Global Burden of Animal Diseases: a novel approach to understanding and managing disease in livestock and aquaculture.

Investments in animal health and Veterinary Services can have a measurable impact on the health of people and the environment. These investments require a baseline metric that describes the burden of animal health and welfare in order to justify and prioritise resource allocation and from which to measure the impact of interventions. This paper is part of a process of scientific enquiry in which problems are identified and solutions sought in an inclusive way. It poses the broad question: what should a system to measure the animal disease burden on society look like and what value would it add? Moreover, it aims to do this in such a way as to be accessible by a wide audience, who are encouraged to engage in this debate. Given that farmed animals, including those raised by poor smallholders, are an economic entity, this system should be based on economic principles. These poor farmers are negatively impacted by disparities in animal health technology, which can be addressed through a mixture of supply-led and demand-driven interventions, reinforcing the relevance of targeted financial support from government and non-governmental organisations. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) Programme will glean existing data to measure animal health losses within carefully characterised production systems. Consistent and transparent attribution of animal health losses will enable meaningful comparisons of the animal disease burden to be made between diseases, production systems and countries, and will show how it is apportioned by people's socio-economic status and gender. The GBADs Programme will produce a cloud-based knowledge engine and data portal, through which users will access burden metrics and associated visualisations, support for decisionmaking in the form of future animal health scenarios, and the outputs of wider economic modelling. The vision of GBADs, strengthening the food system for the benefit of society and the environment, is an example of One Health thinking in action.

Les investissements réalisés en santé animale et dans les Services vétérinaires ont un impact mesurable sur la santé des personnes et de l'environnement. Le système de mesure appliqué à ces investissements doit reposer sur un référentiel de base décrivant l'impact de la santé et du bien-être animal de manière à justifier et classer par priorités les ressources allouées et à mesurer les effets des interventions. Les auteurs présentent une étude conduite dans le cadre d'une enquête scientifique destinée à identifier les problèmes et à rechercher des solutions de manière inclusive. L'étude pose la question de savoir à quoi devrait ressembler un système conçu pour mesurer l'impact sur la société des maladies animales, et quelle serait sa valeur ajoutée. En outre, l'étude est conduite de manière à être accessible à une large audience afin d'encourager cette dernière à participer aux discussions. Étant donné que les animaux d'élevage constituent une entité économique, y compris les animaux appartenant à des éleveurs pauvres, le système de mesure doit reposer sur des principes économiques. Les exploitants pratiquant une agriculture de subsistance subissent les effets négatifs des disparités entre les différentes technologies applicables à la santé animale, disparités auxquelles il est possible de remédier par le biais d'interventions associant des mesures dictées par l'offre et par la demande et en renforçant l'efficacité du soutien financier ciblé apporté par les organisations gouvernementales et non gouvernementales. Le Programme « L'impact mondial des maladies animales ¼ (GBADs) aura pour tâche de glaner les données existantes afin de mesurer les pertes associées à la santé animale au sein de systèmes de production qui auront été soigneusement caractérisés au préalable. Grâce à l'élucidation cohérente et transparente des pertes imputables à chaque problème de santé animale, des comparaisons pertinentes pourront être effectuées concernant l'impact des maladies animales par maladies, par systèmes de production et par pays, et la répartition de cet impact dans les populations concernées suivant le statut socio-économique et le genre des intéressés sera mieux comprise. Le Programme GBADs entend créer un moteur de recherche et un portail de données qui seront disponibles sur le Cloud et donneront aux utilisateurs l'accès à des outils de mesure de l'impact des maladies et à d'autres informations présentées sous forme graphique, ainsi qu'à des outils d'aide à la décision sous forme de scénarios prospectifs sur la santé animale et aux résultats d'études plus larges de modélisation économique. La vision du GBADs, renforcer le système de production de denrées alimentaires au profit de la société et de l'environnement, est un exemple de mise en oeuvre du concept Une seule santé.

