Cattle are more motivated for a high-concentrate diet than Sudan grass hay, despite low reticulorumen pH.

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is characterized by chronic low ruminal pH, and occurs for feedlot cattle fed high-concentrate diets. Forages slow digestion and reduce acid production. We aimed to assess how motivated finishing cattle are to access forage (Sudan grass hay, SG) via their willingness to interact with an electrified barrier.

Short communication: Risk of subacute ruminal acidosis affects the feed sorting behavior and milk production of early lactation cows.

The objective of this study was to determine if the risk of developing subacute ruminal acidosis, as potentially affected by dietary straw particle size, influenced the feed sorting, rumination behavior, and milk production of early lactation dairy cows. Upon calving, 41 multiparous Holstein cows were fed a total mixed ration with 9% wheat straw (dry matter basis) chopped (1) using a 2.54-cm screen (short; n = 21) or (2) using a 5.

Effect of straw particle size on the behavior, health, and production of early-lactation dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of reducing the particle size of wheat straw in a total mixed ration (TMR) on cow behavior, health, and production in early lactation. For 28 d after calving, 41 multiparous Holstein cows were individually provided either 1 of 2 TMR with 9% wheat straw (dry matter basis) chopped (1) using a 2.54-cm screen (short; n = 21) or (2) using a 5.

Dual infection of novel influenza viruses A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 in a cluster of Cambodian patients.

During the early months of 2009, a novel influenza A/H1N1 virus (pH1N1) emerged in Mexico and quickly spread across the globe. In October 2009, a 23-year-old male residing in central Cambodia was diagnosed with pH1N1. Subsequently, a cluster of four influenza-like illness cases developed involving three children who resided in his home and the children's school teacher.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection among Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) candidates, Coronado, California, July 2008.

Community-acquired pneumonia can compromise readiness of recruits and service members operating in confined spaces. Often respiratory pathogens are implicated in outbreaks. In July 2008, 5 Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL students entering an intense period of training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado reported with clinical symptoms and chest radiographs consistent with pneumonia.

A growing global network's role in outbreak response: AFHSC-GEIS 2008-2009.

A cornerstone of effective disease surveillance programs comprises the early identification of infectious threats and the subsequent rapid response to prevent further spread. Effectively identifying, tracking and responding to these threats is often difficult and requires international cooperation due to the rapidity with which diseases cross national borders and spread throughout the global community as a result of travel and migration by humans and animals. From Oct.

Outbreak of acute respiratory disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae on board a deployed U.S. navy ship.

We identified 179 cases of acute respiratory illness including 50 cases of radiographically confirmed pneumonia over the course of 4 months on a deployed U.S. Navy vessel.

Diagnostic discrimination of live attenuated influenza vaccine strains and community-acquired pathogenic strains in clinical samples.

Live vaccines can generate false-positive results on common influenza assays including reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR), culture and antigen tests. This threatens the integrity of epidemiological data and may misdirect treatment and control efforts. We report the development of RT-PCR tests that distinguish live FluMist vaccine (FMV) strains from circulating influenza strains in clinical samples.

Retargeting mobile group II introns to repair mutant genes.

Retroposable elements such as retroviral and lentiviral vectors have been employed for many gene therapy applications. Unfortunately, such gene transfer vectors integrate genes into many different DNA sequences and unintended integration of the vector near a growth-promoting gene can engender pathological consequences. For example, retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer induced leukemia in 2 of 11 children treated for severe combined immunodeficiency, raising significant safety issues for gene transfer strategies that cannot be targeted to specific sequences.

A tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase adapted to function in group I intron splicing by acquiring a new RNA binding surface.

We determined a 1.95 A X-ray crystal structure of a C-terminally truncated Neurospora crassa mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (CYT-18 protein) that functions in splicing group I introns. CYT-18's nucleotide binding fold and intermediate alpha-helical domains superimpose on those of bacterial TyrRSs, except for an N-terminal extension and two small insertions not found in nonsplicing bacterial enzymes.

Laser revascularization of ischemic skeletal muscle.

Background: Clinical trials have shown that transmyocardial laser revascularization is an effective secondary treatment for ischemic heart disease patients. Laser revascularization may also provide an alternative method for treating peripheral vascular disease.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for laser revascularization in ischemic skeletal muscle.

