Quantum nondemolition measurements

Some future gravitational-wave antennas will be cylinders of mass approximately 100 kilograms, whose end-to-end vibrations must be measured so accurately (10(-19) centimeter) that they behave quantum mechanically. Moreover, the vibration amplitude must be measured over and over again without perturbing it (quantum nondemolition measurement). This contrasts with quantum chemistry, quantum optics, or atomic, nuclear, and elementary particle physics, where one usually makes measurements on an ensemble of identical objects and does not care whether any single object is perturbed or destroyed by the measurement. This article describes the new electronic techniques required for quantum nondemolition measurements and the theory underlying them. Quantum nondemolition measurements may find application elsewhere in science and technology.     

Identification of Haemobartonella felis (Mycoplasma haemofelis) in captive nondomestic cats.

This study was undertaken to determine whether Haemobartonella felis (Mycoplasma haemofelis), the causative bacterial agent of feline infectious anemia, infects nondomestic cats. Routine complete blood count and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to detect the gene for 16S ribosomal RNA for the organism. Sixty-four blood samples were collected from 54 nondomestic cats, including tigers (Panthera tigris), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), lions (P. leo), mountain lions (Felis concolor), snow leopards (P. unica), and a jaguar (P. onca). Some cats were sampled on two or three different dates. Two tigers were positive for H. felis by PCR analysis. As previously described in domestic cats, the parasitemia appears to be intermittent in nondomestic cats.     

Effect of Dietary Lipid Level and Protein Energy Ratio on Growth and Body Composition of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides

A feeding trial was conducted in aquaria with juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides to examine the effects of increasing dietary lipid levels on growth and body composition. Feed‐trained largemouth bass fingerlings were graded to a similar size (16.3 ± 2.4 g) and randomly stocked into 15 113.6‐L glass aquaria at 25 fish/aquarium. Fingerlings were fed twice daily to apparent satiation with one of five isonitrogenous extruded experimental diets based on practical ingredients. Diets contained approximately 40% crude protein and either 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% added lipid. Due to background lipids in the ingredients, this equated to total lipid levels of 7, 10, 16, 20, and 23%, respectively. These diets had protein to energy ratios of 137, 120, 106, 95, and 86 mg/kcal, respectively. There were three replicate aquaria per dietary treatment. After 12 wk, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in average weight (g), specific growth rate (% body weight/d), survival (%), or protein efficiency ratio (PER, %) among fish fed the five diets, which averaged 79.3 ± 5.6, 1.9 ± 0.1, 99.5 ± 1.5, and 2.11 ± 0.19, respectively. Juvenile largemouth bass fed diets containing 15 and 20% added lipid had significantly lower (P± 0.05) feed conversion ratios (FCR) (1.1 ± 0.0 and 1.1 ± 0. 1, respectively) than fish fed diets containing 0, 5, and 10% added lipid (1.4 ± 0.1, 1.3 ± 0. 1, and 1.3 ± 0.2, respectively). Proximate analysis of whole body samples indicated a significantly higher (P ± 0.05) lipid content in fish fed 15 and 20% added lipid compared to fish fed lower lipid levels. While FCR was lowest in fish fed the 15 and 20% added lipid diets, increased whole body lipid deposition may indicate that these levels are above optimal levels for juvenile largemouth bass. It appears that 7–16% total dietary lipid (P/E:137–106 mg/kcal) is sufficient to support efficient growth without impacting body composition in juvenile largemouth bass when fed a diet containing 40% crude protein.     

