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Accelerating oxygen depletion during hermetic storage can minimize pest damage and preserve product quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand warmers in accelerating hypoxia to control insect pests inside hermetic containers. We used one, two, or four hand warmers to deplete oxygen in a 4-gallon hermetic jar with 4 kg of cowpea and cowpea bruchids, alongside a non-hermetic control with cowpea bruchids and no hand warmers. Oxygen levels, insect mortality, egg counts, seed moisture content, and germination rates were monitored over 2, 5, or 8 days of storage. Only the four hand warmers treatment reduced oxygen levels below 1% within 12 h and maintained them for up to 168 h. The other treatments did not achieve this level. Insect mortality was higher with more hand warmers and extended storage duration, reaching 100% after 5 and 8 days with four and two hand warmers, respectively. Similarly, increased hand warmers and extended storage durations reduced egg counts and adult emergence. The treatments did not affect the moisture content or germination rates of the stored cowpea seeds. Hand warmers proved effective in accelerating hypoxia during hermetic storage, resulting in high insect mortality and reduced reproduction, without compromising grain quality.

Insufficient liquidity can become a significant obstacle to stock trading and impede the smooth operation and performance of the stock market. This motivated the study to investigate the effect of stock market liquidity on stock market performance in Nigeria. The research design employed was ex post facto, while stratified sampling technique was used to select top 30 actively traded and most liquid companies tagged NGX-30 for this study. Data were sourced secondarily from SEC Statistical Bulletin, CBN Statistical Bulletin and www.investing.com. The Vector Error Correction (VEC) System Equation Regression was employed as the estimation technique. The results revealed that liquidity depth, liquidity breadth, and liquidity immediacy have significant positive effects on stock market performance as shown by ? = 0.2019, 8.5594, 3.3268; p-value = 0.0329, 0.0052, 0.0467 respectively. Also, interest rate, inflation rate and exchange rate have varied significant effects on stock market performance as shown by ? = -0.0023, -1.1738, 0.03432; p-value = 0.0634, 0.0346, 0.0778 respectively. Therefore, the study concluded that stock liquid significantly affects stock market performance. Thus, the study recommended that the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) should implement policies that encourage the participation of more traders to increase the number of actively traded stocks; support measures that improve the depth of the market by promoting transparency and fairness; improve the infrastructure for trade execution to enhance liquidity immediacy; and develop mechanisms to promptly identify and mitigate market risks.

Engineering geological characterizations, and geophysical mapping of subsurface structures to monitor some susceptible infrastructural facilities to hazardous slopes for effectiveness, safety to lives and properties, in addition to policy management for sustainable development. Novel integrated engineering geology, geoelectrical resistivity (ER), and borehole data analysis, to characterize subsurface for slope instability, determining critical zones prone to hazardous slopes in Peninsular Malaysian (PM), east coast areas was focused on. Engineering Laboratory soil investigations using disturbed and undisturbed samples collected to obtain firsthand information on the subsurface soils, and rocks physical properties, integrated with ER data to obtain subsurface geoelectric profiles. Regions delineated as loose and marked as water saturated residual soils prone to slopes corresponds to ER values 4000 Ω-m. Slope Mass Ratings (SMR), was carried out to construct suitability, and slope assessment system (SAS) model ratings map for the four classes obtained.

Abstract Background Complications in the postpartum period pose substantial risks to women and can result in significant maternal morbidity and mortality. However, there is much less attention on postpartum care compared to pregnancy and childbirth. The goal of this study was to gather information on women’s knowledge of postpartum care and complications, recovery practices after childbirth, perceived barriers to receiving care during the postpartum period, and educational needs in four health centers. The findings can inform the development of appropriate curriculum and interventions for postnatal care education in similar settings. Methods A descriptive qualitative study design was employed. Eight focus group discussions were conducted among 54 postpartum women who delivered in four health centers in Sagnarigu District in Tamale, Ghana. Audio recordings of focus group data were transcribed and translated, and thematic analysis was conducted. Results There were six main themes that emerged from the focus group discussions: 1) baby focused postpartum care; 2) postpartum practices; 3) inadequate knowledge ofpostpartum danger signs; 4) barriers to accessing postpartum care 5) experiences of poor mental health; and 6) need for postpartum education. Conclusions Postpartum care for women in this study was primarily perceived as care of the baby post-delivery and missing key information on physical and mental health care for the mother. This can result in poor adjustment postpartum and critically, a lack of knowledge on danger signs for common causes of morbidity and mortality in the postpartum period. Future research needs to understand how to communicate important information on postpartum mental and physical health to better protect mothers in the region.

BackgroundLiver cirrhosis is a chronic disease that is known as a "silent killer" and its true prevalence is difficult to describe. It is imperative to accurately characterize the prevalence of cirrhosis because of its increasing healthcare burden.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, trends in cirrhosis prevalence were evaluated using administrative data from one of the largest national health insurance providers in the US. (2011-2018). Enrolled adult (≥18-years-old) patients with cirrhosis defined by ICD-9 and ICD-10 were included in the study. The primary outcome measured in the study was the prevalence of cirrhosis 2011-2018.ResultsAmong the 371,482 patients with cirrhosis, the mean age was 62.2 (±13.7) years; 53.3% had commercial insurance and 46.4% had Medicare Advantage. The most frequent cirrhosis etiologies were alcohol-related (26.0%), NASH (20.9%) and HCV (20.0%). Mean time of follow-up was 725 (±732.3) days. The observed cirrhosis prevalence was 0.71% in 2018, a 2-fold increase from 2012 (0.34%). The highest prevalence observed was among patients with Medicare Advantage insurance (1.67%) in 2018. Prevalence increased in each US. state, with Southern states having the most rapid rise (2.3-fold). The most significant increases were observed in patients with NASH (3.9-fold) and alcohol-related (2-fold) cirrhosis.ConclusionBetween 2012-2018, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis doubled among insured patients. Alcohol-related and NASH cirrhosis were the most significant contributors to this increase. Patients living in the South, and those insured by Medicare Advantage also have disproportionately higher prevalence of cirrhosis. Public health interventions are important to mitigate this concerning trajectory of strain to the health system.

