bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of RP‐HPLC Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Ramipril, Aspirin and Atorvastatin in Pharmaceutical Preparations
Authors: Sharma Rajesh , Khanna Sunil , Mishra Ganesh P.
Published: April 2012

A simple, sensitive, accurate and rapid reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method is developed for the simultaneous estimation of ramipril, aspirin and atorvastatin in pharmaceutical preparations. Chromatography was performed on a 25cm×4.6 mm i.d, 5µm particle, C18 column with Mixture of (A) acetonitrile methanol (65:35) and (B) 10 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate (NaH2PO4.H2O) buffer and mixture of A:B (60:40 v/v) adjusted to pH 3.0 with o‐phosphoric acid (5%v/v) was used as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min-1. UV detection was performed at 230 nm. Total run time was less then 12 min; retention time for Ramipril, aspirin and Atorvastatin were 3.620, 4.920 min and 11.710 min respectively. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, specificity and sensitivity in accordance with ICH guidelines. Validation revealed that the method is specific, rapid, accurate, precise, reliable, and reproducible. Calibration plots were linear over the concentration ranges 05‐50 µg mL-1 for Ramipril, 05‐100 µgmL-1 for aspirin and 02‐20 µg mL-1 for atorvastatin. Limits of detection were 0.014, 0.10 and 0.0095 ng mL-1 limits of quantification were 0.043, 0.329 and 0.029 ng mL-1 for ramipril aspirin and atorvastatin respectively. The high recovery and low coefficients of variation confirm the suitability of the method for simultaneous analysis of the all three drugs in the dosage forms. The validated method was successfully used for quantitative analysis of marketed pharmaceutical preparations.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Two New Dawson Sandwich Complexes: Na18[(NaOH)2(VO)2(P2W15O56)2].40H2O and Na18[(NaOH)2(VO)2(As2W15O56)2].27H2O
Authors: Hakimi Mohammad , Mohammadi Mohammad Reza , Behboupour Salma
Published: April 2012

Reaction of the three vacant complex of a‐[P2W15O56]12- and a‐[As2W15O56]12- with divalent cation of VO2+ in 1:1 mole ratio yields a previously unknown sandwich‐type Wells‐Dawson complex; Na18[(NaOH)2(VO)2(P2W15O56)2].40H2O (represented as Na2(VO)2P4W30) and Na18[(NaOH)2(VO)2(As2W15O56)2].27H2O (represented as Na2(VO)2As4W30). These complexes contain anions in which two divalent VO2+ cations with two Na+ ions are symmetrically sandwiched between two α‐[P2W15O56]12‐ or α‐[As2W15O56]12- groups leading to a “lacunary” sandwich complex. The anion complexes are isolated as sodium salts and characterized by elemental analysis, TGA, IR, 31P NMR and UV‐Vis spectroscopy.
Inhibiting Properties of Morpholine as Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in 2N Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid Medium
Authors: Jayanthi K. , Sivaraju M. , Kannan K.
Published: April 2012

The inhibition effect of morpholine on the corrosion of mild steel in 2N sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid has been studied by mass loss and polarization techniques between 302K and 333K. The inhibition efficiency increased with increase in concentration. The corrosion rate increased with increase in temperature and decreased with increase in concentration of inhibitor compared to blank. The adsorption of inhibitor on the mild steel surface has been found to obey Temkin′s adsorption isotherm. Potentiostatic polarization results reveal that morpholine act as mixed type inhibitor. The values of activation energy (Ea), free energy of adsorption (∆Gads), enthalpy of adsorption (∆H), and entropy of adsorption (∆S) were also calculated.
The Association between Pain-Related Variables, Emotional Factors, and Attentional Functioning following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Beaupré Michelle , De Guise Élaine , McKerral Michelle
Published: April 2012

This study examined how MTBI concomitants such as pain variables, depression, and anxiety were related to attentional functioning at different stages of recovery. Participants having sustained a MTBI who were in the earlier phase of recovery showed, compared to controls, slower reaction times and larger intra-individual variability on a Computerized Pictorial Stroop Task (CPST). They also reported more post-concussion symptoms, pain intensity and disability, whereas MTBI participants who were in the later phase of recovery presented a higher rate of post-concussive symptoms and somewhat higher pain intensity/disability. MTBI participants’ scores on the cognitive items of the post-concussion symptoms scale were positively correlated with reaction times on the CPST, while pain intensity/disability levels were negatively correlated with standard attention measures. Results indicate that obtaining response times and intra-individual variability measures using tests such as the CPST represents an effective means for measuring recovery of attentional function, and that pain intensity/disability should be systematically assessed after a MTBI.
Dorsal Column Nuclei Projection to the Cerebellar Caudal Vermis in the Rabbit Revealed by the Fluorescent Double-Labeling Method
Authors: Zguczyński Leszek , Bukowska Dorota , Mierzejewska-Krzyżowska Barbara
Published: April 2012

