Evaluating the Importance of Business Location Factors: The Influence of Facility Type

This study examines two important issues concerning the evaluation of business location factors. First, in contrast to many analyses that seek to determine the influence of a single factor or set of factors on site selection, this study aims to measure the relative importance of a wide range of factors. Second, it investigates the extent to which the perceived importance of a given location factor varies based on the type of facility in question. While there is a substantial amount of research devoted to identifying industry‐specific location factors, little is known about the influence that facility type has on the assessment of location criteria. Drawing on original survey data collected from real estate professionals in the U.S., we found significant differences in the mean ratings for more than half of the 39 location factors on the basis of facility type. In particular, “corporate/office” respondents were significantly more likely than “manufacturing” or “retail” respondents to assign higher ratings to “quality‐of‐life” location factors, such as crime rates, amenities, housing, and schools. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research on location theory.     

The Effect of Long Term Storage on Bacterial Soft Rot Resistance in Potato

Bacterial soft rot is a serious disease in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), causing rapid tuber tissue maceration and, consequently, marketable yield loss. Soft rot bacteria, including Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pbc), are favored by moist conditions, which are prevalent in large potato storage facilities. However, although most potatoes in North America are stored before use, there are no published surveys of soft rot resistance in cultivars exposed to long-term storage conditions. Thus, we tested 65 cultivars and 13 breeding lines for soft rot resistance after 6 months of storage. There was a significant effect of cultivar and production environment on soft rot resistance score. During 6 months of storage, tuber soft rot resistance in resistant clones did not change, while it changed in susceptible clones. The three most resistant cultivars to soft rot were Freedom Russet, Anett, and Alaska Red Eye.     

Relationships among milk urea-nitrogen, dietary parameters, and fecal nitrogen in commercial dairy herds

Our study objective was to determine the ability of milk urea-nitrogen concentrations ([MUN]) to predict fecal nitrogen concentrations ([Fecal N]) in commercial dairy herds. A total of 83 dairy herds were each visited 3 times within 48 h after a monthly herd milk test. For each farm visit, forages were sampled for nutrient analyses, which were entered into a computerized ration evaluator, and fecal samples were taken per rectum from each of 6 cows (2 early-, 2 mid-, and 2 late-lactation). Fecal samples were pooled, mixed, and analyzed for nitrogen content. Fecal nitrogen concentrations were compared with the routinely measured nutritional parameters from the ration evaluation, and the herd average [MUN] for the previous milk test date using mixed linear regression analyses. Total protein supplied in the ration was significantly positively associated with [Fecal N], but herd average [MUN] was not associated (P > 0.10) with [Fecal N].     

Screening for skin carriage of methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci and Staphylococcus schleiferi in dogs with healthy and inflamed skin

Methicillin resistance rates of 41% for Staphylococcus aureus, 16% for S. intermedius, and 40% for S. schleiferi have recently been reported in canine patients. These were deemed to be reflective of referral and clinician-selection biases, which would imply significantly lower methicillin-resistant staphylococcal carriage rates in less-biased canine populations. In this study, swabs for bacterial culture were collected from five cutaneous sites on each of 50 healthy dogs and 59 dogs with inflammatory skin disease to determine prevalence of carriage and relative frequency of methicillin resistance in coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi. These were identified morphologically and by Gram's staining, catalase and coagulase testing, and biochemical speciation. Coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi were isolated from 88% (52 of 59) of affected dogs. Species identified in the culture-positive dogs were: S. aureus in 12%, S. intermedius (92%), S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi (10%), and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (10%) with methicillin resistance rates of 17%, 8%, 20% and 20%, respectively. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 74% (37 of 50) of healthy dogs: S. aureus (16%), S. intermedius (92%) and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (5%). Methicillin resistance rates were 0%, 3% and 50%, respectively. Of total methicillin-resistant isolates, 11 of 13 were positive for PBP2a via latex agglutination. Methicillin-resistant S. intermedius and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi isolates were all positive for the mecA gene via PCR. There was no significant difference in staphylococcal isolation or methicillin resistance between study groups. While present, methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci are significantly less common in these less-biased populations than in the clinical isolates previously reported from this institution which provided the impetus for this study.     