Las inversiones en sanidad animal y en los Servicios Veterinarios pueden tener un efecto mensurable en la salud de las personas y el medio ambiente. Para efectuar estas inversiones se precisan parámetros que describan y cuantifiquen la situación de partida y el impacto de los problemas de sanidad y bienestar animales, a fin de poder, a partir de ahí, justificar y jerarquizar la asignación de recursos y medir los efectos de las intervenciones. Este artículo, inscrito en un proceso de indagación científica encaminado a detectar problemas y buscar soluciones de forma incluyente, plantea la cuestión general de cómo debería ser y qué valor añadido aportaría un sistema destinado a medir el impacto que imponen a la sociedad las enfermedades animales. Los autores, además, tratan de exponer la cuestión de manera que sea accesible a un público amplio, al que se alienta a participar en este debate. Dado que los animales de granja (incluidos los de pequeñas explotaciones) constituyen una entidad económica, tal sistema debería estar basado en principios económicos. Los productores que trabajan en régimen de subsistencia se ven negativamente afectados por las disparidades existentes en materia de tecnología zoosanitaria, disparidad que cabe corregir con una combinación de intervenciones marcadas por la oferta y otras marcadas por la demanda, dirigiendo así más selectivamente el apoyo económico de entidades gubernamentales y organizaciones no gubernamentales. El programa GBADs (El impacto global de las enfermedades animales) servirá para compilar datos ya existentes con el fin de medir las pérdidas zoosanitarias dentro de sistemas productivos cuidadosamente caracterizados. La atribución coherente y transparente de estas pérdidas zoosanitarias permitirá efectuar comparaciones significativas del impacto que representan las enfermedades animales en el caso de diferentes dolencias, sistemas productivos o países y pondrá de relieve cómo se distribuye este impacto en función del género y la condición socioeconómica de las personas. Por medio del programa GBADs se creará un motor de conocimiento y portal de datos ubicado en la nube que permita al usuario acceder a mediciones del impacto de enfermedades y representaciones gráficas conexas, a herramientas de apoyo a la adopción de decisiones, en forma de hipotéticas situaciones zoosanitarias futuras, y a los resultados de modelizaciones económicas más generales. La aspiración del programa GBADs ­ reforzar el sistema alimentario en beneficio de la sociedad y el medio ambiente ­ constituye un ejemplo de aplicación en la práctica del pensamiento en clave de Una sola salud.

Investigating the effects of handedness on the consistency of lateralization for speech production and semantic processing tasks using functional transcranial Doppler sonography.

The left hemisphere is dominant for language in most people, but lateralization strength varies between different tasks and individuals. A large body of literature has shown that handedness is associated with lateralization: left handers have weaker language lateralization on average, and a greater incidence of atypical (right hemisphere) lateralization; but typically, these studies have relied on a single measure of language lateralization. Here we consider the relationships between lateralization for two different language tasks. We investigated the influence of handedness on lateralization using functional transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD), using an existing dataset (N = 151 adults, 21 left handed). We compared a speech production task (word generation) and a semantic association task. We demonstrated stronger left-lateralization for word generation than semantic association; and a moderate correlation between laterality indices for the two tasks (r = 0.59). Laterality indices were stronger for right than left handers, and left handers were more likely than right handers to have atypical (right hemisphere) lateralization or inconsistent lateralization between the two tasks. These results add to our knowledge of individual differences in lateralization and support the view that language lateralization is multifactorial rather than unitary.

The review of results of foetal fibronectin at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske.

The manufacturer of a popular qualitative fFN assay, changed to using a quantitative assay following results from EQUIPPE study. The objective of our study was to compare our hospital data collated from our qualitative fFN assay with EQUIPPE's data, with a view to establish its validity in our hospital. We undertook a retrospective study over a 22-month period to review the data of 432 preterm pregnant women at less than 34 weeks of gestation, who presented to the labour ward with symptoms of threatened preterm labour warranting a fFN test. None of the patient with results between 11 and 199 ng/mL delivered within 7 days. However, there was a rise in percentage of delivery at higher levels. For example, 73% of patients with levels greater or equal to 500 ng/mL delivered within 7 days. Our results are comparable with those of the EQUIPPE study. This has led to changes that could potentially save our hospital money. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? The fFN test is a well validated test used to diagnose a preterm delivery. Most units are changing from the qualitative assays that just show positive or negative results to quantitative assays that give specific numeric values. Manufacturers give a numeric range for positive and negative results. What do the results of this study add? Although our study is local to our population, our findings show that potentially more money could be saved and fewer women separated from their families, if the negative level of the fFN test is increased (following a review of their local practice). What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? More units should review or audit their fFN results and choose what levels to use as a cut off for the test locally. More importantly, a multicentre research is needed to validate if the negative level needs increasing from 49 ng/mL.

