ASSESSING THE COMPETING ABILITY OF WEEDY RICE (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) WITH CULTIVATED RICE UNDER ELEVATED CO2 CONDITIONS

Climate change can adversely affect rice production, especially for weed management in the context of emergence and proliferation of newer weed species like weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) in the rice growing tracts of Kerala. In the past decade, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) has risen from 371.82 to 407.05 ppm from 2000 to 2018 which might have an impact on the competitive ability of a C3 plant like weedy rice. The competitiveness of weedy rice was studied in an open top chamber (OTC) under a CO2 concentration of 500 ppm (Chamber A), OTC without external CO2 supply (Chamber B), and open condition along with two popular cultivated rice varieties Uma and Jyothi with both air and soil temperature inside the chamber to the tune of 40-430C and 35-400C respectively. The study revealed a higher competitive potential of weedy rice in terms of tillering ability under elevated carbon dioxide as it responded well compared to cultivated rice varieties. There was a differential response of rice varieties to elevated CO2 conditions with medium duration variety responding well compared to short duration one. Compared to ambient conditions (chamber B and open condition), higher tillering was observed under elevated CO2 (chamber A) in which weedy rice tillered profusely (17.33) than cultivated rice species (9 and 11.33). There was a linear increase in plant height of weedy rice in chamber A (108.97 cm) during the initial stages and in chamber B (112.77 cm) during reproductive stages. The study evidenced that in the coming future, higher CO2 levels can stimulate biomass production of C3 weed like weedy rice with a greater increase in tillering which could be an important trait affecting inter specific competition

An in vitro study of probiotic activity exhibited by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on oral isolates of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans

Background: Oral infections caused by microorganisms have led to increased risk of oral health problems like dental caries (DC). Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are the organisms responsible for DC. The goal of the presented study was to investigate the potential of probiotics to prevent and treat DC. An in vitro assay was developed to investigate several probiotic strains for their ability to inhibit the aforementioned oral pathogens. Methods: 40 oral isolates of Streptococcus mutans and 51 oral isolates of Candida albicans were tested for probiotic activity against Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus using agar overlay interference technique as prescribed by Fleming et al. Results: The zone of inhibition shown by L. acidophilus was higher than L. rhamnosus against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Conclusions: In conclusion the two probiotic strains L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus exhibited inhibitory activity on S. mutans and C. albicans respectively in vitro

A landscape analysis of preterm birth in South Africa : systemic gaps and solutions

Lack of accurate nationally representative preterm birth estimates limit our epidemiological understanding of this syndrome and the extent to which health services can respond appropriately.http://www.journals.co.za/content/journal/healthrPaediatrics and Child Healt

The nuclear shell effects near the r-process path in the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory

We have investigated the evolution of the shell structure of nuclei in going from the r-process path to the neutron drip line within the framework of the Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) theory. By introducing the quartic self-coupling of $\omega$ meson in the RHB theory in addition to the non-linear scalar coupling of $\sigma$ meson, we reproduce the available data on the shell effects about the waiting-point nucleus $^{80}$Zn. With this approach, it is shown that the shell effects at N=82 in the inaccessible region of the r-process path become milder as compared to the Lagrangian with the scalar self-coupling only. However, the shell effects remain stronger as compared to the quenching exhibited by the HFB+SkP approach. It is also shown that in reaching out to the extreme point at the neutron drip line, a terminal situation arises where the shell structure at the magic number is washed out significantly.Comment: 18 pages (revtex), 8 ps figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Validation of the Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm for estimating sleep-wake patterns from activity recordings

© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Sleep Research Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.Periods of sleep and wakefulness can be estimated from wrist-locomotor activity recordings via algorithms that identify periods of relative activity and inactivity. Here, we evaluated the performance of our Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm. The Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm uses a moving 24-h threshold and correlation procedure estimating relatively consolidated periods of sleep and wake. The Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm was validated against sleep logs and polysomnography. Sleep-log validation was performed on two field samples collected over 54 and 34 days (median) in 34 adolescents and 28 young adults. Polysomnographic validation was performed on a clinical sample of 23 individuals undergoing one night of polysomnography. Epoch-by-epoch analyses were conducted and comparisons of sleep measures carried out via Bland-Altman plots and correlations. Compared with sleep logs, the Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm classified sleep with a median sensitivity of 80% (interquartile range [IQR] = 75%-86%) and specificity of 91% (87%-92%). Mean onset and offset times were highly correlated (r = .86-.91). Compared with polysomnography, the Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm reached a median sensitivity of 92% (85%-100%) but low specificity of 33% (10%-98%), owing to the low frequency of wake episodes in the night-time polysomnographic recordings. The Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm overestimated sleep onset (~21 min) and underestimated wake after sleep onset (~26 min), while not performing systematically differently from polysomnography in other sleep parameters. These results demonstrate the validity of the Munich Actimetry Sleep Detection Algorithm in faithfully estimating sleep-wake patterns in field studies. With its good performance across daytime and night-time, it enables analyses of sleep-wake patterns in long recordings performed to assess circadian and sleep regularity and is therefore an excellent objective alternative to sleep logs in field settings.ASL received a stipend from the Max‐Weber‐Programm (Studienstiftung), AMB received funding from the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences Munich, CR received funding from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) PhD research grants (PDE/BDE/114584/2016), LKP received a fellowship from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Finance Code 001), and NG received research funding from the FoeFoLe program at LMU (registration No. 37/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global challenges with scale-up of the integrated management of childhood illness strategy: results of a multi-country survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Strategy (IMCI), developed by WHO/UNICEF, aims to contribute to reducing childhood morbidity and mortality (MDG4) in resource-limited settings. Since 1996 more than 100 countries have adopted IMCI. IMCI case management training (ICMT) is one of three IMCI components and training is usually residential over 11 consecutive days. Follow-up after ICMT is an essential part of training. We describe the barriers to rapid acceleration of ICMT and review country perspectives on how to address these barriers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multi-country exploratory cross-sectional questionnaire survey of in-service ICMT approaches, using quantitative and qualitative methods, was conducted in 2006-7: 27 countries were purposively selected from all six WHO regions. Data for this paper are from three questionnaires (QA, QB and QC), distributed to selected national focal IMCI persons/programme officers, course directors/facilitators and IMCI trainees respectively. QC only gathered data on experiences with IMCI follow-up.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>33 QA, 163 QB and 272 QC were received. The commonest challenges to ICMT scale-up relate to funding (high cost and long duration of the residential ICMT), poor literacy of health workers, differing opinions about the role of IMCI in improving child health, lack of political support, frequent changes in staff or rules at Ministries of Health and lack of skilled facilitators. Countries addressed these challenges in several ways including increased advocacy, developing strategic linkages with other priorities, intensifying pre-service training, re-distribution of funds and shortening course duration. The commonest challenges to <it>follow-up </it>after ICMT were lack of funding (93.1% of respondents), inadequate funds for travelling or planning (75.9% and 44.8% respectively), lack of gas for travelling (41.4%), inadequately trained or few supervisors (41.4%) and inadequate job aids for follow-up (27.6%). Countries addressed these by piggy backing IMCI follow-up with routine supervisory visits.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Financial challenges to ICMT scale-up and follow-up after training are common. As IMCI is accepted globally as one of the key strategies to meet MDG4 several steps need to be taken to facilitate rapid acceleration of ICMT, including reviewing core competencies followed by competency-driven shortened training duration or 'on the job' training, 'distance learning' or training using mobile phones. Linkages with other 'better-funded' programmes e.g. HIV or malaria need to be improved. Routine Primary Health Care (PHC) supervision needs to include follow-up after ICMT.</p

Infrastructural and human-resource factors associated with return of infant HIV test results to caregivers: secondary analysis of a nationally representative situational assessment, South Africa, 2010

Abstract Background In June 2015, South Africa introduced early infant HIV diagnosis (EID) at birth and ten weeks postpartum. Guidelines recommended return of birth results within a week and ten weeks postpartum results within four weeks. Task shifting was also suggested to increase service coverage. This study aimed to understand factors affecting return of EID results to caregivers. Methods Secondary analysis of data gathered from 571 public-sector primary health care facilities (PHCs) during a nationally representative situational assessment, was conducted. The assessment was performed one to three months prior to facility involvement in the 2010 evaluation of the South African programme to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (SAPMTCTE). Self-reported infrastructural and human resource EID-related data were collected from managers and designated staff using a structured questionnaire. The main outcome variable was ‘EID turn-around-time (TAT) to caregiver’ (caregiver TAT), measured as reported number of weeks from infant blood draw to caregiver receipt of results. This was dichotomized as either short (≤3 weeks) or delayed (> 3 weeks) caregiver TAT. Logit-based risk difference analysis was used to assess factors associated with short caregiver TAT. Analysis included TAT to facility (facility TAT), defined as reported number of weeks from infant blood draw to facility receipt of results. Results Overall, 26.3% of the 571 PHCs reported short caregiver TAT. In adjusted analyses, short caregiver TAT was less achieved when facility TAT was > 7 days (versus ≤7 days) (adjusted risk difference (aRD): − 0.2 (95% confidence interval − 0.3-(− 0.1)), p = 0.006 for 8–14 days and − 0.3 (− 0.5-(− 0.1)), p = 0.006 for > 14 days), and in facilities with staff nurses (compared to those without) (aRD: − 9.4 (− 16.6-(− 2.2), p = 0.011). Conclusion Although short caregiver TAT for EID was only reported in approximately 26% of facilities, these facilities demonstrate that achieving EID TAT of ≤3 weeks is possible, making timely ART initiation within 3 weeks of diagnosis feasible within the public health sector. Our adjusted analyses underpin the need for quick return of results to facilities. They also raise questions around staff mentoring: we hypothesise that facilities with staff nurses were likely to have fewer professional nurses, and thus inadequate senior support

Factors associated with non-attendance at scheduled infant follow-up visits in an observational cohort of HIV-exposed infants in South Africa, 2012–2014

