Abundance and Distribution of Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa Chinensis) in the Shimoni Archipelago, Kenya

This paper provides the first record of the distribution of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and an estimate of their abundance within the Shimoni Archipelogo, Kenya. Boat-based surveys (n=167) were conducted during 2006, using photographic identification (photo-id) techniques and mark-recapture methods for open populations (Jolly-Seber model) to estimate the abundance of humpback dolphins inhabiting the Wasini Channel (104: 95% CI 67-160). Their distribution was mapped within a 50% isopleth of encounter locations in the Wasini Channel, identified as the core habitat area. Most (97%) sightings were recorded outside the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Protected Area (KMMPA). Further research is required but it is likely that the protection afforded by the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) in their management of the KMMPA needs to be expanded to the Wasini Channel to ensure protection of the habitat of this small group of humpback dolphins

A Study On Women Drug Dependents And Carers Of Drug Dependents In Malaysia.

In most countries of the world, substance misuse has ceased to be seen as a problem affecting a few unfortunate individuals or a miscreant sub-group. The perception now is• of a growing international problem which incurs heavy costs for society and the community as well as for individuals personally involve

Seroprevalence of Hyperglycaemia in HIV Positive Patients Visiting the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Background: Hyperglycaemia is a metabolic syndrome and common endocrine disease where there is increased blood glucose level. It can result in long-term damage and failure of different organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels and finally cause death. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hyperglycaemia in HIV subjects visiting the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Cape Coast and its relationship with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).  Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out and blood samples of 120 HIV positive subjects of age groups ranging from 2 to 74 were collected for screening and confirmation after an informed consent was obtained from them. The blood glucose level was then tested using OneTouch glucometer and test strips.  The results were analysed using chi square goodness-of-fit and cross tabulation.  Results: A total of 9 patients out of the 120 HIV subjects had an increased glucose level, giving a prevalence rate of 7.5%. They were within the ages of 20-60 years and were significantly lower compared to those without hyperglycaemia (p<0.05), those married (p=0.001) and those divorced (p=0.001).  There was an inverse relationship between the period of living with HIV and the high glycaemia status (r= -0.949, p=0.017). There was also an inverse relationship between the use of HAART and high glycaemia status (r=-0.071, p=0.0028). There was a significant number of participants, who were experiencing increased thirst (p=0.003). Also a significant number of participants experienced increased hunger (p=0.010). Conclusion: The study revealed that there was hyperglycaemia among the study population. This may be reduced during therapy and changes in their lifestyle. Regular monitoring of glucose level in HIV infected patients and counselling on lifestyle changes are recommended. Keywords: Seroprevalence, hyperglycaemia, HI

Visual Orbits of Spectroscopic Binaries with the CHARA Array. III. HD 8374 and HD 24546

We present the visual orbits of two long period spectroscopic binary stars, HD 8374 and HD 24546, using interferometric observations acquired with the CHARA Array and the Palomar Testbed Interferometer. We also obtained new radial velocities from echelle spectra using the APO 3.5 m and Fairborn 2.0 m telescopes. By combining the visual and spectroscopic observations, we solve for the full, three-dimensional orbits and determine the stellar masses and distances to within 3% uncertainty. We then estimate the effective temperature and radius of each component star through Doppler tomography and spectral energy distribution analyses, in order to compare the observed stellar parameters to the predictions of stellar evolution models. For HD 8374, we find masses of M1 = 1.636 +/- 0.050 Msun and M2 = 1.587 +/- 0.049 Msun, radii of R1 = 1.84 +/- 0.05 Rsun and R2 = 1.66 +/- 0.12 Rsun, temperatures of Teff1 = 7280 +/- 110 K and Teff2 = 7280 +/- 120 K, and an estimated age of 1.0 Gyr. For HD 24546, we find masses of M1 = 1.434 +/- 0.014 Msun and M2 = 1.409 +/- 0.014 Msun, radii of R1 = 1.67 +/- 0.06 Rsun and R2 = 1.60 +/- 0.10 Rsun, temperatures of Teff1 = 6790 +/- 120 K and Teff2 = 6770 +/- 90 K, and an estimated age of 1.4 Gyr. HD 24546 is therefore too old to be a member of the Hyades cluster, despite its physical proximity to the group.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in A

po 8397 viral suppression among cameroonian adults adolescents and children receiving antiretroviral therapy in the test treat era

