Hypothermia Due to an Ascending Impairment of Shivering in Hyperacute Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis in the Lewis Rat

Severe hypothermia and an ascending impairment of shivering are previously undescribed clinical signs in hyperacute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the Lewis rat. These occurred in hyperacute EAE induced by inoculation with guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and heat-killed Bordetella pertussis. Hypothermia was first detected on day 6-7 post-inoculation, within 12-24 h of the onset of neurological signs, and became more severe as the disease progressed. Rectal temperatures less than or equal to 30 degrees C were common at ambient temperatures of 19-22 degrees C. Shivering was assessed by palpation and by cold tremor electromyography. Shivering was absent in the tail by day 6-7 post-inoculation. The impairment then progressed to affect the hindlimbs, thorax and occasionally the forelimbs. Shivering was absent in hindlimbs with only mild or moderate weakness. Histological studies revealed perivascular inflammation with polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells, oedema, fibrin deposition, haemorrhage, primary demyelination and axonal degeneration in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia and spinal roots. The brainstem was also involved but the cerebral hemispheres, including the hypothalamus, were spared. The close relationship between the severity of hypothermia and the extent of shivering impairment indicates that reduced shivering is an important cause of hypothermia in hyperacute EAE. It is concluded that this impairment of shivering is due not to hypothalamic damage but to lesions elsewhere in the central and peripheral nervous systems

Ground State Host–Guest Interactions upon Effective Dispersion of Regioregular Poly(3-hexylthiophene) in Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-<i>alt</i>-benzothiadiazole)

Regioregular poly­(3-hexylthiophene), (rr-P3HT), is widely regarded as an archetypical semiconducting electron-donor polymer in bulk heterojunction solar cells, mainly due to its notable exciton and charge transport properties. Conversely, its use in photonic/lighting devices received little interest owing to its low emission quantum yield in the solid state, related to its large tendency to self-organize into lamellar domains with highly nonemissive character. We present experimental evidence pointing to a large miscibility of P3HT in poly­(9,9-dioctylfluorene-<i>alt</i>-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT), accompanied by mutual π–π interactions. Concomitant to this effect, the emission properties of P3HT:F8BT blends, which are attributed to heterogeneous interchain complexes, experience a significant improvement, with photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE) values approaching 25% (almost a 7-fold efficiency enhancement with respect to neat/aggregated rr-P3HT). Our results open up new prospects for improved photonic properties through appropriate control of interchain interactions

Additional file 1: of Genetic diversity assessment of Tunisian Mycobacterium bovis population isolated from cattle

Molecular typing data comparison of M. bovis isolates in different regions in Tunisia and in France. The data provided shows common spoligotypes prevalence and MIRU-VNTR typing results for 6 common loci (ETR A, ETR B, MIRU4 (ETRD) for strains isolated from Tunisian and French regions. (PDF 114 kb

Data_Sheet_1_Use of medicinal plants by veterinary practitioners in Spain: A cross-sectional survey.docx

Medicinal plants have been used in veterinary medicine since ancient times, and they are gaining importance in Eastern Europe. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey on the use of medicinal plants in Spain. A cross-sectional study with an online questionnaire was carried out among Spanish small animal veterinarians, to evaluate the use patterns of medicinal plants and attitudes of professionals toward it. 313 veterinarians took part in the study. Most of them were female (80.2%) and age ranged 35–49 (49.5%). 80.3% of respondents use phytotherapy. Musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal disorders were those most frequently treated, with cannabis, aloe and thyme the most often medicinal plants used. The most common pattern of user was women working in clinics.</p

Percentage of breakdowns with a recorded survey (i.e., coverage) between 2009 and 2011.

<p>Percentage of breakdowns with a recorded survey (i.e., coverage) between 2009 and 2011.</p

Agreement between causes of breakdown determined by our study and those ones identified by official veterinarians in those herds where we both concluded one option.

<p>IC95%: 95% confidence interval for the Kappa statistic.</p

Most likely causes of bTB breakdowns.

<p>(a) In 185 herds the likelihood of all the causes was below 5 and in 101 there were more than three plausible causes.</p><p>95% CI: 95% confidence interval.</p

The most likely events within each cause of breakdown (see decision trees in figure S1 in File S1 for further clarifications).

<p>Half values are due to those herds were the difference between the first and the second cause was less than one point. In these breakdowns two possible causes of infection were considered and we assigned 0.5 points to each cause.</p

Introduction of infected cattle from other herds decision tree.

<p>Introduction of infected cattle from other herds decision tree.</p

Distribution of the mean ordinal values associated with the most likely cause for each breakdown: “5-.5.5” corresponds to “Low likelihood of occurrence”; “5.6–6.5” to “Not very high likelihood of occurrence”; “6.6–7.5” to “Quite high likelihood of occurrence”; “7.6–8.5” to “High likelihood of occurrence”, and “8.6–9” to a “Very high likelihood of occurrence”.

<p>Distribution of the mean ordinal values associated with the most likely cause for each breakdown: “5-.5.5” corresponds to “Low likelihood of occurrence”; “5.6–6.5” to “Not very high likelihood of occurrence”; “6.6–7.5” to “Quite high likelihood of occurrence”; “7.6–8.5” to “High likelihood of occurrence”, and “8.6–9” to a “Very high likelihood of occurrence”.</p