OXYTOCIN DETERMINATION BY RADIOIMMUNOASSAY IN CATTLE

1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Schams ◽  
B. Schmidt-Polex ◽  
V. Kruse
Keyword(s):  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Radioactive Tracer ◽  
Strong Response ◽  
Assay Sensitivity ◽  
Disappearance Curve ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Milking Machine ◽  
Plasma Disappearance Curve ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Synthetic Oxytocin

ABSTRACT A radioimmunoassay for oxytocin in cow plasma is described. Antisera were raised in rabbits against synthetic oxytocin coupled to bovine thyroglobulin. Iodinated oxytocin free of unlabelled oxytocin and most likely also free of diiodo-oxytocin was used as radioactive tracer. The tracer showed a high degree of purity, and was stable on storage. It could be used in the assay for 2–3 months. The assay showed very little crossreactivity with vasopressin. Acetone was used for the extraction of oxytocin from plasma as well as from standards made of synthetic oxytocin in pooled cow plasma. Inhibition curves obtained with plasma collected from cows at parturition were parallel to those obtained with the oxytocin standard preparation. The mean recovery of oxytocin added to cow plasma was 106 % (sd = 14). The within-assay coefficient of variation (CV) varied from 5.2 to 10.9 %, and the between-assay CV was in the order of 13 %. The assay sensitivity was 1 pg (0.5 μU) per tube, corresponding to 3 pg/ml plasma. Around the time of milking the plasma oxytocin profile showed a strong response to the preparation for milking, and a further effect releated to the attachment of the teat cups of the milking machine. Peak concentrations were in the range of 15–50 pg/ml. During parturition there was a peak of oxytocin (65 pg/ml) coinciding with the expulsion phase. After this peak levels decreased but remained measurably elevated until the expulsion of the placenta. The plasma disappearance curve for immunoreactive oxytocin after the infusion of 100 IU oxytocin over a period of 1 h showed two components with apparent half-lives of 7–9 and 25 min, respectively.

scholarly journals IMMUNOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF VACCINE VIRUS

1936 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F. Parker ◽  
Thomas M. Rivers
Keyword(s):  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Vaccine Virus ◽  
Agglutination Reaction ◽  
Test Antigen ◽  
End Point ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Different Strains ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Infectious Unit

Methods have been described by which the number of elementary bodies present in a suspension can be estimated. It has been shown that by means of replicate counts, in which the Petroff-Hausser chamber was used, a high degree of accuracy can be attained. By means of the Gates densitometer, the number of elementary bodies in a suspension can be determined with a coefficient of variation of about 3.0 per cent. A method has been described by which the accuracy of estimation of the infectious titer of a suspension can be increased without greatly enlarging the number of animals employed. This consists of selecting as the end-point that dilution of virus which on intradermal inoculation in a rabbit would lead theoretically to an equal number of positive and negative results. The statistical advantages of this method have been confirmed by the experiences of other laboratories. By the application of the methods described, there was shown to be a direct correlation between the number of elementary bodies and the number of infectious units of virus present in a given suspension. At the mean of the distribution this ratio is as the logarithms 9.62 to 8.0. To extrapolate this curve, in order to determine the number of elementary bodies present in a single infectious unit, while tempting, is probably not justifiable. It must likewise be remembered that the data given apply to a particular strain of vaccine virus, and that the number of infectious units has been determined by intradermal inoculation of rabbits. It appears also that this method may be of value in studies of the virulence of different strains of vaccine virus, since by its application one may determine not only the infectious liter of a suspension, but its content of elementary bodies. In the agglutination reaction it was found that optimum titers of serum were obtained when the test antigen contained from 2.0 x 109 to 1.05 x 1010 elementary bodies per cc. Approximately 1.95 x 108 particles per cc. of suspension were required for the production of visible agglutination.

Design and development of manually operated gladiolus planter

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
TAPAN K. KHURA ◽  
H. L. KUSHWAHA ◽  
SATISH D LANDE ◽  
PKSAHOO . ◽  
INDRA L . KUSHWAHA
Keyword(s):  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Power Source ◽  
Forward Speed ◽  
Cereal Crop ◽  
Maximum Coefficient ◽  
Coefficient Of Uniformity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Immense Potential

Floriculture is an age-old farming activity in India having immense potential for generating selfemployment and income to farmers. However, the cost of cultivation of flower is high as compared to cereal crop. Level of mechanization for different field operations is one but foremost reason for the higher cost of cultivation. As most of the Indian farmers are marginal and small, a need for manually operated gladiolus planter was felt. The geometric properties of gladiolus corm were determined for designing the seed metering system and seed hopper of the planter. The planter was evaluated in the field when pulled by two persons as a power source and guided by a person. The coefficient of variation and highest deviation from the mean spacing was observed as 12.93% and 2.65cm respectively. The maximum coefficient of uniformity of 90.59% was observed for a nominal corm spacing of 15cm at 0.56 kmh-1 forward speed. An average MISS percentage was observed as 2.65 and 2.25 for nominal corm spacing of 15 and 20 cm. The multiple index was zero for two levels corm spacing and forward speed of operation. The QFI was found in the range of 97.2 and 97.9 percent. The average field capacity of the planter was observed as 0.02 hah-1.The average draft requirement of the planter was found as 821 ± 50.3 N.

