194 research outputs found
Monitoring nutrient¯ows and economic performance in African farming systems (NUTMON) II. Tool development
Abstract Farm-NUTMON is a research tool that integrates the assessment of stocks and¯ows of the macro-nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the one hand and economic farm analysis on the other. The tool is applicable at both the farm and the activity level. It includes a structured questionnaire, a database, and two simple static models (NUTCAL for calculation of nutrient¯ows and the ECCAL for calculation of economic parameters). Finally, a user interface facilitates data entry, data manipulation and extracts data from the database to produce input for both models. Farm-NUTMON allows (i) estimation of the extent to which farmers generate income from soil nutrient mining, (ii) assessment of the impact of changes in farm management techniques on nutrient balance and economic performance at activity level and farm level, and (iii) calculation of the economic impact of exogenous changes on the farm and activity level.
Parquet approach to nonlocal vertex functions and electrical conductivity of disordered electrons
A diagrammatic technique for two-particle vertex functions is used to
describe systematically the influence of spatial quantum coherence and
backscattering effects on transport properties of noninteracting electrons in a
random potential. In analogy with many-body theory we construct parquet
equations for topologically distinct {\em nonlocal} irreducible vertex
functions into which the {\em local} one-particle propagator and two-particle
vertex of the coherent-potential approximation (CPA) enter as input. To
complete the two-particle parquet equations we use an integral form of the Ward
identity and determine the one-particle self-energy from the known irreducible
vertex. In this way a conserving approximation with (Herglotz) analytic
averaged Green functions is obtained. We use the limit of high spatial
dimensions to demonstrate how nonlocal corrections to the (CPA)
solution emerge. The general parquet construction is applied to the calculation
of vertex corrections to the electrical conductivity. With the aid of the
high-dimensional asymptotics of the nonlocal irreducible vertex in the
electron-hole scattering channel we derive a mean-field approximation for the
conductivity with vertex corrections. The impact of vertex corrections onto the
electronic transport is assessed quantitatively within the proposed mean-field
description on a binary alloy.Comment: REVTeX 19 pages, 9 EPS diagrams, 6 PS figure
Expression of CD39 Identifies Activated Intratumoral CD8+T Cells in Mismatch Repair Deficient Endometrial Cancer
Identification of human cancer-reactive CD8+ T cells is crucial for the stratification of patients for immunotherapy and determination of immune-therapeutic effects. To date, these T cells have been identified mainly based on cell surface expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or co-expression of CD103 and CD39. A small subset of CD103- CD39+ CD8+ T cells is also present in tumors, but little is known about these T cells. Here, we report that CD103- CD39+ CD8+ T cells from mismatch repair-deficient endometrial tumors are activated and characterized predominantly by expression of TNFRSF9. In vitro, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) drives the disappearance of this subset, likely through the conversion of CD103- CD39+ cells to a CD103+ phenotype. On the transcriptomic level, T cell activation and induction of CD39 was associated with a number of tissue residence and TGF-beta responsive transcription factors. Altogether, our data suggest CD39+ CD103- CD8+ tumor-infiltrating T cells are recently activated and likely rapidly differentiate towards tissue residence upon exposure to TGF-beta in the tumor micro-environment, explaining their relative paucity in human tumors
A comparative study of Tam3 and Ac transposition in transgenic tobacco and petunia plants
Transposition of the Anthirrinum majus Tam3 element and the Zea mays Ac element has been monitored in petunia and tobacco plants. Plant vectors were constructed with the transposable elements cloned into the leader sequence of a marker gene. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated leaf disc transformation was used to introduce the transposable element constructs into plant cells. In transgenic plants, excision of the transposable element restores gene expression and results in a clearly distinguishable phenotype. Based on restored expression of the hygromycin phosphotransferase II (HPTII) gene, we established that Tam3 excises in 30% of the transformed petunia plants and in 60% of the transformed tobacco plants. Ac excises from the HPTII gene with comparable frequencies (30%) in both plant species. When the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene was used to detect transposition of Tam3, a significantly lower excision frequency (13%) was found in both plant species. It could be shown that deletion of parts of the transposable elements Tam3 and Ac, removing either one of the terminal inverted repeats (TIR) or part of the presumptive transposase coding region, abolished the excision from the marker genes. This demonstrates that excision of the transposable element Tam3 in heterologous plant species, as documented for the autonomous element Ac, also depends on both properties. Southern blot hybridization shows the expected excision pattern and the reintegration of Tam3 and Ac elements into the genome of tobacco plants.
