Molecular survey of the Texas Phoenix decline phytoplasma population in Florida, USA

A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to amplify 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS) region from DNA samples individually extracted from 25 Sabal palmetto (cabbage palms) showing symptoms of Texas Phoenix decline (TPD) in West Central Florida. The IGS region was also amplified from DNA from other palm species showing symptoms of TPD and lethal yellowing (LY). A subset of the  aforementioned phytoplasma DNA samples (Sabal and other palm species) together with additional samples from various hosts collected from different geographical localities were further studied to compare the collected phytoplasma strains using sequence analysis of the glycoprotease (gcp) genes. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) analysis of the PCR-amplified 16S-23S IGS region and the gcp gene using a three restriction enzymes showed that the population of the phytoplasmas infecting S. palmetto in West Central Florida is probably homogenous. The S. palmetto phytoplasma also appeared similar to all the 16SrIV-D phytoplasmas infecting other palm species and different from all phytoplasmas belonging to the 16SrIV-A subgroup. We recommend more work using genes or genomic regions other than the 16S-23S IGS region and the gcp gene to be done.Keywords: 16S-23S intergenic spacer region, glycoprotease gene, phytoplasma, Texas Phoenix decline, lethal yellowingAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(40), pp. 5814-582

Enforcing RFID data visibility restrictions using XACML security policies

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology allows automatic data capture from tagged objects moving in a supply chain. This data can be very useful if it is used to answer traceability queries, however it is distributed across many different repositories, owned by different companies. Discovery Services (DS) are designed to assist in retrieving the RFID data relevant for traceability queries while enforcing sharing policies that are defined and required by participating companies to prevent sensitive data from being exposed. In this paper we define an interface for Supply Chain Authorization (SC-Az) and describe the implementation of two visibility restriction mechanisms based on Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Capabilities. Both approaches were converted to the standard eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML) and their correctness and performance was evaluated for supply chains with increasing size

Assessment of heavy metals bioavailability in dumpsites of Zaria Metropolis, Nigeria

The objectives of this study was to investigate the chemical fractionation, mobility and bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in refuse waste soils of some dumpsites in Zaria metropolis. The heavy metals in the waste soils samples were sequentially extracted and measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean of total extractable metals in the samples analysed for Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn ranged from 25.86 – 95.71, 1.70 – 446.43, 141.92 – 423.22, 39.9 – 739.10, and 122.45 – 511.57 mgKg-1 dry weight, respectively. Cd and Pb were mostly found to be in the mobile phase of the samples indicating that the metals are potentially more bioavailable to the environment than the other metals studied. Overall, the order of mobility and bioavailability of the metals is Cd > Pb > Zn > Mn > Cu

Beyond Early- and Late-onset Neonatal Sepsis Definitions: What are the Current Causes of Neonatal Sepsis Globally? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Evidence.

Sepsis remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMIC). In the context of rising antimicrobial resistance, the etiology of neonatal sepsis is evolving, potentially making currently-recommended empirical treatment guidelines less effective. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the contemporary bacterial pathogens responsible for early-onset sepsis (EOS) and late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS) to ascertain if historical classifications-that guide empirical therapy recommendations based on assumptions around causative pathogens-may be outdated. We analyzed 48 articles incorporating 757,427 blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from 311,359 neonates across 25 countries, to evaluate 4347 significant bacteria in a random-effects meta-analysis. This revealed gram-negative bacteria were now the predominant cause of both EOS (53%, 2301/4347) and LOS (71%, 2765/3894) globally. In LLMICs, the predominant cause of EOS was Klebsiella spp. (31.7%, 95% CI: 24.1-39.7%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (17.5%, 95% CI: 8.5 to 28.4%), in marked contrast to the Streptococcus agalactiae burden seen in high-income healthcare settings. Our results reveal clear evidence that the current definitions of EOS and LOS sepsis are outdated, particularly in LLMICs. These outdated definitions may be guiding inappropriate empirical antibiotic prescribing that inadequately covers the causative pathogens responsible for neonatal sepsis globally. Harmonizing sepsis definitions across neonates, children and adults will enable a more acurate comparison of the epidemiology of sepsis in each age group and will enhance knowledge regarding the true morbidity and mortality burden of neonatal sepsis

Using technology to deliver cancer follow-up : a systematic review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Reusing models and properties in the analysis of similar interactive devices

