Are dogs not susceptible to retroviral infections?

Retroviruses have been proven to cause infections and diseases in a series of mammalian hosts but not in dogs.Then,this letter discussed the dog susceptibility to retrovirus infection,encompassing arguments to understand why dogs may have not been infected by retroviruses thus far.The potential resistance of retrovirus in dogs enables this provocative short communication to discuss this question,looking at some evolutive aspects.The lineage of canids has shown,throughout its evolutionary history,a smaller accumulation of retroviruses in canid genomes,classifed as endogenous retroviruses.In this context,the genomes of canids seem to ofer obstacles,which have been evolutionarily conserved,in the face of retroviral infection.

Clinical features of chronic kidney disease in dogs with the serological presence of Leptospira spp.,Ehrlichia canis,and Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Chronic kidney disease is commonly diagnosed in dogs,and clinical signs may be aggravated when infected agents are involved.In this case report,33 dogs with chronic kidney disease were clinically evaluated and serologically tested for Leptospira spp.,Ehrlichia canis,and Anaplasma phagocytophilum.The seroprevalence for Leptospira spp.was 39.4%.The most frequent serovars found were Pyrogenes,Canicola,Bratislava and Australis,with serological titers between 1:100 to 1:800.Clinical signs included fever,depression,decreased body condition,vomiting and hema‑turia.Signifcant laboratory fndings were anemia,leukocytosis,thrombocytopenia,increased liver enzymes,urea and creatinine,hyperbilirubinemia and hyperphosphatemia.All leptospira seronegative dogs were positive for one or both monitored homoparasites(i.e.,E.canis and A.phagocytophilum);only three leptospira seropositive dogs were positive for one or both hemoparasites.Findings also suggest that endemic hemoparasites of dogs should be moni‑tored in dogs with a kidney condition for a better clinical picture of the patients and therapeutic approach.

Efficacy of 1% Permethrin and 2% Permethrin Combined with 1% Piperonyl Butoxide against Rhipicephalus sanguineus Ticks in Naturally Infested Dogs

The aim of the present study was to compare the ixodicide efficacy of 1% permethrin applied as a shampoo-bath in single treatment and a combined formulation of 2% permethrin + 1% piperonyl butoxide applied as powder in a single treatment against Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, in naturally infested dogs. Eighteen adult cross-mixed dogs, harboring to at least 20 ticks/animal, were selected on pre-treatment live tick counts. On day 0, the dogs were then divided in 3 groups of 6 animals each, for treatment: Group 1 (G1) received 1% permethrin applied as shampoo-bath (approximately 10 ml/kg bw), according to label instructions. G2 was treated with 2% permethrin + 1% piperonyl butoxide applied as powder, and rubbed as massage on the body, as recommended by the producer. G3 served as a non-treated control. After the treatment, the dogs were checked out for live ticks counting on days 0, 1, 7, and 14. The ixodicide efficacy was assessed based on the percentage reductions of ticks on the days analyzed post-treatment, with respect to the untreated control. Results showed that permethrin alone removed ticks on 81%, 93.1% and 89.6% for days 1, 7 and 14, respectively. The combined formulation of 2% permethrin + 1% piperonyl butoxide exerted a better efficacy of 98.8, 97.7 and 97.0%, respectively. It is concluded that this combined formulation was highly effective at rapidly repelling and killing Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks on naturally infected dogs, showing a significant effect on days 1, 7 and 14 after tick exposure. The sustained high and quick level of efficacy of this combination may well interfere with the transmission of Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks. It is concluded that the sustained high level of efficacy of the permethrin + piperonyl butoxide combination may well exert an additive effect and could interfere with the transmission of Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks.

