Serological evidence of akabane virus infection in northern Israel in 2001

In February 2002 the first cases of a "blind newborn calves" syndrome with hydranencephaly appeared in Israel. Eighty-one serum samples, from 54 animals on farms where the syndrome was recorded and 27 others from unaffected farms were examined by neutralization of Akabane virus (AKAV, strain OBE-1) by the micro-titer method. Forty-seven of the 54 samples from the affected farms contained high serum neutralization titers against AKAV (mean SN titer 79.5 and +/- 44.7, standard deviation), whereas only one of the 27 samples from the unaffected farms was positive (titer of 8). These results suggest that the vector(s) of AKAV was circulating in Israel in August through December, 2001.     

The impact of structural genomics: expectations and outcomes

Structural genomics (SG) projects aim to expand our structural knowledge of biological macromolecules while lowering the average costs of structure determination. We quantitatively analyzed the novelty, cost, and impact of structures solved by SG centers, and we contrast these results with traditional structural biology. The first structure identified in a protein family enables inference of the fold and of ancient relationships to other proteins; in the year ending 31 January 2005, about half of such structures were solved at a SG center rather than in a traditional laboratory. Furthermore, the cost of solving a structure at the most efficient SG center in the United States has dropped to one-quarter of the estimated cost of solving a structure by traditional methods. However, the efficiency of the top structural biology laboratories-even though they work on very challenging structures-is comparable to that of SG centers; moreover, traditional structural biology papers are cited significantly more often, suggesting greater current impact.     

Spontaneous intradural disc herniation with focal distension of the subarachnoid space in a dog

Myelo-computed tomography of a paraparetic 14-year-old dog revealed subarachnoid distension with an intradural filling defect above the T13–L1 disc space. T12–L1 hemilaminectomy followed by durotomy allowed removal of a large piece of degenerated disc material that compressed the spinal parenchyma. Full return to function was achieved 10 days post-surgery. The distension was likely secondary to the intradural herniation, and is a rare and distinct finding.     

Race and food store availability in an inner-city neighbourhood

BACKGROUND: A growing body of research has shown that disparities in resources, including food stores, exist at the neighbourhood level and the greatest disparities are seen in minority neighbourhoods, the same neighbourhoods at increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Less is known about whether differences in availability of resources by African American or Latino race/ethnicity exist within a single minority community. OBJECTIVE: The present study examined whether census blocks either 75% African American (AA) or 75% Latino (L) are associated with food store availability, as compared with racially mixed (RM) census blocks, in East Harlem, New York. DESIGN/METHODS: A cross-sectional study utilising a walking survey of East Harlem was performed. Food stores were classified into: supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, specialty stores, full-service restaurants and fast-food stores. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-five East Harlem census blocks were examined; 17 were AA, 34 were L and 114 were RM. Of AA census blocks, 100% had neither supermarkets nor grocery stores. AA census blocks were less likely to have convenience stores (prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.86) compared with RM census blocks. In contrast, predominantly L census blocks were more likely to have convenience stores (PR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.20-2.70), specialty food stores (PR = 3.74, 95% CI 2.06-7.15), full-service restaurants (PR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.04-3.38) and fast-food restaurants (PR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.33-3.44) compared with RM census blocks. CONCLUSIONS: We found that inequities in food store availability exist by race/ethnicity in East Harlem, New York. This has implications for racial/ethnic differences in dietary quality, obesity and obesity-related disorders.     

The theropod ancestry of birds: new evidence from the late cretaceous of madagascar

A partial skeleton of a primitive bird, Rahona ostromi, gen. et sp. nov., has been discovered from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. This specimen, although exhibiting avian features such as a reversed hallux and ulnar papillae, retains characteristics that indicate a theropod ancestry, including a pubic foot and hyposphene-hypantra vertebral articulations. Rahona has a robust, hyperextendible second digit on the hind foot that terminates in a sicklelike claw, a unique characteristic of the theropod groups Troodontidae and Dromaeosauridae. A phylogenetic analysis places Rahona with Archaeopteryx, making Rahona one of the most primitive birds yet discovered.     

Communication to the Editor Degradation of Bromoxynil,Ioxynil, Dichlobenil and their Mixtures by Agrobacterium radiobacter 8/4

Degradation of three benzonitrile herbicides, bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), ioxynil (3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), dichlobenil (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile), and their mixtures by the soil micro-organism Agrobacterium radiobacter 8/4 was studied in batch cultures. Bromoxynil was found to be most rapidly degraded, while dichlobenil had the lowest toxicity to our strain. All transformations of studied benzonitriles were performed by the nitrile hydratase which has been shown to act on a broad range of substituted aromatic nitriles. © 1997 SCI.     

