The stability of strained H:Si(105) and H:Ge(105) surfaces

We report atomic scale studies of the effect of applied strain and hydrogen environment on the reconstructions of the (105) Si and Ge surfaces. Surface energy calculations for monohydride-terminated (001) and (105) reconstructions reveal that the recently established single-height rebonded model is unstable not only with respect to (001), but also in comparison to other monohydride (105) structures. This finding persists for both Si and Ge, for applied biaxial strains from -4% to 4%, and for nearly the entire relevant domain of the chemical potential of hydrogen, thus providing an explanation for the recently observed H-induced destabilization of the Ge(105) surface

Quality Of Antenatal Care In Rural Southern Tanzania: A Reality Check.

Counselling on the danger signs of unpredictable obstetric complications and the appropriate management of such complications are crucial in reducing maternal mortality. The objectives of this study were to identify gaps in the provision of ANC services and knowledge of danger signs as well as the quality of care women receive in case of complications. The study took place in the Rufiji District of Tanzania in 2008 and was conducted in seven health facilities. The study used (1) observations from 63 antenatal care (ANC) sessions evaluated with an ANC checklist, (2) self-assessments of 11 Health workers, (3) interviews with 28 pregnant women and (4) follow-up of 12 women hospitalized for pregnancy-related conditions.Blood pressure measurements and abdominal examinations were common during ANC visits while urine testing for albumin or sugar or haemoglobin levels was rare which was often explained as due to a lack of supplies. The reasons for measuring blood pressure or abdominal examinations were usually not explained to the women. Only 15/28 (54%) women were able to mention at least one obstetric danger sign requiring medical attention. The outcomes of ten complicated cases were five stillbirths and three maternal complications. There was a considerable delay in first contact with a health professional or the start of timely interventions including checking vital signs, using a partograph, and detailed record keeping. Linking danger signs to clinical and laboratory examination results during ANC with the appropriate follow up and avoiding delays in emergency obstetric care are crucial to the delivery of coordinated, effective care interventions

To understand the meaning of disability for children, parents and providers in Bulgaria, Latvia and Russia

This research was commissioned by the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre as part of a larger MONEE (Monitoring Eastern Europe) project covering countries in transition – the 27 nations of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The MONEE Social Report combines qualitative and quantitative material in the 2005 Publication 'Children and Disability in Transition' (www.unicef-icdc.org) This paper is concerned with analysing in depth the findings from the qualitative research as the basis for recommendations that keep the voices of children, young people, families and medical and social care providers at the heart of the policy process. This research was conducted in three countries – Russia, Latvia and Bulgaria. The reason for choosing these three countries in consultation with the networking group included the issue of children's rights for children with disabilities in Russia which has been widely reported (UNICEF 1999, 2003). As the largest CIS country, Russia's influence in policy and practice in other neighbouring countries is likely to be significant. Latvia was one of the CEE countries who joined the EU in May 2004 and Bulgaria hope to join the EU in 2007. Thus these three countries are in different stages of transition. The organisations and systems for supporting disabled children are likely to be influenced by political and market transitions and these three countries are interesting examples from which to explore the concept of transition as it relates to disabled children and their families. The theoretical model that informs this research is concerned with applying the social model of disability to families rather than individuals. The structures, policies and processes that cause frustration and disappointment affect the whole family not just the disabled child (Dowling and Dolan 2001). The social model applied in this context aims to combat the past medical and educational ideology of 'defectology' – seeing children with disabilities as defective models – which has been evidenced particularly in Russia but also all other former communist countries (Grigorenko 1998). Defectology as a professional discourse has isolated children from their families and created hostility between medical providers and parents who believe that their disabled children have been taken away from them because professionals believed it was in the best interests of their child to do so. Many of the challenges that are described by children, young people, parents and providers are challenges that need social policy not medical solutions. Medical solutions are also very important for these children. However equally important is the need for medical and social practitioners to work alongside each other, despite their professional and theoretical differences, to provide the best social, emotional and physical opportunities for children with disabilities

Effect of Swirl on Rotordynamic Forces Caused by Front Shroud Pump Leakage

Unsteady forces generated by fluid flow through the impeller shroud leakage path of a centrifugal pump were investigated. The effect of leakage path inlet swirl (pump discharge swirl) on the rotordynamic forces was re-examined. It was observed that increasing the inlet swirl is destabilizing both for normal and tangential rotordynamic forces. Attempts to reduce the swirl within the leakage path using ribs and grooves as swirl brakes showed benefits only at low leakage flow rate

