ABSTRACT African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is caused by the tsetse fly-transmitted protozoans Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax and leads to huge agricultural losses throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Three drugs are available to treat nagana in cattle (diminazene diaceturate, homidium chloride, and isometamidium chloride). With increasing reports of drug-resistant populations, new molecules should be investigated as potential candidates to combat nagana. Dicationic compounds have been demonstrated to have excellent efficacy against different kinetoplastid parasites. This study therefore evaluated the activities of 37 diamidines, using in vitro and ex vivo drug sensitivity assays. The 50% inhibitory concentrations obtained ranged from 0.007 to 0.562 μg/ml for T. congolense and from 0.019 to 0.607 μg/ml for T. vivax. On the basis of these promising results, 33 of these diamidines were further examined using in vivo mouse models of infection. Minimal curative doses of 1.25 mg/kg of body weight for both T. congolense- and T. vivax-infected mice were seen when the diamidines were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) over 4 consecutive days. From these observations, 15 of these 33 diamidines were then further tested in vivo, using a single bolus dose for administration. The total cure of mice infected with T. congolense and T. vivax was seen with single i.p. doses of 5 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. This study identified a selection of diamidines which could be considered lead compounds for the treatment of nagana.


The Covid pandemic requires blended learning (a combination of face-to-face and online learning). The low ability to think critically in class makes the learning process not optimal, therefore it is necessary to increase students' critical thinking skills using the Blended-Problem Based Learning learning model. The method used is classroom action research with a sample of 73 semester VI students in the learning media course for Primary School Teacher Education at Padang State University. Students 'initial critical thinking ability was in the very poor category with a percentage of 41%, after the first cycle there was an increase in students' critical thinking skills by 15% and cycle II by 27%. It can be concluded that the Blended-Problem Based Learning learning model can improve students' critical thinking skills


Metal-to-metal allyl transfer: Using the first structurally characterized rhodium eta(1)-allyl complexes it is shown that the sigma-bound allyl substituent can be transferred from the Rh(III) complex to a Rh(I) complex in a fast equilibrium. This process may account for the decrease in regioselectivity observed in allylic alkylation reactions in which complex 1 is used as a catalyst.


Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a gelatin-based plasma expander on blood coagulation and haemostasis in human subjects. Six healthy men were studied in a randomised, controlled cross-over study to investigate the effects of a 60 min intravenous infusion of either 1 l gelatin-based plasma substitute (Gelofusine) or 0.9% NaCl (control). The infusion of gelatin resulted in a 1.7 fold increase in bleeding time at 60 min and a 1.4 fold increase at 120 min, while saline had no effect (p <0.05). Aggregation studies revealed a significant impairment of ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (p <0.05), associated with a substantial decrease of vWF:ag (–32% vs. –5%, p <0.05) and ristocetin co-factor (–29% vs. +1%, p <0.05) and without in vitro impairment of the platelet glycoprotein 1b receptor. Gelatin caused a decrease in thrombin-antithrombin complexes (–45% vs. –4%, p <0.05) and F1+2 (–40% vs. +1%, p <0.05). The decrease in circulating levels of vWF:ag, vWF R:Co, thrombin-antithrombin complexes and F1+ 2 was more than could be expected by the calculated plasma-dilution generated by Gelofusine. Our results demonstrated that the administration of a gelatin-based plasma substitute results in a significant impairment of primary haemostasis and thrombin generation. The defect in primary haemostasis appears to be related to a gelatin-induced reduction in von Willebrand factor, whereas the decreased thrombin generation may be due to the dilution of coagulation factors induced by Gelofusine.


The aim of the study was to identify and analyze the top 50 influential articles showing historical developments and current research activity published during January 1979 - December 2019 in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences journal. Electronic search was conducted using Scopus database to retrieve publications in the journal of European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences journal during January 1979 - December 2019. The papers ranked in ascending order with citation count ≥47. Furthermore frequent first and co-authors; number of funding sources reported; study type and authors affiliated institute and country of origin was identified in these highly cited articles. Of the highly cited studies published, qualitative and quantitative studies were published in predominance (n=47) trailed by reviews studies (n=6). All the top 50 cited articles were contributed by single nations without any collaborations (n=53). The universities contributing major amount of top cited articles included Nanjing Medical University and Sapienza University of Rome (n=7) respectively, followed by Capital Medical University (n=3). China was the nation majorly contributed for top cited articles. The use of pharmacological therapies for different medical conditions published in European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences journal during the last 40 years were extensively explored and reported.


Research that attempts to characterize urban form is confronted with two key issues: criticism of the use of aggregate units of analysis, such as census tracts, and a general lack of consideration of variables related to elements other than the built environment, such as residents' behavior. This methodological study explores the impact of travel behavior variables in the quantitative characterization of urban form at the census tract level for the Montreal region. Two separate factor-cluster analyses are performed: the first includes built-environment variables commonly used to typify areas within a region, and a second includes additional travel behavior variables. The results of both models are compared to satellite images to determine which analysis more accurately represents the reality on the ground. The results provide empirical evidence that travel behavior variables, in addition to built form, provide a more accurate representation of urban form at the census tract level. These variables refine the model output by moderating the effect of features that generally led to misleading results. This effect is particularly evident in areas represented by large census tracts. These results suggest that considering both built environment and behavioral characteristics in an analysis of urban form yields more precise results at the (aggregate) census tract level. The findings from this study could be helpful for engineers and planners when conducting property value studies, urban investment analysis, and policy intervention prioritization and when expanding the well-known land use classification of urban and rural categories.


A summary is presented of the investigations on the mechanism of alloyed layer formation during laser beam surface alloying of aluminum with Nb. Surface alloys were produced by a two-step process: at first, commercially pure Al substrates were alloyed with Nb by injecting an Al-Nb powder mixture into the melt pool generated using a CO2 laser; the microstructure was then refined by laser melting. In the first step, Nb concentrates near the surface of the melt pool during solidification, resulting in the production of surface layers of Al-Nb alloys. These alloys are heterogeneous and contain pores and undissolved Nb particles for all the processing parameters used. Their microstructure is formed from large dendrites of Al3Nb and interdendritic α-Al solid solution. Laser remelting of the alloyed layers results in a complete elimination of the defects and homogenization of the material. The Vickers microhardness of the surface alloys varies from 450 to 650 HV, depending on the volume fraction and dendrite spacing of Al3Nb.


Background An increasing number of obese patients are candidates for total knee replacement (TKR). However, objective criteria for decision making in these patients are lacking. We hypothesized that quantification of the periarticular knee structure in elderly obese patients on a waiting list for TKR could provide additional information/indicators for decision-making. Objectives To evaluate the influence of the anthropometric properties and periarticular structures of the knee as assessed by ultrasound imaging on functional capacity in obese patients with knee osteoarthritis on a waiting list for TKR. Methods Cross-sectional observational study. Sociodemographic and anthropometric variables, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities and physical activity (regular physical exercise ≥3 times per week for ≥30 minutes per session and remaining seated ≤6 hours per day) were collected. Function was measured using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test (functional mobility and balance) (categorized as 13.5/>13.5 seconds). Periarticular knee structures were evaluated using ultrasound (subcutaneous fat thickness [distance from the skin to the fascia, in mm], quadriceps/rectus femoris thickness [distance between the fascia and the femur, in mm]). Statistical analysis: Multivariate logistic regression model was used to discover the combination of variables which best explained function. The goodness of fit of the classification of the predictive model was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results 54 patients, (41 female, mean age 69.9 years (SD 7), mean BMI 35.7 (SD 4), 58% with >2 comorbidities, 51.9% physically active) were studied. Mean TUG was 15.5 seconds (SD 8) (50% TUG >13.5 seconds). Mean subcutaneous fat thickness was 25.1 mm (SD 11), and mean quadriceps/rectus femoris thickness was 37.4 mm. (SD 9). Multivariable analysis identified age >75 years (OR 11.10 [11.4–86.9] p=0.024), and subcutaneous fat thickness (OR 1.09 [1.09–1.2] p=0.013) as predictors of worse TUG scores. The area under the ROC curve was 0.71. Conclusions Periarticular fat, but not the BMI, was an independent predictor of a greater reduction in functional mobility in these patients. This suggest that exercises to maintain and improve function could improve the functional status of patients on a waiting list, and delay TKR. Ultrasound is useful to determine objective measures of function in these patients. References Villareal DT, et al. Physical frailty and body composition in obese elderly men and women. Obesity Res 2004;12 (6):913-20. Núñez M, et al. Good quality of life in severely obese total knee replacement patients: a case-control study.Obes Surg. 2011 Aug;21(8):1203-8. Katz JN. Appropriateness of Total Knee Arthroplasty. Editorial Arthritis Rheumatol 2014;66(8): 1979–1981.doi: 10.1002/art.38688. Acknowledgements This work has been funded by the project PI13/00948, integrated in the Plan Nacional I+D+I and co-funded by ISCIII-Subdirecciόn General de Evaluaciόn and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Disclosure of Interest None declared


US infrastructures provide essential services that support the economic prosperity and quality of life. Today, the latest threat to these infrastructures is the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of the system. On balance, added connectivity will improve economic efficiency; however, increased coupling could also result in situations where a disturbance in an isolated infrastructure unexpectedly cascades across diverse infrastructures. An understanding of the behavior of complex systems can be critical to understanding and predicting infrastructure responses to unexpected perturbation. Sandia National Laboratories has developed an agent-based model of critical US infrastructures using time-dependent Monte Carlo methods and a genetic algorithm learning classifier system to control decision making. The model is currently under development and contains agents that represent the several areas within the interconnected infrastructures, including electric power and fuel supply. Previous work shows that agent-based simulations models have the potential to improve the accuracy of complex system forecasting and to provide new insights into the factors that are the primary drivers of emergent behaviors in interdependent systems. Simulation results can be examined both computationally and analytically, offering new ways of theorizing about the impact of perturbations to an infrastructure network.


Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to be at high-risk for both ischemic and bleeding complications post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The ischemic benefit vs. bleeding risk associated with extended dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in high-risk "TWILIGHT-like" patients with diabetes mellitus after PCI has not been established. Methods: All consecutive high-risk patients fulfilling the "TWILIGHT-like" criteria undergoing PCI from January 2013 through December 2013 were identified from the prospective Fuwai PCI Registry. High-risk "TWILIGHT-like" patients were defined by at least one clinical and one angiographic feature based on the TWILIGHT trial selection criteria. The present analysis evaluated 3,425 diabetic patients with concomitant high-risk angiographic features who were event-free at 1 year after PCI. Median follow-up was 2.4 years. The primary effectiveness endpoint was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (termed major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events), and primary safety endpoint was clinically relevant bleeding according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium types 2, 3, or 5. Results: On inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis, prolonged-term (>1-year) DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel decreased the risk of primary effectiveness endpoint compared with shorter ( ≤ 1-year) DAPT [1.8 vs. 4.3%; hazard ratio (HR)IPTW: 0.381; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.252–0.576; P < 0.001] and reduced cardiovascular death [0.1% vs. 1.8%; HRIPTW: 0.056 (0.016–0.193)]. Prolonged DAPT was also associated with a reduced risk of definite/probable stent thrombosis [0.2 vs. 0.7%; HRIPTW: 0.258 (0.083–0.802)] and non-significantly lower rate of myocardial infarction [0.5 vs. 0.8%; HRIPTW: 0.676 (0.275–1.661)]. There was no significant difference between groups in clinically relevant bleeding [1.1 vs. 1.1%; HRIPTW: 1.078 (0.519–2.241); P = 0.840). Similar results were observed in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. Conclusion: Among high-risk PCI patients with diabetes mellitus without an adverse event through 1 year, extending DAPT >1-year significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events without an increase in clinically relevant bleeding, suggesting that such high-risk diabetic patients may be good candidates for long-term DAPT.


The lamp described was designed primarily as an alternative to the tungsten strip lamp, which is used as a temperature standard for radiation pyrometry, in order to obtain greater reproducibility and a higher maximum temperature. A close approximation to a black-body radiator is achieved by electrically heating in vacuo (to 1800 °C) or in argon (to 2700 °C,) a tungsten tube, 2 mm in diameter and 45 mm long, in which the radiating surface is a bundle of fine tungsten wire situated at the centre of the tube. The radiation emerges axially from an aperture 1 mm in diameter near the end of the tube. Within the limits of ±0.2% no difference in emissivity could be detected over the wavelength range examined, namely 0.5 to 0.7 μm and the absolute value of the emissivity was estimated to be not less than 0.95. The constancy of the current-temperature calibration of the vacuum lamp, when operated continuously at 1800 °C for at least 100 h is ±0.02 °C. At this temperature the vacuum lamp requires 29 A at 5 V. The argonfilled lamp can be operated at 2700 °C (56 A, 12 V) at which temperature a slow drift in calibration of about 0.05 °C/h occurs.


During a program to evaluate the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique for measuring the molecular size distribution of polymers, three experimental epichlorohydrin–bisphenol A polymers were sent to Waters Associates for analysis with the commercially available instrument. The resulting distribution curves were used to calculate weight-average and number-average chain lengths of the samples. These values were found to give good straight-line correlations with weight-average and number-average molecular weights measured by absolute methods. Thus the GPC method gives meaningful information about the molecular size distribution of polymers which can be used to obtain rapid estimates of molecular weight.


The most important point of the translational research for oncology is clinical application. The excellent research will clarify the molecular pathogenesis of cancer and develop a beneficial intervention in the clinic. The laboratory science done on patient material is a critical part of the translational research. However, there are several problems to expand the translational research in Japan. Developing excellent basic researches and arranging systems to support the translational research will be necessary.


This study aims to analyze the abundance of Shellfish in estuary waters of Karang Gading Wildlife Reserve of Deli Serdang Regency, to analyze the growth pattern and condition factors of Shellfish through the analysis of long-term relationship, and to analyze the relationship of abundance of Shellfish with estuary chemical physics chemistry of Karang Gading Wildlife Refuge Deli Serdang. Sampling of Shellfish was done in December 2017 - February 2018 in estuary waters of Karang Gading Wildlife Reserve of Deli Serdang Regency. The analysis for the substrate fraction was done in the Agronomy Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra. Sampling of shellfish using claws of iron material having a volume of 0.0495m3. Sampling of shellfish is done once a month starting at 14.00 WIB - 18.00 WIB. The shellfish (Meretrix meretrix) obtained at each station was calculated by the number of individuals, measured by the width of the body shell and body weight, then analyzed which consisted of abundance, distribution, growth pattern, and condition factor. Measurements of physical-chemical water parameters are done directly in the field. The result of this research concludes that the most shell of abundance at station I with 694 ind / m2 value, the distribution of shellfish is classified into uniform distribution pattern. The pattern of growth of shellfish in each of its stations in estuary waters of Karang Gading Wildlife Reserve is negative allometrik. The condition factor of mangrove crab in each station morphologically has good hair. Kata Kunci: Kelimpahan, estuari, pola pertumbuhan, Meretrix meretrix


Thirteen steroids(1-13) were isolated from the non-alkaloid constituents of Uncaria rhynchophylla by column chromatography on silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by analyses of the MS and NMR spectral data. All the compounds were isolated from the genus Uncaria for the first time, and 1 was a new compound. The ~1H-NMR and ~(13)C-NMR data of two compounds(12 and 13) in deuteron-chloroform were completely assigned. This study enriched the steroid constituents of U. rhynchophylla and provided scientific references for the elucidation of active constituents and further development and utilization of U. rhynchophylla.


An investigation is made into the extent to which relationships from software science are useful in analyzing programming methodology principles that are concerned with modularity. Using previously published data from over 500 programs, it is shown that the software science effort measure provides quantitative answers to questions concerning the conditions under which modularization is beneficial. Among the issues discussed are the reduction of similar code sequences by temporary variable and subprogram defmition, and the use of global variables. Using data flow analysis, environmental considerations which affect the applicability of alternative modularity techniques are also discussed.


In this paper we prove a fixed point theorem for six mappings in Menger space using the notion of semi-compatibility.


Reliable in-flight starting of the inlet is of critical importance for the successful operation of scramjet engines, particularly axisymmetric configurations with high-contraction inlets. The present research is undertaken to examine the capability of various inlet starting methods based on two principles: unsteady flow effects and variable geometries. Time-accurate viscous computations have been performed to investigate the transitional flowfields introduced by a variety of methods that are applicable to axisymmetric geometries. Parametric studies have been conducted for instantaneous rupture of conical diaphragms and addition of bleed slots, which induce highly unsteady flow phenomena. Several methods employing variable inlet geometries have been tested for the latter principle, including opening doors and sliding doors (or diaphragm erosion). Successful inlet starting has been achieved as a result of unsteady transition induced by diaphragm rupture and quasi-steady transition, due to the sliding-door opening process. In particular, a bleed addition to the diaphragm rupture method has been found to be highly effective and pronounced flow stability has been observed in the sliding-door process.


Background: Twin pregnancy is associated with increased risk of obstetric complications as well as increased perinatal mortality rate. The study aims to determine the incidence and outcome of twin pregnancy in a rural/semi urban hospital which provide secondary level obstetric services in South- south Nigeria.Method: This was a retrospective review of all twin deliveries at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Obudu.The case files of all patients who had twin deliveries from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2014 were studied. The data extracted were age, parity; presentation of foetuses, mode of delivery, gestational age at delivery, maternal and foetal complications, Apgar score and foetal outcome. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 package. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.Results: The incidence of twin pregnancy was 1:32 deliveries. The mean age of the women was 27.0 +- 5.3 years. The highest incidence was among 25-29 years age group.The median parity was 2,range 0-7.About 78.1% (139) of the women were booked, while 21.9% were unbooked.Twin pregnancy was diagnosed before the onset of labour in 73.6% of the women.The mean gestational age at delivery was 37.1 +- 3.4 weeks, with 19.1% (34) delivered preterm.Preterm delivery was the commonest complication (39.9%), followed by retained second twin. Abnormal presentation of the leading twin was the most common indication for Caesarean section (41.9%), followed by retained second twin (12.9%).About 66.8% of the patients had the leading twin in cephalic presentation, cephalic: cephalic presentation was the most common presentation (43.8%).The mean birthweight of the first twin was 2.4+-0.6kg and the second twins 2.3+-0.6kg. The first twin had fewer babies with 5-minute Apgar score less than 7 compared to the second,there were also more stillbirths among the second twins, P< 0.0001.The overall stillbirth rate was 112.7/1000 births compared with 63.1/1000 for all singleton deliveries in the centre.Conclusion: Twin pregnancy is common in our secondary health facility and is associated with high maternal and foetal complications and stillbirth rate. More in-service training of doctors and midwives on skills of twin delivery and early decisions on referral for specialised care are recommended.Keywords: Twin deliveries, secondary health facility, foetal outcome


We report a child with multiple congenital abnormalities which include complex central nervous system malformations, dense bones with wide irregular metaphyses, facial dysmorphic features and lethality. We suggest that the combination of abnormalities in the child could represent a new syndrome.


