Determination of pond water quality for aquaculture and ecosystem management

Fish is the main source of animal protein for the common people of Bangladesh. About 37% of the inland fishes are obtained from the closed water fish culture where ponds play vital roles in the production system. The present study was carried out to determine the water quality (physico-chemical and biological factors) of five uncultivated or under cultivated ponds in the Chittagong University campus, Bangladesh, for aquaculture and ecosystem management. Temperature, pH, EC, BOD, COD, TSS, turbidity, NO2-, PO4 -, free CO2, CO3 -, HCO3-, Cl-, total viable bacterial count and total coliform were determined. Isolation and identification of Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. from the water samples were performed to investigate the antibiotic sensitivity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against ciprofloxacin was also investigated. The findings reveal that there was no significant difference in temperature (19°C to 20°C), pH (6.7 to 7.4), electrical conductivity and Cl- values in the water among the ponds and that was within the range of the requirements for the fish cultivation. Both turbidity and total dissolved solids was highest in the uncultivated botanical garden pond 2 (BGP2). BOD, COD, NO2- , PO 4-2, HCO3-, and free CO2 concentration was beyond the permissible limits for aquaculture. Total viable count and total coliform ranged from 1.3 × 10 4 to 6.6 × 10 5 cfu ml-1 and from 0.0205×10 2 to 1.10×10 2 ml-1 respectively, among the ponds where both these parameters were highest in the naturally polluted BGP2. Most of the isolated E. coli and Salmonella sp. were sensitive but few showed resistance against the antibiotics, especially in BGP1, where fishes were cultivated commercially

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses improve resolution of genes and pathways influencing lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk.

Lung-function impairment underlies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predicts mortality. In the largest multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of lung function to date, comprising 580,869 participants, we identified 1,020 independent association signals implicating 559 genes supported by ≥2 criteria from a systematic variant-to-gene mapping framework. These genes were enriched in 29 pathways. Individual variants showed heterogeneity across ancestries, age and smoking groups, and collectively as a genetic risk score showed strong association with COPD across ancestry groups. We undertook phenome-wide association studies for selected associated variants as well as trait and pathway-specific genetic risk scores to infer possible consequences of intervening in pathways underlying lung function. We highlight new putative causal variants, genes, proteins and pathways, including those targeted by existing drugs. These findings bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying lung function and COPD, and should inform functional genomics experiments and potentially future COPD therapies

Improving health worker adherence to malaria treatment guidelines in papua new Guinea : feasibility and acceptability of a text message reminder service

The aim of this study is to assess whether a text message reminder service designed to support health worker adherence to a revised malaria treatment protocol is feasible and acceptable in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The study took place in six purposively selected health facilities located in the Eastern Highlands Province (EHP) of PNG. Ten text messages designed to remind participants of key elements of the new NMTP were transmitted to 42 health workers twice over a two week period (two text messages per day, Monday to Friday) via the country's largest mobile network provider. The feasibility and acceptability of the text message reminder service was assessed by transmission reports, participant diaries and group discussions. Findings indicate that the vast majority of text messages were successfully transmitted, participants' had regular mobile phone access and that most text messages were read most of the time and were considered both acceptable and clinically useful. Nevertheless, the study found that PNG health workers may tire of the service if the same messages are repeated too many times and that health workers may be reluctant to utilize more comprehensive, yet complementary, resources. In conclusion, a text message reminder service to support health worker adherence to the new malaria treatment protocol is feasible and acceptable in PNG. A rigorous pragmatic, effectiveness trial would be justified on the basis of these findings

Anarchy /

Cover title.Mode of access: Internet

The Chicago martyrs : The famous speeches of the eight anarchists in Judge Gary's court, October 7, 8, 9, 1886, and Reasons for pardoning Fielden, Neebe and Schwab /

Introduction signed: Wm. Holmes. Denver, Colo.Mode of access: Internet