The role of contralesional dorsal premotor cortex after stroke as studied with concurrent TMS-fMRI.

Contralesional dorsal premotor cortex (cPMd) may support residual motor function following stroke. We performed two complementary experiments to explore how cPMd might perform this role in a group of chronic human stroke patients. First, we used paired-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to establish the physiological influence of cPMd on ipsilesional primary motor cortex (iM1) at rest. We found that this influence became less inhibitory/more facilitatory in patients with greater clinical impairment. Second, we applied TMS over cPMd during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in these patients to examine the causal influence of cPMd TMS on the whole network of surviving cortical motor areas in either hemisphere and whether these influences changed during affected hand movement. We confirmed that hand grip-related activation in cPMd was greater in more impaired patients. Furthermore, the peak ipsilesional sensorimotor cortex activity shifted posteriorly in more impaired patients. Critical new findings were that concurrent TMS-fMRI results correlated with the level of both clinical impairment and neurophysiological impairment (i.e., less inhibitory/more facilitatory cPMd-iM1 measure at rest as assessed with paired-coil TMS). Specifically, greater clinical and neurophysiological impairment was associated with a stronger facilitatory influence of cPMd TMS on blood oxygenation level-dependent signal in posterior parts of ipsilesional sensorimotor cortex during hand grip, corresponding to the posteriorly shifted sensorimotor activity seen in more impaired patients. cPMd TMS was not found to influence activity in other brain regions in either hemisphere. This state-dependent influence on ipsilesional sensorimotor regions may provide a mechanism by which cPMd supports recovered function after stroke

Guidance on stakeholder engagement practices to inform the development of areawide vector control methods

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.British Academ

Историко-педагогический обзор детской беспризорности в Древней Руси и императорской России

Axially resolved microphotoluminescence mapping of semiconductor nanowires held in an optical tweezers reveals important new experimental information regarding equilibrium trapping points and trapping stability of high aspect ratio nanostructures. In this study, holographic optical tweezers are used to scan trapped InP nanowires along the beam direction with respect to a fixed excitation source and the luminescent properties are recorded. It is observed that nanowires with lengths on the range of 3–15 μm are stably trapped near the tip of the wire with the long segment positioned below the focus in an inverted trapping configuration. Through the use of trap multiplexing we investigate the possibility of improving the axial stability of the trapped nanowires. Our results have important implication for applications of optically assisted nanowire assembly and optical tweezers based scanning probes microscopy

Residual mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso

Background: Burkina Faso is one of the countries in West Africa most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, despite the implementation of a mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention program as a strategy to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of the disease.Objective: To assess the current risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso.Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted between December 2014 and July 2016, in the 13 health regions of Burkina Faso. Women who were screened HIV-positive during a prenatal consultation were followed until delivery. Their babies received dry blood spot (DBS) at birth, at week 6 and at 1year, to screen for HIV.Results: Overall, 186 pregnant women were included in the study, with a mean age of 29.17±6.13 years. Of their children, 430 DBS actually received a PCR test, giving a 91.1% PCR implementation rate. After analyses, 6 (1.3%) babies were identified as carriers of HIV1. The newborn’s serological status was associated with delivery pattern (p=0.000), the administration of antiretroviral drugs to the mother after delivery (p=0.0064), the administration of Nevirapine to the newborn at birth (p=0.022), the use of contraceptive methods after delivery (p=0.028) and the presence of breast affections/infections since delivery (p=0.013).Conclusion: The results of our study are encouraging and demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in the mother-tochild prevention program (PMTCT) for HIV-positive pregnant women can be improved through early initiation of triple therapy in early pregnancy and improved adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.Keywords: Burkina Faso, HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral drugs, pregnant wome

Registration of sorghum varieties ICSV 735, ICSV 758, and ICSV 808 resistant to sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola

The sorghum lines ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 have been released as Yezin 6, Yezin 7 and Yezin 5, respectively, in Myanmar. These cultivars combine resistance to S. sorghicola with yield potential almost similar to that of the commercial cultivar Yezin 1 or Yezin 3. ICSV 735 was derived from (ICSV 197 x ICSV 1)-9-1-1-2-6, whereas ICSV 758 was developed from (ICSV 197 x A 13108)-1-2-1-1-1. ICSV 804 was obtained from (ICSV 197 x ICSV 1)-3-1-1-1-1. The grain yields of ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 were 1.489, 1.949 and 1.721 t/ha, respectively (0.622 t/ha for the local control), during the rainy season of 1993-94. Under fertilizer treatment, the grain yields of ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 (2.878, 3.389 and 3.416 t/ha) were higher than the grain yield of the local control (1.910 t/ha). At ICRISAT Center, these cultivars had grain yields of 4.65-7.65 t/ha during the rainy season of 1997. ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 were comparable to resistant controls DJ 6514 and ICSV 197 interms of resistance to S. sorghicola, and as susceptible to shoot fly [Atherigona soccata], head bugs and stem borer, but less susceptible to aphids as the commercial cultivars ICSV 1 and CSH 9

Facet dependent carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide regulating the photocatalytic hydrogen generation

The intrinsic carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide Cu2O are known to have a crucial influence on photocatalytic performances. The photoactivity of rhombic dodecahedral Cu2O with dominant 110 facets RD Cu2O is demonstrated to surpass that of cubic Cu2O with 100 surfaces CB Cu2O . Time resolved microwave conductivity TRMC measurements reveal the higher carrier mobility of RD Cu2O when compared to CB Cu2O. Additionally, modulated surface photovoltage SPV measurements further supported the better charge separation efficiency of RD Cu2O. Although CB Cu2O exhibited more pronounce SPV signals, the homogeneous distribution of electrical fields drives the majority charge inward and led to detrimental charge recombination. In contrast, the weak SPV signals for RD Cu2O were attributed to a modulated distribution of charges towards the facets and facet boundaries, demonstrating a better charge separation. This study shows that carrier dynamics and defect density should also be regarded as facet dependent properties that can have deciding influence on the photocatalytic activit

