From A Fishing Village to Tourists’ Destination : Hongjia Village in Northeastern China

Peer reviewe

Right-tailed Testing of Variance for Non-Normal Distributions

A new test of variance for non-normal distribution with fewer restrictions than the current tests is proposed. Simulation study shows that the new test controls the Type I error rate well, and has power performance comparable to the competitors. In addition, it can be used without restrictions

Osteology, natural history notes, and phylogenetic relationships of the poorly known Caribbean frog Leptodactylus nesiotus (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

The Leptodactylus melanonotus group consists of 15 species, but references to skeletal characters are available for only three species: L. leptodactyloides, L. melanonotus, and L. diedrus. Leptodactylus nesiotus is a member of the melanonotus group known only from the type locality, Bonasse swamp, on the Southwestern peninsula of Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. This species has been categorized as vulnerable given its restricted distribution. Herein, we report the adult osteology of L. nesiotus, the skeletal characters are compared with the available data from other Leptodactylusspecies. A phylogenetic analysis recovers a paraphyletic L. melanonotus group relative to the L. latrans group. A monophyletic “latrans-melanonotus” clade is supported by five synapomorphies. L. nesiotus is recovered as the sister species of L. validus, a relationship supported by two synapomorphies: T-shaped terminal phalanges and a dark-colored stripe on the outer surface of arm. In addition, we report on the ecology of this poorly known species.El grupo L. melanonotus del género Leptodactylus incluye 15 especies, aunque sólo existen reportes de caracteres osteológicos para tres de ellas: L. leptodactyloides, L. melanonotus y L. diedrus. Leptodactylus nesiotus es un miembro del grupo L. melanonotus que ha sido categorizado como vulnerable debido a su distribución restringida, ya que es conocido sólo de la localidad tipo: La ciénaga de Bonasse, sudoeste de la península de la isla Trinidad, Trinidad y Tobago. En este trabajo se aportan datos sobre la osteología de adultos de L. nesiotus, los cuales son comparados con lo observado en otras especies del género, y se sumaron a una matriz previamente elaborada. Esta fuente de caracteres se utilizó para realizar un análisis de parsimonia y proponer una hipótesis filogenética. El grupo L. melanonotus resultó parafilético respecto al grupo L. latrans. El clado latrans-melanonotus es apoyado por cinco sinapomorfías. Se infiere a Leptodactylus nesiotus como la especie hermana de L. validus, relación apoyada por dos sinapomorfías: falanges terminales en forma de T, y presencia de banda oscura en el borde externo del brazo. Además se reportan observaciones sobre la ecología de esta especie pobremente conocida.Fil: Ponssa, María Laura. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología. Instituto de Herpetología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: de Sa, Rafael O.. University of Richmond; Estados UnidosFil: Jowers, Michael J.. University of Glasgow; Reino Unid

Alterations in the lipid profile and liver enzymes of rats treated with monosodium glutamate

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of monosodium glutamate on the liver and lipid profile of eighteen adult male Wistar rats as measured by biochemical parameters. The rats received monosodium glutamate at dose rate of 0, 0.5 and 1.0g per day for 28 days. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in aminotransferases i.e. alanine and aspartate aminotransferases as well as increase in total plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol most obvious at higher dose of 1.0g of monosodium glutamate. Though there was decrease in plasma protein concentration, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol which was not statistically significant, therefore monosodium glutamate has both hepatotoxic and dyslipidaemia effects due to its alterations in both aminotransferase activities and lipid profile, hence monosodium glutamate though a flavor enhancer food additive but it must be carefully used in food preparation due to it alterations in both the liver enzymes and the lipid profile.Keywords: Adult rats, dyslipidaemia, flavor enhancer, hepatotoxic, monosodium glutamat

Normal values of key pinch strength in a healthy Nigerian population

Background: With the severity of machine hand injuries in our environment, the need to determine the normal values for key pinch strength with which to compare restorative surgeries was justified.Methods: A cross sectional survey of participants who had no previous hand injuries limiting hand function. Data obtained included age, gender, body mass index, hand dominance and hand span. The Baseline Hydraulic Pinch Gauge was used to obtain key pinch strength. The influence of the above variables on measured pinch strength was analyzed using independent sample t-tests and Pearson’s correlation.Results: Of the 242 recruited participants, age range between 20 and 80 years, 163(67.4%) were male and 79 (32.6%) were female. Males had higher pinch strength (right-8.3±2.7kg, left-7.6±2.5kg) than females (right-6.3±1.5kg, left-5.8±1.5kg). Pinch strength varied with age peaking in the fifth decade in males and females. Interestingly, the left handed dominant female had higher right pinch strength than her right handed counterpart (p<0.009). Height, and hand span correlated with pinch strength in females.Conclusion: Normal values for key pinch strength in this Nigerian population are lower than that of Caucasians.Keywords: Key pinch, Nigerians, Normal value

Ambulatory Cleft Lip surgery in a developing Country

No Abstrac

The effectiveness of decompression as initial treatment for jaw cysts : a 10-year retrospective study

Decompression is an approved alternative to cystectomy in the treatment of jaw cysts. This study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness as an initial procedure, as well as factors with potential to influence outcome. The frequency of decompression was analysed, whether completed in one session or followed by enucleation at the Division of Oral Surgery and Orthodontics, Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Health, Medical University of Graz, from 2005 to 2015. Further analysis focussed on factors potentially influencing outcome: cyst location, histopathology, means of preserving the cyst opening, cyst size, patient age. In all, 53 patients with 55 jaw cysts (mean age of 35.1) were treated by initial decompression in the ten-year period. In the majority of cases, histopathological analysis revealed a follicular cyst (43.6%), followed by odontogenic keratocysts (23.7%), radicular cysts (21.8%), residual cysts (7.3%) and nasopalatine cysts (3.6%) Treatment was completed with a single decompression in 45.5% of the cases. Among those, 72.0% were follicular cysts and 8.0% odontogenic keratocysts. Subsequent enucleation was needed in 54.5% of all cases, with a majority in the keratocystic group (36.7%). Histological findings, means of keeping the cyst open, and patient age were found to influence the effectiveness of decompression. Decompression could be performed as a procedure completed in one session or combined with subsequent enucleation, mainly dependent on histopathological findings. Subsequent enucleation of odontogenic keratocysts is highly recommended