Use of PCR to identify Leptospira in kidneys of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in Kansas and Nebraska, USA

Bats have been implicated as potential carriers of Leptospira as a result of surveys, mostly in Australia and South America. We measured the prevalence of pathogenic leptospires in kidneys of bats from Kansas and Nebraska. From 7 August 2012 to 21 August 2012, we extracted DNA from kidneys of 98 big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) submitted and found negative for rabies. The DNA was processed in a two-step, seminested PCR assay with a dual-labeled Taqman probe specific for pathogenic leptospires. As a negative control, we used a saprophytic leptospire (Leptospira biflexa Patoc) and, as a pathogenic control, Leptospira interrogans Canicola. All bat kidneys were negative for pathogenic leptospires, suggesting that it is unlikely that the big brown bat, one of the most prevalent bat species in North America, is a reservoir for transmission of leptospires to dogs or humans

Evaluations of land cover risk factors for canine leptospirosis: 94 cases (2002–2009)

Associations of land cover/land use variables and the presence of dogs in urban vs. rural address locations were evaluated retrospectively as potential risk factors for canine leptospirosis in Kansas and Nebraska using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The sample included 94 dogs positive for leptospirosis predominantly based on a positive polymerase chain reaction test for leptospires in urine, isolation of leptospires on urine culture, a single reciprocal serum titer of 12,800 or greater, or a four-fold rise in reciprocal serum titers over a 2–4 weeks period; and 185 dogs negative for leptospirosis based on a negative polymerase chain reaction test and reciprocal serum titers less than 400. Land cover features from 2001 National Land Cover Dataset and 2001 Kansas Gap Analysis Program datasets around geocoded addresses of case/control locations were extracted using 2500 m buffers, and the presence of dogs’ address locations within urban vs. rural areas were estimated in GIS. Multivariate logistic models were used to determine the risk of different land cover variables and address locations to dogs. Medium intensity urban areas (OR = 1.805, 95% C.I. = 1.396, 2.334), urban areas in general (OR = 2.021, 95% C.I. = 1.360, 3.003), and having urban address locations (OR = 3.732, 95% C.I. = 1.935, 7.196 entire study region), were significant risk factors for canine leptospirosis. Dogs regardless of age, sex and breed that live in urban areas are at higher risk of leptospirosis and vaccination should be considered

Chasing the ‘Killer’ Phonon Mode for the Rational Design of Low Disorder, High Mobility Molecular Semiconductors

Molecular vibrations play a critical role in the charge transport properties of weakly van der Waals bonded organic semiconductors. To understand which specific phonon modes contribute most strongly to the electron – phonon coupling and ensuing thermal energetic disorder in some of the most widely studied high mobility molecular semiconductors, we have combined state-of-the-art quantum mechanical simulations of the vibrational modes and the ensuing electron phonon coupling constants with experimental measurements of the low-frequency vibrations using inelastic neutron scattering and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. In this way we have been able to identify the long-axis sliding motion as a ‘killer’ phonon mode, which in some molecules contributes more than 80% to the total thermal disorder. Based on this insight, we propose a way to rationalize mobility trends between different materials and derive important molecular design guidelines for new high mobility molecular semiconductors.Royal Society German Research Foundation European Research Council Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council ARCHER UK National Supercomputing Service Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research Leverhulme Trust Wiener-Anspach Foundation Belgian Walloon Region GENCI-CINES/IDRI

Spatial scale effects in environmental risk-factor modelling for diseases

Studies attempting to identify environmental risk factors for diseases can be seen to extract candidate variables from remotely sensed datasets, using a single buffer-zone surrounding locations from where disease status are recorded. A retrospective case-control study using canine leptospirosis data was conducted to verify the effects of changing buffer-zones (spatial extents) on the risk factors derived. The case-control study included 94 case dogs predominantly selected based on positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for leptospires in urine, and 185 control dogs based on negative PCR. Land cover features from National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and Kansas Gap Analysis Program (KS GAP) around geocoded addresses of cases/controls were extracted using multiple buffers at every 500 m up to 5,000 m, and multivariable logistic models were used to estimate the risk of different land cover variables to dogs. The types and statistical significance of risk factors identified changed with an increase in spatial extent in both datasets. Leptospirosis status in dogs was significantly associated with developed high-intensity areas in models that used variables extracted from spatial extents of 500-2000 m, developed medium-intensity areas beyond 2,000 m and up to 3,000 m, and evergreen forests beyond 3,500 m and up to 5,000 m in individual models in the NLCD. Significant associations were seen in urban areas in models that used variables extracted from spatial extents of 500-2,500 m and forest/woodland areas beyond 2,500 m and up to 5,000 m in individual models in Kansas gap analysis programme datasets. The use of ad hoc spatial extents can be misleading or wrong, and the determination of an appropriate spatial extent is critical when extracting environmental variables for studies. Potential work-arounds for this problem are discussed

