Mad cow threatens Italian violin strings (UPI) ROME, May 19 (UPI) -- Italian violin string-makers say it makes no sense to ban the use of animal guts for their industry. The European Union has banned offal and other animal parts to stem the spread of mad cow disease. [News Source]

National animal lab delays mad cow study (WHO-TV Des Moines) AMES, Iowa A national animal lab in Ames is delaying a study on mad cow disease because of questions about its sewage-treatment practices. [News Source]

Some ranchers shy on first day since mad cow announcement (AG Weekly) TULIA, Texas -- West Texas rancher Kevin Crooks lost about $1 million in the year following the country's first case of mad cow 18 months ago. If he'd had cattle big enough to sell at the Tulia Livestock Auction on Monday, he wouldn't have brought a one. [News Source]

UOIT wants sustainable cities. A new research initiative in community safety is occurring at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. [News Source]

Talks end without Japan beef exports plan. American and Japanese negotiators ended talks on Friday without setting a timeline for reopening the once-lucrative Japanese market to American beef. [News Source]

Concerns at Ames lab delay mad cow study. The National Animal Disease Laboratory in Ames has halted a study of how mad cow disease is transmitted because of questions about the lab's sewage-treatment practices. [News Source]

Mad cow disease ‘a threat to tens of millions in Britain.’ Scientists had believed that only people with a specific gene type were susceptible to vCJD, the human form of the cattle disease BSE. But now they've learned that it can lie dormant for decades in other people. [News Source]

Ames lab delays mad cow study (GazetteOnline) AMES, IA - The National Animal Disease Laboratory has delayed a study on mad cow disease because of questions about its sewage-treatment practices. "We decided to wait until everyone is comfortable with our processes before starting that work," lab spokeswoman Sandy Miller Hays said. [News Source]

US confident on reopening Japanese market to its beef soon (AFP via Yahoo! News) The United States has voiced optimism that Japan would decide next month to resume imports of US beef, whose ban due to fears of mad cow disease has become a major irritant between the allies. [News Source]

Scientists focus on screening for mad cow disease (The Scotsman) SCIENTISTS in Edinburgh have stepped up efforts to develop the first blood screening test aimed for the human form of mad cow disease. [News Source]