Genetic architecture of plant height in maize phenotype‐selected introgression families

This study aimed at developing, characterizing and evaluating two maize phenotypic‐selected introgression libraries for a collection of dominant plant height (PHT)‐increasing alleles by introgressing donor chromosome segments (DCS) from Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) accessions into elite inbred lines: PHB47 and PHZ51. Different backcross generations (BC₁‐BC₄) were developed and the tallest 23 phenotype‐selected introgression families (PIFs) from each introgression library (PHB47 or PHZ51) were selected for single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping to localize DCS underlying PHT. The result shows that most PIFs carrying DCS were significantly (α = 0.01) taller than the respective recurrent parent. In addition, they contained larger donor genome proportions than expected in the absence of selection or random mating across all BC generations. The DCS were distributed over the whole genome, indicating a complex genetic nature underlying PHT. We conclude that our PIFs are enriched for favourable PHT‐increasing alleles. These two libraries offer opportunities for future PHT gene isolation and allele characterization and for breeding purposes, such as novel cultivars for biofuel production.     

Juvenile Pancreatic Atrophy in Greyhounds: 12 Cases (1995–2000)

Background: This study describes compound failure of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas in Greyhounds, a condition that has not been reported in the veterinary literature.
Objective: To describe the clinical and pathologic findings in 12 Greyhounds with juvenile pancreatic atrophy.
Animals: Ten Greyhounds presented for necropsy examination and 2 sibling Greyhounds presented for clinical evaluation before necropsy, all with a history of small-bowel diarrhea.
Procedures: Retrospective study of laboratory and pathologic findings in 12 Greyhounds, including serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity assays, oral glucose tolerance testing, and serum anti-insulin antibody concentrations.
Results: Gross pancreatic atrophy was found in all 12 dogs. Histopathologic lesions were found in both the endocrine and exocrine pancreas and included acinar cell apoptosis, zymogen granule loss, cytoplasmic clearing or vacuolar change, lobular atrophy, islet loss, and lymphocytic or lymphoplasmacytic pancreatitis. Antemortem test results on the 2 Greyhound puppies indicated concurrent exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Compound failure of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas is rarely reported in dogs and neither disease is well recognized in the Greyhound. This condition is of potential economic importance to the Greyhound racing industry.     

Health and growth performance of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) from two hanging cultivation sites in the German Bight: a nearshore—offshore comparison

The health of cultivated blue mussels from an offshore and a nearshore sites was compared by assessing lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) and accumulations of lipofuscin and neutral lipids in the digestive glands. In addition, the condition index, parasite infestation rates, growth performance and energy status of the mussels were assessed during 10?months of sampling. Abiotic and biotic site characteristics were investigated by water analysis for each sampling cycle. Further, data of contaminant loads of the softbody and pollutant concentration of the water column, suspended particles and sediments from both sites were analysed. Results show that positive offshore effects due to dilution of contamination were not evident for all parameters analysed. Condition indices were high, and parasites were not present in offshore mussels. In contrast, the integrative health parameter LMS and growth performance were slightly, but not significantly, better in the nearshore cultivated mussels. These findings correspond with the higher contaminant concentrations in the softbodies of mussels and the water column from the offshore testing site. Both sites showed low LMS values and high accumulations of lipofuscin and neutral lipids, indicating that environmental conditions in the German Bight are generating stress for blue mussels even in the offshore areas. Exposure to fluvial transport points to a comparable probability for high contamination loads similar to nearshore areas. We therefore recommend adding a minimum salinity threshold to the definition of offshore aquaculture to exclude areas under fluvial influence.     

Roles of bootstrap resampling,measure of central tendency,and method for calculating thermal units when developing phenology models for pest management

The successful development of phenology models from field studies depends on many factors, some of which are entirely under the control of pest managers. For example, one such factor is the choice of method for calculating thermal units. In this study, we have demonstrated that four methods for calculating thermal units provided for acceptable predictions of one phenological event of one insect species, while another method for calculating thermal units did not. The measure of central tendency (mean or median) that is used to estimate lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations is another factor that pest managers can control when developing phenology models from field studies. Here, we show that predictions that were made when using phenology models based on median lower developmental temperatures and median required thermal summations were superior to predictions that were made when using phenology models based on mean lower developmental temperatures and mean required thermal summations. The use of bootstrap vs. non-bootstrap estimates of lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations is yet another factor that pest managers can control when developing phenology models from field studies. In this study, we found that calculating and using bootstrap estimates of lower developmental temperatures and required thermal summations in phenology models did not improve the predictions of one phenological event for one insect species. The implications of these and other findings are discussed.