Eco-agricultural technology is crucial in alleviating agricultural resource scarcity and environmental pressures. However, financial constraints affect its successful promotion. Digital finance significantly impacts farmers. However, existing research neglects the impact of digital finance on farmers’ adoption of eco-agricultural technology. This study focuses on rice-crayfish co-cultivation technology. It utilizes survey data from 1063 households in China. An endogenous switching probit model is employed to solve self-selection bias. The results are as follows: First, the average treatment effect is 51.5%. This indicates that if farmers who use digital finance were to stop using it, the probability of adopting rice-crayfish co-cultivation technology would decrease by 51.5%. Therefore, digital finance is beneficial for farmers in adopting this technology. Second, heterogeneity analysis shows that the promoting effect of digital finance is a greater promoting effect on older farmers, and on those with lower education levels and higher proportions of agricultural income. This suggests a greater reliance on digital financial services among vulnerable groups. Third, digital finance promotes farmers’ adoption of rice-crayfish co-cultivation technology by alleviating financial constraints, expanding information channels, and increasing social capital accumulation. Overall, the findings offer valuable insights for formulating supportive eco-agricultural policies.

BackgroundAlthough the postpartum period poses substantial risks and can result in significant maternal morbidity and mortality, postpartum care of the mother receives much less attention in transitional countries. ObjectiveWe describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial to implement and evaluate a postpartum care delivery model titled Focused-PPC (Focused Postpartum Care). MethodsFocused-PPC is an integrated group postpartum care model that meets the clinical care, education, and support needs of mothers up to 1 year after birth. The Focused-PPC intervention is a parallel randomized controlled trial with a total of 192 postpartum women at 4 health centers in Tamale, Ghana. Participants will be randomized into 1 of 2 trial arms at a 1:1 allocation ratio: (1) the control arm, which receives the standard postnatal care currently delivered in health facilities, or (2) the intervention arm, which receives the Focused-PPC model of care. Women enrolled in the intervention arm will receive postpartum clinical assessments and education for the first 6 weeks and will continue to receive education, measures of vital signs, and peer support for 12 months post partum during child welfare visits. Led by trained midwives, each postpartum group in the intervention arm will meet at 1-2 weeks, 6 weeks, and monthly thereafter for up to 1 year post partum, following the Ghana Health Service postnatal care schedule. ResultsThe Focused-PPC guide, data collection tools, and audiovisual education materials were successfully developed and translated into the local language. We have enrolled and conducted baseline surveys for 192 women (sample size met) in the Focused-PPC trial who have been randomized into intervention and control arms. We have established a total of 12 Focused-PPC groups in the intervention arm, 3 groups from each site, all of which have sessions underway. ConclusionsFocused-PPC has the potential to change the postpartum care delivery model in Ghana and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05280951; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05280951 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/47519

Understanding of the climate-water nexus for sustainability, required good knowledge of the climate effects on groundwater aquifer units, particularly in rural communities. The studies were achieved using RES2-D modelling of the subsurface structures at the study site. Geophysical exploration with the application of 2-D Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI), combined with Induced Polarization (IP) method, were carried out to identify groundwater aquifers during extreme weather at Kampung Kuala Pajam, Beranang, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. The signatures obtained from geophysical explorations were used to better understand the phenomena that are responsible for groundwater depletion in the area. In recent times, there had been seasonal fluctuations in the water supply from boreholes serving the community. During the drought season, subsurface underlain this area experienced perennial acute shortages of groundwater supplies due to annual climatic variations that call for immediate solution by meeting the agricultural, domestic, and industrial water usage of the State of Selangor. A Pole-dipole techniques, using seven parallel lines of 400 m each at 5 m inter electrode spacing deployed to study the groundwater accumulation/aquifers within the area. Saturated groundwater occurrences zones were delineated as areas with average resistivity values of about 125 Ω-m, with corresponding chargeability of 30 ms. The methods used identified major faults along the northeast-southwest (NE-SW) directions, suitable for groundwater occurrences with approximate volume of about 2.86 Mega cubic metre (CBM), to proffer lasting solutions to the challenges being experienced by the community using a climate-water nexus sustainability.

There is a dearth of information on the patterns of electrolyte derangements among perioperative women with obstructed labour. We measured the levels and patterns of electrolyte derangements among women with obstructed labour in eastern Uganda. This was a secondary analysis of data for 389 patients with obstructed labour, diagnosed by either an obstetrician or medical officer on duty between July 2018 and June 2019. Five milliliters of venous blood was drawn from the antecubital fossa under an aseptic procedure for electrolytes and complete blood analyses. The primary outcome was the prevalence of electrolyte derangements, defined as values outside the normal ranges: Potassium 3.3-5.1 mmol/L, Sodium 130-148 mmol/L, Chloride 97-109 mmol/L, Magnesium 0.55-1.10 mmol/L, Calcium (Total) 2.05-2.42 mmol/L, and Bicarbonate 20-24 mmol/L. The most prevalent electrolyte derangement was hypobicarbonatemia [85.8% (334/389)], followed by hypocalcaemia [29.1% (113/389)], then hyponatremia [18% (70/389)]. Hyperchloraemia [4.1% (16/389)], hyperbicarbonatemia [3.1% (12/389)], hypercalcaemia [2.8% (11/389)] and hypermagnesemia [2.8% (11/389)] were seen in a minority of the study participants. A total of 209/389 (53.7%) of the participants had multiple electrolyte derangements. Women who used herbal medicines had 1.6 times the odds of having multiple electrolyte derangements as those who did not use herbal medicines [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.6; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): (1.0-2.5)]. Having multiple electrolyte derangements was associated with perinatal death although this estimate was not precise [AOR 2.1; 95% CI: (0.9-4.7)]. Women with obstructed labour in the perioperative period have multiple electrolyte derangements. Use of herbal medicines in labour was associated with having multiple electrolyte derangements. We recommend routine assessment of electrolytes prior to surgery in patients with obstructed labour.

IntroductionAfrica has one of the world's highest populations of young people. In addition, Africa has one of the highest proportions of young people facing the worst health challenges. Although previous scholars have reported that young people were using mobile phones to fill in the gaps in accessing reproductive health services, among other health services, there was little comprehensive research on the perception of young people in Tamale, Ghana, on the use of mobile phones to access reproductive health services. This study analyzed the perceptions on mobile phone use to access reproductive health services among young people in Tamale, Ghana.MethodsThe research used a quantitative method design from a target population of 72,706 young people from selected peri-urban, low-income, middle income and high-income residential areas in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. The sample size used was 397 young people. Participants were selected using a stratified multistage sampling strategy. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.ResultsA total of 86% of the respondents agree that the use of mobile phones helps to overcome cultural challenges that young people in Tamale encounter in accessing reproductive health care. Also, 84.6% of the respondents agree that the use of mobile phones helps them to overcome inadequate access to reproductive health information and services. The use of mobile phones helps to overcome the negative attitude of health providers toward young people in need of reproductive health services was agreed by most of the respondents [strongly agree (35.4%) and agree (49.4%)].ConclusionThis study informed highly positive perceptions and attitudes toward the use of mobile phones to access Reproductive Health Services in Tamale, Ghana. There is, therefore the need for the health sector to reform its mode of prescriptions of medication, consultation, and service delivery to leverage on the advantages that mHealth presents.

