Genetic analysis of herd life in Quebec Holsteins using Weibull models

Survival analysis methodologies were used to study herd life in Canadian Holstein cows. Herd life was defined as true herd life or the length of time between first calving and censoring. True herd life adjusted for 305-d milk production was defined as functional herd life. Lifetime record (censored or completed) were from 331,147 Holstein cows registered in the Programme d'Analyse des Troupeaux Laitiers du Québec (PATLQ) that calved for the first time between March 1, 1981 and March 31, 1995. The Weibull (proportional hazards) model used to analyze true herd life and functional herd life contained a Weibull baseline hazard function and the time-dependent effects of year of first calving, lactation number by stage of lactation, annual change in herd size and herd-year (random), and the time-independent effects of the milk recording option (supervised or not) and age at first calving. The model for functional herd life included also the time-dependent effect of herd-year-parity class of 305-d milk production. Genetic differences between sires with regard to the hazard function of their daughters was clearly demonstrated. The hazard rate followed a different pattern in later lactations, particularly in the first 240 d in milk. Older age at first calving was found to be associated with higher risks of culling. Changes in herd size had a small impact on the hazard function of animals. The hazard decreased as production of the cow increased. Heritability in the log scale was 0.09 for true herd life and 0.08 for functional herd life, but when heritability was expressed on the original scale, the estimates for the two traits were 0.19 and 0.15, respectively. The difference in the median survival between a bull with an estimated transmitting ability of 0.6 and another bull with an estimated transmitting ability of 1.3 was 690 d or 1.7 lactations. Rank correlations between the official estimated transmitting abilities for true herd life and functional herd life and those obtained in this study were 0.62 and 0.66, respectively.     

Laboratory measurements and T-matrix calculations of the scattering matrix of rutile particles in water

We present experimentally determined scattering matrix elements of birefringent rutile particles in water as a function of the scattering angle for a wavelength of 633 nm (in air). These elements are compared with the results of T-matrix calculations for prolate spheroids. For the diagonal matrix elements the results of the T-matrix calculations are in good agreement with those of the measurements. A good fit for the whole matrix, including the off-diagonal elements, is obtained when we compensate for the birefringence of the rutile particles by performing the computations for spheroids with a slightly larger length/width ratio than measured.     

Probing the origins and control of shrinkage stress in dental resin-composites: I. Shrinkage stress characterization technique*

The accurate and reliable characterization of the polymerization shrinkage stress is becoming increasingly important, as the shrinkage stress still is a major drawback of current dimethacrylate-based dental materials and restricts its range of applications. The purpose of this research is to develop a novel shrinkage stress measurement device to elucidate the shrinkage stress evolution of dental restorative composites while allowing for controlled sample deformation during the polymerization. Furthermore, the device is designed to mimic the clinically relevant cusp-to-cusp displacement by systematically adjusting the instrument compliance, the bonded surface area/unbonded area by sample geometry, and the total bonded area by sample diameter. The stress measurement device based on the cantilever beam deflection theory has been successfully developed and characterized using a commercial dental composite. It was shown that this device is a highly effective, practical and reliable shrinkage stress measurement tool, which enables its facile applications to the investigation of shrinkage stress kinetics of both commercial and experimental composites, as well as for probing various aspects that dictate shrinkage stress development.     

Immunosensor for detection of Yersinia enterocolitica based on imaging ellipsometry

An immunosensor for the detection of pathogens was developed using imaging ellipsometry (IE) as a detection method. Yersinia enterocolitica was selected as the target pathogen in this study. A gold surface deposited with a self-assembled layer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) was used as a substrate. For the fabrication of the immunosensor, protein G spots were made on the substrate using an inkjet-type microarrayer, and monoclonal antibody (Mab) was adsorbed onto the protein G spots. Deposition of each layer onto the substrate was confirmed by the measurement of surface plasmon resonance. The ellipsometric image of the protein G spot and the Mab-adsorbed protein G spot were acquired using an off-null ellipsometry type of imaging ellipsometry system. By measuring the ellipsometric angles of the protein layers, the surface concentration of each protein layer was calculated. The change in the mean optical intensity of the protein spot to the various concentrations of Y.enterocolitica was estimated. The immunosensor using imaging ellipsometry could successfully detect Y. enterocolitica in concentrations varying from 10(3) to 10(7) cfu/mL. The proposed immunosensor system has the advantage of allowing label-free detection, high sensitivity, and operational simplicity.     

An investigation of liquid carryover and sample residual for a high-throughput flow cytometer sample delivery system

The phenomenon of intersample contamination in air-segmented continuous-flow assays has been studied for many years, and new uses are being found for these sampling techniques every day. One application that has been developed recently employs a flow cytometer to conduct high-throughput screening assays of biological compounds. We have explored the sources of intersample contamination in the system and shown how methods developed previously can be applied to describe these phenomena. Using a simple model, we were able to accurately measure liquid film thickness in the sample tubing and demonstrate the effects of intersample contamination in a flow cytometer assay. Also, measures have been taken to reduce the level of intersample contamination in cytometric screening assays, helping to make the system a more viable tool for drug screening applications.     

