Characterization of H3N2 Swine Influenza Viruses in Iowa Swine

Since December 1998 when swine influenza virus (SIV) with H3N2 was first identified in Iowa swine, prospective and retrospective studies were conducted to monitor and evaluate H3N2 SIV infections in swine population in Iowa until February 2000. A serological survey revealed that H3 SIV had been widely spread in Iowa swine within first 6 months after initial identification and that both H1 and H3 SIV coexited. Many herds tested had the evidence that animals were exposed to both subtypes of SIV. In some cases, both subtypes were isolated from the same animal. All circumstantial evidences strongly suggested the emergence of new subtype due to reassortment of H1N1 and H3N2 strains; however, no evidence of new reassortant was yet found in Iowa during this study period. A one-way hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay on banked field isolates of H3N2 SIV demonstrated that the majority of field isolates were antigenically conserve. These observations suggest that diagnostic assays using an initial Midwest H3N2 SIV isolate should be reliable for diagnosing infection of H3N2 SIV. This observation also suggests that a vaccine using an initial Midwest H3N2 SIV may provide reliable cross protection against a variety of H3N2 strains. However, a few isolates were found resistant to HI activity conferred by antiserum raised against a H3N2 Midwest isolate, warranting a continuous surveillance for antigenic drift among isolates

Exploring the Demand for Retirement Planning Advice: The Role of Financial Literacy

This research extends previous literature on the relationship between financial literacy and financial advice seeking in three ways: (1) we examine financial planner use specifically within the context of retirement planning, (2) we incorporate Huston’s (2010) framework of financial literacy, and (3) we use longitudinal data to investigate the initiation, maintenance, and termination of financial planner use. Results from the 2010 and 2012 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) show a positive association between the components of financial literacy and financial planner use for retirement planning

Impact analysis of low velocity to composite box containting water

A series of experimental studies were conducted for low velocity impact on a composite box containing water in order to study the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI). Finally, a computational study was conducted to supplement the experimental study. The water level inside the composite box was varied incrementally from 0% (i.e. no water) to 100% (full water). The impact velocity was also changed. In the experimental study, strain gages and the load cell were used to measure the strain responses at the front, side, and back surfaces as well as the impact force. The results showed that the FSI effect was significant to the structural responses depending on the water level. The effect of the baffle was different among the front, side and back surfaces. Both experimental and numerical results agreed well.Naval Postgraduate SchoolApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Susceptibility of Swine to Hepatitis E virus and its Significance to Human Health

Previous reports indicate that swine can be experimentally infected with Asian isolates of human hepatitis E virus (HEV), which supports epidemiological data indicating that domestic swine can serve as a reservoir for the virus in parts of Asia and as such have the potential to transmit the virus to humans by the fecal-oral route or through contact with pork products. The increasing incidence of human HEV infections in the western hemisphere raises the question of whether or not pigs can play a role in the transmission of this virus in the Americas. Accordingly the susceptibility of swine to a New World isolate of the human hepatitis E virus, Mexico 14, was evaluated. No evidence of infection was detected in experimental pigs. However a high herd and individual prevalence rate for seroreactivity to recombinant HEV antigen was detected in Iowa swine during the selection of experimental pigs. These observations suggests that swine vary in their susceptibility to human HEV isolates. Whether or not swine are susceptible to other New World isolates of HEV and can serve as a reservoir for human infection remains to be determined. The significance of the high rate of seroreactivity of swine to recombinant antigen with respect to human and swine health is not known. An epidemiological study currently in progress should help answer this important question

Field-Based Assessment of the Role of Porcine Cytomegalovirus in Respiratory Disease of Nursery Pigs

Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) is an ubiquitous infectious agent in swine population throughout the world. Field and some experimental observations have suggested that PCMV plays an important role in causing or enhancing respiratory and/or reproductive disease of swine. However, no actual measure of this has been documented. As the first step in assessing the economic significance of PCMV infection for swine herds in the United States, a field-based case-control study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of the virus in respiratory disease of young swine. The data in this study, thus far, suggest that there may be an association between PCMV infection and increased risk of respiratory disease development in nursery pig populations and that, as was expected, PCMV infection is a common finding among nursery pigs. In an era in which multifactorial respiratory disease and associated decrease in production efficiency is such a large concern, it may be prudent to consider PCMV when developing and implementing strategies for production management and pig flow

Challenges and opportunities of centrifugal microfluidics for extreme point-of-care testing

The advantages offered by centrifugal microfluidic systems have encouraged its rapid adaptation in the fields of in vitro diagnostics, clinical chemistry, immunoassays, and nucleic acid tests. Centrifugal microfluidic devices are currently used in both clinical and point-of-care settings. Recent studies have shown that this new diagnostic platform could be potentially used in extreme point-of-care settings like remote villages in the Indian subcontinent and in Africa. Several technological inventions have decentralized diagnostics in developing countries; however, very few microfluidic technologies have been successful in meeting the demand. By identifying the finest difference between the point-of-care testing and extreme point-of-care infrastructure, this review captures the evolving diagnostic needs of developing countries paired with infrastructural challenges with technological hurdles to healthcare delivery in extreme point-of-care settings. In particular, the requirements for making centrifugal diagnostic devices viable in developing countries are discussed based on a detailed analysis of the demands in different clinical settings including the distinctive needs of extreme point-of-care settings.ope

Functional screening of aldehyde decarbonylases for long-chain alkane production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background: Low catalytic activities of pathway enzymes are often a limitation when using microbial based chemical production. Recent studies indicated that the enzyme activity of aldehyde decarbonylase (AD) is a critical bottleneck for alkane biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We therefore performed functional screening to identify efficient ADs that can improve alkane production by S. cerevisiae

Far-Ultraviolet Cooling Features of the Antlia Supernova Remnant

We present far-ultraviolet observations of the Antlia supernova remnant obtained with Far-ultraviolet IMaging Spectrograph (FIMS, also called SPEAR). The strongest lines observed are C IV 1548,1551 and C III 977. The C IV emission of this mixed-morphology supernova remnant shows a clumpy distribution, and the line intensity is nearly constant with radius. The C III 977 line, though too weak to be mapped over the whole remnant, is shown to vary radially. The line intensity peaks at about half the radius, and drops at the edge of the remnant. Both the clumpy distribution of C IV and the rise in the C IV to C III ratio towards the edge suggest that central emission is from evaporating cloudlets rather than thermal conduction in a more uniform, dense medium.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, will be published in ApJ December 1, 2007, v670n2 issue. see http://astro.snu.ac.kr/~jhshinn/ms.pd