"Published online: 03 Apr. 2013"The paper is concerned with the comparative analysis of interactive devices. It compares two devices by checking a battery of template properties that are designed to explore important interface characteristics. The two devices are designed to support similar tasks in a clinical setting but differ in a number of respects as a result of judgements based on a range of considerations including software. Variations between designs are often relatively subtle and do not always become evident through even relatively thorough user testing. Notwithstanding their subtlety these differences may be important to the safety or usability of the device. The illustrated approach uses formal techniques to provide the analysis. This means that similar analysis can be applied systematically.This project was partly funded by the CHI+MED project: Multidisciplinary Computer Human Interaction Research for the design and safe use of interactive medical devices (UK EPSRC Grant EP/G059063/1). Patrick Oladimeji of Swansea University provided help with the Alaris pump and Chris Vincent of UCL provided access to the B. Braun simulation. We are grateful to reviewers for helpful comments

Scoliosis treatment using a combination of manipulative and rehabilitative therapy: a retrospective case series

BACKGROUND: The combination of spinal manipulation and various physiotherapeutic procedures used to correct the curvatures associated with scoliosis have been largely unsuccessful. Typically, the goals of these procedures are often to relax, strengthen, or stretch musculotendinous and/or ligamentous structures. In this study, we investigate the possible benefits of combining spinal manipulation, positional traction, and neuromuscular reeducation in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: A total of 22 patient files were selected to participate in the protocol. Of these, 19 met the study criterion required for analysis of treatment benefits. Anteroposterior radiographs were taken of each subject prior to treatment intervention and 4–6 weeks following the intervention. A Cobb angle was drawn and analyzed on each radiograph, so pre and post comparisons could be made. RESULTS: After 4–6 weeks of treatment, the treatment group averaged a 17° reduction in their Cobb angle measurements. None of the patients' Cobb angles increased. A total of 3 subjects were dismissed from the study for noncompliance relating to home care instructions, leaving 19 subjects to be evaluated post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of spinal manipulation and postural therapy appeared to significantly reduce the severity of the Cobb angle in all 19 subjects. These results warrant further testing of this protocol

Minimal flavour violation extensions of the seesaw

We analyze the most natural formulations of the minimal lepton flavour violation hypothesis compatible with a type-I seesaw structure with three heavy singlet neutrinos N, and satisfying the requirement of being predictive, in the sense that all LFV effects can be expressed in terms of low energy observables. We find a new interesting realization based on the flavour group $SU(3)_e\times SU(3)_{\ell+N}$ (being $e$ and $\ell$ respectively the SU(2) singlet and doublet leptons). An intriguing feature of this realization is that, in the normal hierarchy scenario for neutrino masses, it allows for sizeable enhancements of $\mu \to e$ transitions with respect to LFV processes involving the $\tau$ lepton. We also discuss how the symmetries of the type-I seesaw allow for a strong suppression of the N mass scale with respect to the scale of lepton number breaking, without implying a similar suppression for possible mechanisms of N productionComment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Potential of a cyclone prototype spacer to improve in vitro dry powder delivery

Copyright The Author(s) 2013. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are creditedPurpose: Low inspiratory force in patients with lung disease is associated with poor deagglomeration and high throat deposition when using dry powder inhalers (DPIs). The potential of two reverse flow cyclone prototypes as spacers for commercial carrierbased DPIs was investigated. Methods: Cyclohaler®, Accuhaler® and Easyhaler® were tested with and without the spacers between 30-60 Lmin-1. Deposition of particles in the next generation impactor and within the devices was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Reduced induction port deposition of the emitted particles from the cyclones was observed due to the high retention of the drug within the spacers (e.g. salbutamol sulphate (SS): 67.89 ± 6.51 % at 30 Lmin-1 in Cheng 1). Fine particle fractions of aerosol as emitted from the cyclones were substantially higher than the DPIs alone. Moreover, the aerodynamic diameters of particles emitted from the cyclones were halved compared to the DPIs alone (e.g. SS from the Cyclohaler® at 4 kPa: 1.08 ± 0.05 μm vs. 3.00 ± 0.12 μm, with and without Cheng 2, respectively) and unaltered with increased flow rates. Conclusion: This work has shown the potential of employing a cyclone spacer for commercial carrier-based DPIs to improve inhaled drug delivery.Peer reviewe