Differential leukocyte count method for bovine low somatic cell count milk

Whereas many differential leukocyte count methods for high somatic cell count (SCC) milk from mastitic cows are available, only a few have been developed for low SCC milk. We have developed a flow cytometric differential leukocyte count method for low SCC milk. The procedure consists of 1) 1.5 ml of diluted milk sample (30%, vol/vol dilution with PBS), 2) centrifugation, 3) leukocyte labeling with SYTO 13 and 4) flow cytometric analysis. Four major leukocyte populations can be clearly identified in the green fluorescence-side scatter dot plot: lymphocytes and monocytes (LM), polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), mature macrophages (MO), and cells with apoptotic features based on chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. The optimal processing temperature was 20degreesC. Significant differences among samples with similar differential leukocyte counts were found. Storage of milk samples during 2 d at 7degreesC had no effect on differential leukocyte count. Using the new method, differential leukocyte count was performed in low SCC milk samples from cows in early, mid, and late lactation. In accordance with previous studies, PMN and M P percentages were lower and LM percentages were higher in early lactation than in the other stages of lactation. The percentage of cells with apoptotic features was higher in early lactation than in mid and late lactation. In conclusion, a rapid, simple, accurate, and reproducible standard procedure was developed to determine the differential leukocyte count (MO, PMN, LM, and cells with apoptotic features) of bovine low SCC milk

Laboratory Assessment of a Demand Response Controller for Rooftop Units

Residential and commercial unitary air-conditioners (A/Cs) are one of the major sources of the growing electrical energy use and peak power demand. The growing need for electrical power demand can have an adverse impact in grid reliability, especially when there is not enough electricity generation, and can result in power outages. To prevent such instances, utilities offer their customers economic incentives to reduce power demand and usage at certain times in the day under demand response (DR) program. To fully take advantage of the DR program, however, the consumers need access to equipment and appliances that enable communication of rates and grid conditions, and offer integrated control capabilities to respond to the information received. These DR capabilities can be achieved either at the factory level or by retrofitting and installing add-on devices on the existing equipment. This paper discusses the results of experimental evaluation of a DR capable add-on retrofit controller on a 5-ton rooftop unit (RTU). A series of laboratory tests were performed to quantify and establish the power demand impacts of two distinct DR events, moderate and high, for a 5-ton RTU. The power demand implications were obtained and evaluated for two outdoor and two indoor conditions. Results indicate that the controller was capable of responding to both Moderate and High DR signals through a central gateway. For Moderate DR events, the average total power demand was reduced by up to 33%. For High DR events, potentially the average total power can be reduced by 60%. As expected, these DR events results in an increase in indoor temperature

The formation of mutated IgM memory B cells in rat splenic marginal zones is an antigen dependent process

Previous studies in rodents have indicated that only a minor fraction of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV-Cμ) transcripts carry somatic mutations and are considered memory B cells. This is in marked contrast to humans where nearly all marginal zone B (MZ-B) cells are mutated. Here we show in rats that the proportion of mutated IgM+ MZ-B cells varies significantly between the various IGHV genes analyzed, ranging from 27% mutated IGHV5 transcripts to 65% mutated IGHV4 transcripts. The observed data on mutated sequences in clonally-related B cells with a MZ-B cell or follicular B (FO-B) cell phenotype indicates that mutated IgM+ MZ-B and FO-B cells have a common origin. To further investigate the origin of mutated IgM+ MZ-B cells we determined whether mutations occurred in rearranged IGHV-Cμ transcripts using IGHV4 and IGHV5 genes from neonatal rat MZ-B cells and FO-B cells. We were not able to detect mutations in any of the IGHV4 and IGHV5 genes expressed by MZ-B cells or FO-B cells obtained from neonatal rat spleens. Germinal centres (GCs) are absent from neonatal rat spleen in the first few weeks of their life, and no mutations were found in any of the neonatal sequences, not even in the IGHV4 gene family which accumulates the highest number of mutated sequences (66%) in the adult rat. Therefore, these data do not support the notion that MZ-B cells in rats mutate their IGHV genes as part of their developmental program, but are consistent with the notion that mutated rat MZ-B cells require GCs for their generation. Our findings support that the splenic MZ of rats harbors a significant number of memory type IgM+ MZ-B cells with mutated IGHV genes and propose that these memory MZ-B cells are probably generated as a result of an antigen driven immune response in GCs, which still remains to be proven

Occupational Exposure to Magnetic Field in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used both as a diagnostic instrument and for therapy, available only at some psychiatric clinics for treatment of depression and at clinical neurophysiology where TMS is used for diagnosis of nerve damage. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare issued a referral edition about the use of repetitive TMS as an alternative treatment for depression. This may lead to a major increase in the application of TMS to treat depression. TMS is based on induction of an electric (E) field inside the brain by application of an external magnetic field with rapid rise and fall time. The E field in the brain has been calculated when different coils were used for the treatment. The reported E fields are of the order of tens to hundreds of volts per meter and the induced current density is estimated at tens of A/m2. This field can depolarize neurons or modulate cortical excitability by selecting the appropriate parameters for stimulation and the duration of the treatment session. The mechanisms of action of neurostimulation still remain incompletely understood