Effect of Water Temperature on Growth, Survival, and Biochemical Composition of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides

The effects of water temperature on growth rate, survival, and biochemical composition of juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides were evaluated under controlled conditions in tanks for 12 wk. Feed-trained juvenile largemouth (9.1 ± 1.9 g) were stocked into nine 3,610-L polyethylene tanks inside a greenhouse structure at 140 fish/m³ (500 fish/tank). Three treatment temperatures were evaluated (20, 26, and 32 C) with three replicates per treatment. Bass were fed to apparent satiation twice daily using a commercially available floating salmonid diet (45% crude protein and 16% lipid). After 97 d bass grown at 26 and 32 C had significantly higher ( P < 0.05) average weights, SGR, condition factor (K), and production rates (kg/m³) than those in the 20 C treatment. Bass in the 26 C treatment had significantly lower ( P 0.05) FCR and higher percent protein deposit (PPD) than bass raised at 20 and 32 C, which were not significantly different ( P >0.05). There were no significant differences ( P >0.05) in survival among treatments which averaged 97%, overall. Bass raised at 32 C had higher ( P 0.05) lipid levels in the liver than other treatments. Whole body amino acid concentrations were not significantly impacted ( P >0.05) by culture temperature. Largemouth bass raised at 26 C had significantly lower ( P 0.05) levels of stearic acid (18:0) and significantly higher ( P 0.05) levels of arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) than bass raised at 20 or 32 C. Bass raised at 32 C had significantly higher ( P 0.05) levels of Linoleic acid (18:2 n-6), total saturates, and dienes than bass raised at 26 or 20 C. These data indicate that growth and feed conversion efficiency are reduced at 20 C. Growth is similar at 26 and 32 C, but feed and dietary protein are more efficiently utilized at 26 C.     

Pollen-handling protocol and hydration/dehydration characteristics of pollen for application to long-term storage

Summary The National Seed Storage Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado, is investigating pollen storage as a practical means for storing germplasm of clonally-held species. Careful regulation of pollen moisture content is necessary to safely store pollens and perform accurate in vitro germination tests. A series of dehydration and hydration curves were generated for Pinus ponderosa Dough. ex P. Laws., Picea pungens Engelm., and Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch pollens using five saturated salt solutions and water. Equilibrium moisture contents (EMCs) were also determined for Typha latifolia L., Phoenix dactylifera L., Corylus avellana L., and Zea mays L. Although rates of dehydration and hydration, and EMC varied with salt, pollen, and temperature, the pollens tested did survive the drying procedures and could successfully be stored in liquid nitrogen.Abbreviations NSSL - National Seed Storage Laboratory - EMC - Equilibrium Moisture Content - LN - Liquid Nitrogen     

Factors affecting the gestation period of pigs in Nigeria

Summary Gestation periods taken from 432 records on purebred Large White, Duroc, Hampshire and their crossbred sows at Fashola Stock Farm in the Oyo State of Nigeria were analysed to determine the effects of some factors on the trait. For Large White, Duroc, Hampshire and the crossbred sows the mean gestation periods were 113.2, 115.1, 114.5 and 112.8 days respectively. Overall least squares mean was 112.2 days with a standard deviation of 9.06 days. Litter size at birth, year of birth and breed × season interaction had very highly significant effects on length of pregnancy. Breed differences were significant (P<0.05) whereas parity and seasonper se did not seem to influence this trait. Effects of boars accounted for some 11.8% of the observed differences in the gestation periods of their litters. The heritability of the trait was estimated as 0.47±0.20 while the repeatability coefficient was 0.13. The data indicated a slight negative association between gestation period and litter size at birth.

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Factores Que Afectan El Periodo De Gestacion De Cerdos En Nigeria

Resumen Se analizaron 432 registros de gestación de cerdos puros Large White, Duroc, Hampshire y de las hembras provenientes de cruces, en la Granja de Fashola, Estado de Oyo en Nigeria. Para las razas Large White, Duroc, Hampshire y los cruces, el promedio de gestación fue de 113.2, 115.1, 114.5 y 112.8 días respectivamente. El promedio total por cuadrado mínimo fue de 112.2 días, con una desviación estándar de 9.06 días. El número de lechones al nacer, año de nacimiento y la interacción de raza y estación tuvieron efectos significativos altos en la duración de la preñez. Las diferencias entre razas fueron significativas (P<0.05), mientras que los efectos entre razas similares y la estación del añoper se no parecieron tener mayor influencia. Algunos factores encontrados en los machos fueron responsables de 11.8% de las diferencias encontradas en los períodos de gestación. La heredabilidad de caracteres se estimó en 0.47±0.20, mientras que el coeficiente de repetibilidad fue 0.13. Los datos señalan una asociación negativa entre el período de gestación y el tamaño de la camada al nacer.