Product development processes have been studied since the 80s and nearing 90s, academic attention turned to early phases of development, i.e., fuzzy front-end (FFE). Activities at the FFE are often chaotic and experimental with rather unpredictable or uncertain commercialisation future. Opportunities are raising, but a firm still cannot do all needed development and commercialisation actions for all potential technologies in-house. The theory of open innovation (OI) has tackled some of the emerged dilemmas by opening the borders of the company for knowledge and technology exchange. One of the fundamental notions therein is that technologies of little apparent value to your business may be highly valued outside your company. In our paper, OI and FFE theories are merged to introduce an open new concept development framework, leading to new discoveries in the relation between FFE and external technology exploitation. The framework helps organisations to improve their product development profitability by coping with in- and out-flows of technology.


Background:Although hand washing with soap is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrhoeal diseases and pneumonia, which together are responsible for the majority of child deaths globally each year, it is seldom practiced. Schools have an important role to play in teaching and encouraging hand washing from an early age. Materials and methods: School based cross sectional observational was conducted among school going children (6 th , 7 th & 8 th standard) of two rural Government High school involving all 168 students. Data collected by using GSHS self administered questionnaire and assessment of knowledge was done by using grading system. Results: Out of 168 school children, 58.3% were boys and 41.7% girls. About 80% were washing hands regularly before eating and 87.5% after using the toilet / latrine while in school. About 73% of students were washing their hands under running water. Only 40.0% school children were using soap along with water before eating. Knowledge level observed to be high in the areas of ideal hand washing time (up to 90.0%) and use of soap (87.5%) Conclusion: Though the frequency of hand washing practices among students was found to be high, soap usage was found to be suboptimal. Also there is a wide gap between knowledge and hand washing practices that needs to be addressed.


Objective: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a worldwide prevalent metabolic disorder and the cause of many morbidities and mortalities. KCNQ1 gene encodes α-subunit of voltage-gated potassium (K+) channel which plays a role in insulin secretion in the pancreas, thus its variants may confer susceptibility to diabetes. Recognition of genetic variants involved in T2DM could help the early diagnosis and prevention of the disease. The main purpose of this paper was to investigate the frequencies of rs231362 and rs2237892 polymorphisms of KCNQ1 gene in T2DM patients and comparing these frequencies with normal subjects in an Iranian population from Yazd province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 166 patients with T2DM and 168 normal subjects. After obtaining the informed consent, 5 ml peripheral blood was taken from the cases and controls and then DNA was extracted. The molecular investigation was done using 4-primer ARMS PCR and PCR-RFLP methods.
Results: Statistical analysis showed that GG genotype [OR= 3.9 (2.1-7.1), P-value< 0.001] and G allele [OR=2.85 (2.07-3.93), P-value< 0.001] frequency of rs231362 polymorphism was significantly different between case and control groups. While rs2237892 polymorphism did not show any differences between the two groups.
Conclusion: The result of this study showed that GG genotype and G allele of rs231362 polymorphism can be related to T2DM susceptibility in the population under study.


Species in biological communities respond to environmental variation si- multaneously across a range of organizational levels. Accordingly, it is important to quantify the effects of environmental factors at multiple levels on species distribution and abundance. Hierarchical methods that explicitly separate the independent and confounded influences of environmental variation across several levels of organization are powerful tools for this task. Our study used a hierarchical approach to partition explained variance in an Oregon Coast Range bird community among plot-, patch-, and landscape-level factors. We used a series of partial canonical ordinations to decompose species-environment relationships across these levels of organization to test four hypotheses about the importance of envi- ronmental control over community structure. We found that plot-level factors were better predictors of community structure than patch- or landscape-level factors. In addition, al- though landscape-level variables contributed substantial independent explanatory power, there was little evidence that patch-level environmental variability provided additional explanation of community structure beyond that provided by plot- and landscape-level factors. At higher levels of the hierarchical analysis, we found that, among plot-level factors, vegetation cover type was as powerful a predictor of community structure as detailed floristics, and more powerful than vegetation structure. At the landscape level, we found that landscape composition and configuration both provided substantial independent ex- planatory power, with landscape composition being the better overall predictor. Our results have a number of implications for sampling, analysis, and conservation. For example, misleading results could be obtained by studies conducted at a single organizational level. Also, the high degree of confounding among several levels of our analysis suggests that there is a lack of independence between the influences of environmental structure at different organizational levels. Due to this confounding, our results suggest that patch-based studies of forest-bird ecological relationships in the Oregon Coast Range may be equivocal. In addition, the power of mapped cover class as a plot-level predictor variable suggests that coarse-filter, multiscale approaches utilizing remote sensing and GIS may be nearly as effective at predicting local patterns as expensive field surveys of habitat conditions at the plot level, and more effective at predicting patterns continuously across large regions.


Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus worldwide. The disease is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter spp., which is vectored by the psyllids Diaphorinacitri Kuwayama and Triozaerytreae. Secretory proteins are important in bacterial pathogenesis and structure components. Some of them are expressed at a high level. To obtain the highly-expressed Secretory Protein Genes (SPGs) for antiserum preparation, ten candidate SPGs were chosen from Candidatus LiberibacterAasiaticus by bioinformatic analysis and were further tested by PCR, qPCR, and RT-qPCR methods, respectively. The result showed that two SPGs, 408 and pap (both are Flp pilus assembly protein genes), have relative high amounts of DNA and RNA transcripts of early HLB-infected green orange leaves. The 408 and pap genes were further constructed into the plant expression vector pCAMBIA1300 (GV1300: GFP) and expressed in tobacco leaf epidermal cells for subcellular localization analysis. The transient expression results indicated that the 408 protein is located in the nuclei and cytoplasms of tobacco leaf cells. However, the pap protein is located in the radially-arranged micro-fibrils of tobacco guard cells, which may help the pathogen invade into plant cells. This research is an important foundation for the preparation of the antiserum against Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus and the early detection of HLB disease.


Single base substitutions (SBSs) and insertions/deletions are critical for generating population diversity and can lead both to inherited disease and cancer. Whereas on a genome-wide scale SBSs are influenced by cellular factors, on a fine scale SBSs are influenced by the local DNA sequence-context, although the role of flanking sequence is often unclear. Herein, we used bioinformatics, molecular dynamics and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics to analyze sequence context-dependent mutagenesis at mononucleotide repeats (A-tracts and G-tracts) in human population variation and in cancer genomes. SBSs and insertions/deletions occur predominantly at the first and last base-pairs of A-tracts, whereas they are concentrated at the second and third base-pairs in G-tracts. These positions correspond to the most flexible sites along A-tracts, and to sites where a 'hole', generated by the loss of an electron through oxidation, is most likely to be localized in G-tracts. For A-tracts, most SBSs occur in the direction of the base-pair flanking the tracts. We conclude that intrinsic features of local DNA structure, i.e. base-pair flexibility and charge transfer, render specific nucleotides along mononucleotide runs susceptible to base modification, which then yields mutations. Thus, local DNA dynamics contributes to phenotypic variation and disease in the human population.


Distribution of species across the Earth shows strong latitudinal and altitudinal gradients with the number of species decreasing with declining temperatures. While these patterns have been recognized for well over a century, the mechanisms generating and maintaining them have remained elusive. Here, we propose a mechanistic explanation for temperature-dependent rates of molecular evolution that can influence speciation rates and global biodiversity gradients. Our hypothesis is based on the effects of temperature and temperature-adaptation on stability of proteins and other catalytic biomolecules. First, due to the nature of physical forces between biomolecules and water, stability of biomolecules is maximal around + 20°C and decreases as temperature either decreases or increases. Second, organisms that have adapted to cold temperatures have evolved especially flexible (but unstable) proteins to facilitate catalytic reactions in cold, where molecular movements slow down. Both these effects should result in mutations being on average more detrimental at cold temperatures (i.e. lower mutational robustness in cold). At high temperatures, destabilizing water–biomolecule interactions, and the need to maintain structures that withstand heat denaturation, should decrease mutational robustness similarly. Decreased mutational robustness at extreme temperatures will slow down molecular evolution, as a larger fraction of new mutations will be removed by selection. Lower mutational robustness may also select for reduced mutation rates, further slowing down the rate of molecular evolution. As speciation requires the evolution of epistatic incompatibilities that prevent gene flow among incipient species, slow rate of molecular evolution at extreme temperatures will directly slow down the rate at which new species arise. The proposed mechanism can thus explain why molecular evolution is faster at warm temperatures, contributing to higher speciation rate and elevated species richness in environments characterized by stable and warm temperatures.


Problem statement: Further study is recommended to improve the immobilization technique and the immobilized lipase's performance as catalysis in transesterification reaction. Approach: To investigate the ability of immobilized lipase on chitosan beads to catalyze the transesterification of cooking oil to an ester. The porous bead of chitosan was used for immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa by physical adsorption. Parameters like reaction time and oil to methanol molar ratios were studied to compare the transesterification performance between free lipase and immobilized lipase. Results: The experimental result showed that the maximum conversion of ester using immobilized lipase and free lipase were 72.25 and 76.5% respectively which was obtained at conditions of 1:4 molar ratios and reaction time of 48 h. Conclusion: Even though the conversion of ester was higher in free lipase than in immobilized lipase, it is still feasible to use immobilized lipase to catalyze the transesterification process provided it's easier to separate the end product and high potential to be reused. Immobilize lipase also tolerated the water content of oil and increases product yield by avoiding the soap formation.


