Congenital pyloric atresia: clinical features, diagnosis, associated anomalies, management and outcome

Background: Congenital pyloric atresia (CPA) is very rare and usually seen as an isolated anomaly, which has an excellent prognosis. CPA can be associated with other anomalies or familial and these are usually associated with other hereditary conditions with poor prognosis. This review is based on our experience with 20 infants with CPA.Patients and methods: This is a review of CPA, highlighting its clinical features; associated anomalies; and aspects of diagnosis, management and outcome.Results: This review is based on our experience with 20 patients with CPA (nine male and 11 female). Their mean birth weight was 2.1 kg (1.1-3.9 kg). Polyhydramnios was seen in 13 (65%) patients. Seven patients were full-term and the remaining 13 were premature. Two were brothers and four were members of the same family. Isolated CPA was seen in seven (35%) patients and 13 had associated anomalies. Epidermolysis bullosa was seen in eight (40%) patients and multiple intestinal atresias in five (25%). Three patients had associated esophageal atresia. Pyloric diaphragm was the most common and seen in 13 patients including double diaphragms in two followed by pyloric atresia with a gap in four and pyloric atresia without a gap in three. All patients did well in the early postoperative period; however, 10 died later giving an overall survival of 40%. Sepsis was the main cause of death.Conclusion: CPA is a very rare malformation that can be familial and inherited as an autosomal recessive. It can either occur as an isolated lesion with an excellent prognosis, or be associated with other anomalies. The overall prognosis of CPA, however, is still poor, and this is due to the frequent-and often fatal-associated anomalies.Keywords: aplasia cutis congenita, congenital pyloric atresia, epidermolysis bullosa, hereditary multiple intestinal atresi

Perspective Chapter: Contemporary Challenges in Postnatal Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The postnatal phase is the first six weeks after delivery and is a critical time for mothers, newborns, and other caregivers as a highly neglected phase of a transition period. Almost all maternal and neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where fewer services are provided for mothers after the delivery period, which constitutes a tremendous challenge facing mothers in these countries. Barriers were markedly observed in low-and middle-income countries as a result of financial constraints, distance from the health center, poor programming for postnatal care, negative childbirth experiences, and cultural constraints. Moreover, the unproper advocacy of contraceptive use during the postpartum period impacts prolonged interpregnancy intervals and indirectly increases postpartum complications mainly in low- and middle-income countries. The importance of the quality of postnatal care was frequently addressed to answer the required interventions that should be implemented at the level of healthcare facilities, household, and community levels as part of the process of reducing the impact of postnatal complications, disabilities, and maternal mortality

Remote sensing techology

Presented at Irrigation district sustainability - strategies to meet the challenges: USCID irrigation district specialty conference held on June 3-6, 2009 in Reno, Nevada.Includes bibliographical references.Irrigated agriculture is the largest water user in New Mexico; in southern New Mexico's Lower Rio Grande region, agriculture uses about one million acre-feet of water each year. Previous research has estimated that the average irrigation efficiency in the area is 44%. This relatively low aggregate efficiency indicates a large potential for water savings from agriculture. In order to determine the potential water savings, the amount of water depleted by crop evapotranspiration (ET) in the Mesilla Valley section of the EBID was estimated using satellite information and ground-level measurements to calculate plant consumptive water use on scales ranging from individual farms to the larger watershed. Two areas of potential water savings were evaluated using the satellite-generated consumptive use information: 1) potential water saving at the farm level and 2) potential water saving at the district level. This study found that the majority of farms in the study region were growing crops under deficit irrigation conditions. Therefore, irrigation improvements at the farm-level are likely to increase both yields and water depletion. Potential water savings at the district level were evaluated by comparing the total volume of water diverted for irrigation versus aggregate ET. From the satellite-generated ET data, district-level efficiency was determined to be 55% in 2002 (a full allocation year). Thus, there appears to be a potential for improving district-level efficiency. This can be accomplished by using regional ET depletion values to plan water releases from the reservoir and improve the diversion and distribution within the canal networks

USCID fourth international conference

Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.Includes bibliographical references.Pecan is a major crop in Lower Rio Grande Basin. Currently there exist about 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of pecan orchards at various stages of growth which consumes about 40 percent of irrigation water in the area. Crop evapotranspiration (ET) varies with age, soil type and method of management. The ET variation and lack of information on optimum crop ET result in significant variation in productivity and income. In order to maximize the returns from limited water resources, there is a need for a better understanding of pecan optimum ET. ET was measured using three eddy covariance flux towers, which were installed in selected fields in the irrigated area. This paper describes a process where remotely sensed data from ASTER were combined with ground level information to estimate pecan ET and crop coefficient (Kc) throughout the area. The measured cumulative annual pecan ET were determined as 1470 mm (4.82 ft) compared to a predicted value of 1415 mm (4.68 ft) using the remote sensing model. Regression summary for measured ET as depended variable resulted in Standard Error of Estimate (SEE) of 0.86 mm/day and adjusted R2 of 0.9045 for 363 days of measured data

