Thoracic Gas Volume in Athletes and Non-Athletes

The purpose of this study was to analyze the predicted thoracic gas volume versus measured thoracic gas volume in college students, comparing NCAA collegiate athletes versus non-athletes using the Bod Pod. Forty-four college students, both males and females, athletes and non-athletes, completed a body composition test to obtain the predicted thoracic gas volume. The participants were then instructed by the Bod Pod software through the measured thoracic gas volume test. Due to low statistical power, athletes and non-athletes were unable to be compared, however, results of a two sample t-test showed that there was a statistically significant difference between measured thoracic gas volume and predicted thoracic gas volume within the population as a whole. The average predicted thoracic gas volume was 3.66 liters ± 0.103 while the measured thoracic gas volume was 4.02 liters ± 0.165. The significance level for the test was p ≤ 0.05 and the p-value obtained from the statistical analysis was p ≤ 0.001. It was concluded that within this study, there was a significant difference between the predicted and measured thoracic gas volumes of the population

Farmers’ perceived pathways for further intensification of push-pull systems in Western Kenya

Push-pull technology provides farmers in East Africa with an eco-friendly strategy that increases crop yield and household income in smallholder cereal systems by controlling pests and improving soil health. Though promising for a sustainably intensified production, push-pull has been used at limited scale, primarily in maize-and sorghum-based production systems. Expanding the scope, applicability and acceptance of the practice in smallholder farming systems, will leverage the full potential of push-pull as a widely applicable sustainable farming practice. Using key informant interviews and focus group discussions, we explored farmers’ needs and perceived pathways for integrating push-pull and other sustainable intensification practices in synergy with existing cropping systems in Kisumu, Vihiga and Siaya Counties in Western Kenya. We found that farmers in the region typically grow and intercrop a variety of crops, with maize being the most common crop. Farmers commonly practice crop-livestock farming, intercropping, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer use, and use improved varieties to increase maize production. Across the counties, integration of food legumes, agroforestry and crop-livestock farming, were identified as fundamental pathways for stretching the benefits of push-pull. Limitations to farmers’ aspirations and key enablers for facilitating spontaneous adoption of identified sustainable intensification practices for push-pull farming systems are discussed

Pattern of Pelvic Ultrasound Request and Findings in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi

Background: Pelvic ultrasonography involves the evaluation of pelvic organs and structures. It is valuable in the diagnosis of pathological conditions which are likely causes of pelvic pain.Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of pelvic ultrasound request and findings in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the radiology department of ATBUTH. A total of 1,320 ultrasonography records of patients for pelvic examination were reviewed from January 2016 to February 2017,and tabulated according to age, sex, clinical indication and ultrasound findings. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 to determine the mean, frequency and percentages. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship between clinical indication and ultrasound findings.Results: The age group of 21-30 years and 31- 40 years had the highest frequency (n = 627, 47.5 %) and (n = 321, 24.3%), respectively. Gender distribution were 1158 (87.7 %), for females and 162 (12.3 %) for males. Pelvic pain had the highest indication, 72.3% (n = 955), followed by PID, 9.2% (n = 121), then BPH, 3.4% (n=45) and, ovarian cyst, 2.7 % (n = 36). Conclusion: The highest indication and findings are pelvic pain and pelvic inflammatory diseases, among females while benign prostatic hypertrophy was the highest in males

Establishment of local Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) for radiography examinations in north eastern Nigeria

Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) is an essential optimization tool in radiography and radiological sciences. The objective of the study is to establish DRL for radiography examinations in north eastern Nigeria. A Prospective cross- sectional study conducted in two university teaching hospitals in north eastern Nigeria. Seven hundred and fifty (750) patients were considered for the study. Thermoluminiscent dosimeter (TLD) chips were exposed for each examination. Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship between the dose and anthropotechnical parameters. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. The DRL for PA chest x-ray and lateral were 0.59 mGy and 1.02 mGy, PA skull x-ray and lateral skull x-ray were 1.02 mGy and 1.01 mGy. The DRL for PA elbow and lateral elbow are 0.57 mGy and 1.77mGy. AP shoulder x-ray and lateral were 0.71 mGy and 0.83 mGy The DRL for dorsi-plantar foot and dorsi-plantar oblique foot were 0.58 mGy and 0.61 mGy .AP dorsal spine x-ray and lateral dorsal spine are 1.03 mGy and 1.09 mGy. AP cervical spine and lateral were 0.62 mGy and0.79 mGy. Lumbosacral spine AP and lateral was 1.22 mGy and 1.59 mGy. AP wrist, lateral wrist, AP knee, lateral knee, Abdominal x-ray, pelvic x-ray, hand dorsi-palmar ,hand dorsi-palmar oblique and dental x-ray were 0.52mGy,0.87mGy, 0.50mGy, 0.50 mGy, 0.91 mGy, 1.01 mGy, 0.82 mGy,0.28 mGy, 0.83 mGy and 0.46 mGy respectively. DRLs in this work recorded lower values compared to international established work. Regular dose optimization etiquette’s are required to ensure good practice.Keywords: Diagnostic reference levels, Radiography, Thermoluminiscent dosimeter, Dental, x-rays, Entrance skin dos