Changes in body composition during weight loss in obese client-owned cats: loss of lean tissue mass correlates with overall percentage of weight lost

Obesity is one of the most common medical diseases in cats, but there remains little information on success of weight loss regimes in obese client-owned cats. No information currently exists on body composition changes during weight loss in clinical cases. Twelve obese client-owned cats undertook a weight loss programme incorporating a high-protein low fat diet. Body composition was quantified by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, before and after weight loss. Mean (+/-standard deviation) weight loss was 27+/-6.8% of starting weight, and mean rate of weight loss was 0.8+/-0.32% per week. Mean energy allocation during weight loss was 32+/-7.0 kcal/kg target weight. Mean composition of tissue lost was 86:13:1 (fat:lean:bone mineral). The proportion of lean tissue loss was positively associated with overall percentage of weight loss (simple linear regression, r(2)=44.2%, P=0.026). Conventional weight loss programmes produce safe weight loss, but lean tissue loss is an inevitable consequence in cats that lose significant proportions of their starting body weight.     

Malignant mediastinal extra-adrenal paraganglioma with spinal cord invasion in a dog.

A 1.5-year-old castrated, male, mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of a 2-week history of lethargy, stiffness, and progressive paraparesis. Spinal radiographs, myelography, and computed tomography of the region showed a locally invasive mass involving the thoracic wall. Upon necropsy, an encapsulated, fluctuant mass was noted attached to the right dorsal body wall in the region of the fifth to seventh thoracic vertebra. Churukian-Schenk staining revealed positive granules within the neoplastic cell cytoplasm and immunohistochemistry was positive for expression for cytoplasmic neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin. Chromogranin A and S100 expression were found to be negative. Immunohistochemistry and silver staining did not allow further differentiation of the tumor, and the diagnosis remains consistent with either a chromaffin paraganglioma or a nonchromaffin paraganglioma (chemodectoma) with some production of catecholamines. Extra-adrenal paragangliomas are rare neoplasms in dogs but should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis for a primary paraspinal thoracic mass.     

Isolation of Arcanobacterium hippocoleae from a case of placentitis and stillbirth in a mare

Based on the scarcity of reports in veterinary medicine literature, it appears that Arcanobacterium spp. are rarely isolated from horses. Recently, a single isolate from vaginal discharge in a mare was characterized as a new species, Arcanobacterium hippocoleae. The present report describes a case of necrosuppurative placentitis and stillbirth in an American Quarterhorse mare. Numerous colonies of irregular, Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria were observed by histological examination within fibrin lattice associated with placental lesions. Arcanobacterium hippocoleae was isolated in large numbers from the placenta, lung, and stomach contents. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of placentitis associated with Arcanobacterium spp. in a horse and the third reported isolation of A. hippocoleae from a horse.     

Patterns of bird predation on reptiles in small woodland remnant edges in peri-urban north-western Sydney, Australia

The predator–prey relationship plays an integral role in community structure. In the presence of habitat fragmentation, the dynamic interaction among co-existing species may be disrupted. In this paper we investigated the interaction between small skinks resident in open woodland remnants and the predatory birds that cross-forage between the remnants and the surrounding peri-urban matrix. Skinks were found in significantly fewer numbers in the edge of remnants compared to their core. In contrast, predatory birds were in largest numbers at the edge compared to the core of remnants. We found that there was a strong negative correlation between skink numbers and predatory birds (individually and combined) consistent with higher predation pressure in the edge compared to the core of remnants. Strike rates on decoys that mimicked skinks were also higher in the edge compared to core habitats, consistent with higher predation rates in this edge habitat.