An in vitro study of the replication, morphology and DNA base composition of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Microbiology at Massey University, New Zealand

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae can almost invariably be isolated from the lungs of sheep with chronic pneumonia, which is a prevalent disease in New Zealand hoggets. At Massey University, a study is in progress to establish the part, if any, played by M. ovipneumoniae in the patho­genesis of the disease. This thesis represents an in vitro investigation of some properties of M. ovipneu­moniae. It was undertaken as part of the larger study, and is presented in that context. To establish a method for the production of high titre exponential phase inocula for use in disease transmission experiments, the growth of M. ovipneumoniae in FM4 broth was studied. It was found that a maximum titre of 1.0 to 3.0 x 109 CFU/ml was produced regardless of the inoculum size or degree of aeration. The organism had a minimum division time of 1.7 hr; had no stationary phase and in the late death phase was inactivated with a half-life of about 0.5 hr. The organism was stored at -70° with little loss in titre (less than two-fold) over an 18 month period. Shaking cultures became sufficiently turbid during growth to allow meaningful measurements to be made using an SP20 spectrophotometer. In defined conditions, viz. when a shaking culture is in the exponential phase and contains 2.0 to 10.0 x 108 CFU/ml, the viable cell count can be estimated from turbidity measurements. Electron microscopy of M. ovipneumoniae showed that the cells are roughly spherical, 400 to 700nm in diameter, probably replicate by binary fission, contain ribosomes and fibrils of deoxyribonucleic acid, and are bounded by a trilaminar membrane bearing projections 12nm long. No specialized structural feature such as the attachment sites found in M. pneumoniae was detected. The New Zealand isolate of M. ovipneumoniae was morphologically indistinguishable from the standard M. ovipneumoniae strain isolated in Australia. Although the above description could be applied to many mycoplasma species, it should be noted that the average cell diameter of M. ovipneumoniae (about 550nm) is larger than that found for most but not all species of mycoplasma. The base composition of the DNA of M. ovipneumoniae determined by the thermal denaturation and buoyant density studies was 28.1% GC and 28.0% GC respectively. This relatively low GC content falls within the accepted range for mycoplasma species (23 - 40% GC) and within the much narrower range (26.8 - 28.5% GC) of glycolytic mycoplasmas causing respiratory disease in domestic animals

Philippians 2:5-11 : ethics or soteriology?

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/2020/thumbnail.jp

Russia in Afghanistan and Chechnya: Military Strategic Culture and the Paradoxes of Asymmetric Conflict

The author uses a detailed assessment of the Russian experience in Afghanistan and Chechnya to draw important conclusions about asymmetric warfare. He then uses this to provide recommendations for the U.S. military, particularly the Army. Major Cassidy points out that small wars are difficult for every great power, yet are the most common kind. Even in this era of asymmetry, the U.S. Army exhibits a cultural preference for the big war paradigm. He suggests that the U.S. military in general, including the Army, needs a cultural transformation to master the challenge of asymmetry fully. From this will grow doctrine and organizational change.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1805/thumbnail.jp

Surface topography of the Greenland Ice Sheet from satellite radar altimetry

Surface elevation maps of the southern half of the Greenland subcontinent are produced from radar altimeter data acquired by the Seasat satellite. A summary of the processing procedure and examples of return waveform data are given. The elevation data are used to generate a regular grid which is then computer contoured to provide an elevation contour map. Ancillary maps show the statistical quality of the elevation data and various characteristics of the surface. The elevation map is used to define ice flow directions and delineate the major drainage basins. Regular maps of the Jakobshavns Glacier drainage basin and the ice divide in the vicinity of Crete Station are presented. Altimeter derived elevations are compared with elevations measured both by satellite geoceivers and optical surveying

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Leptospirosis

BACKGROUND: Leptospira infection is a global zoonosis with significant health impact for agricultural workers and those persons whose work or recreation takes them into endemic areas. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review assessed the current literature for evidence for or against use of antibiotic prophylaxis against Leptospira infection (leptospirosis). SEARCH STRATEGY: The authors searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCI-Expanded as well as relevant professional society meeting abstracts until January 2009. SELECTION CRITERIA: Prospective, randomised clinical trials studying antibiotic prophylaxis against leptospirosis were selected. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data collection abstracted participant demographics and outcomes as well as features of trial design and quality. Trial results were analysed to independently determine outcomes, while multiple trial data was pooled when relevant. MAIN RESULTS: Three trials were included, all of which evaluated doxycyline use. Trial quality suffered from a lack of intention-to-treat analysis and variability across trials in methodology and targeted outcomes. One trial assessed post-exposure prophylaxis in an indigenous population after a flood without apparent efficacy in reduction of clinical or laboratory identified Leptospira infection. Two trials assessed pre-exposure prophylaxis, one among deployed soldiers and another in an indigenous population. Despite an odds ratio of 0.05 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.36) for laboratory-identified infection among deployed soldiers on doxycyline in one of these two trials, pooled data showed no statistically significant reduction in Leptospira infection among participants (Odds ratio 0.28 (95% CI 0.01 to 7.48). Minor adverse events (predominantly nausea and vomiting) were more common among those on doxycycline with an odds ratio of 11 (95% CI 2.1 to 60). AUTHORS\u27 CONCLUSIONS: Regular use of weekly oral doxycycline 200 mg increases the odds for nausea and vomiting with unclear benefit in reducing Leptospira seroconversion or clinical consequences of infection