The organization of the projection from the dorsal column nuclei (DCN) to the lobules of the cerebellar caudal vermis was studied in the rabbit. Following unilateral injections of the retrograde fluorescent tracers fast blue (FB) and diamidino yellow (DY) into the pyramis (Pr) and uvula (Uv), respectively, a great number of single FB- (40%) and DY-labeled (60%) neurons were observed in the ipsilateral (79%) and contralateral (21%) DCN subdivisions. These neurons, as parents for the DCN-Pr and DCN-Uv projections, were numerous in the lateral cuneate nucleus (CuL; 84 and 74%, respectively) and in the complex of the gracile (Gr) and medial cuneate nuclei (CuM; Gr+CuM; 14 and 25%, respectively). A small percentage of the Pr projecting neurons was found in the CuM and Gr nuclei (2% in total). As regards the Uv, a rare and only ipsilateral projection arose from the CuM (1%), and no connection originated from the Gr. The distribution pattern of labeled neurons within individual subnuclei indicates that there are both separate regions and, to a great extent, common regions of the DCN-Pr and DCN-Uv projections. In these common regions, a small population of double FB+DY-labeled neurons (1.2%) was identified. Such neurons, present exclusively in the ipsilateral CuL and Gr+CuM, were the source of projection by way of axonal collaterals to the Pr and Uv simultaneously. It is suggested that the described connections may play a role in coordination of the axial and proximal forelimb muscles.
The Effects of Mycotoxins and Selenium Deficiency on Tissue-Engineered Cartilage
Authors: Lu Minling , Cao Junling , Liu Fuqiang , Li Siyuan , Chen Jinghong , Fu Qiang , Zhang Zengtie , Liu Jiayuan , Luo Mingxiu , Wang Jiali , Li Jin , Caterson Bruce
Published: April 2012

Objective: To investigate the effects of 3 mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and T-2 toxin, in the presence and absence of selenium (Se) on the metabolism of tissue-engineered cartilage to mimic conditions found in Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) environments. Materials and Methods: Chondrocytes were seeded onto bone matrix gelatin (BMG) to construct engineered cartilage. The 3 toxins were added to the culture media for 3 weeks followed by immunhistochemical analyses of collagens type II and X, aggrecan, matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 (MMP-1 and MMP-3), MMP inhibitors 1 and 3 (TIMP-1 and TIMP-3) and α2 macroglobulin (α2M). Results: Type II collagen was decreased while type X collagen was increased in response to DON, NIV and T-2 toxin. Aggrecan was reduced by all 3 mycotoxins. Compared with the control, the 3 toxins decreased the expression of α2M, TIMP-1 and TIMP-3, and increased the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3. Se could partially inhibit the effects of DON, NIV and T-2 toxins. Conclusion: Under the low Se condition, the 3 mycotoxins produced procatabolic changes in cartilage resulting in the loss of aggrecan and type II collagen and promoted a hypertrophic phenotype of chondrocytes characterized by increasing type-X-collagen expression, enhancing the expression of MMPs, while weakening the TIMPs. Se could partially block the effects mentioned above. These results support the hypothesis that the combination of mycotoxin stress and Se deficiency would be the causative factors for KBD.
Peripheral Vascular Disease in
Circulation
and the
Circulation
Subspecialty Journals
Authors:   The Editors
Published: April 2012

The following articles are being highlighted as part of
Circulation's
Topic Review series. This series will summarize the most important manuscripts, as selected by the editors, published in
Circulation
and the
Circulation
subspecialty journals. The studies included in this article represent the articles related to peripheral vascular disease that were published in
Circulation
and the
Circulation
subspecialty journals in 2010 and 2011.
Inducing Negative Affect Increases the Reward Value of Appetizing Foods in Dieters
Authors: Wagner Dylan D. , Boswell Rebecca G. , Kelley William M. , Heatherton Todd F.
Published: April 2012

Experiencing negative affect frequently precedes lapses in self-control for dieters, smokers, and drug addicts. Laboratory research has similarly shown that inducing negative emotional distress increases the consumption of food or drugs. One hypothesis for this finding is that emotional distress sensitizes the brain's reward system to appetitive stimuli. Using functional neuroimaging, we demonstrate that inducing negative affect in chronic dieters increases activity in brain regions representing the reward value of appetitive stimuli when viewing appetizing food cues. Thirty female chronic dieters were randomly assigned to receive either a negative (n = 15) or neutral mood induction (n = 15) immediately followed by exposure to images of appetizing foods and natural scenes during fMRI. Compared with chronic dieters in a neutral mood, those receiving a negative mood induction showed increased activity in the OFC to appetizing food images. In addition, activity to food images in the OFC and ventral striatum was correlated with individual differences in the degree to which the negative mood induction decreased participants' self-esteem. These findings suggest that distress sensitizes the brain's reward system to appetitive cues, thereby offering a mechanism for the oft-observed relationship between negative affect and disinhibited eating.
Distribution, frequency and occurrence of cereal nematodes on the Central Anatolian Plateau in Turkey and their relationship with soil physicochemical properties
Authors: Yavuzaslanoglu Elif , Elekcioglu Halil I. , Nicol Julie M. , Yorgancilar Ozcan , Hodson David , Yildirim A. Faik , Yorgancilar Aysel , Bolat Necmettin
Published: April 2012

