Epididymitis in Range and Purebred Rams

Fact sheet describes epididimitis, its causes, its effects, and control of the disease

Dissipative and Dispersive Optomechanics in a Nanocavity Torque Sensor

Dissipative and dispersive optomechanical couplings are experimentally observed in a photonic crystal split-beam nanocavity optimized for detecting nanoscale sources of torque. Dissipative coupling of up to approximately $500$ MHz/nm and dispersive coupling of $2$ GHz/nm enable measurements of sub-pg torsional and cantilever-like mechanical resonances with a thermally-limited torque detection sensitivity of 1.2$\times 10^{-20} \text{N} \, \text{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ in ambient conditions and 1.3$\times 10^{-21} \text{N} \, \text{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ in low vacuum. Interference between optomechanical coupling mechanisms is observed to enhance detection sensitivity and generate a mechanical-mode-dependent optomechanical wavelength response.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

WILL POLITICAL REFORM BRING ABOUT IMPROVED ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT IN SUB?SAHARAN AFRICA?

Summary Unmistakable signs of movement towards political liberalization and more accountable government in sub?Saharan Africa have given rise to expectations that these reforms will result in better economic performance. This article considers the plausibility of such expectations from the point of view of weaknesses in the policy making process and prospects for improvements with political reform in the 1990s. It concludes that while there may be scope for optimism, improved economic management is not a guaranteed outcome of the reform process and it would therefore be unwise to encourage excessive expectations at this stage. Résumé En Afrique sous?saharienne, certains signes manifestes d'un mouvement vers la libéralisation politique et vers des modes de gouvernement plus responsables de leurs actions ont servi à susciter l'espoir que ces réformes mèneront à une performance économique meilleure. Le présent article s'interroge sur la plausibilité de ces espérances eu égard aux faiblesses dans le processus de détermination des politiques; et aussi, sur les possibilités qu'une amélioration pourrait découler des réformes politiques instaurées durant les années 1990. La conclusion des auteurs est que si, de certains points de vue, il y aurait lieu d'être optimiste, le processus de réforme est loin de garantir l'amélioration de la gestion économique et que sous ce jour, il serait imprudent à ce stade d'encourager des espérances excessives. Resumen La inconfundibles señales de movimiento hacia una liberalización política y gobiernos más responsables en el Africa sub?Sahariana han despertado expectativas de que estas reformas resulten en un mejor desempeño económico. Este artículo considera la plausibilidad de esas esperanzas desde el punto de vista de la fragilidad en el proceso de elaboración de pautas, y las perspectivas para las mejoras con las reformas políticas de la década del 90. Llega a la conclusión de que si bien hay lugar para el optimismo, un mejor manejo económico no es necesariamente el resultado garantizado del proceso de reforma, y por esa razón, sería muy aventurado fomentar grandes expectativas por el momento

Designing Pleasure; Designers' Needs

A series of interviews with academic and practicing designers was carried out to inform the development of a ‘pleasure resource’ that designers can use to enable understanding of the emotional needs of specific markets, at an early stage of the design process. In order to produce such a resource, it was necessary to investigate the attitudes and needs of designers on the subject of ‘pleasure’ in design. Findings show that designers are aware of the necessity to satisfy the emotional needs of the user, but there has to be a compromise with other factors e.g. production costs. Those interviewed tended to rely upon ‘quick and dirty’ research methods, with few aware of techniques and data that relate specifically to user pleasure. They expressed great interest in a ‘pleasure resource’ that gave them access to information about specific market groups’ emotional needs. Several designers suggested a greater focus on user ‘lifestyle’ information to promote empathy with users. The information collected has led to the development of several concept resources for detailed evaluation by designers

Comparison of the Host Ranges and Antigenicity of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium wrairi from Guinea Pigs

Oocysts of a Cryptosporidium isolate from guinea pigs were not infectious for adult mice, but were infectious for two of three newborn calves and for suckling mice. However, oocysts isolated from calves or mice infected with guinea pig Cryptosporidium were not infectious for guinea pigs. Four isolates of C. parvum from calves were incapable of infecting weanling guinea pigs. Microscopic examination of tissue from the colon and cecum of suckling guinea pigs inoculated with C. parvum revealed sparse infection of some pups. These host range studies and previously described differences in 125 I-labeled oocyst surface protein profiles between Cryptosporidium sp. from guinea pigs and C. parvum suggest they are distinct species. We propose the name Cryptosporidium wrairi be retained. Studies with monoclonal antibodies indicate that C. wrairi and C. parvum are antigenically related.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75184/1/j.1550-7408.1992.tb01471.x.pd

Rapid assessment of site specific DNA methylation through resistive pulse sensing

Many diseases are defined by patterns of DNA methylation which result in aberrant gene expression. We present a rapid assay based upon resistive pulse sensing, RPS, to characterize sequence specific DNA methylation sites in genomic DNA. We modify the surface of superparamagnetic beads, SPBs, with DNA (capture probe). The particles are added to solution where they bind to and extract sequence specific DNA (target DNA). The target loaded SPBs are then incubated with antibodies which bind to the methylation sites, and the velocity of the SPBs through the nanopore reveals the number and location of the epigenetic markers within the target. The approach is capable of distinguishing between different methylation sites within a DNA promoter region. Crucially the approach is not dependent on accurate sequencing of assayed DNA, with genomic regions targeted through complementary probes. As such the number of stages and reagents costs are low and the assay is complete in under 60 min which includes the incubation and run times. The format also allows simultaneous quantification of number of copies of methylated DNA, and we illustrate this with a dose response curve

Role of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels in neuropathic pain: a proof-of-concept study of ivabradine in patients with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) ion channels mediate repetitive action potential firing in the heart and nervous system. The HCN2 isoform is expressed in nociceptors, and preclinical studies suggest a critical role in neuropathic pain. Ivabradine is a nonselective HCN blocker currently available for prescription for cardiac indications. Mouse data suggest that ivabradine in high concentrations is equianalgesic with gabapentin. We sought to translate these findings to patients with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVES: We sought to translate these findings to patients with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain. METHODS: We adopted an open-label design, administering increasing doses of ivabradine to target a heart rate of 50 to 60 BPM, up to a maximum of 7.5 mg twice daily. All participants scored their pain on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS). RESULTS: Seven (7) participants received the drug and completed the study. There was no significant treatment effect on the primary endpoint, the difference between the mean score at baseline and at maximum dosing (mean reduction = 0.878, 95% CI = -2.07 to 0.31, P = 0.1). Exploratory analysis using linear mixed models, however, revealed a highly significant correlation between ivabradine dose and pain scores (χ2(1) = 74.6, P < 0.001), with a reduction of 0.12 ± 0.01 (SEM) NRS points per milligram. The 2 participants with painful diabetic neuropathy responded particularly well. CONCLUSION: This suggests that ivabradine may be efficacious at higher doses, particularly in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain. Importantly, participants reported no adverse effects. These data suggest that ivabradine, a peripherally restricted drug (devoid of central nervous system side effects), is well tolerated in patients with chronic neuropathic pain. Ivabradine is now off-patent, and its analgesic potential merits further investigation in clinical trials.This research was supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215-20014). The authors acknowledge support from the East of England NIHR Clinical Research Network who facilitated identification of participants, and the staff at the Cambridge NIHR Clinical Investigation Ward, who cared for our participants during their visit. The authors are grateful to Mr Abhishek Dixit who built and maintained OpenClinica for data capture. The in-house development and use of FAST-diary are supported by Evelyn Trust (RECORD-Pain) and AAGBI (Anaesthesia-Wiley) research grants