Molecular characterization of canine parvovirus type 2(CPV2)reveals a high prevalence of the CPV2c genotype among dogs sufering from diarrhea

Canine parvovirus 2(CPV-2)is a highly contagious virus in dogs that typically causes hemorrhagic enteritis and a high mortality rate in unvaccinated puppies.The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of CPV-2 hinder its efective prevention of infection by vaccination.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of CPV-2 in China,rectal swabs from afected dogs were collected from diferent animal clinics in Kunshan from 2022 to 2023.Preliminary detection and capsid gene sequencing of CPV-2 were performed using previously described primers and protocols.The overall detection rate for CPV-2 was 16.5%(33/200).A signifcant association was found between the CPV-2-positivity and clinical signs,age,breed and vaccination status.Sequence analysis revealed the presence of CPV-2c genotypes in all positive samples,which were genetically similar to other Asian CPV-2c strains.Notably,four key mutations(A5G,F267Y,Y324I and Q370R)were detected in all isolates,and one novel mutation(I447M)was detected in three CPV-2 isolates.These mutations in the CPV-2 strains could impact vaccine efcacy and the efectiveness of the virus immune evasion.Surprisingly,no recombination events were observed between the identifed CPV-2c strains and reference strains from China.Our data revealed that amino acid residues 324,426 and 440 of VP2 may under strong selection pressure.This pattern of genetic variation in the CPV-2 lineage warrants continuous laboratory-based surveillance programs in other parts of China to better understand the pattern of seasonal distribution and association between emerging genotypes and the intensity of disease severity.

Isolation of a feline-derived feline panleukopenia virus with an A300P substitution in the VP2 protein and confrmation of its pathogenicity in dogs

Feline panleukopenia virus(FPV)is a single-stranded DNA virus that can infect cats and cause feline panleukopenia,which is a highly contagious and fatal disease in felines.The sequence of FPV is highly variable,and mutations in the amino acids of its capsid protein play crucial roles in altering viral virulence,immunogenicity,host selection,and other abilities.In this study,the epidemiology of FPV was studied using 746 gastrointestinal swab samples derived from cats that presented gastrointestinal symptoms specifcally,diarrhea or vomiting during the period spanning from 2018 to 2022.The overall prevalence of FPV-positive patients among these samples was determined to be 45.4%.Capsid(virion)protein 2(VP2)gene of each FPV-positive sample was sequenced and amplifed,yielding 65 VP2 sequences.Among them,six VP2 gene sequences were detected in the majority of the samples test positive for FPV,and these positive samples originated from a diverse range of geographical locations.These isolates were named FPV-6,FPV-10,FPV-15,FPV-251,FPV-271 and FPV-S2.Additionally,the substitution of Ala300Pro(A300P)in VP2 was detected for the frst time in feline-derived FPV(FPV-251).FPV-251 isolate,with this substitution in VP2 protein,exhibited stable proliferative capacity in Madin-Darby canine kidney(MDCK)cells and A72 cells.FPV-271 was selected as the FPV control isolate due to its single amino acid diference from VP2 protein of FPV-251 at position 300(FPV-271 has alanine,while FPV-251 has proline).After oral infection,both FPV-251 and FPV-271 isolates caused feline panleukopenia,which is characterized by clinical signs of enterocolitis.However,FPV-251 can infect dogs through the oral route and cause gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms with lesions in the intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes(MLNs)of infected dogs.This is the frst report on the presence of an A300P substitution in VP2 protein of feline-derived FPV.Additionally,FPV isolate with a substitution of A300P at VP2 protein demonstrated efcient replication capabilities in canine cell lines and the ability to infect dogs.

Dangerous delicacies for dogs

Activity 1.Think about the following questions and write down your answers before reading the text.1.Do you know some foods are toxic to dogs?2.What foods do you avoid giving your dog?

种子休眠与萌发的关键调控因子DOG1的研究进展

DOG1(Delay of germination 1)蛋白是种子休眠的一种主要调控因子,可与ABA协同作用来延迟种子萌发。核心脱落酸(ABA)信号转导途径和DOG1途径在蛋白磷酸酶2C(PP2C)中汇聚。DOG1调控种子休眠需要PP2C,并通过与ABA过敏感萌发(AHG1/AHG3)结合来增强ABA的信号转导。DOG1抑制AHG1的作用来增加ABA的敏感性和诱导种子休眠。近年来,DOG1对种子休眠与萌发的调控研究取得了显著进展。本文对该领域的研究成果进行了综述,主要包括:DOG1对种子成熟、休眠与萌发的作用,DOG1表达的转录调控机制以及DOG1对种子休眠与萌发的调控及作用机制,最后提出了在本领域需要进一步研究的科学问题。