scholarly journals Technical note: Inherent benchmark or not? Comparing Nash–Sutcliffe and Kling–Gupta efficiency scores

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 4323-4331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter J. M. Knoben ◽  
Jim E. Freer ◽  
Ross A. Woods
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Model Adequacy ◽  
Robust Model ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Adequacy Assessment

Abstract. A traditional metric used in hydrology to summarize model performance is the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). Increasingly an alternative metric, the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), is used instead. When NSE is used, NSE = 0 corresponds to using the mean flow as a benchmark predictor. The same reasoning is applied in various studies that use KGE as a metric: negative KGE values are viewed as bad model performance, and only positive values are seen as good model performance. Here we show that using the mean flow as a predictor does not result in KGE = 0, but instead KGE =1-√2≈-0.41. Thus, KGE values greater than −0.41 indicate that a model improves upon the mean flow benchmark – even if the model's KGE value is negative. NSE and KGE values cannot be directly compared, because their relationship is non-unique and depends in part on the coefficient of variation of the observed time series. Therefore, modellers who use the KGE metric should not let their understanding of NSE values guide them in interpreting KGE values and instead develop new understanding based on the constitutive parts of the KGE metric and the explicit use of benchmark values to compare KGE scores against. More generally, a strong case can be made for moving away from ad hoc use of aggregated efficiency metrics and towards a framework based on purpose-dependent evaluation metrics and benchmarks that allows for more robust model adequacy assessment.

scholarly journals Perception of the Online Learning Environment of Nursing Students in Slovenia: Validation of the DREEM Questionnaire

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 998
Author(s):  
Lucija Gosak ◽  
Nino Fijačko ◽  
Carolina Chabrera ◽  
Esther Cabrera ◽  
Gregor Štiglic
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Nursing Student ◽  
Student Perception ◽  
Psychometric Testing ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree

At the time of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, several measures were in place to limit the spread of the virus, such as lockdown and restriction of social contacts. Many colleges thus had to shift their education from personal to online form overnight. The educational environment itself has a significant influence on students’ learning outcomes, knowledge, and satisfaction. This study aims to validate the tool for assessing the educational environment in the Slovenian nursing student population. To assess the educational environment, we used the DREEM tool distributed among nursing students using an online platform. First, we translated the survey questionnaire from English into Slovenian using the reverse translation technique. We also validated the DREEM survey questionnaire. We performed psychometric testing and content validation. I-CVI and S-CVI are at an acceptable level. A high degree of internal consistency was present, as Cronbach’s alpha was 0.951. The questionnaire was completed by 174 participants, of whom 30 were men and 143 were women. One person did not define gender. The mean age of students was 21.1 years (SD = 3.96). The mean DREEM score was 122.2. The mean grade of student perception of learning was 58.54%, student perception of teachers was 65.68%, student academic self-perception was 61.88%, student perception of the atmosphere was 60.63%, and social self-perception of students was 58.93%. Although coronavirus has affected the educational process, students still perceive the educational environment as positive. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement in all assessed areas.

scholarly journals Assessment of costs and insurance policies for referral treatment of equine colic

2019 ◽  
Vol 185 (16) ◽  
pp. 508-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isobel Barker ◽  
Sarah L Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Insurance Policies ◽  
Insurance Cover ◽  
Survey Costs ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Mean Cost ◽  
Monthly Premium ◽  
Equine Colic

Colic is the most common emergency problem in horses. The aims of this study were to survey costs of different referral treatments and to review insurance policies relevant to horses with colic. Data were collected retrospectively from nine equine hospitals for case costs, categorised into four different outcomes: admitted and euthanased; euthanased during or immediately after surgery; medical treatment and survived more than 24 hours; and surgical treatment and survived more than 24 hours. Data from five UK equine insurance companies were extracted and analysed using a standardised case example. Costs were obtained for 108 cases. The mean cost for horses admitted and euthanased was £873.89 (range £459.72–£1471.51), and for surgical treatment and survival more than 24 hours was £6437.80 (range £3178.87–£9100.00). Insurance cover for veterinary fees ranged from £5000 to £7500, and monthly premium rates for a standardised case ranged from £27.06 to £47.06. The terms and conditions for the insurance policies ranged in length from 2098 to 17,701 words; Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease scores ranged from 21.6 to 57.7, indicating a high degree of complexity and low readability. This study highlights the complexity and challenges for decision-making in critical cases of colic.

