Aetiology and Imaging Findings in Traumatic Spine Injury among Patients Attending Muhimbili Orthopedics Institute in Dar es Salaam

Background: The main objective of the study was to determine etiology and imaging features of traumatic spine injury in spine injured patients attending Muhimbili orthopedics institute Methods: The study was a hospital based cross-sectional and consecutively included 87 with traumatic Spine Injury. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Statistical package for social science (SPSS 20) was used for data analysis. Results: Eight seven (87) patients with traumatic spine injury were studied. The age range was 4 to 81 years, with a mean age of 33 years. Males were more affected than females. Young individuals aged 16-30 years were the most affected. The commonest cause of spine trauma was motor traffic crashes. The commonest vertebral spine injury seen was compression wedge fracture (35.6%), followed by dislocation (18.4%). The most frequent spine level involved was lumbar spine (37.9%). Paraplegia (33.3%) and quadriplegia (10.3%) were the common clinical presentations. Fifty six percent of patients had associated injuries Conclusion: Traumatic spine injury is common at our settings. Young individuals below 30 years of age are most affected and the most common cause is motor traffic accident (MTA). The use of Computed Tomography (CT) in this study helped to identify several types of injuries especially injury to vertebral bodies and their effect unto neuro structures. MRI helped to identify patients with spinal cord injury which was not evident on CT.Key words: Spine trauma, vertebral fracture, Computed Tomograph

A police-led real-time surveillance system for suspected suicides in Great Britain

It has become increasingly apparent that rapidly available information about the occurrence of suicides is needed, particularly to support suicide prevention efforts. Concerns about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerability to suicide highlighted the need for such early data internationally. Here, we set out the nature, current status, and content of a real-time suicide monitoring system in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), and explore its potential to contribute to timely and targeted suicide prevention initiatives. We also discuss the challenges to successful implementation

Studies of a Brassica napus gene encoding a putative lipid transfer protein

The epidermis is an extremely important plant tissue because it is at the interface of the plant with its environment. To isolate genes expressed in the epidermis, a cDNA library constructed from leaves of Brassica napus was screened with an unidentified B. napus epidermis-specific, partial cDNA clone, pLFSA, which was isolated previously. Several full length cDNA clones were isolated, one of which was fully sequenced. This clone, designated BnLTP, encoded a putative non-specific lipid transfer protein (LTP) of 118 amino acids. Two other closely related cDNA clones, p2A4 and p5A9, were isolated and sequenced partially at the 3' ends. Sequence comparison of the three clones with pLF3A indicated the presence of four closely related but non-identical cDNA species. Based on this observation and previous Southern blot analysis of B. napus genomic DNA, it was concluded that BnLTP, p2A4, p5A9 and pLF3A were four members of a small closely related multigene family encoding putative LTPs. A genomic clone, designated []3.2A, homologous to BnLTP was isolated. A 4.8 kb Eco RI fragment from []3.2A, which hybridised strongly to the cDNA, was subcloned and sequenced. The fragment contained the full length gene, designated BnLTP. BnLTP encoded a 118 amino acid putative LTP, which differed at five amino acids from the cDNA. It consisted of two exons of 116 and 2 amino acids, respectively, interrupted by a 269 bp intron. The gene contained a 2.3 kb 5' upstream region that contained a TATA box and several cis-acting elements conserved in other LTP genes and genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. B. napus LTP transcripts exhibited an organ-specific pattern of expression. They were expressed at high levels in leaves, stems, and floral tissues but were not detected in roots. In addition, endogenous LTP transcripts were induced in response to high white, blue and red light in B. napus and Arabidopsis leaves but not in response to UV-B light treatment. The BnLTP promoter was regulated in a spatial and temporal manner during development, as demonstrated by histochemical localisation of []-glucuronidase (GUS) in transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying a 2.3 kb BnLTP promoter-GUS fusion (BnLTP-GUS). GUS was expressed at higher levels in younger developing leaves compared to older leaves. Cross-sections of transgenic leaf and stem tissue indicated that BnLTP-GUS was expressed predominantly in the epidermal cells. GUS activity was observed in the trichomes, epidermal pavement cells and guard cells. However, expression was also observed in the vascular bundles (xylem and phloem of leaves) and in the lateral root initials. In floral tissue, GUS was localised in sepals, stigmas, petals and stamens, but as the flower matured, it was expressed only at low levels in the stigma and sepal/petal abscission zone. However, GUS was not detected in mature petals but persisted in the stamens (pollen sacs and the filament). Expression of BnLTP-GUS in transgenic Arabidopsis was moderately induced in response to high white, blue and red light but not following UV-B light treatment of leaves. BnLTP-GUS was moderately induced in cold treated leaves and upon infection with CaMV but not in response to wounding. LTP expression increased in transgenic Arabidopsis plants constitutively expressing the CaMV Gene VI, which is essential for viral replication and disease symptoms. In Ar-abidopsis mutants altered in trichome development, glabrous 1 (gl1) and 2(gl2) and transparent testa glabra (ttg), endogenous LTP expression was not altered, and in each case expression was induced in response to high white light similar to wild type plants. However, in the photoregulation mutant icx1 (increased chalcone synthase expression), which is characterised not only by enhanced light stimulation of the epidermis-specific gene, CHS, but also by altered epidermal development, endogenous LTP expression was increased. In the double mutant ttg/icx1, which has phenotypic characteristics of both parents, endogenous LTP expression was similar to icx1

A1_6 Ali G Cracks The Safe

Ali G sets up an elaborate plan to break into a safe - he links a series of cars together via their batteries to a human chain, to carry an electric current along, break into a safe and retrieve a video tape. We found the current needed to melt the lock of the safe to break it to be 7.98x10^5 A. The current calculated that reaches the safe in the scenario is 4.59x10^-5 A, therefore it would not be possible to break into the safe via the method used in the film

A1_2 One Punch Man - Speed Test

Saitama, the hero of "One Punch Man" has seemingly immeasurable strength and speed. We attempt to quantify his speed from a scene in which he jumps from the Moon to the Earth. We calculated Saitama's velocity during this action as 6.7% of the speed of light, and that his collision with the Earth would create a crater of 600m in diameter. This is comparable to a Near-Earth Object impact of 8 on the Torino Scale

A1_7 That's No Exoplanet!

As the Death Star II passes in front of the star of the Endor system, it could be detected using the methods of transit photometry and Doppler spectroscopy, commonly used to discover exoplanets. We find that theDeath Star II would cause a 1.3x10^-6% drop in the flux from the star, and cause the star to have a radial velocity of 1.9x10^-12ms^-1, undetectable with current technology

A1_1 Bruce Almighty: Moon Wrangler

In the film Bruce Almighty, starring Jim Carrey, as a romantic gesture he erases the clouds in the sky and draws the Moon closer to the Earth, using an invisible lasso. In this paper we have calculated 2.1x10^27N would be needed to pull the Moon towards the Earth. We have also discussed the ramifications of changing the Moon's distance from the Earth with tides rising to a height of 12.0m

A1_3 Dinosaur In-dial-gestion

In this paper we investigate the attenuation of sound waves originating from a ringing mobile phone, as they travel outwards from the stomach of a Spinosaurus, in order to determine whether they could act as a warning of the approaching dinosaur. Calculating the intensity lost crossing between the various media in the dinosaur's body, as well as air outside of the dinosaur, we determined this would not be possible. We calculated that the intensity of the phone ringing would be -19.6 dB when it reached their ears, which puts it just below the range of human hearing