The distribution of important plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes in the cereal production areas of the Central Anatolian Plateau (CAP) of Turkey was investigated with systematic surveys. Two important plant-parasitic nematode groups were found widely distributed; cereal-cyst nematodes (78.3%) and root-lesion nematodes (42.6%). Cereal cyst nematodes (CCN) were identified as Heterodera filipjevi in 18 provinces. Heterodera latipons was found in only one province. Pratylenchus thornei and P. neglectus were the most widely distributed species of root-lesion nematodes. Other frequently recorded plant-parasitic nematodes belonged to the genera Geocenamus (52.4%), Pratylenchoides (35.6%), Helicotylenchus (29.7%) and Paratylenchus (19.2%). Konya on the southern CAP had a significantly high incidence of P. neglectus as well as free-living nematodes. The incidence of CCN was greatest in areas of sandy soils on the CAP, with densities of up to 95 cysts (100 g soil)−1. Population densities of Geocenamus, Pratylenchus and Pratylenchoides were high in some locations. Soil physicochemical properties were investigated for their relationship to nematode distribution. There was a slight positive correlation of P. thornei and clay content; conversely, there was a significant negative correlation of P. neglectus with clay and a positive correlation with sand. Electrical conductivity (EC) was positively correlated with P. neglectus. Nematodes in the genera Helicotylenchus, Paratylenchus, Trophurus and Tylenchorhynchus were only recorded at low population densities in the sampled area. By contrast, nematodes in the genera Aphelenchus, Aphelenchoides, Ditylenchus, Dorylaimus, Tylenchus and bacterivorous genera had relatively high populations. Total free-living nematodes were positively correlated with EC and zinc (Zn) concentration. The Zn content of soil was generally at a level deficient for plant growth.
National States and Global Markets: Is There a Prima Facie Case for Neoliberal Policies in the Developing World?
Authors: Crenshaw Edward M. , Anthony Robert M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract

One disagreement that divides students of globalization and national development is the influence of international capitalism on economic growth and human welfare in developing countries. Another is the role of national states in harnessing global markets to serve broad-based human welfare. Those in the “neoliberal” camp view international capitalism as an unalloyed benefit that spurs economic growth, but consider strong, interventionist states counterproductive and repressive. Critics of globalization view international markets with skepticism, but champion the need for strong redistributionist governments in spreading both wealth and welfare. Using a maximal sample of LDCs (N=131) over the longest time period possible (1960–2007), we employ pooled time-series analysis with country fixed effects to determine whether a prima facie case can be made for either perspective. Regressing both economic growth and changes in infant mortality, our results broadly justify a “neoliberal” perspective in the contemporary development of LDCs, but some forms of government spending also contribute to prosperity and human welfare (i.e., education and the military), which tempers our conclusions.
Narrating Neoliberal Transitions: Rhetoric of the State in South Africa and Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Ming-Chang
Published: April 2012

Abstract

This paper investigates the rhetoric of the state in South Africa and Taiwan for installing neoliberal regimes. The ANC promotes a theory explaining why “tightening the belt” in the spirit of fiscal austerity is necessary for the post-apartheid economy. In Taiwan, the KMT state advances an argument that mobile capital free of border constraints promises favorable growth. The cognitive roadmaps the two states have crafted to influence people’s conceptions of a “general interest” play a critical role in obtaining wider approval for the deepening of market institutions. By using a narrative method to anatomize the “economic stories” of these two middle-income states, our study contributes to seeing through the details of ideal structures and exposing their potential weaknesses in inducing a neoliberal order.
Marine Genetic Resources in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction: Access and Benefit-Sharing
Authors: Drankier Petra , Oude Elferink Alex G. , Visser Bert , Takács Tamara
Published: April 2012

Abstract

This report examines whether it is possible for the research and use of marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) to follow an approach based on the system that is being used with plant genetic resources in areas within national jurisdiction, as developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Part IV of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture contains the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing. In addition, the report considers the implications of relevant provisions as contained in the Law of the Sea Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Antarctic Treaty System, as well as instruments on intellectual property rights. The report concludes with an assessment of the options within existing legal frameworks for accommodating an access and benefit-sharing system for marine genetic resources originating from ABNJ, and provides suggestions to move the international debate forward.
Anthropology, Diasporas, and Mission
Authors: Ybarrola Steven
Published: April 2012