Fortetropin inhibits disuse muscle atrophy in dogs after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE:To determine if a commercial myostatin reducer (Fortetropin®) would inhibit disuse muscle atrophy in dogs after a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. DESIGN:A prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS:One hundred client-owned dogs presenting for surgical correction of cranial cruciate ligament rupture by tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. PROCEDURES:Patients were randomly assigned into the Fortetropin® or placebo group and clients were instructed to add the assigned supplement to the dog's normal diet once daily for twelve weeks. Enrolled patients had ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness, tape measure measurements of thigh circumference, serum myostatin level assays, and static stance analysis evaluated at weeks 0, 8, and 12. RESULTS:From week 0 to week 8, there was no change for thigh circumference in the Fortetropin® group for the affected limb (-0.54cm, P = 0.31), but a significant decrease in thigh circumference for the placebo group (-1.21cm, P = 0.03). There was no significant change in serum myostatin levels of dogs in the Fortetropin® group at any time point (P>0.05), while there was a significant rise of serum myostatin levels of dogs in placebo group during the period of forced exercise restriction (week 0 to week 8; +2,892 pg/ml, P = 0.02). The percent of body weight supported by the affected limb increased in dogs treated with Fortetropin® (+7.0%, P<0.01) and the placebo group (+4.9%, P<0.01) at the end of the period of forced exercise restriction. The difference in weight bearing between the Fortetropin® and placebo groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.10). CONCLUSION:Dogs receiving Fortetropin® had a similar increase in stance force on the affected limb, no significant increase in serum myostatin levels, and no significant reduction in thigh circumference at the end of the period of forced exercise restriction compared to the placebo. These findings support the feeding of Fortetropin® to prevent disuse muscle atrophy in canine patients undergoing a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy

Research data supporting "Chasing the “Killer” Phonon Mode for the Rational Design of Low-Disorder, High-Mobility Molecular Semiconductors"

- Figure 1: OFET IV Curves and TLM - Figure 2: INS and THz data - Figure 3 & 4: 1. Phonon mode index 2. Frequency in the harmonic approximation (HO) 3. Frequency beyond the HO (only few modes were corrected for ahnarmonic effects) 4-5. Standard deviation of site energies (in meV) 6-9. Standard deviation of transfer integrals (in meV) 10. Standard deviation of vibrational coordinates transfer integrals (in Angstrom) Figure 5: Transient Localization Scenario mobility valuesThe authors gratefully acknowledge the ISIS neutron and muon source for beam time (TOSCA instrument). G.S. acknowledges postdoctoral fellowship support from the Wiener–Anspach Foundation and The Leverhulme Trust (Early Career Fellowship supported by the Isaac Newton Trust). D.J.H. acknowledges the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Plastic Electronics EP/G037515/1. G.L. thanks the support from the Royal Society (Newton Fellowship, NF151515). Financial support from the German Research Foundation (BR4869-1/1) is gratefully acknowledged (K.B.). The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC, Synergy Grant 610115) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, programme grant EP/M005143/1). M.T.R. and J.A.Z. thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, programme grant EP/N022769/1), and computational resources via membership of the UK’s HEC Materials Chemistry Consortium (funded by the EPSRC, programme grant EP/L000202) and the ARCHER UK National Supercomputing Service (http://www.archer.ac.uk). M.T.R. gratefully acknowledges the University of Vermont for startup support. The authors thank Nippon Kayaku for supplying C8-DNTT-C8. Y.H.G. thanks the Belgian National Fund for Scienti c Research (FNRS—Research Fellow PhD grant for A.R. and project BTBT no. 2.4565.11) and the Walloon Region (WCS project 1117306). The University of Reading’s Chemical Analysis Facility is acknowledged for access to the Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer. G.D. and S.F. thank S. Ciuchi, A. Girlando, and A. Brillante for useful discussions. G.D. acknowledges computational resources provided by GENCI-CINES/IDRIS