Goats excel at learning and remembering a highly novel cognitive task

PMCID: PMC398717

Initial behavioural and attitudinal responses to influenza A, H1N1 ('swine flu')

Copyright © 2010 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.This study was sponsored by Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), and supported by the Community Coalition Concerned about SARS and other community organisations in the great Toronto area

The prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (hbv) infection in a large multi-ethnic haemodialysis cohort.

Haemodialysis patients are at increased risk of exposure to blood borne viruses. To reduce transmission in the UK, all haemodialysis patients are regularly screened, and if susceptible to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, vaccinated

Proximate Composition, Retained Water, and Bacterial Load for Two Sizes of Hybrid Catfish (\u3ci\u3eIctalurus furcatus\u3c/i\u3e × \u3ci\u3eIctalurus punctatus\u3c/i\u3e) Fillets at Different Process Steps

The catfish processors in the US are required to state the maximum percentage of retained water content (RWC) on the product label. The objectives of our study were to quantify the RWC of processed hybrid catfish fillets from proximate composition and the bacterial load at different processing points. Water content was determined using oven-dry (AOAC950.46,1990) and Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Protein and fat content were determined by NIR spectrometer. Psychrotrophic (PPC) and Total Coliform (TCC) counts were enumerated using 3MPetrifilmTM. The fillets’ overall baseline water, protein, and fat content were 77.8, 16.7 and 5.7%, respectively. The RWC of final fresh and frozen fillets were ~1.1=/- 2.0% (not significant) and ~4.5%, respectively, and was not fillet size or harvest season dependent. Baseline water content (78.0 vs. 76.0%) was higher (p ≤ 0.05), and fat content (6.0% vs. 8.0%) was lower (p ≤ 0.05) for small (50–150 g) compared to large fillets (150–450 g). Higher (p ≤ 0.05) baseline PPC (~4.2 vs. ~3.0) and TCC (~3.4 vs. ~1.7) were observed for the warm season (April–July) fillets compared to the cold season (Feb–April). This study provides information to processors and others on estimating retained water and microbiological quality of the hybrid catfish fillets over the process line

Insights into the Role of GILT in HLA Class II Antigen Processing and Presentation by Melanoma

Metastatic melanoma is one of the deadliest of skin cancers and is increasing in incidence. Since current treatment regimens are ineffective at controlling and/or curing the disease, novel approaches, such as immunotherapy, for treating this malignant disease are being explored. In this review, we discuss potential melanoma antigens (Ags) and their role in utilizing the HLA class II pathway to elicit tumor Ag-specific CD4+ T cell responses in order to effectively induce long-lasting CD8+ antitumor memory. We also discuss the role of endolysosomal cathepsins and Gamma-Interferon-inducible Lysosomal Thiol reductase (GILT) in Ag processing and presentation, and at enhancing CD4+ T cell recognition of melanoma cells. This review also summarizes our current knowledge on GILT and highlights a novel mechanism of GILT-mediated immune responses against melanoma cells. At the end, we propose a strategy employing GILT in the development of a potential whole cell vaccine for combating metastatic melanoma

Lubrication of DLC Coatings with Two Tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate Anion-Based Ionic Liquids

The lubrication of a Cr-DLC coating with ethyl-dimethyl-2-methoxyethylammonium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluoropho-sphate [(NEMM)MOE][FAP] and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrro-lidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate [BMP] [FAP] ionic liquids (ILs) as 1 wt% additives to a polyalphaolefin (PAO 6) was studied. Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) was also used as reference in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the ILs. Reciprocating ball-on-plate tribological tests at loads of 20 and 40 N were performed. The results showed that both ILs exhibited a friction reduction, especially at the lowest load tested. Antiwear properties were also improved; the PAO 6 + 1% [BMP][FAP] mixture was slightly better, close to the values for PAO 6 + 1% ZDDP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that the additive–surface interaction was responsible for the tribological improvement

Isoprene oxidation by the gram-negative model bacterium variovorax sp. WS11

Plant-produced isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) represents a significant portion of global volatile organic compound production, equaled only by methane. A metabolic pathway for the degradation of isoprene was first described for the Gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus sp. AD45, and an alternative model organism has yet to be characterised. Here, we report the characterisation of a novel Gram-negative isoprene-degrading bacterium, Variovorax sp. WS11. Isoprene metabolism in this bacterium involves a plasmid-encoded iso metabolic gene cluster which differs from that found in Rhodococcus sp. AD45 in terms of organisation and regulation. Expression of iso metabolic genes is significantly upregulated by both isoprene and epoxyisoprene. The enzyme responsible for the initial oxidation of isoprene, isoprene monooxygenase, oxidises a wide range of alkene substrates in a manner which is strongly influenced by the presence of alkyl side-chains and differs from other well-characterised soluble diiron monooxygenases according to its response to alkyne inhibitors. This study presents Variovorax sp. WS11 as both a comparative and contrasting model organism for the study of isoprene metabolism in bacteria, aiding our understanding of the conservation of this biochemical pathway across diverse ecological niches

Case 2 : Saving the Rural Ontario Maternity Services – Can We Do It?

Inaya, manager of the ‘low-risk’ project at Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH), had to come up with an integrative solution for the issues encompassing maternity care in Ontario. The low-risk project aims “to design and develop effective low risk maternal and newborn strategy for Ontario (2015-2018) to ensure that all women have an equitable choice of delivery options, and access to the right level of care at the right time, no matter where they live in the province”. In response to external and internal challenges facing Ontario’s hospitals, the province has seen the closure of rural maternity programs over the last few years. The women in communities that are unable to sustain local services must travel to access distant services, and depending on the distance to the nearest referral center, may be away from their homes and communities during the critical pregnancy period and child birth. The separation of pregnant women from their families and communities can cause negative outcomes. The health and economic impacts of the inability to access local maternal programs are well documented. Different stakeholders have indicated the importance of alternative, sustainable models of interprofessional collaboration of midwifery, primary and specialty care, and the efficient allocation of human health resources (PCMCH, 2015). To create the framework of the model, PCMCH formed a leadership team and expert panel consisting of different care providers. Inaya had to identify barriers and potential solutions by engaging different care providers and exploring the challenges from their perspectives. The findings would be used to work with relevant partners, such as associations of different health care professionals, to develop potential solutions for the Ministry. The goal of the case is to provide readers with the opportunity to apply the concept of collaboration and also explore the barriers to achieving inter-professional collaboration from the key stakeholders’ perspectives