Factors Associated with High Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoan Infections among Patients in Sana'a City, Yemen

Intestinal protozoan diseases in Yemen are a significant health problem with prevalence ranging from 18% to 27%. The present study is a cross-sectional study aimed at determining the factors associated with the high prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among patients seeking health care in Sana'a City, the capital of Yemen. (0.4%). Multivariate analysis using forward stepwise logistic regression based on intestinal protozoan infections showed that contact with animals (OR = 1.748, 95% CI = 1.168–2.617) and taking bath less than twice a week (OR = 1.820, 95% CI = 1.192–2.779) were significant risk factors of protozoan infections. infections being most common. Statistical analysis indicated that low personal hygiene and contact with animals were important predictors for intestinal protozoan infections. As highlighted in this study, in order to effectively reduce these infections, a multi-sectoral effort is needed. Preventive measures should include good hygienic practices, good animal husbandry practices, heightened provision of educational health programs, health services in all governorates including rural areas. Furthermore, it is also essential to find radical solutions to the recent water crises in Yemen

Capacity for microtubule reorganization and cell wall synthesis in cytoplasts of the green alga Mougeotia

A small proportion of nucleate subprotoplasts (karyoplasts) and enucleate subprotoplasts (cytoplasts) are formed during the preparation of protoplasts from the filamentous green alga Mougeotia . Regeneration of Mougeotia protoplasts is an orderly process known to involve reorganisation of cortical microtubules into polar arrays centered upon two opposing foci, synthesis of new cell walls and elongation to reform cylindrical cells. The ability of cytoplasts to carry out microtubule reorganisation and cell wall synthesis was investigated by combining Hoechst staining, to distinguish cytoplasts from karyoplasts and protoplasts, with immunofluorescent staining of microtubules and Calcofluor or Tinopal staining of cell walls. Cytoplasts survived at least 20 h in culture, but did not elongate. However, cytoplasts did participate in the first steps of protoplast regeneration. The majority of cytoplasts synthesized some cell wall material, while a small proportion was able to form ordered arrays of cortical microtubules indistinguishable from those in regenerating nucleate protoplasts. These results demonstrate the ability of plant microtubules to form new, orderly arrays in the absence of a nucleus, and suggest that the reestablishment of axiality in the protoplasts does not require a nucleus or nuclear DNA transcription.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41730/1/709_2005_Article_BF01404116.pd

Ecohydrology of Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Shrinking Cities: A Two-Year Case Study of a Retrofitted Bioswale in Detroit, MI

Stormwater management is of great importance in large shrinking cities with aging and outdated infrastructure. Maintenance of vegetated areas, particularly referred to as green infrastructure, is often aimed at mitigating flooding and the urban heat island effect by stormwater storage and evaporative cooling, respectively. This approach has been applied in large cities as a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution. However, the ecohydrological processes and how the ecohydrology influences the function of green infrastructure and its potential to provide those ecosystem services are not well understood. In this study, continuous field measurements including air temperature, stomatal conductance, and phenocam images were taken in a 308 m2 bioswale retrofitted into a 4063 m2 parking lot on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit, Michigan over a two-year period. Our results suggest that plant characteristics such as water use efficiency impact the ecohydrological processes within bioswales and that retrofitted bioswales will need to be adapted over time to meet environmental demands to allow for full and sustained success. Therefore, projected shifts in precipitation regime change are expected to affect the performance of green infrastructure, and each bioswale needs to be developed and engineered to be able to adapt to changing rainfall patterns. © 2022 by the authors.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]