Notes on bat diversity at Berenty Private Reserve and Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in southern Madagascar

Surveys of bat diversity are rare for the southern domain of Madagascar. Mistnetting for bats took place at Berenty Private Reserve in southeastern Madagascar during a six months study in 2009 and at Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in southwestern Madagascar for one month in 2011. At Berenty, Hipposideros commersoni, Triaenops rufus, Myotis goudoti, and Miniopterus spp. were captured along trails and clearings inside forests. Two bats, T. rufus and Miniopterus sp., were captured near the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve. These captures increase the known bat diversity reported for both sites, but more surveys at Berenty and Beza Mahafaly are recommended.RÉSUMÉDans le Sud de Madagascar, les études sur les chauves - souris sont rares. Des opérations de capture furent conduites dans la réserve privée de Berenty dans le cadre d’une étude de six mois en 2009 puis dans la Réserve Spéciale de Beza Mahafaly pendant un mois en 2011. Avant cette étude à Berenty, la biodiversité microchiroptère de la réserve était méconnue. Hipposideros commersoni, Triaenops rufus, Myotis goudoti et Miniopterus spp. furent capturés le long des sentiers et dans des clairières à Berenty. La capture de T. rufus et de Miniopterus sp. près de Beza Mahafaly porta à sept le nombre d’espèces de chauves-souris répertoriées sur le site. Pour les deux réserves, il est souhaitable de mener d’avantage d’études dans des habitats variés et à des saisons différentes. Des spécimens de référence et des échantillons de tissus devraient être collectés afin de faciliter les identifications de certaines espèces de Miniopterus. Il est également nécessaire d’estimer la disponibilité en insectes et en dortoirs à Berenty, à Beza Mahafaly et dans d’autres localités malgaches afin de déterminer les facteurs limitants de ces sites

Extension of gray-brown mouse lemur (Microcebus griseorufus) activity period in a disturbed forest in southwestern Madagascar

Habitat disturbances may impact behaviors of animals, including their activity patterns. In southwestern Madagascar, timing of gray - brown mouse lemur activities was investigated in adjacent forests with different levels of human disturbance. Mouse lemurs were encountered more frequently during the second part of the night in the unfenced, more disturbed forest than in the fenced, less - disturbed forest. The extension of mouse lemur activity period in the unfenced forest may be due to differences in forest composition resulting in higher travel costs or a loss of canopy cover which may limit their use of torpor.RÉSUMÉLes perturbations de l’habitat peuvent avoir un impact sur le comportement des animaux, y compris sur leur rythme d’activité. Le déroulement des activités des microcèbes a été étudié dans des forêts adjacentes du Sud - ouest de Madagascar. Une de ces forêts a été protégée du pâturage par une clôture tandis que l’autre ne profitait pas d’un tel dispositif en étant ainsi nettement exploitée par l’Homme et son bétail. Les microcèbes ont été rencontrés plus fréquemment au cours de la deuxième partie de la nuit dans la forêt non clôturée que dans la forêt clôturée. Bien que cette étude n’ait pas permis de détecter des différences dans la disponibilité des insectes ou des fruits, des évaluations plus détaillées de la composition des espèces d’arbres et l’abondance des insectes sont nécessaires pour déterminer l’impact de la qualité nutritionnelle ou de la distribution des ressources sur les rythmes d’activité des microcèbes dans la forêt non clôturée. D’un autre côté, l’allongement de la période d’activité des microcèbes dans la forêt non clôturée peut être lié à une perte de la couverture de la canopée, elle-même à l’origine d’une élévation des températures diurnes dans la forêt non clôturée qui réduirait la durée pendant laquelle les microcèbes pourraient être en torpeur dans cette forêt

EEG–fMRI of idiopathic and secondarily generalized epilepsies

We used simultaneous EEG and functional MRI (EEG–fMRI) to study generalized spike wave activity (GSW) in idiopathic and secondary generalized epilepsy (SGE). Recent studies have demonstrated thalamic and cortical fMRI signal changes in association with GSW in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). We report on a large cohort of patients that included both IGE and SGE, and give a functional interpretation of our findings. Forty-six patients with GSW were studied with EEG–fMRI; 30 with IGE and 16 with SGE. GSW-related BOLD signal changes were seen in 25 of 36 individual patients who had GSW during EEG–fMRI. This was seen in thalamus (60%) and symmetrically in frontal cortex (92%), parietal cortex (76%), and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (80%). Thalamic BOLD changes were predominantly positive and cortical changes predominantly negative. Group analysis showed a negative BOLD response in the cortex in the IGE group and to a lesser extent a positive response in thalamus. Thalamic activation was consistent with its known role in GSW, and its detection in individual cases with EEG–fMRI may in part be related to the number and duration of GSW epochs recorded. The spatial distribution of the cortical fMRI response to GSW in both IGE and SGE involved areas of association cortex that are most active during conscious rest. Reduction of activity in these regions during GSW is consistent with the clinical manifestation of absence seizures

Lumbar spondylosis: clinical presentation and treatment approaches

Low back pain (LBP) affects approximately 60–85% of adults during some point in their lives. Fortunately, for the large majority of individuals, symptoms are mild and transient, with 90% subsiding within 6 weeks. Chronic low back pain, defined as pain symptoms persisting beyond 3 months, affects an estimated 15–45% of the population. For the minority with intractable symptoms, the impact on quality of life and economic implications are considerable. Despite the high prevalence of low back pain within the general population, the diagnostic approach and therapeutic options are diverse and often inconsistent, resulting in rising costs and variability in management throughout the country. In part, this is due to the difficulty establishing a clear etiology for most patients, with known nociceptive pain generators identified throughout the axial spine. Back pain has been termed as “an illness in search of a disease.” Indeed, once “red flag” diagnoses such as cancer and fracture have been ruled out, the differential sources of low back pain remain broad, including the extensive realm of degenerative changes within the axial spine for which radiological evaluation is nonspecific and causal relationships are tentative. We will elaborate on these degenerative processes and their clinical implications. We will further discuss diagnostic approaches and the efficacy of existing treatment options