Abstract

In recent years the field of diaspora missiology has been developing within mission studies, receiving important recognition at the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in 2010. This is an interdisciplinary field of study, bringing together the trialogue of theology, anthropology, and mission. This article explores how the longstanding interest within the discipline of anthropology in the study of migration has evolved since the 1990s into the study of diasporas and transnationalism. The author then presents ways in which this focus in anthropology can assist in the research and study of diaspora missiology. He concludes by discussing ways in which the study of diasporas and Christianity can bring together both anthropologists and missiologists in a cooperative effort to research the sociocultural dynamics at work in understanding this phenomenon, thereby lessening the traditional animosity between these two disciplines.
Influence of the Subcloud Layer on the Development of a Deep Convective Ensemble
Authors: Böing Steven J. , Jonker Harm J. J. , Siebesma A. Pier , Grabowski Wojciech W.
Published: April 2012

The rapid transition from shallow to deep convection is investigated using large-eddy simulations. The role of cold pools, which occur due to the evaporation of rainfall, is explored using a series of experiments in which their formation is suppressed. A positive feedback occurs: the presence of cold pools promotes deeper, wider, and more buoyant clouds with higher precipitation rates, which in turn lead to stronger cold pools. To assess the influence of the subcloud layer on the development of deep convection, the coupling between the cloud layer and the subcloud layer is explored using Lagrangian particle trajectories. As shown in previous studies, particles that enter clouds have properties that deviate significantly from the mean state. However, the differences between particles that enter shallow and deep clouds are remarkably small in the subcloud layer, and become larger in the cloud layer, indicating different entrainment rates. The particles that enter the deepest clouds also correspond to the widest cloud bases, which points to the importance of convective organization within the subcloud layer.
Convective Modes for Significant Severe Thunderstorms in the Contiguous United States. Part II: Supercell and QLCS Tornado Environments
Authors: Thompson Richard L. , Smith Bryan T. , Grams Jeremy S. , Dean Andrew R. , Broyles Chris
Published: April 2012

A sample of 22 901 tornado and significant severe thunderstorm events, filtered on an hourly 40-km grid, was collected for the period 2003–11 across the contiguous United States (CONUS). Convective mode was assigned to each case via manual examination of full volumetric radar data (Part I of this study), and environmental information accompanied each grid-hour event from the hourly objective analyses calculated and archived at the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Sounding-derived parameters related to supercells and tornadoes formed the basis of this investigation owing to the dominance of right-moving supercells in tornado production and the availability of supercell-related convective parameters in the SPC environmental archive. The tornado and significant severe thunderstorm events were stratified by convective mode and season. Measures of buoyancy discriminated most strongly between supercell and quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) tornado events during the winter, while bulk wind differences and storm-relative helicity were similar for both supercell and QLCS tornado environments within in each season. The larger values of the effective-layer supercell composite parameter (SCP) and the effective-layer significant tornado parameter (STP) favored right-moving supercells that produced significant tornadoes, as opposed to weak tornadoes or supercells that produced only significant hail or damaging winds. Additionally, mesocyclone strength tended to increase with increasing SCP for supercells, and STP tended to increase as tornado damage class ratings increased. The findings underscore the importance of convective mode (discrete or cluster supercells), mesocyclone strength, and near-storm environment (as represented by large values of STP) in consistent, real-time identification of intense tornadoes.
Out of the box: The perils of professionalism in the digital age
Authors: James Roger
Published: April 2012

In the first product announcement since the death of Steve Jobs, Apple has announced the iBook – designed to provide a 30 per cent margin to Apple and protect its proprietary sales of iPad. For the users this is a good move – the Apple promise is cost neutral but the offering is modern and digital. The gang of four (Apple with Google, Facebook and Amazon) are hungry for business and use the power of digital technology and the economics of global commodities to sustain their interests. New digital challenges to existing business models will be appearing across many sectors. When Google announced its corporate email service it was viewed as a ‘declaration of war’ for the internal IT groups. Competing against the Gang of Four is at best difficult but, using examples from IT, I will explain how our professionalism limits our ability to respond to new threats. For our companies, the better we develop our professionalism the more we constrain our organizations’ response to the digital tensions. Are you on the way to becoming a toxic professional?
Temporality, Civic Engagement, and Alterity
Authors: Vij Ritu
Published: April 2012

Recent studies of civic engagement with ethnic others have attempted to rethink the ground of liberal multiculturalism by locating the migrant in coeval, not differential, time. Based on an ethnographic study of subcontinental migrants ( Indo-kei) in contemporary Japan, this article draws attention to the limits of claims of coevalness, specifically its inadvertent reinscription of identitarian thought. Drawing on Kojin Karatani’s notion of the “borromean rings” of capital–nation–state, and the multiple times associated with each, the article tracks the figure of the Indo-kei within a fluid terrain of social relationality through the varied sites and spaces of capital, nation and state in twenty-first-century Japan. This enables a more nuanced understanding of the borders/lines/distinctions that shape the migrant’s journey through multiple zones of civic engagement/disengagement in different locales.
Governance and school boards in non-state schools in Australia
Authors: Austen Steven , Swepson Pam , Marchant Teresa
Published: April 2012

