The Production and Ingestion of Antibodies in Milk

Since biblical times man has depended upon the cow for nourishment. The cow’s contribution to human and animal welfare has been tremendous. These contributions may be increased by artificially producing antibodies in milk. In view of recent experiments the established theory that antibodies cannot pass the intestinal wall after the animal is a few days of age may not be true. Much information has been gathered to support this theory. Since the mammary gland is capable of producing a considerable quantity of antibodies and since antibodies inhibit disease, the milk should be an excellent source of antibodies for disease protection via passive immunity. The newborn calf is dependent upon colostrum which is the maternal source of passive immunity and only under special circumstances can calves be reared without colostrum. Ehrlich (13) postulated that colostrum had specific antibodies which were absorbed by the young, and that this factor gave protection from certain diseases. The udder may be stimulated to produce antibodies by the direct introduction of antigens through the teat meatus. The antigen stimulates the secretory tissue to produce specific antibody. By this method antibody production is prompt and reaches a high level; however, maintenance of this level is short. The type of immunity acquired by ingesting antibodies from milk is passive immunity and is temporary. The immunity transferred by milk depends upon the antibody present in the gamma globulin resulting from the injected antigen. Immune milk varies in no way from ordinary milk either in physical characteristics, consistency or chemical composition except for the amount of specific antibody it contains. The work described in this manuscript deals with both the production of antibodies within the udder and the absorption of antibodies antigens as Brucella abortus, Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella cholera suis are described. The ability of these antigens to stimulate antibody production when introduced into the mammary gland is sufficiently clear in this study. That these antibodies can pass through the wall of the intestine is not clearly demonstrated, but experiments of this sort are described

Mathematical Models for Natural Gas Forecasting

It is vital for natural gas Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) to forecast their customers\u27 natural gas demand accurately. A significant error on a single very cold day can cost the customers of the LDC millions of dollars. This paper looks at the financial implication of forecasting natural gas, the nature of natural gas forecasting, the factors that impact natural gas consumption, and describes a survey of mathematical techniques and practices used to model natural gas demand. Many of the techniques used in this paper currently are implemented in a software GasDayTM, which is currently used by 24 LDCs throughout the United States, forecasting about 20% of the total U.S. residential, commercial, and industrial consumption. Results of GasDay\u27sTM forecasting performance also is presented

Evidence for Hydrated Spermidine-Calf Thymus DNA Toruses Organized by Circumferential DNA Wrapping

In spermidine-condensed calf thymus DNA preparations, torus–shaped condensates were shown by transmission electron microscopy to exist under the hydrated conditions of the freeze fracture experiment. Using extremely low Pt metal deposition levels (9 A Pt/C) high–contrast replicas of the spermidine–DNA toruses were obtained that showed circumferential wrapping of single DNA double helix–size surface fibres. Stereoscopic analysis of high magnification stereomicrographs established some details of the three-dimensional organization of two DNA double helix sections winding circumferentially on the inner surface of one such torus. These measurements demonstrate the usefulness of stereoscopic analysis of these high macromolecular organization magnification. Measurements on a number of torus-shaped complexes (n=16) yielded these average dimensions: inner circumference (1840 ± 204, A) outer circumference (2800 ± 222 A), torus ring thickness (143 ± 18 A). These data support a continuous circumferential DNA–winding model of torus organization proposed by Marx Reynolds 1

Laser-Microstructured Double-Sided Adhesive Tapes for Integration of a Disposable Biochip

Laser-microstructured double-sided biocompatible adhesive tapes as intermediated bonding layers are potential candidates for hybrid integration of a disposable biochip. In the EU-PHOCNOSIS project, such thin adhesive tapes are proposed to integrate the polymer microfluidic system with the optical sensor chip. Three laser-assisted structuring methods are investigated to efficiently transfer microchannel patterns to the adhesive tape at room temperature. The test structure design consists of a single channel with 400 µm wide, 30 mm length and two circular receivers with 2 mm radius. The best structuring results are found by using a UV picosecond laser.EC/H2020/634013/EU/Advanced nanophotonic point-of-care analysis device for fast and early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases/PHOCNOSI

ROSAT X-ray sources in the field of the LMC I.Total LMC gas from the background AGN spectral fits

We analyzed a sample of 26 background X-ray sources in a ~60 square degree field of the Large Magellanic Cloud observed with the ROSAT PSPC. The sample has been selected from previously classified and optically identified X-ray sources. In addition pointlike and spectrally hard sources with at least 100 to 200 observed counts have been used for the analysis. We performed X-ray spectral fitting and derived total hydrogen absorbing column densities due to LMC gas in the range 10^20 - 2. 10^21 cm^-2. We compared these columns with the HI columns derived from a 21-cm Parkes survey of the LMC. For 7 optically identified sources we find, within the uncertainties derived from the X-ray spectral fit, agreement for both columns. For further 19 sources we constrain the LMC columns from the X-ray spectral fit assuming that the powerlaw photon index is that of AGN type spectra. We derive for 20 sources gas columns which are within the uncertainties in agreement with the HI columns. We derive for two background sources (RX J0536.9-6913 and RX J0547.0-7040) hydrogen absorbing column densities due to LMC gas, which are in excess to the HI columns. These sources - located in regions of large (~3. 10^21 cm^-2) LMC HI column densities - could be seen through additional gas which may be warm and diffuse, cold or molecular. For 10 sources we derive upper limits for the gas columns additional to HI and constrain the molecular mass fraction to <(30-140)%.Comment: Accepted by A&