Procjena zahtjeva za snimanje i nalaza na temelju MR slika pacijenata u Državnoj specijalističkoj bolnici Bauchi

Background: MRI plays a vital role in diagnosis of diseases. Objectives: To determine the pattern of imaging requests and findings from MRI scans of patients in the Bauchi State Hospital. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of MRI request forms and findings of 138 patients was conducted from August 2016 to January 2017. MRI scans were performed using a 0.35T Neusoft MRI scanner and reported by a group of consultant radiologists. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics with the computer software SPSS version 22 (IBM, New York, USA). Results: This study revealed that majority of the MRI requests were for lumbosacral spine examinations (n=84, 60.9%), followed closely by MRI of the brain (n=42, 30.4%) and thirdly shoulder and abdomen examinations with a frequency of 4.3% each. Out of 138 MRI scans studied, intervertebral disc prolapse (n=60, 43.5%) was the commonest finding from MRI scans of patients, the second most prevalent finding was L4-L5 degenerative disc disease (n=12, 8.7%). Intramuscular lipoma and basal ganglia edema had a prevalence of 4.3%. Conclusion: The commonest requests were MRI lumbosacral and, in terms of findings, we found intervertebral disc prolapse, L4-L5 degenerative disc disease, basal ganglia edema and intramuscular lipoma as the major findings from MRI scans in Bauchi.Pozadina: MR snimanje ima važnu ulogu kod dijagnosticiranja bolesti. Ciljevi: Odrediti obrazac zahtjeva za snimanje i nalaza na temelju MR slika pacijenata u Državnoj bolnici Bauchi. Metodologija: Prospektivno transverzalno istraživanje obrazaca zahtjeva za MR snimanje i nalaza 138 pacijenata provedeno je od kolovoza 2016. do siječnja 2017. godine. MR slike snimljene su MR skenerom 0.35T Neusoft, a izradila ih je skupina konzultanata radiologa. Podaci su analizirani deskriptivnom statistikom uporabom računalnog programa SPSS, verzija 22 (IBM, New York, SAD). Rezultati: Ovo istraživanje pokazalo je da se većina zahtjeva za MR snimanje odnosila na preglede lumbosakralne kralješnice (n=84, 60,9%), nakon čega slijedi MR mozga (n=42, 30,4%), a zatim pregledi ramena i abdomena (po 4,3% za obje vrste). Od 138 snimljenih MR slika, najčešći nalaz na temelju MR snimanja pacijenata bio je prolaps intervertebralnog diska (n=60, 43,5%), dok je drugi najčešći nalaz bio degenerativna bolest diska L4-L5 (n=12, 8,7%). Intramuskularni lipom i edem bazalnih ganglija imaju prevalenciju od 4,3%. Zaključak: Najčešći zahtjevi odnosili su se na MR snimanje lumbosakralne kralješnice, dok su prolaps intervertebralnog diska, degenerativna bolest diska L4-L5, edem bazalnih ganglija i intramuskularni lipom glavni nalazi na temelju MR snimanja u Bauchiju

The state of the Martian climate

60°N was +2.0°C, relative to the 1981–2010 average value (Fig. 5.1). This marks a new high for the record. The average annual surface air temperature (SAT) anomaly for 2016 for land stations north of starting in 1900, and is a significant increase over the previous highest value of +1.2°C, which was observed in 2007, 2011, and 2015. Average global annual temperatures also showed record values in 2015 and 2016. Currently, the Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate of lower latitudes

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Tracing the roots: clarification on the type locality of Halobates sexualis Distant (Heteroptera: Gerridae)

Samuel, Amos Shem (2020): Tracing the roots: clarification on the type locality of Halobates sexualis Distant (Heteroptera: Gerridae). Zootaxa 4755 (2): 399-400, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4755.2.1