The feeding behaviour and Plasmodium infection of Anopheles mosquitoes in southern Ethiopia in relation to use of insecticide-treated livestock for malaria control.

Anopheles arabiensis and An. quadriannulatus species B mosquitoes were collected at sites of human and livestock housing and analysed for blood feeding patterns and infection with malaria sporozoites. A low percentage of human blood meals at some sites suggested that zooprophylaxis could be effective in reducing challenge from Plasmodium falciparum

Size-fractionated photosynthesis/irradiance relationships during Phaeocystis antarctica-dominated blooms in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

In the Ross Sea, there are two major phytoplankton functional groups: diatoms and prymnesiophytes (dominated by Phaeocystis antarctica). Phaeocystis antarctica often occurs in colonial form, but also as solitary cells, and the two forms have distinct ecological roles. A comparison of the growth characteristics of solitary and colonial forms of Phaeocystis sp. is essential to understanding the differential impact each has on biogeochemical and ecological processes, and to allow parameterization of each form in numerical models. We measured the biomass and photosynthetic responses of two size fractions (\u3e 20 and \u3c 20 mu m), representing colonies and solitary cells, at locations dominated by P. antarctica to assess the relative photosynthetic potential of the two forms. While the relative contribution of each form to total P. antarctica biomass differed among years, there were no significant differences between maximum photosynthetic rates of colonial and solitary forms within years. Substantial interannual variations in biomass and maximum photosynthetic rates normalized to chlorophyll a (PmB) and initial light-limited rates of photosynthesis (alpha) were observed among years for the colonial fractions; however, interannual variations in maximum rates of photosynthesis or alpha of solitary cells were not observed. A laboratory experiment with P. antarctica, together with field data, showed that growth stage of colonies strongly affected the maximum photosynthetic rates. Under nutrient-replete conditions and exponential growth, colonial cells had higher maximum photosynthetic rates than solitary cells, but as growth rate declined and senescence began, the solitary cells\u27 rates became greater. This may be a reason for the high abundance of colonies that is often found in the Ross Sea during austral spring. Our results suggest that photosynthetic rates may influence the composition of the morphotypes of Phaeocystis, but do not appear to be the sole factor in regulating this critical biological variable

Comparative cost-based analysis of a novel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with conventional and hybrid electric vehicles

© 2015 Universiti Malaysia Pahang. Hybrid electric vehicles provide higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions through the combination of the conventional internal combustion engine with electric machines. This paper analyzes and compares two types of hybrid electric powertrain with a conventional vehicle powertrain to study the lifetime costs of these vehicles. The novelty of the University of Technology Sydney plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (UTS PHEV) arises through a special power-splitting device and energy management strategy. The UTS PHEV and comparative powertrains are studied through numerical simulations to determine fuel consumption for the proposed low and high congestion drive cycles. Satisfactory results are achieved in terms of fuel economy, the all-electric range and electrical energy consumption for the UTS PHEV powertrain, providing significant improvement over the alternative powertrains. The analysis of these vehicles is extended to include a cost-based analysis of each powertrain in order to estimate the total lifetime costs at different fuel prices. The results obtained from this analysis demonstrate that whilst the conventional powertrain is cheaper in terms of purchase and maintenance costs, both alternative configurations are more cost-effective overall as the average price of fuel increases

Predictors and outcomes of recognition of intellectual disability for adults during hospital admissions: A retrospective data linkage study in NSW, Australia

Adults with intellectual disability have high health care needs. Despite frequent contact with health services, they often receive inadequate health care. One method to improve health care delivery is reasonable adjustments, that is, the adaptation of health care delivery such that barriers to participation are removed for the person with disability. A starting point for the provision of reasonable adjustments is recognition of intellectual disability during the health care contact. To determine rates and predictors of the recognition of intellectual disability during hospital admissions, and its impact on admission metrics, we examined a population of adults with intellectual disability identified from disability services datasets from New South Wales, Australia between 2005 and 2014. Recognition of intellectual disability was determined by the recording of an International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10) diagnostic code for intellectual disability during a given hospital admission. We examined how recognition of intellectual disability related to length of hospital episodes. We found an overall low rate of recognition of intellectual disability (23.79%) across all hospital episodes, with the proportion of hospital episodes recognising intellectual disability decreasing from 2005-2015. Admissions for adults with complex health profiles (e.g., those with many comorbidities, those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and those admitted for urgent treatment) were more likely to recognise intellectual disability, but admissions for adults with complexity in other domains (i.e., for those in custody, or those with drug and alcohol disorders) were less likely to recognise intellectual disability. Recognition of intellectual disability was associated with longer episodes of care, possibly indicating the greater provision of reasonable adjustments. To improve the recognition of intellectual disability for adults during health service contacts, we advocate for the implementation of targeted initiatives (such as a nationwide disability flag to be included in health service records) to improve the provision of reasonable adjustments