Responses of the bovine teat to machine milking: measurement of changes in thickness of the teat apex

1988 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörn Hamann ◽  
Graeme A. Mein
Keyword(s):  
Positive Pressure ◽  
Vacuum Level ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree

SummaryChanges in the teat apex before and after different milking treatments were measured with a spring-loaded caliper device known as a cutimeter which could detect changes in thickness of the tissues of the teat end, presumably due to congestion and/or oedema, with a high degree of accuracy (± 2%) and repeatability (r = 0·99). Teat end thickness increased with increasing vacuum level. The mean increase immediately after milking with a conventional cluster was 2% for 24 teats milked at 30 kPa, 8% at 50 kPa and 21% at 70 kPa. At these vacuum levels, the mean increases for the same teats milked with an unconventional (PKME) teatcup were 10, 18 and 25% respectively. Cyclic application of 35 kPa positive pressure to the pulsation chamber of a conventional teatcup operating at 50 kPa reduced teat end thickness by 8% compared with the mean premilking value. Although most teats returned to within ± 2% of their premilking thickness values by 1 h after milking, differences were apparent between different milking systems for up to 4 h postmilking.

Effects of the Fractional Laplacian Order on the Nonlocal Elastic Rod Response

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Autuori ◽  
Federico Cluni ◽  
Vittorio Gusella ◽  
Patrizia Pucci
Keyword(s):  
Probability Density Function ◽  
Probability Density ◽  
Density Function ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Fractional Laplacian ◽  
Numerical Procedure ◽  
Elastic Rod ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Distributed Forces ◽  
Nonlinear Fashion

In this paper, we yield with a nonlocal elastic rod problem, widely studied in the last decades. The main purpose of the paper is to investigate the effects of the statistic variability of the fractional operator order s on the displacements u of the rod. The rod is supposed to be subjected to external distributed forces, and the displacement field u is obtained by means of numerical procedure. The attention is particularly focused on the parameter s, which influences the response in a nonlinear fashion. The effects of the uncertainty of s on the response at different locations of the rod are investigated by the Monte Carlo simulations. The results obtained highlight the importance of s in the probabilistic feature of the response. In particular, it is found that for a small coefficient of variation of s, the probability density function of the response has a unique well-identifiable mode. On the other hand, for a high coefficient of variation of s, the probability density function of the response decreases monotonically. Finally, the coefficient of variation and, to a small extent, the mean of the response tend to increase as the coefficient of variation of s increases.

Calibration of Experiments on Perennial Crops using Covariance Analysis: the Case of Coconut

1986 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-361
Author(s):  
Tilak Abeysinghe
Keyword(s):  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Experimental Error ◽  
Covariance Analysis ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Perennial Crops ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Calibration Experiment ◽  
Experimental Yield ◽  
The Mean

SUMMARYThe calibrating efficiency of the pre-experimental yield of coconuts was examined using ten years data from a calibration experiment. On the basis of a fully randomized design it was found that the two-year pooled pre-experimental yield on four-tree plots produces consistent calibration and reduces the experimental error mean square by about 73%. This brings down the mean coefficient of variation to 9.7% from its pre-calibration levels of 36 on one-tree plots and 18 on four-tree plots.

Estimating the intra- and inter-individual imprecision of manual pipetting

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lippi ◽  
Gabriel Lima-Oliveira ◽  
Giorgio Brocco ◽  
Antonella Bassi ◽  
Gian Luca Salvagno
Keyword(s):  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Biological Samples ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
Laboratory Practice ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Plastic Container ◽  
Water Solutions ◽  
The Mean

AbstractBackground:Despite the importance of manual pipetting of fluids such as water, solutions, buffers, reagents, or biological samples in daily laboratory practice, the intra- and inter-individual imprecision of this activity has not been recently described in scientific publications.Methods:Twenty laboratory operators were randomly enrolled for this study. Imprecision of manual pipetting was estimated by asking each laboratory professional to dispense 1 mL, 100 μL or 10 μL of distilled water for 10 consecutive times with three certified pipettes into a 50-mL plastic container placed into a gravimetric balance. The weight of the water dispensed was systematically recorded for each of the 10 repeated attempts, and the inter- and intra-operator imprecision was finally calculated and expressed as coefficient of variation (CV%).Results:The mean intra-individual imprecision was 5.7% (range, 0%–11.8%) for pipetting 10 μL, 0.8% (range, 0.4%–1.9%) for pipetting 100 μL, and 0.2% (range, 0.1%–0.5%) for pipetting 1 mL. Overall, the mean inter-individual imprecision was 8.1% for pipetting 10 μL, 1.1% for pipetting 100 μL and 0.4% for pipetting 1 mL. A significantly inverse correlation was found between intra-individual pipetting imprecision and the amount of water dispensed (r = –0.80; p<0.001). No significant correlation was observed between individual pipetting performance and sex, age, qualification, and years of experience in the laboratory.Conclusions:The results of this study show that manual pipetting is plagued by a considerable intra- and inter-individual imprecision, which is inversely correlated with the amount of fluid dispensed.

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