Herd-level risk factors of bovine tuberculosis in England and Wales after the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic

We present the results of a 2005 case–control study of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) breakdowns in English and Welsh herds. The herd management, farming practices, and environmental factors of 401matched pairs of case and control herds were investigated to provide a picture of herd-level risk factors in areas of varying bTB incidence. A global conditional logistic regression model, with region-specific variants, was used to compare case herds that had experienced a confirmed bTB breakdown to contemporaneous control herds matched on region, herd type, herd size, and parish testing interval. Contacts with cattle from contiguous herds and sourcing cattle from herds with a recent history of bTB were associated with an increased risk in both the global and regional analyses. Operating a farm over several premises, providing cattle feed inside the housing, and the presence of badgers were also identified as significantly associated with an increased bTB risk. Steps taken to minimize cattle contacts with neighboring herds and altering trading practices could have the potential to reduce the size of the bTB epidemic. In principle, limiting the interactions between cattle and wildlife may also be useful; however this study did not highlight any specific measures to implement

How to move ionized gas: an introduction to the dynamics of HII regions

This review covers the dynamic processes that are important in the evolution and structure of galactic HII regions, concentrating on an elementary presentation of the physical concepts and recent numerical simulations of HII region evolution in a non-uniform medium. The contents are as follows: (1) The equations (Euler equations; Radiative transfer; Rate equations; How to avoid the dynamics; How to avoid the atomic physics). (2) Physical concepts (Static photoionization equilibrium; Ionization front propagation; Structure of a D-type front; Photoablation flows; Other ingredients - Stellar winds, Radiation pressure, Magnetic fields, Instabilities). (3) HII region evolution (Early phases: hypercompact and ultracompact regions; Later phases: compact and extended regions; Clumps and turbulence).Comment: To be published as a chapter in 'Diffuse Matter from Star Forming Regions to Active Galaxies' - A volume Honouring John Dyson. Eds. T. W. Harquist, J. M. Pittard and S. A. E. G. Falle. 25 pages, 7 figures. Some figures degraded to meet size restriction. Full-resolution version available at http://www.ifront.org/wiki/Dyson_Festschrift_Chapte

Welfare of badgers (Meles meles) subjected to culling: patterns of trap-related injury

For over 25 years, European badgers (Meles meles) have been subject to culling in Britain in attempts to limit the spread of tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. As part of a far-reaching evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of badger culling as a TB control measure, this paper assesses one aspect of the welfare of badger populations subjected to culling: the risk of badgers confined to cage traps prior to despatch becoming injured as a result of rubbing or biting on the cage. In a large-scale field trial, 88% of badgers received no detectable injuries as a result of being confined in the trap. Of those that were injured, 72% received only minor skin abrasions. A minority (1.8% of the total) acquired damage to the teeth or jaws that may have caused serious pain. Although trap rounds were commenced in the early morning, badgers were no more likely to sustain injuries when they remained in traps until later in the day. Coating of cage traps, intended to give the wire mesh a smoother surface, was associated with a reduction in the incidence of minor skin abrasions, although it may have slightly increased the frequency of less common but more serious abrasions. Modification of the door design reduced tooth damage. Traps will be further modified if appropriate. However, all aspects of the conduct of trapping operations must balance badger welfare with concerns for the health and safety of field staff

Welfare of badgers (meles meles) subjected to culling: development and evaluation of a closed season

For the post 25 years, European badgers (Meles meles) have been subject to culling in Britain in attempts to limit the spread of tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. As part of a far-reaching evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of badger culling as a TB control measure, this paper assesses one aspect of the welfare of badger populations subjected to culling. the killing of breeding females, which risks leaving their unweaned cubs to starve in the den. To avoid this possibility, a three-month closed season was adopted, running from 1st February to 30th April, based on the best available estimates of the timing of birth and weaning in British badgers. During May 1999-2003, when a total of 4705 adult badgers were culled, field teams failed to capture 12 unweaned litters when their mothers were despatched. In 31 other cases, lactating females were culled but litters of almost-weaned cubs were also caught and despatched at the some dens, usually within a day of capture of the mother. The number of unweaned cubs missed by culling teams - estimated at approximately nine per year on average - was dramatically lower than that projected by a badger welfare lobby group. Our data suggest that the dosed season is effective in reducing the suffering of unweaned cubs in badger populations subject to culling, and we recommend that this measure be maintained should badger culling form a component of any future TB control policy

Glycoprotein Ibα and FcγRIIa play key roles in platelet activation by the colonizing bacterium, Streptococcus oralis

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is characterized by thrombus formation on a cardiac valve. The oral bacterium, Streptococcus oralis, is recognized for its ability to colonize damaged heart valves and is frequently isolated from patients with IE. Platelet interaction with S. oralis leads to the development of a thrombotic vegetation on heart valves, which results in valvular incompetence and congestive heart failure. Objective: To investigate the mechanism through which platelets become activated upon binding S. oralis. Patients and Methods: Platelet interactions with immobilized bacteria under shear conditions were assessed using a parallel flow chamber. S. oralis-inducible platelet reactivity was determined using light transmission aggregometry. Dense granule secretion was measured by luminometry using a luciferin/luciferase assay. Results: Using shear rates that mimic physiological conditions, we demonstrated that S. oralis was able to support platelet adhesion under venous (50-200 s-1) and arterial shear conditions (800 s-1). Platelets rolled along immobilized S. oralis through an interaction with GPIbα. Following rolling, platelet microaggregate formation was observed on immobilized S. oralis. Aggregate formation was dependent on S. oralis binding IgG, which cross-links to platelet FcγRIIa. This interaction led to phosphorylation of the ITAM domain on FcγRIIa, resulting in dense granule secretion, amplification through the ADP receptor and activation of RAP1, culminating in platelet microaggregate formation. Conclusions: These results suggest a model of interaction between S. oralis and platelets that leads to the formation of a stable septic vegetation on damaged heart valves. © 2013 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

States versus Corporations: Rethinking the Power of Business in International Politics

Over 25 years ago, Susan Strange urged IR scholars to include multinational corporations in their analysis. Within IR and IPE discussions, this was either mostly ignored or reflected in an empirically and methodologically unsatisfactory way. We reiterate Strange’s call by sketching a fine-grained theoretical and empirical approach that includes both states and corporations as juxtaposed actors that interact in transnational networks inherent to the contemporary international political economy. This realistic, juxtaposed, actor- and relations-centred perspective on state and corporate power in the global system is empirically illustrated by the example of the transnationalisation of state ownership