Induction of hypochromic macrocytic anaemia in Oreochromis hybrid (cichlidae) exposed to 100mg/l (sublethal dose) of aluminium

The haematology of Oreochromis hybrid locally cultured for human consumption was investigated after exposing the fishes for 8 weeks to a sublethal dose of 100mg/L aluminium. The haematological changes based on the examination of blood variables during the 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of exposures have been reported. The physiological changes brought by the sublethal dose of aluminium in Oreochromis hybrid direct towards a normochromic microcytic anaemia which gradually progresses upon prolonged exposure to a normochromic macrocytic one, eventually becoming hypochromic macrocytic after 8 weeks (long term) exposure. In this instance, these changes have been attributed to the swelling of the red blood cells, haemodilution and impaired haemoglobin synthesis as a result of persistent low haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration recorded.Keywords: Oreochromis hybrid, fish, anaemia, aluminium, sublethal, haematology

Amebic Liver Abscess With Intra-Biliary Rupture

The case of a large amebic liver abscess with an atypical presentation is reported. High output bile drainage persisted after ultrasound guided percutaneous catheter drainage because of a preexisting communication of the abscess with the right hepatic ductal system. The abscess was managed successfully by surgical evacuation and internal drainage into a defunctioned jejunal loop

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Mortality in Tephritid Fruit Fry Puparia and Adults Caused by Metarhizium Anisopliae, Paecilomyces Fumosoroseus and Beauveria Bassiana

Tephritid fruit flies are recognized as the most economically important group of phytophagous Diptera, and cause large losses to fruits and vegetables throughout the world. In the small developing island state, Mauritius, the key major pest of fruits and vegetables are Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) and B. cucurbitae (Coquillett), respectively. At present, growers have recourse to chemical pesticides which are hazardous to both the environment and human health. The objective of the study was to evaluate entomopathogenic fungi isolated from the soils of Mauritius as biocontrol agents of fruit flies. The pathogenicity of six isolates of M. anisopliae, three isolates of B. bassiana and one isolate of P. fumosoroseus were determined for late third-instar larvae, puparia and emerging adults of B. zonata and B. cucurbitae. A standard concentration of 1 x 108 conidia/ml (5 ml) was used to inoculate 50 g lots of sand. Twenty mature third-instar larvae of either B. zonata or B. cucurbitae that were ready to pupate within the next 24 h were then introduced into each Petri dish for pupation. The overall result showed a significant reduction in adult emergence for both fruit fly species. For B. zonata, the percentage adult emergence varied from 60 to 93% in fungal treated sand; while, 1 to 30% of the puparia showed visible signs of mycosis. As regards B. cucurbitae, adult emergence ranged from 52 to 92% in fungal-treated sand and the highest percentage of mycosed puparia recorded with an isolate of M. anisopliae was 48%. Given the fact that there was significant reduction in adult emergence and a corresponding large mortality on puparia, the most virulent isolates could be potential candidates for soil application against fruit flies.Keywords: Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera zonata, fruit flies, pupae,biocontro

Effect of different light regimes and predation on the sexual behaviour of the Guppy, Poecilia Reticulata (Pisces, Poeciliidae)

No Abstrac

Models for Safety Analysis of Road Surface Transit

A study was done to explore the development of zonal- and arterial-level collision prediction models that incorporate characteristics applicable to urban transit planning. A generalized linear modeling approach with a negative binomial regression error structure was employed by using a data set from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The zonal-level models indicate that vehicle kilometers traveled, bus or streetcar kilometers traveled, arterial road kilometers, bus stop density, percentage of near-sided stops, and average posted speed have significant associations with occurrences of transit-involved collisions. The arterial-level models, which were developed for collisions involving all motor vehicles, suggest that average annual daily traffic, transit frequency, segment length, presence of on-street parking, and percentage of near-sided stops are all associated with increased frequency of these collisions, whereas percentage of far-sided stops and average stop spacing are linked with reduced collision frequency. It is evident that models such as those developed in this study can provide transit agencies with decision-support tools for considering safety implications in the strategic and service-planning processes. These models can also be used as a tool to predict future levels of transit-involved collisions for an existing and a new transportation network or arterial route

Early and six-month assessment of bi-ventricular functions following surgical closure of atrial septal defect