Teat anatomy affects requirements for udder preparation in Mediterranean buffaloes

The present study was conducted to assess the interrelation between teat anatomy and machine milking in dairy buffaloes raised in Switzerland. A 3-min pre-stimulation induced milk ejection before cluster attachment in most cases and caused an optimal milk removal during machine milking. In an additional experiment, longitudinal cross-section ultrasound was obtained before and after a 3-min pre-stimulation. Teat wall thickness, teat diameter, cisternal diameter and teat canal length were evaluated. It was observed that 3-min pre-stimulation dramatically reduced teat canal length whereas all the other anatomical parameters remained unchanged. The vacuum needed to open the teat canal was also measured before and after a 3-min pre-stimulation by using a special teat cup with only the mouthpiece of the liner remaining on the top of the teat cup (no liner, no pulsation). Without pre-stimulation but after wetting the teat canal by stripping one squirt of milk out of the teat, no milk could be withdrawn with a vacuum up to 39 kPa. However, after pre-stimulation, milk flow occurred in all buffaloes at a vacuum between 16 and 38 kPa. In the last experiment, the teat tissue was examined in slaughtered buffaloes and compared with teat tissue of cows. No difference was noted in histological sections and teat canal length was similar in cows and buffaloes. Proximal to the teat canal, the teat did not pass into an open cistern but the lumen was collapsed. In conclusion, buffaloes need to be well pre-stimulated because the tissue above the teat canal provides additional teat closure before milk ejection. Therefore, milk can only be obtained after pre-stimulatio

Avaliação de sorção/solubilidade, resistência à flexão, módulo de elasticidade e atividade antimicrobiana de infiltrantes experimentais / Evaluation of sorption/solubility, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity and antimicrobial activity of experimental infiltrants

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar o grau de conversão (usando a espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformador de Fourier), resistência à flexão e módulo de elasticidade (por teste flexão de três pontos), sorção e solubilidade da água e análise antimicrobiana (Concentração Inibitória Mínima e Concentração Bactericida Mínima - CIM e CBM, respectivamente) de infiltrantes experimentais contendo sal de difeniliodônio (DFI) e quitosana e do infiltrante da marca comercial Icon®. O grupo de infiltrante na concentração de 1% de DFI e 0,25% de quitosana foi o que apresentou os melhores resultados nos testes realizados. Esse grupo foi semelhante ao infiltrante comercial Icon® em todos os quesitos, tendo o diferencial de apresentar atividade bactericida que a marca comercial não apresenta. Concluindo que a adição de sal de DFI e quitosana são boas alternativas para a melhoria das propriedades mecânicas e antimicrobianas dos infiltrantes

Antibacterial Effects of MicroRepair®BIOMA-Based Toothpaste and Chewing Gum on Orthodontic Elastics Contaminated In Vitro with Saliva from Healthy Donors: A Pilot Study

Several new products with innovative formulations are being proposed to facilitate oral care. Here, we evaluated the effects of a commercially available product, a toothpaste and chewing gum named Biorepair Peribioma, on oral microorganisms of healthy subjects. Saliva from six volunteers was collected during 20 min of mastication of a traditional gum (gum A) and the Biorepair Peribioma gum (gum P). Orthodontic elastics (OE) were in vitro contaminated with salivary samples, both A and P, and subsequently exposed or not to a Biorepair Peribioma toothpaste-conditioned supernatant (Tp-SUP). The salivary samples were tested for initial microbial load; hence, the contaminated OE were assessed for microbial growth, adhesion, biofilm formation and persistence; moreover, species identification was assessed. We found that the salivary samples A and P had similar microbial load; upon contamination, microbial adhesion onto the OE was detected to a lower extent when using saliva P with respect to saliva A. Microbial growth and biofilm formation, assessed at 24 h, remained at lower levels in OE exposed to saliva P, compared to saliva A. This difference between salivary samples A and P was confirmed when measuring biofilm persistence (48 h), while it was lost in terms of microbial re-growth (48 h). The Tp-SUP treatment drastically affected microbial load at 24 h and strongly impaired biofilm formation/persistence, in OE exposed to both salivary samples A and P. Finally, such treatment resulted in consistent overgrowth of Lactobacilli, bacterial species originally present both in the Biorepair Peribioma toothpaste and gum. In conclusion, by an in vitro pilot study, we show that the Biorepair Peribioma toothpaste and gum deeply affect oral microorganisms’ behavior, drastically impairing their ability to contaminate and produce plaque onto orthodontic devices