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Many accounting departments in the United States list good writing ability as a learning goal for accreditation purposes. However, the question of how writing ability relates to accounting academic performance remains largely unexplored. The authors analyzed transcript data to shed light on the relationship between accounting students' writing ability and their academic performance in their undergraduate accounting courses. They found that writing ability does affect accounting academic performance, even after controlling for prior grade point average, gender, and nontransfer versus transfer status. Our finding adds to the understanding of the specific relationship between writing ability and academic performance, and to the general body of research on writing ability in accounting education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the implications of the changes in the U.S. federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and state laws. It discusses the differing eligibility standards for various state laws, the difference between the federal and state laws, and the states that do and do not practice family-leave laws. It mentions that the law requires covered employers to provide unpaid leave to eligible employees for certain life events and has now addressed further situations in military service.

The US Department of Homeland Security is currently funding the design, development and demonstration of an inherently fault current limiting HTS cable, called Secure Super Grids, under the Hydra project with Con Edison. The cable is 300 m long and is being designed to carry 96 MVA at a distribution level voltage of 13.8 kV. The cable will be built using cable system experience gained by AMSC and Ultera (a Southwire and nkt Cables joint venture) on previous projects. The underground cable will be permanently installed and energized in New York City in 2010. The project is led by American Superconductor who is teamed with Ultera and Con Edison. This paper describes the general goals and design criteria of the project. An overview of the concept of Secure Super Grids and advantages of this type of cable are presented in a grid-based network modeling. In addition, the design issues such as tailoring of the HTS wire to provide adequate thermal stability and electrical properties both under normal operation and during a fault are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the emergence of zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in foxhound population in the U.S. Isolation and immunohistochemical detection of leishmania infantum; Infection of leishmania in individual co-infected with AIDS; Diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis.

Presents the 3-year-long serological survey to determine the prevalence of agglutinating antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in raccoons collected from Fairfax County, Virginia. Prevalence of reported cases of encephalitis caused by Sarcocystis neurona in raccoons; Examination of 469 raccoons for the survey; Indication of the study which found that the exposure to S. neurona is high in the metropolitan area.

