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PubMed1994

Physical disablement concepts for physical therapy research and practice.

Disability, one of modern society's greatest public health problems, affects individuals, families, and society. Understanding the complex process of disablement, therefore, is critical given the current and projected increases in disability. Terminology in the field of disablement continues to breed confusion and controversy across and within disciplines. This article discusses some of the major models that have been developed to guide physical therapy researchers and clinicians in their thinking about disablement. Emphasis is on physical disablement because of its central role in physical therapy research and practice. Detailed descriptions are provided for two disablement formulations. One was developed in the 1960s by sociologist Saad Nagi. The other is the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps, developed for the World Health Organization. Both can serve as the basic conceptual architecture for disablement research in physical therapy. Researchers and clinicians need a common vocabulary and language for thinking and speaking about the process of disablement, although it appears premature to reach consensus on any one conceptual approach. Physical therapists should play an active role in guiding future research and scholarship on physical disablement.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

Genetic diversity in apricot revealed by AFLP markers: species and cultivar comparisons.

The genetic diversity of apricot ( Prunus armeniaca; 2n = 16) was studied using AFLP markers. Forty seven apricot cultivars were selected from the following geographic regions: Europe, North America, North Africa, Turkey, Iran and China. Five EcoRI- MseI AFLP primer combinations revealed 416 legible bands, of which 379 were polymorphic markers. A similarity matrix was prepared using the simple matching coefficient of similarity. A UPGMA dendrogram demonstrated a gradient of decreasing genetic diversity of varieties from the former USSR to Southern Europe. This is coherent with the historical dissemination of apricot from its center of origin in Asia. The American cultivars were intermediate demonstrating a different genetic base than the European and/or Mediterranean cultivars. Euclidean distances from the first ten Factorial Component Analysis coordinate axes were used to generate a tree using the Ward algorithm. The results of these analyses were evaluated based on the known geographic origins and agronomic characteristics of the cultivars studied. Four cultivar groups were identified: Diversification, Geographically Adaptable, Continental Europe and Mediterranean Basin. To evaluate the relationship of the common apricot with some closely related species, one or two accessions of the following related species or sub-species from within the section Armeniaca were included in the analysis: Prunus armeniaca var. ansu, Prunus mume, Prunus brigantiaca, Prunus dasycarpa, and Prunus holosericea. A Neighbour Joining dendrogram was made using the similarity matrix. The P. holosericea accession fell well within the cultivar group, thus supporting its classification as a variant of P. armeniaca. The P. armeniaca var. ansu accession was sister to the common apricot cluster with a bootstrap value of 96%. P. mume was farther removed. P. brigantiaca was the most-distant from the common apricots. P. dasycarpa was intermediate between P. brigantiaca and P. mume, in accord with its plum-apricot hybrid origin. The results have a direct application for the selection of new breeding progenitors.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

NCTR computer systems designed for toxicologic experimentation. I. Overview.

Established in 1971 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Center for Toxicological Research is committed to the study of long-term, low-dose effects of potentially toxic substances, including carcinogens. The Scientific Information Systems Division (SISD) facility provides logistic support for complex experiments involving large numbers of test animals. Animal population at the Center, including the breeding colony and animals on experiment, can be as high as 80,000. Each animal must be accounted for, fed and watered under strict control, and continually observed. From birth to final examination, an individual animal might have as many as 3,000 individual elements of information associated with it. This paper introduces a series of reports dealing with an integrated and comprehensive system of experiment planning and implementation (including information gathering, classification, analyses and reporting), employing state-of-the-art data processing techniques. This extensive use of computer technology has permitted the collection, proper classification, and rapid retrieval of virtually error-free data, resulting in cost-sensitive experiment planning.

Computers↗
PubMed1989

Adapting best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for timely genetic evaluation: II. Progeny traits in multiple contemporary groups within a herd.

