Flock-level risk factors for scrapie in Great Britain: analysis of a 2002 anonymous postal survey

BACKGROUND: In November 2002, an anonymous postal survey of sheep farmers in Great Britain (GB) was conducted to identify factors associated with the flock-level occurrence of scrapie. This survey was undertaken to update an earlier postal survey in 1998, and was the first occasion in which a large-scale postal survey had been repeated. RESULTS: The results of the 2002 survey indicated that scrapie was more likely to occur in certain geographic regions; in purebred compared to commercial flocks; in larger flocks; in flocks which lambed in group pens compared to those which lambed in individual pens; in flocks which always lambed in the same location compared to those which did not; and in farms which kept certain breeds of sheep. In addition to these factors, the likelihood of the disease occurring in homebred animals was higher in flocks which bred a greater proportion of replacement animals or which bought-in lambs. Finally, within-flock transmission following exposure was more likely to occur in hill flocks compared to other farm types; in flocks which bred a greater proportion of replacement animals; and in farms which kept a certain crossbreed of ewe. CONCLUSION: The risk factors identified from the 1998 and 2002 anonymous postal surveys in Great Britain were similar. However, differences between the surveys were identified in the influence of region and of purchasing behaviour on the risk of scrapie. These differences are most likely a consequence of changes in farmer awareness and the impact of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, respectively

Effects of 8 weeks of CPAP on lipid-based oxidative markers in obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized trial

Dyslipidaemia and increased oxidative stress have been reported in severe obstructive sleep apnea, and both may be related to the development of cardiovascular disease. We have previously shown in a randomized crossover study in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea that therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure treatment for 8 weeks improved postprandial triglycerides and total cholesterol when compared with sham continuous positive airway pressure. From this study we have now compared the effect of 8 weeks of therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure and sham continuous positive airway pressure on oxidative lipid damage and plasma lipophilic antioxidant levels. Unesterified cholesterol, esterified unsaturated fatty acids (cholesteryl linoleate: C18:2; and cholesteryl arachidonate: C20:4; the major unsaturated and oxidizable lipids in low-density lipoproteins), their corresponding oxidized products [cholesteryl ester-derived lipid hydroperoxides and hydroxides (CE-O(O)H)] and antioxidant vitamin E were assessed at 20:30 hours before sleep, and at 06:00 and 08:30 hours after sleep. Amongst the 29 patients completing the study, three had incomplete or missing [CE-O(O)H] data. The mean apnea -hypopnoea index, age and body mass index were 38 per hour, 49 years and 32 kg m(-2) , respectively. No differences in lipid-based oxidative markers or lipophilic antioxidant levels were observed between the continuous positive airway pressure and sham continuous positive airway pressure arms at any of the three time-points [unesterified cholesterol 0.01 mm, P > 0.05; cholesteryl linoleate: C18:2 0.05 mm, P > 0.05; cholesteryl arachidonate: C20:4 0.02 mm, P = 0.05; CE-O(O)H 2.5 nm, P > 0.05; and lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamin E 0.03 μm, P > 0.05]. In this study, accumulating CE-O(O)H, a marker of lipid oxidation, does not appear to play a role in oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea.National Health and Medical Research Council project grant 30193

Impact of Point Angle on Drill Product Quality and Other Responses When Drilling EN- 8: A Case Study of Ranking Algorithm

In the present work Drilling parameters has been advanced for EN-8 combination steel utilizing GRA (Grey Relational Examination). The parameters advanced are axle speed (SS - 3000, 3500 and 4000 rpm), feed rate (FR - 0.18, 0.20 and 0.22 mm/rev) and cemented Carbide twist drill of 14.5 mm width with Three flutes point angle (PA - 118,127 and 1350) And Lubrications Used Dry, Wet and Air on bases of surface harshness, Hole distance across, Thrust Force and Burr Size precision reactions. It is performed with the assistance of established carbide contort drills. On the bases of GRA alongside recognizable proof, huge commitment of parameters has been completed by utilizing ANOVA. Out of three factors considered point edge has huge impact on reactions as contrast with other parameters

Multi-Response Enhancement of Drilling Process Parameters for AM 60 Magnesium Alloy as per the Quality Characteristics utilizing Taguchi-Ranking Algorithm and ANOVA

