in the model and the decrease in the number of observations, and it was classified as weak, with condition index values between 10.00 and 26.77. In general, the variables associated with additive and non-additive effects were involved in multicollinearity, partially due to the natural connection between these covariables as fractions of the biological types in breed composition.

Factores de explotación asociados a la duración del anestro postparto en vacas nodrizas de razas Parda de Montaña y Pirenaica

Para determinar los factores de explotación relacionados con la reactivación ovárica postparto en vacas nodrizas se realizó un análisis global de una serie de indicadores productivos y la duración del anestro postparto (APP) de 549 vacas explotadas en condiciones extensivas. Debido a la naturaleza multifactorial del proceso en estudio se eligió la metodología estadística multivariante (Análisis Factorial de Correspondencias Múltiples y Análisis Cluster). La duración del APP estuvo asociada a cuatro factores que explicaron el 59% de la heterogeneidad inicial de la muestra y que se definieron como: «Alimentación preparto» (19% de la inercia), «Alimentación postparto-Edad» (16.4%), «Manejo del ternero» (13%) y «Dificultad al parto» (10.5%). Estos factores se introdujeron en un Análisis Cluster que identificó cinco grupos de vacas con características productivas y reproductivas diferentes, y que denominamos como: «Primíparas», «Acceso restringido», «Acceso Libre-Parda de Montaña», «Parto de otoño» y «Parto de primavera». La raza no estuvo relacionada con la duración del APP, aunque el análisis Cluster asoció los largos APP inducidos por la crianza libre con la raza Parda de Montaña. En la raza Parda de Montaña, la duración del APP fue mayor en primavera que en otoño debido a diferencias nutricionales más que a un efecto estacional en sí. El parto de otoño se adaptó mejor a las condiciones de montaña seca.

Selection response of growth rate in rabbits for meat production

Genetic and environmental trends in 2 lines of rabbit (B and R) selected on individual weight gain (WG) from weaning (4 wk) to slaughter (11 wk) were estimated using mixed model methodology. Line B was derived from the California breed and line R was a synthetic of stock of different origin. The data were collected from a single herd and comprised 7 718 individuals in line B and 9 391 in line R, the lines having 12 and 9 generations of selection respectively. Realized responses in the 2 lines were 2.7% and 2.2% of the initial mean per year respectively and showed that selection on WG was effective but was less than expected. Selection on slaughter weight (SW) and effects of selection on other economic traits are discussed. It is concluded that selection on either WG or SW is a simple method for improving growth rate in rabbit sire line stocks.

Forage preservation (grazing vs. hay) fed to ewes affects the fatty acid profile of milk and CPT1B gene expression in the sheep mammary gland

Background: Alterations in lipid metabolism occur when animals are exposed to different feeding systems. In the last few decades, the characterisation of genes involved in fat metabolism and technological advances have enabled the study of the effect of diet on the milk fatty acid (FA) profile in the mammary gland and aided in the elucidation of the mechanisms of the response to diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different forage diets (grazing vs. hay) near the time of ewe parturition on the relationship between the fatty acid profile and gene expression in the mammary gland of the Churra Tensina sheep breed. Results: In this study, the forage type affected the C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 (CLA) and long-chain saturated fatty acid (LCFA) content, with higher percentages during grazing than during hay feeding. This may suggest that these FAs act as regulatory factors for the transcriptional control of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) gene, which was more highly expressed in the grazing group (GRE). The most highly expressed gene in the mammary gland at the fifth week of lactation is CAAT/ enhancer- binding protein beta (CEBPB), possibly due to its role in milk fat synthesis in the mammary gland. More stable housekeeping genes in the ovine mammary gland that would be appropriate for use in gene expression studies were ribosomal protein L19 (RPL19) and glyceraldehyde- 3- phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Conclusions: Small changes in diet, such as the forage preservation (grazing vs. hay), can affect the milk fatty acid profile and the expression of the CPT1B gene, which is associated with the oxidation of fatty acids. When compared to hay fed indoors, grazing fresh low mountain pastures stimulates the milk content of CLA and LCFA via mammary uptake. In this sense, LCFA in milk may be acting as a regulatory factor for transcriptional control of the CPT1B gene, which was more highly expressed in the grazing group.