Watch what you say and how you say it: differential response to speech by participants with and without head injuries.

Previous research has shown that both prosodic and content variations in speech register are important when addressing all individuals. Motherese speech register has been associated with higher levels of perceived disability and is viewed more negatively by individuals with a history of head injury. This research was conducted to investigate the separate contributions of content and prosody in producing differential response to speech by individuals with and without a history of head injury.

Misconceptions, discrimination, and disabling language: synthesis and review.

Misconceptions about various disabling conditions abound in the general population and are related to the presence of socially disabling stereotyping as a cultural phenomenon. Significant levels of misconception have been demonstrated among the population regarding head injuries, epilepsy, and electroconvulsive shock treatment. Public ignorance in these domains is thought to breed a climate ripe for discrimination, and numerous studies have shown that such discrimination does occur in the workplace and, perhaps more important, in the world of everyday discourse.

Group II introns as controllable gene targeting vectors for genetic manipulation of bacteria.

Mobile group II introns can be retargeted to insert into virtually any desired DNA target. Here we show that retargeted group II introns can be used for highly specific chromosomal gene disruption in Escherichia coli and other bacteria at frequencies of 0.1-22%.

Functional anatomy of the vagal innervation of the cervical trachea of the dog.

The canine cervical trachea has been used for numerous studies regarding the neural control of tracheal smooth muscle. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there is lateral dominance by either the left or right vagal innervation of the canine cervical trachea. In anesthetized dogs, pressure in the cuff of the endotracheal tube was used as an index of smooth muscle tone in the trachea.

Direct relaxant effects of intravenous anesthetics on airway smooth muscle.

Ketamine, at concentrations achieved with the usual clinical doses, has a direct relaxant effect on airway smooth muscle (ASM). This study investigates the dose-dependent direct relaxation effects of midazolam and propofol on both proximal and distal ASM compared with ketamine. The proximal and distal airways were dissected from eight mongrel dogs and cut into 2-mm rings.

Differential effects of desflurane and halothane on peripheral airway smooth muscle.

Volatile anaesthetics have been shown to have direct relaxant effects on airway smooth muscle. We have examined the effects of 0.9, 1.

Reflex effects of stimulation of sympathetic afferents on the triangularis sterni.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether contralateral inhibition of the triangularis sterni is produced by stimulation of intrathoracic sympathetic afferents. Dogs were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and placed on positive pressure ventilation. The chest was opened through a mid-sternal incision.

Effects of halothane and isoflurane on antigen- and leukotriene-D4-induced constriction of guinea pig trachea.

We investigated the mechanism of the action of volatile anesthetics on the airway smooth muscle constricted by an antigen and leukotriene-D4 (LTD4). Excised tracheal rings from ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs were suspended in eight tissue baths. Halothane or isoflurane was aerated into four tissue baths, while the remaining four served as time controls.

Pigeon-serum-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the dog.

Pigeon serum (PS) is one of the most common causes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). PS-induced HP was examined in a dog model. The dogs (n = 6) were immunized by i.

Inhibition of neutral endopeptidase potentiates compound 48/80-induced constriction of guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle.

Our previous studies have shown that the inhibition of neutral endopeptidase, an enzyme which degrades tachykinins, increases anaphylactic construction of guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle. To investigate this observation further, we examined the effects of phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of a neutral endopeptidase, on constriction induced by the non-immunological mast cell degranulator-compound 48/80. Phosphoramidon produced significant leftward shift of the compound 48/80 concentration-response curve with corresponding decrease in the EC50 value from 51 (28-80) micrograms/ml to 42 (20-72) micrograms/ml.

Reflex effects of lung inflation on tracheomotor tone observed during apnea produced by the Hering-Breuer reflex.

Reflex effects of static pressure lung inflation (SLI) on tracheomotor tone (TT) were studied during apnea produced by the Hering-Breuer expiratory-facilitatory reflex. Anesthetized dogs were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass, and diaphragm electromyogram was used as an indicator of central nervous system inspiratory output. Tracheomotor tone (TT) was reflexly produced by chemoreceptor stimulation.