Fitness industry owners and managers have learned of the importance of reinvesting in the physical plant and equipment on a regular basis. Yet, many still do not create committed three- to five-year plans. In fact, facility operators are often reactive vs. proactive when making capital expenditures. Continue reading
Butterflies Not Harmed by Genetically Modified Corn Pollen
Opponents of genetically engineered foods have often cited a laboratory study suggesting that the population of Monarch butterflies would be seriously damaged if they consumed pollen from corn plants that produced the insecticidal Bt protein. Anti-biotechnology activists suggest that other species of beneficial or harmless insects would suffer as well. However, a new study published in the June 6 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science makes this gloomy forecast seem unlikely. Continue reading
Quarter Memberships for HMOs
Brainstorming a way to increase revenue to purchase new equipment, New Valley Athletics came up with an idea that not only raised revenue, but increased memberships as well. The idea, the HMO Quarter Membership, established a joint program with a local HMO. Continue reading
The Chicken Thinks, Yeah, Like I Had a Choice
You know, I actually agree with this whole ceremony thing. People have stopped giving sincere thanks for the food that’s on their table. This is the original reason for the blessing before a meal. Native Americans thank the gods for providing them with food and thank the animals for allowing themselves to be slow enough (or whatever) to be killed. This is common in many, many cultures. So, I agree with what Jake and Jan did, but I’m not sure I’d take to such an extreme. Continue reading
Notoedric Mange
Notoedric mange is caused by the scabies mite of cats, Notoedres cati , resulting in itchiness, crusting and redness, and preferring the head and face. Affected cats are said to have a “mousy” odor. Although these mites can be transferred to people, they much prefer to annoy cats rather than humans. Continue reading
A Sales Tool
While industry manufacturers have put online support services at the forefront of their Internet agenda, online sales are also in the works, although few manufacturers currently allow club owners to purchase directly from their sites. One reason could be that the Web is just too new to the industry, and it will take some time for systems to be put in place. Another reason could be that it is unknown just how widespread Internet use is among club owners. As such, the idea of purchasing products via computer could take some getting used to. Continue reading
Lyme Disease in Cats
Lyme disease or borreliosis is caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi and has previously been isolated from humans, dogs, horses, cattle, and a variety of wildlife. Continue reading
Lynxacariasis
Lynxacariasis is caused by the fur mite, Lynxacarus radovskyi and is more commonly reported in cats from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Australia and Fiji, although it is now being recognized in the continental United States, especially Florida. Continue reading
Cross-eyed Siamese Cats
Did you ever wonder why Siamese Cats appear to be cross-eyed? Did you know that it is really a function of the coat color rather than any problem with their eyes. Well, it’s true – the gene that causes the beautiful coat color possibilities in the Siamese and Himalayan also affects their eyes and the “routing” of visual pathways in their brains.
The color variations in Siamese and Himalayan cats are caused by pigment production that varies with temperature. Pigment is produced in areas of greater heat loss, such as the extremities and is absent elsewhere. The Siamese trait therefore represents an imperfect form of albino in which there is some pigment but not a full complement as seen in other breeds.
Siamese cats, because they are deficient in pigment production, lack pigment on the retinas at the back of their eyes and therefore fail to develop normal visual pathways.
These pathways are abnormal in all Siamese cats but vary amongst individuals in degree. As a consequence of this misrouting from the eyes to the brain, a portion of the visual field is opposite of normal or inverted.
Siamese cats have learned to compensate for such misinformation by some brain “rewiring” but all Siamese cats lack binocular vision, the ability to form one picture from two eyes. The visual fields are therefore altered in Siamese cats, and their visual precision is decreased.
Siamese cats often develop a cross-eyed appearance (convergent strabismus) during their third month of life in an effort of their brains to create a complete visual field; abnormal eye position is necessary to optimize visual perception. Although we don’t tend to think of Siamese cats as any real kind of albinos, they do represent an important model of the effects of pigment and the genes that control them.
Complementary Care For Your Pets
Complementary, alternative, holistic, homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal therapy, flower essences. do any of these terms sound familiar? If so, you may have tried one of them yourself. Maybe you’ve tried them all.