三阴性乳腺癌患者CD117、DOG1表达水平与临床病理特征及预后的相关性

目的 探究CD117、DOG1表达水平与三阴性乳腺癌(triple-negative breast cancer, TNBC)患者临床病理特征及预后的相关性。方法 回顾性纳入2000—2011年北京协和医院的TNBC患者。取其肿瘤组织芯片,采用免疫组化法检测肿瘤细胞中CD117、DOG1表达情况,分析二者与患者年龄、肿瘤直径、美国癌症联合委员会(American Joint Committee on Cancer, AJCC)分期、组织学分级、P53、Ki-67增殖指数等临床病理特征的关系,及其对患者生存期的影响。结果共入选符合纳入与排除标准的TNBC患者185例,其中CD117阳性24例(12.97%),DOG1阳性22例(11.89%),二者共表达率为1.62%。相较于肿瘤细胞CD117阴性患者,CD117阳性患者中高Ki-67增殖指数(87.50%比67.70%,P=0.048)、基底样TNBC(95.83%比74.53%,P=0.020)、P53弥漫强阳(33.33%比13.66%,P=0.032)的比例均更高。相较于DOG1阴性患者,DOG1阳性患者中肿瘤直径≤2 cm(22.73%比45.40%,P=0.026)、基底样TNBC(54.55%比80.37%,P=0.015)的比例均更低。中位随访时间71个月(范围:2~170个月),失访4例(2.16%),复发或远处转移66例(35.68%),死亡34例(18.38%)。生存分析显示,AJCC分期(HR=7.624,95%CI:2.187~26.576,P=0.001)及CD117阳性伴P53弥漫强阳(HR=3.942,95%CI:1.366~11.379,P=0.011)与TNBC患者总生存期呈负相关。结论 CD117阳性、DOG1阴性与基底样TNBC具有一定相关性,且CD117阳性伴P53弥漫强阳者总生存期更短,死亡风险增高。

Amino acid nutrition and metabolism in domestic cats and dogs

Domestic cats and dogs are carnivores that have evolved differentially in the nutrition and metabolism of amino acids.This article highlights both proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic amino acids.Dogs inadequately synthesize citrulline(the precursor of arginine)from glutamine,glutamate,and proline in the small intestine.Although most breeds of dogs have potential for adequately converting cysteine into taurine in the liver,a small proportion(1.3%-2.5%)of the Newfoundland dogs fed commercially available balanced diets exhibit a deficiency of taurine possibly due to gene mutations.Certain breeds of dogs(e.g.,golden retrievers)are more prone to taurine deficiency possibly due to lower hepatic activities of cysteine dioxygenase and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase.De novo synthesis of arginine and taurine is very limited in cats.Thus,concentrations of both taurine and arginine in feline milk are the greatest among domestic mammals.Compared with dogs,cats have greater endogenous nitrogen losses and higher dietary requirements for many amino acids(e.g.,arginine,taurine,cysteine,and tyrosine),and are less sensitive to amino acid imbalances and antagonisms.Throughout adulthood,cats and dogs may lose 34%and 21%of their lean body mass,respectively.Adequate intakes of high-quality protein(i.e.,32%and 40%animal protein in diets of aging dogs and cats,respectively;dry matter basis)are recommended to alleviate aging-associated reductions in the mass and function of skeletal muscles and bones.Pet-food grade animal-sourced foodstuffs are excellent sources of both proteinogenic amino acids and taurine for cats and dogs,and can help to optimize their growth,development,and health.

Impact of Fluorescent Light Energy on the Quality of Life of Dogs with Dermatologic Disease and Their Owners