Nudge for Deliberativeness: How Interface Features Influence Online Discourse

Cognitive load is a significant challenge to users for being deliberative. Interface design has been used to mitigate this cognitive state. This paper surveys literature on the anchoring effect, partitioning effect and point-of-choice effect, based on which we propose three interface nudges, namely, the word-count anchor, partitioning text fields, and reply choice prompt. We then conducted a 2*2*2 factorial experiment with 80 participants (10 for each condition), testing how these nudges affect deliberativeness. The results showed a significant positive impact of the word-count anchor. There was also a significant positive impact of the partitioning text fields on the word count of response. The reply choice prompt showed a surprisingly negative affect on the quantity of response, hinting at the possibility that the reply choice prompt induces a fear of evaluation, which could in turn dampen the willingness to reply.Comment: CHI 2020, 10 page

Quantification and Mapping of Surface Residue Cover for Maize and Soybean Fields in South Central Nebraska

The area cultivated under conservation tillage practices such as no-till and minimal tillage has recently increased in Midwestern states, including Nebraska. This increase, consequently, resulted in changes in some of the impacts of cropping systems on soil, such as enhancing soil and water quality, improving soil structure and infiltration, increasing water use efficiency, and promoting carbon sequestration. However, there are no methods currently available to quantify the percent crop residue cover (CRC) and the area under conservation tillage for maize and soybean at large scales on a continuous basis. This research used Landsat-7 (ETM+) and Landsat-8 (OLI) satellite data to evaluate six tillage indices [normalized difference tillage index (NDTI), normalized difference index 7 (NDI7), normalized difference index 5 (NDI5), normalized difference senescent vegetative index (NDSVI), modified CRC (ModCRC), and simple tillage index (STI)] to map CRC in eight counties in south central Nebraska. A linear regression CRC model showed that NDTI performed well in differentiating the CRC for different tillage practices at large scales, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.62, 0.68, 0.78, and 0.07 for 25 March, 18 April, 28 May, and 6 June 2013 Landsat images, respectively. A minimum NDTI method was then used to spatially map the CRC on a regional scale by considering the timing of planting and tillage implementation. The measured CRC data were divided into training (calibration) and testing (validation) datasets. A CRC model was developed using the training dataset between minimum NDTI and measured CRC with an R2 of 0.89 (RMSD = 10.63%). A 3 × 3 matrix showed an overall accuracy of 0.90 with a kappa coefficient of 0.89. About 26% of the maize area and 15% of the soybean area had more than 70% CRC in south central Nebraska. This research and the procedures presented illustrate that multi-spectral Landsat images can be used to estimate and map CRC (error within 10.6%) on a regional scale and continuous basis using locally developed tillage practice versus crop residue algorithms. Further research is needed to incorporate soil and residue moisture content into the CRC versus tillage index to enhance the accuracy of the models for estimating CRC

Self-interest And Public Interest: The Motivations Of Political Actors

Self-Interest and Public Interest in Western Politics showed that the public, politicians, and bureaucrats are often public spirited. But this does not invalidate public-choice theory. Public-choice theory is an ideal type, not a claim that self-interest explains all political behavior. Instead, public-choice theory is useful in creating rules and institutions that guard against the worst case, which would be universal self-interestedness in politics. In contrast, the public-interest hypothesis is neither a comprehensive explanation of political behavior nor a sound basis for institutional design

Associations between neuropsychiatric and health status outcomes in individuals with probable mTBI

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common occurrence, and may impact distal outcomes in a subgroup of individuals. Improved characterization of health outcomes and identification of factors associated with poor outcomes is needed to better understand the impact of mTBI, particularly in those with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants in a data repository of the Injury and Traumatic Stress (INTRuST) Clinical Consortium (n = 625) completed functional disability [FD] and health-related quality of life [HRQOL] questionnaires, and a subset completed a neuropsychological assessment. FD and HRQOL were compared among participants with probable mTBI (mTBI), probable mTBI with PTSD (mTBI/PTSD), and health comparison participants (HC). Associations between symptoms, neuropsychological performance, and health outcomes were examined in those with probable mTBI with and without PTSD (n = 316). Individuals in the mTBI/PTSD group endorsed poorer health outcomes than those in the mTBI group, who endorsed poorer outcomes than those in the HC group. Individuals in either mTBI group performed worse than those in the HC on verbal learning and memory and psychomotor speed. Health outcomes were correlated with mental health and postconcussive symptoms, as well as neuropsychological variables. mTBI may adversely impact self-reported health, with the greatest effect observed in individuals with co-occurring mTBI/PTSD