Famine: Lessons Learned

Famine: Lessons Learned was produced as the world was responding to four potential famines simultaneously – in Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. Much has been written and researched on famine, and many lessons on how to best prevent and respond to famine have been learned the hard way. This paper therefore draws on lessons learned from the last 30-plus years of famine crises and response, going back to famines in Ethiopia and Sudan in the 1980s, up to the most recent famine in Somalia in 2011

تأثير الطريقة السمعية الشفهية في ترقية مهارة الكلام (دراسة تجريبية في معهد باب المعارف ببونجو جانبى)

المنهج المستخدم في هذه الرسالة فهو البحث الميداني الكمي بالنوع التجريبي،والطريقة المستعملة هي طريقة إحصائية. ومكان البحث في معهد باب المعارفببونجو جانبى، وجمع البيانات بالاختبار، ومصادر البيانات تتكون من مدرسياللغة العربية والتلاميذ. وبعدما وجدت الكاتبة البيانات المتعلقة بهذه الرسالةتفصلها بناء على المسائل التي تبحث في الجدول ثم تحللها وتجعلها أساسا فياستنباط الخلاصة.النتيجة التي وصلت إليها الكاتبة في هذا البحث أن استخدام الطريقة السمعيةالشفهية في ترقية مهارة الكلام يمشي على حدود لها تأثير في قدرة التلاميذ فينطق الأصوات العربية وبناء الجملة الصحيحة، والفرضة المباشرة مقبولة فيالفصل التجريبي والفرضة العدمية مردود في الفصل الضبطي لأن النتيجةفي الفصل التجريبي من الاختبار البعدي ترتفع جيدة هي ،6,97في حين أنالفصل الضبطي لم يحصل إلا على نسبة .6,84أما النتيجة التي حصلتها فيبناء الجملة الصحيحة فهي أن لفرضة المباشرة مقبولة في الفصل التجريبيوالفرضة العدمية مردود في الفصل الضبطي لأن النتيجة في الفصل التجريبيمن الاختبار البعدي ترتفع جيدة هي ،27,77في حين أن الفصل الضبطي لميحصل إلا على نسبة .74لذلك، وجدت الكاتبة فرقا بين مهارة الكلام باستخدامالسمعية الشفهية وبدون استخدامها.الكلمات الرئيسية: الطريقة السمعية الشفهية و مهارة الكلا

Kualitas Beberapa Telur Bermerek Khusus Dibandingkan Dengan Telur Ayam Ras Dan Buras

Quality of Branded Eggs as Compared to Layer and Domestic Chicken Eggs.Many branded eggs found in the market claimed as low in cholesterol (Low Cholesterol Egg, Golden Egg), or claimed as high in omega-3 fatty acid content (Omega-3 Egg), besides common domestic and layer chicken eggs. This brand trend attracted the consumer to buy. Nonetheless, there is a need to evaluate further on the quality they claimed besides the physical quality. The evaluation was done regarded of those 5 types of eggs on their outer measurements (shape abnormalities, size indexes, shell thickness); and inner measurements (Haugh Units, yolk color score). The results indicated that all egg types had normal appearance with size indexes of 1.24-1.38. The Haugh Units was arround 28.7-67.3 and yolk color score was arround 5.0-13.3. Based on those results, the zerro week marketed eggs (Group I) clasified as A quality and the one week marketed eggs (Group II) were B quality. The data on chemical analyses indicated that the omega-3 fatty acid content was significantly the highest (p<0.05) in Omega-3 egg, while the cholesterol content was \u27similar in all types of eggs. The easiest way to judge the quality are from the shape and size of the eggs. Those have to be in normal shape and uniform size. While the claimed on low cholesterol content is not proven

Targeting danger molecules in tendinopathy: the HMGB1/TLR4 axis

Objectives: To seek evidence of the danger molecule, high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) expression in human tendinopathy and thereafter, to explore mechanisms where HMGB1 may regulate inflammatory mediators and matrix regulation in human tendinopathy. Methods: Torn supraspinatus tendon (established pathology) and matched intact subscapularis tendon (representing ‘early pathology’) biopsies were collected from patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Control samples of subscapularis tendon were collected from patients undergoing arthroscopic stabilisation surgery. Markers of inflammation and HMGB1 were quantified by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Human tendon-derived primary cells were derived from hamstring tendon tissue obtained during hamstring tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and used through passage 3. In vitro effects of recombinant HMGB1 on tenocyte matrix and inflammatory potential were measured using quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Tendinopathic tissues demonstrated significantly increased levels of the danger molecule HMGB1 compared with control tissues with early tendinopathy tissue showing the greatest expression. The addition of recombinant human HMGB1 to tenocytes led to significant increase in expression of a number of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-33, CCL2 and CXCL12, in vitro. Further analysis demonstrated rhHMGB1 treatment resulted in increased expression of genes involved in matrix remodelling. Significant increases were observed in Col3, Tenascin-C and Decorin. Moreover, blocking HMGB1 signalling via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) silencing reversed these key inflammatory and matrix changes. Conclusion: HMGB1 is present in human tendinopathy and can regulate inflammatory cytokines and matrix changes. We propose HMGB1 as a mediator driving the inflammatory/matrix crosstalk and manipulation of the HMGB1/TLR4 axis may offer novel therapeutic approaches targeting inflammatory mechanisms in the management of human tendon disorders

