The Impact of User Effects on the Performance of Dual Receive Antenna Diversity Systems in Flat Rayleigh Fading Channels

In this paper we study the impact of user effects on the performance of receive antenna diversity systems in flat Rayleigh fading channels. Three diversity combining techniques are compared: maximal ratio combining (MRC), equal gain combining (EGC), and selection combining (SC). User effects are considered in two scenarios: 1) body loss (the reduction of effective antenna gain due to user effects) on a single antenna, and 2) equal body loss on both antennas. The system performance is assessed in terms of mean SNR, link reliability, bit error rate of BPSK, diversity order and ergodic capacity. Our results show that body loss on a single antenna has limited (bounded) impact on system performance. In comparison, body loss on both antennas has unlimited (unbounded) impact and can severely degrade system performance. Our results also show that with increasing body loss on a single antenna the performance of EGC drops faster than that of MRC and SC. When body loss on a single antenna is larger than a certain level, EGC is not a “sub-optimal” method anymore and has worse performance than SC

Teasing apart explanations of a developmental delay in binding: experimental evidence from the comparison of SLI and Williams syndrome

This study investigates the knowledge of binding in 21 English-speaking children with SLI, aged 6;08-16;05, compared to 21 children with WS, language- and age-matched, and 21 language-matched control children, aged 4-7;10. Our results demonstrate no difficulties in the interpretation of reflexive or personal pronouns in SLI, revealing an intact knowledge of reflexive binding, as well as spared pragmatic functioning. Children with WS however show difficulties with their interpretation of pronouns, accepting the local binding of a pronoun, indicating impaired pragmatics. Not surprisingly, our language-matched typical controls, aged between 4-7;08 (M=5;03), showed a classic pattern of the Apparent Delay of Principle B Effect (ADPBE). In view of reported pragmatic but not memory deficits in WS, we interpret our results as consistent with the pragmatic deficit explanation but not the memory deficit explanation of the ADPBE

Writing biographies on female religious leaders : Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Annie Besant between a “search for truth” and “self-fulfillment”

Helena Petrovna Blavasky (1831-1891) and Annie Besant (1847-1933) as two influential leaders of the Theosophical Society can be seen as remarkable women of their time. Not only as religious leaders, they transgressed the gender roles of their time and – in different degrees – engaged with their contemporary feminist discourses. However, as this article shows, biographies on both have yet failed a greater analysis of gendered aspects as well as situating them in the feminist contexts of their time. Instead, their biographies including any obscure aspects of gender are explained by situating them in relation to the Theosophical Society only. However, one such analysis of gender is useful for biographies, in particular in these case studies. Consequently, as we illustrate in these examples, we maintain that gender has to be an integral part of biographies

National sentinel site surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in South Africa, 2010-2012

PKBackground: The increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance observed in the nosocomial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae are of major public health concern worldwide. Objectives: To describe the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of K. pneumoniae isolates from bacteraemic patients submitted by sentinel laboratories in five regions of South Africa from mid-2010 to mid-2012. Molecular methods were used to detect the most commonly found extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase resistance genes. Methods: Thirteen academic centres serving the public healthcare sector in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Limpopo and Western Cape provinces submitted K. pneumoniae isolates from patients with bloodstream infections. Vitek 2 and MicroScan instruments were used for organism identification and susceptibility testing. Multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were used to detect blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM genes in a proportion of the ESBL isolates. All isolates exhibiting reduced susceptibility to carbapenems were PCR tested for blaKPC and blaNDM-1 resistance genes. Results: Overall, 68.3% of the 2 774 isolates were ESBL-positive, showing resistance to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefepime. Furthermore, 46.5% of all isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 33.1% to piperacillin-tazobactam. The major ESBL genes were abundantly present in the sample analysed. Most isolates (95.5%) were susceptible to the carbapenems tested, and no isolates were positive for blaKPC or blaNDM-1. There was a trend towards a decrease in susceptibility to most antibiotics. Conclusion: The high proportion of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates observed, and the prevalence of ESBL genes, are of great concern. Our findings represent a baseline for further surveillance in SA, and can be used for policy and treatment decisions

Comparative study of the phenolic composition of seeds from grapes cv cardinal and alphonse lavallee during last month of ripening

During the last month of ripening, the phenolic composition of seeds from two widely distributed table grapes, cv Cardinal and Alphonse Lavallee, was determined by HPLC/DAD/ESI/MS. Besides, the concentrations of nutrients in leaf blades of grapevine were measured. Generally, the most abundant phenolic in grape seed was gallic acid, followed by methyl gallate and monomeric flavan-3-ols. In comparison to Alphonse Lavallee, the amounts of phenolics were higher in grape seed of Cardinal, in which gallic acid glucoside was not detected. Among analyzed phenolics, the increase of gallic acid was evidenced in grape seed of Cardinal. The most of phenolics decreased during the last month of grape ripening, and some of them had no significantly different content. Results of bivariate correlations showed that the amounts of some phenolics in grape seed of Cardinal increased with increasing of the content of potassium and phosphorus in leaves

