Herd management and social variables associated with bulk tank somatic cell count in dairy herds in the eastern United States.

The ability to reduce somatic cell counts (SCC) and improve milk quality depends on the effective and consistent application of established mastitis control practices. The US dairy industry continues to rely more on nonfamily labor to perform critical tasks to maintain milk quality. Thus, it is important to understand dairy producer attitudes and beliefs relative to management practices, as well as employee performance, to advance milk quality within the changing structure of the dairy industry. To assess the adoption rate of mastitis control practices in United States dairy herds, as well as assess social variables, including attitudes toward employees relative to mastitis control, a survey was sent to 1,700 dairy farms in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida in January and February of 2013. The survey included questions related to 7 major areas: sociodemographics and farm characteristics, milking proficiency, milking systems, cow environment, infected cow monitoring and treatment, farm labor, and attitudes toward mastitis and related antimicrobial use. The overall response rate was 41% (21% in Florida, 39% in Michigan, and 45% in Pennsylvania). Herd size ranged from 9 to 5,800 cows. Self-reported 3-mo geometric mean bulk tank SCC (BTSCC) for all states was 194,000 cells/mL. Multivariate analysis determined that proven mastitis control practices such as the use of internal teat sealants and blanket dry cow therapy, and not using water during udder preparation before milking, were associated with lower BTSCC. Additionally, farmer and manager beliefs and attitudes, including the perception of mastitis problems and the threshold of concern if BTSCC is above 300,000 cells/mL, were associated with BTSCC. Ensuring strict compliance with milking protocols, giving employees a financial or other penalty if BTSCC increased, and a perceived importance of reducing labor costs were negatively associated with BTSCC in farms with nonfamily employees. These findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to managing mastitis, one that includes the human dimensions of management to maintain the practice of scientifically validated mastitis control practices.

Clinical laboratory technician to clinical laboratory scientist articulation and distance learning.

Laboratory workers and educators alike are challenged to support access to education that is current and provides opportunities for career advancement in the work place. The clinical laboratory science (CLS) program at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta developed a clinical laboratory technician (CLT) to CLS articulation option, expanded it through distance learning, and integrated computer based learning technology into the educational process over a four year period to address technician needs for access to education. Both positive and negative outcomes were realized through these efforts. Twenty-seven students entered the pilot articulation program, graduated, and took a CLS certification examination. Measured in terms of CLS certification, promotions, pay raises, and career advancement, the program described was a success. However, major problems were encountered related to the use of unfamiliar communication technology; administration of the program at distance sites; communication between educational institutions, students, and employers; and competition with CLT programs for internship sites. These problems must be addressed in future efforts to provide a successful distance learning program. Effective methods for meeting educational needs and career ladder expectations of CLTs and their employers are important to the overall quality and appeal of the profession. Educational technology that includes computer-aided instruction, multimedia, and telecommunications can provide powerful tools for education in general and CLT articulation in particular. Careful preparation and vigilant attention to reliable delivery methods as well as students' progress and outcomes is critical for an efficient, economically feasible, and educationally sound program.

Evaluation of a rapid method for measuring theophylline in a clinical setting.

The need to determine rapidly the theophylline levels of patients in ambulatory settings such as family practice offices has led to the development of instruments purported to be fast, reliable, and cost-effective. This study evaluated one such instrument, the Ames Seralyzer, and compared the findings with those of the Du Pont aca. Forty-six patient samples were split and run on both instruments by trained laboratory personnel. Validation studies yielded a correlation coefficient of r = .9680 (N = 46). Precision assays showed the 27.5 and 82.5 mumol/L (5 and 15 mg/L) levels of theophylline found in control samples produced day-to-day coefficients of variation of 8.8% (n = 43) and 5.8% (n = 35), respectively. After initial evaluation of the Seralyzer, duplicate assays were performed because of erratic results. The evaluators felt that a major source of error was in the diluting and pipetting steps involved in the procedure. The Seralyzer was easy to run but did require some technique-dependent skills.

Design and Operation of the NASA 91.5-cm Airborne Telescope.

A 91.5-cm aperture telescope is being built for ir and submillimeter observations at altitudes of 12 km to 14 km aboard a StarLifter (Lockheed C-141A) aircraft. The main optics will be totally reflecting, and aerodynamic boundary layer control will permit open-port operation (no material window). The elevation will be adjustable in flight between 35 degrees and 75 degrees . Westward flying will permit several hours' observation of an object near transit at constant bearing (azimuth) and with little change in elevation. An air bearing support with inertial stabilization and star tracking will give a net line-of-sight stability of better than 2-sec of arc rms in the open-port mode.