bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biovariants of Isolates of Pasteurella from Domestic and Wild Ruminants
Authors: Jaworski M. D. , Hunter D. L. , Ward A. C. S.
Published: May 2011

A total of 608 bacterial isolates previously identified as Pasteurella haemolytica biotypes A and 3, P. trehalosi, and P. multocida, were separated into 73 distinct biovariants using 21 phenotypic characteristics. The largest group (54%) of wildlife isolates was identified as biogroup 2 and biogroup 2 variants. Biogroup 2 and biogroup 2 variants accounted for only 17% of isolates from domestic ruminants and were all from sheep. In contrast, 43% of isolates from domestic ruminants were identified as biogroup 1 and biogroup 1 variants, whereas only 6% of isolates from wildlife were identified in these groups. The majority of biogroup 1 isolates from wild ruminants were from 1 group of bighorn sheep in Arizona that were geographically separated from other wildlife sampled. Similarly, 1 biogroup 2 variant, 2E, was cultured only from free-ranging Dall sheep in Alaska. Twelve percent of domestic isolates and 6% of wildlife isolates were indole positive. The remaining isolates from wildlife (33%) and domestic animals (30%) were distributed among 53 distinct biovariants. None of these individual biovariants represented >4% of the total isolates. Phenotypic characterization was valuable for distinguishing between isolates from different hosts and from different geographic areas and can be used to assist in epidemiologic studies.
Comparison of the Membrane-Filtration Fluorescent Antibody Test, the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and the Polymerase Chain Reaction to Detect Renibacterium Salmoninarum in Salmonid Ovarian Fluid
Authors: Pascho Ronald J. , Chase Dorothy , McKibben Connie L.
Published: May 2011

Ovarian fluid samples from naturally infected chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were examined for the presence of Renibacterium salmoninarum by the membrane-filtration fluorescent antibody test (MF-FAT), an antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On the basis of the MF-FAT, 64% (66/103) samples contained detectable levels of R. salmoninarum cells. Among the positive fish, the R. salmoninarum concentrations ranged from 25 cells/ml to 4.3 × 109 cells/ml. A soluble antigenic fraction of R. salmoninarum was detected in 39% of the fish (40/103) by the ELISA. The ELISA is considered one of the most sensitive detection methods for bacterial kidney disease in tissues, yet it did not detect R. salmoninarum antigen consistently at bacterial cell concentrations below about 1.3 × 104 cells/ml according to the MF-FAT counts. When total DNA was extracted and tested in a nested PCR designed to amplify a 320-base-pair region of the gene encoding a soluble 57-kD protein of R. salmoninarum, 100% of the 100 samples tested were positive. The results provided strong evidence that R. salmoninarum may be present in ovarian fluids thought to be free of the bacterium on the basis of standard diagnostic methods.
Papillomatous Digital Dermatitis (Footwarts) in California Dairy Cattle: Clinical and Gross Pathologic Findings
Authors: Read Deryck H. , Walker Richard L.
Published: May 2011

Clinical, gross pathologic, and therapeutic studies were performed on a contagious, painful, wartlike digital disease of unknown etiology in California dairy cattle. The disease was called papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD). Survey indicated that the disease spread geographically throughout southern California over the past few years. In 1991, 31% of herds had papillomatous digital dermatitis, whereas in 1994, 89% were affected. Increased incidence occurred during late spring and summer, 1–3 months after the rainy season. Within-herd morbidity ranged from 0.5% to 12% per month. Study of 93 cows in 10 drylot dairies revealed that 91% had characteristic circumscribed, erosive to papillomatous, intensely painful lesions often surrounded by a ridge of hyperkeratotic skin bearing hypertrophied hairs. Lesions were 2–6 cm across (88%), circular to oval (78%), and raised (59%) and had surfaces that were uniformly erosive and granular (31%), uniformly papillary (28%), or composites of both appearances (41%). Lesions were most frequently seen in lactating heifers (31%) and 3-year-old cows (43%). Clinical signs were characterized by lameness, with walking on toes and clubbing of hooves. Lesions exclusively involved the hind limbs in 82% of cows and the plantar/palmar regions in 84% of cows. Lesions had high (89%) prediliction for plantar/palmar skin bordering the interdigital space. Lesions exclusively involved either the medial or lateral digit in 10% and 28% of cows, respectively. In 50% of cows, both medial and lateral digits of individual limbs were involved; in most cows (31%), lesions apposed each other across the plantar interdigital space, whereas in others (19%), lesions confluently involved the entire plantar/palmar commissural skin folds. In another 12% of cows, lesions were axial. High proportions of lesions showed complete therapeutic responses to antibiotics: parenteral penicillin (9/9) and ceftiofur (41/44), and topical oxytetracycline (4/4). Recurrence or new lesion development occurred in 48% of cows reexamined 7–12 weeks after complete therapeutic response was observed. Overall, the findings indicated that PDD is a distinct disease entity of economic importance in which bacteria may play an important pathogenic role.
Serologic Response of Horses to the Structural Proteins of Equine Arteritis Virus
Authors: MacLachlan N. James , Balasuriya Udeni B. R. , Hedges Jodi F. , Schweidler Therese M. , McCollum William H. , Timoney Peter J. , Hullinger Pamela J. , Patton John F.
Published: May 2011