“I could 100% see myself getting hurt if I did it wrong”: a qualitative exploration of exercise perceptions in people with chronic low back pain

Purpose: Traditionally, a specific “core” exercise focus has been favoured for chronic low back pain (CLBP) which contrasts holistic exercise approaches. This study aims to explore the perceptions of exercise in people with CLBP and whether exercise itself can convey implicit messages regarding its use in CLBP management in the absence of a clinical narrative. Materials and methods: Participants were asked about their CLBP history, views of exercise for CLBP, and current exercise behaviours through online semi-structured interviews. Then, participants watched the interviewer perform the deadlift, Jefferson curl, and bird dog and were asked if they thought each individual exercise was beneficial for CLBP, and why. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis through a critical realism and social constructivism lens. Results: All participants (n = 16) viewed all exercises as beneficial for health and pain relief, but perceived efficacy varied. “Core” exercises were deemed crucial for CLBP relief, while spinal flexion and external load were often perceived as potentially injurious. Distrust towards healthcare practitioners also influenced exercise perceptions. Conclusion: People with CLBP perceive different exercises to either relieve pain or improve health. Healthcare practitioners can influence these perceptions, highlighting the need for consideration of exercise perceptions in clinical contexts

Survival and recovery of Phaeocystis antarctica (Prymnesiophyceae) from prolonged darkness and freezing

The colony-forming haptophyte Phaeocystis antarctica is an important primary producer in the Ross Sea, and must survive long periods of darkness and freezing temperature in this extreme environment. We conducted experiments on the responses of P. antarctica-dominated phytoplankton assemblages to prolonged periods of darkness and freezing. Chlorophyll and photosynthetic capacity of the alga declined nonlinearly and independently of each other in the dark, and darkness alone would potentially reduce photosynthetic capacity by only 60 per cent over 150 days (approximately the length of the Antarctic winter in the southern Ross Sea). The estimated reduction of colonial mucous carbon is higher than that of colonial cell carbon, suggesting metabolism of the colonial matrix in the dark. The alga quickly resumed growth upon return to light. Phaeocystis antarctica also survived freezing, although longer freezing durations lengthened the lag before growth resumption. Particulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate relative to chlorophyll increased upon freezing and decreased upon darkness. Taken together, the abilities of P. antarctica to survive freezing and initiate growth quickly after darkness may provide it with the capability to survive in both the ice and the water column, and help explain its repeated dominance in austral spring blooms in the Ross Sea and elsewhere in the Southern Ocean

Severe transient left ventricular dysfunction induced by thyrotoxicosis

We report on a 44-year-old woman presenting with chest pain and dyspnoea without previous stress-related events. By means of echocardiography severe left ventricular dysfunction and wall motion abnormalities resembling stress-induced cardiomyopathy (Tako Tsubo) were seen. Laboratory investigation revealed thyrotoxicosis and elevated cardiac markers. Six days after starting medical treatment, complete restoration of the left ventricular function was observed. The transient left ventricular dysfunction was induced by thyrotoxicosis resembling stress-induced cardiomyopathy that resolved completely after medical treatment

Globular Cluster Distance Determinations

The present status of the distance scale to Galactic globular clusters is reviewed. Six distance determination techniques which are deemed to be most reliable are discussed in depth. These different techniques are used to calibrate the absolute magnitude of the RR Lyrae stars. The various calibrations fall into three groups. Main sequence fitting using Hipparcos parallaxes, theoretical HB models and the RR Lyrae in the LMC all favor a bright calibration, implying a `long' globular cluster distance scale. White dwarf fitting and the astrometric distances yield a somewhat fainter RR Lyrae calibration, while the statistical parallax solution yields faint RR Lyrae stars implying a `short' distance scale to globular clusters. Various secondary distance indicators discussed all favor the long distance scale. The `long' and `short' distance scales differ by (0.31+/-0.16) mag. Averaging together all of the different distance determinations yields Mv(RR) = (0.23+/-0.04)([Fe/H] + 1.6) + (0.56+/-0.12) mag.Comment: Invited review article to appear in: `Post-Hipparcos Cosmic Candles', A. Heck & F. Caputo (Eds), Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht, in pres

Salient employability skills for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Singapore: the perspectives of job developers

Objective: In order to increase employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), professionals are tasked with designing and implementing job training services to youth preparing to enter the job market. Having a better understanding of desirable employability skills aids in allowing professionals to develop programs that will target the needs of those who make decisions relating to human resources. Methods: This study features a qualitative research design to identify employability skills that individuals with IDDs in Singapore should possess to be successful in the workplace. Job developers were interviewed to identify and explore desirable employability skills. Results: Results from interviews suggest that soft skills, such as attitude, dependability, stamina, flexibility, and communication are valued over skills that are more job-specific technical skills. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance including instruction in these skill areas when training youth with IDDs to find and maintain employment