Pyramiding of Meloidogyne hapla resistance genes in potato does not result in an increase of resistance

High levels of resistance against Meloidogyne hapla have been identified in wild species of tuber-bearing potatoes, but only QTL with partial effects have been identified so far in back crosses with cultivated potato. This study was designed to test if pyramiding of two previously identified resistance genes, R Mh-tar and R Mh-chc A, will result in improved or even an absolute level of resistance. R Mh-tar and R Mh-chc A introgressed from the wild tuber-bearing potato species Solanum tarijense and Solanum chacoense were combined in a segregating diploid Solanum tuberosum population. With the aid of AFLP markers, descendants from this segregating population were classified into four groups, carrying no R gene, with only R Mh-tar , with only R Mh-chc A and a group with the pyramided R Mh-tar and R Mh-chc A. Upon inoculation with M. hapla isolate Bovensmilde, the group containing only R Mh-chc A showed a decline of 88% in average number of developed egg masses compared to the group without R Mh-chc A and R Mh-tar . The group of genotypes containing only R Mh-tar , but not R Mh-chc A, showed a decline of 55% in the number of developed egg masses compared to the group without R Mh-chc A and R Mh-tar . Unfortunately, the latter effect of R Mh-tar was not significant. The effect of both loci, R Mh-tar and R Mh-chc A combined, did not further reduce the number of egg masses compared to the level of R Mh-chc A alon

Seven Years after the Manifesto: Literature Review and Research Directions for Technologies in Animal Computer Interaction

As technologies diversify and become embedded in everyday lives, the technologies we expose to animals, and the new technologies being developed for animals within the field of Animal Computer Interaction (ACI) are increasing. As we approach seven years since the ACI manifesto, which grounded the field within Human Computer Interaction and Computer Science, this thematic literature review looks at the technologies developed for (non-human) animals. Technologies that are analysed include tangible and physical, haptic and wearable, olfactory, screen technology and tracking systems. The conversation explores what exactly ACI is whilst questioning what it means to be animal by considering the impact and loop between machine and animal interactivity. The findings of this review are expected to form the first grounding foundation of ACI technologies informing future research in animal computing as well as suggesting future areas for exploratio

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Drug-Related Readmissions in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Older adults are at an increased risk of drug-related problems, especially following discharge from hospital. Drug-related readmissions place a large burden on the patient and the healthcare system. However, previous studies report inconsistent results on the prevalence and associated risk factors for drug-related hospital readmissions in older adults. Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of drug-related readmissions in older adults aged 65 years and older and investigate the drug classes, preventability and risk factors most associated with these readmissions. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to answer our objectives. A search of four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus) was conducted. Three authors independently performed title and abstract screening, full-text screening and data extraction of all included studies. A meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled prevalence of drug-related readmissions across all studies, and a subgroup analysis was performed to explore heterogeneity among studies reporting on adverse drug reaction-related readmissions. Results: A total of 1978 studies were identified in the initial search, of which four studies were included in the final synthesis. Three studies focused on readmissions due to adverse drug reactions and one study focused on readmissions due to drug-related problems. A pooled prevalence of 9% (95% confidence interval 2–18) was found for drug-related readmissions across all studies, and a pooled prevalence of 6% (95% confidence interval 4–10) was found for adverse drug reaction-related readmissions. Three studies explored the preventability of readmissions and 15.4–22.2% of cases were deemed preventable. The drug classes most associated with adverse drug reaction readmissions included anticoagulants, antibiotics, psychotropics and chemotherapy agents. Polypharmacy (the use of five or more medications) and several comorbidities such as cancer, liver disease, ischaemic heart disease and peptic ulcer disease were identified as risk factors for drug-related readmissions. Conclusions: Almost one in ten older adults discharged from hospital experienced a drug-related hospital readmission, with one fifth of these deemed preventable. Several comorbidities and the use of polypharmacy and high-risk drugs were identified as prominent risk factors for readmission. Further research is needed to explore possible causes of drug-related readmissions in older adults for a more guided approach to the development of effective medication management interventions

Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Hypertension Screening and Treatment in Adults with Hypertension in Rural Nigeria in the Context of a Health Insurance Program.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We evaluated the costs and cost-effectiveness of hypertension care provided within the Kwara State Health Insurance (KSHI) program in rural Nigeria. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of population-level hypertension screening and subsequent antihypertensive treatment for the population at-risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) within the KSHI program. The primary outcome was the incremental cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted in the KSHI scenario compared to no access to hypertension care. We used setting-specific and empirically-collected data to inform the model. We defined two strategies to assess eligibility for antihypertensive treatment based on 1) presence of hypertension grade 1 and 10-year CVD risk of >20%, or grade 2 hypertension irrespective of 10-year CVD risk (hypertension and risk based strategy) and 2) presence of hypertension in combination with a CVD risk of >20% (risk based strategy). We generated 95% confidence intervals around the primary outcome through probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We conducted one-way sensitivity analyses across key model parameters and assessed the sensitivity of our results to the performance of the reference scenario. RESULTS: Screening and treatment for hypertension was potentially cost-effective but the results were sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions with a wide range of uncertainty. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the first and second strategy respectively ranged from US$1,406 to US$ 7,815 and US$732 to US$ 2,959 per DALY averted, depending on the assumptions on risk reduction after treatment and compared to no access to antihypertensive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension care within a subsidized private health insurance program may be cost-effective in rural Nigeria and public-private partnerships such as the KSHI program may provide opportunities to finance CVD prevention care in SSA

Maritime Aerosol Network as a Component of AERONET - First Results and Comparison with Global Aerosol Models and Satellite Retrievals

The Maritime Aerosol Network (MAN) has been collecting data over the oceans since November 2006. Over 80 cruises were completed through early 2010 with deployments continuing. Measurement areas included various parts of the Atlantic Ocean, the Northern and Southern Pacific Ocean, the South Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, the Arctic Ocean and inland seas. MAN deploys Microtops handheld sunphotometers and utilizes a calibration procedure and data processing traceable to AERONET. Data collection included areas that previously had no aerosol optical depth (AOD) coverage at all, particularly vast areas of the Southern Ocean. The MAN data archive provides a valuable resource for aerosol studies in maritime environments. In the current paper we present results of AOD measurements over the oceans, and make a comparison with satellite AOD retrievals and model simulations

Imaging of programmed cell death in arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy/dysplasia

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a myocardial disease that predominantly affects the right ventricle (RV). Its hallmark feature is fibrofatty replacement of the RV myocardium. Apoptosis in ARVC/D has been proposed as an important process that mediates the slow, ongoing loss of heart muscle cells which is followed by ventricular dysfunction. We aimed to establish whether cardiac apoptosis can be assessed noninvasively in patients with ARVC/D. Six patients fulfilling the ARVC/D criteria were studied. Regional myocardial apoptosis was assessed with (99m)Tc-annexin V scintigraphy. Overall, the RV wall showed a higher (99m)Tc-annexin V signal than the left ventricular wall (p = 0.049) and the interventricular septum (p = 0.026). However, significantly increased uptake of (99m)Tc-annexin V in the RV was present in only three of the six ARVC/D patients (p = 0.001, compared to (99m)Tc-annexin V uptake in the RV wall of the other three patients). Our results are suggestive of a chamber-specific apoptotic process. Although the role of apoptosis in ARVC/D is unsolved, the ability to assess apoptosis noninvasively may aid in the diagnostic course. In addition, the ability to detect apoptosis in vivo with (99m)Tc-annexin V scintigraphy might allow individual monitoring of disease progression and response to diverse treatments aimed at counteracting ARVC/D progressio