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is the causative agent of equine viral arteritis, an apparently emerging disease of equids. In this study, the antibody response of horses to the structural proteins of EAV was evaluated using gradient-purified EAV virions and baculovirus-expressed recombinant EAV structural proteins (GL, GS, M, N) as antigens in a Western immunoblotting assay. Thirty-three sera from horses that previously had been naturally or experimentally infected with EAV were evaluated, including samples from mares, geldings, and both persistently and nonpersistently infected stallions. Sera also were evaluated from 4 horses that had been vaccinated with the commercial modified live EAV vaccine. The data suggest that the serologic response of individual horses to EAV may vary with the infecting virus strain and duration of infection. The M protein was most consistently recognized by the various serum samples, whereas the response to the N and GL proteins was variable and the GS protein was bound by only 1 serum sample. The immunoblotting assay definitively established the protein specificity of the humoral response of horses to EAV; however, it clearly is less sensitive than the standard serum neutralization (SN) test—2 of the 37 sera that were serpositive by th SN test failed to react in the immunoblot assay with any EAV structural protein. Furthermore, the GL protein expresses the known neutralization determinants of EAV, yet only 22 of the 37 sera that had SN antibodies bound the GL protein in the immunoblotting assay. Information from this study will assist ongoing efforts to develop improved methods for the serologic diagnosis of EAV infection of horses.
Comparison of Disease in Calves Dosed Orally with Oak or Commercial Tannic Acid
Authors: Plumlee Konstanze H. , Johnson Bill , Galey Francis D.
Published: May 2011

Commercial tannic acid has been used as a substitute for leaves and acorns in studies of oak toxicosis in some species. The toxicity of a commercial tannic acid given orally to calves was determined, and the clinical signs, laboratory findings, and pyrogallol production were compared with those found in calves dosed orally with oak leaves. The oak-fed calves developed the clinical signs and lesions characteristic of renal failure. Proteinuria developed by 48 hours in 1 calf and by 72 hours in the other calf. Both calves developed hematuria on day 4 and glucosuria on day 5. The blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values increased markedly on day 6. Pyrogallol was detected in the serum only at 3 and 6 hours after the calves began ingesting the oak leaves. Pyrogallol was detected in urine from 1 calf until 60 hours and in the other calf until 48 hours after the beginning of oak intake. The 2 calves that were dosed with tannic acid at the same level as found in the leaves fed to the other calves did not develop clinical signs, abnormal laboratory findings, or pyrogallol production. Calves given high levels of tannic acid at doses of 4.4–5.5 g/kg developed methemoglobinemia rather than renal disease. Therefore, commercial tannic acid given orally cannot be used as a substitute for oak in studies of toxicosis in cattle.
Detection of False-Positive Sera in Contagious Agalactia with a Multiantigen ELISA and their Elimination with a Protein G Conjugate
Authors: Lambert Maurice , Calamel Michel , Dufour Philippe , Cabasse Evelyne , Vitu Christian , Pépin Michel
Published: May 2011

In serology, lack of specificity can generally be attributed to cross-reactions between different pathogens with antigens bearing similar epitopes. During seroepidemiologic surveys of contagious agalactia of sheep caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae infection, numerous sera were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A few sera reacted with various antigens coated on plates, including the well with no antigen. This reactivity was not due to cross-reactions as initially suspected, and these multipositive sera were designated false-positive sera. Elimination of this false positivity was not possible by using covalent ELISA plates or different rabbit anti-sheep IgG conjugates. Only conjugates using monoclonal antibodies or protein G were efficient in elimination of false positivities without reducing the true specific positive titers. No false-positive sera have been observed since the implementation of protein G conjugates in the serologic diagnosis of contagious agalactia by ELISA for the past 2 years.
Clostridium Difficile: A Survey of Fecal Carriage in Cats in a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Authors: Madewell Bruce R. , Bea Joel K. , Kraegel Susan A. , Winthrop Michelle , Tang Yajarayma J. , Silva Joseph
Published: May 2011