Background: The effect of surgical closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) on biventricular functions is not well studied. We studied effect of surgical closure of ASD on bi-ventricular functions. Methods: Patients undergoing surgical closure of ASD from December 2007 to June 2009 had 3 sequential echocardiograms examination: pre-procedure, post surgery at 1-month and at 6-month of follow up. Pulse Doppler velocities across mitral and tricuspid valves were measured as peak early diastolic (E wave) and peak late diastolic (A wave). Tissue Doppler velocities across lateral wall of both right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) were measured as peak early diastolic (E′), peak late diastolic (A′), and peak systolic (S′) wave. Radionuclide angiography was performed to assess RV and LV ejection fraction at baseline and at 1-month follow up. Results: The mean age of 20 enrolled patients was 21.85 ± 10.9 years; 8 females & 12 males. Trans-tricuspid flow velocities significantly decreased following surgery at one and 6-month (p < 0.005). There was no significant change in trans-mitral flow velocities at one and 6-months. Tricuspid and mitral E/A ratio and E/E′ ratio also had an insignificant change following surgery. There was no significant change in LV ejection fraction as assessed by echocardiography (p = 0.132) and radionuclide scan (p = 0.143). Right ventricular ejection fraction had a significant improvement at 1-month of follow up (p = 0.005). Conclusions: There was a significant improvement in RV systolic function and an insignificant change in RV and LV diastolic functions following surgical closure of ASD

Safety evaluation of red-light cameras.

This is a final report on a study to evaluate the effectiveness of red-light-camera (RLC) systems in reducing crashes. The intended audience is professionals who make decisions about safety programs for intersections. The study involved empirical Bayes before-and-after research using data from seven jurisdictions across the United States to estimate the crash and associated economic effects of RLC systems. The study included 132 treatment sites and specially derived rear end and right-angle unit crash costs for various severity levels. Crash effects detected were consistent in direction with those found in many previous studies: decreased right-angle crashes and increased rear end crashes. The economic analysis examined the extent to which the increase in rear end crashes negates the benefits for decreased right-angle crashes. There was indeed a modest aggregate crash cost benefit of RLC systems even when accounting for the negative impact of rear end collisions. The benefit of RLC systems could increase further, if measures were taken to educate or alert drivers that vehicles preceding them could be stopping suddenly for a red light and thus reduce the likelihood of a rear end crash. A disaggregate analysis found that the greatest economic benefits are associated with the highest total entering average annual daily traffic, the largest ratios of right-angle to rear end crashes, and with the presence of protected left-turn phases. There were weak indications of a spillover effect that point to a possible need for a more definitive, perhaps prospective, study of this issue.This is a final report on a study to evaluate the effectiveness of red-light-camera (RLC) systems in reducing crashes. The intended audience is professionals who make decisions about safety programs for intersections. The study involved empirical Bayes before-and-after research using data from seven jurisdictions across the United States to estimate the crash and associated economic effects of RLC systems. The study included 132 treatment sites and specially derived rear end and right-angle unit crash costs for various severity levels. Crash effects detected were consistent in direction with those found in many previous studies: decreased right-angle crashes and increased rear end crashes. The economic analysis examined the extent to which the increase in rear end crashes negates the benefits for decreased right-angle crashes. There was indeed a modest aggregate crash cost benefit of RLC systems even when accounting for the negative impact of rear end collisions. The benefit of RLC systems could increase further, if measures were taken to educate or alert drivers that vehicles preceding them could be stopping suddenly for a red light and thus reduce the likelihood of a rear end crash. A disaggregate analysis found that the greatest economic benefits are associated with the highest total entering average annual daily traffic, the largest ratios of right-angle to rear end crashes, and with the presence of protected left-turn phases. There were weak indications of a spillover effect that point to a possible need for a more definitive, perhaps prospective, study of this issue.Transportation Department, Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation Systems, Washington, D.C.Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety Research and Development, McLean, Va.Mode of access: Internet.Author corporate affiliation: Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OhioAuthor corporate affiliation: Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)Author corporate affiliation: Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.""April 2005."--Technical report documentation pageIncludes bibliographical references (p. 85-89)Final report; 11/19/2001-11/30/2004Subject code: YCRSSubject code: HCESubject code: XPCSubject code: XPHSubject code: RETQSubject code: HBEBDSubject code: NKHLSubject code: WWBSubject code: JASubject code: JALSubject code: SFBSubject code: JLK