Satellite radar altimetry over ice. Volume 1: Processing and corrections of Seasat data over Greenland

The data-processing methods and ice data products derived from Seasat radar altimeter measurements over the Greenland ice sheet and surrounding sea ice are documented. The corrections derived and applied to the Seasat radar altimeter data over ice are described in detail, including the editing and retracking algorithm to correct for height errors caused by lags in the automatic range tracking circuit. The methods for radial adjustment of the orbits and estimation of the slope-induced errors are given

Satellite radar altimetry over ice. Volume 4: Users' guide for Antarctica elevation data from Seasat

A gridded surface-elevation data set and a geo-referenced data base for the Seasat radar altimeter data over Greenland are described. This is a user guide to accompany the data provided to data centers and other users. The grid points are on a polar stereographic projection with a nominal spacing of 20 km. The gridded elevations are derived from the elevation data in the geo-referenced data base by a weighted fitting of a surface in the neighborhood of each grid point. The gridded elevations are useful for the creating of large-scale contour maps, and the geo-referenced data base is useful for regridding, creating smaller-scale contour maps, and examinating individual elevation measurements in specific geographic areas. Tape formats are described, and a FORTRAN program for reading the data tape is listed and provided on the tape

Satellite radar altimetry over ice. Volume 2: Users' guide for Greenland elevation data from Seasat

A gridded surface-elevation data set and a geo-referenced data base for the Seasat radar altimeter data over Antarctica are described. It is intended to be a user's guide to accompany the data provided to data centers and other users. The grid points are on a polar stereographic projection with a nominal spacing of 20 km. The gridded elevations are derived from the elevation data in the geo-referenced data base by a weighted fitting of a surface in the neighborhood of each grid point. The gridded elevations are useful for the creating smaller-scale contour maps, and examining individual elevation measurements in specific geographic areas. Tape formats are described, and a FORTRAN program for reading the data tape is listed and provided on the tape

Influence of a humidor on the aerodynamics of baseballs

We investigate whether storing baseballs in a controlled humidity environment significantly affects their aerodynamic properties. To do this, we measure the change in diameter and mass of baseballs as a function of relative humidity (RH) in which the balls are stored. We then model trajectories for pitched and batted baseballs to assess the difference between those stored at 30% RH versus 50% RH. The results show that a drier baseball may be expected to curve slightly more than a humidified one for a given pitch velocity. We also find that the aerodynamics alone would add ~2 feet to the distance a moister ball is hit. However, this is compensated by a ~6 foot reduction in batted distance due to the well known change in coefficient of restitution of the ball. We discuss consequences of these results for baseball played at Coors Field in Denver, where baseballs have been stored in a humidor at 50% RH since 2002.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures, modified and re-posted 2/2

The Future U.S. Military Presence in Asia: Landpower and the Geostrategy of American Commitment

The United States strategic framework in the Pacific has three parts: peacetime engagement, as described above, which includes a forward presence; crisis response, which builds on forward-stationed forces, the boots-on-the ground and, if necessary, fighting and winning any conflict that might develop. The mechanisms to carry out this strategic framework are embedded in the regular contacts and engagement activities that the United States carries out with friends and allies in the region. What the future will look like in Asia will be determined largely on what happens on the Korean Peninsula. It could be changed by such eventualities as a resurgent, expansionist, or nationalistic Russia. But the dialogue that is taking place among strategists in Seoul and Tokyo needs to be broadened to include the United States. It also must become a public debate. The tyranny of distance requires a United States military presence, and the governments of Korea and Japan must involve their own voters in a civil debate, setting forth the case for a new security structure. This is important not only for domestic political reasons in Asia, but because the American people need to know that there is a civil debate about the subject among their allies, and that the alliances that have kept Asia safe, peaceful and prosperous for 55 years are still useful, welcome, and healthy.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1847/thumbnail.jp