Functional Anatomy of the Feeding Apparatus of Four South African Cormorants

The functional anatomy of the head and anterior neck region of the cormorants Phalacrocorax lucidus. P. neglectus, P. capensis and P. africanus was investigated. There are significant differences in absolute size of the muscle and bone elements between the four species. The relative proportions of these elements are, however, very similar and indicate adaptations for capturing active prey under water. Kinetic movements of the upper jaw are large in all species, particularly P. capensis. The effective forces acting on the tip of the bill correlate well with the mass of prey taken by each species. Specific differences in jaw mechanism efficiency were viewed as adaptations for specific prey preferences. P. lucidus and P. africanus. although very different in body size, have similar adaptations for capturing slow-moving, benthic fish. P. neglectus has possibly the most generalized feeding apparatus which may correlate with the wide range of food taken. The jaws and neck of P. capensis appear most adapted for taking small, active prey which correlates with the preference for fast-moving pelagic fish. Differences in body size and jaw force are thought to reduce competition for food between the four species

The fatty acid transport function of fatty acid-binding proteins

The intracellular fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) comprise a family of 14–15 kDa proteins which bind long-chain fatty acids. A role for FABPs in fatty acid transport has been hypothesized for several decades, and the accumulated indirect and correlative evidence is largely supportive of this proposed function. In recent years, a number of experimental approaches which more directly examine the transport function of FABPs have been taken. These include molecular level in vitro modeling of fatty acid transfer mechanisms, whole cell studies of fatty acid uptake and intracellular transfer following genetic manipulation of FABP type and amount, and an examination of cells and tissues from animals engineered to lack expression of specific FABPs. Collectively, data from these studies have provided strong support for defining the FABPs as fatty acid transport proteins. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms by which cellular fatty acid trafficking is modulated by the FABPs

Shock wave therapy for spastic plantar flexor muscles in hemiplegic cerebral palsy children

Background: The spastic motor type is the most common form of cerebral palsy (CP). Spastic equines foot is the most frequent deformity in ambulated children with CP. Shock wave therapy on spastic muscles of the upper limb in stroke patients provided a significant reduction in muscle tone.Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the efficiency of shock wave therapy on spastic planter flexor muscles and its relation to the gait in spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children.Methods: Thirty spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children from both sexes participated in this study. They were divided randomly into two groups of equal number: Group I (control) included 15 children (6 boys and 9 girls), with mean 5.83 ±0.34 years, received the therapeutic exercises program only. Group II (study) included 15 children (6 boys and 9 girls), with mean age 5.75 ± 0.51 years, received the same therapeutic exercises program which was given to the control group, in addition to shock wave therapy for 1 week (3 session/week).Results: Comparing the pre and post treatment mean values of the Hoffman reflex/Motor response (H/M) ratio and gait variables, revealed statistically significant differences in these variables in the study group.Conclusion: The shock wave therapy is effective in the treatment of hypertonic muscles which help those children to become more independent and participate in everyday activities.KEYWORDS: Shock wave therapy; Spasticity; Cerebral palsy; Gait; H/M rati

Food Security and University Agricultural Students Involvement in Food Production after Graduation

Food security and its relationship to sustainable agricultural and rural development have increasingly become matters of concern for developing countries and for the international community. While there are many complex factors that influence sustainable development and food security, it is clear that education in agriculture plays an important role. Hence, this study examined the factors that determine the involvement of final year agriculture students in agricultural production after graduation. Two hundred respondents were randomly selected and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. The results revealed that 21.6% of the respondents had good knowledge about food security, 54.6% had average knowledge, 13.4% had doubtful knowledge about food security and 10.3% had poor knowledge about food security. 50.1% believed that Nigeria is not food secure. 68.04% of the respondents plan to be gainfully self-employed in agriculture after graduation. This finding has implication for reducing high rate of unemployment and continual rise in food insecurity. Therefore, it is recommended to agricultural development planners to provide start off funds, input subsidies and land for the fresh graduates to start their farm. It was also revealed that capital, interest, knowledge, Government policy on import and academic pursuit were the major factors that altered the involvement of potential agricultural graduates in agricultural production.Keywords: Agriculture, Food Security, Production, Student, Universit

Pattern & presentation of colorectal cancer in central Sudan, a retrospective descriptive study, 2010-2012.

