Genome-wide association study of normal and atypical progesterone profiles in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Female fertility has a major role in dairy production and affects the profitability of dairy cattle. The genetic progress obtained by traditional selection can be slow because of the low heritability of classical fertility traits. Endocrine fertility traits based on progesterone concentration in milk have higher heritability and more directly reflect the cow's own reproductive physiology. The aim of our study was to identify genomic regions for 7 endocrine fertility traits in dairy cows by performing a genome-wide association study with 54,000 SNP. The next step was to fine-map targeted genomic regions with significant SNP using imputed sequences to identify potential candidate genes associated with the normal and atypical progesterone profiles. The association between a SNP and a phenotype was assessed by a single SNP analysis, using a linear mixed model that included a random polygenic effect. Phenotypes and genotypes were available for 1,126 primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows from research herds in Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In total, 44 significant SNP associated with 7 endocrine fertility traits were identified on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 1–4, 6, 8–9, 11–12, 14–17, 19, 21–24, and 29. Three chromosomes, BTA8, BTA17, and BTA23, were imputed from 54,000 SNP genotypes to the whole-genome sequence level with Beagle version 4.1. The fine-mapping identified several significant associations with delayed cyclicity, cessation of cyclicity, commencement of luteal activity, and inter-ovulatory interval. These associations may contribute to an index of markers for genetic improvement of fertility. Several potential candidate genes reported to affect reproduction were also identified in the targeted genomic regions. However, due to high linkage disequilibrium, it was not possible to identify putative causal genes or polymorphisms for any of the regions.     

Adults only: the prevalence of tobacco promotions in bars and clubs in the Boston area

Objective: To document the nature and prevalence of tobacco promotions in bars and clubs in a major US city.

Design: We conducted systematic observations in a representative sample of 38 establishments in the Boston area, half of which had been advertised in a tobacco company ad. We also observed seven events in six additional clubs hosting Camel Casbah promotions. Telephone interviews were later completed with club managers.

Main outcome measure: Use of branded give-away items, distribution of free cigarette samples, managers' reports of costs and benefits of hosting promotions.

Results: The majority of the 38 clubs were observed to use bar paraphernalia including matchbooks with tobacco brand logos, regardless of their history of appearing in tobacco sponsored ads. Free cigarette samples were not observed at any of the sampled clubs, but were a feature of every Casbah event. Managers of clubs in the advertised group were somewhat more likely to report having hosted promotions, but 44% of managers of non-advertised clubs indicated that tobacco promotions had occurred in their establishments in the past. Approximately one third of club managers viewed public links with a tobacco company as a negative feature of hosting promotions.

Conclusions: Based on managers' reports, tobacco promotions occurred in more than 50% of the Boston area entertainment venues frequented by young adults. Cigarette companies should be required to inform the attorney general of plans to conduct promotions in adult-only venues to facilitate monitoring of compliance with the Master Settlement Agreement. The negative health and business consequences of hosting promotions should be communicated to bar owners.

     

Survey of furan in heat processed foods by headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and estimated adult exposure

Furan is a suspected human carcinogen that is formed in some processed foods at low ng per g levels. Recent improvements in analytical methodology and scientific instrumentation have made it possible to accurately measure the amount of furan in a wide variety of foods. Results from analysis of more than 300 processed foods are presented. Furan was found at levels ranging from non-detectable (LOD, 0.2–0.9 ng g^?1) to over 100 ng g^?1. Exposure estimates for several adult food types were calculated, with brewed coffee being the major source of furan in the adult diet (0.15 µg kg^?1 body weight day^?1). Estimates of mean exposure to furan for different subpopulations were calculated. For consumers 2 years and older, the intake is estimated to be about 0.2 µg kg^?1 body weight day^?1.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new microporous cesium silicotitanate (SNL-B) molecular sieve

Ongoing hydrothermal Cs–Ti–Si–O–H₂O phase investigations has produced several new ternary phases including a novel microporous Cs–silicotitanate molecular sieve, SNL-B with the approximate formula of Cs₃TiSi₃O_9.5 · 3H₂O. SNL-B is only the second molecular sieve, Cs–silicotitanate phase reported to have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods. Crystallites are very small (0.1×2 μm²) with a blade-like morphology. SNL-B is confirmed to be a three-dimensional molecular sieve by a variety of characterization techniques (N₂ adsorption, ion exchange, water adsorption/desorption, solid state cross polarization-magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance). SNL-B is able to desorb and adsorb water from its pores while retaining its crystal structure and exchanges Cs cations readily. Additional techniques were used to describe fundamental properties (powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR, ²⁹Si and ¹³³Cs MAS NMR, DTA, SEM/EDS, ion selectivity, and radiation stability). The phase relationships of metastable SNL-B to other hydrothermally synthesized Cs–Ti–Si–O–H₂O phases are discussed, particularly its relationship to a Cs–silicotitanate analogue of pharmacosiderite, and a novel condensed phase, a polymorph of Cs₂TiSi₆O₁₅ (SNL-A).     

The effect of dapiprazole on accommodative amplitude in eyes dilated with 0.5 percent tropicamide

BACKGROUND: Dapiprazole 0.5 percent (REV-EYES) eyedrops have recently become commercially available in the U.S. to reverse the diagnostic mydriasis produced by various concentrations and combinations of tropicamide and phenylephrine. Although a previous study has shown that dapiprazole increased accommodative amplitude after the administration of tropicamide, no attempt was made to control for differences in pupil size. METHODS: In the present single masked study, the accommodative amplitudes of forty-eight age-matched subjects previously dilated with 0.5% tropicamide were measured through a 3 millimeter artificial pupil following random instillation of dapiprazole in one eye and a placebo drop in the other eye. RESULTS: Area under the curve analysis determined that the magnitude of accommodative response to dapiprazole was significant at p < 0.001 (paired t-test). The McNemar test also showed that the accommodative amplitude was greater in eyes treated with dapiprazole at all observation points (p < 0.005), beginning at 15 mins after the instillation of the test drug. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that dapiprazole accelerates the return of accommodation independent of pupil size.     

Compositional verification of real-time systems using Ecdar

We present a specification theory for timed systems implemented in the Ecdar tool. We illustrate the operations of the specification theory on a running example, showing the models and verification checks. To demonstrate the power of the compositional verification, we perform an in depth case study of a leader election protocol; Modeling it in Ecdar as Timed input/output automata Specifications and performing both monolithic and compositional verification of two interesting properties on it. We compare the execution time of the compositional to the classical verification showing a huge difference in favor of compositional verification.     

Topology optimization using an explicit interface representation

We introduce the Deformable Simplicial Complex method to topology optimization as a way to represent the interface explicitly yet being able to handle topology changes. Topology changes are handled by a series of mesh operations, which also ensures a well-formed mesh. The same mesh is therefore used for both finite element calculations and shape representation. In addition, the approach unifies shape and topology optimization in a complementary optimization strategy. The shape is optimized on the basis of the gradient-based optimization algorithm MMA whereas holes are introduced using topological derivatives. The presented method is tested on two standard minimum compliance problems which demonstrates that it is both simple to apply, robust and efficient.