Neocerebellar Crus I Abnormalities Associated with a Speech and Language Disorder Due to a Mutation in FOXP2.

Bilateral volume reduction in the caudate nucleus has been established as a prominent brain abnormality associated with a FOXP2 mutation in affected members of the 'KE family', who present with developmental orofacial and verbal dyspraxia in conjunction with pervasive language deficits. Despite the gene's early and prominent expression in the cerebellum and the evidence for reciprocal cerebellum-basal ganglia connectivity, very little is known about cerebellar abnormalities in affected KE members. Using cerebellum-specific voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and volumetry, we provide converging evidence from subsets of affected KE members scanned at three time points for grey matter (GM) volume reduction bilaterally in neocerebellar lobule VIIa Crus I compared with unaffected members and unrelated controls. We also show that right Crus I volume correlates with left and total caudate nucleus volumes in affected KE members, and that right and total Crus I volumes predict the performance of affected members in non-word repetition and non-verbal orofacial praxis. Crus I also shows bilateral hypo-activation in functional MRI in the affected KE members relative to controls during non-word repetition. The association of Crus I with key aspects of the behavioural phenotype of this FOXP2 point mutation is consistent with recent evidence of cerebellar involvement in complex motor sequencing. For the first time, specific cerebello-basal ganglia loops are implicated in the execution of complex oromotor sequences needed for human speech.

Vaccine safety surveillance in Canada: Reports to CAEFISS, 2013-2016.

BACKGROUND: Canada has one of the strongest vaccine safety surveillance systems in the world. This system includes both passive surveillance of all vaccines administered and active surveillance of all childhood vaccines. OBJECTIVES: To provide 1) a descriptive analysis of the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reports for vaccines administered in Canada, 2) an analysis of serious adverse events (SAEs) and 3) a list of the top ten groups of vaccines with the highest reporting rates. METHODS: Descriptive analyses were conducted of AEFI reports received by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) by August 14, 2017, for vaccines marketed in Canada and administered from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. Data elements in this analysis include: type of surveillance program, AEFIs, demographics, health care utilization, outcome, seriousness of adverse events and type of vaccine. RESULTS: Over the four year period, 11,079 AEFI reports were received from across Canada. The average annual AEFI reporting rate was 13.4/100,000 doses distributed in Canada for vaccines administered during 2013-2016 and was found to be inversely proportional to age. The majority of reports (92%) were non-serious events, involving vaccination site reactions rash and allergic events. Overall, there were 892 SAE reports, for a reporting rate of 1.1/100,000 doses distributed during 2013-2016. Of the SAE reports, the most common primary AEFIs were anaphylaxis followed by seizure. Meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccines (given concomitantly) were responsible for the highest rates of AEFIs, at 91.6 per 100,000 doses distributed. There were no unexpected vaccine safety issues identified or increases in frequency or severity of expected adverse events. CONCLUSION: Canada's continuous monitoring of the safety of marketed vaccines during 2013-2016 did not identify any increase in the frequency or severity of AEFIs, previously unknown AEFIs, or areas that required further investigation or research. Vaccines marketed in Canada continue to have an excellent safety profile.

Whole-brain metallomic analysis of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Despite the importance of transition metals for normal brain function, relatively little is known about the distribution of these elemental species across the different tissue compartments of the primate brain. In this study, we employed laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry on PFA-fixed brain sections obtained from two adult common marmosets. Concurrent cytoarchitectonic, myeloarchitectonic, and chemoarchitectonic measurements allowed for identification of the major neocortical, archaecortical, and subcortical divisions of the brain, and precise localisation of iron, manganese, and zinc concentrations within each division. Major findings across tissue compartments included: (1) differentiation of white matter tracts from grey matter based on manganese and zinc distribution; (2) high iron concentrations in the basal ganglia, cortex, and substantia nigra; (3) co-localization of high concentrations of iron and manganese in the primary sensory areas of the cerebral cortex; and (4) high manganese in the hippocampus. The marmoset has become a model species of choice for connectomic, aging, and transgenic studies in primates, and the application of metallomics to these disciplines has the potential to yield high translational and basic science value.

