Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in GB pig herds : farm characteristics associated with heterogeneity in seroprevalence

Background: The between- and within-herd variability of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) antibodies were investigated in a cross-sectional study of 103 British pig herds conducted 2003–2004. Fifty pigs from each farm were tested for anti-PRRSV antibodies using ELISA. A binomial logistic model was used to investigate management risks for farms with and without pigs with PRRSV antibodies and multilevel statistical models were used to investigate variability in pigs' log ELISA IRPC (relative index × 100) in positive herds. Results: Thirty-five herds (34.0%) were seronegative, 41 (39.8%) were seropositive and 27 (26.2%) were vaccinated. Herds were more likely to be seronegative if they had < 250 sows (OR 3.86 (95% CI 1.46, 10.19)) and if the nearest pig herd was ≥ 2 miles away (OR 3.42 (95% CI 1.29, 9.12)). The mean log IRPC in seropositive herds was 3.02 (range, 0.83 – 5.58). Sixteen seropositive herds had only seropositive adult pigs. In these herds, pigs had -0.06 (95% CI -0.10, -0.01) lower log IRPC for every mile increase in distance to the nearest pig unit, and -0.56 (95% CI -1.02, -0.10) lower log IRPC when quarantine facilities were present. For 25 herds with seropositive young stock and adults, lower log IRPC were associated with isolating purchased stock for ≥ 6 days (coefficient - 0.46, 95% CI -0.81, -0.11), requesting ≥ 48 hours 'pig-free time' from humans (coefficient -0.44, 95% CI -0.79, -0.10) and purchasing gilts (coefficient -0.61, 95% CI -0.92, -0.29). Conclusion: These patterns are consistent with PRRSV failing to persist indefinitely on some infected farms, with fadeout more likely in smaller herds with little/no reintroduction of infectious stock. Persistence of infection may be associated with large herds in pig-dense regions with repeated reintroduction

Chromatographic separation and identification of some peptides in partial hydroylsates of gelatin

Recently we have been engaged in a study of the chemical structure of collagen and gelatin with the object of determining the sequence of the amino acid residues in the polypeptide chains of these proteins. In the course of this study we have made considerable progress in the chromatographic analysis of complex mixtures of peptides and we have isolated and identified several simple peptides which occur in partial hydrolysates of gelatin. The initial separation of the mixture into zones of one or more peptides has been made on a column of ion exchange resin; further separation of the peptides in each zone has been achieved by chromatographing in the form of dinitrophenyl (DNP) peptides on columns of silicic acid-Celite. It is to be hoped that the particular combination of chromatographic methods which has been successfully used in the present study will be helpful in the resolution of the complex mixtures which result from the partial hydrolysis of other proteins

THE IMPACT OF UNIVERSAL FREE MEALS DURING COVID-19 ON FAMILY LIFE AND PERSPECTIVE OF SCHOOL MEALS IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE

This study explored the impact of the USDA COVID-19 Universal Free Meal (UFM) waivers on family life, school meal participation, and child eating habits from parents with children in Central Washington state (WA) schools. n = 119 parents/caregivers with students who were in K-12th grade in Central WA from August 2019-February 2023 completed a 10 question electronic, and descriptive survey. The survey measured changes in participation in school lunch/breakfast pre to post COVID-19 waiver, which provided free meals for all children, and whether UFM were beneficial to families, impacted perception of school food, child’s sense of community at school and/or child’s willingness to try new foods. Results suggested that students were more likely to participate more frequently in school lunch and school breakfast when meals were free compared to when they were not free (χ2 2, N=238= 18.433, p = 2, N=238 = 19.032, p

Investigating the origin of a Greenland ice core geochemical anomaly near the Bølling-Allerød/Younger Dryas boundary