Fecal samples collected from 245 cats over a 6-month period were analyzed for the presence of Clostridium difficile. After culture on selective media, isolates were identified by a latex agglutination test, and the presence of toxin A and toxin B gene sequences was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 23 (9.4%) of the cats, and 34.8% of that group were colonized with toxigenic strains. All of the cats colonized with toxigenic C. difficile had ≥1 of the risk factors (antibiotic use, antineoplastic therapy, immunosuppressive virus infection) associated with C. difficile infection in humans. Clostridium difficile was not found in any of the cats from a clinically healthy outpatient group of cats examined from the same hospital nor in cats from a specific-pathogen-free research colony on the same campus tested during the same time period. The data obtained in this study confirm the presence of C. difficile in cats at a veterinary teaching hospital. DNA fingerprinting analysis of these isolates allowed separation of the strains into 5 groups. Type 4 strain found in 7 cats was also recovered from the floor drain in the same hospital, suggesting a possible source of infection. Whether the organism is of clinical significance in diarrheal diseases of cats remains to be determined.
Evaluation of C3H/HeJ Mice for Xenodiagnosis of Infection with Ehrlichia Chaffeensis
Authors: Lockhart J. Mitchell , Davidson William R.
Published: May 2011

Because mice are experimentally susceptible to infection with Ehrlichia species, C3H/HeJmice were evaluated as a potential xenodiagnostic model for detection of infection with and isolation of E. chaffeensis. Intraperitoneal inoculation of mice with E. chaffeensis-infected DH82 cell cultures produced seroconversion, with peak serum antibody titers of 1:256, at high dosages (>1.9 × 104 infected cells) but not at low dosages (1.9 or 1.9 × 102 infected cells). Ehrlichia chaffeensis was not reisolated from blood samples collected from inoculated mice on postinoculation day 21. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using primers specific for E. chaffeensis, was positive for only 2/70 (2.9%) tissue samples. A field evaluation in which C3H/HeJ mice were inoculated with blood and lymph node suspensions from 5 seropositive white-tailed deer, including 3 deer that were PCR positive for E. chaffeensis, failed to produce seroconversion in mice. The lack of seroconversion at low dosages, the failure to reisolate at any dosage, and the inability to confirm infection in PCR-positive field samples suggests C3H/HeJ mice are not a sensitive model for xenodiagnosis or detection of E. chaffeensis.
Quantitation of Sheep-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever Viral DNA by Competitive Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Hua Yuping , Li Hong , Crawford Timothy B.
Published: May 2011

A single-step, competitive polymerase chain reaction technique was developed to quantitate sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) viral DNA. The assay employed coamplification of a fixed quantity of target DNA with graded amounts of a competitor, generated by truncation of the target sequence lying between the 2 primer binding sites. The assay yielded a linear response ( r = 0.98) for DNA measurement within the range of 30–300,000 copies. Amplification efficiency analysis by coamplification of target and competitor in equal copy numbers for various numbers of cycles showed that the relative abundance of the coamplified products remained constant with increasing cycle numbers up to 40. Reproducibility was assessed by repetitively assaying a set of blind-coded samples from a variety of animals and tissues. Results indicated that the assay is reliable and reproducible for quantitation of SA-MCF viral DNA in samples from asymptomatically infected sheep and from animals with clinical SA-MCF.
Development of an Oligonucleotide-Specific Capture Plate Hybridization Assay for Detection of Haemophilus Parasuis
Authors: Calsamiglia Maria , Pijoan Carlos , Solano Gloria , Rapp-Gabrielson Vicki
Published: May 2011

An oligonucleotide-specific capture plate hybridization assay has been developed to rapidly, specifically, and sensitively detect Haemophilus parasuis from nasal swabs. Several in vitro studies have been performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the test, and in vivo studies have validated this technique in pigs. Results suggest that the assay detects <100 colony-forming units/ml in a pure culture and gives a positive result when H. parasuis is present in a ratio of 1:103–104 in a mixed culture, and the probe does not hybridize with other related species found in the upper respiratory tract. This assay is more sensitive than culture for detection of the microorganism from nasal swabs and lesions.
Complementary Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis Patterns and Primer Sets to Differentiate Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Strains
Authors: Charlton B. R. , Bickford A. A. , Walker R. L. , Yamamoto R.
Published: May 2011

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to differentiate 7 strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Six commercially available primers or primer combinations were screened for their ability to differentiate vaccine and type strains. Although major and minor bands were produced with each primer, many of the primers were unsuitable for strain differentiation. The use of primer 6 and combined primers 3 and 4 resulted in complementary RAPD banding patterns for each M. gallisepticum strain. Eleven different isolates representing 7 different strains were segregated into 7 different patterns, corresponding to the 7 strains.
Analysis of Ruminant Respiratory Syncytial Virus Isolates by RNAse Protection of the G Glycoprotein Transcripts
Authors: Alansari Huda , Duncan Robert B. , Baker John C. , Potgieter Leon N. D.
Published: May 2011

Two different respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) radiolabeled probes were used to characterize the genetic heterogeneity of 25 ruminant RSV isolates by the ribonuclease protection assay. A 32P-radiolabeled antisense RNA probe was transcribed from cloned ovine and bovine RSV G glycoprotein genes and then hybridized with total RNA isolated from infected cells with various ruminant RSV isolates. The results of this study, along with previously published nucleotide sequence data of the ovine RSV G glycoprotein gene, suggest the presence of at least 2 ruminant RSV subgroups. One subgroup is represented by RSV isolated from respiratory disease outbreaks from calves and goats, and the other is represented by RSV isolated from sheep.
Development and Evaluation of a Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay Using the 16S rRNA Gene for Detection of Eperythrozoon Suis Infection
Authors: Messick Joanne B. , Cooper Sandra K. , Huntley Melody
Published: May 2011

