Prevalence of biting and non-biting flies in relation to species in the Jos Museum Zoological Garden, north central Nigeria

Several Dipteran flies are vectors of diseases in the Afro-tropical region. The study was carried out to  determine the species abundance of biting and non biting flies prevalent at the Jos Museum Zoological Garden, north central Nigeria. The flies were trapped using Biconical traps during the raining season of August  -September 2013. The flies were harvested three times a week at an interval of 48 hours. Stomoxys calcitrans is the most abundant species trapped. There were significantly more flies in the Lion, Bovidae (Donkey, Carmel and Horse) and Ostrich sites compared to Human routes, Chimpanzee and Hyena sites suggesting a correlation between flies abundance and body size of animal. Flies proportions were compared using Chi-square test. There is a significant difference in the abundance of biting and non-biting flies. There is also a  significant difference in the abundance of flies in relation to species and trapping sites. The biting effects on resident animals and tourists were discussed. The Jos Museum Zoological Garden being the oldest and second largest tourist destination in Nigeria will require concerted efforts to put in proper control measures to prevent flies infestation. This can be done through improved hygienic conditions and wastes management.Key words: Biting, flies, Garden, Museum, Zoologica

High lying E0 strength in C-12

Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://publish.aps.org/The excitation region in C-12 from 7 MeV<E-x<60 MeV was studied with inelastic scattering of 240-MeV alpha particles at small angles including 0 degrees where E0 strength is enhanced. The strengths of known 0(+) states at E-x = 7.655 MeV and E-x = 10.3 MeV were obtained and E0 strength was observed to be distributed between E-x = 14 MeV and E-x = 30 MeV with a centroid of 21.5 +/- 0.4 MeV and an ms width of 3.1 +/- 0.2 MeV containing 14.5 +/- 4.0% of the isoscalar E0 energy-weighted sum rule. Angular distributions and strengths of the E-x =4.439 MeV 2(+), 9.641 MeV 3(-), and 10.844 MeV 1(-) states were also obtained. [S0556-2813(98)05704-5]

Isoscalar electric multipole strength in C-12

Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://publish.aps.org/The excitation region in C-12 below E-x=45 MeV was studied using 240 MeV alpha-particle scattering. Elastic scattering was measured from theta(c.m.)=3.8degrees to 49.4degrees and density dependant folding optical model parameters were obtained. Inelastic scattering to the 4.44 MeV 2(+), 7.65 MeV 0(+), 9.64 MeV 3(-), 10.3 MeV 0(+), and 10.84 MeV 1(-) states was measured and B(EL) values obtained. Inelastic scattering exciting C-12 to 10 MeVless than or equal toE(x)less than or equal to12.5 MeV was measured from 1.4degreesless than or equal totheta(c.m.)less than or equal to10degrees and to 12.5 MeVless than or equal toE(x)less than or equal to45 MeV from 1.4degreesless than or equal totheta(c.m.)less than or equal to16degrees and E0, E1, E2, and E3 strength distributions were obtained. Strength was identified corresponding to 27+/-5, 78+/-9, and 51+/-7% of the isoscalar E0, E1, and E2 energy weighted sum rule (EWSR), respectively, with centroids of 21.9+/-0.3, 27.5+/-0.4, and 22.6+/-0.5 MeV and rms widths of 4.8+/-0.5, 7.6+/-0.6, and 6.8+/-0.6 MeV. Less than 7% of the E3 EWSR strength was identified

Late widespread skeletal metastases from myxoid liposarcoma detected by MRI only

Background Myxoid liposarcoma is the second most commonly occurring sub-type of liposarcomas. In contrast to other soft tissue sarcomas, it is known to have a tendency to spread toward extrapulmonary sites, such as soft tissues, retroperitoneum, and the peritoneal surface. Bony spread, however, is not as common. Case presentation We report an unusual case of diffuse skeletal metastases from myxoid liposarcoma occurring 13 years after treatment of the primary tumour in the left lower limb. The skeletal spread of the disease was demonstrated on MRI only after other imaging modalities (plain radiography, CT and TC99 bone scans) had failed to detect these metastases. Conclusion MRI is an extremely sensitive and specific screening tool in the detection of skeletal involvement in these types of sarcomas, and therefore, should be a part of the staging proces

Isoscalar giant resonances in Si-28 and the mass dependence of nuclear compressibility

Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://publish.aps.org/The giant resonance region from 8 MeV < E-x < 55 MeV in Si-28 has been studied with inelastic scattering of 240 MeV alpha particles at small angles including 0degrees. Strength corresponding to 81 +/- 10%, 68 +/- 9%, and 15 +/-4% of the isoscalar E0, E2, and E1 sum rules, respectively, was identified with centroids of 21.25 +/-0.38 MeV, 18.54 +/- 0.25 MeV, 19.15 +/- 0.60 MeV, and rms widths of 6.4 +/- 0.6 MeV, 4.7 +/- 0.6 MeV, and 6.9 +/- 0.7 MeV. The mass dependence of the compression modulus of finite nuclei is shown to be reasonably well reproduced from A = 24 to 208 in relativistic mean field calculations with the NLC interaction having K-nm 5225 MeV and in nonrelativistic calculations with the RATP interaction having K-nm 5240 MeV

Splitting of the giant monopole and quadrupole resonances in Sm-154

Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://publish.aps.org/Strength functions for the isoscalar giant monopole and quadrupole resonances in Sm-154 have been measured with inelastic scattering of 240 MeV alpha particles at small angles. The E0 strength distribution containing (104(-20)(+15))% of the energy-weighted sum rule (EWSR) is consistent with two peaks at E-x = 12.1 +/- 0.4 MeV and 15.5 +/- 0.3 MeV containing (36 +/- 10)% and (68 /- 9)% of the EWSR and the E2 strength distribution containing (103(-20)(+18))% of the EWSR is consistent with three peaks at E-x = 11.3 +/- 0.2 MeV, 14.5 +/- 0.5 MeV, and 17.5 +/- 0.5 MeV containing (44 +/- 7)%, (44 +/- 8)%, and (15 +/- 8)%, respectively, of the EWSR. [S0556-2813(99)04812-8]

Long term survivors with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with gemcitabine: a retrospective analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a short median overall survival (OS) of 5–6 months. However, a subgroup of patients survives more than 1 year. We analyzed the survival outcomes of this subgroup and evaluated clinical and pathological factors that might affect survival durations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We identified 20 patients with metastatic or recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received single-agent gemcitabine and had an OS longer than 1 year. Baseline data available after the diagnosis of metastatic or recurrent disease was categorized as: 1) <it>clinical/demographic data </it>(age, gender, ECOG PS, number and location of metastatic sites); 2) <it>Laboratory data </it>(Hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose, LDH, renal and liver function and CA19-9); 3) <it>Pathologic data </it>(margins, nodal status and grade); 4) <it>Outcomes data </it>(OS, Time to Treatment Failure (TTF), and 2 year-OS). The lowest CA19-9 levels during treatment with gemcitabine were also recorded. We performed a univariate analysis with OS as the outcome variable.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline logarithm of CA19-9 and total bilirubin had a significant impact on OS (HR = 1.32 and 1.31, respectively). Median OS and TTF on gemcitabine were 26.9 (95% CI = 18 to 32) and 11.5 (95% CI = 9.0 to 14.3) months, respectively. Two-year OS was 56.4%, with 7 patients alive at the time of analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A subgroup of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer has prolonged survival after treatment with gemcitabine. Only bilirubin and CA 19-9 levels were predictive of longer survival in this population. Further analysis of potential prognostic and predictive markers of response to treatment and survival are needed.</p

Essential thalamic contribution to slow waves of natural sleep

Slow waves represent one of the prominent EEG signatures of non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep and are thought to play an important role in the cellular and network plasticity that occurs during this behavioral state. These slow waves of natural sleep are currently considered to be exclusively generated by intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms within neocortical territories, although a role for the thalamus in this key physiological rhythm has been suggested but never demonstrated. Combining neuronal ensemble recordings, microdialysis, and optogenetics, here we show that the block of the thalamic output to the neocortex markedly (up to 50%) decreases the frequency of slow waves recorded during non-REM sleep in freely moving, naturally sleeping-waking rats. A smaller volume of thalamic inactivation than during sleep is required for observing similar effects on EEG slow waves recorded during anesthesia, a condition in which both bursts and single action potentials of thalamocortical neurons are almost exclusively dependent on T-type calcium channels. Thalamic inactivation more strongly reduces spindles than slow waves during both anesthesia and natural sleep. Moreover, selective excitation of thalamocortical neurons strongly entrains EEG slow waves in a narrow frequency band (0.75-1.5 Hz) only when thalamic T-type calcium channels are functionally active. These results demonstrate that the thalamus finely tunes the frequency of slow waves during non-REM sleep and anesthesia, and thus provide the first conclusive evidence that a dynamic interplay of the neocortical and thalamic oscillators of slow waves is required for the full expression of this key physiological EEG rhythm