254 research outputs found

    Black rabbits on Lundy: Tudor treasures or post-war phonies?

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    Lundy is renowned for its feral black rabbits which, according to popular tradition, have inhabited the island since medieval times. Black rabbit fur was valued for much of the Middle Ages, explaining why warreners of Lundy might have favoured them, but genes responsible for feral rabbit melanism remain unexplored. Further potential complicating factors occur in the form of recent (twentieth century) small-scale domestic rabbit introductions to the Lundy feral population. To gain insight into genetic mechanisms underlying melanism on Lundy, rabbit samples were collected and subjected to molecular analysis. The Lundy rabbit population is shown to harbour non-functional copies of the agouti signalling protein (Asip) gene, a main determinant of coat colour in mammals. The observed genetic mutation is not unique to Lundy, having been reported to underlie dark coat colour phenotypes in various domestic rabbit breeds. The mutation is recessive and only phenotypically expressed in homozygous individuals. Although presence of this particular allele does not preclude recent genetic augmentation or replacement, simple population genetics show that allele persistence from a medieval introduction is not impossible

    Potensi Pengembangan Plastik Biodegradable Berbasis Pati Sagu dan Ubikayu di Indonesia

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    Plastic is a packaging materials that are widely used but has an adverse impact on the environment because it is difficult to degrade in nature. Production technology of biodegradable plastics from natural resources that have characteristic environmentally friendly has developed. Starch-based biodegradable plastic is a widely developed type because the production process is simple and the raw materials more readily available. The starch of cassava and sago has potential as a raw material of biodegradable plastic because of the availability and its characteristic. Also, to make starch as the main ingredient, plasticizers and structural strengthening materials are required to produce biodegradable plastic with excellent characteristics. The production stages of biodegradable plastics include mixing, heating, and casting. The starch-based biodegradable plastic that can apply to an environmentally friendly packaging material has an excellent opportunity developed in Indonesia

    Perancangan Sistem Pendeteksi Asap pada Ruangan Perpustakaan Menggunakan Sensor Mq-2 dan Tampilan Lcd dengan Mikrokontroler Atmega32

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    The smoke can cause so much harm , one of which material losses and damages in the form of air pollution . Smoke can be caused by many things , one of which is the smoke that causes the malfunction by short-circuit ( surge Electrical ) . Electrical surge can cause sparks which would later appear the smoke from the fire spark . If this is not addressed at a rapid pace will most likely occur in a library room air pollution by smoke or fire in the room will berdampaknya librar

    Social Identity, Mental Toughness, and Behavioural Intentions as Antecedents of Overuse Injury Pain in Physical Activity Contexts

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    Psychological factors specific to overuse injury pain in physical activity contexts were explored within a social identity theoretical framework. Study 1 involved development of a method for designating overuse injury pain occurrence of hikers (N = 751), along with exploration of relationships between psychological measures, overuse injury pain occurrence, and effort levels. The findings of this cross-sectional, mixed-methods investigation revealed that social identification, social identity content, and mental toughness differentiated hikers who incurred overuse injury pain or selected a higher-effort behaviour from those who did not. From qualitative analysis, several social identity constructs (i.e., group member’s presence, in-group status, social creativity, additional social identity content) emerged as contributors to overuse injury occurrence. The focus of Study 2 was a prospective examination of the aforementioned psychological factors in relation to overuse injury severity of hikers (N = 283). Additionally, the Test of Intentions to Reduce Effort (TIRE) was developed to identify individuals with susceptibility to higher overuse injury severity. Results provided evidence of factorial, construct, and predictive validity of TIRE factor scores. TIRE factors and social identity content significantly predicted higher severity of hikers’ overuse injury pain. Mental toughness scores moderated the relationship between social identification and overuse injury severity. Study 3 consisted of a qualitative examination of social identity mechanisms of overuse injury pain in a physical activity context, CrossFit®, involving the presence of group leaders, and in which group members view each other. Findings revealed mechanisms pertaining to social identity content, in-group status, and social threats. Overall, the findings support a new means for assessing overuse injury occurrence and susceptibility to higher overuse injury severity, whilst demonstrating the potential applicability of social identity theory to the study of overuse injury. Knowledge gained may ultimately aid development of interventions to reduce overuse injury occurrence and severity of physical activity participants