The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of Eperythrozoon suis was amplified using gene-specific primers developed from GenBank sequence accession U88565. The gene was subsequently cloned and sequenced. Based on these sequence data, 3 sets of E. suis-specific primers were designed. These primers selectively amplified 1394, 690, and 839 base-pair (bp) fragments of the 16S rRNA gene from DNA of E. suis extracted from the blood of an experimentally infected pig during a parasitemic episode. No polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were amplified from purified DNA of Haemobartonella felis, Mycoplasma genitalium, or Bartonella bacilliformis using 2 of these primer sets. When the primer set amplifying the 690-bp fragment was used, faint bands were observed with H. felis as the target DNA. No PCR products were amplified from DNA that had been extracted from the blood of a noninfected pig or using PCR reagents without target DNA. The detection limits for E. suis by competitive quantitative PCR were estimated to range from 57 and 800 organisms/assay. This is the first report of the utility of PCR-facilitated diagnosis and quantitation of E. suis based on the 16S rRNA gene. The PCR method developed will be useful in monitoring the progression and significance of E. suis in the disease process in the pig.
Development of an ELISA for Detection of Myxoma Virus-Specific Rabbit Antibodies: Test Evaluation for Diagnostic Applications on Vaccinated and Wild Rabbit Sera
Authors: Gelfi Jacqueline , Chantal Jean , Phong Tran Thanh , Py Robert , Boucraut-Baralon Corine
Published: May 2011

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and compared with 2 reference diagnostic tests (indirect immunofluorescence [IF] and complement fixation) to detect myxoma virus-specific antibodies in sera from 50 rabbits experimentally vaccinated with an attenuated strain of myxoma virus or with a Shope fibroma virus. The ELISA was highly specific (100% specificity) and sensitive (100%, 21 days after homologous vaccination). In a comparison of the ELISA with the IF test in 128 wild rabbits from France, discrepant results were obtained in only 11 (8.6%) animals, which were positive with the ELISA and negative with the IF test. The higher sensitivity and the good specificity of the ELISA was confirmed in a serologic survey of 118 rabbits from 2 Kerguelen (Indian Ocean) islands, where the prevalence of myxomatosis varied considerably. The ELISA is an alternative serologic test for diagnosis, vaccine evaluation, and seroepidemiologic surveys of myxomatosis.
Conjunctivitis Caused by a Swine Chlamydia Trachomatis-Like Organism in Gnotobiotic Pigs
Authors: Rogers Douglas G. , Andersen Arthur A.
Published: May 2011

The objective of this study was to determine whether a chlamydial strain recovered from growing and finishing swine with conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis could cause the same infections in gnotobiotic pigs. The strain shares biological characteristics with Chlamydia trachomatis. After propagation in Vero cells and preparation of the inoculum (107 inclusion-forming units/ml), chlamydial strain H7 was instilled into the ventral conjunctival sac (0.15 ml/sac) of 12 anesthetized 3-day-old gnotobiotic piglets. Four age-matched gnotobiotic piglets were anesthetized and sham infected with uninfected cell culture lysates. None of the principal piglets developed clinical symptoms of conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Principal piglets necropsied 7 days postinfection (DPI) had histologic lesions of mild or moderate conjunctivitis; immunohistochemical evaluation revealed chlamydial antigen in conjunctival epithelium. A majority of principal piglets necropsied at 14–28 DPI had histologic lesions of mild conjunctivitis, but chlamydial antigen was not detected by immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that chlamydial strain H7 can cause mild or occasionally moderate conjunctivitis in gnotobiotic pigs, but the conjunctival infection is asymptomatic.
Characterization of Antibody Response to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus ORF5 Product following Infection and Evaluation of its Diagnostic Use in Pigs
Authors: Kwang Jimmy , Yang Simon , Osorio Fernando A. , Christian Steve , Wheeler J. Galeota , Lager Kelly M. , Low Sharon , Chang Leo , Doster Alan R. , White Amy , Wu Ching Ching
Published: May 2011

The sensitivity and specificity of recombinant open reading frame 5 products used in the Western blotting assay for confirmation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) serologic status were evaluated. The recombinant antigen-based assays were specifically compared with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for PRRSV antibodies using 1) PRRSV antibody-negative reference sera ( n = 30), 2) naturally infected pig sera ( n = 40), 3) sequential sera obtained from 24 experimentally infected pigs, and 4) sera submitted to 3 state diagnostic laboratories ( n = 200). The recombinant antigen assay yielded an average increased sensitivity of 10% over the commercial PRRSV ELISA. The negative controls (group 1 sera) showed no difference between the 2 assays. This comparison confirmed that the recombinant antigen-specific assay was more sensitive than the commercial ELISA and is well suited for routine confirmation of the presence of PRRSV antibodies.
Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Isolates from Turkeys from the Central Valley of California
Authors: Charlton B. R. , Bickford A. A. , Chin R. P. , Walker R. L.
Published: May 2011