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Facteurs Influencant Au Nigeria La Duree De La Gestation Chez Les Porcs

Résumé Une analyse a été faite à la ferme d'élevage de Fashola dans l'Etat d'Oyo au Nigeria, pour déterminer les effets de quelques facteurs sur la durée de la gestation en étudiant 432 gestations de truies de race pure Large White, Duroc et Hampshire et métissées. Pour l'ensemble de ces truies la durée moyenne de la gestation a respectivement été de 113,2; 115,1; 114,5 et 112,8 jours. La moyenne générale a été de 112,2 jours avec une déviation standard de 9.06 jours. Le nombre de produits à la naissance l'âge à la mise bas et l'interaction race x saison ont des effets hautement significatif sur la durée de la gestation. La différence entre les races a été significative (p<05 alors que le nombre de portées et al saison en soi ne semblent pas influencer ce caractère. L'influence des verrats intervient pour quelque 11,8 p. 100 sur cette durée lorsqu'elle concerne leurs produits. L'héritabilité de ce caractère a été estimée à 0,47±0,20 alors que le coefficient de repetabilité a été de 0,13. L'observation indique qu'il existe une association légèrement négative entre la durée de la gestation et le nombre de produits à la naissance.

     

Comparative vaginal cytology of the estrous cycle of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), Siberian polecats (M. eversmanni), and domestic ferrets (M. putorius furo).

Vaginal cytology and vulva size were used to characterize the reproductive cycle of female black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), Siberian polecats (M. eversmanni), and domestic ferrets (M. putorius furo). Emphasis was on black-footed ferrets because of the need to breed these critically endangered animals and on Siberian polecats because of the close taxonomic relationship to black-footed ferrets. Vaginal cytology of the 3 species of ferret is similar. Proestrus was characterized by an increasing percentage of superficial epithelial cells and enlargement of the vulva. During estrus, superficial cells were usually greater than or equal to 90% of epithelial cells in the vaginal lavage and after several days were fully keratinized. Neutrophils were more common during all stages of the estrous cycle in domestic ferrets than they were in the other species. Following copulation, percentage of superficial calls in the vagina declined and vulva swelling subsided. Large cells, probably of uterine symplasma origin, were observed in vaginal lavages following whelping or pseudopregnancy. Vaginal cytology is extremely useful in the reproductive management of black-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats. Knowledge of normal vaginal cytology could be applied to the diagnosis of female reproductive abnormalities in all 3 species.     

Detection of prions in the faeces of sheep naturally infected with classical scrapie

ABSTRACT: Classical scrapie is a naturally transmitted prion disease of sheep and goats. Contaminated environments may contribute to the spread of disease and evidence from animal models has implicated urine, blood, saliva, placenta and faeces as possible sources of the infection. Here we sought to determine whether sheep naturally infected with classical scrapie shed prions in their faeces. We used serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) along with two extraction methods to examine faeces from sheep during both the clinical and preclinical phases of the disease and showed amplification of PrPSc in 7 of 15 and 14 of 14 sheep respectively. However PrPSc was not amplified from the faeces of 25 sheep not exposed to scrapie. These data represent the first demonstration of prion shedding in faeces from a naturally infected host and thus a likely source of prion contamination in the environment.     

Release of dissolved trace metals and organic contaminants during deep water disposal of contaminated sediments from Oslo harbour,Norway

Purpose  

The current study was conducted in order to assess the release of dissolved contaminants from sediment relocation works in Oslo harbour, Norway, whilst operations were being carried out, and to assess the potential for spreading into the wider fjord area.