Physiologic effects of dietary clay supplements Final report, 1 Dec. 1964 - 15 Jun. 1965

Clay supplementary diet effect on weight and growth of long animal bone

ESTIMATION OF BREEDING VALUES OF SAHIWAL CATTLE USING TEST DAY MILK YIELDS

Estimated breeding values of test-day (TD) and 305-day milk yield were calculated to compare ranking of animals on the basis of two information sources under an animal model. Two statistical models were used to analyze 780 first lactation (305-day) and monthly milk yield records. The first model was an individual animal model to analyze lactation milk yield with period-season of calving as fixed effect, while the second model was a repeatability model where monthly milk yield records were analyzed using period-season of calving as fixed effect and animals’ additive genetic effect and permanent environmental effect as random factors. In this model, the age at calving, ratio of days in milk to 305-day (as linear and quadratic components) and their reciprocal logs were used as covariables. Ranking of animals for estimated breeding values from the two models was compared. The rank correlations were 0.927 and 0.923 for sires and cows, respectively. Largest rank shift measured in sires and cows showed that ranking of sire was affected less than that of cows. Phenotypic and genetic correlations did not show any clear pattern due to limited number of observations. Higher values of rank correlations suggested that TD milk yields could be used instead of 305-day lactation yields for genetic evaluation of sires and cows. Detailed studies involving larger data sets were however, suggested for validation of results

GENETIC CONTROL OF TEST-DAY MILK YIELD IN SAHIWAL CATTLE

Heritabilities of test-day (TD) and 305-day milk yield were estimated using performance records of 780 first lactation Sahiwal cows, following two models. In the first model, estimated 305-day lactation milk yields were analyzed through an individual animal model with period-season of calving as fixed effect and additive genetic effect as random factor. The second model was a repeatability model where monthly milk yield records were analyzed using period-season of calving as fixed effect and additive genetic effect and permanent environmental effect as random factors. The age at calving, ratio of days in milk to 305-day (as linear and quadratic components) and their reciprocal logs were used as covariables. The heritability estimates for 305-day and TD milk yields were 0.082 and 0.024, respectively. Heritability estimates of individual TDs ranged from 0 to 0.274. The relative proportion of permanent environment variance to total variance was 0.498. Heritability of individual test-day milk yield was highest in the mid-lactation (TD6-TD8). Lower genetic control of test day and lactation milk yield in the present study needs validation using larger data sets with accurate pedigree recording

Characterization of on Newly Developed Hybrid Reinforced Composite of Polypropylene with Agave –Amaricana, Nano-talc and Starch

372-378The incrementing demand for green and biodegradable material due to increased awareness and government regulations. This gives a new path to the creation of hybrid composite. This may improve the properties. In the present research work, natural fibres were extracted from Agave Americana plant, starch, and nano-talc reinforced in polypropylene matrix was used to synthesis hybrid composite by twin screw extruder. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene was used to enhance the compatibility between natural fibres and starch. Various samples were prepared by varying the content of natural fibres, starch and nano-talc. The prepared hybrid composite tested for its homogeneity by SEM and XRD test. The nano-talc in small content and natural fibres content of 5% gave better properties with enhanced tensile strength, and impact strength. Homogeneous and reactive mixing was reflected in SEM and FTIR, were a good indication for producing cheaper and lighter materials with enhanced mechanical performance

Characterization of on Newly Developed Hybrid Reinforced Composite of Polypropylene with Agave –Amaricana, Nano-talc and Starch

The incrementing demand for green and biodegradable material due to increased awareness and government regulations. This gives a new path to the creation of hybrid composite. This may improve the properties. In the present research work, natural fibres were extracted from Agave Americana plant, starch, and nano-talc reinforced in polypropylene matrix was used to synthesis hybrid composite by twin screw extruder. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene was used to enhance the compatibility between natural fibres and starch. Various samples were prepared by varying the content of natural fibres, starch and nano-talc. The prepared hybrid composite tested for its homogeneity by SEM and XRD test. The nano-talc in small content and natural fibres content of 5% gave better properties with enhanced tensile strength, and impact strength. Homogeneous and reactive mixing was reflected in SEM and FTIR, were a good indication for producing cheaper and lighter materials with enhanced mechanical performance

Conditional Deletion of Sost in MSC‐derived lineages Identifies Specific Cell Type Contributions to Bone Mass and B Cell Development

