Abstract: A composite material that includes a dopant comprised of pre-formed, three dimensional assemblies of skeletal structures that are comprised of solgel derived nanoparticles. The composite material includes a chemically bonded, in situ formed, polymer coating that at least partially coats mesoporous surfaces of the nanoparticles to provide enhancement of random dispersion of the dopant and to minimize or avoid agglomeration. Further, the polymer may be functionalized or the mesoporous surfaces of the nanoparticles may be treated to enable stronger chemical bonding between the dopant and the polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for managing livestock for breeding or production based on one or more measurements of mitochondrial function. Measurement of mitochondrial function may also be correlated with a calculated or known feed efficiency of livestock animals to yield a predicted feed efficiency for the animal. The invention overcomes deficiencies associated with phenotypic assays for predicted breeding and production value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing a safer shell egg through thermal treatment. The present invention provides methods of producing a shell egg wherein the albumen and the yolk of the shell egg receives a thermal treatment sufficient to pasteurize the shell egg and thereby combat the risk of salmonella. The present invention provides methods of providing thermal treatments to the shell egg through introduction of the shell egg into an aqueous solution of a predetermined temperature and maintaining the shell egg in the solution for a predetermined time sufficient to cause the required reduction in salmonella. The predetermined times and temperatures may be characterized by use of the equivalent point method of thermal evaluation, by use of the F0 line for shell egg or by other methods of determining the reduction in salmonella.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing a safer shell egg through thermal treatment. The present invention provides methods of producing a shell egg wherein the albumen and the yolk of the shell egg receives a thermal treatment sufficient to pasteurize the shell egg and thereby combat the risk of salmonella. The present invention provides methods of providing thermal treatments to the shell egg through introduction of the shell egg into an aqueous solution of a predetermined temperature and maintaining the shell egg in the solution for a predetermined time sufficient to cause the required reduction in salmonella. The predetermined times and temperatures may be characterized by use of the equivalent point method of thermal evaluation, by use of the F0 line for shell egg or by other methods of determining the reduction in salmonella.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing a safer shell egg through thermal treatment. The present invention provides methods of producing a shell egg wherein the albumen and the yolk of the shell egg receives a thermal treatment sufficient to pasteurize the shell egg and thereby combat the risk of salmonella. The present invention provides methods of providing thermal treatments to the shell egg through introduction of the shell egg into an aqueous solution of a predetermined temperature and maintaining the shell egg in the solution for a predetermined time sufficient to cause the required reduction in salmonella. The predetermined times and temperatures may be characterized by use of the equivalent point method of thermal evaluation, by use of the F.sub.O line for shell egg or by other methods of determining the reduction in salmonella.