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to investigate the molecular epidemiology of 26 Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) isolates obtained from turkeys located in the central valley of California. The MG isolates were recovered from 5 different companies and 13 ranches. Each company had unique MG strains. No evidence of spread of MG between companies was detected. RAPD analysis of MG isolates within a ranch during an outbreak revealed only a single strain involved in each outbreak. RAPD analysis identified an isolate from 1 ranch with a banding pattern identical to that of the 6/85 vaccine strain, which had been used on that particular ranch. Similar RAPD banding patterns of isolates from different ranches within the same company suggested horizontal spread of MG between ranches. The use of 2 primer sets in RAPD analysis was critical to prevent misinterpretation of relationships between different isolates.
Monoclonal Antibody-Based Immunohistochemical Detection of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Antigen in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Intestinal Tissues
Authors: Kim Okjin , Chae Chanhee , Kweon Chang-Hee
Published: May 2011

An immunohistochemistry technique was developed for the diagnosis of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). The technique was tested on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues from piglets naturally infected with PEDV. Five different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were tested in this study. PEDV antigen was consistently detected in the PLP (4% paraformaldehyde, 100 mM L-lysine dihydrochloride, 10 mM sodium m-periodate in phosphate-buffered saline)-fixed PEDV-infected Vero cells or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues from piglets naturally infected with PEDV. The C9-2-2 MAb gave the strongest reactivity and least background staining, detecting 10 of 10 infected pigs. The positive reaction was cytoplasmic. Positive enterocytes were distributed over the tip and along the sides of atrophied or fused villi in the jejunum and ileum. Positive-staining cells were not detected in the crypts. No staining was observed in cecum and colon. No positive cells were observed when the C9-2-2 MAb was reacted with the tissue sections from noninfected piglets or from transmissible gastroenteritus virus (TGEV)- and rotavirus-infected piglets. The selected anti-PEDV MAbs tested on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections are useful for diagnosis when virus isolation is not available. This method would be of particular value in countries where both PEDV and TGEV are epizootic and would aid in differentiating between PEDV and TGEV infection.
Development of a ssRNA Internal Control Reagent for an Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Reverse Transcription/Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Diagnostic Assay
Authors: Smiley Jeffrey R. , Sommer Susan E. , Jackwood Daral J.
Published: May 2011

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), family Birnaviradae, is the etiologic agent of a commercially important, globally distributed, contagious, immunosuppressive disease of young chickens. A restriction enzyme-compatible ssRNA internal control was developed for an IBDV reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RT/PCR-RFLP) diagnostic assay. An 841-bp bacteriophagelambda DNA fragment was directionally ligated to 3' and 5' oligonucleotide linkers containing the IBDV RT/ PCR target primer sequences. A pGEM-3Zf (+) transcription vector containing the internal control construct was used in an in vitro transcription reaction to produce ssRNA. After RT and PCR amplification, the transcripts produced an 882–bp cDNA product, larger than, co-amplifiable with, and free of the restriction sites used to prepare RFLP patterns of the 743-bp IBDV cDNA target product. The limit of detection of the transcripts in the RT/PCR test is 3.2 femtograms. With the internal control, a test inhibition rate of 7.7% (20/261) was determined for the IBDV RT/PCR assay. By identifying inhibited tests, the assay was improved through a reduction in the number of false-negative results.
Myocarditis and Abortion Associated with Intrauterine Infection of Sows with Porcine Circovirus 2
Authors: West Keith H. , Bystrom Janet M. , Wojnarowicz Chris , Shantz Neil , Jacobson Mark , Allan Gordon M. , Haines Deborah M. , Clark Edward G. , Krakowka Steven , McNeilly Francis , Konoby Carrie , Martin Karen , Ellis John A.
Published: May 2011

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is a recently identified agent that has been associated with post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in swine populations. In this report, the potential spectrum of disease associated with PCV2 is expanded by evidence of vertical transmission and associated reproductive failure. PCV2 was isolated from a litter of aborted piglets from a farm experiencing late-term abortions and stillbirths. Severe, diffuse myocarditis was present in 1 piglet associated with extensive immunohistochemical staining for PCV2 antigen. Variable amounts of PCV2 antigen were also present in liver, lung, and kidney of multiple fetuses. The presence of other agents that have been associated with fetal lesions and abortion in swine, including porcine parvovirus, porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, and enterovirus, could not be established.
Perceptions and Credibility: Understanding the Nuances of Eyewitness Testimony
Authors: O'Neill Shermer Lauren , Rose Karen C. , Hoffman Ashley
Published: May 2011