The source of a platinum peak identified in the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) ice core that occurs almost synchronously with Younger Dryas (YD) cooling is poorly understood. The GISP2 Pt spike is associated with high platinum/iridium (Pt/Ir) and platinum/aluminium (Pt/Al) ratios, and previous research attributed the anomaly to an unusual iron-rich Ir-poor meteorite impact. The Pt spike timing is also broadly contemporaneous with the Laacher See eruption (LSE), Germany, suggesting a possible source. However, this link is understudied because of perceived chronological mismatches (reconciled recently), and the lack of Pt and Ir data from the Laacher See tephra (LST). To explore this link further, proximal tephra deposits from the LSE were sampled at localities around the volcano and the relevant geochemistry analysed. This report presents evidence that the LSE is not the Pt spike source because: i) the LST has low Pt concentrations, ii) the LST’s geochemical ratios are dissimilar to the GISP2 Pt spike and iii) conversion of the Pt spike timing to the newest ice core age-depth model shows a chronological offset of ~60 years between the two events. Further comparison of the Pt spike’s geochemical ratios against magmas and meteorites, YD Boundary sediments and others suggests that the Pt spike geochemistry is incomparable to any known source. Therefore, the Pt spike origin is interpreted as either: i) a noncataclysmic impact of an undiscovered iron meteorite or ii) an unidentified Pt-rich volcanic eruption contemporaneous with the anomaly, whose aerosol fractionated in the atmosphere or ice. This report supports the LSE as the simplest explanation for the YD trigger, because the LSE was synchronous with Greenland Stadial-1 (GS-1) and contained enough sulfur to cause substantial cooling. The event resulting in the Pt spike occurred ~60 years after GS-1 cooling, and was therefore not the primary trigger. The Pt spike may however represent a subsequent radiative cooling event that prolonged the YD

The effect of feed composition on the sensory quality of organic rainbow trout during ice storage

The aim of this work was to study whether the type of protein and lipid source in feed for organic Rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) influenced the sensory quality. The protein sources were fishmeal and a matrix of organic vegetable plant mealsproteins, while the lipid sources were fish oil and organic oils of linseed, sunflower, rapeseed and grape seed, respectively. Sensory profiling was performed after 3, 5, 7 and 14 days of storage in ice. Besides sensory analysis also lipid profiles weare measured. The resultsed showed that the lipid type in the feed aeffected the sensory characteristics after 3 days of storage. Especially the trout that had grape seed oil in the feed had a different sensory profile than the trout that had fish oil in the feed. These differences could be explained by the lipid profiles in the fillets. Also after 7 days of ice storage differences in the sensory profile wereas observed again as a result of the used lipid types used. After 7 days of ice storage ThusHere the trout that had grape seed oil orand rapeseed oil for instance had a more neutral flavor and odor profile compared to the other trout fed on linseed or sunflower oil´s. After 14 days of storage no effect of lipid type in the feed was observed, but the trout which had fish meal as protein source had higher intensity of several negative sensory descriptors compared to trout that had the vegetable protein matrix. Overall the results showed that the dietaryfeeds content of protein and lipid aeffecteds the sensory characteristics of the trout in different ways during the ice storage period

The effects of feed composition on the sensory quality of organic rainbow trout during ice storage

The focus of this work was to study which effects the type of protein and lipid source in the feed for organic Rainbow trout influences had on the sensory quality of final product. Two and four different protein and lipid sources were used in the experiment respectively. The protein sources were fishmeal and a mixture of protein from organic vegetable, while the lipid sources were fish oil and organic oil from linseed, sunflower, rapeseed and grape seed. Sensory analysis was performed after 3, 5, 7 and 14 days of storage in ice. The results showed that both protein and lipid source in the feed can influence sensory characteristics of the trout. After 3 and 7 days of storage in ice differences in the sensory characteristics between rainbow trout’s which have had different lipid sources in the feed were observed. While a difference between the trout fed with different protein sources were observed after 14 days of storage, indicating that vegetable protein in the feed increases the self-life of organic rainbow trout

Revolutionary Books: Reflections on the Russian Revolution in the Lit & Phil's Collections