Development of life story experience (LSE) scales for migrant dentists in Australia: a sequential qualitative-quantitative study.

INTRODUCTION: The integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches introduces new avenues to bridge strengths, and address weaknesses of both methods. OBJECTIVE: To develop measure(s) for migrant dentist experiences in Australia through a mixed methods approach. METHODS: The sequential qualitative-quantitative design involved first the harvesting of data items from qualitative study, followed by a national survey of migrant dentists in Australia. Statements representing unique experiences in migrant dentists' life stories were deployed the survey questionnaire, using a five-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was used to examine component factors. RESULTS: Eighty-two statements from 51 participants were harvested from the qualitative analysis. A total of 1,022 of 1,977 migrant dentists (response rate 54.5%) returned completed questionnaires. Factor analysis supported an initial eight-factor solution; further scale development and reliability analysis led to five scales with a final list of 38 life story experience (LSE) items. Three scales were based on home country events: health system and general lifestyle concerns (LSE1; 10 items), society and culture (LSE4; 4 items) and career development (LSE5; 4 items). Two scales included migrant experiences in Australia: appreciation towards Australian way of life (LSE2; 13 items) and settlement concerns (LSE3; 7 items). CONCLUSION: The five life story experience scales provided necessary conceptual clarity and empirical grounding to explore migrant dentist experiences in Australia. Being based on original migrant dentist narrations, these scales have the potential to offer in-depth insights for policy makers and support future research on dentist migration.

Job satisfaction among 'migrant dentists' in Australia: implications for dentist migration and workforce policy.

BACKGROUND: Migrants occupy a significant proportion of the dental workforce in Australia. The objectives of this study were to assess the level of job satisfaction of employed migrant dentists in Australia, and to examine the association between various migrant dentist characteristics and job satisfaction. METHODS: All migrant dentists resident in Australia were surveyed using a five-point Likert scale that measured specific aspects of job, career and satisfaction with area and type of practice. RESULTS: A total of 1022 migrant dentists responded to this study; 974 (95.4%) were employed. Responses for all scales were skewed towards strongly agree (scores ≥4). The overall scale varied by age group, marital status, years since arrival to Australia and specialist qualification (chi-square, p < 0.05). In a multivariate logistic regression model, there was a trend towards greater satisfaction amongst older age groups. Dentists who migrated through the examination pathway (mainly from low- and middle-income countries) had a lower probability of being satisfied with the area and type of practice (OR = 0.71; 0.51-0.98), compared with direct-entry migrant dentists (from high-income countries). CONCLUSIONS: The high level of job satisfaction of migrant dentists reflects well on their work-related experiences in Australia. The study offers policy suggestions towards support for younger dentists and examination pathway migrants, so they have appropriate skills and standards to fit the Australian health care environment.

The importance of workforce surveillance, research evidence and political advocacy in the context of international migration of dentists.

The international migration of dentists is an issue of pressing significance that poses several complex policy challenges. Policy-making is mainly constrained by the lack of workforce surveillance, research evidence and political advocacy - all three are required to work together, yet with different purposes. We first discuss the inconsistencies in migrant dentist surveillance in major country-level governmental systems (immigration departments, dentist registration authorities and workforce agencies). We argue that the limitations in surveillance collections affect independent research and in turn scholarly contributions to dental workforce policy. Differences in country-level surveillance collections also hinder valid cross-country comparisons on migrant dentist data, impeding global policy efforts. Due to these limitations, advocacy, or the political process to influence health policy, suffers, but is integral to future challenges on dentist migration. Country-level advocacy is best targeted at improving migrant dentist surveillance systems. Research interest can be invigorated through targeted funding allocations for migration research and by improving the availability of dentist surveillance data for research purposes. At the global level, the WHOs global code of practice for international recruitment of health personnel (a crucial advocacy tool) needs to be strengthened. Global organisations such as the FDI World Dental Federation have an important role to play in advocating for improved migrant dentist workforce surveillance and research evidence, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Comparable efficacy and lower cost of PBSC mobilization with intermediate-dose cyclophosphamide and G-CSF compared with plerixafor and G-CSF in patients with multiple myeloma treated with novel therapies.