The paper explores governance arrangements in non-state school in Australia, using 17 interviews in six schools. The focus is on board composition, structure and reporting. Useful contributions about innovative practice are identified. School boards may benefit from implementing more stakeholder engagement. Existing models of school boards from international state school literature, such as the democracy and trustee models, were useful for describing some aspects of non-state school governance, but a faith model is also suggested. Further research could operationalise governance elements to conduct a quantitative investigation with more schools and more informants. The paper adds to the expanding international literature on school governance by researching a country that has received little governance attention. The paper focuses on a significant area for school leadership: school boards in non-state schools.
When ‘teaching a class of daemons, dragons and trainee teachers' – learning the pedagogy of the virtual classroom
Authors: Woollard John
Published: April 2012

Virtual worlds can offer opportunities to further extend the experience, skills and understanding of professionals, in this case pre-service teachers. Based on the empirical evidence provided by professional, pre-service teachers, this paper describes the social and emotional aspects of being and learning in a virtual world and the implications for e-safety of the immersive experience. The management challenge is to ensure both the policy and practice of virtual world teaching provide an effective and safe environment for learning. The paper shows that the Byron Report grid provides a comprehensive structure on which the planning can be based and the challenges communicated.
Does Culture Matter? An Examination of the Association of Immigrants’ Acculturation With Workplace Relationship Quality
Authors: Jian Guowei
Published: April 2012

In spite of immigrants’ growing role in the workforce of the United States and other developed countries, organizational communication research about the experience of immigrant employees in the host culture is still very limited. Drawing on the bidimensional acculturation theory, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association of acculturation of immigrant employees with three types of workplace relationships: leader–member exchange (LMX), coworker, and mentoring relationship. Based on a survey of immigrant employees in a U.S. Midwestern city, the study reveals that the two dimensions of acculturation, adjustment to one’s host culture and retention of one’s original culture, are differentially related to the three types of workplace relationships. Both theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in the study.
Clinical, pathological, and genetic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes causing sepsis and necrotizing typhlocolitis and hepatitis in a foal
Authors: Warner Shayna L. , Boggs Jacquelin , Lee Jung Keun , Reddy Swetha , Banes Michelle , Cooley Jim
Published: April 2012

Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the blood, lungs, and liver of a 5-week-old American Quarter Horse filly that presented with a 2-day history of fever, lethargy, ataxia, and seizure activity. The foal was born on a well-managed breeding facility to a multiparous mare with no periparturient complications. At 8 hr of age, the foal had an adequate passive transfer of immunity (immunoglobulin G > 2,000 mg/dl). Since the time of birth, the foal reportedly had mild, intermittent diarrhea that responded to gastrointestinal protectants and probiotics. Despite prompt and aggressive treatment after hospital referral, the foal’s condition deteriorated, and the foal was humanely euthanized. Postmortem gross and histopathologic examination revealed severe hepatitis with necrosis and fibrinonecrotic typhlitis and colitis. In addition to a positive blood culture for L. monocytogenes, immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of this bacterium in the liver, cecum, and colon. Furthermore, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction identified the etiologic organism as a virulent L. monocytogenes strain.
Genetic and phenotypic characterization of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from veterinary hospitals in South Korea
Authors: Moon Bo Youn , Youn Jung-Ho , Shin Sook , Hwang Sun Young , Park Yong Ho
Published: April 2012

Staphylococci were isolated from veterinary staff, hospitalized animals, and medical equipment from 2 major tertiary veterinary hospitals in South Korea to investigate antimicrobial resistance and genetic relatedness. The detection rate for staphylococci was 55.2% (111/201 samples), and 11 species were identified among the collected staphylococcal strains. The most prevalent species were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (52/111, 46.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (21/111, 18.9%), and Staphylococcus aureus (19/111, 17.1%). The methicillin-resistance rates of staphylococci isolated from veterinary staff and medical equipment were higher than those from hospitalized animals. The genotype of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains in the current study was sequence type (ST)72-SCC mec IVc-t324, which is similar to the genotype of prevalent MRSA strains in human beings and food animals in South Korea. Among the mecA-positive S. pseudintermedius isolates, SCC mec V was most prevalent in strains originating from both veterinary staff and hospitalized animals. SCC mec IVa was detected in methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis, whereas SCC mec IVc was found in other methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci. The SCC mec typing, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis results showed that methicillin-resistant staphylococci dissemination between hospitalized animals and veterinary staff is possible in South Korean veterinary hospitals.
Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in captive chelonians (Testudo hermanni) with identification of two Cryptosporidium genotypes
Authors: Richter Barbara , Rasim Reinhard , Vrhovec Majda Globokar , Nedorost Nora , Pantchev Nikola
Published: April 2012

