scholarly journals An Ecotype of Neorickettsia risticii Causing Potomac Horse Fever in Canada

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (19) ◽  
pp. 6030-6036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingming Xiong ◽  
Hannah Bekebrede ◽  
Pratibha Sharma ◽  
Luis G. Arroyo ◽  
John D. Baird ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South America ◽  
The United States ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
New Method ◽  
Fatal Disease ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strain Diversity ◽  
Potomac Horse Fever

ABSTRACTNeorickettsia(formerlyEhrlichia)risticiiis an obligatory intracellular bacterium of digenetic trematodes. When a horse accidentally ingests aquatic insects containing encysted trematodes infected withN. risticii, the bacterium is transmitted from trematodes to horse cells and causes an acute and often fatal disease called Potomac horse fever (PHF). Since the discovery ofN. risticiiin the United States in 1984, using immunofluorescence and PCR assays, PHF has been increasingly recognized throughout North America and South America. However, so far, there exist only a few stableN. risticiiculture isolates, all of which are from horses within the United States, and the strain diversity and environmental spreading and distribution of pathogenicN. risticiistrains remain poorly understood. This paper reports the isolation ofN. risticiifrom the blood of a horse with acute PHF in Ontario, Canada. IntracellularN. risticiicolonies were detected in P388D1cells after 47 days of culturing and 8 days after the addition of rapamycin. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences of major surface proteins P51 and Ssa1 showed that this isolate is distinct from any previously sequenced strains but closely related to midwestern U.S. strains. This is the first Canadian strain cultured, and a new method was developed to reactivate dormantN. risticiito improve culture isolation.IMPORTANCENeorickettsia risticiiis an environmental bacterium that lives inside flukes that are parasitic to aquatic snails, insects, and bats. When a horse accidentally ingests insects harboring flukes infected withN. risticii, the bacterium is transmitted to the horse and causes an acute and often fatal disease called Potomac horse fever. Although the disease has been increasingly recognized throughout North and South America,N. risticiihas not been cultured outside the United States. This paper reports the first Canadian strain cultured and a new method to effectively culture isolateN. risticiifrom the horse blood sample. Molecular analysis showed that the genotype of this Canadian strain is distinct from previously sequenced strains but closely related to midwestern U.S. strains. Culture isolation ofN. risticiistrains would confirm the geographic presence of pathogenicN. risticii, help elucidateN. risticiistrain diversity and environmental spreading and distribution, and improve diagnosis and development of vaccines for this dreadful disease.

West will feel the force of China's space programme

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Dark Matter ◽  
The United States ◽  
Space Science ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
New Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Set Up

Subject China's space warfare capabilities. Significance China on December 17 launched a satellite that will test a new method for detecting dark matter -- the first of a series of five missions that put China at the cutting edge of space science. Separately, Beijing and Washington last month set up a 'space hotline' to reduce the risk of conflict in space -- an agreement representing acknowledgement of China's space capabilities and the challenge they pose to US strategic and tactical superiority. Impacts China still lags the United States significantly, but is eroding US dominance. Space capabilities will be integral to the success of China's 'anti-access/area denial' strategy. Earth observation and navigation satellites will support civilian enforcement of China's maritime claims. China will seek space collaboration with other developing countries.

NCSS notable trade book lesson plan: the girl who buried her dreams in a can

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Takisha Durm
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
The United States ◽  
Elementary Grades ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Future Date

PurposeThe Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can, written by Dr Tererai, profiles a cultural, yet global experience of the power of believing in one's dream. Through this study of the similarities and differences of how children in the United States and abroad live and dream of a better life, this lesson seeks to enhance students' understandings of the power and authority they possess to effect change not only within their own lives but also in the lives of countless others in world. After reading the text, students will work to create vision boards illustrating their plans to effect change within their homes, schools, communities, states or countries. They will present their plans to their peers. To culminate the lesson, the students will bury their dreams in can and collectively decide on a future date to revisit the can to determine how far they have progressed in accomplishing their goals.Design/methodology/approachThis is an elementary grades 3–6 lesson plan. There was no research design/methodology/approach included.FindingsAs this is a lesson plan and no actual research was represented, there are no findings.Originality/valueThis is an original lesson plan completed by the first author Takisha Durm.