: This investigation shows the improvement of Drilling parameters on AM-60 Mg alloy made with the help of Gravity Die Casting and with reactions upheld symmetrical cluster with Grey relational analysis - GRA. Which Focuses on the streamlining of Drilling constraints utilizing the system to get least surface Roughness (Ra), Tool Wear, Cutting Time, Power Requirement and Torque and Max MRR. Concentrates on the optimization of drilling constraints utilizing the procedure to get minimum surface roughness (Ra), Thrust Force, Burr size and Circularity Error. An amount of drilling experiments remained conducted mistreatment the L9 OA on CNC Machining Center. The trails remained achieved on Mg alloy block cutting tool of an ISO 460.1-1140-034A0-XM GC3 of 12 mm diameter with Tool Angle 140 degrees, used throughout the experimental work beneath dry cutting conditions. This experimental study results like Ra, TF, CE, and BZ were analyzed. GRA & ANOVA was utilized to effort out the principal essential Spindle speed, feed rate, Titanium Coated for Drill Bits (TiN, TiAN, TiCN) with 0.020 in Coating Thickness manipulating the Reaction. The essential and collaboration effect of the data influences on the ordinary responses remain analyzed. The standard qualities and projected values are truly near

Outcome of the Coating Thickness on the Tool Act and Process Parameters When Dry Turning Ti–6Al–4V Alloy: GRA Taguchi & ANOVA

In the primary days of Titanium Nitride tools, before coatings, tool manufacturers appreciated the tools would last elongate and scuffle cratering if they put a little bit of Titanium Nitride (TiN) in the combination when making the tool. This had the anticipated consequence, but the more TiN that was added, the feebler and more brittle the tool became. Then someone hit on the idea of applying a thin layer of TiN to the surface of the tool. This study results the Turning experiment conducted on the Ti–6Al–4V alloy of orthogonal array with Taughi grey relational analysis. Emphases on the optimization of turning process Constraints using the technique to get Min surface roughness (Ra), Roundness (s), Tool Wear and Cutting force in TIN with Different Coating Thickness by PVD Technique. A number of Turning experiments remained conducted mistreatment the L9 OA on All Gear Lathe. The experimentations remained achieved on Ti–6Al–4V alloy block of cutting tool of an CNMP120408-SM TN8025 of 12 mm diameter with cutting point 140 degrees, used throughout the experimental work beneath different Coating Thickness. Grey relational Analysis & ANOVA was used to work out the foremost important Cutting speed, feed rate, Depth of Cut and Different Coating Thickness of TIN with 50,100,150 μm by PVD Method which affecting the respons

Analysis of Product Quality Through Mechanical Properties and Determining Optimal Process Parameters of Untreated and Heat-Treated AISI 1050 Alloy during Turning Operation

AISI 1050 alloy has a wide range of applications and were subjected to machining operations. The purpose of the study is to find the optimum input plain turning process parameters at three levels, using L18 orthogonal array and grey relation analysis; and to investigate the mechanical and microscopic properties of the AISI 1050 alloy before (untreated, UT) and after annealing (AN) (heat-treatment, HT) process. The results of conducted experiments revealed the optimum process parameters as following for the untreated specimens: spindle speed at 3500 r.p.m., feed 0.08 mm/rev, depth of cut at 0.6 mm, insert corner radius at 4mm, and cutting fluid concentration at 12 %, are the most optimum conditions to obtain minimum power consumption for the untreated specimens. Whereas, a spindle speed at 3500 r.p.m., feed at 0.08 mm/rev, depth of cut at 0.6mm, insert corner radius at 4 mm, and cutting fluid concentration at 12 % are the optimum parameter values for the treated specimens

Performance Evaluation of Yield Function and Comparison of Yielding Characteristics of SS 304 in Annealed and Unannealed Conditions

Sheet metal forming forms in numerous industries like vehicle depend on the yielding of the sheet metals when strained. Yielding is portrayed by plastic flow of the materials when strained. The yield point if there should be an occurrence of uniaxial tension can be effectively decided from the pressure strain diagram, yet if there should arise an occurrence of multi axial Stresses it gets complicated. A connection between the principal stresses is required determining the conditions under which plastic flow occurs. This intricacy is tended to by the anisotropic yield capacities. Likewise, the tests used to acquire yield loci might be costly and time taking in such case these yield capacities end up being exceptionally viable. The yield criteria additionally help in deciding planar distribution of yield stresses and anisotropic coefficients, which gives a decent gauge of these mechanical parameters without having to through the pain of trial assurance. This project aims at using Hill 1948 criterion to obtain the Yield surface Diagrams for SS304 in annealed and original state and subsequently obtain the planar distribution of the uniaxial yield stress and anisotropic coefficient. Also, the performance evaluation of both the distributions will be done using accuracy index

