Sensory emphasis on pork quality related to the diet content of fermentable fibre-rich feedstuffs (chicory and lupine) with special emphasis on the effect on boar taint

Boar taint in entire male pork is caused by skatole and andros-tenone and other compounds such as indole. However, female pigs also pro-duce skatole and indole. The purpose was to minimise boar taint related to skatole by feeding entire male and female pigs with fibre-rich feedstuffs. An organic, 10% dried chicory or 25% lupine diet was applied for either 7 or 14 days before slaughter. Lupines significantly reduced skatole in backfat for both genders whilst chicory showed no significant differences in this re-spect. From a sensory perspective, chicory and lupine reduced boar taint since odour and flavour of manure related to skatole and urine associated to androstenone were minimised. The level of boar taint in the entire male pigs was mainly reduced after 14 days by both chicory and lupine while the “boar” taint in female pigs was mainly reduced by lupine

Catecholamine stress alters neutrophil trafficking and impairs wound healing by β2-adrenergic receptor-mediated upregulation of IL-6.

Stress-induced hormones can alter the inflammatory response to tissue injury; however, the precise mechanism by which epinephrine influences inflammatory response and wound healing is not well defined. Here we demonstrate that epinephrine alters the neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN))-dependent inflammatory response to a cutaneous wound. Using noninvasive real-time imaging of genetically tagged PMNs in a murine skin wound, chronic, epinephrine-mediated stress was modeled by sustained delivery of epinephrine. Prolonged systemic exposure of epinephrine resulted in persistent PMN trafficking to the wound site via an IL-6-mediated mechanism, and this in turn impaired wound repair. Further, we demonstrate that β2-adrenergic receptor-dependent activation of proinflammatory macrophages is critical for epinephrine-mediated IL-6 production. This study expands our current understanding of stress hormone-mediated impairment of wound healing and provides an important mechanistic link to explain how epinephrine stress exacerbates inflammation via increased number and lifetime of PMNs

“Body bags ready”: Print media coverage of avian influenza in Australia

In 2006 the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus received considerable media coverage in Australia, as it did in many other countries. It is often argued that the media sensationalizes health crises, and experts cautioned about the risk of panic as a result of fear of avian influenza. The purpose of the present study was to systematically analyze Australian print media coverage of avian influenza in 2006 and to examine whether this coverage served the purpose of informing, rather than alarming, the general public. For the period January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, 20 Australian newspaper titles were monitored for coverage of avian influenza. The identified articles were analyzed using aspects of protection motivation theory for theoretical direction to determine whether there were any consistent themes or perspectives in the coverage. A total of 850 articles were identified for analysis. Concerning vulnerability, 46% of articles reported the incidence of human cases, with 24% noting that avian influenza was a potential threat to Australia. The most common severity theme was “deadly” with over 50% of mentions, followed by “pandemic” with 35%. Only 11% of articles referred to any form of self-protection. We found that a considerable proportion of the articles reporting on avian influenza were framed in a way that had the potential to incite fear and panic amongst the public; the intensity of media coverage reduced over time; and, of particular concern, that there was little media coverage that focused on protective or preventative issues. Whether an influenza pandemic eventuates or not, it is prudent for governments and health authorities to continually develop appropriate resources and strategies to prepare the health system and the general public to respond to current, and future, infectious disease risks

Mechanical Transmission of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to Weaned Pigs by People, and Biosecurity Procedures that Prevented such Transmission

Objectives: To determine whether people can mechanically transmit enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) from infected to susceptible weaned pigs during direct pig contact and to determine biosecurity measures that will prevent such transmissions. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-five 19- to 21-day-old weaned pigs, culture-negative fro ETEC M1823B, were randomly allocated to six treatment groups housed in five separate isolation rooms. Inoculated Pigs were offered 1.36 x 1010 to 8.92 X 1010 colony forming units of E coli mixed in strawberry gelatin on two occasions. Pen Sentinels were housed with Inoculated Pigs. A caretaker fed pigs, checked waterers, and directly contacted each group of pigs for 10 minutes daily for 10 consecutive days. THe caretaker contacted Inoculated Pigs and moved directly to Direct Sentinels, recontacted Inoculated Pigs, washed hands twice, changed outer-wear, then contacted Hand-wash Sentinels. The caretaker then recontacted Inoculated Pigs, showered, changed outerwear, and contacted Shower Sentinels. Non-exposed pigs had a separate caretaker. Results: Escherichia coli M1823B was isolated from all 20 Inoculated Pigs, all five Pen Sentinels, 20 of 25 Direct Sentinels, and 23 of 25 Hand-wash Sentinels. The 25 Shower Sentinels and 25 Non-exposed Pigs remained culture-negative for M1823B. Implications: In this study, people mechanically transmitted E coli without extraordinary measures to enhance caretaker contact with pig excretions and secretions beyond that which would occur in a typical pork production unit. Hand washing and donning clean outerwear did not prevent E coli transmission. However, showering and donning clean outerwear did prevent transmission