The second step of a procedure to partially circumvent the voluminous calculations for some BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) computing algorithms for genetic evaluation is presented. In addition, the procedure allows timely evaluations of each contemporary group. This procedure is pertinent especially for polytocous species such as swine and poultry, for which the occurrence of full-sib families makes the inclusion of dam effects in the model necessary and tests are completed throughout the year. Formulas are developed for a model including sires, dams, individuals within full-sib families and records within individuals. This model has a fundamentally hierarchical structure but includes some cross-classification. The formulas for predictors combine information across contemporary groups within a herd and incorporate relationships between sires and(or) dams in that herd. Formulas to approximate prediction error variances also are developed.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

The heritability and specificity of responsiveness to infection with Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

High responder (HR) and low responder (LR) lines of sheep of the Hungarian Merino breed were selected by using faecal egg counts (epg) as parameter of responsiveness after double artificial Haemonchus contortus test infections. A total of 81 lambs born to assortative matings of HR rams with HR ewes and LR rams with LR ewes, as well as 28 control lambs from unselected parent sheep, were studied to estimate the heritability of responsiveness. A relatively high level of heritability (h2 = 0.49 +/- 0.17) was observed. A comparative assessment of responder classification carried out by two subsequent and distinct H. contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis infections revealed a remarkable degree of agreement: identical results in 69.7% and marginal differences in 23.2% of 99 animals. These results suggest that by selecting sheep for high responsiveness to a certain species of nematodes, one can also achieve a substantial improvement of resistance against a wide range of other nematode species.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Classification of naturally occurring arterial disease in the dog.

Evaluation of induced arterial toxicity in safety assessment of drugs involves recognition of morphologic differences between groups of animals. In this organ system, as in all others, it is necessary to be familiar with the background pathology that can occur in control animals of the test species, since such lesion "noise" may complicate the evaluation of drug-related effects if naturally occurring diseases have morphologic features in common with those that can be produced by drugs. Background arterial lesions have been regarded as relatively unimportant in both the laboratory-maintained beagle and in the larger range of domesticated breeds of dog and few of these vascular lesions lead, per se, to functional organ compromise. At least this appears to be the case in young and middle-aged subjects, within the epidemiologic limits of data from veterinary medical centers where systematic and thorough necropsies are done and recorded. Arterial lesions are, however, not uncommon naturally occurring incidental necropsy findings in dogs; however, in most cases they are of uncertain functional significance. This presentation summarizes the main pathologic patterns of lesions that can affect arteries in dogs that are not used in safety evaluation studies. The main patterns can be classified as degenerative, proliferative, and inflammatory, although there is some overlap between these partly arbitrary designations. In some cases, etiopathogenesis of the arterial lesion is unclear; in others, there are clear associations with disease processes in other organ systems. Congenital vascular lesions and vascular components of congenital cardiac defects are excluded from consideration since such lesions are unlikely to occur in dog populations used in the safety assessment of drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Clinical and antigenic relationship between isolates of sheep and goat pox viruses.

Isolates of sheep pox and goat pox from Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya, Yemen Arab Republic, Turkey, Pakistan and India were inoculated into British breeds of sheep and goats. Although the isolates displayed a host preference the gross clinical pathology of the disease produced by the different isolates was indistinguishable. The Yemen, Nigeria and India isolates could not be distinguished using homologous and heterologous antisera in neutralisation tests. Animals that had recovered from infection with one isolate were resistant to challenge with any of the other isolates and a single vaccine for use against sheep pox and goat pox is described. The classification of the malignant pox diseases of sheep and goats is discussed.

Africa↗
PubMed2006

Adjusting worm egg counts for faecal moisture in sheep.