This paper recovers quiescent optical solitons that are self-sustaining, localized wave packets that maintain their shape and amplitude over long distances due to a balance between nonlinearity and dispersion. When a soliton is in a state of quiescence, it means that it is stationary in both space and time. Quiescent optical solitons are typically observed in optical fibers, where nonlinearity and dispersion can lead to the formation of solitons. The concatenation model is considered to understand the behavior of optical pulses propagating through nonlinear media. Here, we consider the familiar nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel equation, and the Sasa–Satsuma equation. The current paper also addresses the model with nonlinear chromatic dispersion, a phenomenon that occurs in optical fibers and other dispersive media, where the chromatic dispersion of the material is modified by nonlinear effects. In the presence of nonlinearities, such as self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation, the chromatic dispersion coefficient becomes a function of the optical intensity, resulting in nonlinear chromatic dispersion. A full spectrum of stationary optical solitons, along with straddled stationary solitons, are obtained. There are four integration schemes that made this retrieval possible. The numerical simulations are also included for these solitons. The parameter constraints also indicate the existence criteria for these quiescent solitons.


Background: Disaster is an acute dysfunction of the existing environment that requires external assistance. Although disaster has had a  significant impact in Ethiopia, little is known about KAP of frontline HCW on disaster management in private hospitals. Therefore, this  study will be a background for future researches and disaster management plan in private health sectors. The study was conducted to  assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices and their influencing factors among frontline healthcare workers on disaster risk management  in private general hospitals in Addis Ababa.
Methods: The study design was multicenter cross-sectional survey that used  structured closed- and open-ended questions. Multi-stage sampling technique was used. The sample size was 270 with a response rate of  98.9%. The study was conducted in frontline HCW of six private general hospitals from July 20-September 30, 2022. Epi-info version 7.0  and SPSS-25 were used for data clearing and statistical analysis. Level of KAP was calculated from the participants' scores of the  questions. Associations were done by using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Results: Of the participants, 64% had poor level  of knowledge, and 89.10% had poor level of practice while 93.6% had positive attitude. Lack of previous training, inadequate level of  practice, and health experience below one year were negatively associated with good level of knowledge. Poor level of knowledge was negatively associated with good practice.
Conclusion: Although the majority of the participants had positive attitude, the mean level of  knowledge and practice were poor to properly handle disastrous events.


To test the association between temperate forest dynamics and glacial refugia for arboreal small mammals, we studied the phylogeography of the Japanese giant flying squirrel (Petaurista leucogenys) using complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences (1140 bp). This squirrel is endemic to three of Japan's main islands: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. We examined 58 specimens of P. leucogenys collected from 40 localities in Japan. Additionally, two individuals with unknown sampling localities were included in phylogenetic analyses. There were 54 haplotypes of P. leucogenys. We found five major phylogroups (Northern, Central, South-eastern, South-western, and Southern). These phylogroups may have originated from glacial refugia during the Late Pleistocene. After the last glaciation, the Northern phylogroup, widely distributed in eastern Japan, could have extensively expanded northward from its refugia. By contrast, in western Japan, population expansion was restricted to western Japan. All members of four phylogroups existed in western Japan during glaciations. The complicated phylogeographical pattern of P. leucogenys populations originating from western Japan may have resulted from the long history. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 47–60.


Rapid detection of pathogens is of great significance for food safety and disease diagnosis. A new colorimetric method for rapid and easy detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus or Vp) has been developed in this research. A specific sequence was designed and integrated with the forward primer for molecular detection of Vp. This specific sequence was tested and treated as the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mimicking DNAzyme and could be amplified during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process. The products of PCR including the sequence of HRP-mimicking DNAzyme could produce the distinguished color in the presence of catalysis substrates. The optical signal of the catalysis reaction, which is in a linear relationship with the initial template of Vp, could be determined with the naked eye or measured with Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) for qualitative and quantitative detections, respectively. Based on the optical signal intensity, rapid and easy detection of Vp was successfully achieved with satisfied sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, the detection of tdh, trh, tlh and toxR virulence genes of two Vp species (Vp 33847 and Vp 17802) were all performed successfully with this developed colorimetric integrated PCR protocol, which demonstrated potential applicability for the rapid detection of other bacteria.


The significance of repeatedly normal aminotransferase activity in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients is still a matter of debate, and data are discrepant and confusing.1-4 Puoti et al. should be congratulated for their interesting and informative study on HCV-infected subjects with persistently normal transaminase levels published in the December 1997 issue of HEPATOLOGY.5 We also evaluated aminotransferase activity in 1,200 anti-HCV–positive immunocompetent patients. Thirty-six (3%) had repeatedly normal aminotransferase activities, defined by at least four normal values of aminotransferase over a minimum period of 6 months (mean 31 6 2) without any abnormal value. Eleven were men and 25 were women and the mean age was 45 6 15 years. The risk factors for HCV contamination were blood transfusion in 36%, intravenous drug use in 17%, and unknown in 47%. Twenty-three (64%) had detectable HCV viremia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifty-seven percent were genotype 1a or 1b, 26% were genotype 2, and 17% were genotype 3. Histologic analysis in 17 yielded a mean Knodell score of 5.6 6 3.5 (range, 1-14), ,5 in 9 (53%), $5 in 8 (47%), including extensive fibrosis or cirrhosis in 2 patients each. A comparison of immunocompetent viremic subjects with (n523) and without (n5564) repeatedly normal serum aminotransferase activities showed a significant predominance of females (70% vs. 44%, P , .05) and genotype 2 (26% vs. 7%, P , .05) in the first group, but no difference in quantitative viremia, alcohol comsumption, or prevalence of individual of risk factors. Interestingly, as observed by Puoti et al. there was no significant difference in mean Knodell and fibrosis scores; about 20% of patients had extensive fibrosis or cirrhosis. Genomic diversity according to biologic and histologic patterns of chronic hepatitis C did not correlate with either severity of liver damage or aminotransferase activity (Leone F, unpublished observations, February 1998). Factors involved in this peculiar biologic profile are unknown but may include virologic (predominance of genotype 2) or host-related factors. One could hypothesize that the predominance of women indicates an involvement of hormonal factors in the regulation of aminotransferases. Indeed, aminotransferase levels have been reported to be related to hormonal factors,6 and the normal values of these patients do differ according to sex. Our study shows that the true healthy carrier state is rare, whereas the persistent normality of aminotransferase activity can be associated with quite severe liver lesions. This leads us to propose liver biopsy in any viremic patient, regardless of aminotransferase values, to evaluate the severity of the liver disease. This recommendation would be strengthened if effective therapy were available for this group.7 The relative contribution of virologic and host factors in such a biologic pattern remains to be determined.


Objectives To evaluate the factors affecting interest, intention, uptake, and attitude towards unselected population-based BRCA-testing in the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population. Methods Design: Cohort-study set within recruitment to the GCaPPS-trial (ISRCTN73338115). AJ women/men >18-years, from the North-London AJ-population were recruited through self-referral. AJ-women/men underwent pre-test counselling for BRCA-testing through recruitment clinics (clusters). Consenting individuals provided blood-sample for BRCA-testing. Socio-demographic/family-history/knowledge/psychological well-being data along-with benefits/risks/cultural-influences (18-item-questionnaire measuring 'attitude') were collected. 4-item likert-scales analysed initial 'interest' and 'intention-to-test' pre-counselling. Uni-&-multivariable logistic-regression-models evaluated factors affecting uptake/interest/intention-to undergo BRCA-testing. Statistical inference was based on cluster robust standard-errors and joint Wald-tests for significance. Item-Response-Theory and graded-response-models modelled responses to 18-item questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures: Interest, intention, uptake, attitude towards BRCA-testing Results 935 AJ women (67%) and men (33%) underwent pre-test genetic-counselling (mean-age=53.8(S.D=15.02) years). Pre-counselling 96% expressed interest but 60% had clear intention-to undergo BRCA-testing. Subsequently 88% opted for BRCA-testing. BRCA-related knowledge (p=0.013) and degree-level education(p=0.01) were positively and negatively (respectively) associated with intention-to-test. Being married/cohabiting had four-fold higher-odds for BRCA-testing uptake (p=0.009). Perceived benefits were associated with higher pre-counselling odds for interest and intention-to undergo BRCA-testing. Reduced uncertainty/reassurance were the most important factors contributing to decision-making. Increased importance/concern towards risks/limitations (confidentiality/insurance/emotional-impact/inability to prevent cancer/marriage-ability/ethnic-focus/stigmatization) were significantly associated with lower-odds of uptake-of BRCA-testing, and discriminated between acceptors and decliners. Having children had stronger (p=0.005) while male-gender/degree-level-education (p=0.001) had weaker, attitudes towards BRCA-testing. Conclusions BRCA testing in the AJ population has high acceptability. Pre-test counselling increases awareness of disadvantages/limitations of BRCA-testing, influencing the final cost-benefit perception and decision-making on undergoing testing.


We propose a hierarchical tensor-network approach for approximating high-dimensional probability density via empirical distribution. This leverages randomized singular value decomposition (SVD) techniques and involves solving linear equations for tensor cores in this tensor network. The complexity of the resulting algorithm scales linearly in the dimension of the high-dimensional density. An analysis of estimation error demonstrates the effectiveness of this method through several numerical experiments.


This article defines the historian's genre decision as an epistemological choice. I argue that this genre choice is between 'reconstructionist', 'constructionist', 'deconstructionist' or 'postist' orientations to the nature of history. The consequences of the historian's epistemic choice are then demonstrated in the forms of the history they produce. The conclusion is that historians do not discover the form and hence the meaning of the past. Rather they demonstrate how their epistemic assumption produces different forms of and meanings for (their) history.


