Pathogenicity of Bibersteinia trehalosi in bovine calves

Introduction - Bibersteinia trehalosi has been associated with respiratory disease in ruminants particularly in wild and domestic sheep. Recently, there has been an increased interest in B. trehalosi isolates obtained from diagnostic samples from bovine respiratory disease cases. This study evaluated the role of B. trehalosi in the bovine respiratory disease complex using an intra-tracheal inoculation model in calves. This study also evaluated the potential of haptoglobin-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Hp-MMP 9) serum concentrations as a useful diagnostic tool in calves affected with B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica associated respiratory disease. Materials and Methods - Thirty-five cross-bred dairy steers were inoculated intra-tracheally with either leukotoxin negative or leukotoxin positive B. trehalosi, Mannheimia haemolytica, a combination of leukotoxin negative B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica, or negative control. Physical examinations were conducted and serum samples were collected throughout the study. Calves were euthanized and necropsies performed on day 10 of the study. Results - No significant differences were found between the groups of calves challenged with B. trehalosi alone or in conjunction with M. haemolytica and the negative control calves with respect to percent lung involvement, rectal temperature, respiratory or depression score, or serum Hp or Hp-MMP 9 concentration in this study. M. haemolytica inoculated calves, but not B. trehalosi inoculated calves had increased lung involvement compared to control calves. B. trehalosi was only cultured once from the lungs of inoculated calves at necropsy. Increases in serum Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations for the M. haemolytica group became significantly different from other groups on day 7. The leukotoxin positive B. trehalosi group demonstrated increased serum Hp-MMP 9 concentrations on days 3-10 compared to pre-inoculation concentrations. Conclusions - Based on these findings B. trehalosi may not be a primary pathogen of respiratory disease in cattle. Culture of B. trehalosi from diagnostic submissions should not be immediately identified as a primary cause of respiratory disease. Serum Hp-MMP 9 concentration is a useful diagnostic tool for detecting early pulmonary inflammation in calves challenged with B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica. Serum Hp-MMP 9 may also be a useful tool in detecting subclinical pulmonary inflammation in challenged calves

Vulnerability analysis of an all-electric warship

CIVINS (Civilian Institutions) Thesis documentTraditional design processes usually rely on cost as the metric the designer uses to select among different alternatives. Sometimes when costs cannot be calculated we use weight, volume and efficiency as surrogates for cost. However minimizing costs does not necessarily give us the best design for a particular mission; this is particularly true for military ships. Proposals to include such considerations as quality of service and survivability as metrics to be used in a multi objective design process or as constraints have appeared in the literature. A tool that analyzes survivability of distributed systems at early stage design does not exist. In this thesis we develop a metric for survivability suitable for early stage design of destroyers.http://archive.org/details/vulnerabilitynal109454942Contract number: N62271-97-G-0026.CIVINSApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Architectural Model to Enable Power System Tradeoff Studies

We continue the development of an overall architectural model for an all-electric ship using a physics-based simulation environment to perform fully-integrated simulation of electrical, hydrodynamic, thermal, and structural components of the ship operating in a seaway. The goal of this architectural model is to develop an early-stage design tool capable of performing tradeoff studies on concepts such as AC vs. DC distribution, frequency and voltage level, inclusion of reduction gears, energy and power management options, and effect of arrangements and topology. The results of the studies will be presented in standard metrics including cost, weight, volume, efficiency/fuel consumption, reliability and survivability. We will specifically look at the hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) systems that support the ship and its missions; specifically, the electrical generation and distribution system, propulsion equipment, fresh- and saltwater pumping and distribution, control systems, and structural components

Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Pathogenicity of Bibersteinia trehalosi in Respiratory Disease among Calves

