Effect of temperature on raw whole milk density and its potential impact on milk payment in the dairy industry

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of temperature on whole milk density measured at four different temperatures: 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C. A total of ninety-three individual milk samples were collected from morning milking of thirty-two Holstein Friesian dairy cows, of national average genetic merit, once every two weeks over a period of 4 weeks and were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for milk composition analysis. Density of the milk was evaluated using two different analytical methods: a portable density meter DMA35 and a standard desktop model DMA4500M (Anton Paar GmbH, UK). Milk density was analysed with a linear mixed model with the fixed effects of sampling period, temperature and analysis method; triple interaction of sampling period x analysis method x temperature; and the random effect of cow to account for repeated measures. The effect of temperature on milk density (ρ) was also evaluated including temperature (t) as covariate with linear and quadratic effects within each analytic method. The regression equation describing the curvature and density–temperature relationship for the DMA35 instrument was ρ = 1.0338−0.00017T−0.0000122T² (R² = 0.64), while it was ρ = 1.0334 + 0.000057T−0.00001T² (R² = 0.61) for DMA4500 instrument. The mean density determined with DMA4500 at 5 °C was 1.0334 g cm⁻³, with corresponding figures of 1.0330, 1.0320 and 1.0305 g cm⁻³ at 10, 15 and 20 °C, respectively. The milk density values obtained in this study at specific temperatures will help to address any bias in weight–volume calculations and thus may also improve the financial and operational control for the dairy processors in Ireland and internationally.     

Diurnal and spatial variation of xylem dielectric constant in Norway Spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) as related to microclimate, xylem sap flow, and xylem chemistry

Spatial and temporal variations in vegetation dielectric properties strongly influence the microwave backscatter characteristics of forested landscapes. This paper examines the relationship between xylem tissue dielectric constant, xylem sap flux density, and xylem sap chemical composition as measured in the stems of two Norway Spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees in the Fichtelgebirge region of Northern Bavaria, Germany. Dielectric constant and xylem sap flux were monitored continuously from June through October 1995, at several heights along the tree trunks. At the end of the measurement series, each tree was harvested, and its xylem sap extracted and analyzed to determine the concentrations of amino acids and cations. Results show that the sap flux density was correlated with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) at all heights in the stem. In contrast, the xylem tissue dielectric constant is influenced by VPD but can exhibit a significant temporal lag relative to changes in VPD. This lag varies with position along the tree trunk. The temporal variability of the dielectric constant is compared with both trees at several positions along the tree trunks. Results of xylem sap chemical analysis are presented. We show that spatial and temporal variability in the xylem tissue dielectric constant is influenced not only by water content, but by variations in xylem sap chemistry as well. This has important implications for microwave remote sensing of forested landscapes, as useful information may be acquired regarding stand physiology and water relations and where variations in dielectric properties within individual trees and across geographic areas can be significant error sources for forest inventory mapping.     

Concordant but different: Cognitive function, cerebral anatomy, and metabolism in monozygotic twins with Alzheimer's disease.

To illustrate the utility of the twin method in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research, a pair of monozygotic twins, concordant for the disease but markedly different in their clinical presentations, was studied in detail. Neuropsychological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebral glucose metabolic studies revealed a typical behavioral presentation for AD in Twin A. In contrast, Twin B showed prominent visuospatial impairments. Although there was no identified cause for the disparate presentations, a close correspondence was observed between the neuropsychological findings and the regional brain measures. The results suggest that the trajectory of AD may vary widely even in genetically identical individuals. Factors accounting for the variability include potential intrauterine, early developmental, and environmental differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of a resonant-cavity enhanced GaAs/AlGaAs MSMphotodetector

The authors have developed a 2-D device simulator for heterostructure metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors. They have incorporated a model of multilayer optics into the simulator and used it to analyze the temporal response of a resonant-cavity enhanced heterostructure with a confining buffer layer and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). The authors show that through fine tuning the layer thicknesses, optical resonance enhancement of the light absorption can be obtained     

Middle cerebral artery main stem thrombosis in two siblings with familial thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is frequently complicated by microinfarcts in cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter. We describe two sisters who suffered massive hemispheric infarction due to thrombosis of the middle cerebral artery main stem during exacerbations of TTP. Acute TTP may be associated with intraluminal thrombosis of large-diameter arteries in addition to arterioles and capillaries.