    Perkuatan Lereng Pada Menara Sutt Sta 19 +255 Jalan Tol Semarang – Solo Seksi Tinalun – Lemah Ireng

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    The Final Task Slope Reinforcement on SUTT Tower at Sta 19 +255 on Tinalun –Lemah Ireng Section of Semarang – Solo Toll Road describe analysis slope stability in Semarang – Solo toll road project. Development toll road project make slopes at STA 19 +225 beside SUTT tower has a topography with high 61 meter and very step. High rainfall with clay stone layer position feared can make the slope the site vulnerable to landslides.Avalanche simulations to determine the condition of existing safety factor and areas of landslides in two ways: manual (Fellenius) and computer software (PLAXIS V 8.2). Modeling topographic slope in accordance with the existing field conditions soil type was determined by using data stratification boring and the value of existing SPT.Analysis of first treatment planned make terracing with tilt 60º and cutting on peak slopes. Then the slopes gave protection bored piles with a diameter of 0,6 meters. Retrofitting is made on the side of the SUTT tower and at the base of the slopes. The depth of the bored pile on the side of the tower 30 meters from base SUTT tower around SUTT tower like sheet pile. While the depth of bored pile on the base slopes 8 meters listed only in line side toll road. Figures obtained from alternative safe handling is calculated and compared the results with manual (Fellenius) and computer software (PLAXIS V 8.2). The numerical value of safe (safety factor) with PLAXIS before treatment 1,48. After treatment which is calculated of 1.62. Safe rate calculation results obtained from the calculation manual (Fellenius) is not much different from the calculations with computer software (PLAXIS V 8.2). In condition before treatment is 1,36. After given bored pile protection numerical value of safe (safety factor) increase to 1,54. Ratio increasing safety factor before and after treatment around 0,16. For Analysis estimated cost planning total cost need for make protection Slope Reinforcement on SUTT Tower at Sta 19 +255 on Tinalun –Lemah Ireng Section of Semarang – Solo Toll Road Rp 4.037.000.000,00 (Four Bilion Thirty Seven Milion Rupiah)

    Transient myocardial thickening: a retrospective analysis on etiological, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and outcome findings in 27 cats

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    Introduction/objective: Transient myocardial thickening (TMT) in cats is a poorly characterized clinical entity. Therefore, this study aimed to provide descriptions of additional cats diagnosed with this clinical phenomenon.Animals, materials, and methods: For this multicenter observational retrospective study, cats diagnosed with TMT were searched in three medical databases. TMT was defined for cats with at least two echocardiograms showing an increased end diastolic left ventricular wall thickness (LVWTd; i.e.>= 6 mm) at presentation and subsequent echocardiographic normalization (i.e. LVWTd <5.5 mm). Signalment, history, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic, and outcome data were retrieved. Results: 27 cats were included. The median age was 3 years. In 9/27 cats, an antecedent event was documented. At admission, 27/27 cats had evidence of myocardial injury (median value of cardiac troponin I 5.5 ng/mL), 25/27 cats had congestive heart failure, 13/27 cats had hypothermia, 8/27 cats had systemic hypotension, 7/27 cats had bradycardia, and 7/27 cats had electrocardiographic evidence of an arrhythmia. The median LVWTd was 6.4 mm. A potential cause of myocardial injury was identified in 14/27 cats. The median time from diagnosi

    Prioritization of zoonoses for multisectoral, One Health collaboration in Somalia, 2023

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    Background: The human population of Somalia is vulnerable to zoonoses due to a high reliance on animal husbandry. This disease risk is exacerbated by relatively low income (poverty) and weak state capacity for health service delivery in the country as well as climate extremes and geopolitical instability in the region. To address this threat to public health efficiently and effectively, it is essential that all sectors have a common understanding of the priority zoonotic diseases of greatest concern to the country. Methods: Representatives from human, animal (domestic and wildlife), agriculture, and environmental health sectors undertook a multisectoral prioritization exercise using the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP) tool developed by the United States CDC. The process involved: reviewing available literature and creating a longlist of zoonotic diseases for potential inclusion; developing and weighting criteria for establishing the importance of each zoonoses; formulating categorical questions (indicators) for each criteria; scoring each disease according to the criteria; and finally ranking the diseases based on the final score. Participants then brainstormed and suggested strategic action plans to prevent, and control prioritized zoonotic diseases. Results: Thirty-three zoonoses were initially considered for prioritization. Final criteria for ranking included: 1) socioeconomic impact (including sensitivity) in Somalia; 2) burden of disease in humans in Somalia); 3) availability of intervention in Somalia; 4) environmental factors/determinants; and 5) burden of disease in animals in Somalia. Following scoring of each zoonotic disease against these criteria, and further discussion of the OHZDP tool outputs, seven priority zoonoses were identified for Somalia: Rift Valley fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome, anthrax, trypanosomiasis, brucellosis, zoonotic enteric parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), and zoonotic influenza viruses. Conclusions: The final list of seven priority zoonotic diseases will serve as a foundation for strengthening One Health approaches for disease prevention and control in Somalia. It will be used to: shape improved multisectoral linkages for integrated surveillance systems and laboratory networks for improved human, animal, and environmental health; establish multisectoral public health emergency preparedness and response plans using One Health approaches; and enhance workforce capacity to prevent, control and respond to priority zoonotic diseases