Abstract Trait differences among plant species can favor species coexistence. The role that such differences play in the assembly of diverse plant communities maintained by frequent fires remains unresolved. This lack of resolution results in part from the possibility that species with similar traits may coexist because none has a significant fitness advantage and in part from the difficulty of experimental manipulation of highly diverse assemblages dominated by perennial species. We examined a 65‐year chronosequence of losses of herbaceous species following fire suppression (and subsequent encroachment by Pinus elliottii) in three wet longleaf pine savannas. We used cluster analysis, similarity profile permutation tests, and k‐R cluster analysis to identify statistically significant functional groups. We then used randomization tests to determine if the absence of functional groups near pines was greater (or less) than expected by chance. We also tested whether tolerant and sensitive species were less (or more) likely to co‐occur by chance in areas in savannas away from pines in accordance with predictions of modern coexistence theory. Functional group richness near pines was lower than expected from random species extirpations. Wetland perennials with thick rhizomes and high leaf water content, spring‐flowering wetland forbs (including Drosera tracyi), orchids, Polygala spp., and club mosses were more likely to be absent near pines than expected by chance. C3 grasses and sedges with seed banks and tall, fall‐flowering C4 grasses were less likely to be absent near pines than expected by chance. Species sensitive to pine encroachment were more likely to co‐occur with other such species away from pines at two of the three sites. Results suggest that herb species diversity in frequently burned wet savannas is maintained in part by a weak fitness (e.g., competitive) hierarchy among herbs, and not as a result of trait differences among co‐occurring species.

Abstract Background Smoking is endemic amongst people accessing homeless services, and they are disproportionately affected by smoking-related diseases. This paper reports on the results of a 3-month small scale intervention which explored the efficacy, challenges and opportunities of using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to support cessation of tobacco smoking with people accessing an Irish supported temporary accommodation (STA) homeless service. It considers the results of this intervention with reference to the balance of harms between the use of vaping to support smoking cessation and continued smoking. Methods Twenty-three participants were recruited. Demographic data, carbon monoxide (CO) measurements, homelessness status and smoking history were recorded. Participants were given an ENDS device and two 10-ml bottles containing e-liquid available in several flavours and at several strengths. Participants could pick up new bottles on a weekly basis. At weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12, the Fagerström Test and Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale (MPSS) were administered. Results Over 75% of the residents in the participating hostel were recruited (23/30). However, there was a substantial loss to follow-up (n = 14) as a result of data protection issues, the transient nature of the population of interest and non-compliance with the intervention. Self-reported reductions in cigarette consumption were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). However, reductions in carbon monoxide measurements were not statistically significant. Decreases in Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test were statistically significant (p = 0.001), but decreases in MPSS “urge to smoke” and “strength of urges” composite scores were not. Reported side effects included coughing, runny nose, bleeding nose, slight sweating, dizziness, increased phlegm and a burning sensation at the back of the throat. Barriers to engagement were peer norms, vaping restrictions in accommodation and adverse life events. Positive effects reported included increased energy, less coughing, better breathing and financial benefits. An improvement in the domain “poor concentration” was also found to be statistically significant (p = 0.040). Conclusion ENDS-based interventions may be effective with this population. Future research should aim to improve follow-up, consider including behavioural components and monitor health effects in relation to ongoing concerns around risks and the balance of harms. Trial registration Registered retrospectively ISRCTN14767579

Objective: Acromegaly is a rare condition and there is often a long path to diagnosis for many patients. We sought to explore patient’s perceptions a nd understanding of acromegaly, to examine the quality of communication and find gap s in the information provided at diagnosis. Design: A prospective study using qualitative research methodology and grounded theory. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 18 patie nts treated for acromegaly in a single tertiary centre and verbatim transcripts were thematically analysed for overarching themes. Results: Eighteen patients with acromegaly were interviewed. The mean a ge of participants was 52 (range 30–72). Four overarching themes emerged; (1) Patients rely on online resources to understand acromegaly in the time between d iagnosis and tertiary care clinic; (2) There is not enough support available for pati ents; (3) Patients have a basic understanding of acromegaly and associated conditions, bu t the long-term impact is underestimated; and (4) Patients initially felt intimidated by the multidisciplinary team panel, but overall found it useful. Conclusion: Acromegalic patients have a strong need for information at the point of initial diagnosis, in particular online resources and interaction with other experienced patients. Wider dissemination of patient educational resources into prima ry and secondary care settings may improve overall patient satisfaction, treatment ad herence and subsequent health care provider–patient relationships.

Abstract Numerous studies have shown that wind turbine wakes within a large wind farm bring about changes to both the dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmospheric boundary layers (ABL). Previously, we investigated the relative humidity budget within a wind farm via field measurements in the near‐wake region and large eddy simulations (LES). The effect of the compounding wakes within a large wind farm on the relative humidity was also investigated by LES. In this study, we investigate how the areas of relative humidity variation, that was observed in the near‐wake, develop downstream in the shadow region of a large wind farm. To this end, LES of a wind farm consisting of 8x6 wind turbines with periodic boundary condition in the lateral direction (inferring an infinitely wide farm) interacting with a stable ABL is carried out. Two wind farm layouts, aligned and staggered, are considered in the analysis and the results from both configurations are compared to each other. It is observed that a decrease of relative humidity underneath the hub height and an increase above the hub height build up within the wind farm, and are maintained in the downstream of the farm for long distances. The staggered farm layout is more effective in keeping a more elongated region of low relative humidity underneath the hub, when compared to the aligned layout.