Successful conditions for the transcarbamylation/transesterification reaction of sulfonylcarbamates with alcohols by microwave heating under continuous-flow conditions were developed. After optimization of the processes, two series of O-alkylsulfonylcarbamates were obtained in high yields and purities using microwave transparent borosilicate tube reactors. In order to also illustrate the usefulness of the protocol in a medicinal chemistry context, the methodology was used for the synthesis of three angiotensin II type 2 receptor ligands.


str ra act t Previously reported reduction schemes approximate the lower eigenvalues that represent the global behavior of the structures. But, they are not efficient to be applied to large-scaled problems because these schemes require considerable amount of computing time in constructing reduced one from the original large-scaled systems. In addition, the selection of the primary degrees of freedom might be localized to cause the excessive emphasis of the lower mode or lost of the important modes. In the present study, a new reduction method combined with the sub-structuring scheme is proposed. For the construction of the final reduced system, the system of each domain subdivided into primary, slave and interface degrees of freedom. It is remarkably efficient and accurate compared to full- scale system. Numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed method saves computational cost effectively and provides a reduced system which predicts accurate eigen-pairs of global system


In this paper, the basic concept of biofeedback therapy and the relationship between getting qi in acupuncture and biofeedback are introduced. Getting qi in acupuncture as a controllable index of biological information feedback between the physician and the patient, meets the requirement of technique manipulation for biofeedback therapy. Arrival of qi has double regulative effects on the psychological and physiological functions of the patient, and has the effectiveness of the language suggestion and behavior suggestion in correcting the error in cognition of the patient. To take getting qi as an index in treatment of mental disorders conforms to theories of traditional Chinese medicine and is supported by modern medical research achievements, enriching contents and ways of biofeedback therapy and facilitating the development of acupuncture medicine towards biological-psychological-social medicine model.


Historically, less than 20 percent of crew time related to extravehicular activity (EVA) is spent on productive external work. For planetary operations space suits are still the logical choice; however, for safe and rapid access to the weightless environment, spacecraft offer compelling advantages. FlexCraft, a concept for a single-person spacecraft, enables anytime access to space for short or long excursions by different astronauts. For the International Space Station (ISS), going outside is time-consuming, requiring pre-breathing, donning a fitted space suit, and pumping down an airlock. For each ISS EVA this is between 12.5 and 16 hours. FlexCraft provides immediate access to space because it operates with the same cabin atmosphere as its host. Furthermore, compared to the space suit pure oxygen environment, a mixed gas atmosphere lowers the fire risk and allows use of conventional materials and systems. For getting to the worksite, integral propulsion replaces hand-overhand translation or having another crew member operate the robotic arm. This means less physical exertion and more time at the work site. Possibly more important, in case of an emergency, FlexCraft can return from the most distant point on ISS in less than a minute. The one-size-fits-all FlexCraft means no on-orbit inventory of parts or crew time required to fit all astronauts. The shirtsleeve cockpit uses conventional displays and controls which means the work is not strenuous, there is no suit trauma and rest days are not required. Furthermore, there is no need to collect hand tools because manipulators are equipped with force multiplying end-effectors that can deliver the precise torque for the job. FlexCraft is an efficient solution for asteroid exploration allowing all crew to use one vehicle with no risk of contamination. And, because FlexCraft is a vehicle, its design offers better radiation and micro-meteoroid protection than space suits.


Software architecture is a recognized and indispensable part of system development. Software architecture is often defined in terms of components and connectors, or the "high-level conception of a system". In recent years, there has been an awareness that not only the design itself is important to capture, but also the knowledge that has led to this design. This so-called architectural knowledge concerns the set of design decisions and their rationale. Capturing architectural knowledge is difficult. Part of it is tacit and difficult to verbalize. Like developers, software architects are not inclined to document their solutions. Establishing ways to effectively manage and organize architectural knowledge is one of the key challenges of the field of software architecture. This architectural knowledge plays a role during development, when architects, developers, and other stakeholders must communicate about the system to be developed, possibly in a global setting. It also plays a role during the evolution of a system, when changes are constrained by decisions made earlier.


Two sets (four lines) of chickens, lines 7 and 6 and lines P and N, the former of each set susceptible and the latter resistant to Marek's disease, were examined for their relative histocompatibility and immunocompetence. Results from the in vivo graft-versus-host response splenomegaly assay, and graft-versus-host chorioallantoic membrane pock formation assay confirmed the within-line, B-locus homozygosity of chickens of lines 7, 6, and N and the heterozygosity of line-P chickens. These assays further confirmed that line-7 and line-6 chickens share identical alleles at the major histocompatibility locus. The capacity of the lines of chickens to elicit specific cell-mediated immune lysis as measured by the release of chromium 51 generally agreed with the in vivo graft-versus-host responses. These data demonstrate that the 51Cr-release assay is a reliable measure of histocompatibility within the avian system.


The emission spectrum of TaO, excited in a tantalum hollow cathode lamp, has been observed at high resolution using a Fourier transform spectrometer. In addition to previously known transitions, a number of new bands have been identified and assigned as belonging to two new electronic transitions: H2Pi1/2-X2Delta3/2 and K2Phi5/2-X2Delta3/2. A rotational analysis ofthe 0-0 and 0-1 bands of the H2Pi1/2-X2Delta3/2 transition and of the 0-1, 1-2, 0-0, 1-0, and 2-1 bands of theK2Phi5/2-X2Delta3/2 transition has been carried out, providing the following equilibrium constants for the ground X2Delta3/2 state:omegae = 1028.9060(15) cm-1, omegaexe = 3.58928(66) cm-1, Be = 0.40289737(139) cm-1, alphae = 0.00185445(83) cm-1, andre = 1.6873430(29) Å. The principal molecular constants for the H2Pi1/2 state are T00 = 20 634.32758 (40) cm-1,B0 = 0.3766867(31) cm-1, and r0 = 1.7450604(72) Å, while the equilibrium constants for the K2Phi5/2 state areomegae = 905.4549(15) cm-1, omegaexe = 3.67601(64) cm-1, Be = 0.37965102(36) cm-1, alphae = 0.00189370(21) cm-1, andre = 1.7382343(8) Å. Although the H2Pi1/2 and K2Phi5/2 states have been observed previously in matrix isolation experiments, our work on these states is the first in the gas phase. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.


As determining when plate tectonics began on Earth is a highly debated subject, it is crucial to understand the "boring billion" (1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago), a period of tectonic quiescence inferred from proxies, such as the average chemical composition of the mineral zircon on Earth and the isotopic composition of seawater derived from marine rocks. Yet this period saw the construction of what may have been the biggest mountain belt that ever existed, the remnants of which are found in the Grenville Orogen of eastern North-America. This contribution first exposes a compilation of multidisciplinary geological datasets and new geochemical data from igneous suites emplaced during the Grenvillian Orogeny that are incompatible with the current tectonic paradigm. We then present a completely revised model for Grenvillian tectonics. In contrast with the actual Laurentian-centred paradigm, our model involves the construction of a newly revealed continent by amalgamation of volcanic arcs far away from Laurentia (the craton forming the core of actual North-America) and their collision 60 millions year later than the currently accepted timing. This new model resolves the longstanding contradiction between tectonic proxies and geological record and invalidates the view considering the Mesoproterozoic as a tectonically quiet Era.


This paper describes a fault detection method developed for application to variable-air-volume (VAV) boxes. VPACC (VAV Box Performance Assessment Control Charts) is a fault detection tool that uses a small number of control charts to assess the performance of VAV boxes. The underlying approach, while developed for a specific type of equipment and control sequence, is general in nature and can be adapted to other types of VAV boxes. VPACC has been tested using emulation, laboratory, and field data sets. The results are encouraging. VPACC successfully detected each of the faults introduced in the emulation and laboratory testing and also detected two faults that were not intentionally implemented. In addition, no false alarms were identified in the emulation and laboratory testing. The assessment of VPACC with field data was not as straightforward, however, VPACC alarms for the field data do seem to point to several design and operational issues.


Patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently experience sudden falls in blood pressure during postural change. Few studies have investigated whether the measurement of blood flow velocity within vessels can reflect brain perfusion during postural change. By performing carotid duplex ultrasonography (CDU), we investigated changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) during postural changes in patients with a cervical SCI, determined the correlation of CBF change with presyncopal symptoms, and investigated factors affecting cerebral autoregulation. We reviewed the medical records of 100 patients with a cervical SCI who underwent CDU. The differences between the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and CBF volume in the supine posture and after 5 min at 50° tilt were evaluated. Presyncopal symptoms occurred when the blood flow volume of the internal carotid artery decreased by ≥21% after tilt. In the group that had orthostatic hypotension and severe CBF decrease during tilt, the body mass index and physical and functional scores were lower than in other groups, and the proportion of patients with a severe SCI was high. The higher the SCI severity and the lower the functional score, the higher the possibility of cerebral autoregulation failure. CBF should be assessed by conducting CDU in patients with a high-level SCI.


