Ringworm - occurrence, control and prevention in young cattle

Regular weekly observations of naturally occurring outbreaks of ringworm in young cattle over many years have provided detailed information on facets of the epizoology of the disease, control by therapy and preventive measures. The epizoology or distribution of the disease demonstrated an average incubation period of 28 days.\ud Sites of lesions aided detection of early disease with the predominant site for first lesions being around the eyes. In yearlings unusual sites for lesions included the perianal area and under the jaw. All with outbreaks were found to resolve / to spontaneous recovery and in these studies the mean duration of lesions was 4 weeks, duration in animals was 8 weeks, and in outbreaks 18 weeks, in untreated disease of naturally occurring outbreaks. These figures demonstrated the importance of determining spontaneous recovery in assessing the value of therapy in drug trials. Control by therapy was found to be variable and difficult if not supported by preventive measures. Controlled drug trials by strict regime have shown the effectiveness of Griseofulvin. However the use of Natamycin or Enilconazole was not so effective if treatment was delayed. Early therapy with copper naphthenate and cod liver oil was effective when supported by preventive measures. The major obstacle to control on calf and beef units appears to be the frequent introduction of infection via purchases of calves. Fifteen outbreaks were considered to be introduced through 45 group purchases in 3 years

Errata: First-Principles Theoretical Explanation of Incommensurate Behavior in Rb\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eZnC\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e

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Errata: First-Principles Theoretical Explanation of Incommensurate Behavior in Rb\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eZnC\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) of this paper have been inadvertently interchanged; thus, the caption for Fig. 2(a) relates to Fig. 2(b) and the caption for Fig. 2(b) relates to Fig. 2(a)

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS’ PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP AND ITS IMPACT TO THE STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND ENGLISH SUBJECTS

The study aims to understand the relationship between the principal’s leadership style of both public and private high school institutions and student's performance in Math, Science and English. Support was found in a Theoretical model: Principal leadership effects on student's learning growth in Mathematics (Dumay, Boonen, and Dame, 2013) which reinforces the relationship between principal leadership and student achievement.For this study, the researchers aim to focus on three hypotheses: identification of the difference between the teacher's perception of the principal leadership style between private and public high school; the effects of such leadership styles and variables to the student achievement in each of the three general subjects (Mathematics, English, and Science); the effects of the dominant characteristics to the student achievements in general. Fifty-three teachers, both from private and public institutions, were administered the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X-Short form (MLQ 5X-Short). This measured all nine leadership characteristics and identified which type of leadership was dominantly displayed by their principal, for each school type. The study also examined the self-assessment of the principals for each school type and compared it to the perceptions of the teachers towards their leadership styles.Most findings were consistent with existing literature. In addition, this study also identified several areas of further study.&nbsp

Ultra-flat Gold QCM Electrodes Fabricated with Pressure Forming Template Stripping for Protein Studies at the Nanoscale

Single-molecule imaging of proteins using atomic force microscopy (AFM) is crucially dependent on protein attachment to ultra-flat substrates. The technique of template stripping (TS), which can be used to create large areas of atomically flat gold, has been used to great effect for this purpose. However, this approach requires an epoxy which can swell in solution, causing surface roughening and substantially increasing the thickness of any sample, preventing its use on acoustic resonators in liquid. Diffusion bonding techniques should circumvent this problem but cannot be used on samples containing patterned features with mismatched heights due to cracking and poor transfer. Here, we describe a new technique called pressure forming template stripping (PTS) which permits an ultra-flat (0.35 ± 0.05 nm root-mean-square roughness) layer of gold to be transferred to the surface of a patterned substrate at low temperature and pressure. We demonstrate this technique by modifying a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor to contain an ultra-flat gold surface. Standard QCM chips have substantial roughness, preventing AFM imaging of proteins on the surface after measurement. With our approach there is no need to run samples in parallel: the modified QCM chip is flat enough to permit high-contrast AFM imaging after adsorption studies have been conducted. The PTS-QCM chips are then used to demonstrate adsorption of bovine serum albumin in comparison to rough QCM chips. The ability to attach thin layers of ultra-flat metals to surfaces of heterogeneous nature without epoxy will have many applications in diverse fields where there is a requirement to observe nanoscale phenomena with multiple techniques, including surface and interfacial science, optics, and biosensing

Ferroelectricity in Perovskitelike NaCaF3 Predicted Ab Initio

The ability of zero-stress simulations, using Gordon-Kim pair potentials, to describe the structures and transformations of known fluoride-based perovskites is demonstrated for the case of KCaF3. When K+ is replaced by Na+ a new ferroelectric crystal isomorphous with LiNbO3 is predicted. The equivalent relationships of the ferroelectric lithium niobate structure with the perovskite and antiperovskite structures are examined. A polarization of 21 jµC/cm2 at room temperature and a transition temperature of 550 K are predicted for NaCaF3. Surface effects are examined in simulations of a 1080-ion cluster

Atomic force microscopy of the EcoKI Type I DNA restriction enzyme bound to DNA shows enzyme dimerization and DNA looping

