Two Methods to Determine IgG Concentration in Calf Serum

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, calfside test to determine serum IgG concentration using caprylic acid (CA) fractionation followed by refractometry of the IgG-rich supernatant and compare the accuracy of this method with results obtained using refractometry of whole serum. Serum samples (n = 200) were obtained from 1 d old calves, frozen and shipped to the laboratory. Samples were allowed to sit at room temperature to thaw. Fractionation with CA was conducted by adding 1 ml of serum to a tube containing CA and 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mL 0.06 M acetic acid. The tube was shaken and allowed to react for 1 min and centrifuged for 0, 10 or 20 min. Refractive index of the fractionated supernatant (nDf) was determined using a digital refractometer. Whole, non-fractionated, serum was analyzed for IgG by radial immunodiffusion (RID) and refractive index (nDw). The nDf and nDw were compared to serum IgG concentration. Mean serum IgG concentration was 19.0 mg/ml (SD = 9.7) with a range of 3.5 to 47.0 mg/ml. Serum nDw was positively correlated with IgG concentration (r = 0.86, n = 185). Fractionated samples treated with 1 ml 0.6 M AcO and 60 µl CA and not centrifuged prior to analysis resulted in a strong relationship between nDf and IgG (r = 0.80, n = 45). These results suggest that refractometry of whole calf serum provides a strong estimate of IgG concentration that can be used to determine if adequate passive transfer has occurred in 1 d old calves

Nation-Wide Evaluation of Colostrum Quality

Samples of maternal colostrum (MC) were collected from 67 farms in 12 states between June and October, 2010 to determine IgG concentration and bacterial contamination. Samples were identified by breed, lactation, and if the sample was fresh, refrigerated or frozen prior to collection. Concentration of IgG in MC ranged from \u3c 1 to 200 mg/ml, with a mean IgG concentration of 68.8 mg/ml. Nearly 30% of MC contained \u3c 50 mg of IgG/ml. The IgG concentration increased with parity (42.4, 68.6, 95.9 mg/ml in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and later lactations, respectively). No differences in IgG concentration were observed among breeds or storage method, however, IgG was highest in samples collected in the Midwest and lowest in samples collected in the Southwest (79.7 vs. 64.3 mg/ml). Total plate count (TPC) of samples ranged from 3.0 to 6.8 Log10 cfu/ml with a mean of 4.9 Log10 cfu/ml (SD = 0.9) and was greater in samples collected in the Southeast compared with other regions of the country. Pooled samples had greater TPC than individual samples and refrigerated samples had greater TPC than frozen and fresh samples. Nearly 43% of samples collected had TPC \u3e 100,000 cfu/ml, 16.9% of the samples were \u3e 1 million. Only 39.4% of the samples collected met industry recommendations for both IgG concentration and TPC. These data suggest that nearly 60% of MC on dairy farms is inadequate, and a large number of calves are at risk of failure of passive transfer and/or bacterial infections. These data also suggests regional differences in MC quality

Cost Effectiveness of Mobile Health for Antenatal Care and Facility Births in Nigeria

Background: The use of mobile technology in the health sector, often referred to as mHealth, is an innovation that is being used in countries to improve health outcomes and increase and improve both the demand and supply of health care services. This study assesses the actual cost-effectiveness of initiating and implementing the use of the mHealth as a supply side job aid for antenatal care. The study also estimates the cost-effectiveness ratio if mHealth was also used to encourage and track women through facility delivery. Methods: The methodology utilized a retrospective, micro-costing technique to extract costing data from health facilities and administrative offices to estimate the costs of implementing the mHealth antenatal care program and estimate the cost of facility delivery for those that used the antenatal care services in the year 2014. Five different costing tools were developed to assist in the costing analysis. Findings: The results show that the provision of tetanus toxoid vaccination and malaria prophylaxis during pregnancy and improved labor and delivery during facility delivery contributed the most to mortality reductions for women, neonates and stillbirths in mHealth facilities versus non-mHealth facilities. The cost-effectiveness ratio of this program for antenatal care and no demand-side generation for facility delivery is US$13,739 per life saved. The cost-effectiveness ratio adding in an additional demand-side generation for facility births reduces to US$9,806 per life saved. Conclusion: These results show that mHealth programs are inexpensive and save a number of lives for the dollar investment and could save additional lives and funds if women were also encouraged to seek facility delivery

