Chicken reticulocyte polysomal messenger RNA-protein complex: absence of bound proteins in most of the coding region of β globln mRNA

The 15s globin mRNA-protein complex (mRNP) was isolated from chicken reticulocyte polyribosomes dissociated in EDTA. To determine protein binding sites, the mRNP was treated with micrococcal nuclease and the nuclease resistant RNA was mapped to the beta globin gene at the nucleotide level. As far as we can determine there is no bound protein from the Cap site to the poly A addition site of beta globin mRNA in the mRNP except for a short area in the coding region near the translation initiation site

TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN U.S. SWINE OPERATIONS: AN ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT FACTORS

Sera from hogs were analyzed using the modified direct agglutination test (MAT). Serum samples were collected from sows which were part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) swine survey. The blood sera on file represented 394 randomly selected hog farms throughout the United States. Additionally, the NAHMS survey included information on type of production facilities and level of cat, dog, or bird access to the facilities. Of the sows tested 19 percent tested positive for toxoplasmosis. This study showed a positive relationship between sows or herds testing positive for Toxoplasma gondii and three factors: 1) method of rodent control, 2) type of production facility, and 3) access of certain animals (cats, dogs, birds) to production facilities. These data indicate that it will be difficult to eliminate T. gondii from swine herds which allow cat or dog access to facilities. Use of cats as a method of rodent control should be discouraged. We found a strong association between use of "bait only" for rodent control and the herd testing negative as compared to the use of "cats only" for rodent control. Greater industry awareness is needed for methods of rodent control through the use of baits. Sows in herds where female replacements were raised internally were significantly more likely to test positive for toxoplasmosis. Sows in confinement facilities had a significantly lower prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. Herds testing positive were significantly smaller than those which were negative. In general, there were not any regional differences in prevalence rates. Sows testing positive did not have a reduced level of productivity.

Affinity and Affiliation: The Dual-Carriage Way to Team Identification

The article investigates the significance of affinity and affiliation in fan determination with a sports team. The study examines the association of team affinity and organizational affiliation in the establishment of student identification with an intercollegiate football team. It shows the stronger role of affiliation in college sports. It notes that fan intentions to attend games is attributed to team determination. It suggests that there are some common processes at work and that developed attachment may not be wise. The effects for practice and future research are also discussed

Toxoplasma gondii in U.S. swine operations: An assessment of herd factors

This study showed a positive relationship between sows or herds testing positive for Toxoplasma gondii and three factors: 1) method of rodent control, 2) type of production facility, and 3) access of certain animals (cats, dogs, birds) to production facilities. These data indicate that it will be difficult eliminate T. gondii from swine herds which allow cats, dogs or birds access to facilities. While cat or dog access to most facilities can be controlled to a degree by not permitting cats or dogs around the operation, it is impossible to exclude stray cats or dogs from open facilities, lots, or pastures. Similarly, control of bird access is even more difficult, as birds freely move between accessible facilities. Use of cats as a method of rodent control should be discouraged. We found a strong association between use of bait only for rodent control and the herd testing negative as compared to the use of cats only for rodent control. Greater industry awareness is needed for methods of rodent control through the use of baits

Pulmonary Dysfunction in Patients with Femoral Shaft Fracture Treated with Intramedullary Nailing

Background: This study was undertaken to determine whether alveolar dead space increases during intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures and whether alveolar dead space predicts postoperative pulmonary dysfunction in patients undergoing intramedullary nailing of a femoral shaft fracture. Methods: All patients with a femoral shaft fracture were prospectively enrolled in the study unless there was evidence of acute myocardial infarction, shock, or heart failure. Arterial blood gases were measured at three consecutive time-periods after induction of general anesthesia: before intramedullary nailing and ten and thirty minutes after intramedullary nailing. The end-tidal carbon-dioxide level, minute ventilation, positive end‐expiratory pressure, and percent of inspired and expired inhalation agent were recorded simultaneously with the blood-gas measurement. Postoperatively, all subjects were monitored for evidence of pulmonary dysfunction, defined as the need for mechanical ventilation or supplemental oxygen (at a fraction of inspired oxygen of >40%) in the presence of clinical signs of a respiratory rate of >20 breaths/min or the use of accessory muscles of respiration. Results: Seventy‐four patients with a total of eighty femoral shaft fractures completed the study. Fifty fractures (62.5%) underwent nailing after reaming, and thirty fractures (37.5%) underwent nailing with minimal or no reaming. The mean alveolar dead-space measurements before canal opening and at ten and thirty minutes after canal opening were 14.5%, 15.8%, and 15.2% in the total series of seventy‐four patients (general linear model, p = 0.2) and 20.5%, 22.7%, and 24.2% in the twenty patients with postoperative pulmonary dysfunction (general linear model, p = 0.05). Of the twenty‐one patients with an alveolar dead-space measurement of >20% thirty minutes after nailing, sixteen had postoperative pulmonary dysfunction. According to univariate and multivariate analysis, the alveolar dead-space measurement was strongly associated with postoperative pulmonary dysfunction. Conclusions: According to our data, intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures did not significantly increase alveolar dead space, and the amount of alveolar dead space can predict which patients will have pulmonary dysfunction postoperatively

Necrotizing pancreatitis: A review for the acute care surgeon

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing pancreatitis is a common condition with high mortality; the acute care surgeon is frequently consulted for management recommendations. Furthermore, there has been substantial change in the timing, approach, and frequency of surgical intervention for this group of patients. METHODS: In this article we summarize key clinical and research developments regarding necrotizing pancreatitis, including current recommendations for treatment of patients requiring intensive care and those with common complications. Articles from all years were considered to provide proper historical context, and most recent management recommendations are identified. RESULTS: Epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment in the acute phase, and complications (both short-term and long-term) are discussed. Images of surgical interventions are included from our institutional experience. CONCLUSION: Necrotizing pancreatitis management remains heavily based on clinical judgement, although technological advances and clinical trials have made decision making more straightforward

Temporal genomic contrasts reveal rapid evolutionary responses in an alpine mammal during recent climate change

Many species have experienced dramatic changes in their abundance and distribution during recent climate change, but it is often unclear whether such ecological responses are accompanied by evolutionary change. We used targeted exon sequencing of 294 museum specimens (160 historic, 134 modern) to generate independent temporal genomic contrasts spanning a century of climate change (1911–2012) for two co-distributed chipmunk species: an endemic alpine specialist (Tamias alpinus) undergoing severe range contraction and a stable mid-elevation species (T. speciosus). Using a novel analytical approach, we reconstructed the demographic histories of these populations and tested for evidence of recent positive directional selection. Only the retracting species showed substantial population genetic fragmentation through time and this was coupled with positive selection and substantial shifts in allele frequencies at a gene, Alox15, involved in regulation of inflammation and response to hypoxia. However, these rapid population and gene-level responses were not detected in an analogous temporal contrast from another area where T. alpinus has also undergone severe range contraction. Collectively, these results highlight that evolutionary responses may be variable and context dependent across populations, even when they show seemingly synchronous ecological shifts. Our results demonstrate that temporal genomic contrasts can be used to detect very recent evolutionary responses within and among contemporary populations, even in the face of complex demographic changes. Given the wealth of specimens archived in natural history museums, comparative analyses of temporal population genomic data have the potential to improve our understanding of recent and ongoing evolutionary responses to rapidly changing environments