Studies comparing the efficacy and cost of stem cell mobilization with intermediate-dose CY (ID-CY) and G-CSF against plerixafor and G-CSF, specifically in multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated in the novel therapy era, are not available. Eighty-eight consecutive patients undergoing mobilization with ID-CY (3-4 g/m(2)) and G-CSF (n=55) were compared with patients receiving plerixafor and G-CSF (n=33). Compared with plerixafor, ID-CY use was associated with higher median peak peripheral blood CD34+ cell count (68 vs 160 cells/µL, P<0.001), and CD34+ cell yield on day 1 of collection (6.9 × 10(6) vs 11.7 × 10(6) cells/kg, P<0.001). Total CD34+ cell yield was significantly higher in the ID-CY patients (median collection 16.6 × 10(6) vs 11.6 × 10(6) cells/kg; P<0.001). ID-CY use was associated with significantly more frequent episodes of febrile neutropenia (16.3% vs 0%; P=0.02), intravenous antibiotic use (16.3% vs 3%; P=0.03) and hospitalizations (P=0.02). The average total cost of mobilization in the plerixafor group was significantly higher compared with the ID-CY group ($28 980 vs $22 504.8; P=0.001). Our data indicate robust stem cell mobilization in MM patients treated with novel agents, with G-CSF and either ID-CY or plerixafor. When compared with plerixafor, ID-CY-containing mobilization was associated with significantly lower average total mobilization costs.

Low back pain-related beliefs and likely practice behaviours among final-year cross-discipline health students.

BACKGROUND: Evidence points to clinicians' beliefs and practice behaviours related to low back pain (LBP), which are discordant with contemporary evidence. While interventions to align beliefs and behaviours with evidence among clinicians have demonstrated effectiveness, a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to positively developing workforce capacity in this area may be to target the emerging workforce. The aim of this study was to investigate beliefs and clinical recommendations for LBP, and their alignment to evidence, in Australian university allied health and medical students. METHODS: Final-year students in chiropractic, medicine, occupational therapy, pharmacy and physiotherapy disciplines in three Western Australian universities responded to a survey. Demographic data, LBP-related beliefs data [modified Health Care Providers Pain and Impact Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS) and the Back Pain Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ)] and activity, rest and work clinical recommendations for an acute LBP clinical vignette were collected. RESULTS: Six hundred two students completed the survey (response rate 74.6%). Cross-discipline differences in beliefs and clinical recommendations were observed (p > 0.001). Physiotherapy and chiropractic students reported significantly more helpful beliefs compared with the other disciplines, while pharmacy students reported the least helpful beliefs. A greater proportion of chiropractic and physiotherapy students reported guideline-consistent recommendations compared with other disciplines. HC-PAIRS and BBQ scores were strongly associated with clinical recommendations, independent to the discipline of study and prior experience of LBP. CONCLUSIONS: Aligning cross-discipline university curricula with current evidence may provide an opportunity to facilitate translation of this evidence into practice with a focus on a consistent, cross-discipline approach to LBP management.

Modification of anodised aluminium surfaces using a picosecond fibre laser for printing applications.

The use of an ultrafast fibre laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm has allowed the surface modification of anodised aluminium plates coated with a 2 micron thick anodised layer for potential industrial applications. The micro- and nano-scale structuring of the anodised aluminium using picosecond pulses of approximately 25 ps duration at 200 kHz repetition rate was investigated. The interaction of the laser with the substrate created a hydrophilic surface, giving a contact angle of less than 10 degrees. On examination under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), a morphology created due to laser induced spallation was observed. It has been found that these laser processed hydrophilic surfaces revert to a hydrophobic state with time. This has potential for application in the printing industry and offers reusability and sustainability of the process materials. This has been confirmed in initial trials.

Surface modification of anodised aluminium using a femtosecond laser.