The number of eggs from gastrointestinal nematodes per gram of faeces (worm egg count WEC) is commonly used to determine the need for anti-parasite treatments and the breeding value of animals when selecting for worm resistance. Diarrhoea increases faecal moisture and may dilute the number of worm eggs observed. To quantify this effect, egg counts in sheep at pasture were simulated by dosing 15 animals with chromic oxide particles. The simulated WEC diminished as faecal moisture increased. When faeces were dried, simulated WEC per unit dry matter was not influenced by the amount of faecal moisture present prior to drying. The results suggest that adjustment for faecal moisture may provide an improved estimate of FEC. Drying faeces to calculate the WEC per unit dry matter would provide such an adjustment but may not be practical for industry application. In the past, the CSIRO McMaster Laboratory has used an adjustment factor developed by Gordon based on the classification of faecal consistency derived from the morphology of faeces. To examine the utility of an adjustment factor based on faecal consistency score (FCS), the relationships between FCS and simulated WEC and dry matter were examined. Dry matter and simulated WEC exhibited an exponential decline as FCS increased. The relationship between FCS and dry matter was further examined in 368 samples collected over 12 months from sheep at pasture, where it was observed that dry matter showed a linear decline as FCS increased. Adjustment factors based on dry matter were similar to those proposed by Gordon however adjustment factors predicted from simulated WEC diverged from the remainder for FCS>4. As no samples scored FCS 5 in the study of simulated FEC, the adjustment factors based on the larger study that included samples with FCS 5 was therefore considered more robust. Adjustment factors were given by the equation: WEC(estimated)=(WEC(observed)/(34.21-5.15 FCS))x29.06. This equation estimates for samples with FCS>1 the WEC that would be expected if the samples were FCS 1, the faecal consistency score for normal faeces. The impact of adjustment of observed WEC for faecal moisture predicted by FCS on decision points for treatment and on estimated breeding values requires further examination.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Genetic diversity and population history of two related seabird species based on mitochondrial DNA control region sequences.

Geographical variation in two related seabird species, the razorbill (Alca torda) and common guillemot (Uria aalge), was investigated using sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control regions. We determined the nucleotide sequence of the variable 5' segment of the control region in razorbills and common guillemots from breeding colonies across the Atlantic Ocean. The ecology and life history characteristics of razorbill and common guillemot are in many respects similar. They are both considered highly philopatric and have largely overlapping distributions in temperate and subarctic regions of the North Atlantic, yet the species were found to differ widely in the extent and spatial distribution of mtDNA variation. Moreover, the differences in genetic differentiation and diversity were in the opposite direction to that expected from a consideration of traditional classifications and current population sizes. Indices of genetic diversity were highest in razorbill and varied among colonies, as did genotype frequencies, suggestive of restrictions to gene flow. The distribution of genetic variation suggests that razorbills originated from a refugial population in the south-western Atlantic Ocean through sequential founder events and subsequent expansion in the east and north. In common guillemots, genetic diversity was low and there was a lack of geographical structure, consistent with a recent population bottleneck, expansion and gene flow. We suggest that the reduced level of genetic diversity and differentiation in the common guillemot is caused by an inherent propensity for repeated population bottlenecks and concomitantly unstable population structure related to their specialized feeding ecology.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparative histopathology of porcine and human cutaneous melanoma.

Pigmented tumors resembling cutaneous melanoma were first reported in Sinclair miniature swine in 1967. Since that time, carefully planned breeding has established that this is an inherited malignancy the natural history of which mimics human cutaneous melanoma in a number of ways. Because of these characteristics, miniature swine melanoma appears to be an effective model with which to investigate the mechanisms influencing initiation, growth, and progression of human melanoma. This investigation characterized histologically the cutaneous melanoma in miniature swine and compared the findings with human neoplasm. Primary cutaneous melanoma in swine has been reclassified and standardized according to the classifications currently in vogue in human melanoma. Our results suggest that the condition in miniature swine is histologically similar to that in humans. These observations will provide a basis for interpretation of the results derived in the biologic studies performed in this model.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Consistent capacity for adrenocortical response to ACTH administration in pigs.