"Optical conductance fluctuations: diagrammatic analysis in Landauer approach and non-universal effects"
The optical conductance of a multiple scattering medium is the total
transmitted light of a diffuse incoming beam. This quantity, very analogous to
the electronic conductance, exhibits universal conductance fluctuations. We
perform a detailed diagrammatic analysis of these fluctuations. With a
Kadanoff-Baym technique all the leading diagrams are systematically generated.
A cancellation of the short distance divergencies occurs, that yields a well
behaved theory. The analytical form of the fluctuations is calculated and
applied to optical systems. Absorption and internal reflections reduce the
fluctuations significantly.Comment: 25 pages Revtex 3.0, 18 seperate postscript figure
Methods of identifying and recruiting older people at risk of social isolation and loneliness: A mixed methods review
BackgroundLoneliness and social isolation are major determinants of mental wellbeing, especially among older adults. The effectiveness of interventions to address loneliness and social isolation among older adults has been questioned due to the lack of transparency in identifying and recruiting populations at risk. This paper aims to systematically review methods used to identify and recruit older people at risk of loneliness and social isolation into research studies that seek to address loneliness and social isolation.MethodsIn total, 751 studies were identified from a structured search of eleven electronic databases combined with hand searching of reference bibliography from identified studies for grey literature. Studies conducted between January 1995 and December 2017 were eligible provided they recruited community living individuals aged 50 and above at risk of social isolation or loneliness into an intervention study.ResultA total of 22 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. Findings from these studies showed that the most common strategy for inviting people to participate in intervention studies were public-facing methods including mass media and local newspaper advertisements. The majority of participants identified this way were self-referred, and in many cases self-identified as lonely. In most cases, there was no standardised tool for defining loneliness or social isolation. However, studies that recruited via referral by recognised agencies reported higher rates of eligibility and enrolment. Referrals from primary care were only used in a few studies. Studies that included agency referral either alone or in combination with multiple forms of recruitment showed more promising recruitment rates than those that relied on only public facing methods. Further research is needed to establish the cost-effectiveness of multiple forms of referral.ConclusionFindings from this study demonstrate the need for transparency in writing up the methods used to approach, assess and enrol older adults at risk of becoming socially isolated. None of the intervention studies included in this review justified their recruitment strategies. The ability of researchers to share best practice relies greatly on the transparency of research
Dynamical Mean-Field Theory
The dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) is a widely applicable approximation
scheme for the investigation of correlated quantum many-particle systems on a
lattice, e.g., electrons in solids and cold atoms in optical lattices. In
particular, the combination of the DMFT with conventional methods for the
calculation of electronic band structures has led to a powerful numerical
approach which allows one to explore the properties of correlated materials. In
this introductory article we discuss the foundations of the DMFT, derive the
underlying self-consistency equations, and present several applications which
have provided important insights into the properties of correlated matter.Comment: Chapter in "Theoretical Methods for Strongly Correlated Systems",
edited by A. Avella and F. Mancini, Springer (2011), 31 pages, 5 figure
Participatory monitoring and evaluation approaches that influence decision-making: lessons from a maternal and newborn study in Eastern Uganda
BACKGROUND: The use of participatory monitoring and evaluation (M&E) approaches is important for guiding local
decision-making, promoting the implementation of effective interventions and addressing emerging issues in the
course of implementation. In this article, we explore how participatory M&E approaches helped to identify key design
and implementation issues and how they influenced stakeholders’ decision-making in eastern Uganda.
