Phenotypic and genotypic traits of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from pig carcasses

A total of 142 S. aureus strains isolated from pig carcasses from abattoirs A (n = 98) and B (n = 44) were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic traits. Phenotypically, 96% showed yellow-pigmented colonies, 63% β/δ hemolysis, 85% were egg yolk-positive and 99% were positive for clumping factor/protein A. Only 25% of the strains were resistant to the antimicrobials tested (abattoir A: 19%; abattoir B: 39%), especially to penicillin and ampicillin. None of the strains harbored the mecA gene, which is conserved in methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The biofilm associated genes icaA, icaD and bap were present in 100%, 100% and 0% of the strains. Genes for staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) were detected in 51% (abattoir A) and 14% of the strains (abattoir B). Among strains harboring SE genes (n = 56), 63%, 31%, 4% and 2% tested positive for seg/sei, seg, sei and sec, respectively. The amplification of the 3′ end of the coagulase gene (coa) yielded amplicons of 400, 436, 602, 682 or 776 bp. Coa restriction profile (CRP) analysis using HaeIII resulted in seven patterns (a–d, e1–e3). CRP (c) was detected most frequently at both abattoirs, whereas CRP (a) was restricted to abattoir A and CRP (e3) to abattoir B. In the slaughter process (abattoir B), (i) two CRPs (b and d) were only found before dehairing/singeing, and (ii) four CRPs (c, e1–e3) were identified throughout the process. The genotyping revealed a remarkable homogeneity in S. aureus strains from the two different abattoirs and the slaughter process stages. These results may be explained by the distribution of a limited number of S. aureus genotypes in the pig population. Moreover, as the predominant CRPs (c, e1–e3) persisted throughout the slaughter process in abattoir B, it may be hypothesized that these types are characterized by colonization advantages.     

Associations among albuminuria, C-reactive protein concentrations, survival predictor index scores, and survival in 78 critically ill dogs

Background: Microalbuminuria and C‐reactive protein (CRP) are predictors of morbidity and survival in critically ill human patients. Hypothesis/Objectives: To evaluate results of microalbuminuria assays (untimed single‐sample urine albumin concentration [U‐ALB] and the urine albumin : creatinine ratio [UACR]), serum CRP, and survival predictor index (SPI2) scores as predictors of survival in critically ill dogs. Animals: Seventy‐eight dogs admitted to intensive care units at University of Tennessee (UT) and Colorado State University (CSU). Methods: Prospective observational study. Critically ill dogs were eligible for enrollment, unless euthanized because of financial constraints. Samples were collected within 3 hours of admission. Spearman's rank‐correlation coefficients were determined for U‐ALB, UACR, CRP, and SPI2. U‐ALB, UACR, CRP, and SPI2 were assessed for associations with 7‐ and 30‐day survival by Mann‐Whitney U‐tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. P‐values < .0125 were considered significant. Results: UT (n = 49) and CSU (n = 29) patients did not differ significantly. Forty percent (31/78) of dogs died. SPI2 was inversely correlated with U‐ALB (r_s=?0.39, P < .001) and UACR (r_s=?0.41, P < .001). CRP was not correlated with SPI2 (P= .019), U‐ALB (P > .1), or UACR (P > .1). U‐ALB and UACR had very high correlation (r_s= 0.95, P < .001). SPI2, U‐ALB, and UACR differed significantly for survivors and nonsurvivors. SPI2, U‐ALB, and UACR had areas under the ROC curve (AUC) from 0.68 to 0.74 for survival prediction. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Albuminuria and SPI2, but not CRP, are associated with survival in critically ill dogs. Suboptimal AUCs limit the value of microalbuminuria testing for clinical risk assessment. Additional studies are necessary to determine the usefulness of microalbuminuria testing in patient risk stratification for prospective research.     

Soil texture affects soil microbial and structural recovery during grassland restoration

Many biotic and abiotic factors influence recovery of soil communities following prolonged disturbance. We investigated the role of soil texture in the recovery of soil microbial community structure and changes in microbial stress, as indexed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, using two chronosequences of grasslands restored from 0 to 19 years on silty clay loam and loamy fine sand soils in Nebraska, USA. All restorations were formerly cultivated fields seeded to native warm-season grasses through the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program. Increases in many PLFA concentrations occurred across the silty clay loam chronosequence including total PLFA biomass, richness, fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and actinomycetes. Ratios of saturated:monounsaturated and iso:anteiso PLFAs decreased across the silty clay loam chronosequence indicating reduction in nutrient stress of the microbial community as grassland established. Multivariate analysis of entire PLFA profiles across the silty clay loam chronosequence showed recovery of microbial community structure on the trajectory toward native prairie. Conversely, no microbial groups exhibited a directional change across the loamy fine sand chronosequence. Changes in soil structure were also only observed across the silty clay loam chronosequence. Aggregate mean weighted diameter (MWD) exhibited an exponential rise to maximum resulting from an exponential rise to maximum in the proportion of large macroaggregates (>2000 μm) and exponential decay in microaggregates (<250 μm and >53 μm) and the silt and clay fraction (<53 μm). Across both chronosequences, MWD was highly correlated with total PLFA biomass and the biomass of many microbial groups. Strong correlations between many PLFA groups and the MWD of aggregates underscore the interdependence between the recovery of soil microbial communities and soil structure that may explain more variation than time for some soils (i.e., loamy fine sand). This study demonstrates that soil microbial responses to grassland restoration are modulated by soil texture with implications for estimating the true capacity of restoration efforts to rehabilitate ecosystem functions.     