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is a term used to evaluate general well-being, and it is defined as ‘the degree to which an individual enjoys his or her life. Within the realm of medicine, the evaluation of QoL frequently involves examining how disease exerts a detrimental impact, diminishing the enjoyment and fulfilment experienced by the individual. Dermatological diseases have been found to exert a substantial negative influence on the QoL of dogs and their owners due to nuisance and stress related to the disease but also due to the caregiver burden. In the management of bacterial skin infections, topical therapy is commonly administered alongside systemic antibiotics. Nonetheless, the protracted duration of treatment and difficulties in ensuring owner compliance can introduce a significant caregiver burden, potentially exacerbating the challenges associated with these conditions. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact on the quality of life (QoL) of dogs with dermatologic diseases after fluorescent light energy (FLE) treatment. Methods: The study was an open, prospective, multicentric clinical trial that included dogs with various dermatological conditions. The dogs received FLE treatment once weekly until the clinical resolution was achieved. Owners completed a validated questionnaire to assess the QoL of their dogs before and after therapy. Results: Thirty-five dogs with deep pyoderma, interdigital furunculosis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, wounds and perianal fistulas were included. All dogs received two sessions of fluorescent light energy once a week. Median treatment duration was 9 weeks for perianal fistula, 7 weeks for interdigital furunculosis, 5 weeks for deep pyoderma, 3 weeks for wounds and 1.5 weeks for pyotraumatic dermatitis. Complete remission was noted in 86% of dogs, and 14% showed an improvement but partial remission. The majority of owners reported a positive impact on their dogs’ QoL after therapy, and 74% of the dogs showed at least a 50% reduction in QoL scores. Conclusion: Fluorescent light energy has been shown to exert beneficial effects on the healing of dermatological diseases and the quality of life (QoL) in dogs and their owners, whether used as a standalone treatment or in combination with standard care therapies. Additionally, it was well-tolerated by the dogs. This study emphasizes the significance of considering both the owner’s and dog’s QoL when evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of dermatological treatments.

Therapeutic Effects of an Alpha-Casozepine and White Fish Muscle Hydrolyzed Complementary Feed on Canine Separation-Related Disorders and Quality of Life of Dogs and Their Pet Owners

Background: Separation-related disorders are prevalent in dogs and can result in problem behaviours such as inappropriate elimination, destructive behaviour, and distress vocalizations which occur when an owner is absent or perceived as absent. Numerous natural products are marketed for managing anxiety in dogs;however, few, if any, of these products have documented evidence of efficacy in veterinary behaviour. Purpose: This open, multicentric clinical trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a new supplement containing alpha-casozepine and fish muscle hydrolysate on the separation-related problem in dogs and the impact on the quality of life of dogs and their pet owners. Material and Methods: Fifty-one dogs with clinical signs compatible with separation-related problems were included. The dogs were treated with a complementary feed (Zylkene Plus, Vetoquinol, France) for 30 days. Separation-related behaviour assessment (SRP), emotional disorders assessment (EDED) and the quality of life (QoL) of the pets and their pet owner were assessed at baseline and the end of the study by the veterinarians. In addition, owners were asked to rate their dog’s SRP weekly after enrolment using the same questionnaire that the veterinarian used at the beginning of the study. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the SRP, EDED, and QoL scores (P Conclusion: The results of this study support the hypothesis that the combination of alpha-casozepine and fish muscle hydrolysate is a promising and effective option to reduce the frequency and severity of separation-related behaviour in dogs and improve the quality of dogs and their owners.

Stray Dogs Problem and Right Approach to Prevent Attack

In this study,it is aimed to examine the knowledge level of reading stray dogs’behavior and the correct approach.Understanding the aggression of dogs and understanding their behavior is very important for stray dogs and dog owners in social life.Questionnaires prepared online were shared with 279 people of different ages and genders working in different fields in 50 provinces located in different regions,and the feedback obtained by answering voluntarily was taken into consideration.As a result of the study,when a dangerous-looking dog is encountered,it is necessary to stay as calm as possible and start to walk away slowly,without losing sight of the dog,with short steps,and without running under any circumstances.But without turning your back,because turning your back on the dog is a sign of weakness and an invitation to attack.While 36%left unanswered the question of what should be done at the time of the dog attack,20.1%replied by saying that they would stand calmly and shout and scare,and 20.9%would shout and stop.The results of the survey show that there are inaccuracies and deficiencies in both the body language of the dogs and the way they approach the dog.The participants answered the frequency of encountering stray animals by saying 75.9%daily.A safe approach to dogs or knowing the suitable approaches to calm a dangerous dog is very important in eliminating the dangers.These results show that there is a need for correct,informative activities on dog behavior and the right approach.

