Detection of low pathogenic influenza viruses in eggs from infected turkeys

Studies on the potential of influenza viruses for egg borne transmission are limited. Experimental infection of breeder turkeys with H3N2 subtype influenza virus, A/turkey/Ohio/04, resulted in drastic declines in egg production and we confirmed high levels of virus replication and abundant distribution of avian type influenza receptors in the oviduct of turkeys. We also confirmed the presence of the virus in albumin of eggs using real time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR) and virus isolation in embryonated chicken eggs. Swabs from egg shells were also found positive by RRT-PCR. This is the first experimental demonstration of the transmission of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses to internal egg contents. Although there is no available evidence for vertical transmission of influenza viruses, the possibility of hatchery contamination as well as possible spread of virus during movement of contaminated cracked eggs as well as egg flats could be of serious food safety and public health concern

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling in Tumor Growth and Metastasis

Cigarette smoking is highly correlated with the onset of a variety of human cancers, and continued smoking is known to abrogate the beneficial effects of cancer therapy. While tobacco smoke contains hundreds of molecules that are known carcinogens, nicotine, the main addictive component of tobacco smoke, is not carcinogenic. At the same time, nicotine has been shown to promote cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, leading to enhanced tumor growth and metastasis. These effects of nicotine are mediated through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that are expressed on a variety of neuronal and nonneuronal cells. Specific signal transduction cascades that emanate from different nAChR subunits or subunit combinations facilitate the proliferative and prosurvival functions of nicotine. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors appear to stimulate many downstream signaling cascades induced by growth factors and mitogens. It has been suggested that antagonists of nAChR signaling might have antitumor effects and might open new avenues for combating tobacco-related cancer. This paper examines the historical data connecting nicotine tumor progression and the recent efforts to target the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to combat cancer

A True Human Tail in a Neonate : Case report and literature review

A true human tail is a benign vestigial caudal cutaneous structure composed of adipose, connective tissue, muscle, vessels, nerves and mechanoreceptors. A true human tail can be distinguished from a pseudotail as the latter is commonly associated with underlying spinal dysraphism, which requires specialised management. True human tails are very rare, with fewer than 40 cases reported to date. We report a healthy one-day-old male newborn who was referred to the Bharath Hospital, Kottayam, Kerala, India, in 2014 with a cutaneous appendage arising from the lumbosacral region. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine ruled out spinal dysraphism. The appendage was removed by simple surgical excision. Clinicians should emphasise use of ‘true tail’ and ‘pseudotail’ as specific disparate terms as the clinical, radiological and histological findings of these conditions differ significantly, along with management strategies and outcomes

Species and age related differences in the type and distribution of influenza virus receptors in different tissues of chickens, ducks and turkeys

We undertook one of the most detailed studies on the distribution of α2,3 sialic acid (SA)-galactose (gal) (avian type) and α2,6SA-gal (human type) receptors on different tissues of chickens, ducks and turkeys of varying age groups. On the tracheal epithelium, all 3 bird species expressed strong positive staining (80-90%) for α2,3SA-gal receptors in the 3 different age groups. In addition, a lesser amount of α2,6SA-gal receptors (30-90%) were observed with slight differences in distribution with age and species. The epithelium of the small and large intestine of turkeys and ducks showed negligible staining for α2,6SA-gal receptors whereas the large intestine consistently showed 40-70% positive staining for α2,3SA-gal receptors. In contrast, a greater amount of staining for α2,3SA-gal (50-80%) and α2,6SA-gal (20-50%) receptors were observed along the epithelium of small and large intestine of chickens. Kidney and esophagus sections from the 3 bird species also expressed both avian and human type receptors. In other tissues examined, brain, breast muscles, bursa, spleen, cecal tonsils and oviduct, human type receptors were absent. Though different viral and receptor components may play roles in successful viral replication and transmission, understanding the receptor types and distribution in different tissues of domestic birds might be good initial tool to understand host factors that promote successful influenza viral infection

