Applicability of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network/Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Southeast Asia: A Consensus Statement.

A meeting of regional experts was convened in Manila, Philippines, to develop a resource-stratified chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) management guideline. In patients treated with highly emetogenic chemotherapy in general clinical settings, triple therapy with a serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine-3 [5-HT3]) antagonist (preferably palonosetron), dexamethasone, and aprepitant is recommended for acute CINV prevention. In resource-restricted settings, triple therapy is still recommended, although a 5-HT3 antagonist other than palonosetron may be used. In both general and resource-restricted settings, dual therapy with dexamethasone (days 2 to 4) and aprepitant (days 2 to 3) is recommended to prevent delayed CINV. In patients treated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, dual therapy with a 5-HT3 antagonist, preferably palonosetron, and dexamethasone is recommended for acute CINV prevention in general settings; any 5-HT3 antagonist can be combined with dexamethasone in resource-restricted environments. In general settings, for the prevention of delayed CINV associated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, corticosteroid monotherapy on days 2 and 3 is recommended. If aprepitant is used on day 1, it should be continued on days 2 and 3. Prevention of delayed CINV with corticosteroids is preferred in resource-restricted settings. The expert panel also developed CINV management guidelines for anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide combination schedules, multiday cisplatin, and chemotherapy with low or minimal emetogenic potential, and its recommendations are detailed in this review. Overall, these regional guidelines provide definitive guidance for CINV management in general and resource-restricted settings. These consensus recommendations are anticipated to contribute to collaborative efforts to improve CINV management in Southeast Asia

The Timescale of Emergence and Spread of Turnip Mosaic Potyvirus

Plant viruses have important global impacts on crops, and identifying their centre and date of emergence is important for planning control measures. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is a member of the genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae and is a major worldwide pathogen of brassica crops. For two decades, we have collected TuMV isolates, mostly from brassicas, in Turkey and neighbouring countries. This region is thought to be the centre of emergence of this virus. We determined the genomic sequences of 179 of these isolates and used these to estimate the timescale of the spread of this virus. Our Bayesian coalescent analyses used synonymous sites from a total of 417 novel and published whole-genome sequences. We conclude that TuMV probably originated from a virus of wild orchids in Germany and, while adapting to wild and domestic brassicas, spread via Southern Europe to Asia Minor no more than 700 years ago. The population of basal-B group TuMVs in Asia Minor is older than all other populations of this virus, including a newly discovered population in Iran. The timescale of the spread of TuMV correlates well with the establishment of agriculture in these countries.This work was in part funded by Saga University and supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant numbers 18405022, 24405026 and 16K14862 and Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellow Grant number 16J04390

Trans-Saharian connections: high-resolution analysis of human Y chromosome diversity

Throughout the past millennia, the Sahara underwent strong climatic fluctuations. During the humid phases, the desert became fertile and was called the Green Sahara. During these periods, it was populated by fauna and hominins. The last humid phase occurred between 12 and 5 kya and the human occupation of the Sahara in that period is testified by a bulk of archaeological and paleoanthropological evidence. About 5 kya, an abrupt climatic change put an end to the last African humid period, leading to the desertification of the Sahara. After the onset of these arid conditions, the Sahara became a geographic barrier against the human movement, a fact testified by the strong genetic differentiation between present-day populations from northern and sub-Saharan Africa. In spite of the large amount of paleoclimatic and archaeological data, little is known regarding the dynamics of the peopling and the depopulation of the Sahara linked to the climatic changes. In this context, today, the rare Y chromosome haplogroups with a trans-Saharan distribution could represent the genetic relic of ancient widespread populations and could provide information about past expansions and migrations across the Green Sahara. In order to investigate the role of the last Green Sahara in the peopling of Africa, we deep sequenced ~ 3.3 Mb of 104 Y chromosomes belonging to four trans-Saharan haplogroups and identified 5966 mutations, of which 51% were novel. We obtained age estimates for mutation-defined haplogroups using Y chromosome sequences from four ancient specimens as calibration points. We also analysed the geographic distribution of 108 informative mutations by genotyping 7690 subjects from 141 populations (including 17 populations from literature), mainly from the African continent. We found that the coalescence age of all the trans-Saharan haplogroups date back to the last African humid period (12-5 kya), while most northern African or sub-Saharan specific sub-haplogroups expanded locally in the subsequent arid phase (< 5 kya). Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the Green Sahara represented a corridor for human movements and exclude recent historical events, such as the Arab slave trade, as a major determinant of the gene pool of present-day northern African populations