Estimated potassium content in Hanford workers

Potassium content in male and female workers at the US Department of Energy Hanford Site was estimated based on measurements made in 2002 of 40K activity in the body. The 40K activity in females ranged from 2.1 to 4.1 kBq with an average of 3.1 +/- 0.02 kBq. The total body potassium (TBK) content in females averaged 98 +/- 0.6 g. The 40K activity in males ranged from 2.8 to 6.6 kBq with an average of 4.2 +/- 0.01 kBq and the average TBK was 136 +/- 0.3 g. The average TBK value for males aged 20-49 y was 140 g. The average TBK values for both genders decreased with age. The average potassium concentrations calculated for the different age ranges for males were 15-25% less than the value (1.9 gK per kg) obtained using the reported ICRP reference potassium and reference weight values. Potassium concentrations were inversely correlated with body-build index, body-mass index and body weight. These correlations could possibly be utilised to help assess the risk for disease. Future work is planned to evaluate whether monitoring of potassium concentrations could be used as a tool for the detection of diabetes and hypertension.     

Modeling precipitation and sorption of elements during mixing of river water and porewater in the Coeur d'Alene River basin

Reddish brown flocs form along the edge of the Coeur d'Alene River when porewater drains into river water during the annual lowering of water level in the basin. The precipitates are efficient scavengers of dissolved elements and have characteristics that may make metals associated with them bioavailable. This work characterizes the geochemistry of the porewater and models the formation and composition of the flocs. Porewater is slightly acidic, has suboxic to anoxic characteristics, tends to have higher alkalinity, and contains elevated concentrations of many constituents relative to river water. Laboratory mixing experiments involving porewater and river water were done to produce the precipitates. Thermodynamic predictions using PHREEQC indicate that predicted amounts of ferrihydrite and gibbsite agree with removal of Fe and Al. Predictions of element removal by adsorption onto ferrihydrite are consistent with observed removal using a combination of surface complexation constants for the generalized two-layer model (As and Se), alternative surface constants derived from experiments at high sorbate-to-sorbent ratios (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and adjusted surface constants to fit experimental data (Cr, Mo, and Sb). This new set of surface complexation constants needs further testing in other contaminated systems.     

Effect of ethanol on the growth of Clostridium botulinum

Model broth studies were carried out to investigate the effect of ethanol on the growth of proteolytic (group I) strains of Clostridium botulinum. Ethanol extended the pathogen's lag phase, decreased its exponential growth rate, and decreased its final level of growth in the stationary phase. In all cases, botulinum neurotoxin production was associated with growth. Micrographs of C. botulinum cultures grown at 37 degrees C in trypticase peptone glucose yeast extract (TPGY) broths containing 2 and 4% ethanol showed elongation of vegetative cells and interference with cell division. The inhibition of growth and toxin production at the ethanol level predicted (5.5%, wt/wt) was confirmed by microscopy and by the mouse bioassay. A subsequent study was carried out to determine the combined effect of ethanol (0 to 8% [wt/wt]), water activity (aw; 0.953 to 0.997), and pH (6.2 to 8.2) on the probability of the growth of and neurotoxin production by proteolytic strains of C. botulinum (10(3) spores per ml). Growth and neurotoxin production occurred in 1 to 3 days in TPGY broths without ethanol (0%) and in 2 to 4 days in broths containing 2% ethanol regardless of the aw or pH levels (P < 0.005). Growth and neurotoxin production were delayed by an ethanol concentration of 4% ethanol and completely inhibited by a concentration of 6%. At an ethanol concentration of 4%, the probability of growth and toxin production over 365 days (Pt) was influenced by aw and pH. After 365 days, the maximum probability of growth and toxin production (Pmax) was 1 for all but one combination. However, tau, the time it took for 50% of all eventually positive replicates for any given combination of barriers to show growth and/or turbidity, ranged from <3 to 229 days. All tubes of TPGY broths that showed no growth after 365 days were subcultured in fresh TPGY broths. In all cases, growth and toxin production occurred within 24 h at 37 degrees C, indicating the reversible (sporostatic and/or bacteriostatic) effect of ethanol on C. botulinum.     

Formation of gold nanoparticles within a liquid crystalline polymeric matrix

We could prepare a novel composite consisting of a liquid crystalline polyester matrix and gold nanoparticles (7-14 nm). The polymer bears methoxy-terminated, hydrophilic, low molecular weight (350) PEG pendants on the rigid, hydrophobic aromatic polyester backbone. The polymers from a layered, sematic-like morphology at room temperature, where the interlayer is occupied by the PEG pendants. An aqueous solution of HAuCl4 was allowed to diffuse into the hydrophilic domains and the gold ions were reduced by hydrazine to gold nanoparticles. Our findings combine the concepts of self-assembly and nanoparticles, which can lead to formation of many interesting new nanocomposites.