New Mexico pecan production

Presented at Urbanization of irrigated land and water transfers: a USCID water management conference on May 28-31, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona.Includes bibliographical references.Pecans are a major agricultural crop in New Mexico. Currently there are approximately 11,000 hectares of pecans in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, consuming more than one third of the annual diversion. The research presented here provides previously unavailable broad-scale estimates of pecan ET and pecan yield response to water. The data at the foundation of this paper were generated using the Regional ET Estimation Model (REEM) developed at New Mexico State University for agricultural and riparian vegetation (Samani et al. 2005, 2006, 2007). REEM uses remotely sensed satellite data to calculate ET as a residual of the energy balance. This research extends the results of REEM to an analysis of yield response to water in irrigated pecan production in the EBID. The study region is rapidly urbanizing and experiencing growing competition for scarce surface and groundwater supplies. The results of this research provide new insight into pecan water use and yields. This research illustrates the linkages that can be made between remote sensing technology, farm-level water management, and yield outcomes. This research sheds new light on the long-standing practice of deficit irrigation in pecans, the yield and conservation impacts of this practice, as well as water conservation policy implications

Persuasive Technology Contributions Toward Enhance Information Security Awareness in an Organization

Persuasion is part and parcel of human interaction. The human persuaders in society have been always exit, masters of rhetoric skilled of changing our minds, or at least our behaviors. Leaders, mothers, salesmen, and teachers are clear examples of persuaders. Persuaders often turn to technology and digital media to amplify their persuasive ends. Besides, our lives and how we lead them influenced by technologies and digital media,but for the most part, their effects on our attitudes and behaviors have been incidental, even accidental. Although, nowadays, the use of computers to sell products and services considered as the most frequent application of persuasive technology. In this short paper, based on an extensive review of literatures, we aim to give a brief introduction to persuasive technology, and how it can play a role and contribute to enhance and deliver the best practice of IT. Some challenges of persuasive technology have been discussed. At the end, some recommendations and steps should be taken place to empower IT professional practices have been listed.Comment: 7 pages, 1 table, Published with International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT

Health Beliefs Related to Diabetes Mellitus Prevention among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia

 Objectives: The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is growing rapidly in the Saudi population. The purpose of this study was to assess the constructs of the health belief model (HBM) as they relate to T2DM lifestyle and prevention behaviours among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and October 2013 among 426 non-diabetic secondary school students from randomly selected schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An Arabic version of an adapted English language questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and attitudes related to the severity and prevention of T2DM. A preventative behaviour assessment was also conducted to assess physical activity and dietary habits. Results: The majority of the students (63.4%) had at least one diabetic family member. Obesity was more frequent in males compared to females (P = 0.013). Awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight to prevent T2DM was lower in males than females (P = 0.037), although males engaged in routine exercise more often (P = 0.001). Males were less likely than females to recognise the risks for T2DM, including obesity (P = 0.030), heredity (P = 0.013) and high fat intake (P = 0.001). Conclusion: An alarmingly high number of Saudi students were unaware of T2DM severity and associated risk factors. Female students were more aware of the benefits of T2DM preventative lifestyle behaviours than males, although males engaged in routine exercise more often. Raising adolescents’ awareness about the primary prevention strategies for T2DM should be a public health priority in Saudi Arabia. The HBM could inform further research on diabetes prevention among Saudi adolescents

Synthesis of fluorinated 3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazino[5,6-b] indoles as novel herbicidal systems

1703-1706A few fluorinated 3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazino[5,6-b] indoles (5-8) have been synthesized and screened for their herbicidal effect. Treatment of 3-hydrazino-8H/8-fluoro-1,2,4-triazino[5,6-b] indoles (3 and 4) with fluorinated acyl derivatives (A and B) yielded the rich fluorine 1,2,4-triazino indole. Structure of the products have been established by elemental analysis and spectral measurements. The presence and position of fluorine atoms have been deduced from 19F NMR. The novel fluorinated hydrazino-1,2,4-triazino[5,6-b] indoles have been tested for post-emergent herbicidal activity against grass weed species and broadleaf weed species