Spatio-Temporal Mapping of Plate Boundary Faults in California Using Geodetic Imaging

abstract: The Pacific–North American plate boundary in California is composed of a 400-km-wide network of faults and zones of distributed deformation. Earthquakes, even large ones, can occur along individual or combinations of faults within the larger plate boundary system. While research often focuses on the primary and secondary faults, holistic study of the plate boundary is required to answer several fundamental questions. How do plate boundary motions partition across California faults? How do faults within the plate boundary interact during earthquakes? What fraction of strain accumulation is relieved aseismically and does this provide limits on fault rupture propagation? Geodetic imaging, broadly defined as measurement of crustal deformation and topography of the Earth’s surface, enables assessment of topographic characteristics and the spatio-temporal behavior of the Earth’s crust. We focus here on crustal deformation observed with continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) data and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) from NASA’s airborne UAVSAR platform, and on high-resolution topography acquired from lidar and Structure from Motion (SfM) methods. Combined, these measurements are used to identify active structures, past ruptures, transient motions, and distribution of deformation. The observations inform estimates of the mechanical and geometric properties of faults. We discuss five areas in California as examples of different fault behavior, fault maturity and times within the earthquake cycle: the M6.0 2014 South Napa earthquake rupture, the San Jacinto fault, the creeping and locked Carrizo sections of the San Andreas fault, the Landers rupture in the Eastern California Shear Zone, and the convergence of the Eastern California Shear Zone and San Andreas fault in southern California. These examples indicate that distribution of crustal deformation can be measured using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and high-resolution topography and can improve our understanding of tectonic deformation and rupture characteristics within the broad plate boundary zone

Antidote to marginalism: An alternative method of instruction for English language learners

This study will conclusively demonstrate that a two-way or dual-language immersion strategy works best to achieve the goal of bilingualism and biliteracy for our ELLs (English Language Learners)

An investigation of disease reservoirs in complex ecosystems: rabies and canine distemper in the Serengeti

Rabies virus (RABV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) have been implicated as the cause of dramatic declines in wildlife populations worldwide and rabies is considered a growing public health problem throughout much of the developing world. In Tanzania, recent severe epidemics of both diseases in Serengeti carnivores have been associated with the large population of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) living in proximity to the protected areas, but many questions remain about their epidemiology, particularly with respect to the understanding of reservoir infection dynamics and patterns of viral maintenance and transmission in multi-host communities. This study examines all the available evidence for reservoirs of rabies in the Serengeti and presents data on the temporal and spatial dynamics of CDV in domestic and wild carnivores (dogs and lions [Panthera leo]) to help understand long-term patterns of infection in the two populations.Practical difficulties in detecting rabies in areas such as the Serengeti, where surveillance and laboratory confirmation of disease are severely constrained, limit the collection of epidemiological data, a critical step in identifying reservoirs of infection. A novel direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) as a field test for rabies surveillance was therefore investigated. Preliminary evaluation on frozen and glycerolated field brain samples under field and laboratory conditions showed a sensitivity and specificity equivalent to those of the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, the gold standard in rabies diagnosis. Examination by molecular phylogenies of the genetic characteristics of RABVs isolated from a range of species revealed one single major variant belonging to the group of southern Africa canidassociated viruses (Africa lb), a high degree of genetic relatedness among viruses with no evidence for distinct virus-host associations, and patterns consistent with temporal direction of evolutionary change from dogs to other species. Overall, these analyses point to the domestic dog being responsible for supporting the cycle of a single virus variant in the ecosystem. Rabies incidence data available from the Serengeti (1991-2005) and data on the genetic characteristics of the virus were then used to draw conclusions on reservoirs of infection: domestic dog populations occurring at high densities were the only population essential for persistence, whereas other carnivores contributed to the reservoir as non-maintenance components. Serological and case morbidity/mortality data on CDV indicated that infection patterns in unvaccinated dog and lion populations were consistent with periodic re-introductions with no evidence for persistent infection, re-introduction of infection in vaccinated dog populations coincided with declines in vaccination coverage, but patterns of exposure were not different in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, and circulation in lions did not appear to occur in the absence of infection in dogs, suggesting that dogs may be the only source of infection. The lack of evidence for long-term persistence in any of the populations suggests that no single population may be capable of independent maintenance, but a network of populations may constitute a maintenance community.Finally, the overall results are discussed in relation to the surveillance of rabies and the design of appropriate control strategies for rabies and CDV for the Serengeti ecosystem and areas of sub-Saharan Africa where both diseases occur. The qualities of the dRIT for rabies surveillance in field conditions and countries with limited diagnostic infrastructures and the potential benefits of its wider application in developing country settings are highlighted. Efforts directed at controlling infection in domestic dogs through mass vaccination programmes are expected to have the most significant impact on reducing or eliminating disease in all the other species. Elimination of CDV in dog populations would also provide definite insights into their role in disease persistence within a potentially complex reservoir system but questions remain about the cost-effectiveness of such an approach as a long-term management strategy for African wild carnivore populations

