The value of a craft brewery: On the relationship between craft breweries and property values

Recent literature and public discourse emphasize the role of craft breweries in the revitalization process of economically distressed neighborhoods across the U.S. With this, many are reporting rising property values in areas surrounding craft breweries. This research examines the impacts of craft breweries on both residential and commercial property values in a case study of Charlotte, North Carolina. Estimating a series of hedonic models which incorporate a difference‐in‐difference estimator, we find that craft breweries have a positive impact on residential property values. While many areas in close proximity to a craft brewery appear to have been associated with relatively higher price premiums even before the opening of the brewery, breweries tend to add to this premium, especially in center‐city neighborhoods. We find no significant impacts on commercial property values. These results are informative to policy makers considering revising zoning laws and other regulations in efforts to promote the growth of craft breweries and spur economic development in their local economies.     

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus-specific immune responses in cattle following immunization with modified-live and inactivated vaccines. Analysis of the specificity and activity of serum antibodies.

Cattle were immunized with vaccines containing modified-live or inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and serum antibody responses were analyzed. Compared with preinculation values, at Day 14 after two biweekly immunizations with modified-live or inactivated vaccines there were significant increases in BRSV-specific titers in the sera of cattle that received both types of vaccines, as determined by a whole cell ELISA. Using a blocking ELISA and radioimmune precipitation it was determined that there was recognition of the fusion (F) protein by antibodies from cattle that received both types of BRSV antigens: however, virus neutralization assays revealed that only cattle that received modified live virus, either in monovalent or polyvalent vaccines, developed neutralizing antibodies to BRSV after two immunizations. These results indicate that inactivation of BRSV can lead to a dissociation between serological recognition of the F protein and virus neutralization in vaccinated cattle.     

Maturation of functional antibody affinity in animals immunised with synthetic foot-and-mouth disease virus.

A good correlation exists between specific neutralising antibody titre and protection against challenge with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in infected or virus-vaccinated cattle, but not in the case of animals immunised with synthetic FMDV peptides. Therefore, mechanisms other than simple neutralisation are likely to be important in vivo. Antibody affinity may influence the protective capacity of sera from immunised animals and experiments were carried out to measure the functional affinity for synthetic FMDV peptide of sera from guinea pigs and cattle given various synthetic vaccines. In guinea pigs given a single dose of synthetic vaccine, antibody affinity increased with time after immunisation. In cattle, however, administration of a second dose of peptide 21 days after the first markedly retarded the process of affinity maturation. For guinea pig sera of equivalent neutralising activity, those of higher functional affinity had higher protective indices than those of lower functional affinity. Knowledge of the importance of antibody affinity in protection against FMD is important for an improved understanding of the mechanisms of protection and for the design of novel vaccines.     

THE EFFECT OF A COMBINATION OF MEDETOMIDINE-BUTORPHANOL AND MEDETOMIDINE, BUTORPHANOL, ATROPINE ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE IN DOGS

The effects of intramuscularly administered medetomidine and butorphanol (MB), and medetomidine, butorphanol, atropine (MBA) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were determined in six dogs as measured by 99m-Tc-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) nuclear scintigraphy. Direct systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures and heart rate were measured at regular time intervals before, during, and after GFR calculations. The mean GFR measurement following MB was significantly greater (4.44 ml/min/kg) than following MBA (3.82 ml/min/kg) or saline treatment (3.41 ml/min/kg). There was no significant difference between the mean GFR measurements following MBA injection and following saline injection. Diastolic and mean arterial pressures following MBA injection were significantly higher than the values recorded after either MB or saline alone. Heart rate following MB administration was significantly lower than that recorded for dogs receiving MBA or saline alone. The results of this study indicate that the administration of medetomidine in combination with butorphanol significantly increases total GFR in healthy dogs, while the administration of the combination of medetomidine, butorphanol, and atropine does not.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF INFILTRATIVE LIPOMA IN 22 DOGS

Twenty two dogs with an infiltrative lipoma had computed tomographic (CT) images acquired to evaluate the extent of local disease. Ten dogs had undergone at least one cytoreductive surgical procedure (range = 1-3; median = 2) prior to imaging. Twenty dogs had measurable disease on CT images; 2 dogs had diffuse disease at a previous surgical site that could not be measured. Tumor volume (n = 20) ranged from 20 to 5,632 cm3 (median = 345 cm3; mean = 996 cm3). None of the dogs had evidence of bone involvement on the CT images; 2 of the 22 dogs had tumors that did not come into direct contact with osseous structures. All dogs with measurable disease had evidence of a fat opacity mass with variable degrees of muscle infiltration. Eleven of 22 dogs were given intravenous contrast medium prior to image acquisition and there was not evidence of enhancement of the infiltrative lipoma in any dog. Based on CT images, tumors were classified as well-defined in 9 dogs, moderately well-defined in 4, not well-defined in 3 and a mix of well-defined and not well-defined in 6 dogs. Tumors tended to be less well-defined in regions where the infiltrative lipoma interdigitated with normal body fat. It appears CT imaging allows adequate discrimination of tumor with the caveat that differentiation of normal fat from infiltrative lipoma can be problematic.     

MENSURATION OF THE NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES IN 96 DOGS

The pituitary gland was measured from transverse magnetic resonance T1-weighted images after Gadolinium administration in 96 dogs weighing from 13 to 45 kg. The measurements were done by hand with calipers. The mean (+/- standard deviation) pituitary gland height was 5.1 mm (+/-0.9 mm). The mean width was 6.4 mm (+/- 1.1 mm). The correlation coefficient between pituitary and brain measurements, between pituitary measurement and body weight, and brain measurements and body weight was 0.0 to 0.3. A hyperintense region was present on T1-weighted images in the center of the pituitary gland in 64% of the dogs. At necropsy the pituitary glands were grossly and histologically normal. No pituitary gland measurements were performed at necropsy.     

In vitro nitroimidazole resistance of Trichomonas gallinae and successful therapy with an increased dosage of ronidazole in racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

Six out of eight different Trichomonas gallinae strains isolated from racing pigeons proved to be resistant to the nitroimidazole drugs ronidazole, carnidazole and metronidazole. The minimal cytocidal concentration of ronidazole was determined in in vitro experiments. Moreover, a therapeutic dose for ronidazole was determined for the control of trichomoniasis in pigeons from which the resistant T. gallinae strains were isolated. It was a 5-fold increase of the recommended ronidazole dosage which eliminated the infection in affected pigeons.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY: CRITERIA FOR ACCURATE NEEDLE TIP IDENTIFICATION

Precise localization of the needle tip during CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is considered to be a key element of a successful procedure. To ensure accuracy, the true needle tip must be differentiated from a false or simulated tip which appears when the CT slice encompasses only the shaft of an angled needle. By obtaining images of an aspiration biopsy needle inserted vertically into a phantom and then incrementally tilting the gantry, the authors were able to compare the characteristic features of the true tip to the simulated tip. The true tip was abrupt and distinct and had an adjacent flame-like low density artifact. The simulated tip was indistinct and tapered, yet still produced the adjacent artifact. We concluded that the shape and distinctness of the end portion of the needle itself, rather than the attendant artifact, were the most reliable criteria for accurate needle tip identification.