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BackgroundBovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is an infectious disease of cattle that is caused by a combination of viral and/or bacterial pathogens. Selection for cattle with reduced susceptibility to respiratory disease would provide a permanent tool for reducing the prevalence of BRDC. The objective of this study was to identify BRDC susceptibility loci in pre-weaned Holstein calves as a prerequisite to using genetic improvement as a tool for decreasing the prevalence of BRDC. High density SNP genotyping with the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip was conducted on 1257 male and 757 female Holstein calves from California (CA), and 767 calves identified as female from New Mexico (NM). Of these, 1382 were classified as BRDC cases, and 1396 were classified as controls, with all phenotypes assigned using the McGuirk health scoring system. During the acquisition of blood for DNA isolation, two deep pharyngeal and one mid-nasal diagnostic swab were obtained from each calf for the identification of bacterial and viral pathogens. Genome-wide association analyses were conducted using four analytical approaches (EIGENSTRAT, EMMAX-GRM, GBLUP and FvR). The most strongly associated SNPs from each individual analysis were ranked and evaluated for concordance. The heritability of susceptibility to BRDC in pre-weaned Holstein calves was estimated.ResultsThe four statistical approaches produced highly concordant results for 373 top ranked SNPs that defined 126 chromosomal regions for the CA population. Similarly, in NM, 370 SNPs defined 138 genomic regions that were identified by all four approaches. When the two populations were combined (i.e., CA + NM) and analyzed, 324 SNPs defined 116 genomic regions that were associated with BRDC across all analytical methods. Heritability estimates for BRDC were 21% for both CA and NM as individual populations, but declined to 13% when the populations were combined.ConclusionsFour analytical approaches utilizing both single and multi-marker association methods revealed common genomic regions associated with BRDC susceptibility that can be further characterized and used for genomic selection. Moderate heritability estimates were observed for BRDC susceptibility in pre-weaned Holstein calves, thereby supporting the application of genomic selection to reduce the prevalence of BRDC in U.S. Holsteins.

Missing canines compromise function and esthetics and therefore should be restored. In case of a retained canine, there can be a conservative approach of classic orthodontic eruption. If that is not effective, an alternative treatment method is to remove the retained tooth, followed by implant placement or transalveolar autotransplantation of the retained canine. En bloc autotransplantation of a retained canine, with surrounding bone, preserves canine periodontium and increases chances for revascularization and vitality of the transplanted tooth. This paper presents an en bloc autotransplantation of retained canines in the mandible in two female patients resulting in canine vitality after 1.5 years with proper pocket depth, physiologic tooth mobility, and positive reaction to ethyl chloride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogeneic bone blocks are commonly used for bone augmentation in implant dentistry. Allogeneic bone blocks have the advantage of containing growth factors and the original human scaffold. A major disadvantage is the risk of substantial graft volume decrease due to resorption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether corticocancellous allogeneic bone blocks can predictably maintain graft volume to allow implant placement and esthetic restoration. A total of 141 allogeneic bone blocks were placed in 117 patients, allowing for 183 implants. The implant success rate was 96.7% after 6 to 96 months of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a single immediate implant placed into the postextraction palatal socket of a maxillary molar would be as efficacious as a single implant placed centrally in a staged approach. A total of 61 immediate implants were placed in 52 patients and restored after 6 months. Periotest and Osstell were used to determine implant stability, and cone beam computed tomography was used for marginal bone level assessment. During the 2-year follow-up, implant survival was 100%. It was concluded that immediate palatal implants can safely restore extracted molars in the maxilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the scintillation properties of several cerium-doped rare earth oxyorthosilicate scintillators, [Ln.sub.2]Si[O.sub.5]:Ce where Ln = Y, La-Lu, have been reported and, in some cases, extensively studied [1]-[3]. In addition, binary and ternary compounds such as [(Lu,Y).sub.2]Si[O.sub.5]:Ce, [(Lu,Gd).sub.2]Si[O.sub.5] and [(Lu,Y,Gd).sub.2]Si[O.sub.5]:Ce have been reported [3]-[7]. All of these crystals have either monoclinic P or C structures with characteristic Si[O.sub.4] tetrahedra and trivalent cations occupying two unique crystallographic positions [8], [9]. The trivalent cerium activator ions are assumed to occupy the cation lattice sites and possibly interstitial positions as well. The excited 5d state of [Ce.sup.3+] is split into three observable levels with luminescence emission occurring only from the lowest 5d level to the 4f ground state (~3 eV) with a Stokes shift of ~0.5 eV. The bandgap is about 6 eV, and the index of refraction is close to 1.8, with some variation according to crystallographic direction. Despite these similarities, in somecases, differences in scintillation efficiency, decay time, rise time, and phosphorescence time profiles have been observed. In this paper, we combine thermoluminescence measurements with the temperature characteristic of scintillation efficiency between 10 and 350 K to determine the trapping levels that may influence the scintillation and phosphorescence properties of crystals of various compositions. Index Terms--[Lu.sub.2]Si[O.sub.5]:Ce, LSO, [(Lu,Y).sub.2]Si[O.sub.5]:Ce, LYSO, [(Lu,Gd).sub.2]Si[O.sub.5], LGSO, [(Lu,Y,Gd).sub.2]Si[O.sub.5]:Ce, LYGSO, oxyorthosilicate, scintillators, thermoluminescence.