Batu City has positioned itself as a center for organic agriculture based on international tourism, and, consistent with its vision in the Batu City Regional Spatial Plan for 2010-2030, the city will become a City of Tourism and Agropolitanism in East Java. From 2015 to 2020, Batu City increasingly developed, especially its tourism sector. The increased number of Batu City tourism sites indirectly illustrated changes in land use. The availability of relatively fixed land is not directly proportional to the high demand for land use and the decreasing vegetation cover. This has led to changes in land use and temperature. This research on temperature changes due to land conversion was carried out in Batu City, East Java. The research design employed Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS image processing using land surface temperature, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI). The results showed a relationship between land conversion and temperature changes in Batu City, where there was a change in the land surface temperature interval in 2015-2020. Temperature changes were caused by conversion of forest into agricultural land and built-up land. Vegetated land areas were also converted, so land with dense and moderately dense vegetation decreased. The dense vegetation decreased from 3,757 hectares to 3,437 hectares, while the moderately dense vegetation decreased from 7,867 hectares to 7,531 hectares. Conversely, the sparsely vegetated land increased from 7,463 hectares to 8,117 hectares.
 Keywords: land surface temperature, land conversion, Batu City


Medulla compression from vertebral artery abnormality is a very rare occurrence with few cases present in the literature. It has been documented to present with a very wide spectrum of clinical symptomatology ranging from asymptomatic to full hemiplegia. There is currently no treatment algorithm in place to guide clinicians encountering such patients but treatments have historically involved major posterior compartment surgical interventions. This case outlined a patient evaluated for dizziness without any other neurological symptoms or signs, found to have abnormal dilatation, elongation, and tortuosity of the vertebral artery with resultant compression of the medulla oblongata. The patient was managed conservatively after discussion of surgical options. This report outlined an important consideration for management of medullar compression by vertebral artery based on symptom severity with the possibility of postponing surgical or endovascular interventions and opting for conservative management with an anti-platelet regimen, particularly in the short term.


Control of vibration inflexible robot manipulators is considered in this chapter. A constrained planar single-link flexible manipulator is considered. Open-loop control strategies based on filtered and Gaussian-shaped command inputs and closed-loop control techniques based on partitioning of the rigid and flexible motion dynamics of the system are developed. These incorporate lowpass and bandstop filtered inputs, Gaussian-shaped inputs, switching surface and adaptive variable structure control, adaptive joint-based collocated and adaptive hybrid collocated and noncollocated control. The control strategies thus developed are tested within simulations and using a laboratory-scale flexible manipulator test rig.


Measures to protect the public following an accidental release of radionuclides to the environment will depend on the circumstances including the extent of the potential hazards. The projected level of risk is an important precondition in emergency planning. The levels can be expressed in terms of concentration levels in the environment or in foodstuffs. These derived intervention levels (DILs) can be determined for the range of important radionuclides that could be released to the environment in the event of a nuclear accident. Derived intervention levels for 90Sr, 131I, 134Cs + 137Cs, 238Pu + 239Pu + 241Am and 103Ru + 106Ru radionuclide groups were calculated for the most consumed foodstuffs in Iran. These nine radionuclides are expected to deliver the major portion of the radiation dose during the first year following an accidental episode of radiological food contaminations. Calculations for DILs were based on recommendations from international and national organizations and average food consumption rate data for Iran. From our research it was found that DILs for foodstuffs consumed in Iran for the above mentioned radionuclide groups (excluding the ruthenium group) are equal to 390, 250, 1000, and 3 Bq kg−1, respectively.


Endometrial cancer, one of the most prevalent malignant cancers tumors of the female reproductive tract, has been increasing in incidence and mortality rates around the world. The Hippo pathway, one of the eight traditional human cancer signaling pathways, is an intricate signaling network that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration as well as restricting organ size in response to a range of intracellular and extracellular signals. Inhibiting the Hippo pathway results in aberrant activation of its downstream core component YAP/TAZ, which can enhance cancer cells' metabolism and maintain their stemness. Additionally, the Hippo pathway can modulate the tumor microenvironment and induce drug resistance, where tumorigenesis and tumor progression occur. However, the Hippo pathway has been little researched in endometrial cancer. Here, we aim to review how the Hippo pathway contributes to the onset, development and the potential treatment of endometrial cancer with the aim of providing new therapeutic targets.


PURPOSE
To determine the influence of denture base resins coated with antibacterial coating on water sorption, solubility and monomer elution.

METHODS
The values of water sorption and solubility were measured according to YY 0270-2003 and gas chromatography was used to examine the leachability of 4 commercially available heat-cured acrylic resins between experimental group and control group. Degree of crosslinking of the experimental heat-cured acrylic denture bases we remeasured by soxhlet extraction method. The data was analyzed by 17.0 software package.

RESULTS
The values of water sorption, solubility and monomer elution of experimental group were lower compared to the control group. Degree of crosslinking of Heraeus reins was the highest among the experimental heat-cured acrylic denture bases.

CONCLUSIONS
There is a same trend among water sorption, degree of crosslinking and the monomer elution. When the degree of crosslinking increases, the values of water sorption and monomer elution decrease. Antibacterial coating can improve the comprehensive properties of the denture base resins.


Background: Diarrheal diseases among under five children are among the three most important causes of morbidity, and mortality in low income countries including Ethiopia. The problem is clear at Dejen district where childhood diarrheal disease is the top cause of morbidity among under five children. With the aim of assessing prevalence of childhood diarrheal diseases and associated factors, this study was carried out. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Dejen district. Five of the 21 rural kebeles in the district were selected randomly, finally 710 households were chosen by systematic random sampling using existing list of all households as a sampling frame. Data was collected using core questionnaire which was designed by WHO. Data entry and analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20. The level of association was dealt using confidence interval and odds ratio. Result: the study conducted among 710 households with response rate of 96.4% shows that, the prevalence of diarrhea was 23.8%. Tube well water source (AOR: 2.59,95%CI(169,3.95)), throwing away disposal of feces (AOR: 1.58,95%CI(1.10,2.26)), care giver's hand washing with water only (AOR: 1.61,95% CI(1.04,2.84)) and lack of vitamin A supplementation (AOR: 1.92,95% CI(1.35,2.74)) were significantly associated with diarrhea. Conclusion and Recommendation: the prevalence of childhood diarrhea is high at Dejen. Tube well source of water, throwing away disposal of feces, poor hand washing practice of the care giver and lack of vitamin A supplementation were significantly associated with childhood diarrheal disease. Improved access to piped water, proper hand washing technique and vitamin A supplementation should be emphasized in developing world.


Internet research methods in nursing science are less developed than in other sciences. We choose to present an approach to conducting nursing research on an internet-based forum. This paper presen ...


Hens involved in a Newcastle disease study were euthanased at regular intervals according to a designed protocol. Of these, 7.14 % (n = 42) of the 82-week-old specific pathogen-free breeder hens were found to have well-delineated firm white to yellowish nodules of varying sizes in the abdominal cavity. Histologically, the nodules were identified as an adenocarcinoma originating in the uterus. Transcoelomic spread was evidenced by the presence of similar neoplastic cells embedded in the serosa and outer longitudinal muscle layer of the intestines as well as the liver.


Squires (1999) discussed the gap between HCI (Human Computer Interaction) and the educational computing communities in their very different approaches to evaluating educational software. This paper revisits that issue in the context of evaluating digital resources, focusing on two approaches to evaluation: an HCI and an educational perspective. Squires and Preece's HCI evaluation model is a predictive model - it helps teachers decide whether or not to use educational software - whilst our own concern is in evaluating the use of learning technologies. It is suggested that in part the different approaches of the two communities relate to the different focus that each takes: in HCI the focus is typically on development and hence usability, whilst in education the concern is with the learner and teacher use. DOI: 10.1080/0968776030110102


BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to support the hypothesis that the neuro-motor control of the neck muscles is impaired in the diseases of chronic whiplash and tension-type headache. This hypothesis is based on a previous study, and if confirmed, it indicates that the central nervous system may be part of the pathophysiology of these diseases. For further verification, we designed a laser tracking method for standardized and quantitative measurements of movements of head and hand. The hand was included as a presumed normal reference to the head movements.MethodsA new laser tracking instrument was designed to monitor the ability of a test-person to track a reference point on the wall by a laser fixed to the forehead or held in the hand. The reference point moves in runs of a circle or a square at three different speeds 10, 20 or 30 cm/sec thus providing 6 runs for both head and hand per test-person. We used a 1x1x1 m set-up geometry. The data of each run was processed on-line. Groups of 22 patients diagnosed with chronic whiplash associated disorder, 19 patients diagnosed with chronic tension-type headache and 37 control persons were compared.FindingsA small but highly significant dyscoordination of head movements was observed in both patients groups, and in whiplash also of the hand. InterpretationOur study confirms the hypothesis that the neuro-motor control of the neck muscles is impaired in both chronic whiplash and tension-type headache. In our view this observation implicates that the central nervous system may be involved in the primary pathology of both these diseases. Accordingly, we suggest a provisional term 'cervical dyssynergia' for these diseases, and suggest further studies along this paradigm.


Polyvinyl alcohol fiber reinforced engineering cementitious composites (PVA-ECCs) exhibit excellent tight-cracking and super-high toughness behaviors and have been widely used in bridge repair projects. In reality, the conventional method in bridge repair is that a portion of the bridge is closed and repaired while the other portion is left open to traffic. Consequently, newly placed PVA-ECC bridge repairs (NP-ECC-BRs) are exposed to continuous traffic vibrations (TRVs), even during the setting periods. However, whether or not TRVs affect the expected flexural properties of NP-ECC-BRs remains unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of TRVs on the attainable flexural properties of NP-ECC-BRs. For this purpose, a total of 324 newly fabricated thin-plate specimens were exposed to different vibration variables using self-designed vibration equipment. After vibration, a four-point flexural test was conducted to determine the flexural properties of the specimens. The results indicate that the effects of TRVs on the strengths of NP-ECC-BRs was significantly negative, but insignificantly positive for flexural deformation. We concluded that in the design of PVA-ECC bridge repairs, effects of TRVs on the flexural deformation capacity of NP-ECC-BRs are not a cause for concern, but serious consideration should be given to the associated reduction of flexural load-bearing capacity.


