Occurrence of LINE, gypsy-like, and copia-like retrotransposons in the clonally propagated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Retrotransposons are a class of transposable elements that represent a major fraction of the repetitive DNA of most eukaryotes. Their abundance stems from their expansive replication strategies. We screened and isolated sequence fragments of long terminal repeat (LTR), gypsy-like reverse transcriptase (rt) and gypsy-like envelope (env) domains, and two partial sequences of non-LTR retrotransposons, long interspersed element (LINE), in the clonally propagated allohexaploid sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) genome. Using dot-blot hybridization, these elements were found to be present in the ~1597 Mb haploid sweet potato genome with copy numbers ranging from ~50 to ~4100 as observed in the partial LTR (IbLtr-1) and LINE (IbLi-1) sequences, respectively. The continuous clonal propagation of sweet potato may have contributed to such a multitude of copies of some of these genomic elements. Interestingly, the isolated gypsy-like env and gypsy-like rt sequence fragments, IbGy-1 (~2100 copies) and IbGy-2 (~540 copies), respectively, were found to be homologous to the Bagy-2 cDNA sequences of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Although the isolated partial sequences were found to be homologous to other transcriptionally active elements, future studies are required to determine whether they represent elements that are transcriptionally active under normal and (or) stressful conditions

Determinants of greenfield emerging market outward FDI into the UK

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of Greenfield Emerging Market (EM) Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) into the UK, a Developed Market (DM) host. Despite the increasing significance of EM OFDI, this particular theme of EM OFDI to a DM host has received relatively little attention from researchers. This paper seeks to address this shortfall. Design/methodology/approach: Considering the distinctiveness of EM OFDI in its firmspecific characteristics, given circumstances and motivations, this paper applies adapted ‘Resource-based view (RBV)’ framework and institutional theory to build a theoretical framework. A range of hypotheses regarding ‘strategic-asset seeking’, ‘market-seeking’ and ‘institution-seeking’ motivations of EM OFDI, which reflect both ‘pull factors’ (advantages in hosts) and ‘push factors’ (disadvantages at home), were then developed. Using panel data for the years 2003-2012, the research questions were analysed using a sample of the then most important emerging market source countries which had undertaken Greenfield FDI into the UK. Findings: The analysis results supported the hypotheses that strategic-asset seeking and institution-seeking motivations were important in determining EM OFDI to the UK, with the coefficients of relevant variables showing statistical significance and expected sign (i.e. positive). However, the hypothesis on market-seeking motivation of EM OFDI cannot be supported as the coefficient of the relevant variable, whilst showing the expected sign, had a statistically insignificant coefficient. Amongst the three control variables, the source countries’ exports and imports as a percentage of GDP was statistically significant and had the correct sign whilst, the UK’s share of intra-EU trade, whilst statistically significant, had the opposite sign to that expected. The third control variable, the exchange rate was not statistically significant, though it had the correct sign. Originality/value: This paper provides an adjusted theoretical framework for the analysis of EM OFDI to DM with a novel application of institutional theory and RBV. It also qualifies and extends existing works on EM OFDI by including a wider range of EM source countries and DM hosts with empirical analysis results as well as theoretical suggestions. In addition, the paper offers up a range of policy implications for DM hosts

An Empirical Study Identifying the Factors that Impact eHealth Infastructure and eHealth Use

This cross-national study examines factors that impact eHealth infrastructure and usage growth. The independent variables in the study are: confidence in heath care system, perception of one’s state of health, per capita national expenditure in health, % of people belonging to voluntary organizations concerned with health, human development index, cost of health care per capital, and cost of health care per GDP (data gathered from World Value Survey (WVS), World Bank, United Nations, and World Health Organization (WHO) survey results). Data from a set of more than 40 nations involving nearly 8000 sites were gathered to allow analysis of factors encouraging the eHealth growth. The set of nations includes both developed and developing nations. Preliminary results suggest that confidence in health care system, voluntary health groups, GDP, human development, cost of health care per capita are significant in eHealth infrastructure -- explaining 32-54% of the variability of the eHealth infrastructure. Preliminary results also suggest that human development, infrastructure and perception of health are significant in eHealth usage -- explaining 45-52% of the variability of the eHealth usage

