Background: Eye movements reveal neurodegenerative disease processes due to overlap between oculomotor circuitry and disease-affected areas. Characterizing oculomotor behaviour in context of cognitive function may enhance disease diagnosis and monitoring. We therefore aimed to quantify cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative disease using saccade behaviour and neuropsychology. Methods: The Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative recruited individuals with neurodegenerative disease: one of Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or cerebrovascular disease. Patients (n=450, age 40-87) and healthy controls (n=149, age 42-87) completed a randomly interleaved pro- and anti-saccade task (IPAST) while their eyes were tracked. We explored the relationships of saccade parameters (e.g. task errors, reaction times) to one another and to cognitive domain-specific neuropsychological test scores (e.g. executive function, memory). Results: Task performance worsened with cognitive impairment across multiple diseases. Subsets of saccade parameters were interrelated and also differentially related to neuropsychology-based cognitive domain scores (e.g. antisaccade errors and reaction time associated with executive function). Conclusions: IPAST detects global cognitive impairment across neurodegenerative diseases. Subsets of parameters associate with one another, suggesting disparate underlying circuitry, and with different cognitive domains. This may have implications for use of IPAST as a cognitive screening tool in neurodegenerative disease.

Fifteen life tables were compiled from population and mortality data collected in the Quinte area of eastern Ontario during the 5-year period, 1972–76, that spanned the rise and fall of an outbreak of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyll.).

Components analysis of the data showed that a disease of the feeding larvae caused by Entomophthora phytonomi Arthur, a fungus new to the insect in North America, was the principal determinant of intrageneration survival. Multivariate analysis of the separate mortalities, expressed as k-values, confirmed that this agent was the key factor governing population trends of the weevil and was mainly responsible for its population decline.

Examination of the properties of the various mortality factors showed that E. phytonomi was density dependent but overcompensating. Other agents, including the parasitoids Bathyplectes curculionis (Thom.) and Tetrastichus incertus (Ratz.) acted in a density independent manner and contributed little to population trend.

During 1977, a detailed study was undertaken to develop efficient sampling procedures for estimating egg and larval populations of the alfalfa blotch leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Rond.), in Vernal alfalfa. Distributions of the stages within and between stems were contagious and stem totals tended to follow negative binomial distributions. Within stems, the density of eggs and larval mines increased exponentially from base to tip. Taking these patterns and the costs of sampling into account, and using the relevant components of variance, four leaves taken systematically from a single stem is proposed as the appropriate sample unit for both eggs and mines. On this basis, 200 stems per field will give adequate precision (less than 10% of the mean with confidence probability 90%) for population estimates. However, the propensity of the leafminer to prefer the middle leaflet to the basal leaflets in the approximate ratio 3:4:3 suggests that sampling costs may be further reduced by restricting counts to the middle leaflet and raising them by a factor of 2.5.

The primary purpose of the present review was to determine if the scientific evidence available for potential human health benefits of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is sufficient to support health claims on foods based on milk naturally enriched with cis-9, trans-11-CLA (c9, t11-CLA). A search of the scientific literature was conducted and showed that almost all the promising research results that have emerged in relation to cancer, heart health, obesity, diabetes and bone health have been in animal models or in vitro. Most human intervention studies have utilised synthetic CLA supplements, usually a 50:50 blend of c9, t11-CLA and trans-10, cis-12-CLA (t10, c12-CLA). Of these studies, the only evidence that is broadly consistent is an effect on body fat and weight reduction. A previous review of the relevant studies found that 3.2 g CLA/d resulted in a modest body fat loss in human subjects of about 0.09 kg/week, but this effect was attributed to the t10, c12-CLA isomer. There is no evidence of a consistent benefit of c9, t11-CLA on any health conditions; and in fact both synthetic isomers, particularly t10, c12-CLA, have been suspected of having pro-diabetic effects in individuals who are already at risk of developing diabetes. Four published intervention studies using naturally enriched CLA products were identified; however, the results were inconclusive. This may be partly due to the differences in the concentration of CLA administered in animal and human studies. In conclusion, further substantiation of the scientific evidence relating to CLA and human health benefits are required before health claims can be confirmed.