Femtosecond laser pulses at 775 nm, combined with a scanning galvonometer system, have allowed the micro scale structuring of an aluminium plate coated with a 2 micron thick anodised aluminium layer for potential industrial applications. The micro-scale structuring of aluminium was investigated using ultrafast pulses of 180 fs duration at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Under suitably optimised conditions, the interaction of the laser pulses with the substrate created a hydrophilic surface with a contact angle of less than 10 degrees. These surfaces revealed a 'lotus-leaf' like morphology when examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It has been found that these laser processed hydrophilic surfaces revert with time and they undergo this cycle of alternate hydrophilic/hydrophobic behaviour several times upon exposure to the laser pulses. Their potential application in the printing industries is strong due to their reusability and sustainability; initial trials on printing confirm this. This technology would offer extra advantages as a non-chemical process without the need for developer, thereby reducing the overall cost and time of printing.

Effect of dry- versus wet-autoclaving of spray-dried egg albumen compared with casein as protein sources on apparent nitrogen and energy balance, plasma urea nitrogen and glucose concentrations, and growth performance of neonatal swine.

Forty crossbred neonatal pigs with an average initial age of 4 d and BW of 2.16 kg were used in a 28-d experiment to evaluate the nutritional effects of autoclaving a commercial sugar-free, spray-dried egg albumen (EA) compared with casein. Basal diet protein sources were lactic acid casein and EA. Two more dietary treatments were made by replacing the EA with dry-autoclaved EA (DAEA) or wet-autoclaved EA (WAEA, EA and water mixed in a 1.0:1.2 ratio before autoclaving). The DAEA and WAEA were autoclaved at 121 degrees C and 1.75 kg/cm(2) pressure for 30 min, and WAEA was oven-dried after autoclaving. Analyzed trypsin inhibitor units/mg of EA, DAEA, and WAEA were 535.0, 9.0, and 6.5, respectively. Pigs were fed the diets in gruel form to appetite in individual metabolism cages every 2 h during the experiment. Blood samples were taken on d 7, 14, and 21, and total urine and fecal grab-samples were collected from d 14 to 21 of the experiment. Response criteria were N and energy balance, plasma urea N (PUN) and glucose concentrations, and growth performance. The WAEA was a higher quality protein source for neonatal pigs than DAEA. Pigs fed the diet containing WAEA absorbed and retained more (P < 0.05) grams of N/d, had higher (P < 0.05) percentages of N and energy that were absorbed and retained/intake, had lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of PUN overall, and had higher (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F than pigs fed the diet containing DAEA. Most response criteria of pigs fed the diets containing DAEA or EA were not different, although pigs fed the diet containing DAEA had lower (P < 0.05) overall PUN concentrations, and pigs fed the diet containing EA had higher (P < 0.05) percentages of energy absorbed and retained/intake, and higher ADG and G:F than pigs fed the diet containing DAEA. Growth performance was not different for pigs fed the diets containing WAEA or casein. However, pigs fed the diet containing casein excreted less (P < 0.05) fecal N, retained more (P < 0/05) grams of N/d, had higher percentages of N absorbed and retained/intake, and had lower (P < 0.05) PUN concentrations overall than pigs fed the diet containing WAEA. In conclusion, WAEA was a higher quality protein source for neonatal pigs than DAEA or EA, whereas lactic casein was a higher quality protein source for neonatal pigs than EA, DAEA, or WAEA.

Longitudinal changes in grey and white matter during adolescence.

Brain development continues actively during adolescence. Previous MRI studies have shown complex patterns of apparent loss of grey matter (GM) volume and increases in white matter (WM) volume and fractional anisotropy (FA), an index of WM microstructure. In this longitudinal study (mean follow-up=2.5+/-0.5 years) of 24 adolescents, we used a voxel-based morphometry (VBM)-style analysis with conventional T1-weighted images to test for age-related changes in GM and WM volumes. We also performed tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to test for age-related WM changes across the whole brain. Probabilistic tractography was used to carry out quantitative comparisons across subjects in measures of WM microstructure in two fiber tracts important for supporting speech and motor functions (arcuate fasciculus [AF] and corticospinal tract [CST]). The whole-brain analyses identified age-related increases in WM volume and FA bilaterally in many fiber tracts, including AF and many parts of the CST. FA changes were mainly driven by increases in parallel diffusivity, probably reflecting increases in the diameter of the axons forming the fiber tracts. FA values of both left and right AF (but not of the CST) were significantly higher at the end of the follow-up than at baseline. Over the same period, widespread reductions in the cortical GM volume were found. These findings provide imaging-based anatomical data suggesting that brain maturation in adolescence is associated with structural changes enhancing long-distance connectivities in different WM tracts, specifically in the AF and CST, at the same time that cortical GM exhibits synaptic "pruning".