We introduce a theory of infinite lists in HOL formalized as functions over naturals (folder ListInf, theories ListInf and ListInf Prefix). It also provides additional results for finite lists (theory ListInf/List2), natural numbers (folder CommonArith, esp. division/modulo, naturals with infinity), sets (folder CommonSet, esp. cutting/truncating sets, traversing sets of naturals).


In this conversation the author discusses with Ken Jacobs – in the presence of his wife, Flo Jacobs – different passages from his life: his childhood in Williamsburg; the revelation of his adoption by his father and the vicissitudes lived by his mother, reflected in the role of the woman in some films of the time – especially those by Frank Capra; classical and modern Jewish culture; the double bills he used to attend, with a cowboy and a Yiddish film; his education in a school of the Eastern District; his discovery of the screenings at MoMA and Cinema 16, the screening of The Blood of Jesus at Anthology Film Archives and the programme 'Essential Cinema' and the classes with Hans Hofmann and his possible influence in some works by Jacobs, such as Window.


There have been numerous researches on Nak-An village in Jeollanamdo, one of the most representative traditional castle village in Korea. Most of them have dealt with general and physical architectural scale and features separately. Therefore this study aims to understand the compositional characteristics of building layout and exterior space and the relations between street system and dwelling unit of folk houses in Nak-An village. The study examined houses of ordinary people in Nak-An village constructed before the village was not affected by foreign influences. 36 folk houses in Nak-An built from nineteenth century to early twentieth century and believed to have few physical changes from the original floor plans and architectural forms were the subjects to be analyzed. The most popular types in building layout are "Open L"and "Open U". The most typical orientation of main building is Southwest. The favorable entry into the dwelling lot is from the side. The street system in the village consists of main streets of South-North, resulting in dwelling lots with North-South axis most general. This site condition forces the entry into the lot from North main street and the side access to the main building. From these findings, the building layout and the entry into the dwelling lot of folk houses in Nak-An are strongly related with street system and conditions of dwelling lot.


Introduction: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Kazakhstan. In the structure of CVD, hypertension takes the first place and leads to remodeling of the myocardium and carotid arteries, which significantly increases cardiovascular risk. A number of studies have been carried out that established the genetic characteristics associated with the risk of hypertension and target organ damage in hypertension, but not in Kazakh population. The aim of this project is to study the molecular genetic predictors of remodeling of the cardiovascular system in HTN in Kazakh population. Materials and methods: The sample size is 1000 people. There were 4 groups of 250 hypertensive individuals, age up to 61 years. Group without remodeling with carotid artery remodeling (CR), intima-media complex (IMC) > 0.9 mm with myocardial remodeling (MR) LVMI ≥115 in men, ≥95 in women, relative wall thickness ≥0.43 With remodeling of the myocardium and carotid artery. Clinical, laboratory, instrumental data were collected. Biological samples were taken for genotyping for 120 SNPs known by association with a thickening of IMC or with left ventricular hypertrophy based on GWAS Catalog EMBL-EBI and Varsome Clinical and PubMed publications. Genotyping was performed using QuantStudio 12K Flex Real-Time PCR System using array technology. Preliminary Results: According to a preliminary analysis of 120 SNPs, three polymorphic variants (rs75330306, rs1879734, rs12465515 (p <0.05)) are associated with MR, because of a significant association in groups with MR and in the group RM+CR. rs1879734 and rs12465515 were previously associated with mitral valve prolapse in the European population, and rs75330306 was previously associated with Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in the African American ancestry. Biography: Ms. Ainur Sibagatova is an aspiring researcher. She holds a master degree in health administration. Currently she works in the Gerontology center of Medical Centre Hospital of President's Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The interest of her research is the prevention of the age of associated diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases.


We previously reported the expansion during HIV infection of a subset of CD4+ T cells characterized by a lack of CD7 cell surface expression. This CD4+CD7- subset showed in normal donors a lower cell proliferation than CD4+CD7+ autologous cells after CD3 triggering or CD28 costimulation. Our aim was to further characterize the Th function of this CD4+CD7- T cell subset, both in normal donors and in HIV-infected patients. Their CD4+CD7- cell proliferation and cytokine secretion were analyzed after cell-sorting and co-stimulation of the CD3 and CD28 pathways. In normal donors, the IL-2 produced by CD4+CD7- cells in response to a CD3 plus CD28 costimulus represented 50 +/- 28% of the autologous CD4+CD7+ cell IL-2 secretion. In addition, the CD4+CD7+ T cells produced higher amounts of IL-4 and IL-10 than the CD4+CD7+ cells with mean CD4+CD7-: CD4+CD7+ ratios of 5.4 +/- 4.5 and 26 +/- 25, for IL-4 and IL-10, respectively, whereas the IFN-gamma production was similar in both subsets. After a triggering of the CD3 complex alone, significant amounts of IL-2 were detectable in CD4+CD7+ cell supernatants only; conversely, IL-4 and IL-10 could be detected only in the culture medium from CD4+CD7- T cells. This profile of cytokine production was maintained both over time and at the clonal cell level in the CD4+CD7- T cell subset. In HIV-infected patients, the CD4+CD7- T cell expansion observed in relationship with disease progression was associated to an in vivo activation of the CD4+CD7- cells, as assessed by cell surface expression of the HLA-DR, CD25, CD71, and CD57 markers. The CD4+CD7- T cells from HIV-seropositive patients showed the same imbalance of cell proliferation and IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 production as observed in normal donors despite low levels of proliferation and cytokine production. Together, our data indicate that the lack of CD7 expression defines a CD4+ Th cell subset with a Th0/Th2-like profile of cytokine secretion in normal individuals. The CD4+CD7- subset is expanded during HIV infection and characterized by the same although impaired profile of cytokine production. These CD4+CD7- T cells might play a role in the Th cell dysfunctions observed in HIV infection.


OBJECTIVES
Postpartum urinary incontinence estimates range from 13% to 47%. Clinical factors associated with incontinence 1 year after first delivery are varied. We assessed the prevalence of and factors associated with urinary incontinence in primiparous women at 12 months postpartum.

METHODS
Ancillary analysis of 99 nulliparous women from a prospective cohort study that assessed participants during the first and third trimesters and 12 months postpartum. Our primary outcome was urinary incontinence 12 months postpartum. Women were asked "How often do you experience urine leakage?" and considered to have urinary incontinence if a response other than "never" was reported. We collected vaginal swabs for assessment of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity, a measure of tissue remodeling. Bivariable and logistic regression analyses were used to compare women with and without postpartum urinary incontinence.

RESULTS
Of 99 primiparous women, 55% (n = 54) reported urinary incontinence at 12 months postpartum. Logistic regression demonstrated that urinary incontinence during pregnancy (odds ratio, 34.3; 95% confidence interval, 7.9-149.2) and a decrease in matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity between the first and third trimesters (odds ratio, 19.34; 95% confidence interval, 3.47-107.84) were associated with postpartum urinary incontinence. The sensitivity and specificity of urinary incontinence during pregnancy for predicting postpartum urinary incontinence were 87% and 67%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 76% and 81%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
Urinary incontinence affected 55% of primiparous women at 12 months postpartum. Urinary incontinence during pregnancy was strongly associated with postpartum incontinence. Importantly, vaginal tissue protease activity during pregnancy represents a possible mechanism for and biomarker of postpartum urinary incontinence.


Since the 1960s, when he emerged as one of the main literary voices of a new generation of Israeli writers, Amos Oz came to represent, both in his writings and in his public persona, the quintessential Sabra: the native-born Israeli. Oz was resolute and confident but also contemplative and sensitive. He became one of the main voices of Israel's peace camp, but he was also a believer in Israel's historical mission. A Tale of Love and Darkness, Oz's memoir from 2003, has presented a profoundly different image of Amos Oz. Instead of the virile, confident Sabra, we encounter a boy whose world was shaped not only by Jerusalem of the 1940s but also by the Jewish experience in Eastern Europe. Oz as he emerges from A Tale of Love and Darkness is no longer the proud kibbutznik holding a plow in one hand and a pen in the other but an Ashkenazi Jew who seems to be haunted by the complexes and fears that his parents and grandparents brought with them from the Diaspora. In an Israel now cosmopolitan and technologically advanced yet also more fractured, tribal, and diverse, A Tale of Love and Darkness offers a personal historical account that forgoes the grand national narrative which informed so much of Oz's earlier fiction as well as his nonfiction writing. The memoir presents Oz as the voice of a particular group (secular Ashkenazim), which was once a dominant force in Israeli society but which, in recent years, finds itself to be one of many groups in an ever expanding Israeli cultural landscape.


With the diffusion of online newspapers and social media, users are becoming capable of retrieving dozens of news articles covering the same topic in a short time. News article summarization is the task of automatically selecting a worthwhile subset of news' sentences that users could easily explore. Promising research directions in this field are the use of semantics-based models (e.g., ontologies and taxonomies) to identify key document topics and the integration of social data analysis to also consider the current user's interests during summary generation. The chapter overviews the most recent research advances in document summarization and presents a novel strategy to combine ontology-based and social knowledge for addressing the problem of generic (not query-based) multi-document summarization of news articles. To identify the most salient news articles' sentences, an ontology-based text analysis is performed during the summarization process. Furthermore, the social content acquired from real Twitter messages is separately analyzed to also consider the current interests of social network users for sentence evaluation. The combination of ontological and social knowledge allows the generation of accurate and easy-to-read news summaries. Moreover, the proposed summarizer performs better than the evaluated competitors on real news articles and Twitter messages.