Aims & objective: To determine the age and gender distribution and clinical presentation of patients together with histological types of colorectal cancer cases presented to Ibn Sina specialized hospital.Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Ibn Sina Hospital (Sudan). Seventy three (73) patients of colorectal cancer who presented in the period from January 2010 to December 2012 were included. Data were collected from their hospital records and analyzed using SPSS computer program 17.Results: More than 17 % of the study populations was below the age of 40 years, and 43.84% was below 50 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.02. Rectal bleeding is the commonest presenting symptom and well differentiated adenocarcinoma is the dominating tumor grade. 8.3 % of patients presented with liver metastasis.Conclusion: Colorectal cancer in this study was found more in young age groups with a peak frequency at the fifth and sixth decades.Keywords: Colorectal cancer, well differentiated, adenocarcinom

Blood Changes after Splenectomy in Portal Hypertension. The ‘Amna Model’

Background: Splenectomy is a frequently performed operation for patients with portal hypertension and hypersplenism in areas endemic for schistosomiasis. Reactive thrombocytosis (RT) has been described following splenectomy. Nevertheless, data are lacking on the long term changes of platelet count and other blood cells and indices after splenectomy in such patients.Objectives: To determine the hematological changes following splenectomy in portal hypertension due to schistosomiasis.Methods: This is a prospective, observational, case study in which we did a series of full blood counts before and after splenectomy on two patients. The periods of study were 12 days and 5 months, respectively.Results: Platelets (RT >500x109) occurred after the 7th post-splenectomy day in both patients. In the longer study, RT continued from day 8 to week10. Extreme thrombocytosis (> 1000x 109) occurred from day 11 to day 21 postoperatively. The count was back to normal by week 17. Reactive leukocytosis occurred immediately after ligation of the splenic artery, but returned to normal levels during the 2nd postoperative week. Erythrocytes, however, showed changes different from both platelets and leukocytes. There was ‘persistent anaemia’ for about one month postoperatively.Conclusion: This study provides data that were lacking on the long term haematological effects of splenectomy in Sudanese patients with portal hypertension. Knowing these changes can have important implications on the management and follow up of such patients, and provide evidenceneeded for discussing guidelines of treatment. RT and leukocytosis occur after splenectomy whereas anaemia persists. RT can reach extreme levels and it is wise to monitor the platelets after the discharge of patients from the hospital. It may also be wise to consider the use of antiplatelet drugs postoperatively till the count normalizes. The persistent anaemia, however, seems to correct itself without giving haematinics or blood transfusion.Key words: postsplenectomy, thrombocytosis, portal hypertension, hypersplenism

Plant Extracts as Antimicrobial Agents in Sustainable Conservation of Erythrina caffra (Fabaceae) Historical Trees

Microbial colonization plays a relevant role in the biodegradation and biodeterioration of cultural and natural heritage, representing a revealing problem in conservation strategy. In this study, the essential oil (EO) and hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE) of Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae), an aromatic perennial plant, representative of the Mediterranean basin, growing spontaneously and cultivated all over the world, were analysed. Natural products, such as essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract, have strong antiseptic and antimicrobial properties and are ad hoc applied for the sustainable conservation of Erithryna caffra (Fabaceae). The main taxa revealed in the damaging of these arboreal heritage, are Bacillus sp., Streptomyces sp. and Terribacillus sp. (as bacteria), Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp. and Chaetomium sp. (as fungi). GS-MS analysis identified carvacrol, thymol and their biosynthetic precursors g-terpinene and p-cymene, as main components, and the antimicrobial efficiency assayed by in vitro methods (Agar Dish Diffusion, Well Plate Diffusion). In this study, by combining the application/exposure of both HAE and EO, the bacterial and fungal colonies development has been in vitro countered. The results confirm the possible use of plant products as a valid alternative to the traditional synthetic chemical biocides, with full respect to the environment

Evaluation of flow dependent external costs in freight logistics networks

In this paper we face a distribution problem arising in a freight logistics context. More precisely, we are involved with the containerized flow originating from maritime terminals and going to inland destinations using the road transportation network. The goal is the minimization of the total shipping costs, given by the travelled distance, vehicles and external cost components. In particular, we consider accidental and polluting costs as external negative costs. Note that the proposed externality costs depend on the amount of flow through the selected arcs in the route and their capacity; therefore, a novel stepwise function is proposed and analyzed. A deep analysis is performed for evaluating the impact of environmental externalities on the choice of the route in terms of costs and distances depending on the density of the traffic. Results of an extensive computational experimentation performed with randomly generated instances of different size and capacity values of the arcs are reported. A real case instance related to the logistics network connecting the main ports of the Liguria County (Italy) to the main inland destinations is finally proposed and analyzed