Altered endochondral ossification in collagen X mouse models leads to impaired immune responses.

Disruption of collagen X function in hypertrophic cartilage undergoing endochondral ossification was previously linked to altered hematopoiesis in collagen X transgenic (Tg) and null (KO) mice (Jacenko et al., [2002] Am J Pathol 160:2019-2034). Mice displayed altered growth plates, diminished trabecular bone, and marrow hypoplasia with an aberrant lymphocyte profile throughout life. This study identifies altered B220+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocyte numbers, as well as CD4+/fox3P+ T regulatory cells in the collagen X mice. Additionally, diminished in vitro splenocyte responses to mitogens and an inability of mice to survive a challenge with Toxoplasma gondii, confirm impaired immune responses. In concert, ELISA and protein arrays identify aberrant levels of inflammatory, chemo-attractant, and matrix binding cytokines in collagen X mouse sera. These data link the disruption of collagen X function in the chondro-osseous junction to an altered hematopoietic stem cell niche in the marrow, resulting in impaired immune function.

The influences of particle number on hot spots in strongly coupled metal nanoparticles chain.

In understanding of the hot spot phenomenon in single-molecule surface enhanced Raman scattering (SM-SERS), the electromagnetic field within the gaps of dimers (i.e., two particle systems) has attracted much interest as it provides significant field amplification over single isolated nanoparticles. In addition to the existing understanding of the dimer systems, we show in this paper that field enhancement within the gaps of a particle chain could maximize at a particle number N>2, due to the near-field coupled plasmon resonance of the chain. This particle number effect was theoretically observed for the gold (Au) nanoparticles chain but not for the silver (Ag) chain. We attribute the reason to the different behaviors of the dissipative damping of gold and silver in the visible wavelength range. The reported effect can be utilized to design effective gold substrate for SM-SERS applications.

Animal performance and economic comparison of novel and toxic endophyte tall fescues to cool-season annuals.

Increased costs of annual establishment of small grain pasture associated with fuel, machinery, and labor are eroding the profitability of stocker cattle enterprises. Interest has therefore increased in development of cool-season perennial grasses that are persistent and high quality. This study occurred on 24 ha (divided into thirty 0.81-ha paddocks) located at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Livestock and Forestry Branch Station, near Batesville. Two tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars infected with novel endophytes (NE), Jesup infected with AR542 endophyte (Jesup AR542), and HiMag infected with Number 11 endophyte (HM11) were established in September 2002. Jesup AR542 and HM11 were compared with endemic endophyte Kentucky 31 (KY-31) tall fescue; wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and cereal rye (WR, Secale cereale L.) planted in September 2003, 2004, and 2005; and annual ryegrass [RG, Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] planted in September 2004 and 2005. Each year, 3 steers (3.7 steers/ha) were placed on each pasture for fall and winter grazing, and 5 steers (6.2 steers/ha) were placed on each pasture for spring grazing. Animal performance is presented by year in the presence of a year x treatment interaction (P < 0.01). Body weight gain per hectare of steers grazing NE tall fescue was greater (P < 0.01) than those of KY-31 and WR during 2003 to 2004, whereas in 2004 to 2005, BW gain per hectare of steers grazing NE and RG did not differ (P < or = 0.29) and was greater (P < 0.01) than that of WR, which was greater (P < 0.01) than that of KY-31. During 2005 to 2006, BW gain per hectare was greater (P < 0.01) for steers grazing RG than those of NE and WR, which did not differ (P > or = 0.14). Body weight gain per hectare was least (P < 0.01) for steers grazing KY-31. Average net return of NE tall fescue was greater (P < 0.01) than KY-31, but profitability of NE did not consistently differ from cool-season annuals. Across the 3-yr study, NE tall fescue produced net returns per hectare of $219; this level of profitability would require 4 yr for a new planting of NE tall fescue to break even. Novel endophyte tall fescues offer potential benefits related to decreased risk of stand establishment of annual forage crops, longer growing season, and acceptable animal performance.