Effect of synthetic detergents on some of the behavioral patterns of fish fingerlings (Cirrhina mrigala) and its relation to ecotoxicology

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Modelling erosion and landslides induced by farming activities at hilly areas, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

This work was conducted at hilly farms of Cameron Highlands to model the incidences of soil erosion and landslides using historical data and field observations. IfSAR data with spatial resolution of 5 m was used which enable clear observation and delineation of the geographic features within the study area. Field visits were conducted to various places where landslides occurred on agricultural farms in order to validate the model. Also, the rate of soil erosions was evaluated using geospatial techniques. The potential landslide event and its probability of occurrence were combined using bivariate statistical analysis. The results revealed that most of the landslides incidents were occurred at areas with intensive agricultural activities with no proper erosion control measures. It was gathered that more than 75% of landslides occurred in agricultural activities areas are under sheltered farms. The annual soil erosion rates in both Telom and Bertom Catchments ware 38 ton /ha/year and 73.9 ton /ha/year respectively. It was revealed that, there is high risk of erosion-induced landslides in agricultural farms. However, the erosion induced landslide map shows that most the landslide occurred close to the rivers. This indicated that both agricultural operations and proximity to rivers are influencing factors for the incidences

The tourism and economic growth enigma: Examining an ambiguous relationship through multiple prisms

This paper revisits the ambiguous relationship between tourism and economic growth, providing a comprehensive study of destinations across the globe which takes into account the key dynamics that influence tourism and economic performance. We focus on 113 countries over the period 1995-2014, clustered, for the first time, around six criteria that reflect their economic, political and tourism dimensions. A Panel Vector Autoregressive model is employed which, in contrast to previous studies, allows the data to reveal any tourism-economy interdependencies across these clusters, without imposing a priori the direction of causality. Overall, the economic-driven tourism growth hypothesis seems to prevail in countries which are developing, non-democratic, highly bureaucratic and have low tourism specialization. Conversely, bidirectional relationships are established for economies which are stronger, democratic and with higher levels of government effectiveness. Thus, depending on the economic, political and tourism status of a destination, different policy implications apply

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in chickens but not ducks is associated with elevated host immune and pro-inflammatory responses

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses cause severe infection in chickens at near complete mortality, but corresponding infection in ducks is typically mild or asymptomatic. To understand the underlying molecular differences in host response, primary chicken and duck lung cells, infected with two HPAI H5N1 viruses and a low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H2N3 virus, were subjected to RNA expression profiling. Chicken cells but not duck cells showed highly elevated immune and pro-inflammatory responses following HPAI virus infection. HPAI H5N1 virus challenge studies in chickens and ducks corroborated the in vitro findings. To try to determine the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in mediating pro-inflammatory response to HPAIV infection in chicken and duck cells. We found that STAT-3 expression was down-regulated in chickens but was up-regulated or unaffected in ducks in vitro and in vivo following H5N1 virus infection. Low basal STAT-3 expression in chicken cells was completely inhibited by H5N1 virus infection. By contrast, constitutively active STAT-3 detected in duck cells was unaffected by H5N1 virus infection. Transient constitutively-active STAT-3 transfection in chicken cells significantly reduced pro-inflammatory response to H5N1 virus infection; on the other hand, chemical inhibition of STAT-3 activation in duck cells increased pro-inflammatory gene expression following H5N1 virus infection. Collectively, we propose that elevated pro-inflammatory response in chickens is a major pathogenicity factor of HPAI H5N1 virus infection, mediated in part by the inhibition of STAT-3

Variation in the provision and practice of implant-based breast reconstruction in the UK: Results from the iBRA national practice questionnaire

Introduction The introduction of biological and synthetic meshes has revolutionised the practice of implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) but evidence for effectiveness is lacking. The iBRA (implant Breast Reconstruction evAluation) study is a national trainee-led project that aims to explore the practice and outcomes of IBBR to inform the design of a future trial. We report the results of the iBRA National Practice Questionnaire (NPQ) which aimed to comprehensively describe the provision and practice of IBBR across the UK. Methods A questionnaire investigating local practice and service provision of IBBR developed by the iBRA Steering Group was completed by trainee and consultant leads at breast and plastic surgical units across the UK. Summary data for each survey item were calculated and variation between centres and overall provision of care examined. Results 81 units within 79 NHS-hospitals completed the questionnaire. Units offered a range of reconstructive techniques, with IBBR accounting for 70% (IQR:50–80%) of participating units' immediate procedures. Units on average were staffed by 2.5 breast surgeons (IQR:2.0–3.0) and 2.0 plastic surgeons (IQR:1.0–3.0) performing 35 IBBR cases per year (IQR:20-50). Variation was demonstrated in the provision of novel different techniques for IBBR especially the use of biological (n = 62) and synthetic (n = 25) meshes and in patient selection for these procedures. Conclusions The iBRA-NPQ has demonstrated marked variation in the provision and practice of IBBR in the UK. The prospective audit phase of the iBRA study will determine the safety and effectiveness of different approaches to IBBR and allow evidence-based best practice to be explored

Palladium–mediated organofluorine chemistry

Producción CientíficaThe substitution of fluorine for hydrogen in a molecule may result in profound changes in its properties and behaviour. Fluorine does not introduce special steric constraints since the F atom has a small size. However, the changes in bond polarity and the possibility of forming hydrogen bonds with other hydrogen donor fragments in the same or other molecules, may change the solubility and physical properties of the fluorinated compound when compared to the non-fluorinated one. Fluorine forms strong bonds to other elements and this ensures a good chemical stability. Altogether, fluorinated compounds are very attractive in materials chemistry and in medicinal chemistry, where many biologically active molecules and pharmaceuticals do contain fluorine in their structure and this has been shown to be essential for their activityJunta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA302U13)Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA256U13