Estimation of the liveweight of working mules in Morocco from their body measurements

During March 2001, 117 working mules, randomly chosen from four markets in Morocco, were weighed and a series of body measurements recorded; their age and body condition score were also recorded. Linear regression techniques were used to derive a 'best fit' equation for predicting liveweight from the other variables. For the working mules weighing between 131 and 391 kg the best prediction equation using two variables was: liveweight (kg) = -33 + 2.8 x heart girth (cm)+1.36 x length (cm). Other prediction equations available for estimating the liveweight of equidae were tested on the data, but in all cases they significantly overestimated the weights of the Moroccan mules.     

Food Amylose Content Affects Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses

Beneficial reduction in glycemic response has been observed after consumption of some high‐amylose foods. This study examined the effect of varying the moisture content and the particle size of the starch in a test food. Twelve men and 12 women consumed corn chips or corn muffins made with starch or starch plus cornmeal from standard corn (30% amylose, 70% amylopectin) or high amylose (70%) corn. Half of the subjects were hyperinsulinemic based on a prestudy glucose challenge. No gender differences were observed. The hyperinsulinemic subjects had significantly higher insulin and glucose responses and area under the curve as compared with the normal responders. Average glucose, insulin and glucagon were usually lower after muffins compared with chips or foods containing cornmeal. Insulin and glucose responses, but not glucagon, were significantly lower after the consumption of foods made with high‐amylose compared with standard corn starch and in control versus hyperinsulinemic subjects. Average plasma glucose and insulin area under the curves after high‐amylose foods were approximately half those after standard corn starch. The presence of cornmeal (increasing the particle size of the starch) had less effect on the response of glucose, insulin or glucagon than the type of starch or food consumed.     

Identification of focus areas for Australian Bat Lyssavirus potential exposure prevention in the Metro North Hospital and Health Service region

Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) is a fatal rabies‐like disease spread to humans from bats. All people who report bat bites or scratches in Queensland are considered potentially exposed to ABLV and are followed up and treated to prevent ABLV. Preventing members of the public intentionally interacting with bats will reduce the number of potential exposures to ABLV. In order to target public health messaging, this study examines the epidemiology of potential ABLV exposures in Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS), a region of Queensland that encompasses metro and rural areas in the south‐east of the state. People who intentionally handled bats during the study period were more likely to be adult (93%), male (60%), scratched (51%) by a megabat (72%) and been potentially exposed while rescuing the bat when it was trapped or injured (72%). The number of potential exposures reported in Queensland has increased since 2013; the same year, a Queensland child died of ABLV. Seasonally, exposures are more common during bat breeding and nursing periods when bats are more active (summer to autumn). Although there were more notifications in a band stretching north from the inner city to northern metro suburbs, notification rates were higher in large rural statistical areas in the north of the HHS. These data will be used to develop geographically targeted ABLV prevention messaging for the general public.     

Down's syndrome in adults: brain metabolism

The cerebral metabolic rate for glucose, as measured with positron emission tomography and fluorine-18-labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose, was significantly higher in four healthy young subjects with trisomy 21 syndrome (Down's syndrome) than the mean rate in healthy young controls. The rate of cerebral glucose utilization in the frontal lobe of a 51-year-old subject with Down's syndrome was significantly lower than the rate in the young subjects with this syndrome, but approximated the rate in middle-aged controls. Thus glucose utilization by the brain appears to be excessive in young adults with Down's syndrome but may decline with age in some brain regions.     

Proapoptotic Bcl-2 relative Bim required for certain apoptotic responses, leukocyte homeostasis, and to preclude autoimmunity

Apoptosis can be triggered by members of the Bcl-2 protein family, such as Bim, that share only the BH3 domain with this family. Gene targeting in mice revealed important physiological roles for Bim. Lymphoid and myeloid cells accumulated, T cell development was perturbed, and most older mice accumulated plasma cells and succumbed to autoimmune kidney disease. Lymphocytes were refractory to apoptotic stimuli such as cytokine deprivation, calcium ion flux, and microtubule perturbation but not to others. Thus, Bim is required for hematopoietic homeostasis and as a barrier to autoimmunity. Moreover, particular death stimuli appear to activate apoptosis through distinct BH3-only proteins.     

Design method to control runoff from high intensity sprinkler irrigation

A design method for sprinkler irrigation is presented which takes account of current trends towards the use of low pressure-high intensity sprinkler applications and the need to design cultivation practices which can control the subsequent potential runoff.