    Molecular epidemiology and genotype distribution of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) among Arab women in the state of Qatar

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    Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the major cause of cervical cancer worldwide. With limited data available on HPV prevalence in the Arab countries, this study aimed to identify the prevalence and genotypic distribution of HPV in the State of Qatar. Methods: 3008 cervical samples, exclusively of women with Arabic origin residing in Qatar were collected from the Women’s Hospital and Primary Health Care Corporation in Doha, State of Qatar. HPV DNA detection was done using GP5+/6+ primers based real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay followed by the usage of HPV type specific primers based RT- PCR reactions and Sanger sequencing for genotype identification. Results: Similar prevalence rates of HPV infection was identified in both Qatari and non-Qatari women at 6.2% and 5.9% respectively. HPV prevalence rate of 5.8% and 18.4% was identified in women with normal cytology and in women with abnormal cytology respectively. HPV 81, 11 and 16, in decreasing order were the most commonly identified genotypes. HPV 81 was the most frequent low-risk genotype among women with both normal (74.0%) and abnormal (33.3%) cytology. HPV 16 (4.6%) was identified as the predominant high-risk HPV genotype among women with normal cytology and HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 56 (22.2% each) were the most common identified high-risk genotypes in women with abnormal cytology Conclusions: The overall HPV prevalence in Arab women in Qatar was identified as 6.1% with an increased HPV prevalence seen in women with abnormal cytology results and no significant trends seen with age. In contrast to Western countries, we report a varied genotypic profile of HPV with a high prevalence of low-risk HPV genotype 81 among the Arab women residing in Qatar.Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar; and by a grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (NPRP- 09-344-3-082)

    Ammonite stratigraphy of a Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) section on Nagy-Pisznice Hill (Gerecse Mts, Hungary)

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    Abstract In the Jurassic rocks exposed in a small abandoned quarry on the northwestern edge of Nagy-Pisznice Hill in the Gerecse Mts, fairly well preserved parts of a crocodile skeleton was found in 1996. The bed which yielded the skeletal remains is the uppermost layer of the Kisgerecse Marl Formation exposed here and was determined as belonging to the Upper Toarcian Grammoceras thouarsense Zone. The beds of the sequence above and below were carefully sampled in the late 1990s, and the encountered ammonites were evaluated biostratigraphically. As a result, the Lower Toarcian Harpoceras serpentinum Zone, the Middle Toarcian Hildoceras bifrons and Merlaites gradatus Zones, and the Upper Toarcian Grammoceras thouarsense and Geczyceras speciosum Zones were identified. Within most of these zones the subzones and even the faunal horizons were successfully recognized. The lowermost beds above the underlying Pliensbachian red limestone did not yield any fossils; thus the lowermost Toarcian Dactylioceras tenuicostatum Zone could not be documented. The highest Toarcian ammonite zones also remained unidentified, because the beds of the Tölgyhát Limestone above were not sampled all the way up. This paper presents the lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic details of the sequence, and the paleontological descriptions of the most important ammonites

    Strategic plan for integrated care of patients with kidney failure

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    There is a huge gap between the number of patients worldwide requiring versus those actually receiving safe, sustainable, and equitable care for kidney failure. To address this, the International Society of Nephrology coordinated the development of a Strategic Plan for Integrated Care of Patients with Kidney Failure. Implementation of the plan will require engagement of the whole kidney community over the next 5-10 years
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