The swine flu alert: keeping Asia safe

After years of concern about H5N1 bird flu, the new flu causing global alarm is a pig virus of the H1N1 family. As influenza reports erupt around the world, inevitable questions are arising. Is this the big one? Are we prepared

Esterase activity and isoenzymes in relation to morphogenesis in Mammillaria gracillis Pfeiff. tissue culture

Cactus Mammillaria gracillis Pfeiff. (Cactaceae), cultivated in vitro, spontaneously switches from an organised to unorganised way of growth, producing a habituated organogenic callus which regenerates normal and hyperhydric shoots without the addition of any growth regulators. Tumour tissues, induced by A. tumefaciens wild strain B6S3 (tumour TW) and rooty mutant GV3101 (tumour TR), do not express any organogenic potential. The esterase (arylesterase EC 3.1.1.2 and carboxylesterase EC 3.1.1.1) activity and isoenzyme pattern of morphologically different cactus tissues: shoot, callus, hyperhydric regenerant, tumours TW and TR, were compared. Tissue samples were frozen at –80 °C and lyophilized before protein extraction. Two esterase substrates, 1- and 2-naphthylacetate, were used. Esterase activity of all tissues varied during the period of one subculture. In shoots and tumours, the highest esterase activity for both substrates was measured on the 21st day, while in the callus and hyperhydric regenerants the highest activity was on the 7th day. Esterases were separated electrophoretically in polyacrylamide gradient gels under non-denaturating conditions. In total, 13 isoesterases, reacting with both substrates, were resolved. No differences in isoenzyme profile were noticed in correlation with the age of tissues, but the esterase activity varied among tissues. The significance of these results is discussed

Esterase activity and isoenzymes in relation to morphogenesis in Mammillaria gracillis Pfeiff. tissue culture

Cactus Mammillaria gracillis Pfeiff. (Cactaceae), cultivated in vitro, spontaneously switches from an organised to unorganised way of growth, producing a habituated organogenic callus which regenerates normal and hyperhydric shoots without the addition of any growth regulators. Tumour tissues, induced by A. tumefaciens wild strain B6S3 (tumour TW) and rooty mutant GV3101 (tumour TR), do not express any organogenic potential. The esterase (arylesterase EC 3.1.1.2 and carboxylesterase EC 3.1.1.1) activity and isoenzyme pattern of morphologically different cactus tissues: shoot, callus, hyperhydric regenerant, tumours TW and TR, were compared. Tissue samples were frozen at –80 °C and lyophilized before protein extraction. Two esterase substrates, 1- and 2-naphthylacetate, were used. Esterase activity of all tissues varied during the period of one subculture. In shoots and tumours, the highest esterase activity for both substrates was measured on the 21st day, while in the callus and hyperhydric regenerants the highest activity was on the 7th day. Esterases were separated electrophoretically in polyacrylamide gradient gels under non-denaturating conditions. In total, 13 isoesterases, reacting with both substrates, were resolved. No differences in isoenzyme profile were noticed in correlation with the age of tissues, but the esterase activity varied among tissues. The significance of these results is discussed

Virulência de amostras de Mycoplasma synoviae isoladas no Brasil.

bitstream/item/58661/1/CUsersPiazzonDocuments186.pd

Detecting Environmental Contamination of MRSA in Ambulances: A Novel and Efficient Sampling Methodology

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be found in emergency medical services (EMS) ambulances. This poses an occupational risk and patient safety hazard. Screening for environmental contamination is often not performed due to limited resources and logistical challenges. This study’s objective was to compare traditional screening of individual surfaces versus “pooled sampling” to efficiently identify contamination. Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted among 145 Ohio EMS ambulances from 84 agencies, tested a novel pooled sampling methodology to detect MRSA contaminated ambulances. For ambulances screened using pooled sampling, 3 samples were collected within each ambulance. Pool One included cabinets, doorways, and ceiling bar. Pool Two included cot, seats, and backboard. Pool Three included steering wheel, kits, and clipboard. For ambulances screened with the traditional detection technique, each of the 9 aforementioned surfaces were sampled individually. Descriptive statistics and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated to compare the 2 methods. Results: Forty-seven of 145 ambulances (32.4%) had at least 1 of the 9 locations contaminated with MRSA. When comparing the 2 screening methodologies, no significant difference was observed regarding the overall detection of MRSA contaminated ambulances (24/60 [40%] versus 23/85 [27.6%], P value: 0.1000). This indicates that pooled sampling appears as an efficient method for identification of MRSA contaminated ambulances. Conclusion: One-third of Ohio ambulances had MRSA contamination in this study. Therefore, an efficient methodology to identify contaminated ambulances with hazardous pathogens is incredibly valuable. Pooling can help save resources and simplify sampling logistics, all which could positively impact infection control practices in emergency medical services