An outbreak of diarrhea in an outdoor group of captive Hermann’s tortoises ( Testudo hermanni) was associated with fecal shedding of cryptosporidial oocysts, as determined by coproscopic and immunoassay examinations. With partial sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene, 2 different Cryptosporidium genotypes could be identified in the fecal samples. Cryptosporidium tortoise genotype has previously been found in tortoise and ophidian species, and Cryptosporidium ducismarci has been reported from a snake and a chameleon, and it has been linked to intestinal disease in tortoises. The Hermann’s tortoises described were also infected with oxyurid nematodes. Treatment specific for reptilian cryptosporidiosis was administered. The clinical signs and fecal shedding ceased, but 9 months later, diarrhea and fecal shedding were seen in 3 animals again. Either the oocyst shedding was temporarily suppressed below detection limits, or the animals were reinfected by oocysts still present in the environment. At least 1 of the detected Cryptosporidium genotypes was presumed to contribute to the clinical symptoms.
Evaluation of different embryonating bird eggs and cell cultures for isolation efficiency of avian Influenza A Virus and Avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 from real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction–positive wild bird surveillance samples
Authors: Moresco Kira A. , Stallknecht David E. , Swayne David E.
Published: April 2012

Virus isolation rates for influenza A virus (FLUAV) and Avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1) from wild bird surveillance samples are lower than molecular detection rates for the specific viral genomes. The current study was conducted to examine the possibility of increased virus isolation rates from real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) using alternative virus isolation substrates such as embryonating duck eggs (EDEs), embryonating turkey eggs (ETEs), Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell cultures, and African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell cultures. Rectal swabs of birds in the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes were tested by real-time RT-PCR for the presence of FLUAV and APMV-1 genomes, and virus isolation (VI) was attempted on all real-time RT-PCR–positive samples. Samples with threshold cycle (Ct) ≤37 had VI rates for FLUAV of 62.5%, 50%, 43.8%, 31.5%, and 31.5% in embryonating chicken eggs (ECEs), ETEs, EDEs, MDCK cells, and Vero cells, respectively. A higher isolation rate was seen with ECEs compared to either cell culture method, but similar isolation rates were identified between the different embryonating avian eggs. Virus isolation rates for APMV-1 on samples with real-time RT-PCR Ct ≤37 were 75%, 100%, 100%, 0%, and 37.5% in ECEs, ETEs, EDEs, MDCK cells, and Vero cells, respectively. Significantly higher VI rates were seen with ECEs as compared to either cell culture method for all real-time RT-PCR–positive samples. Because of the limited availability and high cost of ETEs and EDEs, the data support the continuing usage of ECEs for primary isolation of both FLUAV and APMV-1 from real-time RT-PCR–positive wild bird surveillance samples.
Diagnostic performance of the canine Influenza A Virus subtype H3N8 hemagglutination inhibition assay
Authors: Anderson Tara C. , Crawford P. Cynda , Katz Jacqueline M. , Dubovi Edward J. , Landolt Gabriele , Gibbs E. Paul J.
Published: April 2012

Canine Influenza A virus subtype H3N8 (H3N8 CIV) was recognized in 2004 as a novel respiratory pathogen for dogs. To date, infections have been diagnosed in thousands of dogs in 38 U.S. states. Diagnostic techniques such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation may yield false-negative results if samples are collected after virus shedding has ceased. Therefore, serology is often necessary to confirm diagnosis. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay is the test of choice for serological diagnosis of influenza infections in animals. However, discrepancies exist between diagnostic laboratories and research groups in some of the test parameters for the H3N8 CIV HI assay and the cutoff antibody titer for seropositivity. The objectives of the current study were 1) to assess the diagnostic performance of a H3N8 CIV HI assay using field sera from canine infectious respiratory disease outbreaks and 2) to evaluate the effect of test parameter variations on test performance, including the use of different red blood cell (RBC) species, serum treatment methods, and virus isolates. Based on a receiver operating characteristic analysis using serum microneutralization assay titers as the gold standard, the H3N8 CIV HI assay described in the present study is highly sensitive (99.6%) and specific (94.6%) when the cutoff antibody titer for seropositivity is 32. Evaluation of parameter variations determined that the sensitivity and specificity of the H3N8 CIV HI assay depend on serum pretreatment with a receptor-destroying enzyme or periodate, use of 0.5% turkey or chicken RBCs, and use of antigenically well-matched H3N8 virus strains.
Prolonged incubation time in sheep with prion protein containing lysine at position 171
Authors: Greenlee Justin J. , Zhang Xia , Nicholson Eric M. , Kunkle Robert A. , Hamir Amir N.
Published: April 2012