The present study aimed at evaluating appropriate feeding strategies to obtain maximum fish production from farm ponds at low/minimum investment costs was carried out under the Tamil Nadu-Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project financed by the World Bank. The study was carried out for 180 days at the Directorate of Sustainable Aquaculture, Thanjavur, in four, equal-sized, farm ponds with two treatments in duplicates by stocking 5 species (Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Cyprinus carpio) in the ratio of 1:1:1:1:2. Treatment 1 (T1) involved the feeding strategy of pelleted feed with 20% CP (crude protein) broadcast twice a day whereas in Treatment 2 (T2), the same feed was provided four times a day as feed balls using feed trays. Among the five species, C. carpio (779±189.01 g) and C. mrigala (670±121.38 g) stocked in T2 attained the maximum weight. Production parameters such as gross production, net production, average daily growth rate were not significant between the treatments, however T2 showed comparatively better results than T1. Survival rate of fishes was recorded significantly higher in T1 (35.54±2.60%) than in T2 (29.6±2.36%). Nutrients such as total phosphorus, total nitrogen and total potassium were significant and highly discharged in T1 than in T2. Experiment revealed that feeding fishes in trays helped to monitor the weight gain and feed intake with reduced nutrient discharge, thereby proper feed management was obtained in T2 when compared to T1

In a tragedy of the commons, individual competition over a resource can reduce the resource itself, and thus reduce the fitness of the whole group. An extreme example is evolutionary suicide, which is predicted to occur when the selfish interests of free-riders and cheaters overwhelm cooperative behaviors, and the social good on which they depend ceases to exist. Case studies cite many different and seemingly interacting factors for success. Here we propose an equation-based theoretical model to predict changes in this balance, which determine whether the tragedy of the commons is observed in a particular scenario. Using survey data from 20 Balinese subaks, we explore the explanatory power of two theoretical traditions that are currently used to analyze commons management institutions, revealing multiple regimes with correlated responses to environmental threats. To explore case studies from a comparative perspective requires both theory and methods that can account for differences between regimes and explore transitions between them.

The quest for sustainable health, environmental protection, and the conservation of beneficial organisms makes the use of biopesticides a desirable option. This research aimed to identify the botanicals used in the management of farm and household pests in Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires and on-the-spot, face-to-face interviews. The main issues captured include the pests, the plants used to manage the pest, the parts used, the cultivation status, the availability, the effects on the pests, the indigenous formulation methods, and the modes of application. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation RFC (%), and Use Value (UV). A total of 45 plant species belonging to 42 genera, 20 orders, and 30 families were found to be useful in the management of 15 different pests. The FC, RFC (%), and UV values identified the most popularly used plants as Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze, Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip., Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Euphorbiaunispina N.E.Br., and Erythrophloem africanum (Benth.) Harms. The plants that showed broad uses by the ethnic groups include Azadirachta indica A. Juss (7 uses), Erythrophloem africanum (Benth.) Harms, Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss., and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. The perception of the respondents indicated that most of the biopesticides are available, affordable, effective, eco-friendly, and safe. This survey provides a pathway for the formulation of stable biopesticides.

To identify the potential zones for gold mineralization at the Felda Chiku 3, Gua Musang, Kelantan, East coast Malaysia, twenty-one (21) geophysical survey lines were conducted at the proposed mineral exploration site using the pole - dipole of the electrical resistivity and induced polarization arrays to get the maximum depth of 150 m with 400 m survey length. From the resistivity and chargeability concentration maps, the potential mineralized zones as delineated, was observed to be dominantly concentrated towards the southwest and northern part of the area. The 3D resistivity and chargeability slice model present low resistivity values and high chargeability values that are well correlated which is palpable especially at the depths of 25 m and 50 m respectively. The data showed that the potential mineralized zones are trending approximately north-south directions. Forty (40) drilling locations were proposed for follow-up drilling based on the resistivity and chargeability models.

The indoor air quality (IAQ) of five workstations within a detergent production unit was monitored. Particulate matter (PM) was measured using a gravitational settlement method, and later characterized. To ascertain the quality of indoor air within the workstations, which could directly or indirectly affect the health and performance of the workers, a physical inspection of the plant premises was undertaken. The mean value of the following air-quality parameters; particulate matter(PM2.5), particulate matter (PM10), formaldehyde (HCHO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature (T) and percent relative humidity (%RH) were obtained within the range of 24.5–48.5 µg/m3, 26.75–61.75 µg/m3, 0.0–0.012 mg/m3, 0.09–1.35 mg/m3, 1137–1265 ppm, 25.65–28.15 °C and 20.13–23.8%, respectively. Of the particulate matter components characterized, sodium oxide (Na2O)—25.30 mg/m3, aluminum oxide (Al2O3)—22.93 mg/m3, silicon dioxide (SiO2)—34.17 mg/m3, sulfur trioxide (SO3)—41.57 mg/m3, calcium oxide (CaO)—10.94 mg/m3 and iron III oxide (Fe2O3)—19.23 mg/m3, were of significance. These results, compared with international standards for industrial indoor air quality, suggest that indoor air contamination emanating from the chemicals used in production workstations is traced to the design of the plant structures and the activities carried out within the workstations.

A novel methodological approach was developed to quantified the volume of industrial waste desposal (IWD) site, combined with municipal waste materials (MWM), through the integration of a non-invasive, fast, and less expenssive RES2-D Electrical Resistivity Technique (ERT), using Wenner-Schlumberger electrode array geophysical method with Oasis Montaj software. Underground water bearing structures, and the eco-system are being contaminated through seepage of the plumes emanating from the mixtures of the industrial waste materials (IWM), made of moist cemented soil with municipal solid wastes (MSW) dumped at the site. The distribution of the contiminant hazardous plumes emanating from the waste materials' mixtures within the subsurface structural lithological layers was clearly map and delineated within the near-surface structures, using the triplicate technique to collect samples of the soil with the waste mixtures, and the water analysis for the presence of dissolved ions. The deployed method helped to monitor the seepage of the contaminant leachate plumes to the groundwater aquifer units via the ground surface, through the subsurface stratum lithological layers, and hence, estimation of the waste materials' volume was possibly approximated to be 312,000 m3.In summary, the novel method adopted are as presented below: • The novel method is transferable, reproduce-able, and most importantly, it is unambiguous technique for the quantification of environmental, industrial and municipal waste materials. • It helps to map the distribution of the plumes emanating from the waste materials' mixtures within the subsurface structural lithological layers that was clearly delineated within the near-surface structures underlain the study site. • The procedure helped in the monitoring of leachate contaminants plumes seepages into the surface water bodies and the groundwater aquifer units, via the ground surface, through to the porous subsurface stratum lithological layers.

Industrial, and municipal wastes are part of the main sources of environmental hazards as well as groundwater and surface water pollutions. If not well composed, treated, and safely disposed, it could permeate through the subsurface lithologies by reaching down to the underground water aquifers, particularly in zones of unprotected aquifer units. Pollutants, most especially the landfills leachates that encompassed organic contaminants, ammonia, nitrates, total nitrogen, suspended solids, heavy metals and soluble inorganic salts, i.e., soluble nitrogen, sulphur compound, sulphate and chlorides, could posed undesirable environmental impacts due to inappropriate disposals that may give rise to gaseous fumes and leachate formations. An electrical resistivity geophysical technique utilizing the RES2D no-invasive, cost-effective and rapid method of data collection was integrated with the 3D Oasis Montaj software to approximate the volume of the generated rectangular prism model of the contaminants delineated from mixtures of the industrial, and municipal wastes plumes to be 312,000 m 3.