Bibersteinia trehalosi causes respiratory disease in ruminants particularly in wild and domestic sheep. Recently, there has been an increased number of B. trehalosi isolates obtained from diagnostic samples from bovine respiratory disease cases. This study evaluated the role of B. trehalosi in bovine respiratory disease using an intra-tracheal inoculation model in calves. Thirty six cross bred 2–3 month old dairy calves were inoculated intra-tracheally with either leukotoxin negative B. trehalosi, leukotoxin positive B. trehalosi isolate, Mannheimia haemolytica, a combination of leukotoxin negative B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica or negative control. Calves were euthanized and necropsy performed on day 10 of study. B. trehalosi inoculated calves did not have increased lung involvement compared to control calves. Additionally, B. trehalosiwas only cultured once from the lungs of inoculated calves at necropsy. Based on these findings B. trehalosi may not be a primary pathogen of respiratory disease in cattle. Culture of B. trehalosifrom diagnostic submissions should not be immediately identified as a primary cause of respiratory disease

A Comparison of Three Payment Systems for Public Paediatric Dental Services

Objective: This study investigated the delivery of paediatric (0-17 years) government dental services in New South Wales (NSW), Australia through public dental clinics and the commissioned payments models of Fee-for-Service and Capped-Fee.  Method: De-identified patient data from government provided dental care and the commissioned services was sourced from NSW Oral Health Data Warehouse for evaluation and interpretation using descriptive analysis during the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013.  Result: The breakdown of dental care provided the associated cost analysis for the study’s cohort that resulted in both years, more than 50 percent dental services offered to paediatric patients were preventive care in all payment systems.  The most common preventive items offered were fluoride treatment, dietary advice, oral health education and fissure sealants. Conclusion: There was little difference in the mix of dental care provided between study years and age groups through the three payment systems in NSW.  The difference between the government services and those provided via the Fee-for-Service and Capitation payment systems was negligible. This has important implications for the delivery of dental care to public dental care, particularly when patients may not live close to a public dental clinic and also with the interest nationally in giving patients greater choice

Revisiting the role of swine on the risk of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) transmission in the United States: a rapid systematic review of the literature

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is an emerging, zoonotic disease transmitted primarily by Culex species mosquitoes (particularly Culex tritaeniorhynchus) carrying the flavivirus Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Japanese encephalitis virus maintains its life cycle between mosquitoes and vertebrate hosts, primarily pigs and wading birds (Le Flohic et al., 2013). In humans, JEV infection causes inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) that can cause fever, headache, respiratory distress, gastrointestinal pain, confusion, seizures, and, in some cases, death (Fischer et al., 2012; Hills et al., 2014). The global incidence of JE is uncertain. Effectivity and quality of JE surveillance in endemic countries vary (Jayatilleke et al. 2020), as does availability of diagnostic testing throughout the world. In 2006, the WHO published a position paper on JE vaccines reporting an annual estimation of at least 50,000 new JE cases among those living in countries considered endemic. Campbell et al. (2011) updated prior estimations and predicted a global incidence of JE cases to be nearly 67,900 per year. Most recently, Quan et al. (2020) reported a global estimation of JE incidence of approximately 100,000 per year. Among all clinical cases, children under the age of 10 comprise the majority affected (WHO, 2006). Whereas less than 1% of the cases are accompanied by symptoms, 30% of the symptomatic cases are fatal (Campbell et al., 2011). Furthermore, JE is an untreatable and incurable disease that, once introduced in a community, can lead to devastating economic and health impacts. The United States (US) is considered a susceptible region with great potential for JEV introduction. The availability of competent vectors, susceptible maintenance hosts (avian), intensive travel and trade activities to and from JEV-affected countries, areas with similar climatic and environmental conditions to countries where the virus is epidemic, and large populations of susceptible, amplifying hosts (domestic and feral pigs), makes the US the perfect next-stop in the JEV travel itinerary. In fact, the US is the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of pork and pork products (USDA - ERS). The size of the swine industry in the US can not only be positively correlated with the ability of this virus to invade and establish itself, but also to the impact that an incursion would cause to the economy and the populations’ health. As pigs are considered the main amplifying host of JEV, an extensive review of the literature and identification of knowledge gaps may guide researchers, stakeholders, and policy makers on effort prioritization, development of precautionary intervention measures (to prevent JEV introduction), and evaluation of disease control measures (in case of JEV incursion). Although current conditions have not been favorable for JEV to establish in the US, increases in international trade and globalization, as well as changes in climate and land use, and reductions in pesticide use, can contribute to its rapid and wide geographical spread (Oliveira et al., 2018). A good understanding of the role of swine as an amplifying host for this virus is critical to public health authorities when planning and executing interventions to control the spread of JEV. Therefore, our objectives are 1) to investigate the role of swine on the risk of JEV transmission in the US as an effort for preparedness in the case of an introduction, and 2) to identify knowledge gaps that may serve as a guide to future research efforts