Swelling of Mycoplasma gallisepticum cells when incubated in a glucose-free isoosmotic NaCl buffer was shown to be due to the entrance of NaCl into the cell. Volume regulation therefore depends on Na+ extrusion. The mechanism of Na+ extrusion in cells and proteoliposomes, prepared from M. gallisepticum membrane fragments, was investigated by following both 22Na+ efflux and pH changes. Our results indicate that Na+ is expelled from cells via two separate mechanisms, an Na+/cation exchange mechanism and an Na+-ATPase. The possible association of these mechanisms with K+ accumulation is suggested.


This brief summarizes the impact and targeting of social infrastructure investments: lessons from the Nicaraguan Social Fund. The fund was created in 1990. The benefit incidence and impact of projects financed by the Nicaraguan Emergency Social Investment Fund are investigated using a sample of beneficiaries, a national household survey, and two distinct comparison groups. The first group is constructed on the basis of geographic proximity between similar facilities and their corresponding communities; the second is drawn from the national living standards measurement study survey sample using propensity score matching techniques. The analysis finds that the social fund investments in latrines, schools, and health posts are targeted to poor communities and households, whereas those in sewerage are targeted to the better-off. Investments in water systems are poverty-neutral. Education investments have a positive, significant impact on school outcomes regardless of the comparison group; the analysis finds that use of health investments is less clear. Using one comparison group, the analysis finds that use of health clinics increased as a result of the investments; using both it finds higher use of clinics for children under age six with diarrhea. With neither comparison group does it find improvements in health outcomes. Social fund investments in water and sanitation improve access to services but have no effect on health outcomes.


Current Source Inverter (CSI) fed induction motor drives finds application in high power medium voltage drives such as fan drives, where fast dynamic response is not needed because of the inherent four quadrant operation and reliability. Speed control of induction motors by Direct Torque Control -DTC method has more advantages compared to other methods. The most important Constant – Switching of DTC with PI control method based on constant switching frequency with modification of the inverter optimal switching table is presented. By using Direct torque control method the torque and speed response can be improved and thus improving the performance of the machine. The Matlab/Simulink software is used to model the CSI fed induction motor drive with DTC control and performance parameter are analysed and compared.


Microstructure of M2 high speed steel (HSS) after electropulsing treatment (EPT) was studied. The secondary carbides precipitated during pre-tempering were dissolved completely during EPT. But the secondary carbides in the starting microstructure cannot be dissolved completely upon conventional reheating to the temperature same as that during EPT. The austenite grain size was ultrarefined by EPT. This study provides a new way to refine austenite grain size in HSS without diminishing the dissolution amount of carbides.


Mechanism design is the art of designing the rules of the game so that a desirable outcome is reached even though the agents in the game behave selfishly. This is a difficult problem because the designer is uncertain about the agents' preferences and the agents may lie about their preferences. Traditionally, the focus in mechanism design has been on designing mechanisms that are appropriate for a range of settings. While this approach has produced a number of famous mechanisms, much of the space of possible settings is still left uncovered. In contrast, in an approach we call automated mechanism design (AMD) , a mechanism iscomputedon the fly for the setting at hand—a universally applicable approach. In this paper we present (to our knowledge) the first algorithm designed specifically for AMD. It is designed for the special case where there is only one agent, the mechanism must be deterministic, and payments are not possible. The algorithm relies on an association of a particular (easy to compute) mechanism to each subset of outcomes, and a proof that one such mechanism is an optimal one—which allows us to reduce the search space to one of size 2|O|. We propose an admissible heuristic to use in searching over this space, and show how it can be updated efficiently from node to node. We show how to apply branch and bound DFS as well as IDA* to this search space, and show that this approach outperforms CPLEX 8.0, a general-purpose solver, solidly on unstructured instances, both with and without an IR constraint. However, on our third example, a bartering problem, CPLEX almost achieves the performance of our algorithm by exploiting the structure inherent in the domain. We propose various directions for future research and argue that the general case of AMD is an exciting new application area for constrained optimization techniques.


A time-asymptotic analytical expression of the wave function transmitted by a double-barrier potential is presented. This analytical expression is validated by comparing it with the complete numerical solution of the Schroedinger equation. In the resonant regime, where the asymptotic expression is not valid, an approximation of the wave function, valid for all times, is given.


We performed an experiment on adhesive strength between teeth and resin cements for porcelain laminate veneer. A compression shear test was performed using three types of resin cement in extracted human anterior teeth. In dentin, the effects of various surface treatment methods were also evaluated. All three types of resin cement showed high adhesive strengths to enamel, but low adhesive strengths to dentin that were less than 1/2 of those to enamel. Treatment of the dentin surface with both a surface treatment agent and primer significantly increased adhesive strength.


This trial compared skin blood flow, temperature and incidence of venous leg ulcers in patients with chronic venous disease using compression wraps and elevation pillows. Patients with CEAP C4 skin damage and C5 history of ulcers were randomly assigned to a cryotherapy intervention (n = 138) or placebo cuff control (n = 138) applied to the lower legs over 9 months. The time the ulcers healed prior to enrollment in the study for the cryotherapy group ranged from 1 to 2218 days (n = 8, median = 32 days); for the control group, the range was 24 to 489 days (n = 6, median = 390 days). There were no statistically significant blood flow changes measured in perfusion units with a laser Doppler flowmetre within or between the groups; mean difference between the groups was 0·62, P = 0·619. No differences were noted in skin temperature measured with an infrared thermometer within and between the groups; mean difference between the groups was −0·17°C, P = 0·540. Cryotherapy did not improve skin blood flow or temperature and did not show efficacy in preventing ulcers. However, at least 30% of intervention and 50% of control participants were anticipated to develop an ulcer during the study; only ∼7% occurred. These findings suggest that strict adherence to standard of care decreases the incidence of leg ulcers and remains a best practice for leg ulcer prevention.


Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is among the herbs and spices grown for culinary uses is increasingly becoming important in Kenya. Its leaf productivity is however often limited by nitrogen and phosphorus, which are deficient in many Kenyan soils. The problem is even exacerbated by irregular rainfall in most parts of the country where it is grown, thus necessitating irrigation. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and watering regimes on vegetative and leaf yield of sage. The experiment conducted at the Horticultural research and teaching Farm of Egerton University, was laid out in a three factor Strip Plot arrangement in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD, with three replications. The treatments consisted of nitrogen (N) supplied as urea (46% N) at four rates; 0, 40, 80 and 120kg N/ha while phosphorus (P) was supplied as Triple Superphosphate (46% P2O5) at four rates; 0, 30, 60 and 90kg P/ha. Watering regimes included W1= Watering to field capacity once after every week, W2= Watering to field capacity once after every two weeks, and W3= watering to field capacity once after every four weeks. Nitrogen was assigned to the main plots; watering to the strip plots, and P to the sub-sub plots. The experiment was conducted in three trials; trial 1 (June 2011 – October 2011), trial 2 (October 2011 – February 2012) and trial 3 (March 2012 – May 2012). Data were collected on plant height, Leaf Area Index (LAI), leaf fresh and dry weights. All data were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and where F test was significant; treatment means were separated using the Tukey's Studentized Range Test at P ≤ 0.05. Results indicated that nitrogen applied at 80 kg N/ha, P at 60 kg P/ha and watering once after every two weeks gave the highest plant height (50.67 cm, 60.58 cm and 46.50 cm in trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively), and leaf fresh yield (27.10 ton/ha, 16.03 ton/ha 14.67 ton/ha in trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively). There is need however for economic evaluation of these practices before they can be recommended for use in Kenya.


In this article, we aim to explore the impact of social discourses of risk around childbirth on the decisions made for birth by women who planned to have a breech baby late in pregnancy. This article uses data from a qualitative descriptive study in New South Wales, Australia in 2013. In the study, we talked to 22 women about their decision-making process for planned a vaginal breech birth and the impact of social discourses of risk on this decision. In total, 12 of these women had a vaginal birth and the other 10 had a Caesarean section. In this article, we note that the mothers talked about their option for birth in a social setting in which the dominant discourse focused on the riskiness of breech birth and the vulnerability of female bodies that required medical surveillance, supervision and intervention to ensure a safe birth. Thus, for these mothers their pregnancy was seen through the societal lens of risk and medicalisation, with surgical intervention through a Caesarean section seen by society as the optimum choice. Women could resist this dominant discourse but such resistance required both justification and action, for example, the women who wanted a vaginal birth often had to resist the pressure from their families to have a Caesarean section. We identified four related strands in women's talk about resisting the dominate discourse: acknowledgment that they would be considered irrational for wanting a vaginal birth; having confidence in and believing that their body could give birth vaginally; convincing significant others that a vaginal birth was possible and desirable and looking for sources of support, for example, from new online social networks.


The spontaneous production and release of morphologically typical, 85 to 90 nm diameter C-type retrovirus particles from four cell lines derived from three species of warmwater fish have been identified. Virus pellets from cell culture supernatants showed high levels of Mn(2+)-dependent reverse transcriptase activity at 24 degrees C. Peak enzyme activity was associated with a 1 x 16 g/ml sucrose gradient fraction. All four isolates induced a cytolytic infection of a bluegill fry cell line within 6 to 10 days.