Animal-friendly production systems may cause re-emergence of Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasmosis is still one of the most common parasitic infections in the world, although in Europe improvements in hygiene and the introduction of ‘total’ indoor farming in livestock production have rapidly diminished the problem during the past decades. As a result of public dislike, however, introduction of alternative and more acceptable animal-friendly livestock production systems including outdoor access are gaining ground. Potentially these systems can lead to increased prevalence of certain zoonotic diseases, including Toxoplasmosis. To retain prevalence of this disease in humans at current levels, emphasis should be on disease control at farm-level. This article provides an analysis of various risk factors for farm animals to get infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Access of cats to the farm premises, the use of compost and goat whey, and rodent control were identified as possible risk factors that should be addressed. Consumers should be aware of the fact that Toxoplasma infection, besides through meat, can also be caused by the uptake of contaminated water, soil, fruit and vegetables

Controlling risks of pathogen transmission by flies on organic pig farms - A review

Fly prevention and control on animal production units is necessary to prevent the transmission of pathogens that could affect animal and human health and the maintenance of good hygiene. Organic farmers are often hesitant to apply insecticides for this purpose because of their farming philosophy. Organic production systems are relatively open as pigs generally have access to the outdoors. Here, we investigate the need for fly control and analyse various possibilities that organic farmers have to reduce the number of flies on their farms. We conclude that although biological control looks promising, more research should be done concerning its side effects. Currently, optimal monitoring and prevention seem to offer the best solution

Importance of Radioactive Labelling to Elucidate Inositol Polyphosphate Signalling

Inositol polyphosphates, in their water-soluble or lipid-bound forms, represent a large and multifaceted family of signalling molecules. Some inositol polyphosphates are well recognised as defining important signal transduction pathways, as in the case of the calcium release factor Ins(1,4,5)P3, generated by receptor activation-induced hydrolysis of the lipid PtdIns(4,5)P2 by phospholipase C. The birth of inositol polyphosphate research would not have occurred without the use of radioactive phosphate tracers that enabled the discovery of the “PI response”. Radioactive labels, mainly of phosphorus but also carbon and hydrogen (tritium), have been instrumental in the development of this research field and the establishment of the inositol polyphosphates as one of the most important networks of regulatory molecules present in eukaryotic cells. Advancements in microscopy and mass spectrometry and the development of colorimetric assays have facilitated inositol polyphosphate research, but have not eliminated the need for radioactive experimental approaches. In fact, such experiments have become easier with the cloning of the inositol polyphosphate kinases, enabling the systematic labelling of specific positions of the inositol ring with radioactive phosphate. This approach has been valuable for elucidating their metabolic pathways and identifying specific and novel functions for inositol polyphosphates. For example, the synthesis of radiolabelled inositol pyrophosphates has allowed the discovery of a new protein post-translational modification. Therefore, radioactive tracers have played and will continue to play an important role in dissecting the many complex aspects of inositol polyphosphate physiology. In this review we aim to highlight the historical importance of radioactivity in inositol polyphosphate research, as well as its modern usage

Forward Error Control System Performance of Maximum Free Distance Convolutional Codes with Different Modulation Schemes

Forward Error Control (FEC) based on Convolution Encoders with Viterbi decoding is a good methodology to decrease the effect of Additive Gaussian Noise residing inside digital data transmissions channel. In this paper a Convolutional encoders with maximum free distance and different constraint lengths have been tested with AWGN channel effect using MATLAB. The performance and analysis has done by changing rates of Convolutional encoders and different constraint lengths and take in consider QPSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM as modulation schemes.nbs

Inside Outsourcing: Experiences of Outsourced Physical Therapy Services in Dutch Hospitals

Over the past years, it has become more common in Dutch hospitals to outsource allied healthcare services to the private sector. This development has affected hospital-based physical therapy significantly. And as a result, there is an increasing need for guidance in this new situation. In response to this, the Dutch Association of Physical Therapy in Hospitals (NVZF) conducted a comprehensive study into the process of outsourcing with the objective to inform and advise physical therapy services in hospitals about outsourcing developments. Eight Dutch hospitals where physical therapy services had been outsourced or where this option was explored, were interviewed. The EFQM-Model (European Foundation for Quality Management – Excellence Model) was used to examine the outsourcing process. This provided the following insights into the outsourcing process of physical therapy in Dutch hospitals: (a) three motives of the board of a hospital to outsource the department of physical therapy and three factors influencing whether outsourcing will occur, (b) four different organizational structures of physical therapy services, two of which reflect outsourced services and (c) nine critical factors to be considered by hospital-based physical therapy services when outsourcing occurs. The results of the research were summarized in a Dutch guideline consisting of three parts named “Identifying Motives for Outsourcing and the Probability of Outsourcing”, “Organizing according to the Right to Exist”, and “Development Goals for the Future using the Critical Factors from the Research Results”

MORTGAGE FINANCING AND HOUSING DELIVERIES IN NIGERIA: ANY LINKAGES?

