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Biomedical subjects

R G Zimbelman

Publications and source records attributed to R G Zimbelman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Changing paradigms in animal agriculture: addressing animal issues in Washington by a professional society.

This article discusses key points that we believe are important as we consider how a professional society in Washington could address animal issues with a changing paradigm as expressed by the public. In summary, our professional perspectives need to change as much as or more than society does. We must understand the advocacy groups and where they are coming from. We have to provide relevant messages to the diverse audiences that play an important role in the public policy process. We have to be clear about our goals and objectives as professionals so as to be more effective as we participate with others in trying to achieve stated goals. We need to understand the broad view of the role of science that exists today, particularly focusing on accountability and relevance of our work to assure the public that their funds are well spent. We need to ensure that all the questions are addressed so that society will maintain trust and respect for the role of science in society.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1995

Science and agriculture policy at Land-Grant Institutions.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding of science and education at Land-Grant College institutions is in transition. The traditional "science pipeline" model linking basic science funding with the application of technology is in question as some policymakers dispute the premise that non-directed science results in benefits to society. Historically, research at USDA and Land-Grant institutions is much more directed than that funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), or Department of Energy (DOE). Nevertheless, there are calls for change at the USDA as well. An approach that both the Congress and the Executive branch are taking seeks to direct research dollars according to predetermined goals. This is being emphasized in part due to budget pressures and may force the system to struggle maintaining funding in constant dollars. Deficit cutters are first considering cutting "earmarked grants" for research and facilities at USDA and Land Grant Institutions. Savings in these categories may help to support modest increases in formula funding and competitive grants. Earmarked grants for research and facilities at the Cooperative State Research Service (CSRS) for Fiscal Year 1993 were approximately 26% of total appropriations and distributed to well over 100 specific line items. This level has increased from approximately 15% of CSRS appropriations in 1985. At the same time formula funding has remained static and competitive grants, although increasing, are below authorized levels. As state and federal budgets face pressure and as concerns from consumer and environmental groups are encountered, balancing the percentage of research dollars devoted to research intended to increase production efficiency and the percentage devoted to meeting concerns about food safety, pesticides, water quality, sustainability, animal welfare, and so on will be a challenge. Linking research priorities with producer and consumer needs will be essential in the 1990s. Food Animal Integrated Research 1995, or FAIR '95, was a good start to a process involving multiple stakeholders and relating research goals to societal benefits from animal agriculture. Maintenance of research relevance and fiscal accountability is essential to avoid becoming non-contributors.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1977

Clinical, morphologic, and clinicopathologic findings in Beagles treated for two years with melengestrol acetate.

Melengestrol acetate (MGA) was administered orally to groups of 10 female and 3 male Beagles at doses of 0, 1, 2, or 8 microgram/kg of body weight/day for 2 years. Treatment was continuous at the same dose rate in the first 3 groups, but in the 4th group, the dose for bitches was reduced to 4 microgram of MGA/kg/day during the 2nd year. Matings were made within MGA-dosage groups and among 10 additional bitches treated at 1 microgram of MGA/kg/day and the dogs treated at 8 microgram/kg/day. Doses of 8 and 4 microgram of MGS/kg caused progestational effects on the uterus resulting in expected histopathologic changes, dystocia, and pyometritis. Leukocytosis, normocytic, hypochromic anemia, and increased alkaline phosphatase values were the results of systemic and uterine effects consistent with the indirect and expected pharmacologic action of progestational agents in the bitch. Doses of 1 and 2 microgram of MGA/kg in dogs and bitches and 8 microgram/kg in dogs produced no significant differences in clinical observations, hematologic findings, blood chemical analysis, urinalysis, organ weights, or gross and microscopic observations at necropsy.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1976

Reflections on Second Annual NCTR Hormone Research Symposium.

Hormones have widely different effects depending on species, dosage use, timing of dosage, route of administration, status of animals (re: pregnancy, stage of estrous cycle, age), and end point being measured. Hormones are essential to both maintenance and quality of life, and they occur in our environment with regularity. Hormones are seen by some persons as a regulatory dilemma because, when characterized under conditions of marked overdosage, the biological consequences are often undesirable. Because many of the naturally occurring hormones were identified long ago and have been studied for many decades, the reality is that much more knowledge is available on hormones than on more recently discovered substances, either naturally occurring or synthetic. The effects of hormones on tumors, either increases or decreases in incidence, appear to be indirect through alterations of normal physiological processes. The mechanism of action of hormones at the cellular level suggests that hormones are not involved in cancer by causing DNA changes, but in the degree of expression of changes in DNA that have occurred by other means. Key studies, especially at the molecular level, to further define the involvement of hormones in carcinogenesis should help us to define tolerance levels and aid with the regulatory dilemma.

Agriculture↗