Updating the case studies of the political economy of science granting councils in sub-saharan Africa : national case study report of Senegal

This report highlights issues in Senegal with regard to science granting councils. Policy makers and politicians need to complete the formulation and adoption of the anticipated national science, technology and innovation (STI) policy, and to further emphasise the role of STI for socioeconomic development and transformation. Efforts are needed in articulating specific goals and allocation of funding. As it stands, the majority of funding for research (STI and R&D) is from the government. The number of researchers has increased in 2020 to 22,185 compared to 14,335 in 2017. However, the number of full-time researchers remains small

Updating the case studies of the political economy of science granting councils in sub-saharan Africa : national case study report of Kenya

Government funds are currently directed towards supporting priority sectors: health, food security, housing and manufacturing, with insufficient grants for research. Science, technology and innovation (STI) funding is provided in a patchy manner such that everyone competes for available resources. The absence of strong linkages between learning institutions, research institutions and the industry/private sector has been a recurrent problem in Kenya. This country study finds that private sector funding remains low; a new model for STI funding is called for. Specifically, there is a need to de-link education funding from funding for STI at the Ministry level

Updating the case studies of the political economy of science granting councils in sub-saharan Africa : national case study report of Tanzania

The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) was established as a successor to the Tanzania National Scientific Research Council (NSRC) and is the main regulatory body for all science, technology and innovation (STI) related activities in Tanzania. Although impacts in innovation have been made and recognized in the past 5 years, coordination of COSTECH with other government bodies is often frustrated by insufficient resources. R&D funding is primarily dependent on government and foreign donor organisations, along with implicit agendas. Preparation of a new STI policy is in progress for 2018/2019

Updating the case studies of the political economy of science granting councils in sub-saharan Africa : national case study report of Ethiopia

The most recent reforms (2018) to the science technology and innovation (STI) system in Ethiopia are the formation of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE). The limited involvement of the government, private sector and academia in STI has resulted in insufficient funding and poorly qualified human resources. A national technological infrastructure is lacking along with limited access to finances. However, the current MInT mandate is focussed on supporting local innovations and technology development through a product and services engineering directorate, incubation centre development directorate, and a start-up strategy

Updating the case studies of the political economy of science granting councils in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study, Updating the Case studies of the Political Economy of Science Granting Councils in sub-Saharan Africa, is a follow-up (Phase 2) to the case studies of the Political Economy of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa research completed in 2017 (Phase 1, or baseline study). The study supports the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF). In the interest of generating evidence that can be deployed for economic and social development, the SGCI supports SGCs in 15 SSA countries. This research has been commissioned in response to an increasing recognition of the importance of improving understanding of the political economy (PE) of science and research in Africa and the roles that science, technology and innovation (STI)1play in the processes involved.The aims of the SGCI are to strengthen the capacity of SGCs to: manage research; design and monitor research programmes based on the use of robust STI indicators; support exchange of knowledge with the private sector; and establish partnerships among SGCs, and with other science system actors

Updating the case studies of the political economy of science granting councils in sub-saharan Africa : national case study report of Rwanda

This report identifies the different political, economic and social aspects affecting science, technology and innovation (STI) in Rwanda. The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is mandated to coordinate and monitor national science, technology, research and innovation activities but will shift to the newly formed Ministry of ICT and Innovation. Having NCST housed within a ministry of education may mean more focus on universities (University of Rwanda) and their role in STI production rather than industrial partnerships. The decision to consolidate research into a single university needs to be reviewed