The use of bovine serum protein as an oral support therapy following coronavirus challenge in calves

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of a supplemental bovine serum protein blend fed to calves challenged with virulent coronavirus. Twelve Holstein bull calves (approximately 3 wk of age) were allocated by initial body weight to Control (n = 5) and treated (n = 7) groups. On d 0, all calves were orally challenged with 1 x 10(7) plaque-forming units of virulent coronavirus isolate. Infection was allowed to progress for 24 h before treatment was started. On d 1, treated calves began receiving 160 g of dry bovine serum powder (16 g IgG) mixed into milk replacer powder (67 g) at both an a.m. and p.m. feeding. Control calves received only milk replacer powder (227 g) at both feedings. Response to coronavirus challenge and dietary treatment was monitored prior to a.m. and p.m. feeding by the collection of multiple clinical measures. Fecal consistency was decreased by coronavirus challenge but was not affected by dietary treatment. Mean daily rectal temperature and heart rate were not affected by dietary treatment. Average packed cell volume was higher in treated calves than in control (35.0 and 27.0%). Coronavirus challenge resulted in an immediate increase in respiration rate, decreasing by d 7. Control calves tended to have a greater average respiration rate compared with treated (28.7 vs. 26.8 breaths/min). Treated calves had a higher average feed intake than control (0.57 vs. 0.44 kg/d). These data suggest that bovine-serum supplemented milk replacer may decrease the severity of disease in young calves exposed to coronavirus.     

A novel methodology to measure the responsiveness of RMTs in reconfigurable manufacturing system

Reconfigurable manufacturing systems are designed to deliver exact functionality and capacity that is needed, when it is needed. The reconfigurable machine tool (RMT) plays a pivotal role in the accomplishment of this objective through their built in modular structure consisting of basic and auxiliary modules along with the open architecture software.     

High-Throughput Analysis of Algal Crude Oils Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Lipid analysis often needs to be specifically optimized for each class of compounds due to its wide variety of chemical and physical properties. It becomes a serious bottleneck in the development of algae-based next generation biofuels when high-throughput analysis becomes essential for the optimization of various process conditions. We propose a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based high-throughput assay as a ‘quick-and-dirty’ protocol to monitor various lipid classes in algal crude oils. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization was determined to be most effective for this purpose to cover a wide range of lipid classes. With an autosampler-LC pump set-up, we could analyze algal crude samples every one and half minutes, monitoring several lipid species such as TAG, DAG, squalene, sterols, and chlorophyll a. High-mass resolution and high-mass accuracy of the orbitrap mass analyzer provides confidence in the identification of these lipid compounds. MS/MS and MS3 analysis could be performed in parallel for further structural information, as demonstrated for TAG and DAG. This high-throughput method was successfully demonstrated for semi-quantitative analysis of algal oils after treatment with various nanoparticles.     

Effect of cobalt-60 γ radiation on the physical and chemical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer

The structural, optical, and morphological properties of Co⁶⁰ γ irradiation on poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymer samples were studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The diffraction pattern of virgin sample showed that the polymer was semicrystalline in nature. However, because of irradiation, the crystallinity decreased up to a dose level of 110 kGy and increased up to 300 kGy. The crystallite size, strain, and dislocation were calculated from the XRD data, and the crystallite size decreased from 291.07 to 346.90 Å. The absorption edge shifted from 315 to 330 nm, and the band gap of the samples decreased from 3.79 to 3.66 eV. The SEM micrographs showed radial bulging along with inhomogeneous liner exfoliation, and also, a rocky shape pattern with different sizes was observed. A significant change was found in the Raman spectra of the γ-irradiated polymer at the highest dose. The results of the structural, optical, and morphological studies show recovery characteristics at the highest dose level of 300 kGy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Influence of copper doping on structural and dielectric response on sodium lithium tri titanates (Na1.9Li0.1)Ti3O7:X Cu (0.0?≤?X?≤?0.1)

Pure and Cu-doped [(Na_1.9Li_0.1) Ti₃O₇XCu (0.01?≤?X?≤?1.0)] layered ceramics are prepared via the conventional solid state reaction method. The microstructure, dielectric properties and ac conductivity of copper doped (Na_1.9Li_0.1) Ti₃O₇ have been investigated. The XRD results indicate that copper ions enter the unit cell maintaining the layered structure of solid solution. The dependence of loss tangent (tanδ) and relative permittivity (ε_r) on temperature range (373–573?K) and frequency ranges (100?kHz–1?MHz) have been repeated for [(Na_1.9Li_0.1) Ti₃O₇]XCu (0.01?≤?X?≤?1.0)]. The dielectric losses in copper doped derivatives of layered (Na_2-xLi_xTi₃O₇) (where X?=?0.1) ceramic are the cooperative contribution of electrical conductions, dipole orientation and space change polarization. The peaks of relative permittivity at high temperature indicate a possible ferroelectric phase transition. It is observed that low doping of paramagnetic ions (Cu²⁺) enhances electron hopping (polaron) conduction and impedes the interlayer ionic conduction. However, electron hopping conduction is dominant over lower temperature region, but as temperature raises interlayer ionic conduction begins to prevail.     

Reliability estimation in Lindley distribution with progressively type II right censored sample

In this paper we discuss one parameter Lindley distribution. It is suggested that it may serve as a useful reliability model. The model properties and reliability measures are derived and studied in detail. For the estimation purposes of the parameter and other reliability characteristics maximum likelihood and Bayes approaches are used. Interval estimation and coverage probability for the parameter are obtained based on maximum likelihood estimation. Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to compare the performance of the various estimates developed. In view of cost and time constraints, progressively Type II censored sample data are used in estimation. A real data example is given for illustration.     

Pushdown resistance as a measure of robustness in progressive collapse analysis

This paper presents a technique termed ‘pushdown analysis’ that can be used to investigate the robustness of building systems by computing residual capacity and establishing collapse modes of a damaged structure. The proposed method is inspired by the pushover method commonly used in earthquake engineering. Three variants of the technique, termed uniform pushdown, bay pushdown and incremental dynamic pushdown, are suggested and exercised using nonlinear analysis on 10-story steel moment frames designed for moderate and high levels of seismic risk. Simulation results show that the frame designed for high seismic risk is more robust than the corresponding one designed for moderate seismic risk. The improved performance is attributed to the influence of seismic detailing, specifically, the presence of reduced beam sections and stronger columns. It is shown that the dynamic impact factors associated with column removal are significantly lower than the commonly used value of 2.0 and are in line with lower values in the guidelines recently proposed by the US Department of Defense. The study suggests that seismic ‘fuses’ can play a role in the design for robustness and a discussion of the implications of this observation is provided.