Toxoplasmosis in goats in the Netherlands: a pilot study

A pilot-study was carried out on ten Dutch goat farms to see whether there is a relationship between farm management factors and the occurrence of toxoplasmosis. Questionnaires were used to collect information about farm management factors and blood samples were taken to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis on these farms. The mean prevalence was 47% (range 5-90%). The presence of kittens on a farm was a risk factor for a higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis.     

An investigation into the effects of graft polymerisation of vinyl monomers to wool

The grafting of vinyl monomers to wool to confer shrink-resistance can have a number of side-effects, notably changes in dye uptake, tensile behaviour and handle. This work investigated these phenomena as a method of improving specific fibre properties. In addition, an attempt was made to develop a system of industrial, rather than purely scientific, significance. Several systems were examined, in particular a highly efficient and selective system using the redox couple potassium bromate and cobalt diacetate, with monomers such as methyl-, ethyl-and butyl-methacrylate. The effects of co-solvents such as acetone and diethyleneglycol monobutylether were also studied. It was found that both dye uptake and tensile strength could be significantly improved by relatively low levels of grafting without deleterious effects on handle. A novel ‘limiting volume’ model was developed to describe the various stages through which the grafting process proceeds, which explains the observed results, particularly at high levels of grafting where polymer growth is ‘forced’ onto the fibre surface.     

Isomerization studies: III. decarbonylation of oleoyl chloride preparation of C19 dicarboxylic acids

Mixtures of siomeric C₁₇ diene hydrocarbons were obtained when oleoyl chloride was decarbonylated in the presence of a transition metal catalyst. The choice of catalyst determined the composition of diene mixture produced. Diene mixtures were characterized as a mixture of conjugated and 1,4- dienes, or as a mixture of isolated double bond dienes. Carboxylation of the conjugated C₁₇ diene by hydroformylationoxidation procedure gave a C₁₈ monocarboxylic acid as the major product, whereas with nonconjugated C₁₇ diene, the major product was a C₁₉ dicarboxylic acid. Application of the Koch carboxylation procedure to C₁₇ diene mixtures gave a C₁₉ dicarboxylic acid mixture as the major product. This latter acid mixture was structurally different from diacids obtained from the hydroformylation-oxidation procedure.     

Adherence to Instructions to Practice Relaxation Exercises.

To determine the adherence to relaxation practice, 23 hypertensive patients receiving relaxation training were given tape recorders designed to measure when a relaxation tape was used and were told to listen to the tape five or more times a week. The mean frequency of practice per week as measured by computers was 4.6; 39% of subjects adhered to instructions. Mean frequency of practice by self-report was 5.9; 71% of subjects adhered to instructions. Microprocessor-monitored and self-reported practice were significantly correlated. There was no significant correlation between either microprocessor or self-reported practice and systolic or diastolic blood pressure reductions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The uptake of 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose by synaptosomes from rat brain cortex

D-[3-3H]-3-deoxy-3-fluoroglucose was synthesized chemically and shown to be transported into rat brain synaptosomes by a saturable process with a Km 6.2 x 10(-4) M and a Vmax 2.8 nmole x mg protein-1. After an initial, rapid period of transport, further uptake of the fluorosugar is restricted by the rate of its phosphorylation. Both D-glucose and cytochalasin B are competitive inhibitors of 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose transport with Ki values of 93 micron and 6.0 x 10(-7) M, respectively. Phloretin, N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoate also inhibit the fluorosugar uptake, whereas ouabain and changes in K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions have only a small effect. The recorded 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose influx is slightly reduced by potassium cyanide, antimycin A, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and rotenone. The uptake reduction caused by these four reagents is relieved by the addition of exogenous ATP. The possible influence of hexokinse activity on the uptake process is discussed.     

Factors which affect the relative contributions of ovarian and uterine arteries to the blood supply of reproductive organs in guinea pigs

The establishment and stability of the behavioral baseline for rats in relation to the schedule of differential reinforcement of low rate under water reinforcer (DRL 20 sec for water) were studied, with the following results: When the DRL value was gradually stepped up from 1 sec to 20 sec with the advance of the sessions from 1to 16, the establishment of the behavioral baseline was slower than when DRL 20 sec was applied from the start. The establishment of the baseline was clearly accelerated by the prolongation of the length of time for training in one session from 60 min to 120 min. The baseline remained highly stable without being affected by the intermittent administration (2-3 times a week) of methamphetamine and diazepam, each in doses from 0.06 to 1.0 mg/kg, and of caffeine and pentobarbital, each in doses from 1.2 to 20 mg/kg, or by the discontinuation of the test from 1 to 15 days. However, during the retraining period following the test discontinuation it was found that the baseline fluctuated for a long time due to the elimination of water deprivation. The baseline stability, once established, could be maintained through about 300 daily sessions, with only a slight dependence on the change in environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, and the season.