Sclerostin (Sost) is a negative regulator of bone formation and blocking its function via antibodies has shown great therapeutic promise by increasing both bone mass in humans and animal models. Sclerostin deletion in Sost knockout mice (Sost‐/‐) causes high bone mass (HBM) similar to Sclerosteosis patients. Sost‐/‐ mice have been shown to display an up to 300% increase in bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), relative to aged matched controls, and it has been postulated that the main source of skeletal Sclerostin is the osteocyte. To understand the cell‐type specific contributions to the HBM phenotype described in Sost‐/‐ mice, as well as to address the endocrine and paracrine mode of action of sclerostin, we examined the skeletal phenotypes of conditional Sost loss‐of‐function (SostiCOIN/iCOIN) mice with specific deletions in (1) the limb mesenchyme (Prx1‐Cre; targets osteoprogenitors and their progeny); (2) mid‐stage osteoblasts and their progenitors (Col1‐Cre); (3) mature osteocytes (Dmp1‐Cre) and (4) hypertrophic chondrocytes and their progenitors (ColX‐Cre). All conditional alleles resulted in significant increases in bone mass in trabecular bone in both the femur and lumbar vertebrae, but only Prx1‐Cre deletion fully recapitulated the amplitude of the HBM phenotype in the appendicular skeleton and the B cell defect described in the global knockout. Despite wildtype expression of Sost in the axial skeleton of Prx1‐Cre deleted mice, these mice also had a significant increase in bone mass in the vertebrae, but the Sclerostin released in circulation by the axial skeleton did not affect bone parameters in the appendicular skeleton. Also, both Col1 and Dmp1 deletion resulted in a similar 80% significant increase in trabecular bone mass, but only Col1 and Prx1 deletion resulted in a significant increase in cortical thickness. We conclude that several cell types within the Prx1‐osteoprogenitor derived lineages contribute significant amounts of Sclerostin protein to the paracrine pool of Sost, in bone

Determining the Effectiveness of Fibrin Sealants in Reducing Complications in Patients Undergoing Lateral Neck Dissection (DEFeND): A Randomised External Pilot Trial.

ObjectivesHigh-quality randomised controlled trials (RCT) to support the use of Fibrin Sealants (FS) in neck dissection (ND) are lacking. The DEFeND trial assessed critical pilot/feasibility questions and signals from clinical outcomes to inform a future definitive trial.Patients and methodsThe study design piloted was a blinded surgical RCT. All participants underwent unilateral ND for head and neck cancer. Interventional arm: ND with application of FS.Control armND alone. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, effectiveness of blinding, protocol adherence and evaluating administrative processes. Clinical outcomes included surgical complications (primary outcome), drainage volume, time to drain removal, length of hospital stay, pain and the Neck Dissection Impairment Index.ResultsRecruitment completed ahead of time. Fifty-three patients were recruited, and 48 were randomised at a rate of 5.3 patients/month. Blinding of patients, research nurses and outcome assessors was effective. Two protocol deviations occurred. Two patients were lost to follow-up. The mean (SD) Comprehensive Complication Index in the interventional arm was 6.5 (12.8), and it was 9.9 (14.2) in the control arm. The median (IQR) time to drain removal (days) was shorter in the interventional arm (2.67 (2.42, 3.58) vs. 3.40 (2.50, 4.27)). However, this did not translate to a clinically significant reduction in median (IQR) length of hospital stay in days (intervention: 3.48 (2.64, 4.54), control: 3.74 (3.11, 4.62)).ConclusionThe proposed trial design was effective, and a definitive surgical trial is feasible. Whilst there was a tendency for FS to improve clinical outcomes, the effect size did not reach clinical or statistical significance. (ISRCTN99181100)

Cabergoline therapy for macroprolactinoma during pregnancy: a case report.

Background: We assessed the safety of Cabergoline therapy during pregnancy in a lady with hyperprolactinemia intolerant to Bromocriptine. Case presentation: We report the case of a 31 year old lady who presented to us with uncontrolled hyperprolactinemia. A pituitary Macroadenoma was demonstrated by MRI. Due to intolerance to Bromocriptine, Cabergoline was started. The patient improved and subsequently conceived. MRI in the second trimester demonstrated further reduction in the tumor size. It was decided to continue Cabergoline throughout pregnancy to ensure further reduction in tumor size until delivery and to hold Cabergoline during postpartum period to allow for an adequate interval of breastfeeding. At 37 weeks of gestation, the patient delivered a healthy baby. Conclusion: We were able to safely treat macroprolactinemia in our patient during pregnancy with cabergoline. This case report contributes to the relatively meager data available which advocates the safety of cabergoline therapy in pregnant hyperprolactinemic patients

Computational identification of adaptive mutants using the VERT system

<p/> <p>Background</p> <p>Evolutionary dynamics of microbial organisms can now be visualized using the Visualizing Evolution in Real Time (VERT) system, in which several isogenic strains expressing different fluorescent proteins compete during adaptive evolution and are tracked using fluorescent cell sorting to construct a population history over time. Mutations conferring enhanced growth rates can be detected by observing changes in the fluorescent population proportions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using data obtained from several VERT experiments, we construct a hidden Markov-derived model to detect these adaptive events in VERT experiments without external intervention beyond initial training. Analysis of annotated data revealed that the model achieves consensus with human annotation for 85-93% of the data points when detecting adaptive events. A method to determine the optimal time point to isolate adaptive mutants is also introduced.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The developed model offers a new way to monitor adaptive evolution experiments without the need for external intervention, thereby simplifying adaptive evolution efforts relying on population tracking. Future efforts to construct a fully automated system to isolate adaptive mutants may find the algorithm a useful tool.</p