Analysis of Chinese travel blogs of New Zealand

The Chinese outbound tourism market is a fast growing source market for many destinations. However, more research is needed to better understand the Chinese outbound tourism market and its diversity and complexity. Again, it can be argued that consistent monitoring of what is a fast evolving market is required, even where prior research has been undertaken. The aim of this research is to provide the tourism industry with a better understanding of the Chinese tourist market and the attitudes of Chinese visitors with specific reference to New Zealand. Consequently perceived destination image, travel motivations, and patterns of online communications of and about New Zealand were identified by analysing travel blogs written by Chinese tourists. Given that there were 181 million bloggers existing in China by the end of 2009 (CNNIC, 2009), blogs written by Chinese visitors have a significant market value for tourism organisations and marketers. This study used content analysis to identify the perceived destination image held by Chinese tourists to New Zealand. In this study, the analytical process was divided into two parts, namely photographic and textual analysis. In each of the two parts, qualitative content analysis was first undertaken, and then followed by secondary quantitative analysis to support the findings discerned through the qualitative process. By analysing 6968 photographs and 408 blog entries posted by Chinese visitors, an image of New Zealand as a tourism destination was identified. The findings revealed that the main components of New Zealand, as perceived by Chinese visitors, were that it possessed a protected ecological environment, offered a variety of activities, and had a highly developed society with a “Pakeha” culture. The research also indicated that Chinese cultural norms played an important role in the process of decision making, perception formation and interpretation. These norms included the desire of harmony, Li, Junzi Aspiration, and a respect of authorities. The results of the study also included details about travel patterns in dining, accommodation, and tourism activities. These results indicated that content analysis of visual and textual materials provides rich information about perceived destination image, travel preference, and online information search behaviours. Online photographs and narratives posted by visitors are not only valuable information source for potential visitors who read the blogs, but can also be an effective way to understand the Chinese market. Based on the results, it can be concluded that blogs are important, and point a way by which destination marketing organisations can seek to influence potential visitors. For example, blog celebrities are an effective way by which to attract thousands of readers to know more about the country. The use of the Chinese language and creating special arrangements for Chinese festivals are shown to be effective means by which hosts can display a friendly attitude to their Chinese guests. With more and more countries being granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the Chinese government, Chinese citizens have more choices as to where to travel overseas, thereby intensifying competition for their custom. It is vital for tourism destinations to promote their unique features through all possible channels according to different target markets. Additionally, because service quality is a crucial issue for group tourists, consistent monitoring the travel blogs is an effective way of facilitating the improvement of the service quality of tourism product suppliers