We have applied a novel and integrative analysis framework for next-generation sequencing (NGS) data to 503 human subjects provided by the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP) to examine changes in transcriptomic organization and common variants in association with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). Our framework identified seven reproducible, co-regulated modules after quality control (QC), clinical segregation, preservation filtering, and functional ontology analysis. These modules were specifically enriched in several innate and adaptive immune system processes, the synaptic vesicle cycle, and Hippo signaling. Topological and functional erosion of these modules due to shedding of genes and loss of in-module connectivity was diagnostic of disease progression. Perturbation analysis revealed that only 1% of eQTLs overlapped genes participating in these co-regulated modules. Common variants nevertheless identified components of the immune systems like human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex and microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) regions in association with LOAD. Our results implicate microglial function, adaptive immune response, and the structural degeneration of neurons as contributors to the transcriptional deregulation observed along with common genetic variants in the progression of LOAD.

Data on the micrometeorological parameters and Energy Fluxes at an intertidal zone of a Tropical Coastal Ocean was carried out on an installed eddy covariance instruments at a Muka head station in the north-western end of the Pinang Island (5°28’06’’N, 100°12’01’’E), Peninsula Malaysia. The vast source of the supply of energy and heat to the hydrologic and earth׳s energy cycles principally come from the oceans. The exchange of energies via air-sea interactions is crucial to the understanding of climate variability, energy, and water budget. The turbulent energy fluxes are primary mechanisms through which the ocean releases the heat absorbed from the solar radiations to the environment. The eddy covariance (EC) system is the direct technique of measuring the micrometeorological parameters which allow the measurement of these turbulent fluxes in the time scale of half-hourly basis at 20 Hz over a long period. The data being presented is the comparison of the two-year seasonality patterns of monsoons variability on the measured microclimate variables in the southern South China Sea coastal area.

Abstract Background When children with type 1 diabetes approach adolescence, they are encouraged to become more involved in diabetes self-management. This study explored the challenges pre-adolescent children encounter when self-managing diabetes and the factors which motivate and enable them to take on new diabetes-related tasks. A key objective was to inform the support offered to pre-adolescent children. Methods In-depth interviews using age-appropriate questioning with 24 children (aged 9–12 years) with type 1 diabetes. Data were analysed using an inductive, thematic approach. Results Children reported several barriers to taking on self-management tasks. As well as seeking respite from managing diabetes, children described relying on their parents to: perform the complex maths involved in working out carbohydrate content in food; calculate insulin doses if they did not use a bolus advisor; and administer injections or insert a cannula in hard-to-reach locations. Children described being motivated to take on diabetes tasks in order to: minimise the pain experienced when others administered injections; alleviate the burden on their parents; and participate independently in activities with their peers. Several also discussed being motivated to take on diabetes-management responsibilities when they started secondary school. Children described being enabled to take on new responsibilities by using strategies which limited the need to perform complex maths. These included using labels on food packaging to determine carbohydrate contents, or choosing foods with carbohydrate values they could remember. Many children discussed using bolus advisors with pre-programmed ratios and entering carbohydrate on food labels or values provided by their parents to calculate insulin doses. Several also described using mobile phones to seek advice about carbohydrate contents in food. Conclusions Our findings highlight several barriers which deter children from taking on diabetes self-management tasks, motivators which encourage them to take on new responsibilities, and strategies and technologies which enable them to become more autonomous. To limit the need to perform complex maths, children may benefit from using bolus advisors provided they receive regular review from healthcare professionals to determine and adjust pre-programmed insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios. Education and support should be age-specific to reflect children’s changing involvement in self-managing diabetes.

Air-sea flux exchanges influence the climate condition and the global carbon-moisture cycle. It is imperative to understand the fundamentals of the natural systems at the tropical coastal ocean and how the transformation takes place over the time. Hence, latent and sensible heat fluxes, microclimate variables, and surface water temperature data were collected using eddy covariance instruments mounted on a platform at a tropical coastal ocean station from November 2015 to October 2017. The research data is to gain the needful knowledge of the energy exchanges in the tropical climatic environment to further improve predictive algorithms or models. Therefore, it is intended that this data report will offer appropriate information for the Monsoonal, and diurnal patterns of latent (LE) and sensible (H) heats and hence, establish the relationship between microclimate variables on the energy fluxes at the peninsular Malaysian tropical coastal ocean.

A secondary dataset was generated from the Euldph-λ semi-automatic Algorithm, (ESA) developed to automatically computes various depths to the magnetic anomalies using a primary data set from gridded aeromagnetic data obtained in the study area. Euler Deconvolution techniques, (EDT), was adopted in the identification and definition of the magnetic anomaly source rocks in the study area. The aim is to use the straightforward technique to pinpoint magnetic anomalies at a depth which substantiate mineralization potential of the area. The ESA was integrated with the imaging function of Oasis Montaj 2014 source parameter from Geosoft® Inc. From the data, it could be summarized that similar tectonic processes during the deformation and metamorphic activities, the subsurface structures of the study area produce corresponding trending form.

The paper presents the data from the surface and subsurface mapping of this area for the purpose of siting industrial city in the area. The field data collected combine with the borehole data was to successfully apply these to solving geological, environmental and engineering complications posed by the complexity of the subsurface geological structures underlain this area. The Electrical Resistivity, (ER) and Induced Polarization, (IP) data were initially processed using RES2DINV software model to generate the depth to the lithological units together with topographic correction. The 2-D ER and IP data were collected from 23rd April 2017 up until 7th May 2017 covering a total of about 17.6 km along 44 survey lines using ABEM Terrameter SAS4000 for the field measurement. A total of 20 Borehole logs data were recorded to better characterized in-situ, the subsurface geological formations emplaced in the study area. The study area is located at Bagan Datuk, Perak Darul Ridzuan situated on Latitude 2° 44.653'N and Longitudes 104° 28.79' E along the west coast Peninsula Malaysia. The topography of the area is generally flat low–laying and elevation range from about 0 m to 32 m above mean sea level (MSL).