Of the first 225 exonerations of wrongfully convicted individuals in the United States by the Innocence Project, 77% were based on mistaken eyewitness identifications. Given the mounting evidence on reliability issues surrounding eyewitness testimony, coupled with the fact that forensic evidence is neither infallible nor always available, it becomes important to better understand how jurors use these different types of evidence in their decision making. The current research seeks to fill a void in the literature by evaluating the influence of eyewitness testimony on case outcomes while accounting for other types of evidence (e.g., DNA). Although the results underscore the value of forensic DNA evidence, they also highlight the importance of eyewitness testimony in juror decision making. In fact, both pretrial perceptions of the reliability of eyewitness evidence and the credibility of an eyewitness during trial significantly impact the desired verdict for jurors above and beyond other types of evidence. Implications for case processing and avenues for future research are discussed.
Emerging Multinationals Venturing Into Developed Economies: Implications for Learning, Unlearning, and Entrepreneurial Capability
Authors: Zahra Shaker A. , Abdelgawad Sondos G. , Tsang Eric W. K.
Published: May 2011

The entry of young and aggressive multinational corporations from emerging economies into developed countries’ markets is an important trend that promises to shape the global competitive landscape. Brazilian, Chinese, and Indian multinationals typify this growing trend. The individual and collective experiences of these multinationals provide an interesting context in which organizational unlearning becomes a means for inducing multifaceted learning that enables these companies to develop and exploit their entrepreneurial capabilities. In this article, the authors discuss the challenges associated with unlearning and how it sets the stage for learning and exercise of entrepreneurial capability for competitive advantage. The authors also identify important research questions that deserve exploration.
In Praise of Organizational Forgetting
Authors: Easterby-Smith Mark , Lyles Marjorie A.
Published: May 2011

This article reviews and evaluates the concept of organizational forgetting. Drawing on established literature in the field of organizational learning, the authors analyze forgetting from three perspectives—cognitive, behavioral, and social. They argue a counterintuitive line that forgetting, in the right circumstances, can be beneficial for companies and demonstrate how the advantages and disadvantages vary according to the perspective adopted. The authors conclude with some practical suggestions about how companies can increase their ability to forget and also offer suggestions about the academic research agenda.
Vocational Psychology and Assessment With Immigrants in the United States: Future Directions for Training, Research, and Practice
Authors: Flores Lisa Y. , Hsieh Catherine , Hung Chiao
Published: May 2011

Immigrants are vital members of U.S. society and are essential contributors to the U.S. labor force. Today, immigrants comprise a significant portion of the U.S. population, however, career assessment research has largely ignored their work experiences, and career counselors are not trained on the intricacies on the delivery of career counseling and assessment services with this population. In this article, the authors provide an overview of current immigration patterns in the United States. In addition, the authors evaluate the current state of vocational psychology research with U.S. immigrants and provide suggestions for future vocational research and practice with immigrants and professional training for career counselors in this area.
Regional Collectivism in Appalachia and Academic Attitudes
Authors: Gore Jonathan S. , Wilburn Kristina R. , Treadway Jodi , Plaut Victoria
Published: May 2011

Prior research on Appalachian students has noted key differences in academic performance compared to the general population, but few researchers have examined the influence of cultural values on academic attitudes. The current study tested the hypothesis that the association between collectivism and academic attitudes (i.e., academic efficacy, school connectedness, and fear of academic success) would be stronger among Appalachian students than among non-Appalachian students. Participants were 605 university students from Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions of Kentucky and Georgia who completed survey assessments of the variables. A series of regression analyses confirmed the hypotheses. These results highlight the importance of applying cross-cultural theories to explain regional differences within countries.
Nonlinear morphoelastic plates II: Exodus to buckled states
Authors: McMahon Joseph , Goriely Alain , Tabor Michael
Published: May 2011

Morphoelasticity is the theory of growing elastic materials. The theory is based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient and provides a formulation of the deformation and stresses induced by growth. Following a companion paper, a general theory of growing non-linear elastic Kirchhoff plate is described. First, a complete geometric description of incompatibility with simple examples is given. Second, the stability of growing Kirchhoff plates is analyzed.
Predictors of Sustainability of Social Programs
Authors: Savaya Riki , Spiro Shimon E.
Published: May 2011

This article presents the findings of a large scale study that tested a comprehensive model of predictors of three manifestations of sustainability: continuation, institutionalization, and duration. Based on the literature the predictors were arrayed in four groups: variables pertaining to the project, the auspice organization, the community, and the main funder. The total sample consisted of 197 projects. Informants were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire, pertaining to the predictor and outcome variables. The findings show both a different model of predictors for each manifestation of sustainability and commonalities among them. Both financial and human factors were involved in all the manifestations of sustainability. Of the financial factors, diversity of funding sources was the most prominent. Of the human factors, the findings highlight the strong role played by the auspice organization’s management and by the main initial funder.
Friction and wear in thrust ball bearings lubricated with biodegradable greases
Authors: Cousseau T , Graça B , Campos A , Seabra J
Published: May 2011