Serum acute phase proteins concentrations in dogs during experimentally short-term induced overweight. A preliminary study

The purpose of the study was to analyse serum concentrations of four different positive acute phase proteins (APPs): C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and ceruloplasmin in a model of experimentally short-term developed obesity in Beagle dogs. All APPs were quantified by commercially available ELISA methods and C-reactive protein was also determined by a highly sensitive time-resolved fluorometric assay. There were no significant differences between APPs concentrations at the beginning and the end of the study in groups of dogs that increased their body condition scores. In addition, dogs with body condition scores of 4 and 5 did not shown significant differences for any of the acute phase proteins studied compared with control dogs of BCS of 3, with exception of a decrease in haptoglobin. It was concluded that overweight induced in the experimental conditions of this study does not produce a significant change in acute phase proteins.     

茄子不同砧穗嫁接适宜组合筛选试验

用砧木品种CRP、托鲁巴姆与接穗品种快圆茄、兰竹长茄进行的嫁接组合筛选试验结果表明，不同砧穗品种嫁接表现不同的共生亲合性，其抗病、抗虫性及产量有较大差异。其中以CRP嫁接快圆茄和托鲁巴姆嫁接兰竹长茄组合处理的抗虫性、抗病性均明显优于其它处理，产量也较对照分别增产25．0％和25．2％，是茄子嫁接栽培的较理想组合。     

不同CO_2气腹压力对猫IL-6、CRP和TNF-α的影响

探讨腹腔镜手术中不同CO2气腹压力对猫白细胞介素6(IL-6)、C反应蛋白(CRP)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的影响。随机挑选60只本地杂种猫,体重2.0~4.0 kg,试验分为6组,设置气腹压力分别为0、4、6、8、10和12 mmHg。分别于气腹前、气腹后90 min、气腹后l、2、3、5 d静脉采血分离血清,检测猫血清中IL-6、CRP、TNF-α的浓度。结果表明,随着CO2气腹通入,IL-6、CRP和TNF-α浓度降低,且气腹压力越大,IL-6、CRP和TNF-α浓度越低;虽然IL-6、CRP和TNF-α浓度在气腹后仍会受其残留气体影响而降低,但相继在术后2~3 d都可恢复到正常水平。表明CO2气腹对机体有一定的影响,进行猫腹腔镜手术时,在保证足够的手术空间下,6 mmHg为最佳气腹压。     

基于"一卡通"系统的校园网网格服务模型

实现对高校的计算资源和信息资源的安全有效共享,是数字化校园的重要目标之一．网格技术能够实现对资源的有效共享,但其自身对用户身份和权限验证的功能还不够完善．论文提出了一种校园资源计划系统（Campus　Resource　Planning）模型,该模型通过结合网格平台与校园内现有的一卡通系统的特点,搭建起一个较为完善的网络信息平台,以方便师生对资源信息的申请和学校各部门对相关资源的管理．     

C-reactive protein concentrations in canine acute pancreatitis

Objective: To determine if C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentration is elevated in spontaneously occurring canine acute pancreatitis (AP), and to measure changes in CRP during the course of hospitalization. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine Foster Hospital for Small Animals. Animals: Sixteen client‐owned dogs with AP and 16 healthy controls. Interventions: Blood samples were obtained from the AP group on the day of diagnosis (Day 1), and on Days 3 and 5, unless the dog died or was discharged from the hospital. Blood was obtained from the control dogs once. Measurements and main results: Serum CRP was measured using a commercial immunoassay for each dog with AP and for healthy controls. Day 1 CRP concentrations were significantly higher in the AP group (56.1±12.7 μg/mL) compared with controls (2.8±1.3 μg/mL; P<0.001). For the 7 dogs that had samples collected on all 3 days, the mean CRP concentrations decreased significantly (P=0.043) over the 5 days of measurement. Of the 16 dogs with AP, 14 were discharged from the hospital and 2 were euthanized. Conclusions: Serum CRP concentrations were elevated in this group of 16 dogs with spontaneously occurring AP. In the 7 dogs that had measurements on all 3 days, the mean CRP concentration decreased from the day of diagnosis to the measurement made 5 days later.