Horizontal transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle in an experimental setting: calves can transmit the infection to other calves

In September 2001, two subsequent transmission experiments both lasting 3 months were carried out to study cow-calf transmission of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) (Period 1), followed by calf-calf transmission of the infection (Period 2). Every 2 weeks, serum, heparinised blood and faecal samples were collected from all animals. After these experiments, the 20 calves were housed individually for more than 3 years to be able to detect the infection status and excretion pattern of each animal. In autumn 2004, the animals were inseminated, to observe a possible increase in faecal excretion of Map shortly before expected calving. One month before the expected calving date in 2005, animals were slaughtered and several tissues per cow and unborn calf were sampled for culture. The results indicate that horizontal cow-calf transmission is readily achieved (Period 1). At the highest infection pressure (six shedding cows of which three high shedders in Period 1) all five calves excreted Map in their faeces during Period 1 (shortly after infection), and four of these calves during Period 2 (when the shedding cows were absent). After that, excretion became less frequently. Horizontal calf-calf transmission did take place (Period 2), as the four donor-calves infected two receiver-calves. Transmission rates during the 3 months periods were quantified as a reproduction ratio R. The R [95% CI] of cow-calf and calf-calf transmission were estimated as 2.7 [1.1, 6.6] and 0.9 [0.1, 3.2] new infections per infectious animal during 3 months.     

The Italian Information System on Zoonoses Data Collection

In the framework of the international obligations subscribed by the Italian government, the Italian Ministry of Health should provide the European Union (EU) (European Commission, European Food Safety Authority – EFSA) with a set of data and information related to the report and the spread of zoonoses and to the activities put in place for monitoring and control of zoonoses. In 2008, the Italian Ministry of Health commissioned the Istituto G. Caporale (ICT) to implement an information system able to provide information and data on the monitoring and control of zoonoses in the national territory, in accordance with the national and community legislation. The system is part of the e‐Government process that involves all public administrations of the EU and refers to the use of information and communication technologies for the digital processing of documents in order to obtain simplification and interoperability of administrative procedures through the Internet, as defined in the strategic lines published by the National Centre for Information Systems in Public Administration (DigitPA) in 2009–2011.     

Selection for higher fitness in populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura

Four laboratory populations, each consisting of flies homozygous for a wild second chromosome, were maintained in population cages. Three of them were initially characterized by low fecundity of the females; the fourth was a control. After 15 months, in all three populations with low fecundity this character was much improved; two of them, have reached the control level. The changes observed were presumably due to mutation and selection under highly competitive conditions.     

Observations at venus encounter by the plasma science experiment on mariner 10

Preliminary results from the rearward-looking electrostatic analyzer of the plasma science experiment during the Mariner 10 encounter with Venus are described. They show that the solar-wind interaction with the planet probably involves a bow shock rather than an extended exosphere, but that this is not a thin boundary at the point where it was crossed by Mariner 10. An observed reduction in the flux of electrons with energies greater than 100 electron volts is interpreted as evidence for somne direct interaction with the exosphere. Unusual intermittent features observed downstream of the planet indicate the presence of a comet-like tail hundreds of scale lengths in length.     

Vascular Smooth Muscle: Dual Effect of Calcium

The first part of the contractile response of rabbit aorta to epinephrine is depressed by elevation of calcium concentration; the second is potentiated. These observations suggest that the rate-limiting factor for the former is membrane excitability (depressed by increased calcium), while that for the latter is the role that calcium plays in coupling membrane excitation with the development of tension by the contractile protein (a function that is augmented by increased calcium).     

"Dream deprivation": effects on dream content

Dream content elicited following the selective deprivation of rapid-eye-movement sleep was intensified compared to that elicited under nondeprivation conditions. This effect was observed both for repressers and for sensitizers, but was significant only for repressers. On nondeprivation nights, the dream periods of sensitizers were shorter and their dreams more intense than those of repressers.