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Although forgiveness is hard work, it enables individuals who have gone through unfairness and harm outgrow the pain of resentment and hostility to a condition of wellness and health. Still, it is possible that authentic forgiveness, regardless of significant violations may, as a matter of choice occur when the injured have hitherto achieved proficiency with the forgiveness praxis by practicing consistently. This manuscript suggests a brief dispositional forgiveness praxis that permits individuals to achieve experience in forgiving trivial faults on a consistent basis. Even though other forgiveness practices are in existence, this praxis is distinctive in that it draws from a philosophically and scientifically firm appreciation of the forgiveness procedures and is supposed to build up ones’ capacity to forgive in the circumstances of more difficult wounding and unfairness that may occur ahead. Individual persons engage in this praxis by meditating upon smaller instances of wrongdoing from their everyday life and wade through six steps, each informed by inquiry in forgiveness counseling and self-understanding; to move from anger to empathy. A case study is provided to demonstrate one personal experience in engaging in one of consistent forgiveness praxis in the repercussions of a small wrongdoing.

In the mammalian lung, respiratory macrophages provide front line defense against invading pathogens and particulate matter. In birds, respiratory macrophages are known as free avian respiratory macrophages (FARM) and a dearth of the cells in the avian lung has been purported to foreordain a weak first line of pulmonary defense, a condition associated with high mortality of domestic birds occasioned by respiratory inflictions. Avian pulmonary mechanisms including a three tiered aerodynamic filtration system, tight epithelial junctions and an efficient mucociliary escalator system have been known to supplement FARM protective roles. Current studies, however, report FARM to exhibit an exceptionally efficient phagocytic capacity and are effective in elimination of invading pathogens. In this review, we also report on effects of selective synthetic peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR γ) agonists on non phlogistic phagocytic properties in the FARM. To develop effective therapeutic interventions targeting FARM in treatment and management of respiratory disease conditions in the poultry, further studies are required to fully understand the role of FARM in innate and adaptive immune responses.

ABSTRACTContagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a severe respiratory disease that is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by Mycoplasma mycoidessubsp. mycoides, a bacterium belonging to the Mycoplasma mycoidescluster. In the absence of an efficient CBPP vaccine, improved and easy-to-use diagnostic assays for recurrent testing combined with isolation and treatment of positive animals represent an option for CBPP control in Africa. Here we describe the comprehensive screening of 17 immunogenic Mycoplasma mycoidessubsp. mycoidesproteins using well-characterized bovine sera for the development of a novel cocktail enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for laboratory use. Two recombinant Mycoplasmaimmunogens, MSC_0136 and MSC_0636, were used to set up a standardized cocktail ELISA protocol. According to the results from more than 100 serum samples tested, the sensitivity and specificity of the novel cocktail ELISA were 85.6% and 96.4%, respectively, with an overall diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)-prescribed serological assays. In addition, we provide a proof of principle for a field-applicable, easy-to-use commercially produced prototype lateral-flow test for rapid (<30-min) diagnosis of CBPP.

In March 2013, 40 leading experts from across the world gathered at a workshop, hosted by the European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, Italy, to discuss the multiple benefits of soil carbon as part of a Rapid Assessment Process (RAP) project commissioned by Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE). This collaboration led to the publication of the SCOPE Series Volume 71 “Soil Carbon: Science, Management and Policy for Multiple Benefits”; which brings together the essential scientific evidence and policy opportunities regarding the global importance of soil carbon. This short communication summarises the key messages of the assessment including research and policy implications.