The effect of ACTH administration on plasma cortisol concentrations in purebred and crossbred pigs was investigated. Pigs were given either 25 IU of ACTH or physiologic saline solution IM. Blood samples were collected immediately before and 1 hour after ACTH or saline solution administration. Administration of ACTH resulted in a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in plasma cortisol concentration compared with that resulting from administration of saline solution; mean values after ACTH administration were similar in both breed groups. In contrast, a fivefold range of differences was observed among individual pigs of the same age, sex, and body weight, irrespective of breed group. The type and magnitude of the adrenocortical response was consistent and repeatable in pigs over a 3-month period, suggesting that pigs have a consistent capacity for adrenocortical response to ACTH administration. Development of a dynamic test allowed the high and low responding extremes in a population to be detected. The most suitable dose of synthetic ACTH was established to be 50 IU, and the best time for blood sample collection was 60 minutes after ACTH administration. The classification of individual pigs as high or low responders was repeatable and was not affected by prior short-term exposure to ACTH.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2003

Reflecting on complexity of biological systems: Kant and beyond?

Living organisms are currently most often seen as complex dynamical systems that develop and evolve in relation to complex environments. Reflections on the meaning of the complex dynamical nature of living systems show an overwhelming multiplicity in approaches, descriptions, definitions and methodologies. Instead of sustaining an epistemic pluralism, which often functions as a philosophical armistice in which tolerance and so-called neutrality discharge proponents of the burden to clarify the sources and conditions of agreement and disagreement, this paper aims at analysing: (i) what has been Kant's original conceptualisation of living organisms as natural purposes; (ii) how the current perspectives are to be related to Kant's viewpoint; (iii) what are the main trends in current complexity thinking. One of the basic ideas is that the attention for structure and its epistemological consequences witness to a great extent of Kant's viewpoint, and that the idea of organisational stratification today constitutes a different breeding ground within which complexity issues are raised. The various approaches of complexity in biological systems are captured in terms of two different styles, universalism and (weak and strong) constructivism, between which hybrid forms exist.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Cuphea: a new plant source of medium-chain fatty acids.

The plant genus Cuphea (family Lythraceae) promises to provide a new source of industrially and nutritionally important medium-chain fatty acids, especially of lauric acid now supplied exclusively by coconut and palm kernel oils from foreign sources. The seed lipids of Cuphea were first discovered in the 1960s to contain high percentages of several medium-chain fatty acids, including caprylic, capric, lauric, and myristic acid. Research is still in the early stages, but it is intensifying toward the goal of developing the genus into a new temperate climate crop for production of specialty oils. Given the diversity of Cuphea seed lipid composition and the wide ecological and distributional range of the genus, it may be possible to tailor crops to produce selected fatty acids on demand under a variety of growing conditions. Cuphea comprises about 260 species, most native to the New World tropics. Its morphology, classification, chromosome numbers, distribution, ecology, and folk uses are presented. Seed structure is described and seed lipid composition for 73 species is summarized. Problems in domestication and agronomic progress are reviewed. Knowledge of the biosynthetic mechanism controlling the lipids produced by Cuphea remains very limited. Future research in this area, and particularly successful employment of gene transfer techniques, may allow genes controlling the mechanism to be transferred to an already established seed oil producer such as rapeseed. Presently, both traditional plant breeding techniques and newer biotechnological methods are directed toward Cuphea oilseed development.

Fatty Acids↗
PubMed1991

Epidemiological and genetical studies in Norwegian pig herds. V. Estimates of heritability and phenotypic correlations of the most common diseases in Norwegian pigs.

A genetic analysis was performed on disease registrations from 70 Norwegian pig herds. This analysis was complicated by the small degree of cross classification of dams and sires across herds, and the relatively sparse use of artificial insemination. Herd effects seemed to be responsible for much of the variation in disease frequencies. The estimated heritabilities were relatively low. The results of this investigation also revealed positive phenotypic correlations between the investigated diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Attachment behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris): a new application of Ainsworth's (1969) Strange Situation Test.

Fifty-one owner-dog pairs were observed in a modified version of M. D. S. Ainsworth's (1969) Strange Situation Test. The results demonstrate that adult dogs (Canis familiaris) show patterns of attachment behavior toward the owner. Although there was considerable variability in dogs' attachment behavior to humans, the authors did not find any effect of gender, age, living conditions, or breed on most of the behavioral variables. The human-dog relationship was described by means of a factor analysis in a 3-dimensional factor space: Anxiety, Acceptance, and Attachment. A cluster analysis revealed 5 substantially different classes of dogs, and dogs could be categorized along the secure-insecure attached dimensions of Ainsworth's original test. A dog's relationship to humans is analogous to child-parent and chimpanzee-human attachment behavior because the observed behavioral phenomena and the classification are similar to those described in mother-infant interactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Genetic relationships between 14 native Spanish breeds of goat.