An Ecofeminism Interpretation of Ian McEwan’s Black Dogs

Ian McEwan’s Black Dogs reflects the anxiety and panic after the Second World War vividly with charming words.Based on Ian McEwan’s Black Dogs,many scholars have explored and acquired great achievements in trauma writing and historical writing.Through analyzing the similarities of the heroine’s long-term neglected inner needs and the cruelly killed creatures in nature,this paper finds there is an intimate connection between female and nature in Black Dogs.However,instead of being in a constant state of repression,female and nature will fight back.To sum up,this paper attempts to make an ecofeminism interpretation of Ian McEwan’s Black Dogs.A conclusion may be reached that June’s spiritual awakening resonates with enhancement of nature’s power.

Hybrid Prairie Dog and Beluga Whale Optimization Algorithm for Multi-Objective Load Balanced-Task Scheduling in Cloud Computing Environments

The cloud computing technology is utilized for achieving resource utilization of remotebased virtual computer to facilitate the consumers with rapid and accurate massive data services.It utilizes on-demand resource provisioning,but the necessitated constraints of rapid turnaround time,minimal execution cost,high rate of resource utilization and limited makespan transforms the Load Balancing(LB)process-based Task Scheduling(TS)problem into an NP-hard optimization issue.In this paper,Hybrid Prairie Dog and Beluga Whale Optimization Algorithm(HPDBWOA)is propounded for precise mapping of tasks to virtual machines with the due objective of addressing the dynamic nature of cloud environment.This capability of HPDBWOA helps in decreasing the SLA violations and Makespan with optimal resource management.It is modelled as a scheduling strategy which utilizes the merits of PDOA and BWOA for attaining reactive decisions making with respect to the process of assigning the tasks to virtual resources by considering their priorities into account.It addresses the problem of pre-convergence with wellbalanced exploration and exploitation to attain necessitated Quality of Service(QoS)for minimizing the waiting time incurred during TS process.It further balanced exploration and exploitation rates for reducing the makespan during the task allocation with complete awareness of VM state.The results of the proposed HPDBWOA confirmed minimized energy utilization of 32.18% and reduced cost of 28.94% better than approaches used for investigation.The statistical investigation of the proposed HPDBWOA conducted using ANOVA confirmed its efficacy over the benchmarked systems in terms of throughput,system,and response time.

Pharmacokinetics and Absolute Bioavailability of the Sublingual Naloxone Hydrochloride Tablet in Dogs

The pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of the sublingual naloxone tablet were studied with HPLC-electrochemical detection. Eight male dogs received single 5 mg dose of naloxone intravenously, the plasma concentration-time curves could be fitted to two-compartment open model, with 12.0 min of t1/2( , 143.4 min of t1/2( and 7.92 mg(min/L of AUC. The same eight dogs received 5 mg dose of the sublingual naloxone tablet after an interval of a week. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were: t1/2ka = 11.0 min, t1/2( = 15.4 min, t1/2( = 164.1 min, Tmax = 27.7 min, Cmax = 34.2 ng / ml, and AUC = 6.79 mg(min / L, respectively. The plasma concentration-time curves were fitted to the first order absorption two-compartment open model also. The mean absolute bioavailability of the sublingual naloxone tablet was 86.8 ( 10.9%. No statistically significant differences were found with t1/2(, t1/2(, ( and ( between the two routes of administration. These results indicated that the course of disposition for naloxone in dogs was similar for the two routes of administration, and the absolute bioavailability of the sublingual naloxone tablet was high. Thus satisfactory clinical effects could be expected.

Rain Cats and Dogs"的构型理据探源

英语成语"raincatsanddogs"(下倾盆大雨或下猫狗雨)的构型理据多少年来一直让英语爱好者感到茫然不解。《布留沃英文成语与寓言词典》等几部权威辞书对此给出几种构型理据,但还不确切。在引用相关原始资料基础上,最终大体揭示出成语"raincatsanddogs"埋藏已久的理据真相。

Histopathological Observation of Canine Distemper in Raccoon Dogs

In this study, histopathological changes in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and other organs of raccoon dogs died of canine distemper were observed. According to the results, the lung of infected raccoon dogs exhibited severe hemor- rhage and emphysema; the liver was congested and degenerated; the spleen was enlarged; the exhibited severe hemorrhage and hyaline degeneration. Multiple organs of infected raccoon dogs were congested and hemorrhaged with tissue damage, in- flammatory cell infiltration and a series of pathological changes. This study laid a solid foundation for clinical diagnosis and treatment of canine distemper in raccoon dogs.