Living on the edge: regional distribution and retracting range of the jaguar (Panthera onca)

Vivir al límite: distribución regional y superficie ocupada por el jaguar en retroceso (Panthera onca) Para conservar la biodiversidad, es necesario entender cómo se distribuyen las especies y qué variables ambientales determinan dicha distribución. Los cambios inducidos por el hombre en la ocupación del suelo y la pérdida de hábitat ponen en peligro a numerosas especies de todo el mundo, especialmente a grandes carnívoros. Diferenciar la influencia del clima y la de los usos del suelo en la distribución de jaguar (Panthera onca) es importante para su conservación. Esta especie, que tradicionalmente se distribuía desde los Estados Unidos hasta el sur de Argentina, ha visto reducida su distribución a escala regional y local. En este trabajo predecimos el rango de distribución de la especie utilizando registros de presencia histórica, variables climáticas y algoritmos predictivos obtenidos con MaxEnt. Nos centramos especialmente en su límite más austral en Argentina para indicar los límites históricos de esta especie y describir el nicho que ocupa actualmente en estas poblaciones marginales. Para estimar el efecto de las acciones antrópicas, utilizamos una capa de ocupación del suelo para limitar la distribución del jaguar. Recopilamos una buena cantidad de registros de presencia en todo el área de distribución histórica de la especie y estimamos una distribución regional histórica desde la Patagonia hasta los –50° de latitud. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que el área de distribución del jaguar se está contrayendo de forma alarmante en el límite meridional y también en el septentrional, y que los cambios de ocupación y de uso del suelo son una amenaza para la especie. Tras restar del nicho estudiado la ocupación del suelo que no es adecuada, descubrimos que la superficie idónea para el jaguar desde el punto de vista ambiental en la zona del estudio se ha reducido hasta el 5,2% de su tamaño original. Por consiguiente, advertimos del elevado riesgo de extinción que acecha al jaguar en Argentina.Vivir al límite: distribución regional y superficie ocupada por el jaguar en retroceso (Panthera onca) Para conservar la biodiversidad, es necesario entender cómo se distribuyen las especies y qué variables ambientales determinan dicha distribución. Los cambios inducidos por el hombre en la ocupación del suelo y la pérdida de hábitat ponen en peligro a numerosas especies de todo el mundo, especialmente a grandes carnívoros. Diferenciar la influencia del clima y la de los usos del suelo en la distribución de jaguar (Panthera onca) es importante para su conservación. Esta especie, que tradicionalmente se distribuía desde los Estados Unidos hasta el sur de Argentina, ha visto reducida su distribución a escala regional y local. En este trabajo predecimos el rango de distribución de la especie utilizando registros de presencia histórica, variables climáticas y algoritmos predictivos obtenidos con MaxEnt. Nos centramos especialmente en su límite más austral en Argentina para indicar los límites históricos de esta especie y describir el nicho que ocupa actualmente en estas poblaciones marginales. Para estimar el efecto de las acciones antrópicas, utilizamos una capa de ocupación del suelo para limitar la distribución del jaguar. Recopilamos una buena cantidad de registros de presencia en todo el área de distribución histórica de la especie y estimamos una distribución regional histórica desde la Patagonia hasta los –50° de latitud. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que el área de distribución del jaguar se está contrayendo de forma alarmante en el límite meridional y también en el septentrional, y que los cambios de ocupación y de uso del suelo son una amenaza para la especie. Tras restar del nicho estudiado la ocupación del suelo que no es adecuada, descubrimos que la superficie idónea para el jaguar desde el punto de vista ambiental en la zona del estudio se ha reducido hasta el 5,2% de su tamaño original. Por consiguiente, advertimos del elevado riesgo de extinción que acecha al jaguar en Argentina.To preserve biodiversity we need to understand how species are distributed and which aspects of the environment determine these distributions. Human–induced changes in land–cover and loss of habitat threaten many species, particularly large carnivores, in many parts of the world. Differentiating the influence of climate and human land use on the distribution of the jaguar (Panthera onca) is important for the species’ conservation. Historically distributed from the United States to southern Argentina, the jaguar has seen its distribution range decreased at regional and local scales. Here we predict the species’ distribution range using historical records of its presence, climate variables, and MaxEnt predictive algorithms. We focus especially on its southernmost limit in Argentina to indicate the historical limits of this species, and describe its present niche in these edge populations. To estimate the effect of human activity we used a raster of land cover to restrict the jaguar’s distribution. We collected a large amount of presence records through the species’ historical range, and estimated a historical regional distribution ranging from Patagonia up to latitude –50°S. Our findings show the range of the jaguar is decreasing severely in its southern limit and also in its northern limit, and that changes in land cover/use are threats to the species. After subtracting non–suitable land–cover from the studied niche, we found the environmentally suitable area for the jaguar in the study area has decreased to 5.2% of its original size. We thus warn of the high extinction risk of the jaguar in Argentina

