Apr. 7th, 2009
CIDRAP News
Apr. 7th, 2009 03:42 amJapanese researchers find raccoons had H5N1 exposure
Japanese researchers said today that they have detected H5N1 avian influenza antibodies in 10 wild raccoons, the first such finding in the country's mammals, the Daily Yomiuri reported today. They presented their findings at a conference of the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science and warned that infected raccoons could spread the virus to chicken farms. They based their findings on blood from 998 raccoons that were collected since 2005 from three locations in western Japan and one site in the eastern part of the country. They said that the 10 raccoons that showed H5N1 antibodies were probably infected by eating the carcasses of sick birds or inheriting the antibody from a parent. In December 2008, US researchers reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) that they found antibodies to a variety of influenza subtypes in raccoons. When they experimentally infected the raccoons, they found that the animals can become infected with avian and human influenza A viruses, shed and transmit the virus to other animals, and seroconvert. Raccoons have avian- and human-type cellular receptors, which could make the animals a mixing vessel for creating novel flu strains.
[Apr 7 Daily Yomiuri story]
[Dec 2008 EID report]
Multiple Salmonella findings prompted Kraft to test pistachios
Kraft Foods said a brand of trail mix that has been recalled due to potentially tainted pistachios had tested positive for Salmonella four times, as far back as September 2008, according to an Apr 3 Chicago Tribune report. The fourth positive test, in March 2009, prompted the company to test its inventory of Setton Farms pistachios, which showed evidence of Salmonella. Kraft said it promptly notified the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its findings and recalled its Back to Nature trail mix. The company said in each instance it was able to pull the potentially contaminated product before it reached consumers. In other developments, food companies have so far recalled 144 pistachio products, the FDA said on Apr 3. Meanwhile, pistachio trade groups on Apr 4 launched a Web site targeted to consumers that lists pistachio products that don't contain nuts from the Setton Farms facilities and are not subject to any recall: http://www.pistachiorecall.org.
[Apr 3 Chicago Tribune story]
[FDA pistachio recall list]
[Apr 4 Western Pistachio Association press release]

Japanese researchers said today that they have detected H5N1 avian influenza antibodies in 10 wild raccoons, the first such finding in the country's mammals, the Daily Yomiuri reported today. They presented their findings at a conference of the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science and warned that infected raccoons could spread the virus to chicken farms. They based their findings on blood from 998 raccoons that were collected since 2005 from three locations in western Japan and one site in the eastern part of the country. They said that the 10 raccoons that showed H5N1 antibodies were probably infected by eating the carcasses of sick birds or inheriting the antibody from a parent. In December 2008, US researchers reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) that they found antibodies to a variety of influenza subtypes in raccoons. When they experimentally infected the raccoons, they found that the animals can become infected with avian and human influenza A viruses, shed and transmit the virus to other animals, and seroconvert. Raccoons have avian- and human-type cellular receptors, which could make the animals a mixing vessel for creating novel flu strains.
[Apr 7 Daily Yomiuri story]
[Dec 2008 EID report]
Multiple Salmonella findings prompted Kraft to test pistachios
Kraft Foods said a brand of trail mix that has been recalled due to potentially tainted pistachios had tested positive for Salmonella four times, as far back as September 2008, according to an Apr 3 Chicago Tribune report. The fourth positive test, in March 2009, prompted the company to test its inventory of Setton Farms pistachios, which showed evidence of Salmonella. Kraft said it promptly notified the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its findings and recalled its Back to Nature trail mix. The company said in each instance it was able to pull the potentially contaminated product before it reached consumers. In other developments, food companies have so far recalled 144 pistachio products, the FDA said on Apr 3. Meanwhile, pistachio trade groups on Apr 4 launched a Web site targeted to consumers that lists pistachio products that don't contain nuts from the Setton Farms facilities and are not subject to any recall: http://www.pistachiorecall.org.
[Apr 3 Chicago Tribune story]
[FDA pistachio recall list]
[Apr 4 Western Pistachio Association press release]

Function report
Apr. 7th, 2009 03:23 pmOkay, I'm using the Dreamwidth posting interface for this post instead of Semagic, just to test it out. It seems to be working with no problems.
The pic uploader works fine, although I'm wondering what the size limit is as far as KB or pixels go.
I really, really like the separate access and subscriber function. Although I would like to see a way to allow/deny permission to subscribe to any particular journal.
So far I haven't come across any functions that don't work properly.
ETA: The image insert functionality is limited. Photobucket link doesn't work yet, nor does the upload from your computer link work yet. I uploaded my pic to Photobucket, then used used Semagic to post my image. I reckon a direct link in the image insert interface would have worked as well.
The tag editor works;)
The post editor works:D
The pic uploader works fine, although I'm wondering what the size limit is as far as KB or pixels go.
I really, really like the separate access and subscriber function. Although I would like to see a way to allow/deny permission to subscribe to any particular journal.
So far I haven't come across any functions that don't work properly.
ETA: The image insert functionality is limited. Photobucket link doesn't work yet, nor does the upload from your computer link work yet. I uploaded my pic to Photobucket, then used used Semagic to post my image. I reckon a direct link in the image insert interface would have worked as well.
The tag editor works;)
The post editor works:D
Dreamwidth and Semagic tutorial
Apr. 7th, 2009 03:33 pmOkay so you want to set up your Semagic for Dreamwidth.
Fire up your Semagic program.
Uncheck the remember password and auto login if they're checked. You can tick the boxes again later. But to get Dreamwidth on Semagic you need those unchecked for right now.
Go up to the top of the interface and click on File.
Then click server settings.
A box ahould pop up.
Dreamwidth is not on the list of servers, so you'll have to add it manually.
In the server box, highlight whatever is there and delete.
Type in www.dreamwidth.org
Leave the port number as is.
Leave the path number as is.
Type in your Dreamwidth username and password into the boxes.
The API should be for LiveJournal.
The secure password box should be checked.
Hit okay.
Exit the program and restart.
Your name should be on the drop down list of usernames, but if it's not; type your Dreamwidth username and password into the sign in boxes, and check remember password if you don't want to have to type it in every time. Or auto login if you want to login into Dream width first when you start the program.
Then click the log in button, and you should be all set to go.
This is the method I used to get Dreamwidth on Semagic.
I hope this helps:)
I have no clues about troubleshooting problems with the program.
I reckon you'd have to go to the LJ community and ask for help there.
ljwin32_sema
Fire up your Semagic program.
Uncheck the remember password and auto login if they're checked. You can tick the boxes again later. But to get Dreamwidth on Semagic you need those unchecked for right now.
Go up to the top of the interface and click on File.
Then click server settings.
A box ahould pop up.
Dreamwidth is not on the list of servers, so you'll have to add it manually.
In the server box, highlight whatever is there and delete.
Type in www.dreamwidth.org
Leave the port number as is.
Leave the path number as is.
Type in your Dreamwidth username and password into the boxes.
The API should be for LiveJournal.
The secure password box should be checked.
Hit okay.
Exit the program and restart.
Your name should be on the drop down list of usernames, but if it's not; type your Dreamwidth username and password into the sign in boxes, and check remember password if you don't want to have to type it in every time. Or auto login if you want to login into Dream width first when you start the program.
Then click the log in button, and you should be all set to go.
This is the method I used to get Dreamwidth on Semagic.
I hope this helps:)
I have no clues about troubleshooting problems with the program.
I reckon you'd have to go to the LJ community and ask for help there.
ljwin32_sema
Travel Deal Alert!
Apr. 7th, 2009 06:04 pmSmarter Travel

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