The genetic distances separating 14 Spanish goat breeds are calculated from gene frequency data of 14 genetic blood markers (GSH, Ke, Hb, Dia, Ct, MDH, CA, X, NP, Alp, Am, Cp, Tf and Al). Working from the matrix of Nei's genetic distances we drew a dendrogram demonstrating a great genetic similarity among populations from Negra Serrana, Zamorana, Guadarrama, Retinta, Blanca Andaluza, Berciana and Pirenaica on one hand; and Canaria, Murciana, Blanca Celtibérica, Verata, Palmera, Malagueña and Granadina on the other. We discuss the similarities and differences within our classification using gene frequency data of the blood genetic markers studied, and classifications based chiefly on morphological and production data.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Simultaneous diuresis cysto-urethrometry and multi-channel urethral pressure profilometry in female dogs with refractory urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess urethral closure and bladder storage function in female dogs with refractory urinary incontinence by use of simultaneous diuresis cysto-urethrometry (UCM) and multi-channel urethral pressure profilometry (UPP). ANIMALS: 53 female dogs of various breeds with a history of 'non-neurogenic,' acquired urinary incontinence unresponsive to standard conservative treatment. PROCEDURE: UPP and UCM were performed on dogs sedated with xylazine, using a flexible polyvinylchloride multi-channel catheter connected to a perfusion system. Urine production was determined by use of radionucleotide dilution analysis. Values of reproducible urodynamic variables obtained previously in clinically normal dogs were compared with findings in the incontinent dogs. Cutoff values with the highest predictive values of urodynamic variables were determined and selected for functional classification. RESULTS: Except for threshold volume, median values of all urodynamic variables were significantly different between continent and incontinent dogs. Urethral pressure values, their relative variation, bladder threshold pressure, and prevalence of detrusor contractions were significantly lower than values in normal dogs, but compliance was higher. Forty-one dogs had urodynamic findings suggestive of poor urethral closure function assessed by UCM, but 10 of these had normal closure pressure values during UPP. Abnormal bladder storage function was interpreted from the findings of 19 dogs. Low capacity was found in 3, low threshold pressure in 15, and high compliance in 9 dogs. Seven of the dogs with abnormal bladder storage function had normal urethral closure function assessed by UPP and UCM. Five dogs had no abnormal findings, and 1 continent dog was abnormal by our classification. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal bladder storage function was suggested in a considerable number of dogs with refractory urinary incontinence.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Determinants of dengue 2 infection among residents of Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia.

Dengue fever is caused by one of the four serotypes of the dengue virus and is transmitted by the urban mosquito Aedes aegypti. In 1993, the city of Charters Towers in the tropical north of Australia experienced an epidemic caused by the dengue 2 virus. A cross-sectional sample of 1,000 people was assessed for determinants of recent symptomatic dengue infection. After exclusion of people with prior exposure to dengue 2, a study group of 797 persons, including 196 patients with recent infection, were evaluated. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified four determinants of infection: the presence of a case of dengue fever within two residential blocks (odds ratio (OR) = 3.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.56-5.10), house screening (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.89), the presence of a water tank within two residential blocks (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.02-2.22), and the use of knockdown insecticide (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.22-2.51). Classification and Regression Tree analysis identified a group of 152 individuals in whom the prevalence of dengue infection was 50%. These people lived within two blocks of a suspected dengue fever case, did not have house screening, and used knockdown sprays. If dengue had not occurred within two residential blocks, there were no additional factors that significantly influenced the prevalence of dengue fever. Control of dengue epidemics should involve attempts to geographically contain the spread of infection, use of house screening, and the removal of mosquito breeding sites such as water tanks.

Adult↗