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About 70% of the phosphorus in plant feedstuffs is typically in the form of organic phytates, but molecular phytogenetic techniques allow the development of variant seed forms that are capable of storing most of it in an inorganic form. In response to concerns over excessive phosphorus discharges from uneaten or unassimilated aquaculture feeds, two independent digestibility trials were conducted to evaluate the suitability of single-gene, low-phytic-acid mutations of barley Hordeum vulgare as feedstuffs for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and red drum Sciaenops ocellatus. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing five different barley variants plus one reference diet (RD) were independently evaluated with each species. The RD for catfish contained 30% menhaden Brevoortia tyranus fish meal and 30% soybean meal, whereas the red drum RD included 48% lyophilized red dram muscle meal as the sole protein source. Each experimental diet was formulated so that a barley mutant replaced 30% of the RD. The diets were fed for 3 weeks to triplicate groups of juvenile channel catfish weighing 200 ± 10 g/fish (mean ± SD) and red drum weighing 400 ± 17 g/fish. Fecal samples were collected 8-12 h postfeeding. Apparent phosphorus, crude protein, and organic matter digestibility coefficients were determined by using chromic oxide as an inert marker. For catfish, the apparent digestibility coefficients for organic matter, phosphorus, and protein ranged from 28% to 62%, 47% to 98%, and 66% to 75%, respectively, for the different barley varieties. The same coefficients for red drum ranged from 69% to 93%, 54% to 86%, and 71% to 84%, respectively. Barley variant 955 resulted in the lowest fecal phosphorus content for both species. These results indicate that a considerable reduction of phosphorus excretion by fish could be achieved solely by substituting ordinary barley (or other plant ingredients) with low-phytate mutant grains. This information may lead to reductions in the amount of unavailable phosphorus added to commercial fish diets, with concomitant reductions in discharges of waste phosphorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the detection of prison gang developments in the United States. Survey of 181 Texas prison officials; Main cause of prison violence; Stripping of prison officials' legitimate authority through judicial intervention; Evolvement of prison gangs into organized crime syndicates; History of prison gangs; Difficulties in conducting prison gang researches.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in adults in the United States, yet the benefits of genetic testing are not universally accepted., Methods: We developed the "HeartCare" panel of genes associated with CVD, evaluating high-penetrance Mendelian conditions, coronary artery disease (CAD) polygenic risk, LPA gene polymorphisms, and specific pharmacogenetic (PGx) variants. We enrolled 709 individuals from cardiology clinics at Baylor College of Medicine, and samples were analyzed in a CAP/CLIA-certified laboratory. Results were returned to the ordering physician and uploaded to the electronic medical record., Results: Notably, 32% of patients had a genetic finding with clinical management implications, even after excluding PGx results, including 9% who were molecularly diagnosed with a Mendelian condition. Among surveyed physicians, 84% reported medical management changes based on these results, including specialist referrals, cardiac tests, and medication changes. LPA polymorphisms and high polygenic risk of CAD were found in 20% and 9% of patients, respectively, leading to diet, lifestyle, and other changes. Warfarin and simvastatin pharmacogenetic variants were present in roughly half of the cohort., Conclusion: Our results support the use of genetic information in routine cardiovascular health management and provide a roadmap for accompanying research., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.)