Effects of transdermal flunixin meglumine on experimentally induced lameness in adult dairy cattle

Lameness is a common animal health condition with significant production and welfare implications. The transdermal formulation of flunixin meglumine is the only approved drug for pain control in cattle in the United States. Thirty adult dairy cows were enrolled in a study to determine the effect of transdermal flunixin on cattle with induced lameness. Cows were allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups, with 10 cows per group: lameness and flunixin (L+F), lameness and placebo (L+P), or sham induction and placebo (S+P). An arthritis-synovitis was induced in the distal interphalangeal joint of the left hind lateral digit, using 20 mg of amphotericin B, 6 h before the application of treatment. Cows enrolled into the sham induction group had 4 mL of isotonic saline injected into the joint. Cows were dosed with transdermal flunixin at 3.33 mg/kg (1 mL/15 kg), or a placebo at 1 mL/15 kg, every 24 h for 3 d. The first treatment of flunixin or placebo was considered the start of the study, identified as time 0 h. Data were collected from all cows for 120 h following the initial treatment application. Outcome measures included plasma cortisol; substance P; visual lameness assessment; mechanical nociception threshold (MNT), presented as difference between left and right feet; infrared thermography (IRT), presented as difference between left and right feet; and gait analysis using a pressure mat. Cortisol concentrations were lower for the L+F group starting at 1.5 h after drug administration. Substance P levels showed no evidence for treatment differences among groups. Differences between the left hind MNT and right hind MNT were detected, with S+P having the lowest difference at ?0.04 kilograms-force (kgf; 95% CI: ?1.86 to 1.78 kgf), and L+P having the highest at ?2.96 kgf (95% CI: 1.55 to 4.36 kgf). The L+F group was intermediate at ?2.08 kgf (95% CI: 0.89 to 3.27 kgf). Similarly, when the difference between the maximum temperatures of the coronary band were examined via IRT, the L+P group had the highest difference at 1.64°C (95% CI: 1.02 to 2.26°C), with the L+F and S+P groups measuring 0.57°C (95% CI: 0.06 to 1.08°C) and 0.53°C (95% CI: ?0.2 to 1.25°C) respectively. We found no evidence for differences among treatment groups when analyzing force, contact pressure, step impulse, or stride length. Based on differences in MNT, IRT, and cortisol, transdermal flunixin is an effective analgesic agent for induced lameness. Multiple doses of transdermal flunixin may be required to be clinically effective, based on MNT and IRT data. Further investigation of transdermal flunixin and its analgesic effects is warranted in naturally occurring lameness.     

Regioselective end‐functionalization of polylactide oligomers with D‐glucose and D‐galactose

D ‐glucose and D ‐galactose end‐functionalized polylactide oligomers were synthesized by controlled ring‐opening polymerization of lactide using aluminium triisopropoxide, triethylaluminium or stannous octoate as promoter. Accordingly, two selectively protected monosaccharides were studied as co‐initiators, either 1,2;5,6‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D ‐glucofuranose (1) and 1,2;3,4‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐D ‐galactopyranose (2). In contrast to what is known in polymerization of ?‐caprolactone, both protected monosaccharides proved to be efficient co‐initiators and yielded end‐functionalized polylactide chains with controlled regioselectivity (C‐3 or C‐6 linkage), predictable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ag/Ag2S Nanocrystals for High Sensitivity Near‐Infrared Luminescence Nanothermometry

Temperature sensing in biological media (cells, tissues, and living organisms) has become essential in the development of the last generation of diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. Thermometry can be used for early detection of different diseases, such as cancer, stroke, or inflammation processes, one of whose incipient symptoms is the appearance of localized temperature singularities. Luminescence nanothermometry, as a tool to accurately provide temperature sensing in biological media, requires the rational design and development of nanothermometers operating in the second biological window. In this work, this is achieved using Ag/Ag₂S nanocrystals as multiparametric thermal sensing probes. Temperature sensing with remarkably high sensitivity (4% °C^?1) is possible through intensity‐based measurements, as their infrared emission is strongly quenched by small temperature variations within the biological range (15–50 °C). Heating also results in a remarkable redshift of the emission band, which allows for concentration‐independent temperature sensing based on infrared ratiometric measurements, with thermal sensitivity close to 2% °C^?1. These results make Ag/Ag₂S nanocrystals the most sensitive among all noncomposite nanothermometers operating in the second biological window reported so far, allowing for deep‐tissue temperature measurements with low uncertainty (0.2 °C).     

Ripening changes in Ras cheese prepared from ultrafiltered milk

Summary The changes in the proteins and fats of Ras cheese prepared from ultrafiltered milk (UF) were followed during ripening. The soluble protein fraction was made up of whey protein which resisted hydrolysis during ripening. The insoluble protein fraction of fresh cheese was made up mainly of-casein,-casein ands₁-I, indicating pronounced proteolysis during the salting step. Further ripening was accompanied with decrease ins₁-I and increase in-casein. The free fatty acids (FFA) of UF Ras cheese increased with advanced ripening. The pattern of FFA in Ras cheese was similar to that of bovine milk triacylglycerols.

---

Veränderungen in der Zusammensetzung von Ras-Käse aus ultrafiltrierter Milch während der Reifung

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Veränderungen der Proteine und der Fettfraktionen von Ras-Käse aus ultrafiltrierter Milch während der Reifung studiert. Die lösliche Proteinfraktion bestand aus Molkeproteinen, die der Hydrolyse während der Reifung widerstand. Die unlösliche Proteinfraktion des frischen Käses bestand aus-Casein,-Casein unds₁-I, was auf starke Proteolyse während des Einsalzens hinweist. In der nachfolgenden Reifung wurde eine Abnahme dess₁-Caseins und eine Zunahme der-Caseine beobachtet. Die freien Fettsäuren des Ras-Käses nahmen während der Reifung zu. Das Muster der freien Fettsäuren des Ras-Käses und das der Milchtriglyceride sind ähnlich.