Short-term randomised, controlled trials have found that dietary protein relative to carbohydrate can reduce blood pressure. Our objective was to investigate the effects on blood pressure of an increase in protein intake from whey over 2 years in women aged over 70 years. From the general population, 219 women aged between 70 and 80 years were recruited to a 2-year randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-design trial: 181 women completed the trial to the end of year 2. Participants were randomly assigned to consume a daily whey protein-based beverage (protein) or an energy-matched low-protein high-carbohydrate beverage (control). Blood pressure measurements were performed at baseline, year 1 and year 2. For protein relative to control, the estimated mean net differences in protein and carbohydrate intakes were 18 (95 % CI 13, 23) and − 22 (95 % CI − 9, − 35) g/d at year 1, and 22 (95 % CI 17, 28) and − 18 (95 % CI − 6, − 31) g/d at year 2. Intention-to-treat analysis found no overall differences between groups in blood pressure (P>0·5). Net differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were − 2·3 (95 % CI − 5·3, 0·7) and − 1·5 (95 % CI − 3·6, 0·6) mmHg at year 1, and 1·6 (95 % CI − 1·5, 4·7) and 0·3 (95 % CI − 1·9, 2·4) mmHg at year 2. Similar differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure at years 1 and 2 were observed with per-protocol analysis. Therefore, the present study did not provide evidence that a higher whey protein intake in older women can have prolonged effects on blood pressure.

Working rules for determining plot size and number of plots within a block in field experiments are proposed based on the value of the intrablock correlation (ρ), which can be obtained from the analysis of variance of a randomized-block experiment. The method uses Binns' (1982) equation to relate this correlation to Smith's (1938) empirical law. The rules are: (1) if ρ is greater than 0·5, use an incomplete block design or reduce the plot size in order to increase the number of replications; (2) if ρ is less than 0·1, an increase in plot size is effective; (3) if ρ is between 0·1 and 0·5, an increase in plot size and a decrease in the number of plots per block may be helpful in combination.

During the past eight years a comprehensive genetic linkage map for the horse has been generated in Newmarket, through a fruitful collaboration between the Genetics section at the AHT and Professor Twink Allen at the TBA Equine Fertility Unit (Swinburne et al., 2000). In order to assess whether the map was adequate to start mapping disease traits in which we are interested, it was decided to attempt to map a clear, easily scoreable trait such as grey coat colour in the Thoroughbred horse. Grey coat colour is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Thoroughbred horses are fairly inbred, and as such they represent one of the more difficult horse breeds for genetic mapping. The majority of grey Thoroughbreds trace their ancestry back to Allcock's Arabian who was born in 1700, and horsemen have long noted an association between grey coat colour and the incidence of melanomas. It is hoped that characterizing the mechanism of grey coat colour formation might also lead to an improved understanding of the molecular basis of melanoma formation.

A collection (164) of isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica made predominantly from cats (132) but also from dogs (15), pigs (12) and other species was examined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis following macrorestriction digestion with XbaI. Each isolate was analysed twice and the patterns were entirely reproducible. The isolates fell into 17 different strains (>3 bands different) and within strains there were numerous subtypes. Feline isolates fell into 12 of the 17 strains. In general, cats housed together had similar or identical strains and subtypes of B. bronchiseptica. There was no difference in the PFGE patterns of isolates made from carrier cats and those from cats with respiratory disease. Isolates from pigs and dogs were in general similar to the feline isolates and there was no great evidence for species specificity. The PFGE pattern of feline and canine isolates were more related to whether the animals were housed together rather than whether they came from dogs or cats.

During a survey of foal diarrhoea between 1991 and 1994, Clostridium perfringens was significantly associated with disease with 56% of cases infected [1]. The contribution of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens to this association, was assessed by use of the reverse passive latex agglutination test for enterotoxin (RPLA; Oxoid Unipath) and vero cell toxicity neutralized by antitoxin on stored faecal samples and sporulated faecal isolates of C. perfringens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR1) based on the DNA sequence for the whole enterotoxin gene [2] yielded a fragment from an equine isolate of the anticipated size which, cloned into plasmid M13 phage, had a sequence essentially identical to the published sequence. Consequently, all faecal isolates were also tested by PCR1 and for a part of the enterotoxin gene (PCR2).