Scalar dispersion in strongly curved open-channel flows

Large-eddy simulations (LES) and Reynolds-averaged numerical simulations (RANS) are performed for the flow and scalar dispersion through a strongly curved open-channel bend. The aim of the study is to investigate the performance of both LES and RANS as regards the reproduction of the key bend flow features and the associated prediction of scalar spreading along the flume. In this respect, three different issues are addressed. Firstly, the influence of the water depth on the flow behavior as computed by LES and RANS is considered. Secondly, the plume statistics of the case with a continuous vertical line source is investigated. And thirdly, the dispersion behavior of a scalar tracer is studied by means of the case in which a blob of the scalar tracer is instantaneously injected. It is found that the LES computations fairly well reproduce the main flow features, whereas RANS computations experience severe difficulties in predicting the flow field. Moreover, it was found that the gradient-hypothesis of diffusion is only limitedly valid; even counter-gradient diffusion is observed. In addition, the residence time characteristics of the instantaneously injected blob of the scalar tracer in the bend are addressed as well

Morbidity due to Schistosoma mansoni: an epidemiological assessment of distended abdomen syndrome in Ugandan school children with observations before and 1-year after anthelminthic chemotherapy

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and distribution of distended abdomens among Ugandan school children across a range of eco-epidemiological settings and to investigate the relationship between distended abdomens and helminth infections, in particular Schistosoma mansoni, before and 1-year after anthelminthic treatment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 4354 school children across eight districts, with a longitudinal 1-year follow-up of 2644 children (60.7%). On both occasions, parasitological, biometrical and clinical data were collected for each child. Baseline prevalence of S. mansoni and hookworms was 44.3% and 51.8%, respectively. Distended abdomens, defined as an abdominal circumference ratio (ACR) >1.05, were observed in 2.5% of the sampled children, several of whom presented with particularly severe distensions necessitating hospital referral. ACR scores were highly overdispersed between districts and schools. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that S. mansoni infection accounted for only a small fraction of ACR variation, suggesting that either single point prevalence and intensity measures failed to reflect this more chronically evolved morbidity and/or that other interacting factors were involved, e.g. malnutrition and malaria. At 1-year follow-up, ACR scores showed an overall trend of regression towards the mean, potentially indicative of amelioration following chemotherapy, but geographic overdispersion still remaine

Parametric Optimization Of Magneto-Rheological Fluid Damper Using Particle Swarm Optimization

This paper presents a parametric modeling of a magneto-rheological (MR) damper using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The objective of this paper is to optimize the parameter values of the MR fluid damper behavior using the Bouc-Wen model. The parametric identification was imposed beforehand in replicating the behavior of the MR fluid damper. The algebraic function from a number of hysteresis models was steered by comparing selected models: Bingham, Bouc-Wen and BoucWen by Kwok. A simulation method was operated in investigating these models by employing MATLAB reliant from the model intricacy. The experimental data was presented in terms of the time histories of the displacement, the velocity and the force parameters, measured for both constant and variable current settings and at a selected frequency applied to the damper. The model parameters were determined using a set of experimental measurements corresponding to different current constant values. It has been shown that the MR damper model’s response via the proposed approach is in good agreement with the MR damper test rig counterpar

Shifting social norms and adolescent girls' access to sexual and reproductive health services and information in a South African township

Despite policy on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and education, teen pregnancies remain common in South Africa. Social norms and cultural resistance are a well-documented challenge for SRH program implementation in South Africa, and beyond. To gain insight on the complex picture of adolescents’ access to SRH information and services in a peri-urban township, we explored this topic from a diversity of perspectives, carrying out 86 interviews to capture perceptions of adolescents, their parents, community members, and health professionals. Our research shows that despite the taboo nature of the issue of adolescent SRH, individual positions on adolescent access to SRH services and information are shifting and diverse, and are influenced by factors other than cultural norms. This research serves as a reminder to avoid simplistic reference to “culture” as a way of explaining health-related behaviors and people’s responses to health challenges