The paper examined if there exist any linkages between mortgage financing and housing delivery in Nigeria from periods of 2002-2021. Specifically, the paper examined the effect of Primary Mortgage Bank Loans, Federal Mortgage Bank Loans to Mortgage, Microfinance Bank loans to mortgage, and Government Allocation to Housing on housing delivery in Nigeria. Data for the study were sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin and the National Bureau of statistics (2021) from 2002 to 2021. Meanwhile, the study adopted the OLS estimate. Various pre-estimation and diagnostic tests considered include:  Heteroskedascity test, Ramsey Reset Test, and variance inflation factors/multi-collinearity test. The study reported that, Primary Mortgage Bank Loans have significant adverse effects on housing delivery. Meanwhile, Federal Mortgage Bank Loans to Mortgage improves housing delivery minimally. More so, MBLM and finance Bank loans to mortgage and Government Allocation to Housing are major contributing factor to housing delivery in Nigeria within the periods under review. Hence, the paper concludes that, both microfinance loans to mortgage institutions and government allocations to housing are major drivers of housing delivery in the periods under review. Accordingly, the paper recommends that, the primary Mortgage Bank should heighten efforts towards improving on reforms and policies that encourage the use of loans by mortgage institution for sustained growth and greater house development. More so, the federal Mortgage Bank should introduce new, flexible, and versatile loan policies suited to the prevailing conditions in the country taking into account dynamic changes in the environment. Keywords: Mortgage Financing, Housing Deliveries, Linkages

Masalah Kesehatan di Indonesia Bagian Timur

Makalah ini akan mencoba menelaah ujud dan distribusi masalah kesehatan di beberapa propinsi di Indonesia, khususnya Irja, Maluku, Sulawesi, NTB, NTT dan Timtim. Dalam pembahasan disajikan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi situasi kesehatan di wilayah tersebut

Gene Therapy Reimbursement Models – A Stakeholder Assessment

Introduction: The first one-time curative gene therapy was approved in December 2017 with a list price of $850,000, and there is a historic increase in gene therapy clinical trials with 89 having reached phase III as of May 2018. Gene therapy’s high upfront cost will challenge the traditional reimbursement models which are well suited for common, chronic conditions. Objective: This stakeholder assessment surveys groups to identify existing opinions and generate insights regarding gene therapies and their reimbursement models. Methods: A 12 question survey was sent to 200 stakeholders with the list generated from author’s contacts. Stakeholder groups targeted were providers, payers, biotech/pharma, finance, consulting, government, patients &/or disease advocacy groups, scientists, and think tanks/academia. Findings from the survey are intended to be directional and hypothesis-generating instead of statistically representative. Results: 26 individuals responded to the survey, but based upon self-reported familiarity with gene therapies five respondents were excluded. The average favorability of gene therapy model adoption in the next 5 years (n=21) was as follows: outcomes based payments (7.33), annuity payments (5.52), upfront payments (4.62), modified upfront payments (5.61). The average favorability of gene therapy model adoption in the next 15 years (n=21) was as follows: outcomes based payments (7.76), annuity payments (5.57), upfront payments (4.29), modified upfront payments (5.52). Conclusion: Stakeholders surveyed responded with the highest favorability for outcomes based contracts and expressed general positive responses regarding efficacy/safety profiles. The main limitation for this survey is the sample size (n=21) and stakeholder make up with only 2 payers/insurers. Next steps include collecting more payer responses

ITPK1 mediates the lipid-independent synthesis of inositol phosphates controlled by metabolism

Inositol phosphates (IPs) comprise a network of phosphorylated molecules that play multiple signaling roles in eukaryotes. IPs synthesis is believed to originate with IP_{3} generated from PIP_{2} by phospholipase C (PLC). Here, we report that in mammalian cells PLC-generated IPs are rapidly recycled to inositol, and uncover the enzymology behind an alternative “soluble” route to synthesis of IPs. Inositol tetrakisphosphate 1-kinase 1 (ITPK1)—found in Asgard archaea, social amoeba, plants, and animals—phosphorylates I(3)P_{1} originating from glucose-6-phosphate, and I(1)P_{1} generated from sphingolipids, to enable synthesis of IP_{6}. We also found using PAGE mass assay that metabolic blockage by phosphate starvation surprisingly increased IP_{6} levels in a ITPK1-dependent manner, establishing a route to IP_{6} controlled by cellular metabolic status, that is not detectable by traditional [{3}^H]-inositol labeling. The presence of ITPK1 in archaeal clades thought to define eukaryogenesis indicates that IPs had functional roles before the appearance of the eukaryote

SAFFA-NG Sistem Aristektur Manajemen Kasus Forensik

Cybercrime has been known as side effects of the use of ICT. The character of digital evidences which are veryspecific, require special handling methods. Nowadays, there are many forensics tools which are either proprietary oropen source. However, most of them are low level tools which are used to gather the uncover data from the storage orcomputing devices. A better forensic case management which support the root cause analysis based on a formal methodwill assist the work of investigator. SAFFA-NG is a freely available workflow system which is designed to assist thework of forensic and investigator by guiding the forensic work according to forensic guidelines. SAFFA-NG is developedusing many Open Source Software components which ensure the thorough auditing of the system. It is designed basedon technical and forensic requirements. This is a collaboration projects between Gunadarma University, IMade Wiryana (RVS Arbeitsgruppe – Bielefeld University) and Andreas Vangerow (P3 Consulting GmbH).During the development of system some feedbacks and assistance are provided by LKA Niedersachsen, KPKand Indonesia Police Department