Identifying and modeling the dynamics of a core cancer sub-network.

Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.Many recent studies have shown that the initiation of human cancer is due to the malfunction of some genes at the R-checkpoint during the G1-to-S transition of the cell cycle. Identifying and modeling the dynamics of these genes has a paramount advantage in controlling and, possibly, treating human cancer. In this study, a new mathematical model for the dynamics of a cancer sub-network concentration is developed. Positive equilibrium points are determined and rigorously analyzed. We have found a condition for the existence of the positive equilibrium points from the activation, inhibition and degradation parameter values of the dynamical system. Numerical simulations have also been carried out. These results confirm analyses in the literature

High resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at 1.3 micron center wavelength using a broadband superluminescent diode light source

International audienceWe present an ultrahigh resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging system using a broadband superluminescent diode light source emitting at a center wavelength of 1.3 mm. The light source consists of two spectrally shifted superluminescent diodes that are coupled together into a single mode fiber. The effective emission power spectrum has a full width at half maximum of 200 nm and the source output power is 10 mW. The imaging system has an axial resolution of 3.9 µm in air (3.0 µm in biological tissue), and a lateral resolution of 6.5 µm. The sensitivity and the maximum line rate are 95 dB and 46 kHz, respectively. Images of an infrared viewing card and a cornea from human eye suffering from glaucoma showing Schlemm's canal are presented to illustrate the performance of the system

Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy: Sector-wise GTP II Implementation Monitoring Checklist

Poverty eradication through broad-based accelerated and sustained growth is outlined in the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). Through Agricultural Development-Led Industrialization (ADLI), the country aims to build an economy with a modern and productive agricultural sector and a strong industrial sector, ultimately increasing per capita income to the level of middle-income countries by 2025. Achieving these ambitious objectives is challenging, but vital for the future of Ethiopia and its citizens. Climate change is one of the major current challenges and adds considerable stress to the societies and environment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Ethiopia has historically suffered from climatic variability. Repeated rain failures, famines and chronic food crisis resulting from frequent droughts, environmental degradation, and decline in food production have rocked the country many times and remain a major challenge. The country’s economic output growth is closely linked to fluctuations in precipitation levels, as its agriculture is highly rain-fed, with only 2% of total arable land covered by irrigated and permanent crops. This strong association between rainfall and the economy is largely due to the nature of the country’s most dominant sector, agriculture and weak capacity of the rural population to adapt to climate variations

Pathology of Camel Tuberculosis and Molecular Characterization of Its Causative Agents in Pastoral Regions of Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted on 906 apparently healthy camels slaughtered at Akaki and Metehara abattoirs to investigate the pathology of camel tuberculosis (TB) and characterize its causative agents using postmortem examination, mycobacteriological culturing, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), region of difference-4 (RD4)-based PCR and spoligotyping. The prevalence of camel TB was 10.04% (91/906) on the basis of pathology and it was significantly higher in females (χ2 = 4.789; P = 0.029). The tropism of TB lesions was significantly different among the lymph nodes (χ2 = 22.697; P = 0.002) and lung lobes (χ2 = 17.901; P = 0.006). Mycobacterial growth was observed in 34% (31/91) of camels with grossly suspicious TB lesions. Upon further molecular characterization using multiplex PCR, 68% (21/31) of the colonies showed a positive signal for the genus Mycobacterium, of which two were confirmed Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) by RD4 deletion typing. Further characterization of the two M. bovis at strains level revealed that one of the strains was SB0133 while the other strain was new and had not been reported to the M. bovis database prior to this study. Hence, it has now been reported to the database, and designated as SB1953. In conclusion, the results of the present study have shown that the majority of camel TB lesions are caused by mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. And hence further identification and characterization of these species would be useful towards the efforts made to control TB in camels

Characterization and Prevalence of a New Porcine Calicivirus in Swine, United States

Real-time reverse transcription PCR revealed that new St-Valerien–like porcine caliciviruses are prevalent (2.6%–80%; 23.8% overall) in finisher pigs in North Carolina. One strain, NC-WGP93C, shares 89.3%–89.7% genomic nucleotide identity with Canadian strains. Whether these viruses cause disease in pigs or humans or are of food safety concern requires further investigation

Rapid Health and Needs assessments after disasters: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Publichealth care providers, stakeholders and policy makers request a rapid insight into health status and needs of the affected population after disasters. To our knowledge, there is no standardized rapid assessment tool for European countries. The aim of this article is to describe existing tools used internationally and analyze them for the development of a workable rapid assessment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A review was conducted, including original studies concerning a rapid health and/or needs assessment. The studies used were published between 1980 and 2009. The electronic databasesof Medline, Embase, SciSearch and Psychinfo were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-three studies were included for this review. The majority of the studies was of US origin and in most cases related to natural disasters, especially concerning the weather. In eighteen studies an assessment was conducted using a structured questionnaire, eleven studies used registries and four used both methods. Questionnaires were primarily used to asses the health needs, while data records were used to assess the health status of disaster victims.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Methods most commonly used were face to face interviews and data extracted from existing registries. Ideally, a rapid assessment tool is needed which does not add to the burden of disaster victims. In this perspective, the use of existing medical registries in combination with a brief questionnaire in the aftermath of disasters is the most promising. Since there is an increasing need for such a tool this approach needs further examination.</p

Comprehensive transcriptome of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca, from multiple tissue types, developmental stages, and parasitoid wasp exposures

International audienc