Genetic Performance and General Combining Ability of Oil Palm Deli dura x AVROS pisifera Tested on Inland Soils

The performance of 11 oil palm AVROS (Algemene Vereniging van Rubberplanters ter Oostkust van Sumatra) pisiferas was evaluated based on their 40 dura x pisifera (DxP) progenies tested on inland soils, predominantly of Serdang Series. Fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield of each pisiferas ranged from 121.93 to 143.9 kg palm−1 yr−1 with trial mean of 131.62 kg palm−1 yr−1. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed low genetic variability among pisifera parents for most of the characters indicating uniformity of the pisifera population. This was anticipated as the AVROS pisiferas were derived from small population and were inbred materials. However, some of the pisiferas have shown good general combining ability (GCA) for certain important economic traits. Three pisiferas (P1 (0.174/247), P3 (0.174/498), P11 (0.182/308)) were identified of having good GCA for FFB yield while pisiferas P1 (0.174/247), P10 (0.182/348), and P11 (0.182/308) were good combiners for oil-to-bunch ratio (O/B). The narrow genetic base of these materials was the main obstacle in breeding and population improvement. However, efforts have been made to introgress this material with the vast oil palm germplasm collections of MPOB for rectifying the problem

A Study on Hand Grip Force for Push Activity at Aerospace Industry

Grip strength is the force applied by the hand to push objects and is a specific part of hand strength. It is generally considered that all aspects of the hand must be exercised to produce a healthy and strong grip. The purpose of this study is to analyze the hand grip force that causes discomfort for push activity among the workers in the aerospace industry while workers performing their task. Data were collected by using observation, interview, questionnaires, and Tekscan grip system tools were used to evaluate hand grip pressure force of the workers. Findings show that the individual factors such as age and body size have affected the hand pressure grip force. Besides, the study shows that the hand grip pressure forces when pushing the mold with the right hand are higher than left hand. At the end of this study, the authors concluded that high grip forces will lead to a risk factor for the development of MSDs

Genetic variability in yield and vegetative traits in elite germplasm of MPOB-Nigerian dura × AVROS pisifera progenies

Genetic variability study on vegetative and yield traits was carried out through long-term evaluation of eleven MPOB-Nigerian dura × AVROS pisifera (D× P) progenies at MPOB (Malaysian Palm Oil Board) research station located in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia. The D × P progenies were laid out in randomized complete block design in two blocks with 352 oil palm plants occupying a total area of 2.59 hectares. Data on both vegetative and yield traits such as plant height (HT), leaflet number (LN), leaflet length (LL), leaflet width (LW), rachis length (RL), petiole cross-section, leaf area (LA), leaf area index (LAI), fresh fruit bunch (FFB), average bunch weight (ABW), oil yield (OY), kernel yield (KY), mesocarp to fruit (MTF), kernel to fruit (KTF), oil to bunch (OTB), kernel to bunch (KTB) were collected over the years following the standard method. Analysis of variance of the data showed a significant variation among the progenies performance for both vegetative and yield traits, revealing their differences in their genetic origin. Also significant differences were observed for G×R interactions in all the traits collected except for PCR, KPY and ABW. The progenies plant height ranges from 1.53 (PUP1328) to 2.26 m (PUP1328). Also among the traits is PCS with highest value found in progeny PUP 1174 (32.16 cm2), while the lowest reading was found in PUP 1358 (20.54 cm2). The fresh fruit bunch weight for the progenies ranged from 121.03 to 175.16 kg/ palm/yr. Progeny PUP 1303 was found to have the highest value for FFB (175.16 kg/palm/yr), KPY (7.9 kg/palm/yr) and OPY (38.87 kg/palm/yr). From the correlation study, it was found that FFB, which is the most important yield trait, was positive and highly significant with all other yield and vegetative traits except for MTF, KTF, OTB and KTB where the association was non-significant. In this study, great variability has been found to be present among these progenies and this will be of immense benefit for improvement program. Progeny PUP 1303 and PUP 1246 have been identified as the potential parent and they have been selected for further evaluation trial

Contrasting Patterns of Coral Bleaching Susceptibility in 2010 Suggest an Adaptive Response to Thermal Stress

Background: \ud Coral bleaching events vary in severity, however, to date, the hierarchy of susceptibility to bleaching among coral taxa has been consistent over a broad geographic range and among bleaching episodes. Here we examine the extent of spatial and temporal variation in thermal tolerance among scleractinian coral taxa and between locations during the 2010 thermally induced, large-scale bleaching event in South East Asia.\ud \ud Methodology/Principal Findings: \ud Surveys to estimate the bleaching and mortality indices of coral genera were carried out at three locations with contrasting thermal and bleaching histories. Despite the magnitude of thermal stress being similar among locations in 2010, there was a remarkable contrast in the patterns of bleaching susceptibility. Comparisons of bleaching susceptibility within coral taxa and among locations revealed no significant differences between locations with similar thermal histories, but significant differences between locations with contrasting thermal histories (Friedman = 34.97; p,0.001). Bleaching was much less severe at locations that bleached during 1998, that had greater historical temperature variability and lower rates of warming. Remarkably, Acropora and Pocillopora, taxa that are typically highly susceptible, although among the most susceptible in Pulau Weh (Sumatra, Indonesia) where respectively, 94% and 87% of colonies died, were among the least susceptible in Singapore, where only 5% and 12% of colonies died.\ud \ud Conclusions/Significance: \ud The pattern of susceptibility among coral genera documented here is unprecedented. A parsimonious explanation for these results is that coral populations that bleached during the last major warming event in 1998 have adapted and/or acclimatised to thermal stress. These data also lend support to the hypothesis that corals in regions subject to more variable temperature regimes are more resistant to thermal stress than those in less variable environments