Increasing the antioxidant capability via the synergistic effect of coupling diphenylamine with sterically hindered phenol

A series of novel diphenylamine-phenol antioxidants were synthesised that combined the two antioxidant types into a single molecule. These antioxidants were then functionalised with alkyl chains to aid their solubility in hydrocarbon media. As part of a structure-activity study, diphenylamine derivatives were also generated bearing carboxylic acid functionalities in either the ortho, meta or para position with respect to the secondary amine. Methyl or ethyl spacers were also incorporated between the carboxylic acid and the aromatic ring. The antioxidant ability of the diphenylamine-phenols was evaluated using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and compared to commercially available antioxidants Irganox L135 and Irganox L57 both as individual components and when blended together. The diphenylamine-phenol antioxidant with an ethyl spacer between the diphenylamine and carboxylic acid in the meta position with respect to the secondary amine functionality showed an impressive oxidation induction time of ca. 24 minutes in direct comparison with the blend of Irganox L135 and Irganox L57 (ca. 16 minutes)

Pathogenicity of Bibersteinia trehalosi in bovine calves

Introduction - Bibersteinia trehalosi has been associated with respiratory disease in ruminants particularly in wild and domestic sheep. Recently, there has been an increased interest in B. trehalosi isolates obtained from diagnostic samples from bovine respiratory disease cases. This study evaluated the role of B. trehalosi in the bovine respiratory disease complex using an intra-tracheal inoculation model in calves. This study also evaluated the potential of haptoglobin-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Hp-MMP 9) serum concentrations as a useful diagnostic tool in calves affected with B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica associated respiratory disease. Materials and Methods - Thirty-five cross-bred dairy steers were inoculated intra-tracheally with either leukotoxin negative or leukotoxin positive B. trehalosi, Mannheimia haemolytica, a combination of leukotoxin negative B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica, or negative control. Physical examinations were conducted and serum samples were collected throughout the study. Calves were euthanized and necropsies performed on day 10 of the study. Results - No significant differences were found between the groups of calves challenged with B. trehalosi alone or in conjunction with M. haemolytica and the negative control calves with respect to percent lung involvement, rectal temperature, respiratory or depression score, or serum Hp or Hp-MMP 9 concentration in this study. M. haemolytica inoculated calves, but not B. trehalosi inoculated calves had increased lung involvement compared to control calves. B. trehalosi was only cultured once from the lungs of inoculated calves at necropsy. Increases in serum Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations for the M. haemolytica group became significantly different from other groups on day 7. The leukotoxin positive B. trehalosi group demonstrated increased serum Hp-MMP 9 concentrations on days 3-10 compared to pre-inoculation concentrations. Conclusions - Based on these findings B. trehalosi may not be a primary pathogen of respiratory disease in cattle. Culture of B. trehalosi from diagnostic submissions should not be immediately identified as a primary cause of respiratory disease. Serum Hp-MMP 9 concentration is a useful diagnostic tool for detecting early pulmonary inflammation in calves challenged with B. trehalosi and M. haemolytica. Serum Hp-MMP 9 may also be a useful tool in detecting subclinical pulmonary inflammation in challenged calves.</p