Washington will rethink its foreign chip strategy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Export Controls ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Technical Standards ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Technology Competition ◽  
Business In China

Significance Follow-on action from Washington and responses from foreign actors will shape the US government’s adversarial policy towards China in semiconductors and other strategic technologies. Impacts The Biden administration will likely conclude that broad-based diversion of the semiconductor supply chain away from China is not feasible. The United States will rely on export controls and political pressure to prevent diffusion to China of cutting-edge chip technologies. The United States will focus on persuading foreign semiconductor leaders to help develop US capabilities, thereby staying ahead of China. Washington will focus on less direct approaches to strategic technology competition with China, notably technical standards-setting. Industry leaders in the semiconductor supply chain worldwide will continue expanding business in China in less politically sensitive areas.

Canada-US ties will see fewer irritants under Biden

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
The United States ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Federal Election ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Un Peacekeeping ◽  
Keystone Xl ◽  
Keystone Xl Pipeline

Significance Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is preparing to welcome a more predictable and stable partner in Biden than outgoing Republican President Donald Trump. However, Biden is also expected quickly to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, cutting another lifeline to Canada’s oil industry and creating some strain in Canada-US ties. Impacts Improved Canada-US ties will persist even if Trudeau loses the next federal election to Conservative Erin O’Toole. Canada will re-engage militarily with UN peacekeeping and NATO deployments. Trudeau will encourage Biden to end US prosecution of Meng Wanzhou, allowing Canada to release her; Biden may agree. Canada’s border with the United States will open in stages as COVID-19 recedes. Ottawa will push Biden to end ‘Buy American’ procurement policies, with little success.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Associations of Community Water Lead Concentrations with Hemoglobin Concentrations and Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agent Use among Patients with Advanced CKD

2021 ◽  
pp. ASN.2020091281
Author(s):  
John Danziger ◽  
Kenneth J. Mukamal ◽  
Eric Weinhandl
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Water Systems ◽  
Community Water ◽  
Lead Levels

BackgroundAlthough patients with kidney disease may be particularly susceptible to the adverse health effects associated with lead exposure, whether levels of lead found commonly in drinking water are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with ESKD is not known.MethodsTo investigate associations of lead in community water systems with hemoglobin concentrations and erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) use among incident patients with ESKD, we merged data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System (documenting average 90th percentile lead concentrations in community water systems during 5 years before dialysis initiation, according to city of residence) with patient-level data from the United States Renal Data System.ResultsAmong 597,968 patients initiating dialysis in the United States in 2005 through 2017, those in cities with detectable lead levels in community water had significantly lower pre-ESKD hemoglobin concentrations and more ESA use per 0.01 mg/L increase in 90th percentile water lead. Findings were similar for the 208,912 patients with data from the first month of ESKD therapy, with lower hemoglobin and higher ESA use per 0.01 mg/L higher lead concentration. These associations were observed at lead levels below the EPA threshold (0.015 mg/L) that mandates regulatory action. We also observed environmental inequities, finding significantly higher water lead levels and slower declines over time among Black versus White patients.ConclusionsThis first nationwide analysis linking EPA water supply records to patient data shows that even low levels of lead that are commonly encountered in community water systems throughout the United States are associated with lower hemoglobin levels and higher ESA use among patients with advanced kidney disease.

Neither side is ready to step back in Georgian crisis

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
National Movement ◽  
Election Victory ◽  
Political Turmoil

Significance The authorities went ahead with the arrest of Nika Melia, leader of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), on February 23 even after the prime minister resigned in protest. Georgian Dream's actions have caused concern in Western capitals that approved its election victory when the opposition cried foul. Impacts The crisis is a setback for the government's stated plan to apply for EU membership in 2024. There is growing talk in the United States about individual sanctions targeting Ivanishvili and his associates. Political turmoil will harm hopes of foreign direct investment and the imminent Anaklia port tender.

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