Molecular detection of carbapenemase-producing genes in referral Enterobacteriaceae in South Africa: A short report

Molecular confirmation of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) was introduced in South Africa (SA) at the end of 2011. We report on the detection of these resistance genes based on referral isolates. Enterobacteriaceae with non-susceptibility to any of the carbapenems according to defined criteria for antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were sent to a reference laboratory. A proportion of isolates had limited demographic, epidemiological and clinical data available. Organism identification was reconfirmed using reference laboratory methods, and the presence of carbapenemases was confirmed with a real-time polymerase chain reaction. We analysed 1 503 significant isolates received for confirmation from the National Health Laboratory Service and some private laboratories during 2012 - 2015 and confirmed one or more carbapenemase-producing genes in 68% of isolates, the most common organism being Klebsiella pneumoniae (60%). The most common carbapenemase genes were blaNDM, followed by blaOXA-48 and its variants. BlaOXA-48 and its variants demonstrated non-susceptibility to ertapenem in 89% of the isolates when analysed by the phenotypic method, and to ceftazidime in 34%. Overall, the detection rate for carbapenemases in K. pneumoniae blood isolates in the public sector was 1.9% during the 4-year period. This report indicates the presence of CPE in SA, and it is important for all healthcare workers to be aware of this major public health threat so that infection prevention and control measures can be implemented to prevent the spread of CPE in healthcare facilities

Validación y reproducibilidad de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo alimentario para valorar la ingesta de lípidos y fitoquímicos.

Background: epidemiological studies have been related food intake with the incidence of nontransmissible chronic diseases. Objective: the purpose of the present study was to analyze the validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) aimed at assessing lipid and phytochemical intake. Material and Methods: FFQ was administered to 45 people of both sexes, aged between 20 and 72 years old and resident in Cordoba, Argentina. The FFQ included 257 questions referring to foods, their consumption frequency and portion size. Regarding consumption of fruit and vegetables, the season was also taken into account. The questionnaire was applied at two different periods (FFQ1 and FFQ2) with a break of six months in between. As a reference, the 24-hour dietary recall was used (24HDR) three times. The mid intake of FFQ1-FFQ2, the 24HDR-FFQ2 median intake, median difference, Mean Absolute Deviation from the median differences (MAD), Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and Spearman rank order correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze the accuracy of the FFQ data. Results: the correlation coefficients for FFQ1-FFQ2 varied from 0.52 for 20:5 n3 eicosapentanoic (EPA) fatty acid to 0.89 for 4:0 butyric fatty acid (p<0.05). For 24HDR-FFQ2, the values ranged from 0.19 for lycopene to 0.93 for EPA fatty acid (p<0.05). Conclusion: the analysis carried out showed an acceptable validity and reproducibility of the FFQ, thus enabling it to be used in research relating the intake of lipids and phytochemicals and the risk of non-transmissible diseases.publishedVersio

Serum procalcitonin as an early marker of neonatal sepsis

Background. It has recently been suggested that procalcitonin (PCT) is of value in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, with varying results. This study was to evaluate the role of PCT as a single early marker of neonatal sepsis. Setting. Neonatal Unit, Johannesburg Hospital, and Microbiology Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), South Africa. Subjects and methods. Neonates undergoing evaluation for sepsis between April and August 2002 were eligible for inclusion. Patients were categorised into ‘no infection', ‘possible infection' and ‘definite infection' on the basis of C-reactive protein (CRP), white cell count (WCC), platelet count and blood culture results. PCT was correlated with infection categories. Results. One hundred and eighty-three neonates were enrolled. One hundred and eighteen had no infection, 52 possible infection and 13 definite infection. PCT differed significantly among infection categories (p < 0.0001) and correlated significantly with CRP at presentation (correlation coefficient 0.404, p < 0.001) and CRP at 24 hours (correlation coefficient 0.343, p < 0.001). PCT predicted 89.5% of definite infection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for PCT to predict definite infection showed odds ratio (OR) 1.145 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05 - 1.25) with an area under the curve of 0.778. PCT had a negative predictive value of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.915 - 0.988) for definite infection. Conclusions. Although PCT was significantly related to the category of infection, it is not sufficiently reliable to be the sole marker of neonatal sepsis. PCT would be useful as part of a full sepsis evaluation, but is relatively expensive. A negative PCT on presentation may rule out sepsis, but this needs to be evaluated further. S Afr Med J 2004; 94: 851-854