Sheep scrapie susceptibility or resistance is a function of genotype, with polymorphisms at codon 171 in the sheep prion gene playing a major role. Glutamine (Q) at codon 171 contributes to scrapie susceptibility, while arginine (R) is associated with resistance. In some breeds, lysine (K) occurs at codon 171, but its effect on scrapie resistance has not been determined. Charge and structural similarities between K and R suggest that they may contribute to prion disease susceptibility in a similar way, but studies have not been performed to confirm this. The purpose of the current study was to compare susceptibility and incubation times of AA136RR154QQ171 (where the letter denotes the amino acid and the number the position) with AA136RR154QK171 sheep after inoculation with scrapie. Barbado AA136RR154QQ171 and AA136RR154QK171 sheep were inoculated with scrapie intracerebrally to assess their susceptibility to scrapie. After inoculation, sheep were observed daily for clinical signs and were euthanized and necropsied after clinical signs were unequivocal. Tissues were collected at necropsy for immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses. The QQ171 sheep had clinical signs approximately 12 months after inoculation, whereas QK171 animals had an average incubation time of 30 months to onset of clinical signs. The distribution of abnormal prion protein was similar in QQ171 and QK171 sheep. Results of the study indicate that sheep with a single K allele at codon 171 are susceptible to scrapie but with a prolonged incubation time. Work is currently underway to examine relative scrapie susceptibility or resistance of KK171 sheep.
Fatal Canid herpesvirus 1 infection in an adult dog
Authors: Gadsden Barbie J. , Maes Roger K. , Wise Annabel G. , Kiupel Matti , Langohr Ingeborg M.
Published: April 2012

Canid herpesvirus 1 (CaHV-1) is a well-known cause of fatal hepatic and renal necrosis in neonatal puppies. In adult dogs infected with CaHV-1, papulovesicular genital lesions may be observed. CaHV-1 infection during pregnancy can lead to embryonic resorption, abortion, and stillbirth. In high-density dog populations, CaHV-1 can also contribute to kennel cough. Furthermore, recent literature has clearly documented that CaHV-1 can induce ocular disease in immature and adult dogs. The current study describes a case of fatal CaHV-1 infection in a 9-year-old spayed female Bichon Frise dog. Following a history of vomiting and diarrhea, the dog deteriorated and subsequently died. The main lesions were multifocal areas of necrosis with intranuclear inclusion bodies in the liver, adrenal gland, and small intestine, similar to the lesions observed in CaHV-1-infected puppies. Infection with CaHV-1 was confirmed on samples of liver by polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. There was no indication of immunosuppression in this dog. Based on the results presented herein, CaHV-1 should be included in the list of differential diagnoses of hepatic necrosis in adult dogs.
Vascular mineralization in the brain of horses
Authors: Martínez Jorge , Montgomery Donald L. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: April 2012

Vascular mineralization (siderocalcinosis) in the brain of horses has been usually assumed to be an incidental age-related finding with no clinic significance. In the present study, eight 15–32-year-old horses of different breeds with cerebral siderocalcinosis were studied. Four of these horses had acute and severe central nervous system clinical signs of unknown etiology, 2 horses had neurological signs of known cause, and 2 horses did not have neurological signs. Gross examination of the brains in 4 animals revealed symmetrical foci of malacia in the cerebellar white matter. Histologically, moderate to severe mineralization of blood vessels and parenchyma were observed in all 8 horses, occasionally associated with necrosis of the adjacent tissue. Some horses were tested by virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and serology to investigate Rabies virus; West Nile virus; Equid herpesvirus 1 and 4; Eastern, Western, Venezuelan, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus; and Sarcocystis neurona infection. These tests were negative in all samples analyzed. Brain cholinesterase activity and heavy metal screening were also unremarkable. The significance of the vascular and parenchymal mineralization in the brains of some of these horses remains undetermined. However, the severity of the lesions observed in the brains of some of the animals in the present study, coupled with the negative results for other common causes of neurological disease in horses, suggests a possible relationship between siderocalcinosis and the clinical signs observed.
Chimeric protein A/G conjugate for detection of anti–Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G in multiple animal species
Authors: Schaefer John J. , White Holly A. , Schaaf Stephanie L. , Mohammed Hussni O. , Wade Susan E.
Published: April 2012

Serological testing for toxoplasmosis diagnosis remains the method of choice in human medicine due to the accessibility of the requisite sample, the difficulty in predicting the parasite’s location in the host for direct detection, and the availability of established commercial methods. In veterinary medicine, although the first 2 conditions are unchanged, there is a need for commercially produced test methods that are validated for Toxoplasma gondii detection across the range of animal species that can serve as intermediate hosts. The development of such a serological method for animals would allow the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in individual animals and a higher throughput method for population-level toxoplasmosis surveys. The incorporation of a non–species-specific chimeric protein A/G conjugate into an anti– Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is described. Serum from potential intermediate hosts was reevaluated using this method and compared with earlier testing using an established agglutination procedure. Very good agreement between the 2 tests was noted (κ = 0.81), establishing the method as a useful option for veterinary diagnostic testing.
A suprasellar germ cell tumor in a 16-month-old Wagyu heifer calf
Authors: Brooks Aimee N. , Brooks Kelly N. , Oglesbee Michael J.
Published: April 2012