The southern South China coastal oceans within the South East Asian region are much lacking in the perception of the surface energy budget and evaporation over the ocean waters in response to climatic changes. The eddy covariance method was used to measure the energy fluxes, microclimate variables, and surface water temperature from November 2015 to October 2017 at the Straits of Malacca, South China Sea; Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, situated at latitude 5°28′06″N, and longitude 100°12′01″E. This work focused on the methodological approach to the air-sea energy fluxes data collection and analysis. In this regard, the method applied for the direct measurements and analysis of energy fluxes and other meteorological parameters in the site is considered and reported. • The paper summarizes the analysis of energy fluxes, microclimate variables, and surface water temperature data in a tropical coastal ocean station using the eddy covariance method. • The methodological approach illustrates the method of analysis applied in this study which can be compared and used for similar studies in other places. • The reproducible data analysis technique matches similar comparative methods such as Matlab and Python. Method name: R statistical analysis of eddy covariance data, Keywords: R statistical software, Microclimate variables, Tropical coastal ocean, Energy fluxes, Eddy covariance

Targeting defects in metabolism is an underutilized strategy for the treatment of cancer. Arginine auxotrophy resulting from the silencing of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) is a common metabolic alteration reported in a broad range of aggressive cancers. To assess the metabolic effects that arise from acute and chronic arginine starvation in ASS1-deficient cell lines, we performed metabolite profiling. We found that pharmacologically induced arginine depletion causes increased serine biosynthesis, glutamine anaplerosis, oxidative phosphorylation, and decreased aerobic glycolysis, effectively inhibiting the Warburg effect. The reduction of glycolysis in cells otherwise dependent on aerobic glycolysis is correlated with reduced PKM2 expression and phosphorylation and upregulation of PHGDH. Concurrent arginine deprivation and glutaminase inhibition was found to be synthetic lethal across a spectrum of ASS1-deficient tumor cell lines and is sufficient to cause in vivo tumor regression in mice. These results identify two synthetic lethal therapeutic strategies exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities of ASS1-negative cancers.

Introduction: A medical graduate is expected to fulfil the roles of a clinician, communicator, life-long learner, professional, leader and researcher. A Problem-Based Learning (PBL) course was introduced to enhance student skills in knowledge acquisition, problem-solving, clinical reasoning, communication, leadership, self-directed learning and working in teams. Aim: To assess the effect of a two-month PBL course for secondyear MBBS students on self-directed and conceptual learning. Materials and Methods: The single group interventional study was conducted in the months of February and March 2017 at an urban private medical college in Southern India. Fifty-seven fourth semester MBBS students underwent a two-month PBL course, with two-hour sessions every week. The students were divided into eight groups, each with two faculty facilitators. Two problems, each with two triggers were discussed. The students completed a Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning (SRSSDL) before and immediately after the PBL course. At the end of each problem, students had to submit a Concept Map (CM) which was graded independently by two faculty. The mean and standard deviation of the pre and post-PBL SRSSDL scores was calculated. Differences in CM sub-scores were estimated using repeated measures ANOVA. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the strength of association between the CM scores and gender, attendance and tutor rating. Results: The average post-PBL SRSSDL total and sub-scores were higher than the pre-PBL scores. The mean CM score obtained by the students was 11.3±2.9 (12.6±2.3 for female and 9.8±2.9 for male students, respectively). The layout and graphics scores were significantly higher than the scores for detail. The average attendance of the students was 6.3±1.2 and mean tutor rating was 50.4±9.4. Tutor rating and female gender showed significant positive associations with CM scores. Conclusion: This study provides some evidence that a shortterm PBL course positively influences self-directed and conceptual learning among undergraduate medical students.

This review examines the categorization of Essentially Derived Varieties (EDV) introduced in the 1991 revision of the Convention of the Union internationale pour la protection des obtentions végétales (UPOV). Other non-UPOV member countries (India, Malaysia, and Thailand) have also introduced the concept of essential derivation. China, a UPOV member operating under the 1978 Convention, is introducing EDVs via seed laws. Challenges in the implementation of the concept and progress made to provide greater clarity and more efficient implementation are reviewed, including in Australia and India. The current approach to EDV remains valid provided (i) clarity on thresholds can be achieved including through resource intensive research on an individual crop species basis and (ii) that threshold clarity does not lead to perverse incentives to avoid detection of essential derivation. However, technological advances that facilitate the simultaneous introduction or change in expression of more than “a few” genes may well fundamentally challenge the concept of essential derivation and require a revision of the Convention. Revision could include deletion of the concept of essential derivation coupled with changes to the breeder exception on a crop-by-crop basis. Stakeholders might also benefit from greater flexibility within a revised Convention. Consideration should be given to allowing members to choose if and when to introduce changes according to a revised Convention on a crop specific basis.

A 48-year-old woman suffering from Takayasu arteritis presented with middle aortic syndrome consisting of abdominal pain, refractory hypertension with pulmonary edema and pleural effusions, and lower limb ischemia. She failed to improve with high-dose steroid therapy and underwent endovascular stenting of two severe stenoses in the supraceliac and infrarenal aorta. Her symptoms resolved and hypertension improved after the procedure.

Functional stereotactic neurosurgery by means of deep brain stimulation or ablation provides an effective treatment for movement disorders, but the outcome of surgical interventions depends on the accuracy by which the target structures are reached. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based probabilistic tractography of deep brain structures that are commonly used for pre- and perioperative targeting for functional neurosurgery. Three targets were reconstructed based on their significance as intervention sites or as a no-go area to avoid adverse side effects: the connections propagating from the thalamus to (1) primary and supplementary motor areas, (2) to somatosensory areas and the cerebello-thalamic tract. We evaluated the overlap of the reconstructed connectivity based targets with corresponding atlas based data, and tested the inter-subject and inter-scanner variability by acquiring repeated DTI from four volunteers, and on three MRI scanners with similar sequence parameters.Compared to a 3D histological atlas of the human thalamus, moderate overlaps of 35-50% were measured between connectivity- and atlas based volumes, while the minimal distance between the centerpoints of atlas and connectivity targets was 2.5 mm. The variability caused by the MRI scanner was similar to the inter-subject variability, except for connections with the postcentral gyrus where it was higher. While cerebello-thalamic tractography resolved the anatomically correct trajectory of the tract individually, high volumetric variability was found across subjects and between scanners. DTI can be applied in the clinical, preoperative setting to reconstruct the cerebello-thalamic tract and to localize subdivisions within the lateral thalamus. In our pilot study, such subdivisions moderately matched the borders of the ventrolateral-posteroventral (VLpv) nucleus and the ventral-posterolateral (VPL) nucleus. Limitations of the currently used standard DTI protocols were exacerbated by large scanner-to-scanner variability of the connectivity-based targets.

