Ecology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in commercial dairies in southern Alberta

Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was monitored monthly over a 1-yr period by collecting pooled fecal pats (FECAL) and manila ropes orally accessed for 4 h (ROPE) from multiple pens of cattle in 5 commercial dairies in southern Alberta, Canada. Using immunomagnetic separation, E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from cows on 4 of the dairies and from 13.5% of FECAL and 1.1% of ROPE samples. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of XbaI- and SpeI-digested bacterial DNA of the 65 isolates produced 23 unique restriction endonuclease digestion patterns, although 92% of the isolates belonged to 3 restriction endonuclease digestion pattern clusters sharing a minimum 90% homology. Collection of positive isolates was 15 times more likely from June through September. Across dairies, peak somatic cell count occurred in July, August, September, and November. The likelihood of positive isolates was 2.6 times higher in calves and heifers compared with mature cows. This study indicates that ROPE would be of little value for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in dairy herds unless oral contact with ROPE could be increased in mature animals. Additionally, mitigation strategies for E. coli O157:H7 should be targeted to the months of July, August, and September and toward immature animals for maximum impact. All farms displayed unique combinations of seasonality of shedding and diversity of E. coli O157:H7 subtypes. The fact that seasonal prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 largely coincided with peak somatic cell count within climatically controlled dairy barns suggests that similar environmental factors may be enhancing fecal shedding E. coli O157:H7 and the incidence of mastitis.     

Above-water radiometry in shallow coastal waters

Above- and in-water radiometric data were collected from two coastal platforms: a small boat and an oceanographic tower. The above-water data were processed with and without a correction for bidirectional effects (Q02 and S95, respectively). An intercomparison of water-leaving radiances over a wide range of environmental conditions showed (a) total uncertainties across the blue-green domain were to within 4%, (b) a convergence of the Q02 method with the in-water method (average Q02 intercomparisons were to within 4%), and (c) chlorophyll a concentrations derived from Q02 reflectances and the OC4V4 (Ocean Color 4 Version 4) algorithm agreed with independent high-performance liquid-chromatography determinations to within approximately 32%.     

Polymers from renewable sources. III. Hydroxy-terminated myrcene polymers

A range of hydroxy-terminated polymyrcenes has been prepared using hydrogen peroxide initiated polymerization of pyrolysate grade, β-myrcene in n-butanol solution at 100°C. An oligomeric fraction, containing a large proportion of dimeric material formed via the Diels-Alder reaction, always accompanies the major polymeric fraction. Procedures are described for the removal of this oligomeric material. Polyols so prepared and purified had number average molecular weights (M _n) between 4000 and 2000 g mol^?1 at low and high initiator concentrations, respectively, with corresponding number average functionalities (f _n) between 1.3 and 2.3 and polydispersities (M _w/M _n) of ～ 1.3. The microstructure of the polyols was investigated using NMR spectroscopy from which the main mode of propagation during polymerization of myrcene was deduced to be 1,4 addition across the conjugated double bonds. Glass transition temperatures of the polymyrcenes measured by differential scanning calorimetry were in the range ?50–?60°C.     

Risk of esophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas in relation to use of calcium channel blockers, asthma drugs, and other medications that promote gastroesophageal reflux

Incidence of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia has risen dramatically over the past 2 decades in the U. S., for reasons that are not yet clear. A number of common medications (e.g., calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and certain asthma medications) promote gastroesophageal reflux by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Reflux is thought to increase cancer risk by promoting cellular proliferation, and by exposing the esophageal epithelium to potentially genotoxic gastric and intestinal contents. Recent studies have suggested that calcium channel blockers may also increase cancer risk by inhibiting apoptosis. Using personal interview data from a multicenter, population-based case-control study conducted between 1993 and 1995 in three areas of the U. S., we evaluated whether the use of LES-relaxing drugs was associated with increased risk of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia. Cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 293) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (n = 261) were compared with general population controls (n = 695). Information on additional case groups of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 221) and noncardia gastric cancer (n = 368) were also available for comparison. Overall, 27.4% of controls had used one or more of these drugs for at least 6 months, compared with 30.2% of esophageal adenocarcinoma and 23.8% of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma cases. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for ever use were 1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.7-1.5] and 0.8 (95% CI = 0.5-1.1), respectively. There was little evidence of increasing risk with increasing duration of use of all LES-relaxing drugs together. We found an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma among persons reporting use of asthma drugs containing theophylline (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.1-5.6) or beta agonists (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 0.8-3.8). Risks were higher among long-term users (>5 years) of these drugs (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 0.9-10.3 and OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 0.8-7.0, respectively). In contrast, there was no evidence that the use of calcium channel blockers or other specific groups of drugs increased the risk of any of the cancers studied. These results provide reassuring evidence that the increases in incidence of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia are not likely to be related to the use of LES-relaxing drugs as a group, or calcium channel blockers in particular, but they do suggest that persons treated for long-standing asthma may be at increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.     

Some Aspects of the Antimicrobial and Chemical Properties of Phenyl Boronate Esters of Chloramphenicol

Substituted phenyl boronate esters of chloramphenicol have significant antimicrobial potency against common pathogens. The isosteric 1,3-dioxanes in which the boron atom has been replaced by a methine group are inactive under the conditions of test. The boronate esters are regarded as having the same conformation as the parent antibiotic. Photochemical degradation of these esters by simulated sunlight proceeds much faster than it does with chloramphenicol.     