Characterising and Understanding the Impact of Microbial Biofilms and the Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) Matrix in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

Drinking water quality deteriorates during transportation through drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Microbial activity and ecology, particularly within biofilms that occur on the inner-pipe surface of DWDS, are emerging as important drivers in the degradation process. Yet, we have little real-world applicable understanding of the DWDS biofilms. This paper provides a critical discussion of current drinking water biofilm research, highlighting the importance of biofilms, including the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and their interactions with the physico-chemical environment. Evidence is presented that the tools for biofilm analysis are becoming more accessible and there is now the opportunity to translate microbial research from idealised bench-top settings to practical real-world applications. It is essential that we understand biofilms and manage them within ageing, deteriorating DWDS infrastructure to protect public health and wellbeing

An investigation into factors impacting on exports from South Africa to the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Manufacturers face vigorous competition in local and export markets and need to have a genuine competitive advantage in order to grow. The South African government has recognised the importance of developing national manufacturing capacity as a means of increasing employment and reducing poverty. To this end, the government provides substantial support to both the manufacturing and exporting sectors. The government also negotiated the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreement which leverages competitive advantages for South African manufacturers exporting into the region. However, since the ratification of the SADC agreement in 2008, there has been no perceptible increase in export activity to the region when compared to other markets. This research study was conducted to determine why this is the case and what factors are influencing the process. A structured literature review was undertaken to encapsulate export barriers, the role of the South African government in the export process, and the SADC agreement. The findings of the reviewed literature form the basis of the survey that led to the compilation of the research primary data. The results indicate that export barriers do not pose a major obstacle to trade into the SADC region. The role that the South African government holds was less conclusive with some successes noted, but on the whole the impact is not meaningfully positive. The SADC agreement and the dynamics prevailing in the free trade area do have a positive impact on exports to the region. The level of awareness with regard to the government support initiatives appears to be low.RésuméLes fabricants font face à une vive concurrence sur les marchés locaux et d’exportation et ont besoin d’avoir un véritable avantage concurrentiel pour se développer. Le gouvernement sud-africain a reconnu l’importance de renforcer les capacités nationales de production comme un moyen d’accroître l’emploi et réduire la pauvreté . À cette fin, le gouvernement apporte un soutien important à la fois la fabrication et secteurs exportateurs. Le gouvernement a également négocié l’accord Southern African Development Community (SADC ), qui s’appuie sur des avantages concurrentiels pour les fabricants sud-africains exportateurs dans la région. Cependant , depuis la ratification de l’accord de la SADC en 2008 , il a eu aucune augmentation perceptible de l’activité d’exportation de la région par rapport à d’autres marchés. Cette étude a été menée afin de déterminer pourquoi c’est le cas et quels sont les facteurs qui influencent le processus . Une revue de la littérature structurée a été entreprise pour encapsuler les obstacles à l’exportation , le rôle du gouvernement sud-africain dans le processus d’exportation , et l’accord de la SADC . Les résultats de la littérature examinée forment la base de l’enquête qui a conduit à la compilation des données primaires de la recherche . Les résultats indiquent que les barrières à l’exportation ne constituent pas un obstacle majeur au commerce dans la région de la SADC . Le rôle que le gouvernement sud-africain détient était moins concluante avec quelques réussites constatées, mais dans l’ensemble l’impact n’est pas significative positive. L’accord de la SADC et la dynamique qui prévaut dans la zone de libre-échange ont un impact positif sur les exportations de la région . Le niveau de sensibilisation à l’égard des initiatives de soutien du gouvernement semble être faibl

Jobseekers Regime and Flexible New Deal, the Six Month Offer and Support for the Newly Unemployed evaluations: An early process study

Not availabl

Evaluating engrailed-2 and cytokines in urine with serum PSA as potential biomarkers in patients with prostatism at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya

Background: Prostatism is a clinical syndrome, occurring mostly in older men, usually caused by enlargement of the prostate gland and manifested by irritative and obstructive symptoms. Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common non-cutaneous and the second leading cause of cancer related death in men. It is a disease in which cells in the prostate gland become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumours. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test has been shown to be of low specificity and low sensitive and unable to differentiate the various forms of prostatism. Engrailed 2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines may be able to distinguish and stage protatism.Objective: To evaluate EN-2 and Cytokines in urine with serum PSA as potential biomarkers in patients with prostatism.Design: Cross sectional studySetting: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.Subjects: Thirty nine (39) respondents were recruited in to the study. Thirteen (13) cases of prostate cancer and twenty six (26) controls were matched by age.Results: The mean age of cases was 73.1years and controls 71.1 years. Over 92.3% of the cases and 73.1% of controls had PSA values >4.0ng/ml. Both groups had elevated levels of urinary EN-2, which were statistically not significant. IL-6 and TNF-α expressions were higher in cases compared to controls with p-values of 0.0001 and 0.04 respectively. There was a good correlation between urinary IL-6 levels and urinary TNF-α levels (r=0.49)Conclusion: EN-2 expression in urine was not a predictive marker, however, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were elevated in urine of CaP patients. The potential for using these cytokines as urinary biomarkers to distinguish prostatism should be further explored