Thrust ball bearings lubricated with several different types of grease, including three biodegradable low-toxicity greases, were tested in a modified four-ball machine in order to evaluate the bearing friction torque. At the end of each test, grease samples were obtained and analysed through ferrography, allowing the quantification and evaluation of the bearing wear. In order to compare the grease performance in terms of friction and wear, a correlation between the grease characteristics (base oil, bleed oil, thickener structure, and rheological parameters) and the experimental results was established.
America’s military interventionism: A social evolutionary interpretation
Authors: Tang Shiping , Long S.R. Joey
Published: May 2011

By synthesizing material forces with ideational forces more organically via a social evolutionary approach, we advance a deeper understanding about post-World War II American military interventionism. We argue that post-World War II American military interventionism — that is, the American elites’ and public’s support for America’s military intervention abroad — cannot be understood with ideational or psychological forces alone. Rather, two crucial material variables, namely, geography and aggregate power amplified by superior technological prowess, are indispensable for understanding the propensity for the United States to intervene militarily abroad. These two factors have powerfully shielded the American elites and public from the horrendous devastation of war. As a result, compared to their counterparts in other major states, American citizens and elites have tended to be less repelled by the prospect of war. The outcome is that since World War II the United States has been far more active in military intervention overseas than other major states.
The overall theme park experience: A visitor satisfaction tracking study
Authors: Geissler Gary L. , Rucks Conway T.
Published: May 2011

The theme park industry has experienced steady growth for many years, and it has developed into a global phenomenon. Monitoring visitor satisfaction is critical to help ensure a satisfying overall experience, customer value, and repeat visits. Here, we examine ten years of customer satisfaction tracking data collected at a major US theme park. The study focuses on identifying significant factors influencing customer evaluation of and satisfaction with the overall theme park experience. The key findings reveal that visitors evaluate the theme park primarily on overall park experience and value, park food quality, value, and variety, and park cleanliness and atmosphere. Satisfaction with the total cost of the park visit is primarily predicted by perceptions of the admission price/value, general enjoyment, and customer expectations of the experience. Additional findings concerning the important role of expectations and prior park experiences in visitor satisfaction are detailed.
A management perspective on the impact of new attractions
Authors: Cornelis Pieter C.M.
Published: May 2011

Whereas investments in new attractions continue to rise within the theme park industry, knowledge regarding the effects of new attractions on theme park performance and attendance remains scarce. In this article results from a research amongst general managers of theme parks in Europe will be presented. Different methods were used to investigate what the impact of adding a new attraction on the number of visitors to a theme park would be, according to the general management. The managers first responded to a written survey and then answered some detailed, elaborative questions by email or telephone. The majority of managers also participated in an in-depth interview. Results show that investing in new attractions is considered to be the most important (controllable) factor on the number of visitors in both the short and long run. Most theme parks in Europe invest in major new attractions once every three years, combining it with a minor investment every year. Large differences in effects were found between parks. Parks that invest once every three years showed the highest effect on number of visitors for their latest new attraction.
The role of temperament in somatic complaints among young female adults
Authors: Gupta Deepti , Pérez-Edgar Koraly
Published: May 2011

We examined a temperament-driven construct in relation to broad patterns of somatic behavior among young females ( N = 215, 18-23 years). A multidimensional construct, socio-affective vigilance (SAV), encompassing affective, behavioral, and cognitive traits, along with sensitivity to sensory stimuli (low threshold), were used as predictors. SAV positively predicted somatic behavior and a low sensory threshold was associated with somatic complaints over and above SAV effects. A multidimensional construct, coupled with a low threshold, could underlie a vulnerability to somatization. These findings create a more comprehensive view of the temperament-somatization link by predicting a pattern of somatic behavior rather than individual symptom complaints.
Trust and reciprocity: A theoretical distinction of the sources of social capital
Authors: Torche Florencia , Valenzuela Eduardo
Published: May 2011

The social capital literature has focused on the functional and structural properties of social relations, partially neglecting the way in which they are experienced by individuals. Drawing on anthropological and social theory, this article distinguishes two ideal-typical forms of social capital — reciprocity and trust — based on the meaning of the social relations that embed them. Reciprocity is the type of social capital embedded within personal relations, triply defined in the factual, social and temporal dimensions by co-presence, reciprocity and memory, respectively. Trust is the type of social capital embedded within relations with strangers, defined by the condition of impersonality or anonymity. These two types of social capital cannot be reduced to extremes in a continuum, nor are they fungible, and while reciprocity is by definition particularistic (this is the source of its strength as a linking mechanism), trust has a universalistic potential. Analytical and empirical implications of this distinction are outlined.
Some remarks on the sociology of translation: A reflection on the global production and circulation of sociological works
Authors: Bielsa Esperanza
Published: May 2011