Mangroves enhance the biomass of coral reef fish communities in the Caribbean

Mangrove forests are one of the world's most threatened tropical ecosystems with global loss exceeding 35% (ref. 1). Juvenile coral reef fish often inhabit mangroves, but the importance of these nurseries to reef fish population dynamics has not been quantified. Indeed, mangroves might be expected to have negligible influence on reef fish communities: juvenile fish can inhabit alternative habitats and fish populations may be regulated by other limiting factors such as larval supply or fishing. Here we show that mangroves are unexpectedly important, serving as an intermediate nursery habitat that may increase the survivorship of young fish. Mangroves in the Caribbean strongly influence the community structure of fish on neighbouring coral reefs. In addition, the biomass of several commercially important species is more than doubled when adult habitat is connected to mangroves. The largest herbivorous fish in the Atlantic, Scarus guacamaia, has a functional dependency on mangroves and has suffered local extinction after mangrove removal. Current rates of mangrove deforestation are likely to have severe deleterious consequences for the ecosystem function, fisheries productivity and resilience of reefs. Conservation efforts should protect connected corridors of mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs

Stakeholder collaboration and heritage management

This article examines a collaborative approach to the relationship between heritage management and tourism development in Luang Prabang, Laos. The purpose is to examine stakeholder collaboration and management roles, heritage tourism development, as well as the interdependence of the heritage conservation and tourism relationship. The research examines a UNESCO/Norwegian government project, which aiming to promote collaboration between heritage conservation and tourism through stakeholder involvement. Five aspects are explored: channels of communication between the heritage and the tourism groups, generating income for heritage conservation and management, involving the local community in decisionmaking, involving the local community in tourism activities, and an assessment of the extent and success of stakeholder collaboration

A Field View of Soil - Digging Around

The purpose of this resource is to understand that variations in landscape can affect soil properties. Students investigate variations in the soils around their school to discover that soil properties like moisture and temperature exhibit considerable variability across a single landscape. They also identify factors such as slope, shade, plants, compaction, which affect the appearance of soils and their ability to hold moisture. Educational levels: Primary elementary, Intermediate elementary, Middle school, High school

Aluminium - Magnesium Silicate enhances antibacterial activity of Ampicillin trihydrate, against Salmonella gallinarum

Solutions of different concentrations, of Ampicillin trihydrate (AT) and of a formulation of AT in Aluminium Magnesium Silicate (AMS), were used for sensitivity test on Salmonella gallinarum cultures. Also, S. gallinarum-infected chicks were treated with; 10 mg / Kg (AT), 10 mg / Kg (AT in AMS), 7.5 mg / Kg ( AT), 7.5 mg /Kg (AT in AMS). Mean inhibition area, 28.39 mm produced by AT did not vary significantly (P ) from 26.36 mm produced by AT in AMS. However, 17.5 105 Salmonella gallinarum culture forming units per ml of bile of the untreated chicks and 3.4 105 (80.58 % reduction), 2.5 105 (85.7 % reduction) , 5.4 105 (69.2 % reduction ) and 0.38 105 (97.8 % reduction ) of the respective treated groups, showed AMS significantly (P 0.01) improved AT`s ability to clear the infection, in vivo

The multikinase inhibitor RXDX-105 is effective against neuroblastoma in vitro and in vivo.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood and accounts for 15% of all pediatric cancer-related deaths. New therapies are needed to improve outcomes for children with high-risk and relapsed tumors. Inhibitors of the RET kinase and the RAS-MAPK pathway have previously been shown to be effective against neuroblastoma, suggesting that combined inhibition may have increased efficacy. RXDX-105 is a small molecule inhibitor of multiple kinases, including the RET and BRAF kinases. We found that treatment of neuroblastoma cells with RXDX-105 resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability and proliferation in vitro and in tumor growth and tumor vascularity in vivo. Treatment with RXDX-105 inhibited RET phosphorylation and phosphorylation of the MEK and ERK kinases in neuroblastoma cells and xenograft tumors, and RXDX-105 treatment induced both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. RXDX-105 also showed enhanced efficacy in combination with 13-cis-retinoic acid, which is currently a component of maintenance therapy for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Our results demonstrate that RXDX-105 shows promise as a novel therapeutic agent for children with high-risk and relapsed neuroblastoma