Significant association with diarrhoea (controls not in contact with cases) was found with positive RPLA tests on faeces (OR=13, P=0·002) and isolates (OR=4·57, P=<0·0001), vero cell toxicity of isolates (OR=1·78, P=0·026), and PCR1 (OR=nd, P=0·029) but not PCR2 or vero cell toxicity of faeces. Significant association with diarrhoea was also found for isolates negative by RPLA (OR=3·91; CI 2·05–7·57; P<0·0001) or PCR1 (OR=4·81; CI 2·84–8·20; P<0·0001). Many of the isolates from RPLA positive faeces and verotoxic isolates were PCR negative and no evidence could be found for the presence of the enterotoxin gene in a random selection of RPLA positive/PCR negative isolates by gene probe on chromosomal DNA and PCR reaction product or vero cell toxicity neutralized by specific antiserum. Failure of the vero cell toxicity on faeces to be associated with diarrhoea or for cytotoxicity of cultures and RPLA on cultures to agree with the PCRs was believed to be related to the presence of other cytotoxins, the inherent cytotoxicity of equine faeces and to the poor specificity of the commercial antiserum used in the test.

Enterotoxigenic C. perfringens could not account for the overall association of C. perfringens with foal diarrhoea because (a) cultures positive by PCR, RPLA or cytotoxicity were not significantly more common amongst isolates from cases than controls; and (b) the proportion of isolates from cases positive by PCR (PCR1 or PCR2) was too small at 9·7%.

The 16S-23S RNA gene intergenic spacers of isolates of Streptococcus equi (n=5), S. zooepidemicus (n=5), S. equisimilis (n=3) and S. dysgalactiae (n=2) were sequenced and compared. There were distinct regions within the spacer, arranged in the order 1–9 for all S. equi and one S. zooepidemicus isolate and 1,2 and 4–9 for the remaining isolates. Region 4 was identical to the tRNAala gene found in the 16S-23S intergenic spacers of other streptococci. Regions 1, 5, 6 and 7 had distinct variations, each conserved in different isolates. However, amongst the intergenic spacers there were different combinations of variant regions, suggesting a role for DNA recombination in their evolution. The intergenic spacer of all isolates of S. equi and one S. zooepidemicus isolate were almost identical. Primers derived from the variant sequences of regions 1 and 5 to 6 were used to group all S. zooepidemicus (n=17) and S. equi (n=5) into 1 of 8 types by polymerase chain reaction; three S. zooepidemicus isolates typed the same as S. equi. S. equi and S. zooepidemicus were clearly distinguishable from S. equisimilis and S. dysgalactiae which had shorter regions 5 and 6 and no region 7. Most homology for the group C sequences was found in previously published sequences for the 16S-23S intergenic spacers of S. anginosis, S. constellatus, S. intermedius, S. salivarius and S. agalactiae. A 75-90 nucleotide length shared with S. anginosus and S. intermedius in opposite orientations in the two main variants of region 6 supported the role for DNA recombination in the evolution of the spacer. The 16S-23S intergenic spacers indicate that S. zooepidemicus was the archetypal species for S. equi and that both are genetically more distant from S. equisimilis and S. dysgalactiae. The intergenic spacer can be used to identify specifically the group C. streptococci and as an epidemiological marker for S. zooepidemicus.

The Coppergate helmet, found in central York in 1982 and of Anglo-Saxon date, bears a Latin inscription. A new reading of the inscription is offered, and a different view consequently taken of its significance.

The third High Energy Astronomical Observatory, HEAO-3 was launched on the 20th Sept., 1979 into a 496 km, 43.6° orbit, and has since been successfully returning data from all three experiments on board. One of these experiments, that intended to study the heavy and ultra heavy nuclei in the cosmic radiation, is described here.