Transcriptomics in ecotoxicology

The emergence of analytical tools for high-throughput screening of biomolecules has revolutionized the way in which toxicologists explore the impact of chemicals or other stressors on organisms. One of the most developed and routinely applied high-throughput analysis approaches is transcriptomics, also often referred to as gene expression profiling. The transcriptome represents all RNA molecules, including the messenger RNA (mRNA), which constitutes the building blocks for translating DNA into amino acids to form proteins. The entirety of mRNA is a mirror of the genes that are actively expressed in a cell or an organism at a given time. This in turn allows one to deduce how organisms respond to changes in the external environment. In this article we explore how transcriptomics is currently applied in ecotoxicology and highlight challenges and trends. Figure The transcriptome (RNA) is a mirror of the genes that are actively expressed in a cell or organism at a given time, providing information on how organisms respond to chemicals or other stressors in the environmen

Transcriptomics in ecotoxicology

The emergence of analytical tools for high-throughput screening of biomolecules has revolutionized the way in which toxicologists explore the impact of chemicals or other stressors on organisms. One of the most developed and routinely applied high-throughput analysis approaches is transcriptomics, also often referred to as gene expression profiling. The transcriptome represents all RNA molecules, including the messenger RNA (mRNA), which constitutes the building blocks for translating DNA into amino acids to form proteins. The entirety of mRNA is a mirror of the genes that are actively expressed in a cell or an organism at a given time. This in turn allows one to deduce how organisms respond to changes in the external environment. In this article we explore how transcriptomics is currently applied in ecotoxicology and highlight challenges and trends

Reaping Benefits from Knowledge Transfer – The Role of Confidence in Knowledge

This paper seeks to develop a conceptual model that examines the role of individual’s confidence in the transferred knowledge in realizing benefits from such transfers. In so doing, the paper attempts to address the gap in the KT literature pertaining to the inability of recipients to gain benefits from incoming transferred knowledge. The conceptual model has been developed by drawing from the literature on socio-cognitive approaches by employing psychological variables (individual level differences in need for closure, regulatory focus, and self-efficacy) and contextual factors including perceived novelty of knowledge and positive feedback from social interactions affecting confidence in incoming knowledge. The conceptual model builds on the socio-cognitive perspective and explores some of the important issues that could contribute to the individual’s adeptness (or lack thereof) in deriving benefits from transferred knowledge thus addressing a vital gap in strategy and management literature. The paper introduces the concept of confidence in knowledge to the KT literature, which could lend valuable insights pertaining to deriving benefits from transferred knowledge. In addition, by highlighting the role of important individual specific constructs in determining the ability to gain benefits from KT, the paper makes a significant contribution to the stream of research on the micro-foundational bases of strategy. Finally, exploring perceived novelty as a knowledge attribute in this paper adds an interesting perspective to the individuals’ perception of the target knowledge quality and the resulting confidence in the incoming knowledge, which could in turn be moderated by individual differences

Studies on Acanthocheilonema viteae cystatin: Genomic organization, promoter studies and expression in Caenorhabditis elegans

Cystatins are reversible, tightly binding inhibitors of cysteine proteases. Filarial cystatins have been ascribed immunomodulatory properties and have been implicated in protective immunity. To continue exploration of this potential, here we have determined the sequence, structure and genomic organization of the cystatin gene locus of A. viteae. The gene is composed of 4 exons separated by 3 introns and spans ~2 kb of genomic DNA. The upstream genomic sequence contains transcriptional factor binding sites such as AP-1 and NF-Y, an inverted CCAAT sequence, and a TATA box. To investigate sites of cystatin expression, Caenorhabditis elegans worms were transformed by microinjection with the putative promoter region and the first exon of the A. viteae cystatin gene fused to the reporter GFP. In transgenic worms fluorescence was observed in the pharyngeal and rectal gland cells suggesting that cystatin is secreted. Additionally, A. viteae cystatin was expressed in C. elegans to explore its potential as an expression system for filarial genes

Creativity Training

Global competition and the ever more rapid emergence of new products and services means the ability to innovate and solve problems has become critical for organisational survival and prosperity (Anderson, Potočnik and Zhou, 2014). Many strategies have been adopted by organisations to enhance their innovativeness and one of the most popular is in terms of conducting creativity training for employees. Within this chapter, I discuss how widespread the use of creativity training is, the main types of interventions used in organisations, review the literature for evidence of their effectiveness and then offer some personal reflections on developing and implementing a new creativity training model (CLEAR IDEAS) for organisations. The chapter will finish off with some practical guidelines on what make for more effective creativity training interventions