Catalogue for the 'Revolutionary Books' exhibition, displayed at Newcastle's Literary and Philosophical Society between January and March 2017. The Lit & Phil's collections include many contemporary accounts of the Russian revolutions of 1917. These include the memoirs of key politicians and participants, accounts by western witnesses of the revolution, travelogues devoted to early visits to the Soviet Union, and early editions of the works of revolutionaries. This brochure showcases some examples from the library's collections

The effect of protein and lipid source in organic feed for organic trout on sensory quality

The aim of this work was to study whether the type of protein and lipid source in feed for organic Rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) influenced the sensory quality. The protein sources were fishmeal and a matrix of organic vegetable plant mealsproteins, while the lipid sources were fish oil and organic oils of linseed, sunflower, rapeseed and grape seed, respectively. Sensory profiling was performed after 3, 5, 7 and 14 days of storage in ice. Besides sensory analysis also lipid profiles weare measured. The resultsed showed that the lipid type in the feed aeffected the sensory characteristics after 3 days of storage. Especially the trout that had grape seed oil in the feed had a different sensory profile than the trout that had fish oil in the feed. These differences could be explained by the lipid profiles in the fillets. Also after 7 days of ice storage differences in the sensory profile wereas observed again as a result of the used lipid types used. After 7 days of ice storage ThusHere the trout that had grape seed oil orand rapeseed oil for instance had a more neutral flavor and odor profile compared to the other trout fed on linseed or sunflower oil´s. After 14 days of storage no effect of lipid type in the feed was observed, but the trout which had fish meal as protein source had higher intensity of several negative sensory descriptors compared to trout that had the vegetable protein matrix. Overall the results showed that the dietaryfeeds content of protein and lipid aeffecteds the sensory characteristics of the trout in different ways during the ice storage period

Sex allocation theory reveals a hidden cost of neonicotinoid exposure in a parasitoid wasp

P.R.W. was funded by the University of Stirling, C.V.B. and S.M.G. were funded by Nuffield Research Placements and N.C., J.G. and D.M.S. were funded by NERC (NE/J024481/1).Sex allocation theory has proved to be one the most successful theories in evolutionary ecology. However, its role in more applied aspects of ecology has been limited. Here we show how sex allocation theory helps uncover an otherwise hidden cost of neonicotinoid exposure in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis. Female N. vitripennis allocate the sex of their offspring in line with Local Mate Competition (LMC) theory. Neonicotinoids are an economically important class of insecticides, but their deployment remains controversial, with evidence linking them to the decline of beneficial species. We demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge, that neonicotinoids disrupt the crucial reproductive behaviour of facultative sex allocation at sub-lethal, field-relevant doses in N. vitripennis. The quantitative predictions we can make from LMC theory show that females exposed to neonicotinoids are less able to allocate sex optimally and that this failure imposes a significant fitness cost. Our work highlights that understanding the ecological consequences of neonicotinoid deployment requires not just measures of mortality or even fecundity reduction among non-target species, but also measures that capture broader fitness costs, in this case offspring sex allocation. Our work also highlights new avenues for exploring how females obtain information when allocating sex under LMC.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Evaluation of ceramics as a material for Total Disc Replacements

Total Disc Replacement aims to maintain the natural movement of the spine by replacing the intervertebral disc with an articulating or flexible implant. One reason Total Disc Replacements fail is aseptic loosening of the implant, caused by osteolysis, an inflammatory response to the wear debris produced by the articulating surfaces of the implant. Therefore, it is important to understand the wear performance of different designs and materials. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the use of ceramics in Total Disc Replacements and evaluate their tribological performance. This was achieved through the manufacture of alumina cervical implants, which were then used for in vitro wear and friction tests. Despite high wear rates, caused by chipping and a high surface roughness on the articulating surfaces, there were some issues with measuring the wear using the gravimetric method. Therefore, the rest of the thesis was focused on developing and validating new methods for measuring volumetric wear using non-contacting optical microscopy. The results showed that the new optical method had several advantages over the traditional gravimetric method, including better measurement precision and the ability to visualise the location of the wear damage