A Statement of Moral Purpose: The 1948 Genocide Convention

Genocide was declared an international crime in 1946. In response to this declaration, the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in 1948. Although 28 years have passed, the United States has not yet determined its position, with respect to the Convention and this international compact is still pending before the Senate. This article is concerned primarily with the probable impact of the United States\u27 position on the Genocide Convention in light of international law and relations. The body of the Convention is discussed and analyzed along with three proposed United States\u27 understandings. It is argued that, as the United States is now reestablishing its moral leadership in the world, ratification of the Genocide Convention is in our national interest as a statement of faith in our national principles and of the readiness to develop international law on human rights

Immune Modulation as a Treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

In the United States, over 200,000 new patients are diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) each year. Consequently, over 40,000 highly morbid aortic reconstructions are performed each year to prevent aneurysm rupture, a catastrophic event associated with near-certain mortality. No pharmaceutical currently exists to slow aneurysm growth, but a 50% reduction in diameter growth per annum could halve the number of aortic reconstructions required. Therefore, successful use of cell therapy to modulate chronic inflammation hallmark to AAA to slow diameter expansion represents a potentially paradigm-altering treatment

Cow serum and colostrum immunoglobulin (IgG1) concentration of five suckler cow breed types and subsequent immune status of their calves

peer-reviewedB. Murphy would like to gratefully acknowledge receipt of a Walsh Fellowship provided by Teagasc.The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cow breed type on (a) cow serum and colostrum immunoglobulin (IgG1) concentrations and (b) subsequent calf serum IgG1 concentration and zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) units. Five cow breed types were examined: LF (Limousin × Friesian), LLF (Limousin × (Limousin × Friesian)), L (Limousin), C (Charolais) and SLF (Simmental × (Limousin × Friesian)). Three blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture from the cows at approximately 90, 60 and 30 days pre partum, at parturition and at 15 days or more post partum and from the calves at 48 (40 to 56) h post partum. Prior to suckling a 20 ml sample of colostrum was obtained. Milk yield was estimated using the weigh-suckleweigh technique. The decrease in serum IgG1 concentration in cows between 90 days pre partum and parturition was greater (P < 0.01) for LF cows than all other breed types, except SLF. There was no difference between LLF, L, C and SLF cows. There was no effect of cow breed type on colostrum IgG1 concentration. Milk yield was higher (P < 0.001) for LF cows than all other breed types, while that of SLF was higher than the three remaining breed types, which were similar. Calf serum IgG1 concentration and ZST units were higher (P < 0.01) for the progeny of LF cows than all others except SLF. There was no difference between the progeny of LLF, L, C and SLF cows. Calf serum IgG1 was affected by cow breed type and showed a positive relationship with cow serum IgG1 decreases in late pregnancy

Performance and feed intake of five beef suckler cow genotypes and pre-weaning growth of their progeny

peer-reviewedThe effect of beef suckler cow genotype on feed intake, performance, milk yield and on pre-weaning growth of their progeny was determined over four lactations. The five cow genotypes examined were Limousin (L), Charolais (C), Limousin × Holstein-Friesian (LF), Limousin × (Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) (LLF) and Simmental × (Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) (SLF). The herd calved in spring and the progeny spent from April until weaning (October/ November) at pasture with their dams. Live weight (kg) at the start of the indoor winter period was greater (P 0.05) between the genotypes but followed a similar trend to grass silage intake. The decrease in live weight over the indoor winter period was greater (P < 0.01) for L and C cows than for LLF and SLF, whereas LF were intermediate. The increase in live weight during the grazing season was greater (P < 0.01) for C cows than all except L, which were intermediate. Calving difficulty score was greater (P < 0.01) for C cows than LLF, L and SLF, whereas LF were intermediate. Birth weight of calves from LF cows was lower (P < 0.001) than C with L being intermediate, but greater than LLF, with SLF being intermediate. Milk yield (kg/day) was higher (P < 0.001) for LF (9.7) and SLF (8.7) cows than the other genotypes (5.5 to 7.0), which did not differ significantly. Pre-weaning live-weight gain was greater (P < 0.001) for progeny of LF cows than all other genotypes except SLF, which in turn were greater than L and C, with LLF being intermediate. In conclusion, calf pre-weaning growth was higher for cow genotypes with higher milk yield, which was also associated with higher cow DM intake.B. Murphy was in receipt of a Walsh Fellowship provided by Teagasc

Structural and Functional Characterization of a Permuted Hemoglobin

The tetrameric composition of human hemoglobin complicates protein engineering efforts that are required to improve its potential as an oxygen-carrying therapeutic. In our research to design a single-chain version of the hemoglobin molecule (scHb), we have co-expressed a circularly permuted human β-globin (cp-β) with human α-globin. At micromolar concentrations, the purified recombinant globins appear to associate to form an α-cpβ heterodimer in solution rather than the expected α2-cpβ2 heterotetramer. Compared to recombinant human hemoglobin, the α-cpβ heterodimer exhibits a stronger ligand binding affinity. Knowledge of the intermolecular interactions favoring formation of the α-cpβ heterodimer will be instrumental in understanding the global structural consequences of the cpβ mutation, and in directing future protein engineering efforts to optimize the function of permuted hemoglobins. X-ray diffraction of α-cpβ crystals has been employed to determine the molecular structure of this protein complex at near-atomic resolution (2.7 Å). Examination of the structure shows that, in the crystal, the subunits associate to form a heterotetramer similar to that of wild-type hemoglobin in the high affinity R-state . The structure also confirms the incorporation of the β-globin His146 (wild-type numbering) into the cpβ linker, which removes an important ionic interaction that stabilizes the low oxygen affinity (T state) conformation. Structural information obtained as a result of this work will guide future protein engineering efforts to enhance cooperativity of oxygen binding and the T-state stability of future hemoglobin constructs

Post-weaning growth, ultrasound and skeletal measurements, muscularity scores and carcass traits and composition of progeny of five beef suckler cow genotypes

peer-reviewedB. Murphy was in receipt of a Walsh Fellowship provided by Teagasc.Post-weaning growth, ultrasound and skeletal measurements, muscularity scores, and carcass traits and composition of the progeny of spring-calving Limousin (L), Charolais (C), Limousin × Holstein-Friesian (LF), Limousin × (Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) (LLF) and Simmental × (Limousin × Holstein-Friesian) (SLF) cow genotypes was determined over 3 years. Bull and heifer progeny were slaughtered at ~460 and ~610 days of age, respectively. Post-weaning growth did not differ significantly between the genotypes. Progeny from LF and SLF cows had the highest (P<0.001) carcass gain per day of age, whereas progeny from L and C cows had the highest (P < 0.01) carcass conformation score and lowest (P < 0.001) fat score. The proportion of meat in the car¬cass was higher (P < 0.001) and bone lower (P < 0.001), and meat to bone ratio higher (P < 0.001) for the progeny of L cows than all other genotypes, which were similar. Carcass fat proportion was similar for progeny of L and C cows and lower (P < 0.001) than LLF and SLF, with LF being intermediate. The progeny from L cows tended to have the greatest proportion of hind-quarter in the carcass. Genotype effects were mini¬mal when the proportion of high-value cuts was expressed relative to weight of meat in the carcass and hind-quarter. In conclusion, there was no effect of cow genotype on the performance of their progeny from weaning to slaughter. However, crossbred cows with good maternal (milk) traits produced progeny with a higher carcass weight per day of age, whereas the purebred continental cows produced progeny with superior carcass classification traits.Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Programm

Review of “Fort Henry: An Illustrated History” by Steve Mecredy

Review of Fort Henry: An Illustrated History by Steve Mecred