97 research outputs found
Study on laser characteristics of Ho:YLF regenerative amplifiers: Operation regimes, gain dynamics, and highly stable operation points
Genetic variability of the neogregarine apicystis bombi, an etiological agent of an emergent bumblebee disease
The worldwide spread of diseases is considered a major threat to biodiversity and a possible driver of the decline of pollinator populations, particularly when novel species or strains of parasites emerge. Previous studies have suggested that populations of introduced European honeybee (Apis mellifera) and bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris and Bombus ruderatus) in Argentina share the neogregarine parasite Apicystis bombi with the native bumblebee (Bombus dahlbomii). In this study we investigated whether A. bombi is acting as an emergent parasite in the non-native populations. Specifically, we asked whether A. bombi, recently identified in Argentina, was introduced by European, non-native bees. Using ITS1 and ITS2 to assess the parasite's intraspecific genetic variation in bees from Argentina and Europe, we found a largely unstructured parasite population, with only 15% of the genetic variation being explained by geographic location. The most abundant haplotype in Argentina (found in all 9 specimens of non-native species) was identical to the most abundant haplotype in Europe (found in 6 out of 8 specimens). Similarly, there was no evidence of structuring by host species, with this factor explaining only 17% of the genetic variation. Interestingly, parasites in native Bombus ephippiatus from Mexico were genetically distant from the Argentine and European samples, suggesting that sufficient variability does exist in the ITS region to identify continent-level genetic structure in the parasite. Thus, the data suggest that A. bombi from Argentina and Europe share a common, relatively recent origin. Although our data did not provide information on the direction of transfer, the absence of genetic structure across space and host species suggests that A. bombi may be acting as an emergent infectious disease across bee taxa and continents
Identifying a Window of Vulnerability during Fetal Development in a Maternal Iron Restriction Model
It is well acknowledged from observations in humans that iron deficiency during pregnancy can be associated with a number of developmental problems in the newborn and developing child. Due to the obvious limitations of human studies, the stage during gestation at which maternal iron deficiency causes an apparent impairment in the offspring remains elusive. In order to begin to understand the time window(s) during pregnancy that is/are especially susceptible to suboptimal iron levels, which may result in negative effects on the development of the fetus, we developed a rat model in which we were able to manipulate and monitor the dietary iron intake during specific stages of pregnancy and analyzed the developing fetuses. We established four different dietary-feeding protocols that were designed to render the fetuses iron deficient at different gestational stages. Based on a functional analysis that employed Auditory Brainstem Response measurements, we found that maternal iron restriction initiated prior to conception and during the first trimester were associated with profound changes in the developing fetus compared to iron restriction initiated later in pregnancy. We also showed that the presence of iron deficiency anemia, low body weight, and changes in core body temperature were not defining factors in the establishment of neural impairment in the rodent offspring
Deliberate self-harm and attachment: mediating and moderating roles of depression, anxiety, social support and interpersonal problems among Pakistani school going adolescents
Introduction: In Pakistan there is dearth of research on deliberate self-harm (DSH) and
its predictors among adolescents. While the lack of research in Pakistan can be partly
attributed to the sacrilegious status, criminalization and stigmatization attached to DSH, it
is also an attribute of paucity of Urdu versions of the standardized psychological
instruments. Previous research in developed countries has indicated that attachment theory
can be used as a useful framework to understand the development of austere
psychopathologies like DSH, as well as for studying pathways of interaction of
interpersonal and intrapersonal factors of psychopathologies. In this study, standardized
psychological instruments are translated into Urdu language as a first step. These
instruments are then used to study pathways of interaction of interpersonal and
intrapersonal factors of DSH, conceptualized within attachment framework.
Method: The study was conducted in two steps. In step 1, Youth Health Risk Behavior
Survey (YHRB), Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-32 (IIP-32) and Significant Others
Scale (SOS), were translated into Urdu language. Along with these scales, Urdu translated
versions of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Adolescent Relationship
Scales Questionnaire (ARSQ), Life Events scale (LES) from CASE questionnaire and
Family Affluence Scale-II (FAS-II) were reviewed for accuracy of translation through
expert judgement and psychometric evaluation. Secondly, a cross sectional survey was
conducted with 1290 adolescents (10 - 19 years age) using the translated Urdu versions of
the instruments and demographic pro forma. Structural equation modelling was used to
study the pathways of associations between predictors of DSH.
Results: The extensive process of translation resulted in establishment of semantic,
content, technical and construct equivalence of the translated instruments with the original
English versions. Multiple imputation was performed to account for missing values in
SPSS 20. Important structural adaptations were made in the scales based on factor analyses
conducted in M plus. After modifications, all scales showed satisfactory CFI (≥ 0.90) and
RMSEA (≤ 0.06). Results of the survey indicated that the prevalence of DSH (with, without
and ambivalent suicidal intentions) was 7%. Two SEM models were constructed involving
both mediation and moderation pathways. Results of Model 1 showed association of
attachment with DSH was double mediated by social support, depression and anxiety.
Model 2 also confirmed association of attachment with DSH with double mediation
through relationship style problems, depression and anxiety. In order to understand the
contextual picture of the concepts studied in this research both SEM models were also
constructed by controlling for demographic factors. This resulted in confirming age,
gender and family affluence as significant contributors but with very small effects.
Discussion and conclusion: In the present study translation of the instruments helped in
building a reservoir for future research. The results of translation and validation of
instruments indicated that cultural differences, language needs and age must be accounted
for while using standardized psychological instruments. Taking into consideration specific
cultural and demographic background of Pakistan, this study also confirms the key role of
attachment in influencing interaction of predictors of DSH. It is suggested that
intrapersonal and interpersonal factors are influential points of intervention for designing
clinical, school and community based awareness and prevention programs for DSH. The
thesis also discusses the implications for policy guidelines along with recommendations
for future research and other applications of the study
Perioperative alendronate, risedronate, calcitonin and indomethacin treatment alters femoral stem fixation and periprosthetic bone mineral density in ovariectomized rats
AbstractBackgroundMany factors affect implant stability and periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) following total joint arthroplasty. We asked whether perioperative alendronate, risedronate, calcitonin and indomethacine administration altered (1) femoral stem shear strength and periprosthetic bone mineral density BMD in ovariectomized rats and (2) whether there were differences in the effect of these drugs.MethodsThirty overiectomized rats were divided into five groups and implanted with intramedullary mini-cortical screws in the femur. Four groups were treated with alendronate, risedronate, salmon calcitonin and indomethacin for 4 weeks preoperatively and 8 weeks postoperatively.ResultsAlthough alendronate and risedronate increased the periprosthetic BMD more than calcitonin, they did not alter implant fixation compared to calcitonin. Indomethacin significantly decreased the BMD around the stem and implant stability compared to all other groups.ConclusionsThis study showed that perioperative treatment with bisphosphonates and calcitonin improved the BMD around the stems and implant stability. Although bisphosphonates increased the BMD more than calcitonin, there was no difference in implant stability. Indomethacin markedly decreased the periprosthetic BMD and implant stability. The main clinical significance of our study was the finding about the need to strictly avoid long-term use of high-dose nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs for patients who have major joint arthritis and a previous history of arthroplasty
Temporal Characterization of Front-End for Yb-Based High-Energy Optical Waveform Synthesizers
We demonstrate temporal characterization of the front-end for an Yb-based, passively CEP-stable, two-octave-wide, two-channel optical parametric synthesizer driven by slightly subpicosecondpump pulses from a multi-mJ regenerative amplifier at 1 kHz
- …