METHOD: The data for this paper is drawn from a retrospective reflection of various M&E approaches used in a maternal
and newborn health project that was implemented in three districts in eastern Uganda. The methods included qualitative
and quantitative M&E techniques such as key informant interviews, formal surveys and supportive
supervision, as well as participatory approaches, notably participatory impact pathway analysis.
RESULTS: At the design stage, the M&E approaches were useful for identifying key local problems and feasible
local solutions and informing the activities that were subsequently implemented. During the implementation
phase, the M&E approaches provided evidence that informed decision-making and helped identify emerging
issues, such as weak implementation by some village health teams, health facility constraints such as poor use of standard
guidelines, lack of placenta disposal pits, inadequate fuel for the ambulance at some facilities, and poor care for low birth
weight infants. Sharing this information with key stakeholders prompted them to take appropriate actions. For example,
the sub-county leadership constructed placenta disposal pits, the district health officer provided fuel for ambulances, and
health workers received refresher training and mentorship on how to care for newborns.
CONCLUSION: Diverse sources of information and perspectives can help researchers and decision-makers understand and
adapt evidence to contexts for more effective interventions. Supporting districts to have crosscutting, routine information
generating and sharing platforms that bring together stakeholders from different sectors is therefore crucial for the successful
implementation of complex development interventions
Genomic analysis of diet composition finds novel loci and associations with health and lifestyle
We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of relative intake from the macronutrients fat, protein, carbohydrates, and sugar in over 235,000 individuals of European ancestries. We identified 21 unique, approximately independent lead SNPs. Fourteen lead SNPs are uniquely associated with one macronutrient at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8), while five of the 21 lead SNPs reach suggestive significance (P < 1 × 10−5) for at least one other macronutrient. While the phenotypes are genetically correlated, each phenotype carries a partially unique genetic architecture. Relative protein intake exhibits the strongest relationships with poor health, including positive genetic associations with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease (rg ≈ 0.15–0.5). In contrast, relative carbohydrate and sugar intake have negative genetic correlations with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and neighborhood deprivation (|rg| ≈ 0.1–0.3) and positive genetic correlations with physical activity (rg ≈ 0.1 and 0.2). Relative fat intake has no consistent pattern of genetic correlations with poor health but has a negative genetic correlation with educational attainment (rg ≈−0.1). Although our analyses do not allow us to draw causal conclusions, we find no evidence of negative health consequences associated with relative carbohydrate, sugar, or fat intake. However, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that relative protein intake plays a role in the etiology of metabolic dysfunction
Biology, Fishery, Conservation and Management of Indian Ocean Tuna Fisheries
The focus of the study is to explore the recent trend
of the world tuna fishery with special reference to the Indian Ocean
tuna fisheries and its conservation and sustainable management.
In the Indian Ocean, tuna catches have increased rapidly from
about 179959 t in 1980 to about 832246 t in 1995. They have
continued to increase up to 2005; the catch that year was 1201465
t, forming about 26% of the world catch. Since 2006 onwards
there has been a decline in the volume of catches and in 2008
the catch was only 913625 t. The Principal species caught in the
Indian Ocean are skipjack and yellowfin. Western Indian Ocean
contributed 78.2% and eastern Indian Ocean 21.8% of the total
tuna production from the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean stock
is currently overfished and IOTC has made some recommendations
for management regulations aimed at sustaining the tuna stock.
Fishing operations can cause ecological impacts of different types:
by catches, damage of the habitat, mortalities caused by lost or
discarded gear, pollution, generation of marine debris, etc. Periodic
reassessment of the tuna potential is also required with adequate
inputs from exploratory surveys as well as commercial landings
and this may prevent any unsustainable trends in the development
of the tuna fishing industry in the Indian Ocean
- …