Analysis of litter size and days to lambing in the Ripollesa ewe. I. Comparison of models with linear and threshold approaches

The analysis focused on model fitting of 2 ewe reproductive traits, litter size, and days to lambing (interval between the introduction of the ram into the flock and the subsequent parturition of the ewes). The experimental data set of the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona flock was used, including 1,598 records of litter size and 1,699 records of days to lambing from 376 Ripollesa ewes between 1986 and 2005. Univariate and bivariate models were considered as beginning points with linear or threshold approximation for litter size. Model fitting was evaluated in terms of goodness-of-fit and predictive ability, using the mean square error and the correlation between phenotypic and predicted records (rho(y,?)) as reference parameters. The bivariate model was preferable for both variables, minimizing mean square error and maximizing rho(y,?). A threshold approximation for litter size was preferable over a linear approximation. Models were also compared with a simulation study, comparing the correlation coefficient between simulated and predicted breeding values (rho(a,a)). The bivariate threshold model was favored, with a rho(y,?) of 0.677 and 0.834 for litter size and days to lambing, respectively. Correlation coefficients between simulated and predicted breeding values in the bivariate linear model were reduced slightly to 0.651 and 0.831, respectively, and they were lowest with linear univariate models (0.642 and 0.802). Although the bivariate models for ewe litter size and days to lambing were more accurate than the univariate models, the threshold approaches showed a greater advantage under the bivariate model. For the purpose of genetic evaluation of litter size in sheep, use of the threshold-linear model seems justified. In the Ripollesa breed, the evaluation of litter size can benefit from recording birth weight.     

Acanthocephalan infection and sparganosis in a green tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata)

Acanthocephalan and spargana parasites were identified within a body wall mass during exploratory surgery in a wild green tree snake. Acanthocephalan parasites have not previously been reported in this species. Surgical excision, the treatment of choice, could not be achieved because of the extensive infiltration of the coelomic cavity.     

Probing the Local Effects of Magnetic Impurities on Superconductivity

The local effects of isolated magnetic adatoms on the electronic properties of the surface of a superconductor were studied with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Tunneling spectra obtained near magnetic adsorbates reveal the presence of excitations within the superconductor's energy gap that can be detected over a few atomic diameters around the impurity at the surface. These excitations are locally asymmetric with respect to tunneling of electrons and holes. A model calculation based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations can be used to understand the details of the local tunneling spectra.     

Spontaneous formation of macroscopic chiral domains in a fluid smectic phase of achiral molecules

A smectic liquid-crystal phase made from achiral molecules with bent cores was found to have fluid layers that exhibit two spontaneous symmetry-breaking instabilities: polar molecular orientational ordering about the layer normal and molecular tilt. These instabilities combine to form a chiral layer structure with a handedness that depends on the sign of the tilt. The bulk states are either antiferroelectric-racemic, with the layer polar direction and handedness alternating in sign from layer to layer, or antiferroelectric-chiral, which is of uniform layer handedness. Both states exhibit an electric field-induced transition from antiferroelectric to ferroelectric.     

Organic Glasses: A New Class of Photorefractive Materials

The performance of amorphous organic photorefractive (PR) materials in applications such as optical data storage is generally limited by the concentration of active molecules (chromophores) that can be incorporated into the host without forming a crystalline material with poor optical quality. In polymeric PR systems described previously, performance has been limited by the necessity of devoting a large fraction of the material to inert polymer and plasticizing components in order to ensure compositional stability. A new class of organic PR materials composed of multifunctional glass-forming organic chromophores is described that have long-term stability and greatly improved PR properties.     

Nanofabrication of Small Copper Clusters on Gold(111) Electrodes by a Scanning Tunneling Microscope

The use of scanning tunneling microscopy in an electrochemical environment as a tool for the nanoscale modification of gold electrodes was demonstrated. Small copper clusters, typically two to four atomic layers in height, were precisely positioned on a gold(111) electrode by a process in which copper was first deposited onto the tip of the scanning tunneling microscope, which then acted as a reservoir from which copper could be transferred to the surface during an appropriate approach of the tip to the surface. Tip approach and position were controlled externally by a microprocessor unit, allowing the fabrication of various patterns, cluster arrays, and "conducting wires" in a very flexible and convenient manner.     