Synthesis and properties of polydiacetylene-containing polyesters

A series of diacetylene-containing polyesters with number-average molar masses (GPC) in the range 900–4200 g mol⁻¹ were prepared from terephthaloyl chloride and hexa-2,4-diyne-1,6-diol using benzoyl chloride as a monofunctional reactant for control of molar mass. Degrees of crystallinity were estimated from WAXD to be up to 29%. Correlations between molar mass, melting behaviour, degree of crystallinity and thermal cross-polymerisation of diacetylene-containing polyesters have been established using hot-stage microscopy, DSC and resonance Raman spectroscopy. The polyester with M̄_n of 1264 g mol⁻¹ gave the best balance between processability and the ability to cross-polymerise efficiently. Its degree of crystallinity before cross-polymerisation was estimated from WAXD measurments to be 24%, a value coincident with the percentage conversion of diacetylene units to polydiacetylene chains measured by ¹³C solid-state NMR. The optimum conditions for compression moulding the polyester to produce a material with a strong Raman spectrum involved heating under vacuum at 120°C for 6h after an initial 3 h heat-up period. The material thus produced gave an intense Raman CC stretching band, which upon tensile deformation shifted linearly with strain to lower wavenumber by 12.0 cm⁻¹ %⁻¹. The potential use of the diacetylene-containing polyesters in the preparation of model blends for use in quantitative micromechanics studies of stress transfer between phases is briefly discussed.     

Some Aspects of the Antimicrobial and Chemical Properties of Phenyl Boronate Esters of Chloramphenicol

Substituted phenyl boronate esters of chloramphenicol have significant antimicrobial potency against common pathogens. The isosteric 1,3-dioxanes in which the boron atom has been replaced by a methine group are inactive under the conditions of test, The coronate esters are regarded as having the same conformation as the parent antibiotic; Photochemical degradation of these esters by simulated sunlight proceeds much faster than it does with chloramphenicol.     

Laser-Induced Silicon Oxide for Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

The development of a rechargeable Li metal anode (LMA) is an important milestone for improved battery technology. Practical issues hindering LMAs are the formation of Li dendrites and inactive Li during plating and stripping processes, which can cause short circuits, thermal runaway, and low coulombic efficiency (CE). Here, the use of a laser-induced silicon oxide (LI-SiO_x) layer derived from a commercial adhesive tape to improve the reversibility of Li metal batteries (LMBs) is studied. The silicone-based adhesive of the tape is converted by a commercial infrared laser into a homogeneous porous SiO_x layer deposited directly over the current collector. The coating results in superior performance by suppressing the formation of Li dendrites and inactive Li and presenting higher average CE of 99.3% (2.0 mAh cm⁻² at 2.0 mA cm⁻²) compared to bare electrodes. The thickness and morphology of the deposited Li is investigated, revealing a different mechanism of Li deposition on coated electrodes. The laser coating affords a method that is fast and avoids the use of toxic organic solvents and extensive drying times. The improved performance with the SiO_x coating is demonstrated in LMB with a zero-excess (“anode-free”) configuration where a 100% improved performance is verified.     

Cost reduction techniques for the design of non‐linear flapping wing structures

This work details a computational framework for gradient‐based optimization of a non‐linear flapping wing structure with a large number of design variables, where analytical sensitivities of the unsteady finite element system are computed using the adjoint method. Two techniques are used to reduce the large computational cost of this structural design process. The first projects the finite element system onto a reduced basis of POD modes. The second uses a monolithic time formulation with spectral elements, and can be used to compute only the desired time‐periodic response. Results are given in terms of the trade‐off between accuracy and computational efficiency of these methods for both system response and adjoint computations, for a variety of mesh/time step refinements, degrees of non‐linearity (i.e. weakly or strongly non‐linear), and harmonic content. The work concludes with the structural design of a flapping wing: the elastic deformation at the wingtip is minimized through the flapping stroke by varying the thickness of each finite element. Significant improvements in computational cost are obtained at little expense to the accuracy of the results obtained via design optimization. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum-dot-encoded microbeads for multiplexed genetic detection of non-amplified DNA samples

Barcoding technologies have become the basis for a new generation of molecular diagnostic platforms for measuring biomarkers in a high-throughput, rapid, and sensitive manner. Thus far, researchers have mainly focused on preparing different types of barcodes but, in order to use them optimally in genomic- and proteomic-based applications, there is a need to understand the effect of barcode and assay parameters on their performance. Herein, quantum-dot barcodes are systematically characterized for the detection of non-amplified DNA sequences. The effect of capture probes, reporter probes, and target DNA sequence lengths are studied, as well as the effect of the amount of noncomplementary sequences on the hybridization kinetics and efficiency. From DNA denaturation to signal detection, quantum-dot-barcode assays require less than one hour to detect a target DNA sequence with a linear dynamic range of 0.02-100 fmol. Three optically distinct quantum-dot barcodes are used to demonstrate the multiplexing capability of these barcodes for genomic detection. These results suggest that quantum-dot barcodes are an excellent platform for multiplex, rapid, and sensitive genetic detection.