A 16-month-old Wagyu heifer calf presented for depression, inappetence, and polyuria/polydipsia. Physical examination revealed that the heifer calf was mentally dull, subjectively small for her age, bradycardic, and hypothermic and had bilateral nasal discharge. Laboratory tests revealed marked serum and cerebrospinal fluid hypernatremia and hyperchloremia with increased cerebrospinal fluid protein. The heifer calf was treated with Ringer solution intravenously for dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities, and with 1 dose each of thiamine and penicillin. Clinical deterioration prompted the owner to elect humane euthanasia. Necropsy revealed a mass lesion in the suprasellar region. Histopathology was consistent with a suprasellar germ cell tumor; the mass stained positive on immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin, vimentin, and c-kit. Suprasellar germ cell tumors have previously been reported in human beings and dogs.
Detection of six novel papillomavirus sequences within canine pigmented plaques
Authors: Luff Jennifer A. , Affolter Verena K. , Yeargan Bret , Moore Peter F.
Published: April 2012

In dogs, papillomaviruses are thought to cause oral and cutaneous papillomas and pigmented plaques. Eight canine papillomaviruses have been fully sequenced to date. Four of these canine papillomaviruses, including Canis familiaris papillomavirus (CPV)-3, CPV-4, CPV-5, and CPV-8, were amplified from pigmented plaques. Given the identification of several different canine papillomaviruses within pigmented plaques, it is likely that there are additional papillomavirus sequences that have not been previously identified. The aim of the present study was to amplify papillomavirus DNA from pigmented plaques and identify potentially novel papillomavirus sequences through nucleotide sequence analysis. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify DNA sequences of the papillomavirus L1 gene from 27 pigmented plaques. Identification of novel papillomavirus sequences was based on less than 90% shared DNA homology to any known papillomavirus. DNA from 10 different papillomaviruses was identified within the pigmented plaques, including 6 putative novel papillomavirus sequences. CPV-4 was detected within 41% (11/27) of the pigmented plaques, while CPV-5 was identified within 2 pigmented plaques and CPV-3 within a single pigmented plaque. A previously identified novel papillomavirus sequence was identified within 2 pigmented plaques. The remaining 11 pigmented plaques contained 6 papillomavirus DNA sequences that have not been previously reported. These putative novel PV sequences were most similar to the canine papillomaviruses that have been detected within canine pigmented plaques.
A realist diagnostic workshop
Authors: Pawson Ray , Manzano-Santaella Ana
Published: April 2012

The realist approach can now be said to be part of the repertoire of evaluation methods. There has been a corresponding shift in methodological focus. Polemical thrust and counter-thrust about the realist contribution as compared to that of other evaluative approaches such as randomized trials and meta-analysis has given way to closer examination of its practice ‘on the ground’. This article seeks to make a contribution to the literature on how to conduct realist inquiry through a constructive critique of recently published ‘realist evaluations’.
Experimentalism and development evaluation: Will the bubble burst?
Authors: Picciotto Robert
Published: April 2012

Bridging the current divide of opinion about experimentalism would help protect an evaluation brand currently under threat in international evaluation circles. In order to help settle a lingering and unnecessary controversy, this opinion article describes the policy force field that triggered the recent surge of interest in experimental methods in development evaluation; digs up the historical and philosophical roots of the long-standing epistemological debate; outlines the value and boundaries of experimentalism; and speculates about its prospects in development evaluation.
Is realist evaluation keeping its promise? A review of published empirical studies in the field of health systems research
Authors: Marchal Bruno , van Belle Sara , van Olmen Josefien , Hoerée Tom , Kegels Guy
Published: April 2012

This overview aims to stimulate conceptual and practical discussions to help unlock the full potential of realist evaluation in health systems research. Based on a structured literature search, this review maps how the concepts of realist evaluation are applied in health systems research and which methodological problems are encountered. We found a great diversity in the depth of application of the philosophical concepts, use of terminology and scope of application in the research process. Terms of theory-driven evaluation, theories of change and realist evaluation are often used interchangeably. Diverging views exist regarding the nature of ‘mechanism’ and the difference between mechanism and essential context condition. A lack of methodological guidance was highlighted by many authors. Realist evaluation is slowly gaining traction in health systems research, but more clarity is needed concerning the definitions of mechanisms and context and how the configuration of context, mechanism and intervention can be described and assessed.
Ganas
Authors: Easley Nate , Bianco Margarita , Leech Nancy
Published: April 2012

The disparity between the educational attainment of Mexican heritage and White individuals illustrate a need for research on factors associated with the high educational attainment of some immigrant and first-generation students of Mexican descent. Using autobiographies, student interviews, and family interviews as data sources, this article explores one prominent theme that emerged: Students’ desire to honor parental struggle and sacrifice with academic achievement— Ganas. The implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Superintendents’ Perspectives of a Principal Preparation Program for Leaders of Predominantly Hispanic Schools in South Texas
Authors: Roberts Maria Banda , Hernandez Rosalinda
Published: April 2012

This article explains two components in the review process of a university’s principal preparation program. A superintendents’ focus group session and an analysis of other universities’ program profiles revealed a need to eliminate dated courses, include certification in the degree requirements, update the program curriculum with best practice, standards-based content and skills sets needed to succeed in the predominantly Hispanic schools, and create flexible schedules to accommodate the students’ home and professional lives.