A novel tetra-primer ARMS-PCR approach for the molecular karyotyping of chromosomal inversion 2Ru in the main malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii

Background: Chromosomal inversion polymorphisms have been associated with adaptive behavioral, physiological, morphological and life history traits in the two main Afrotropical malaria vectors, Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae. The understanding of the adaptive value of chromosomal inversion systems is constrained by the feasibility of cytological karyotyping. In recent years in silico and molecular approaches have been developed for the genotyping of most widespread inversions (2La, 2Rb and 2Rc). The 2Ru inversion, spanning roughly 8% of chromosome 2R, is commonly polymorphic in West African populations of An. coluzzii and An. gambiae and shows clear increases in frequency with increasing rainfall seasonally and geographically. The aim of this work was to overcome the constraints of currently available cytological and high-throughput molecular assays by developing a simple PCR assay for genotyping the 2Ru inversion in individual specimens of both mosquito species. Methods: We designed tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR assays based on five tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously shown to be strongly correlated with 2Ru inversion orientation. The most promising assay was validated against laboratory and field samples of An. coluzzii and An. gambiae karyotyped either cytogenetically or molecularly using a genotyping-in-thousands by sequencing (GT-seq) high-throughput approach that employs targeted sequencing of multiplexed PCR amplicons. Results: A successful assay was designed based on the tag SNP at position 2R, 31710303, which is highly predictive of the 2Ru genotype. The assay, which requires only one PCR, and no additional post-PCR processing other than electrophoresis, produced a clear banding pattern for 98.5% of the 454 specimens tested, which is a 96.7% agreement with established karyotyping methods. Sequences were obtained for nine of the An. coluzzii specimens manifesting 2Ru genotype discrepancies with GT-seq. Possible sources of these discordances are discussed. Conclusions: The tetra-primer ARMS-PCR assay represents an accurate, streamlined and cost-effective method for the molecular karyotyping of the 2Ru inversion in An. coluzzii and An. gambiae. Together with approaches already available for the other common polymorphic inversions, 2La, 2Rb and 2Rc, this assay will allow investigations of the adaptive value of the complex set of inversion systems observed in the two major malaria vectors in the Afrotropical region. Graphical Abstract

Cluster randomized trial assessing the effects of rapid ethical assessment on informed consent comprehension in a low-resource setting

Background Maximizing comprehension is a major challenge for informed consent processes in low-literacy and resource-limited settings. Application of rapid qualitative assessments to improve the informed consent process is increasingly considered useful. This study assessed the effects of Rapid Ethical Assessment (REA) on comprehension, retention and quality of the informed consent process. Methods A cluster randomized trial was conducted among participants of HPV sero-prevalence study in two districts of Northern Ethiopia, in 2013. A total of 300 study participants, 150 in the intervention and 150 in the control group, were included in the study. For the intervention group, the informed consent process was designed with further revisions based on REA findings. Informed consent comprehension levels and quality of the consent process were measured using the Modular Informed Consent Comprehension Assessment (MICCA) and Quality of Informed Consent (QuIC) process assessment tools, respectively. Result Study recruitment rates were 88.7 % and 80.7 % (p = 0.05), while study retention rates were 85.7 % and 70.3 % (p < 0.005) for the intervention and control groups respectively. Overall, the mean informed consent comprehension scores for the intervention and control groups were 73.1 % and 45.2 %, respectively, with a mean difference in comprehension score of 27.9 % (95 % CI 24.0 % - 33.4 %; p < 0.001,). Mean scores for quality of informed consent for the intervention and control groups were 89.1 % and 78.5 %, respectively, with a mean difference of 10.5 % (95 % CI 6.8 -14.2 %; p < 0.001). Conclusion Levels of informed consent comprehension, quality of the consent process, study recruitment and retention rates were significantly improved in the intervention group. We recommend REA as a potential modality to improve informed consent comprehension and quality of informed consent process in low resource settings

Unraveling the structure-activity-selectivity relationships in furfuryl alcohol photoreforming to H2 and hydrofuroin over ZnxIn2S3+x photocatalysts

ZnxIn2S3+x has emerged as a promising candidate for alcohol photoreforming based on C-H activation and C-C coupling. However, the underlying structure-activity-selectivity relationships remain unclear. Here we report on ZnxIn2S3+x with varying Zn:In:S ratios for visible-light-driven furfuryl alcohol reforming into H2 and hydrofuroin, a jet fuel precursor, via C-H activation and C-C coupling. S-• radicals are directly identified as the catalytically active sites responsible for C-H activation in furfuryl alcohol, promoting selectivity toward H2 and hydrofuroin. The optimum ZnxIn2S3+x activity derives from a trade-off between enhanced carrier dynamics and diminished visible light absorption as the x value in ZnxIn2S3+x increases. Further, a higher Zn-S:In-S layer ratio prolongs the S-• lifetime in the Zn-S layer, promoting C-H activation and delivering a higher C-C coupling product selectivity. The findings represent a step toward further establishing sulfide-based photocatalysts for sustainable H2 production via organic photoreforming.Denny Gunawan, Jodie A. Yuwono, Priyank V. Kumar, Akasha Kaleem, Michael P. Nielsen, Murad J.Y. Tayebjee, Louis Oppong-Antwi, Haotian Wen, Inga Kuschnerus, Shery L.Y. Chang, Yu Wang, Rosalie K. Hocking, Ting-Shan Chan, Cui Ying Toe, Jason Scott, Rose Ama