Abstract Background Since 2001 the South African guidelines to improve child health and prevent vertical HIV transmission recommended frequent infant follow-up with HIV testing at 18 months postpartum. We sought to understand non-attendance at scheduled follow-up study visits up to 18 months, and for the 18-month infant HIV test amongst a nationally representative sample of HIV exposed uninfected (HEU) infants from a high HIV-prevalence African setting. Methods Secondary analysis of data drawn from a nationally representative observational cohort study (conducted during October 2012 to September 2014) of HEU infants and their primary caregivers was undertaken. Participants were eligible (N = 2650) if they were 4–8 weeks old and HEU at enrolment. All enrolled infants were followed up every 3 months up to 18 months. Each follow-up visit was scheduled to coincide with each child’s routine health visit, where possible. The denominator at each time point comprised HEU infants who were alive and HIV-free at the previous visit. We assessed baseline maternal and early HIV care characteristics associated with the frequency of ‘Missed visits’ (MV-frequency), using a negative binomial regression model adjusting for the follow-up time in the study, and associated with missed visits at 18 months (18-month MV) using a logistic regression model. Results The proportion of eligible infants with MV was lowest at 3 months (32.7%) and 18 months (31.0%) and highest at 12 months (37.6%). HIV-positive mothers not on triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) by 6-weeks postpartum had a significantly increased occurrence rate of ‘MV-frequency’ (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–1.4), p  24 years had a significantly reduced rate of ‘MV-frequency’ (p ≤ 0.01) and risk of ‘18-month-MV’ (p < 0.01) compared to younger women. Shorter travel time to health facility lowered the occurrence of ‘MV-frequency’ (p ≤ 0.004). Conclusion Late initiation of maternal ART and infant prophylaxis under the Option- A policy and extended travel time to clinics (measured at 6 weeks postpartum), contributed to higher postnatal MV rates. Mothers older than 24 years had lower MV rates. Targeted interventions may be needed during the current PMTCT Option B+ (lifelong ART to pregnant and lactating women at HIV diagnosis) to circumvent these risk factors and reduce missed visits during HIV-care

Mixed-methods cross-sectional study of the prevention of vertical HIV transmission program users unaware of male partner’s HIV status, in six South African districts with a high antenatal HIV burden

DATA AVAILABILITY : The dataset is still being analyzed by the primary research team. Anyone needing to access the data should e-mail [email protected] for quantitative data or [email protected] for qualitative data and qualitative methodology. Any data sharing will be by individual request, and in consultation with researchers currently analyzing the data.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : ADDITIONAL FILE 1: COREQ Checklist for Qualitative Study ADDITIONAL FILE 2: Option B+ FGDs inclusion criteriaBACKGROUND : Elimination of vertical HIV Transmission (VHT) and maternal deaths are global health priorities. Male involvement is one of the most important factors that influences women’s decisions, including the uptake of Prevention of vertical HIV transmission (P-VHT). We sought to understand not knowing a male partner’s HIV status (MPHIVs) amongst women using services to prevent vertical HIV transmission in six South African districts with high antenatal HIV burden. METHODS : A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted in six South African districts, and data collected through face-to-face interviews with women and focus group discussions (FGDs) with women or male partners. The quantitative data were analyzed using STATA SE-17.0 and an inductive approach was used for qualitative data analysis. RESULTS : Overall, 28.7% of women were unaware of their MPHIVs, while 25.3% and 46.0% knew the MPHIVs was positive or negative, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression, single marital status and unplanned pregnancy increased the odds of not knowing a MPHIVs while a woman’s disclosure of her HIV status to the male partner reduced the odds. FDGs highlighted complexities around MPHIVs disclosure, e.g., reluctance to test for HIV and potential interventions including healthcare worker (HCW) assisted HIV disclosure. CONCLUSION : User-informed interventions to address MPHIVs non-disclosure amongst women of child-bearing age, particularly those at risk of unstable sexual partners and unplanned pregnancies, should be strengthened.The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); a Ford Foundation Fellowship, administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a PEO Scholar Award from the PEO Sisterhood, and NIMH R36MH127838.https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.comam2024Paediatrics and Child HealthSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Bronchiectasis in African children : challenges and barriers to care

Bronchiectasis (BE) is a chronic condition aecting the bronchial tree. It is characterized by the dilatation of large and medium-sized airways, secondary to damage of the underlying bronchial wall structural elements and accompanied by the clinical picture of recurrent or persistent cough. Despite an increased awareness of childhood BE, there is still a paucity of data on the epidemiology, pathophysiological phenotypes, diagnosis, management, and outcomes in Africa where the prevalence is mostly unmeasured, and likely to be higher than high-income countries. Diagnostic pathways and management principles have largely been extrapolated from approaches in adults and children in high-income countries or from data in children with cystic fibrosis. Here we provide an overview of pediatric BE in Africa, highlighting risk factors, diagnostic and management challenges, need for a global approach to addressing key research gaps, and recommendations for practitioners working in Africa.http://www.frontiersin.org/Pediatricsdm2022Paediatrics and Child Healt