Abstract: There is little information available on the species dynamics of eimerian parasites in grazing cattle in the central Appalachian region of the United States. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the level of infection and species dynamics of Eimeria spp. in grazing beef cattle of various age groups over the course of a year in the central Appalachian region. Rectal fecal samples were collected from male and female calves (n =72) monthly from May through October 2005, heifers only (n =36) monthly from November 2005 to April 2006, and cows (n =72) in May, July, and September, 2005. Eimeria spp. oocysts were seen in 399 of 414 (96%) fecal samples collected from the calves from May through October. Fecal oocysts counts (FOC) in the calves were lower (P <0.05) in May than all other months and no significant differences were detected from June through September. Eimeria spp. oocysts were detected in 198 of 213 (92%) of fecal samples collected from the 36 replacement heifers monthly from November to April and monthly mean FOC did not differ during this time period. The prevalence of oocyst shedding increased to 100% in calves in September and remained near 100% in the replacement heifers during the sampling period. Eimeria spp. oocysts were also detected in 150 of 200 (75%) samples collected in May, July, and September from the cows and mean FOC did not differ significantly over the sampling period. Eimeria spp. composition was dominated by Eimeria bovis in fecal samples collected from calves, replacement heifers and cows. Mixed Eimeria spp. infections were, however, common in all groups and 13 Eimeria spp. oocysts were identified throughout the sampling period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Strain background contributes to disease susceptibility of Scid knockout mice to Sarcocytsis neurona encephalitis. • Interferon gamma derived from T cells is sufficient to protect mice from Sarcocytsis neurona encephalitis. • Interferon gamma plays an important role in Sarcocytsis neurona resistance. Sarcocystis neurona is the predominant etiological agent of the infectious equine neurologic disease, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), which is prevalent in the United States. A wealth of knowledge about S. neurona biology and its life cycle has accumulated over the last several decades. However, much remains unknown about the aberrant equine host's immune response to S. neurona and the relatively high prevalence of exposure to the protozoa but relatively infrequent occurrence of clinical neurologic disease. Mouse models simulating EPM are commonly used to study the disease due to numerous challenges associated with studying the disease in horses. The critical role of the cytokine, interferon gamma (IFNγ), in protection against S. neurona encephalitis has been well established as Ifnγ−/− mice are highly susceptible to S. neurona encephalitis. However, there are discrepancies in the literature regarding S. neurona disease susceptibility in lymphocyte deficient mice, lacking T-lymphocytes and their associated Ifnγ production. In the current study, we investigated S. neurona encephalitis susceptibility in 2 genetically different strains of lymphocyte null mice, C57Bl/6 (B6). scid and Balb/c. scid. The B6. scid mouse was determined to be susceptible to S. neurona encephalitis as 100 % of infected mice developed neurologic disease within 60 days post infection (DPI). The Balb/c. scid mouse was nearly disease resistant as only 10 % of mice developed neurologic disease 60 DPI. Encephalitis was histologically demonstrable and S. neurona was identified in cerebellar samples collected from B6. scid but absent in Balb/c. scid mice. To further investigate the importance of T-lymphocyte derived Ifnγ, T- lymphocytes were adoptively transferred into B6. scid mice. The adoptive transfer of Ifnγ competent T- lymphocytes offered complete protection against S. neurona encephalitis but transfer of Ifnγ deficient T- lymphocytes did not with 100 % of these recipient mice succumbing to S. neruona encephalitis. Histological analysis of collected cerebellar samples confirmed the presences of S. neurona and encephalitis in recipient mice that developed neurologic disease. These studies show that the background strain is critical in studying SCID susceptibility to S. neurona disease and suggest a protective role of Ifnγ producing T- lymphocytes in S. neurona encephalitis susceptible mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi was demonstrated in blood smears and heart tissue from a 5-year old, female, English Cocker Spaniel that had never been outside of the state of Virginia, USA. Plasma from the dog was positive in a commercially available immunochromatographic dipstick assay for T. cruzi and negative in an immunochromatographic dipstick assay for visceral Leishmania spp. The plasma from the dog had an indirect immunofluorescent antibody titer of 1:800 against epimastigotes of T. cruzi while the titer was 1:50 against promastigotes of L. infantum. The parasite was isolated from the blood in vitro from the dog (TcVT-1 isolate) and used to experimentally infect female C3H and ICR mice. The parasite was nonpathogenic for experimentally inoculated mice. DNA was isolated from parasites grown in vitro and used to determine that the genotype of T. cruzi present in the dog was genotype TcIV. This genotype is common in raccoons, Procyon lotor, in North America and suggests that raccoons may serve as reservoirs for canine infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: An evaluation of currently available in-clinic diagnostic tests for Giardia duodenalis infection of dogs and cats has not been performed. In addition, there is discordance among published diagnostic comparisons. The absence of a true gold standard for detecting Giardia duodenalis also complicates diagnostic evaluations., Objectives: To evaluate diagnostic tests commercially available in the United States for detecting Giardia duodenalis in dogs and cats, in comparison to a widely used reference test, the direct immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and also to compare the results of 2 methods of analysis: comparison of diagnostic tests to a reference test (IFA) and Bayesian analysis., Animals: Fecal samples from a convenience sample of 388 cats and dogs located in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Virginia., Methods: Fecal samples were tested for Giardia duodenalis by zinc sulfate centrifugal fecal flotation and 4 different commercial diagnostic immunoassays. Results were analyzed via Bayesian analysis and by comparison to the IFA as the reference test., Results: Sensitivity and specificity by comparison to IFA was ≥82% and ≥90%, respectively, for all diagnostic tests in dogs and cats. When analyzed via Bayesian analysis, sensitivity and specificity were ≥83% and ≥95%, respectively. When ZnSO 4 centrifugal fecal flotation results were combined with immunoassay results, there was no longer a significant difference between the sensitivities of the commercial in-clinic immunoassays., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: The Bayesian analysis validates using IFA as the reference test. Differences in commercial in-clinic immunoassay sensitivities can be mitigated when the results are combined with ZnSO 4 centrifugal fecal flotation results., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of birds and mammals. Cats are the only definitive host and thus the only source of infective oocysts, but other mammals and birds can develop tissue cysts. Although feline infections are typically asymptomatic, infection during human pregnancy can cause severe disease in the fetus. Cat owners can reduce their pets' exposure risk by keeping all cats indoors and not feeding them raw meat. Humans usually become infected through ingestion of oocyst-contaminated soil and water, tissue cysts in undercooked meat, or congenitally. Because of their fastidious nature, the passing of non-infective oocysts, and the short duration of oocyst shedding, direct contact with cats is not thought to be a primary risk for human infection., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis spp, and Toxoplasma gondii are related coccidian parasites that can cause abortion and neonatal mortality in animals. In addition, T gondii and certain species of Sarcocystis are zoonotic. This article reviews information on the etiology, diagnosis, control, and prevention of these diseases.

Leishmaniasis is an important zoonotic disease that accounts for approximately 57,000 deaths among people each year. Dogs are reservoirs for the disease, and dog ownership is a risk factor in endemic areas. This article discusses insect vectors for this disease, as well as diagnosis and treatment for dogs.