Identification of surgeon burnout via a single-item measure

Background Burnout is endemic in surgeons in the UK and linked with poor patient safety and quality of care, mental health problems, and workforce sustainability. Mechanisms are required to facilitate the efficient identification of burnout in this population. Multi-item measures of burnout may be unsuitable for this purpose owing to assessment burden, expertise required for analysis, and cost. Aims To determine whether surgeons in the UK reporting burnout on the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) can be reliably identified by a single-item measure of burnout. Methods Consultant (n = 333) and trainee (n = 217) surgeons completed the MBI and a single-item measure of burnout. We applied tests of discriminatory power to assess whether a report of high burnout on the single-item measure correctly classified MBI cases and non-cases. Results The single-item measure demonstrated high discriminatory power on the emotional exhaustion burnout domain: the area under the curve was excellent for consultants and trainees (0.86 and 0.80), indicating high sensitivity and specificity. On the depersonalisation domain, discrimination was acceptable for consultants (0.76) and poor for trainees (0.69). In contrast, discrimination was acceptable for trainees (0.71) and poor for consultants (0.62) on the personal accomplishment domain. Conclusions A single-item measure of burnout is suitable for the efficient assessment of emotional exhaustion in consultant and trainee surgeons in the UK. Administered regularly, such a measure would facilitate the early identification of at-risk surgeons and swift intervention, as well as the monitoring of group-level temporal trends to inform resource allocation to coincide with peak periods

Surgical site infections after emergency hernia repair: substudy from the Management of Acutely Symptomatic Hernia (MASH) study

Introduction Acutely symptomatic abdominal wall and groin hernias (ASH) are a common acute surgical presentation. There are limited data to guide decisions related to surgical repair technique and use of antibiotics, which can be driven by increased risk of surgical site infection (SSI) in this group. This study aims to report rates of SSI following ASH repair and explore the use of patient-reported outcome measure reporting in this setting. Methods An 18-week, UK-based, multicentre prospective cohort study (NCT04197271) recruited adults with ASH. This study reports operatively managed patients. Data on patient characteristics, inpatient management, quality of life, complications, and wound healing (Bluebelle score) were collected. Descriptive analyses were performed to estimate event rates of SSI and regression analysis explored the relationship between Bluebelle scores and SSI. The 30 and 90-day follow-up visits assessed complications and quality of life. Results The MASH study recruited 273 patients, of whom 218 were eligible for this study, 87.2 per cent who underwent open repair. Mesh was used in 123 patients (50.8 per cent). Pre- and postoperative antibiotics were given in 163 (67.4 per cent) and 28 (11.5 per cent) patients respectively. There were 26 reported SSIs (11.9 per cent). Increased BMI, incisional, femoral, and umbilical hernia were associated with higher rates of SSI (P = 0.006). In 238 patients, there was a difference in healthy utility values at 90 days between patients with and without SSI (P = 0.025). Also, when analysing 191 patients with Bluebelle scores, those who developed an SSI had higher Bluebelle values (P < 0.001). Conclusion SSI is frequent in repair of acutely symptomatic hernia and correlates with BMI and site of hernia

Identification of Surgeon Burnout via a Single-Item Measure

BackgroundBurnout is endemic in surgeons in the UK and linked with poor patient safety and quality of care, mental health problems, and workforce sustainability. Mechanisms are required to facilitate the efficient identification of burnout in this population. Multi-item measures of burnout may be unsuitable for this purpose owing to assessment burden, expertise required for analysis, and cost.AimsTo determine whether surgeons in the UK reporting burnout on the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) can be reliably identified by a single-item measure of burnout.MethodsConsultant (n = 333) and trainee (n = 217) surgeons completed the MBI and a single-item measure of burnout. We applied tests of discriminatory power to assess whether a report of high burnout on the single-item measure correctly classified MBI cases and non-cases.ResultsThe single-item measure demonstrated high discriminatory power on the emotional exhaustion burnout domain: the area under the curve was excellent for consultants and trainees (0.86 and 0.80), indicating high sensitivity and specificity. On the depersonalisation domain, discrimination was acceptable for consultants (0.76) and poor for trainees (0.69). In contrast, discrimination was acceptable for trainees (0.71) and poor for consultants (0.62) on the personal accomplishment domain.ConclusionsA single-item measure of burnout is suitable for the efficient assessment of emotional exhaustion in consultant and trainee surgeons in the UK. Administered regularly, such a measure would facilitate the early identification of at-risk surgeons and swift intervention, as well as the monitoring of group-level temporal trends to inform resource allocation to coincide with peak periods

Performance and heritability estimations on oil palm progenies tested in different environments

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Forty oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) dura x pisifera (DxP) crosses derived from the North Carolina Mating Design 1 (NCM 1) were evaluated in six locations (Kudat, Sabah; Beaufort, Sabah; Teluk Intan, Perak; Carey Island, Selangor; Kepong, Selangor and Kluang, Johor). Fifteen pisifera palms were chosen as male parents and each was crossed to two to four dura female parents. Environmental factors contributed to the phenotypic variability in all the agronomic characters. Hence, the variation in performance of the genotypes in the different locations was partly a reflection of the differences in soil type, soil fertility and rainfall. Generally, Carey Island and Teluk Intan were the more favourable environments for yield than the marginal environments, such as Kudat and Kluang. The results showed that the environment had a great influence on the genetic variance components. In general, the heritability estimates for yield and its components and bunch quality characters fluctuated from location to location. However, the estimates for vegetative characters were fairly consistent and higher than those for yield and its components, and bunch quality characters