Epidemiological Characteristics of Classical Scrapie Outbreaks in 30 Sheep Flocks in the United Kingdom

Most previous analyses of scrapie outbreaks have focused on flocks run by research institutes, which may not reflect the field situation. Within this study, we attempt to rectify this deficit by describing the epidemiological characteristics of 30 sheep flocks naturally-infected with classical scrapie, and by exploring possible underlying causes of variation in the characteristics between flocks, including flock-level prion protein (PrP) genotype profile. In total, the study involved PrP genotype data for nearly 8600 animals and over 400 scrapie cases.We found that most scrapie cases were restricted to just two PrP genotypes (ARQ/VRQ and VRQ/VRQ), though two flocks had markedly different affected genotypes, despite having similar underlying genotype profiles to other flocks of the same breed; we identified differences amongst flocks in the age of cases of certain PrP genotypes; we found that the age-at-onset of clinical signs depended on peak incidence and flock type; we found evidence that purchasing infected animals is an important means of introducing scrapie to a flock; we found some evidence that flock-level PrP genotype profile and flock size account for variation in outbreak characteristics; identified seasonality in cases associated with lambing time in certain flocks; and we identified one case that was homozygous for phenylalanine at codon 141, a polymorphism associated with a very high risk of atypical scrapie, and 28 cases that were heterozygous at this codon.This paper presents the largest study to date on commercially-run sheep flocks naturally-infected with classical scrapie, involving 30 study flocks, more than 400 scrapie cases and over 8500 PrP genotypes. We show that some of the observed variation in epidemiological characteristics between farms is related to differences in their PrP genotype profile; although much remains unexplained and may instead be attributed to the stochastic nature of scrapie dynamics

Epidemiological Characteristics of Classical Scrapie Outbreaks in 30 Sheep Flocks in the United Kingdom

Most previous analyses of scrapie outbreaks have focused on flocks run by research institutes, which may not reflect the field situation. Within this study, we attempt to rectify this deficit by describing the epidemiological characteristics of 30 sheep flocks naturally-infected with classical scrapie, and by exploring possible underlying causes of variation in the characteristics between flocks, including flock-level prion protein (PrP) genotype profile. In total, the study involved PrP genotype data for nearly 8600 animals and over 400 scrapie cases.We found that most scrapie cases were restricted to just two PrP genotypes (ARQ/VRQ and VRQ/VRQ), though two flocks had markedly different affected genotypes, despite having similar underlying genotype profiles to other flocks of the same breed; we identified differences amongst flocks in the age of cases of certain PrP genotypes; we found that the age-at-onset of clinical signs depended on peak incidence and flock type; we found evidence that purchasing infected animals is an important means of introducing scrapie to a flock; we found some evidence that flock-level PrP genotype profile and flock size account for variation in outbreak characteristics; identified seasonality in cases associated with lambing time in certain flocks; and we identified one case that was homozygous for phenylalanine at codon 141, a polymorphism associated with a very high risk of atypical scrapie, and 28 cases that were heterozygous at this codon.This paper presents the largest study to date on commercially-run sheep flocks naturally-infected with classical scrapie, involving 30 study flocks, more than 400 scrapie cases and over 8500 PrP genotypes. We show that some of the observed variation in epidemiological characteristics between farms is related to differences in their PrP genotype profile; although much remains unexplained and may instead be attributed to the stochastic nature of scrapie dynamics

Garlic arrests MDA-MB-435 cancer cells in mitosis, phosphorylates the proapoptotic BH3-only protein BimEL and induces apoptosis

Components of garlic (Allium sativum) can cause disruption of microtubules, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in cancer cells. We show here that a water-soluble extract of garlic arrested MDA-MB-435 cancer cells in mitosis and caused apoptosis. The proapoptotic BH3-only, bcl-2 family protein BimEL, which in healthy cells can be tightly sequestered to the microtubule-associated dynein motor complex, was modified after garlic treatment. The main effect of garlic on BimEL was a considerable increase in a phosphorylated form of the protein. This phosphorylation(s), probably partly dependent on c-jun N-terminal kinase activity, promoted mitochondrial localisation of BimEL. Furthermore, inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 increased the amount of another form of BimEL present in the mitochondrial cellular fraction. Treatment of cells with the garlic compound diallyl disulphide had similar effects on BimEL. The results indicate that the apoptotic effect of garlic and a combination of garlic and the inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 in MDA-MB-435 cells partly is due to modifications that are necessary for translocation of the proapoptotic protein BimEL to mitochondria where it executes its proapoptotic function