This article explores the emerging field of the sociology of translation and, at the same time, outlines the relevance of translation for sociology with respect to the global production and circulation of sociological works. Drawing on already existing accounts developed in interdisciplinary translation studies, it is argued that an awareness of the complex nature of translation is fundamental for a self-understanding of the sociological endeavour. The article is divided into three main parts which deal, first, with the role of translation in the international circulation of social theory and its importance for an intellectual history of the discipline; second, its intervention in sociological research and the methodological implications thereof, and third, with a reflexive approach to translation in the sociological field.
Improving thermal insulation of timber frame walls by retrofitting with vacuum insulation panels – experimental and theoretical investigations
Authors: Sveipe Erland , Jelle Bjørn Petter , Wegger Erlend , Uvsløkk Sivert , Grynning Steinar , Thue Jan Vincent , Time Berit , Gustavsen Arild
Published: May 2011

Many of the Norwegian buildings from the 1960s–1980s with timber frame walls are ready for retrofitting. Retrofitting of these buildings with vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) may be performed without significant changes to the buildings, e.g., extension of the roof protruding and fitting of windows. Effectively, U-values low enough to fulfill passive house or zero energy requirements may be achieved; thus, contributing to a reduction of the energy use and CO2 emissions within the building sector. Retrofitting with VIPs on the exterior side is normally considered as a better solution; however, it may cause condensation in the wall. To investigate this and the interior option, four different wall fields were tested. One of them was a reference wall field built according to Norwegian building regulations from the 1970s, and three other fields represent different ways of increasing the thermal insulation level. In addition to the experiments, numerical simulations were performed where temperature, relative humidity, and surface wetness were measured. In total, the results from the experiments, simulations, and condensation controls conclude that timber frame buildings insulated with 100 mm mineral wool, might be retrofitted at the outside by adding 30 mm VIPs. However, this method for retrofitting provides limits to outdoor temperature, indoor moisture excess, and indoor temperature.
Knowledge transfer and the integration of research, policy and practice for patient benefit
Authors: Bellman Loretta , Webster Jonathan , Jeanes Annette
Published: May 2011

Multiple routes are proposed within the nursing and healthcare literature for implementing traditional and reflexive research evidence into practice. Knowledge transfer is a relatively new field of inquiry, which, as both a process and a strategy, can lead to the utilisation of research findings and improved outcomes for patients. Nurse leaders and the public have recognised the need to ensure that evidence-based practice is introduced expeditiously. Nurses working at an advanced level of practice, such as consultant nurses, use all forms of knowledge in sophisticated ways to lead the integration of research findings into diverse practice settings. Within healthcare organisations evidence-based practice is far more likely to occur when it is linked to implementing healthcare policy in practice. The current international, collaborative knowledge transfer research agenda includes the need to learn if knowledge transfer programmes, structures, frameworks and theories are working, and if not, why not. The knowledge transfer process is illustrated by consultant nurses using the knowledge-to-action framework to underpin two recent UK policy examples: safeguarding vulnerable adults and the prevention of Clostridium difficile. For the future, clinical academic partnerships are required to foster a culture of evidence-based practice through practical engagement, and the sharing of nursing knowledge and expertise in a systematic way, both to improve patient care and address the current research—practice gap.
The impact of nursing innovations in the context of governance and incentives
Authors: Ross Fiona , Redfern Sally , Harris Ruth , Christian Sara
Published: May 2011

This discursive paper is a structured analysis of four completed national and regional studies carried out in the UK. It sets out retrospectively to explore the impact of key contextual, professional and personal features and mechanisms on innovation and outcomes in nursing and the extent to which these are common or diverge across the studies (cases).

As successive governments across the world turn their attention to developing nursing as a means of increasing productivity and effectiveness in health care, there is a need for evidence to inform workforce policy and planning about the circumstances that enable positive levers and mechanisms, which influence outcomes to operate. This analysis takes advantage of recent conceptual work on organisational governance and incentives by asking new questions of established data to illuminate our understanding of the pathway to innovation in nursing.

Data from the four evaluations (cases) were aggregated and explored thematically within Davies et al.’s framework (Studying health care organisations — links between governance, incentives and outcomes: a review of the literature. Report for the National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation R&D (NCCSDO). http://www.sdo.nihr.ac.uk/files/project/66-final-report.pdf, 2005) of governance, incentives and outcomes. The themes were grouped into three categories: contextual, professional and personal, and interrogated by inter-researcher scrutiny.

Taking account of the limitations of comparing studies carried out for different purposes and in different policy circumstances, there are compelling messages emerging about the organisational support, professional leadership and factors that motivate change and innovation in nursing. The analysis suggests that separating governance from incentives oversimplifies what is a complex interplay between organisational governance and the professional and personal enabling factors supporting innovation. The nature of these relationships deserves further study.