Trophic Level Influence on Stable Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Bat Fur

The effect of trophic level on the isotopic compositions of nitrogen (δ15N), carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) is well documented, but the effect that trophic level has on the stable hydrogen isotopic composition of bat fur (δ2Hfur) is not known. This can have implications when assigning the locations of origin of bats in migration studies that use δ2Hfur. I hypothesized that if there is an effect of trophic level on δ2Hfur, then δ2Hfur would correlate positively with trophic level. I tested this possibility by correlating δ2Hfur with δ15Nfur and δ13Cfur, which both positively correlate with trophic level, and with δ18Ofur, which does not correlate with trophic level. My results show that δ2Hfur increases by 15 to 40 ‰ per trophic level, which supports my hypothesis. Understanding the effect that trophic level has on δ2Hfur can help researchers assign more accurate locations of origin for bats. Together, δ15Nfur, δ13Cfur and δ2Hfur can help determine what bats are eating at the individual or population level

The Boundaries of Medicare: Tensions in the Dual Role of Ontario\u27s Physician Services Review Committee

In this research, we describe and analyse the Physician Services Committee (PSC) in Ontario, focusing on its role in determining what physician services are publicly funded and what services are de-listed (i.e. no longer eligible for public funding). We explain how the PSC\u27s role in determining the boundaries of Medicare is in tension with its role as a medium for labour relations between the government and the medical profession. We suggest that while the values of privacy, secrecy and a lack of transparency may enhance the PSC\u27s fulfillment of its labour relations mandate, they impede the Committee\u27s successful fulfillment of its health policy mandate. The remainder of this paper is dedicated to a detailed investigation of the PSC\u27s process of determining candidate services for de-listing, and the principles upon which it bases its decisions. Particular attention is paid to the principles of open participation, transparency, accountability, and the degree to which these principles are incorporated into the PSC\u27s decision-making

Probable Donor-Derived Human Adenovirus Type 34 Infection in 2 Kidney Transplant Recipients From the Same Donor.

Human adenovirus type 34 (HAdV-34) infection is a recognized cause of transplant-associated hemorrhagic cystitis and, in rare cases, tubulointerstitial nephritis. The source of such infections is often difficult to assess, that is, whether acquired as a primary infection, exposure to a pathogen in the transplanted organ, or reactivation of an endogenous latent infection. We present here 2 cases of likely transplant-acquired HAdV-34 infection from the same organ donor, manifesting as tubulointerstitial nephritis in 1

Magnesia Binder Preparation from Local Natural and Technogenic Raw Materials

The preparation of magnesia binders based on natural and technogenic mineral was the result of the research. The obtained magnesia binders possess the increased flexural and compressive strength which values are close to ones of natural materials. High flexural and compression strengths are associated with the features of the hardened caustic dolomite containing magnesium oxyhydrochlorides which crystallize as a fiber. The fibrous crystals not only increase the cement strength, but also act as a reinforcing material. The resulting magnesia binder does not require a moist environment at hardening. It is characterized by decorativeness and ecological compatibility, has a neutral hardening product composition

Magnesia Binder Preparation from Local Natural and Technogenic Raw Materials

The preparation of magnesia binders based on natural and technogenic mineral was the result of the research. The obtained magnesia binders possess the increased flexural and compressive strength which values are close to ones of natural materials. High flexural and compression strengths are associated with the features of the hardened caustic dolomite containing magnesium oxyhydrochlorides which crystallize as a fiber. The fibrous crystals not only increase the cement strength, but also act as a reinforcing material. The resulting magnesia binder does not require a moist environment at hardening. It is characterized by decorativeness and ecological compatibility, has a neutral hardening product composition

Virulence Determination for Rapid Extraintestinal Dissemination (Acute Infection) of Common Salmonella Serotypes in Swine

Salmonella enterica (Typhimurium and Choleraesuis) have been shown to rapidly disseminate extraintestinally (RED) within 3 hours of intranasal inoculation in pigs (1,2,5,6). Evaluation of RED serotypes may be an important indicator of Salmonella virulence. Experimentally, pigs were challenged with important lymph node, fecal, and vaccine isolates of Salmonella and evaluated for RED. These isolates include S. Heidelberg, S. Infantis, S. Derby, S. Worthington, S. 4, 12 imonophasic, S. untypable HL 10416, S. Typhimurium, S. Typhimurium variant Copenhagen, S. Bredeney, S. Muenchen, S. Brandenburg, S. Choleraesuis SC-38, S. Choleraesuis SC-54, and S. Choleraesuis strain Argus. Three hours after intranasal inoculation, the pigs were euthanized, necropsied, and the following tissues were collected for qualitative isolation: tonsil, thymus, blood, mandibular lymph node, lung, spleen, liver, ileocecal lymph node, colon contents, and cecum contents. Fewer tissues were positive for vaccine strains compared with wild type or parent strains

Replicon Particle Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Vaccine Provides Partial Protection from Challenge

Replicon particles (RPs) expressing the GP5 and Matrix structural proteins of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) were created and compared to inactivated PRRSV in a challenge study. Pigs that received the RP vaccine had lower live virus titers and showed lower IDEXX ELISA values following challenge when compared to other groups. These results show that the RP vaccine provided partial protection against challenge with virulent PRRSV. Also, the RP vaccine allows for differentiation between vaccinated and naturally infected animals