Accessibility of washrooms in bus terminals in Western Kenya to learners with physical disability

Learners with physical disability in the western part of Kenya frequently make use of bus terminals during in the trip to and from school. Special schools attended by learners with a physical disability are few in number and far removed from the residences of most students thereby necessitating travel. Bus terminals located herein become obligatory points of passage for almost half of learners with physical disability in Kenya since seven out of thirteen special schools are located herein. This study, therefore sought to establish the accessibility of washrooms to learners with a physical disability whenever they made use of bus terminals. A cross-sectional survey design targeting 317 respondents who were sampled from a population of 1,525 was used. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires, technical measurements and observation schedules. It was established that washrooms in the study area enhanced spatial exclusion due to the presence of barriers at doorways and constricted washroom stalls.Peer Reviewe

Intra and intersession reliability of the Run RocketTM in recreationally trained participants

Sprint performance plays an important role in the success of many sports including track and field and team-based sports. Resisted sprint equipment has shown to be an effective method to increase sprint velocity and acceleration. The aim of the study was to determine the intrasession and intersession (7 days) reliability of a commercially available resisted sprint machine in recreationally trained individuals for two resistance settings. Fourteen recreationally active participants partook in the study (male = 10, female = 4) over a 7-day period. Three maximal 15m sprints, at two resistance levels (R0 and R5), were undertaken in a randomised order (6 sprints in total at each trial). Intrasession (comparison of the first 3 sprints for each trial) and intersession (mean of the 3 sprints for both trials) correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficients of variation (%CV), average variability, SEM and minimal detectable difference were calculated for 5 and 15m for both resistance levels. Intrasession reliability was very large to nearly perfect across both distances and resistance levels (ICC range 0.79-0.98), %CV ranged between 2.4-5.8% with larger values seen during the first trial for three of the four indices. Intersession reliability was very large to nearly perfect across all variables (ICC range 0.87-0.97), %CV was small and ranged between 2.0-4.1%. Average variability was small for all measurements. The Run RocketTM showed high intra and intersession reliability. The results show that this equipment could be reliably used within a sprint programme for recreationally trained individuals

COVID-19: an opportunity to re-evaluate the implementation of a One Health approach to tackling emerging infections in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries.

BACKGROUND: One Health (OH) has resurfaced in the light of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. It has been accepted by many local and global health authorities as a suitable approach for preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks including pandemics. MAIN BODY: One Health (OH) is a multisectoral and interdisciplinary framework for managing the animal, human, and ecosystem determinants of health. Globally, the majority of emerging infections in humans including SARS-Cov2-the causative agent of COVID-19-are transmitted from animals through environmental contacts in the last few decades. Yet, even when the biological and social interactions at the human, animal, and environmental interface that drive spillover of zoonotic diseases have been proven, OH strategies to address associated complex health challenges today are still rudimentary in many national health systems. Despite the disproportionate burden of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, OH is minimally incorporated into routine disease control and national health security programs. Challenges include poor policy support for OH in sub-Saharan Africa, and where some form of policy framework does exist, there are significant implementation bottlenecks. In this paper, we identified ideological, technical, operational, and economic barriers to OH implementation in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, and highlighted possible recommendations across these domains. In order to yield sustainable benefits, a relevant OH policy approach in the sub-Saharan African health systems must derive from a buy-in of the critical mass of stakeholders in the society. CONCLUSION: The implementation of sustainable OH approaches as a countermeasure to recurring emerging infections is a developmental priority for sub-Saharan African countries. A deep understanding of the local context must be leveraged to develop integrative OH solutions that are bold, rooted in science, and proven to be compatible with the level of development in sub-Saharan Africa

