Leaving no one behind: Supporting women, poor people, and indigenous people in wheat-maize innovations in Bangladesh

This guidance note for scientists and research teams acknowledges the complexity of marginalization processes and provides recommendations for making sure no one is left behind. It draws on GENNOVATE findings from a community in Bangladesh where the indigenous Santals, Bengali Muslims, and Hindus live and work together

Circulatory responses to propofol-ketamine combination compared to propofol alone for sedation during spinal anesthesia

The present study was undertaken to establish the efficacy of low dosepropofol-ketamine infusion in maintaining hemodynamic stability when used for sedation as compared to propofol alone during spinal anesthesia. Sixty adult patients of either sex, belonging to ASA physical status I and II undergoing urological procedures were studied in a randomized manner. After administering spinal anesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine,patients were assigned to two groups of 30 patients each. Group I (propofol-ketamine combination) received intial loading dose of propofol and ketamine followed by a continuous infusion of low dose propofol and ketamine whereas group II (propofol alone) received a bolus dose of propofol followed by a continuous infusion of propofol only. Hemodynamic parameters like heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and sedation scores rated on a five point scale were recorded at baseline and at the predetermined intervals of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes after spinal anesthesia. It was found that heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in group I patients at various intervals as compared to group II patients, however sedation scores revealed no significant difference at different timeintervals between the two groups. In conclusion propofol-ketamine combination was found to confer hemodynamic stability during spinal anesthesia as compared to propofol alone

Gene action studies in early maturing maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines

The present investigation was aimed to investigate the gene action in early maturing maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines. The experimental material comprised of 30 crosses generated by crossing six maize inbred lines in a diallel mating design during Kharif 2013. These 30 crosses along with standard checks viz., SMH-2 and VMH-45 were evaluated in randomized block design in three replications during Kharif 2014 and Kharif 2015. Significant variation was observed for all studied traits during both the seasons. Both additive (D) and dominance (H1 and H2) components of genetic variance were found significant under the study. Preponderance of non-additive gene action was observed for all traits under study. Average degree of dominance was in over dominance range for all characters. The gene distribution was asymmetrical for all traits. The value of KD / KR indicated presence of excess of dominant genes for all traits except 100-grain weight and ear girth. Heritability of most of the traits was low to medium

Landscape Strategy-Making and Collaboration:The Hills of Northern Mors, Denmark; A Case of Changing Focus and Scale

This paper focuses on a three-year rural landscape strategy-making process, which was driven by a Danish municipality and involved a large number of stakeholders. The project was part of an action research program aimed at developing new approaches to collaborative landscape planning. Gaining experiences with such approaches was part of this aim. During the course of the project, the focus and scale of the strategy changed significantly. The process developed in interesting ways in respect to three dimensions of collaborative landscape planning: collaboration, scale, and public goods. After a brief review of the three dimensions and their links to landscape planning, the case story is unfolded in three sections: (1) The planning process, (2) the process outcome (the strategy), and (3) the aftermath in terms of critical reflections from participating planners and local stakeholders. The process and outcome of the landscape strategy-making process is discussed in the context of collaboration, scale, and public goods, including a brief outline of the lessons learned

HtrA chaperone activity contributes to host cell binding in Campylobacter jejuni

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute gastroenteritis caused by the food-borne pathogen <it>Campylobacter jejuni </it>is associated with attachment of bacteria to the intestinal epithelium and subsequent invasion of epithelial cells. In <it>C. jejuni</it>, the periplasmic protein HtrA is required for efficient binding to epithelial cells. HtrA has both protease and chaperone activity, and is important for virulence of several bacterial pathogens.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The aim of this study was to determine the role of the dual activities of HtrA in host cell interaction of <it>C. jejuni </it>by comparing an <it>htrA </it>mutant lacking protease activity, but retaining chaperone activity, with a Δ<it>htrA </it>mutant and the wild type strain. Binding of <it>C</it>. <it>jejuni </it>to both epithelial cells and macrophages was facilitated mainly by HtrA chaperone activity that may be involved in folding of outer membrane adhesins. In contrast, HtrA protease activity played only a minor role in interaction with host cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We show that HtrA protease and chaperone activities contribute differently to <it>C. jejuni</it>'s interaction with mammalian host cells, with the chaperone activity playing the major role in host cell binding.</p

Resuscitation of the trauma patient: tell me a trigger for early haemostatic resuscitation please!

The management of trauma-related coagulopathy and haemorrhage is changing from a reactive strategy to a proactive early intervention with blood products and haemostatic agents. Although major haemorrhage and massive transfusion are associated with higher mortality, the pattern of this association with modern trauma care is poorly described. In addition, early predictors of massive transfusion, which might trigger a proactive haemostatic resuscitation strategy, are not currently available. We review recent literature relating to predictors of massive transfusions and the relationship between transfusion and mortality