Two Methods to Determine IgG Concentration in Calf Serum

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, calfside test to determine serum IgG concentration using caprylic acid (CA) fractionation followed by refractometry of the IgG-rich supernatant and compare the accuracy of this method with results obtained using refractometry of whole serum. Serum samples (n = 200) were obtained from 1 d old calves, frozen and shipped to the laboratory. Samples were allowed to sit at room temperature to thaw. Fractionation with CA was conducted by adding 1 ml of serum to a tube containing CA and 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mL 0.06 M acetic acid. The tube was shaken and allowed to react for 1 min and centrifuged for 0, 10 or 20 min. Refractive index of the fractionated supernatant (nDf) was determined using a digital refractometer. Whole, non-fractionated, serum was analyzed for IgG by radial immunodiffusion (RID) and refractive index (nDw). The nDf and nDw were compared to serum IgG concentration. Mean serum IgG concentration was 19.0 mg/ml (SD = 9.7) with a range of 3.5 to 47.0 mg/ml. Serum nDw was positively correlated with IgG concentration (r = 0.86, n = 185). Fractionated samples treated with 1 ml 0.6 M AcO and 60 µl CA and not centrifuged prior to analysis resulted in a strong relationship between nDf and IgG (r = 0.80, n = 45). These results suggest that refractometry of whole calf serum provides a strong estimate of IgG concentration that can be used to determine if adequate passive transfer has occurred in 1 d old calves.</p

Ombuds processes and disputant reconciliation

Effective dispute resolution systems are critical to the functioning of large universities and organizations. However, the design of dispute resolution systems is often inadequate to achieving the stated goals of the system. Analysis of the cases of 45 disputants reveals how the design of a university dispute system and the social context can prevent an ombudsperson from successfully reconciling relationships. This study shows how a dispute system that generally failed to utilize face-to-face meetings or mediation techniques between disputants in a social context of fear and limited social ties was unable to reconcile or preserve working relationships. Analysis from normative pragmatic and social contextual approaches to disputing provides a mechanism for understanding the problems encountered by this ombudsperson and provides a tool for designing more effective dispute resolution systems

Electronic Memory Device Reader

The focus of this senior design project included working with Hewlett Packard (HP) to design and develop of a tool for reading information from memory contained on a memory chip. Intellectual property issues prevent explanation of the device in great detail. The design needed to incorporate certain specifications, such as one-handed operation and comfort for the user. A circuit board was developed to control the memory reading and data transfer processes. Using SolidWorks, a 3-D modeling software, a model of the circuit board housing and external memory reader components was developed. Engineering analysis and design review were then used to iterate through multiple design features to arrive at a final design for the device. The final housing model emphasized manufacturability and modularity in order to leave opportunity for further development in the future. The final electronic memory reader design connects to a PC through a USB port and is also powered by 5-Volts through the USB. Functionality testing will confirm the correct operation of the device, and simulated drop testing in SolidWorks will determine whether or not the device can stand up to daily use

Nation-Wide Evaluation of Colostrum Quality

Samples of maternal colostrum (MC) were collected from 67 farms in 12 states between June and October, 2010 to determine IgG concentration and bacterial contamination. Samples were identified by breed, lactation, and if the sample was fresh, refrigerated or frozen prior to collection. Concentration of IgG in MC ranged from 100,000 cfu/ml, 16.9% of the samples were > 1 million. Only 39.4% of the samples collected met industry recommendations for both IgG concentration and TPC. These data suggest that nearly 60% of MC on dairy farms is inadequate, and a large number of calves are at risk of failure of passive transfer and/or bacterial infections. These data also suggests regional differences in MC quality.</p

A Novel Method to Determine Colostrum IgG Concentration

Our objectives were to evaluate the use of refractometry as a means of estimating immunoglobulin (IgG) concentration of bovine maternal colostrum (MC). Samples of MC (n = 827) were collected from 67 farms in 12 states. Colostrum was analyzed for IgG by radial immunodiffusion (RID) and refractive index (nD) by a digital refractometer. The relationship between nD and IgG was strong (r = 0.73; P < 0.05; n = 823). Samples analyzed by refractometry fresh and went through 1 freeze/thaw cycle prior to RID analysis resulted in the strongest relationship between IgG and nD (r = 0.93 and 0.90, respectively). The MC samples collected fresh (not refrigerated or frozen) on the farm but frozen two or more times prior to analysis by refractometry and RID had a weak relationship between IgG and nD (r = 0.01). Breed and lactation number did not impact the relationship between RID and nD. These results indicate refractometry is an accurate and rapid method to determine IgG concentration when colostrum is analyzed fresh.</p