The Tuber Extract and Flour of Dioscorea Alatanormalize the Blood Lipid Profile of Rabbits Treated with High Cholesterol Diets

Background: Dioscorea alata(DA) tuber has potential to prevent the condition of hyperlipidemia due to the bioactive compound, such as anthocyanins, diosgenin, and dietary fiber that beneficial in normalizing blood lipid profiles. In this research, the effect of water extract and flour of DA tuber administration was examined on rabbits treated with high cholesterol diets.Methods:DA tuber extract and flour were administrated to the rabbits for 60 days using completely randomised design. The ration treatment are as follows: 1) Basal ration as negative control (K0), 2) Basal ration + 0.5% cholesterol, as positive control (K1), 3) Basal ration + 0.5% cholesterol + DA extract 1.8 g/100 g (KE1), 4) Basal ration + cholesterol 0.5% + DA extract 3.6 g/100 g (KE2), 5) Basal ration with 15% DA flour + 0.5% cholesterol (KT1) and 6) Basal ration with 30% DA flour + 0.5% cholesterol (KT2). The Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL cholesterol in serum were analysed at baseline, days 28, days 56 and at the end of study.Results:The administration of high cholesterol (1%) ration increased blood lipid levels by 16 fold compared to that of control. The administration of 15% and 30% of DA flour could maintain blood lipid profile to normal condition, in particular at 30% substitution DA flour. However the water extract of DA can not maintain a normal blood lipids of high cholesterol treated rabbitsConclusion: Dioscorea alata flour has suggested to have anti-hyperlipidemia effect. (Health Science Indones 2014;1:23-9

Genetic Classification of Populations using Supervised Learning

There are many instances in genetics in which we wish to determine whether two candidate populations are distinguishable on the basis of their genetic structure. Examples include populations which are geographically separated, case--control studies and quality control (when participants in a study have been genotyped at different laboratories). This latter application is of particular importance in the era of large scale genome wide association studies, when collections of individuals genotyped at different locations are being merged to provide increased power. The traditional method for detecting structure within a population is some form of exploratory technique such as principal components analysis. Such methods, which do not utilise our prior knowledge of the membership of the candidate populations. are termed \emph{unsupervised}. Supervised methods, on the other hand are able to utilise this prior knowledge when it is available. In this paper we demonstrate that in such cases modern supervised approaches are a more appropriate tool for detecting genetic differences between populations. We apply two such methods, (neural networks and support vector machines) to the classification of three populations (two from Scotland and one from Bulgaria). The sensitivity exhibited by both these methods is considerably higher than that attained by principal components analysis and in fact comfortably exceeds a recently conjectured theoretical limit on the sensitivity of unsupervised methods. In particular, our methods can distinguish between the two Scottish populations, where principal components analysis cannot. We suggest, on the basis of our results that a supervised learning approach should be the method of choice when classifying individuals into pre-defined populations, particularly in quality control for large scale genome wide association studies.Comment: Accepted PLOS On

The Agewell trial: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a behaviour change intervention to promote healthy ageing and reduce risk of dementia in later life

Background: Lifestyle factors represent prime targets for behaviour change interventions to promote healthy ageing and reduce dementia risk. We evaluated a goal-setting intervention aimed at promoting increased cognitive and physical activity and improving mental and physical fitness, diet and health. Methods: This was a pilot randomised controlled trial designed to guide planning for a larger-scale investigation, provide preliminary evidence regarding efficacy, and explore feasibility and acceptability. Primary outcomes were engagement in physical and cognitive activity. Participants aged over 50 living independently in the community were recruited through a community Agewell Centre. Following baseline assessment participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: control (IC) had an interview in which information about activities and health was discussed; goal-setting (GS n = 24) had an interview in which they set behaviour change goals relating to physical, cognitive and social activity, health and nutrition; and goal-setting with mentoring (GM, n = 24) had the goal-setting interview followed by bi-monthly telephone mentoring. Participants and researchers were blinded to group assignment. Participants were reassessed after 12 months. Results: Seventy-five participants were randomised (IC n = 27, GS n = 24, GM n = 24). At 12-month follow-up, the two goal-setting groups, taken together (GS n = 21, GM n = 22), increased their level of physical (effect size 0.37) and cognitive (effect size 0.15) activity relative to controls (IC n = 27). In secondary outcomes, the two goal-setting groups taken together achieved additional benefits compared to control (effect sizes ≥ 0.2) in memory, executive function, cholesterol level, aerobic capacity, flexibility, balance, grip strength, and agility. Adding follow-up mentoring produced further benefits compared to goal-setting alone (effect sizes ≥ 0.2) in physical activity, body composition, global cognition and memory, but not in other domains. Implementation of the recruitment procedure, assessment and intervention was found to be feasible and the approach taken was acceptable to participants, with no adverse effects. Conclusions: A brief, low-cost goal-setting intervention is feasible and acceptable, and has the potential to achieve increased activity engagement. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN3008063