Viability of Iberian x Meishan F2 newborn pigs. II. Survival analysis up to weaning

Iberian x Meishan F2 piglet's preweaning survivability was analyzed using categorical data regression procedures within the proportional hazards assumption. A frailty sire model was assumed with the litter effect treated as an additional random source of variation. Moreover, the relative birth weight within litter and the litter effect were considered time-dependent covariates that changed their values in the second day of life due to cross fostering carried out to standardize litters. Six variables had a significant effect on survivability: birth weight (P < 0.01), relative birth weight within litter (P < 0.001), rectal temperature 60 min after birth (P < 0.01), type of presentation at birth (P < 0.05), presence of stillbirths (P < 0.001), and presence of mummified fetuses (P < 0.001). Small piglets (<0.98 kg) suffered a high hazard ratio (6.57; P < 0.001), with this variable being clearly lower for the rest of birth weight categories. Piglets that were small in relation to their siblings (relative birth weight within litter) also suffered an increased death risk, with a hazard ratio of 1.81 (P < 0.05), which was similar to animals with posterior presentations at birth (hazard ratio = 1.80; P < 0.05). Piglets with a rectal temperature lower than 35.4 degrees C 60 min after birth showed the highest hazard ratio (7.18; P < 0.01). Furthermore, the presence of mummified fetuses decreased the survivability of the remaining siblings, with a hazard ratio of 2.03 (P < 0.01), as did the presence of stillbirths (hazard ratio = 3.55; P < 0.001). The inclusion of the two random effects allowed us to estimate the mode of the joint posterior density of the sire variance (0.08) and the litter variance (1.98). The estimated heritability of preweaning survival reached a value of 0.03. We conclude that piglet survival involves several systematic influences related to birth weight, thermoregulatory ability, and injuries suffered during gestation and farrowing. The genetic variance was small compared with those generated by the common environment, for which the genetic improvement of piglet survival seems difficult.     

Galectin secretion and binding to adult Fasciola hepatica during chronic liver fluke infection of sheep

Galectins are increasingly recognised as important mediators of immune homeostasis and disease regulation, but comparatively little is known about their role in parasite infection. This study investigates the interaction between two ovine galectins, galectin-11 and galectin-14, and the parasitic liver fluke, F. hepatica. Galectin-14 was found in eosinophils infiltrating the tissue surrounding infected bile ducts and secreted in the connective tissue, while galectin-11 was specifically induced in epithelial cells of bile ducts from infected sheep. Strong nuclear staining was observed for galectin-11. Both galectins were found to be secreted into the bile fluid of parasite infected sheep, and were also detected in the excretory/secretory products of adult flukes, following their removal from the ovine host. Recombinant galectin-14, but not recombinant galectin-11, was found to bind specifically to the surface tegument of adult flukes in a carbohydrate dependent manner. This study shows for the first time that both galectin-14 and galectin-11 are produced in liver tissue after chronic liver fluke infection and that they can directly interact with the parasite in the bile ducts. Galectin-11 may also be involved in epithelial cell turnover and cancerogenesis.     

Managing anthelmintic resistance: Modelling strategic use of a new anthelmintic class to slow the development of resistance to existing classes

AIM: To test the hypothesis that a single strategic treatment with a new class of anthelmintic could slow the development of resistance to existing classes of anthelmintic.

METHODS: An existing model was used to simulate nematode parasite dynamics and the development of anthelmintic resistance. Variations on a five-drench preventive programme of treatments for lambs, in which either zero, the first, third or fifth treatment was substituted with a different class of drug, were compared for the time to reach treatment failure (defined as efficacy <95%). The sensitivity to variations in the death rate of adult worms, that varied from 1 to 5%, and the dominance of resistance genes were also assessed.

RESULTS: Replacing one of the five treatments with a different class of anthelmintic almost always slowed the development of resistance, and was never worse than using the same drug for all treatments. Further, there were large differences in the relative time to treatment failure depending on which treatment was substituted. Changing the first treatment always had the least benefit, whereas changing the fifth treatment always had the greatest. This pattern was independent of the daily death rate of adult worms, and was not influenced by the dominance of resistance under treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that strategic substitution of a single treatment with a new class of anthelmintic, at the end of a series of preventive treatments to lambs using an existing class, could slow the further development of resistance to the latter. This strategic use of a new anthelmintic class has the potential to greatly extend the life of existing anthelmintics if these are still effective.