BackgroundGlobal efforts in meeting the 90–90–90 targets reveal that 70% of infected people know their HIV status, 77% of these are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 82% of treated patients have viral suppression. Since launching the 'test and treat' strategy and wider access to drugs that bring down the viral load (VL), evaluating viral suppression would help to identify those requiring interventions and to make progress towards meeting the targets in Cameroon.MethodsA study was conducted from October 2015 to August 2017 amongst adults (≥20 years), adolescents (10–19) and children (0–9) at 12, 24, 36 and ≥48 months on ART, monitored at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. VL was established using Abbott m2000RT-PCR. VS was defined as VL <1000 copies/ml; with p<0,05 considered significant.ResultsA total of 1979 patients (70% female) were enrolled (1825 adults, 112 adolescents, 42 children); 1865 were on first-line (NNRTI-based, duration: 48 [IQR 24–48] months) vs. 114 on second-line (PI/r-based, duration: 48 [IQR 36–48] months); with 19%(368) at Month2, 14%(274) at Month24, 10%(207) at Month36% and 54% (1130) at ≥Month48. Overall, viral suppression was 79.4%, and 64.3% had controlled viral replication (VL <40). On first-line, viral suppression was 79.7% (1487) vs. 72.2%(83) on second-line (p=0,076). By ART duration, viral suppression was 83.4%(Month12), 85.8%(Month24), 74.9%(Month36) and 77.3% (≥Month48); p=0,0011. By age-range, viral suppression was 76.2% in children, 54.5% in adolescents, and 80.9% in adults (p<0,0001). By age and ART-regimen, viral suppression on first vs. second line was: children 76.5% vs. 60%; adolescents 51.7% vs. 65.2%; and adults 81.2% vs. 74.7%.ConclusionAbout 80% of Cameroonian patients might be experiencing viral suppression, with a declining performance at adolescence and by 3 years of ART experience. Thus, meeting the viral suppression target by 2020 requires a closer VL monitoring strategy and an adapted adherence support mechanism for adolescents living with HIV in resource-limited settings sharing similar challenges

Src Dependent Pancreatic Acinar Injury Can Be Initiated Independent of an Increase in Cytosolic Calcium

Several deleterious intra-acinar phenomena are simultaneously triggered on initiating acute pancreatitis. These culminate in acinar injury or inflammatory mediator generation in vitro and parenchymal damage in vivo. Supraphysiologic caerulein is one such initiator which simultaneously activates numerous signaling pathways including non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as of the Src family. It also causes a sustained increase in cytosolic calcium- a player thought to be crucial in regulating deleterious phenomena. We have shown Src to be involved in caerulein induced actin remodeling, and caerulein induced changes in the Golgi and post-Golgi trafficking to be involved in trypsinogen activation, which initiates acinar cell injury. However, it remains unclear whether an increase in cytosolic calcium is necessary to initiate acinar injury or if injury can be initiated at basal cytosolic calcium levels by an alternate pathway. To study the interplay between tyrosine kinase signaling and calcium, we treated mouse pancreatic acinar cells with the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate. We studied the effect of the clinically used Src inhibitor Dasatinib (BMS-354825) on pervanadate or caerulein induced changes in Src activation, trypsinogen activation, cell injury, upstream cytosolic calcium, actin and Golgi morphology. Pervanadate, like supraphysiologic caerulein, induced Src activation, redistribution of the F-actin from its normal location in the sub-apical area to the basolateral areas, and caused antegrade fragmentation of the Golgi. These changes, like those induced by supraphysiologic caerulein, were associated with trypsinogen activation and acinar injury, all of which were prevented by Dasatinib. Interestingly, however, pervanadate did not cause an increase in cytosolic calcium, and the caerulein induced increase in cytosolic calcium was not affected by Dasatinib. These findings suggest that intra-acinar deleterious phenomena may be initiated independent of an increase in cytosolic calcium. Other players resulting in acinar injury along with the Src family of tyrosine kinases remain to be explored. © 2013 Mishra et al

Gamma-ray production from resonant betatron oscillations of accelerated electrons in a plasma wake

The laser-plasma wakefield accelerator is a novel ultra-compact particle accelerator. A very intense laser pulse focused onto plasma can excites plasma density waves. Electrons surfing these waves can be accelerated to very high energies with unprecedented accelerating gradients in excess of 1 GV/cm. While accelerating, electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations and emit synchrotron-like x-ray radiation into a narrow on-axis cone, which is enhanced when electrons interact with the electromagnetic field of the laser. In this case, the laser can resonantly drive the electron motion, lading to direct laser acceleration. This occurs when the betatron frequency matches the Doppler down-shifted frequency of the laser. As a consequence, the number of photons emitted is strongly enhanced and the critical photon energy is increases to 100’s of ke