Brazilian Spotted Fever is a disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, and is transmitted to humans and animals by Amblyomma spp. The objective of this work was to study the epidemiology of spotted fever group rickettsiae in rural areas of Northern Parana. In Alvorada do Sul municipality, 88 humans, 83 dogs, and 18 horses were sampled, and in Arapongas municipality, 138 humans, 90 dogs and 18 horses were studied. All the sera were tested by IFA in which R. rickettsii and R. parkeri were used as antigens, considering titers ? 64 positive. Ticks collected from dogs and horses were tested by PCR. In Alvorada do Sul, 24% and 16.1% of humans, 55.6% and 22.2% of horses and, 22.9% and 18.1% of dogs were seropositive for R rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. In Arapongas, 9.4% and 4.3% of the humans, 5.6% and 5.6% of horses and, 13.3% and 12.2% of the dogs were seropositive for R. rickettsii and R. parkeri, respectively. PCR detected seven ticks with gltA sequences that showed similarity with R. bellii. The presence of antibodies to R. parkeri and R. rickettsii in dogs, horses and humans demonstrates a potential risk for spotted fever group rickettsiae in these areas.Febre Maculosa Brasileira é uma doença causada por Rickettsia rickettsii, e é transmitida para humanos e animais por Amblyomma spp. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a epidemiologia de riquétsias do grupo da febre em áreas rurais do Norte do Paraná. No município de Alvorada do Sul, 88 pessoas, 83 cães e 18 cavalos foram amostrados, e no município de Arapongas, 138 seres humanos, 90 cães e 18 cavalos foram estudados. Todos os soros foram testados por IFI com R. rickettsii e R. parkeri como antígenos, considerando-se os títulos ? 64 positivos. Carrapatos coletados de cães e cavalos foram testados por PCR. Em Alvorada do Sul, 24% e 16,1% dos seres humanos, 55,6% e 22,2% de cavalos e, 22,9% e 18,1% de cães foram soropositivos para R. rickettsii e R. parkeri, respectivamente. Em Arapongas, 9,4% e 4,3% dos seres humanos, 5,6% e 5,6% de cavalos e, 13,3% e 12,2% dos cães foram soropositivos para R. rickettsii e R. parkeri, respectivamente. A PCR detectou 7 carrapatos com seqüências gltA que mostrou semelhança com R. bellii. A presença de anticorpos para R. rickettsii e R. parkeri em cães, cavalos e seres humanos demonstra um risco potencial para riquétsias do grupo da febre maculosa nestas áreas.

INTRODUCTION: Spotted fevers are emerging zoonoses caused by Rickettsia species in the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is the main etiologic agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) and it is transmitted by Amblyomma spp. ticks. METHODS: The study aimed to investigate SFG rickettsiae in the Arthur Thomas Municipal Park in Londrina, PR, by collecting free-living ticks and ticks from capybaras and blood samples from personnel working in these areas. Samples from A. dubitatum and A. cajennense were submitted for PCR in pools to analyze the Rickettsia spp. gltA (citrate synthase gene). RESULTS: All the pools analyzed were negative. Human sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay with R. rickettsii and R. parkeri as antigens. Among the 34 sera analyzed, seven (20.6%) were reactive for R. rickettsii: four of these had endpoint titers equal to 64, 2 titers were 128 and 1 titer was 256. None of the samples were reactive for R. parkeri. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the park staff, but no statistically significant associations were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The serological studies suggest the presence of Rickettsiae related to SFG that could be infecting the human population studied; however, analysis of the ticks collected was unable to determine which species may be involved in transmission to humans.INTRODUÇÃO: A febre maculosa é uma zoonose emergente causada por espécies de Rickettsia do grupo febre maculosa (GFM). Rickettsia rickettsii é o principal agente etiológico da febre maculosa brasileira (FMB) e é transmitida por Amblyomma spp. MÉTODOS: Com o objetivo de obter informações sobre GFM Rickettsiae no Parque Municipal Arthur Thomas em Londrina, PR, carrapatos de vida livre e de capivaras foram coletados, assim como amostras de sangue das pessoas que trabalham no parque. A. dubitatum e A. cajennense foram submetidos à PCR em pools para analises de Rickettsia spp. gltA (citrate synthase gene). RESULTADOS: Todos os pools de carrapatos analizados foram negativos. Soros de humanos foram testados pela imunofluorescência indireta com antigenos de R. rickettsii e R. parkeri. Entre os 34 soros analisados, 7 (20,6%) foram positivos para R. rickettsii. Destes, quatro apresentaram títulos iguais a 64, dois iguais a 128 e um, igual a 256, mas nenhum soro reagiu com R. parkeri. Não houve nenhuma associação, estatisticamente significante, entre as variáveis analisadas no questionário epidemiológico fornecido às pessoas que participaram da pesquisa. CONCLUSÕES: Os estudos sorológicos sugerem a presença de alguma Rickettsiae relacionada ao GFM que poderiam estar infectando a população humana estudada. Entretanto, as análises dos carrapatos foram inconclusivas para determinar qual espécie poderia estar envolvida na transmissão para os humanos.

Drought and phosphorus deficiency in the soil are the major production limitations of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study measured the yield responses of low phosphorus-tolerant common beans to drought stress. A field experiment was conducted under two drought conditions codenamed, non-drought-stress (NDS) and drought-stress (DS). The former was located at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MUZARDI) in Mukono District, characterised by rainfall of more than 400 mm season−1. The latter was situated at Wabinyonyi in Nakasongola District, characterised by less than 300 mm season−1; both in central Uganda. Treatments included the two study conditions (NDS and DS); and four test bean genotypes, AFR703-1, AFR 708, JESCA, and MCM 2001, against a local check, K131. A water deficit of 156 mm season−1 was observed in the DS site causing a drought intensity index (DII) of 40%. That pattern contrasted considerably in the NDS site where the actual rainfall did not significantly (p > 0.05) vary from the required water by the bean plant. Whereas genotypes AFR703-1 and AFR708 out-yielded the local check in NDS by 213 and 681 kg ha−1, respectively; their grain yield harvested was comparable to the control yield in DS. When grown under DS, low P-tolerant beans, especially the AFR703-1 and AFR708, survived drought stress through faster development by reducing the number of days to flower, reach physiological maturity and develop seeds. AFR703-1 and AFR708 sufficiently withstand drought stress, and are therefore recommended for inclusion in cropping systems that are characteristically constrained by the combined soils’ P deficiency and/or drought.

Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and age are significantly correlated such that one-third of Americans beyond 85 years of age are afflicted. We have designed and implemented a pilot study that combines systems biology approaches with traditional next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis techniques to identify relevant regulatory pathways, infer functional relationships and confirm the dysregulation of these biological pathways in LOAD. Our study design is a most comprehensive systems approach combining co-expression network modeling derived from RNA-seq data, rigorous quality control (QC) standards, functional ontology, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) derived from whole exome (WES) single nucleotide variant (SNV) genotype data. Our initial results reveal several statistically significant, biologically relevant genes involved in sphingolipid metabolism. To validate these findings, we performed a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The GSEA revealed the sphingolipid metabolism pathway and regulation of autophagy in association with LOAD cases. In the execution of this study, we have successfully tested an integrative approach to identify both novel and known LOAD drivers in order to develop a broader and more detailed picture of the highly complex transcriptional and regulatory landscape of age-related dementia.