Conversion of New Zealand's 30m Telecommunication Antenna into a Radio Telescope

We describe our approach to the conversion of a former 100-foot (30-m) telecommunication antenna in New Zealand into a radio telescope. We provide the specifications of the Earth Station and identify the priorities for the conversion. We describe implementation of this plan with regards to mechanical and electrical components, as well as design of the telescope control system, telescope networking for VLBI, and telescope maintenance. Plans for RF, front-end and back-end developments based on radio astronomical priorities are outlined.Comment: Accepted for PASA with small modifications, 11 pages, 13 Figure

The Magnitude of Rapid Weight Loss and Rapid Weight Gain in Combat Sport Athletes Preparing for Competition: A Systematic Review

Combat sport athletes typically engage in a process called making weight, characterized by rapid weight loss (RWL) and subsequent rapid weight gain (RWG) in the days preceding competition. These practices differ across each sport, but no systematic comparison of the size of the changes in body mass exists. The aim was to determine the magnitude of RWL and RWG in combat sport athletes preparing for competition. The review protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO (CRD42017055279). In eligible studies, athletes prepared habitually with a RWL period ≤7 days preceding competition. An electronic search of EBSCOhost (CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus) and PubMed Central was performed up to July 2018. Sixteen full-text studies (total 4,432 participants; 156 females and 4,276 males) were included, providing data from five combat sports (boxing, judo, mixed martial arts, taekwondo, and wrestling). Three studies reported RWL and 14 studies reported RWG. Duration permitted for RWG ranged 3–32 hr. The largest changes in body mass occurred in two separate mixed martial arts cohorts (RWL: 7.4 ± 1.1 kg [∼10%] and RWG: 7.4 ± 2.8 kg [11.7% ± 4.7%]). The magnitude of RWG appears to be influenced by the type of sport, competition structure, and recovery duration permitted. A cause for concern is the lack of objective data quantifying the magnitude of RWL. There is insufficient evidence to substantiate the use of RWG as a proxy for RWL, and little data are available in females. By engaging in RWG, athletes are able to exploit the rules to compete up to three weight categories higher than at the official weigh-in

The effects of variable resistance using chains on bench throw performance in trained rugby players

This study sought to determine the effects of variable resistance using chain resistance on bench throw performance. Eight male rugby union players (19.4 ± 2.3 y, 88.8 ± 6.0 kg, 1RM 105.6 ± 17.0 kg) were recruited from a national league team. In a randomised cross-over design participant’s performed three bench throws at 45% one repetition maximum (1RM) at a constant load (No Chains) or a variable load (30% 1RM constant load, 15% 1RM variable load; Chains) with seven days between conditions. For each repetition the peak and mean velocity, peak power, peak acceleration and time to peak velocity were recorded. Differences in peak and mean power were very likely trivial and unclear between the Chains and No Chains conditions, respectively. Possibly greater peak and likely greater mean bar velocity were accompanied by likely to most likely greater bar velocity between 50-400 ms from initiation of bench press in the Chains compared to the No Chains condition. Accordingly, bar acceleration was very likely greater in the Chains compared to the No Chains condition. In conclusion, these results show that the inclusion of chain resistance can acutely enhance several variables in the bench press throw and gives support to this type of training

Holocene drainage systems of the English Fenland : roddons and their environmental significance

The roddons of the English Fenlands are fossilised silt and sand-filled tidal creek systems of mid- to late-Holocene age, incised into contemporaneous clay deposits. However, anthropogenic change (drainage and agriculture) has caused the former channels to become positive topographical features. Three stratigraphically discrete generations of roddon have been discriminated. They all show well-developed dendritic meander patterns, but there is little or no evidence of sand/silt infill during meandering; thus, unlike modern tidal creeks and rivers they typically lack laterally stacked point bar deposits, suggesting rapid infill. Major “trunk” roddons are rich in fine sands and there is little change in grain size from roddon mouth to the upper reaches, suggesting highly effective sand transport mechanisms and uniform conditions of deposition. Tributaries are silt-rich, while minor tributaries also have a significant clay component. During infill, active drainage networks appear to have been choked by sediment, converting mudflat/salt-marsh environments into widespread peat-forming freshwater reed swamps