狂犬病毒GSQY-Dog-China-2013株全基因组序列测定和遗传进化分析

为了全面分析我国狂犬病病毒遗传进化情况,本试验使用反转录PCR(RT-PCR)方法将狂犬病病毒GSQY-Dog-China-2013分为10个片段进行扩增,回收目的片段并与pMD20-T simple载体连接,转化JM109感受态细胞,挑取阳性克隆进行测序;使用DNASTAR软件中的Edit Seq通过拼接相邻片段之间的重叠序列获得GSQY-Dog-China-2013全基因组序列,构建系统进化树进行遗传进化分析。结果显示,GSQY-Dog-China-2013全长11924核苷酸(nt),包含5个开放阅读框,分别编码核蛋白(N)、磷蛋白(P)、基质蛋白(M)、糖蛋白(G)和转录大蛋白(L);基于全基因组序列的进化树分析显示,GSQY-Dog-China-2013株和国内分离株形成一个分支,在国内分离株中与SXYL15株和SXBJ15株形成一个分支,亲缘关系最接近,提示GSQY-Dog-China-2013可能源自我国陕西省。本试验系甘肃省首次报道狂犬病病毒全基因组序列,进一步丰富了我国狂犬病病毒遗传进化数据,为狂犬病全面防治以及疫苗研发提供了数据支持。

Retrospective Study of clinical and hematological aspects associated with dogs naturally infected by Hepatozoon canis in Ludhiana,Punjab,India

Objective:To evaluate clinical and hematological aspects of dogs naturally infected with Hepatozoon canis(H.canis)presented at the Small Animal Clinics of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,Ludhiana.Methods:Blood films of 34 naturally infected dogs were examined for haematological alterations and parasitaemia.Signalment and clinical signs were recorded from the animals.Clinical histories were filled oul during the consultation.Results:Of the 34 positive dogs by Giemsa stained peripheral blood films.88.23%presented parasilaemia by H.canis only,while 11.77%had the combination of H.canis,Babesia sp.and Ehrlichia sp.Young male dogs less than oue-year-old,of nondescript breed,were the most commonly affected.And 26.47%were presented with anorexia/inappetence as the only clinical symptom.Other clinical symptoms were mild to moderate fever,pale mucosae and lethargy;a few were also showing the signs of vomiting and diarrhoea.Haematological alterations showed mainly normochromic-normocytic anaemia,leukocytosis and neutrophilia.Conclusions:The findings of this study substantiate that H.canis caused clinical and haematological alterations of the varied intensity in dogs,even with low parasilaemia.should he taken into consideration.

The ultrasonic harmonic scalpel for circumcision： experimental evaluation using dogs

Male circumcision is one of the most commonly performed operations worldwide, and many novel techniques have been developed for better postoperative outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of applying the ultracision harmonic scalpel （UHS） for circumcision by using dogs. Sixteen adult male dogs were divided into two groups： the UHS group and the control group. The dogs were circumcised with either the UHS or a conventional scalpel. The UHS circumcision procedure and the effects were imaged 1 week after surgery. The two groups were compared with respect to the operative time and volume of blood loss. Postoperative complications, including oedema, infection, bleeding of the incision and wound dehiscence, were recorded for both groups. The mean operative time for the UHS group was only 5.1 min compared with the 35.5 min of the conventional group. The mean blood loss was less than 2 ml for the UHS group and 15 ml for the conventional group. There was only one case of mild oedema in the UHS group, but the postoperative complications in the conventional group included two cases of mild oedema, one infection of the incision and one Case of bleeding of the incision. In conclusion, circumcision using UHS is a novel technique to treat patients with phimosis and excessive foreskin, and this method has a short operative time, less blood loss and fewer complications than the conventional scalpel method. This small animal study orovides a basis for embarking on a larger-scale clinical trial of the UHS.