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows the study of single protein–DNA interactions such as those observed with the Type I Restriction–Modification systems. The mechanisms employed by these systems are complicated and understanding them has proved problematic. It has been known for years that these enzymes translocate DNA during the restriction reaction, but more recent AFM work suggested that the archetypal EcoKI protein went through an additional dimerization stage before the onset of translocation. The results presented here extend earlier findings confirming the dimerization. Dimerization is particularly common if the DNA molecule contains two EcoKI recognition sites. DNA loops with dimers at their apex form if the DNA is sufficiently long, and also form in the presence of ATPγS, a non-hydrolysable analogue of the ATP required for translocation, indicating that the looping is on the reaction pathway of the enzyme. Visualization of specific DNA loops in the protein–DNA constructs was achieved by improved sample preparation and analysis techniques. The reported dimerization and looping mechanism is unlikely to be exclusive to EcoKI, and offers greater insight into the detailed functioning of this and other higher order assemblies of proteins operating by bringing distant sites on DNA into close proximity via DNA looping

The cytotoxic effect of TiF4 and NaF on fibroblasts is influenced by the experimental model, fluoride concentration and exposure time.

OBJECTIVE: Titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) has shown promising effect in preventing tooth lesions. Therefore, we compared the cytotoxicity of TiF4 with sodium fluoride (NaF) (already applied in Dentistry) considering different fluoride concentrations, pH values and experimental models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Step 1) NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were exposed to mediums containing NaF or TiF4 (from 0.15 to 2.45% F), both at native and adjusted pH, for 6 h. Step 2) NIH/3T3 were exposed to NaF or TiF4 varnishes with 0.95, 1.95 or 2.45% F (native pH), for 6, 12 or 24 h. We applied MTT (1st and 2nd steps) and Hoescht/PI stain (2nd step) assays. Step 3) NIH/3T3 were exposed to NaF or TiF4 varnish (2.45% F), at native pH, for 6 or 12 h. The cell stiffness was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). RESULTS: Step 1) All cells exposed to NaF or TiF4 mediums died, regardless of the F concentration and pH. Step 2) Both varnishes, at 1.90 and 2.45% F, reduced cell viability by similar extents (33-86% at 6 h, 35-93% at 12 h, and 87-98% at 24 h) compared with control, regardless of the type of fluoride. Varnishes with 0.95% F did not differ from control. Step 3) TiF4 and NaF reduced cell stiffness to a similar extent, but only TiF4 differed from control at 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the 3 experimental steps, we conclude that TiF4 and NaF have similar cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity was dependent on F concentration and exposure time. This result gives support for testing the effect of TiF4 varnish in vivo

Efficacy of a multi-component intervention to reduce workplace sedentary behaviour in office workers

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a work-based multicomponent intervention to reduce office workers’ sitting time. Methods: Offices (n=12; 89 workers) were randomised into an 8-week intervention (n=48) incorporating organisational, individual, and environmental elements or control arm. Sitting time, physical activity and cardiometabolic health were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Results: Linear mixed modelling revealed no significant change in workplace sitting time, but changes in workplace prolonged sitting time (-39 min/shift), sit-upright transitions (7.8 per shift) and stepping time (12 min/shift) at follow-up were observed, in favour of the intervention group (p<0.001). Results for cardiometabolic health markers were mixed. Conclusions: This short multicomponent workplace intervention was successful in reducing prolonged sitting and increasing physical activity in the workplace, although total sitting time was not reduced and the impact on cardiometabolic health was minimal.

Transient Storage as a Function of Geomorphology, Discharge, and Permafrost Active Layer Conditions in Arctic Tundra Streams

Transient storage of solutes in hyporheic zones or other slow-moving stream waters plays an important role in the biogeochemical processes of streams. While numerous studies have reported a wide range of parameter values from simulations of transient storage, little field work has been done to investigate the correlations between these parameters and shifts in surface and subsurface flow conditions. In this investigation we use the stream properties of the Arctic (namely, highly varied discharges, channel morphologies, and subchannel permafrost conditions) to isolate the effects of discharge, channel morphology, and potential size of the hyporheic zone on transient storage. We repeated stream tracer experiments in five morphologically diverse tundra streams in Arctic Alaska during the thaw season (May–August) of 2004 to assess transient storage and hydrologic characteristics. We compared transient storage model parameters to discharge (Q), the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor (f), and unit stream power (ω). Across all studied streams, permafrost active layer depths (i.e., the potential extent of the hyporheic zone) increased throughout the thaw season, and discharges and velocities varied dramatically with minimum ranges of eight-fold and four-fold, respectively. In all reaches the mean storage residence time (tstor) decreased exponentially with increasing Q, but did not clearly relate to permafrost active layer depths. Furthermore, we found that modeled transient storage metrics (i.e., tstor, storage zone exchange rate (αOTIS), and hydraulic retention (Rh)) correlated better with channel hydraulic descriptors such as f and ω than they did with Q or channel slope. Our results indicate that Q is the first-order control on transient storage dynamics of these streams, and that f and ω are two relatively simple measures of channel hydraulics that may be important metrics for predicting the response of transient storage to perturbations in discharge and morphology in a given stream