     

Extraction of tocopherols from the deodorized distillate of soybean oil with liquefied petroleum gas

Deodorizer distillate, produced during the last processing step of edible oil refinement, is a mixture of tocopherols, sterols, fatty acids, glycerides, hydrocarbons, water and other materials. The amount of tocopherols in deodorizer distillate is large enough to be considered as raw material for vitamin E preparation. In this work, separation of tocopherols from sterols has been achieved using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) extraction. LPG was chosen as extraction solvent in order to improve extract recovery and prevent tocopherol degradation.     

Apple osmotic dehydration described by three-dimensional numerical solution of the diffusion equation

ABSTRACT

In the present study, experimental data of osmotic dehydration kinetics of apple, cut into slices with parallelepiped shape, were simulated using two types of diffusion models. Model 1 considers the constant values of mass diffusivities and volume of the slices. Model 2, on the other hand, considers variable mass diffusivities and also the shrinkage of the product. The numerical solution of the three-dimensional diffusion equation in Cartesian coordinates was obtained through the finite volume method, with a fully implicit formulation and boundary condition of the first kind. Process parameters were determined by optimization using the experimental data sets, through the minimization of an objective function, called χ². The results of the osmotic dehydration kinetics were compatible with those of other studies found in the literature. Process temperature and osmotic solution concentration had influence on the phenomenon, but temperature was preponderant. A study was conducted on water and sucrose distribution during the osmotic dehydration. The results obtained through the mathematical model that considered the variable diffusivity and shrinkage showed greater adequacy to the experimental data.     

The Use of Static and Humidity Cell Tests to Assess the Effectiveness of Coal Waste Desulfurization on Acid Rock Drainage Risk

The environmental benefits of waste desulfurization were evaluated in the Santa Catarina coal field, Brazil. Coal waste from a beneficiation plant was separated into three density fractions, using a two stage process. Characterization of these fractions indicated that the low (D?<?2.2 g/cm³) and high (D?>?2.7 g/cm³) density fractions were potentially suitable for energy and sulfuric acid production, respectively. The waste fraction of intermediate density (2.2?<?D?<?2.7 g/cm³) represented 69% of the total mass studied and had a relatively low sulfide content, and it was postulated that it may be suitable for land disposal with minimum risk to the surrounding environment. This hypothesis was tested using laboratory-scale static and kinetic tests, which indicated that although the fraction remained net acid generating, the rate and net amount of metals, salts, and acidity that leached was considerably less than that of the discards before separation. It was concluded that this approach could reduce the amount of waste generated, as well as the associated pollution risk.     

Thermodynamic analysis of a mechatronic pneumatically drivenspherical joint

Jointed-member robotic devices (Arthrobots) can benefit from the pneumatic tug-and-twist technology. In particular, two crossed Twistor-pairs provide a flexural spherical joint in the form of a Twistor gimbal-drive. Previous papers have shown that the performance characteristics of both Tuggers and Twistors may be derived from a unique appropriate enthalpy function, which results in open-loop proportional control. This paper develops the Twistor enthalpy H(P, α) based upon independent volume and torque measurements, which fully accounts for pressure-dependent Twistor's stretch and Coulomb torque. This function then provides model equations for mechatronic computer-control of the final spherical joint     

Validating circuit board Interconnect Stress Test preconditioning processes using statistical model comparisons of accelerated test data

Interconnect stress testing (IST) is used for acceptance of product by testing coupons fabricated along with the production panels to determine the long‐term reliability of the plated thru‐holes. Prior to in‐service use, the actual production circuit boards are subjected to Circuit Card Assembly processes like soldering components, but simulated on coupons using preconditioning cycles (PCCs). In this paper, the Circuit Card Assembly preconditioning process is compared with IST PCCs. Accelerated test data for this study use IST preconditioning and Re‐Flow Oven preconditioning at an independent company laboratory from coupons supplied by three fabrication suppliers. The data indicate that a Weibull distribution be applied for statistical model comparisons using the likelihood‐ratio test on both types of preconditioning processes with coupons that are then subjected to subsequent in‐service use IST cycles until failure occurs. Results show that using six IST PCCs are statistically equivalent to six Re‐Flow Oven PCCs and thus five IST PCCs currently in use should be reconsidered, but the advantages of effective IST preconditioning lower acceptance costs significantly. In addition, the statistical results are validated by root mean square power calculations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical properties of ultrasonic sprayed nanosized indium doped SnO2 films

Here, we report on the preparation and characterization of nanosized indium doped tin oxide films (TO:In). The films are grown by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis deposition (USPD) onto glass. The structural, optical, electrical and morphological properties of SnO₂ (TO) films are investigated. The as-deposited films SnO₂ have preferred orientation along the (2 0 0) plane and are polycrystalline with a tetragonal crystal structure. Following this direction, the average grain size, obtained from XRD patterns, decreases with the rate doping. It ranges from 64 to 17 nm. In UV spectrum, the transmittance increases followed by a slight decay within visible range. Optical band gap, E_g, is about 4.1 eV. The samples reveal a high resistivity which varies in the range 10⁴–10⁷ Ω cm. Activation energies of shallow levels, as obtained from Arrhenius plots, vary from 85 meV to 165 meV. SEM and AFM analysis demonstrate nanostructure morphology.