One of the most significant impediments to high-quality EEG recorded in an MRI scanner is subject motion. Availability of motion artefact sensors can substantially improve the quality of the recorded EEG. In the study of epilepsy, it can also dramatically increase the confidence one has in discriminating true epileptiform activity from artefact. This is due both to the reduction in artefact and the ability to visually inspect the motion sensor signals when reading the EEG, revealing whether or not head motion is present.We have previously described the use of carbon-fibre loops for detecting and correcting artefact in EEG acquired simultaneously with MRI. The loops, attached to the subject’s head, are electrically insulated from the scalp. They provide a simple and direct measure of specific artefact that is contaminating the EEG, including both subject motion and residual artefact arising from magnetic field gradients applied during MRI. Our previous implementation was used together with a custom-built EEG-fMRI system that differs substantially from current commercially available EEG-fMRI systems. The present technical note extends this work, describing in more detail how to construct the carbon-fibre motion detection loops, and how to interface them with a commercially available simultaneous EEG-fMRI system. We hope that the information provided may help those wishing to utilise a motion-detection / correction solution to improve the quality of EEG recorded within an MRI scanner.

A total of 278 Ixodes ticks, collected from Madeira Island and Setúbal District, mainland Portugal, were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Six (4%) of 142 Ixodes ricinus nymphs collected in Madeira Island, and 1 nymph and 1 male (2%) of 93 I. ventalloi collected in Setúbal District tested positive for A. phagocytophilum msp2 genes or rrs. Infection was not detected among 43 I. ricinus on mainland Portugal. All PCR products were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing to be identical or to be most closely related to A. phagocytophilum. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of A. phagocytophilum in ticks from Setúbal District, mainland Portugal, and the first documentation of Anaplasma infection in I. ventalloi. Moreover, these findings confirm the persistence of A. phagocytophilum in Madeira Island’s I. ricinus.

In a hard rock environment with surface or near surface expression of outcrops, the use of VES only becomes difficult due to its associated problems and limitations. However, the use of VLF-EM becomes imperative in mapping basement structures relevant to groundwater development. A total of 2100 VLF-EM data plus selected VES points were covered over 7 traverses with length varying from 3000 to 4500 m. The VLF-EM result mapped basement structures relevant in groundwater development. This is further studied using VES. Results of the investigation indicate that a HKH sounding curve is obtained with a maximum of five subsurface layers comprising: the top soil, clay/sandy clay unit, the fresh basement, fractured basement and the basement bedrock. The fractured basement layer constitutes the main aquifer unit with thickness of 20-25 m. The layer resistivity and thickness ranges are 60-100 ohm-m; 40-80 ohm-m, 1600-2100 ohm-m, 250-420 ohm-m, and 2200-7500 ohm-m; and 0.3-1.2 m, 1.9-2.5 m, 16.5-22.5 m and 22-30 m for the five layers respectively. The geoelectric results compared favorably well with drilling information to above 90%. The yield of the well is 2 L/s with good recharge capability.

A brief overview of some of the main features involved in normal physiological bi-directional absorption and secretion of fluid in the gut is given, including the nature and cellular location of key enzymes, ion pumps, symports, antiports and diffusion channels; the microanatomy of intestinal villous vasculature and the dynamics of villus blood flow, which together generate hypertonic zones in villus tip regions; and the production, differentiation, escalator movement (from crypt to villus tip) and subsequent shedding of intestinal epithelial cells. (Neural and hormonal mechanisms that regulate normal mucosal ion transport are not discussed.) The manner in which Vibrio cholerae, several pathotypes of Escherichia coli, several Salmonella serotypes, rotavirus, Campylobacter species, Shigella dysenteriae, Yersinia species and Clostridium difficile perturb these mechanisms and cause diarrhea, is discussed. Throughout the article, the main emphasis is on experimental studies designed to elucidate biological mechanisms and (where relevant) the microbial determinants responsible for diarrheal disease. Allusions are also made to the involvement of host responses such as the inflammatory response, the production and release of potent cytokines and accelerated homeostatic responses (such as increased rates of crypt cell division seen in some infections), and the role that they play in pathophysiological fluid secretion.

Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is an emerging disease most likely caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. The objective of the present study was to estimate the seroprevalence of BSF rickettsia infections in equines from six horse farms located in Londrina County, Paraná, Southern Brazil. Six owners of horse farms situated in Cambé, Santa Fé, Guaraci and Londrina municipalities participated in the study. All farms were located in areas where BSF has not been reported. A total of 273 horses were sampled and their sera were tested by indirect Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using R. rickettsii and R. parkeri antigens. Titers equal to and greater than 64 were considered positive. Of 273 sera tested, 15 (5.5%) reacted to R. rickettsii and 5 (1.8%) to R. parkeri. Five out of the six farms studied revealed seropositive animals and seropositivity rate ranged from 0 to 13%. The titers ranged from 64 to 512, and four samples had a titer of 512. Nine animals reacted to R. rickettsii with titers four-fold higher than those for R. parkeri. These results suggest that horses in Northern Paraná may have been exposed to rickettsiae identical or closely related to R. rickettsii.Febre Maculosa Brasileira (FMB) é uma doença emergente, sendo Rickettsia rickettsii o seu principal agente etiológico. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a soroprevalência de rickettsia do grupo da febre maculosa em equinos de seis haras localizados nos municípios de Cambé, Santa Fé, Guaraci e Londrina. As propriedades eram localizadas na região Norte do Paraná onde casos de FMB ainda não foram diagnosticados. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 273 equinos, e os soros foram testados pela RIFI, usando R. rickettsii e R. parkeri como antígenos, considerando-se como positivos títulos >64. Entre 273 soros, 15 (5,5%) reagiram contra R. rickettsii e 5 (1,8%) para R. parkeri. Cinco de seis haras estudados tinham animais reativos, e a taxa de sororreatividade variou de 0 a 13%. Os títulos variaram de 64 para 512, e três amostras apresentaram título de 512. Nove animais reagiram para R. rickettsii com títulos quatro vezes maiores que para R. parkeri. Esses resultados sugerem que equinos no Norte do Estado do Paraná, Brasil, podem ter sido expostos a uma rickettsia idêntica ou muito próxima a R. rickettsii.