Depression of the ULF geomagnetic pulsation related to ionospheric irregularities

We consider a depression in intensity of ULF magnetic pulsations, which is observed on the ground surface due to appearance of the irregularities in the ionosphere. It is supposed that oblique Alfven waves in the ULF frequency range are downgoing from the magnetosphere and the horizontal irregularities of ionospheric conductivity are created by upgoing atmospheric gravity waves from seismic source. Unlike the companion paper by Molchanov et al. (2003), we used a simple model of the ionospheric layer but took into consideration the lateral inhomogeneity of the perturbation region in the ionosphere. It is shown that ULF intensity could be essentially decreased for frequencies f = 0.001-0.1 Hz at nighttime but the change is negligible at daytime in coincidence with observational results

Web-based Accountability: An Integration of Extant Knowledge, Research Gaps and Future Directions

Because Internet-based technologies are readily used by businesses, research scholars have begun to focus on the specific use of such technology by nonprofit organizations for accountability purposes. A central focus of this paper is to review some of the most significant extant literature on web-based accountability, with particular emphasis on conceptual and empirical studies focusing on the nonprofit sector. Much of this research is situated within the public relations literature, as some of the primary elements of online accountability are directly related to establishing relationships and disclosing information to stakeholders. Finally, this paper presents research gaps and future research propositions regarding the impact and value of web-based accountability practices amongst nonprofit organizations

Web-Based Accountability for Nonprofits: Youth Development Organizations

Accountability to stakeholders is an important factor for the survival of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). This study extends previous research on other nonprofit categories by examining web-based accountability (WBA) for youth development organizations. The size of the effect of independent variables used in previous studies is determined to be even more significant for youth development organizations than those of other previously studied categories of nonprofits. Organizational density and state generosity index have large effects on WBA, while prosecution and detection indices have medium effects. State ethics score has a small effect on youth organization WBA. Practical implications for both organizations and researchers are discussed, and the effects are also comparable across studies

Acyclovir suppression to prevent recurrent genital herpes at delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if suppressive acyclovir near term decreased the frequency of clinical recurrences at delivery in women with recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial in 234 women with recurrent genital herpes. Women with genital infection of any frequency were enrolled. Patients received either suppressive oral acyclovir 400 mg three times daily or an identical placebo after 36 weeks' gestation. Clinical lesions were identified, and HSV cultures were obtained at delivery. The frequencies of clinical and subclinical HSV recurrences at delivery were evaluated. RESULTS: Six percent of patients treated with acyclovir, and 14% of patients treated with placebo had clinical HSV at delivery (p = 0.046). No patients in the acyclovir group had positive HSV cultures, compared with 6% of placebo-treated patients (p = 0.029). There was no significant difference in subclinical HSV shedding in the acyclovir group (0%) compared with the placebo-treated group (3%) (p = 0.102). CONCLUSIONS: Suppressive acyclovir therapy significantly decreased the incidence of clinical genital herpes and the overall incidence of HSV excretion at delivery in patients with previous herpes infection

Landholder Typologies Used in the Development of Natural Resource Management Programs in Australia - A Review

This article reviews the literature on the identification of landholder typologies that can be used to assist the design and delivery of natural resource management (NRM) programs. Australian researchers have developed typologies of landholders based on a variety of criteria. The rationale for developing landholder typologies is first discussed before reviewing the various approaches that have been used by Australian researchers and comparing their findings. The methods employed have differed according to the theories used to guide the research and the 'clients' or 'sponsors' of the research. The landholder types they describe, however, have a number of similarities. These similarities suggest that the studies have identified the same fundamental divisions in the rural community, and that it may be possible to integrate landholder typologies for a variety of NRM and non-NRM applications. It is concluded that further research could usefully investigate whether concepts of social class or sub-cultures may be appropriate to define and describe the variations in landholder types

A novel spontaneous model of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) using a primary prostate cancer derived cell line demonstrating distinct stem-like characteristics

Cells acquire the invasive and migratory properties necessary for the invasion-metastasis cascade and the establishment of aggressive, metastatic disease by reactivating a latent embryonic programme: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Herein, we report the development of a new, spontaneous model of EMT which involves four phenotypically distinct clones derived from a primary tumour-derived human prostate cancer cell line (OPCT-1), and its use to explore relationships between EMT and the generation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in prostate cancer. Expression of epithelial (E-cadherin) and mesenchymal markers (vimentin, fibronectin) revealed that two of the four clones were incapable of spontaneously activating EMT, whereas the others contained large populations of EMT-derived, vimentin-positive cells having spindle-like morphology. One of the two EMT-positive clones exhibited aggressive and stem cell-like characteristics, whereas the other was non-aggressive and showed no stem cell phenotype. One of the two EMT-negative clones exhibited aggressive stem cell-like properties, whereas the other was the least aggressive of all clones. These findings demonstrate the existence of distinct, aggressive CSC-like populations in prostate cancer, but, importantly, that not all cells having a potential for EMT exhibit stem cell-like properties. This unique model can be used to further interrogate the biology of EMT in prostate cancer

Effect of alkali-enhanced biochar on silicon uptake and suppression of gray leaf spot development in perennial ryegrass

Silicon (Si) is known to alleviate biotic and abiotic stress, and to reduce the development of fungal diseases in a number of different pathosystems. Biochar-based Si fertilizers, especially highly efficient alkali-enhanced biochar for recycling phytolith, has been recently proposed as a stress-alleviating amendment but its evaluation on plant disease development has not been investigated. In this study, several biochar–based Si fertilizers including raw biochar without alkaline enhancement (0 KB), alkali-enhanced biochars with KOH (10 KB), CaO (10CB), and K 2 CO 3 (10K2B) along with commonly-used mineral Si fertilizer wollastonite (WO) and calcium silicate slag (SL) were evaluated in a controlled potting study for their potential to suppress gray leaf spot (Magnaporthe oryzae) development in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Application of 10 KB (at 0.22% rate) increased tissue Si content by 57% compared to the control. The 1% application rate of biochar enhanced ryegrass tissue Si content by 11, 8, 34 and 27% in 0 KB, 10 KB, 10K2B and 10CB compared to 0.22% rate correspondingly. Analysis of area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) showed that gray leaf spot development was reduced by 65–77% with treatments of 0 KB, 10CB and 10 KB, 10K2B at 0.22% rate, and 58–67% for treatments of 10 KB and 10CB at 1% rate compared with the control. At the same application rate (0.22%), 10CB and 10K2B showed better performance in suppressing disease severity than commonly-used wollastonite and calcium silicate slag. Overall, soil amendments with alkali-enhanced biochar-based Si sources increased Si tissue concentration and reduced gray leaf spot development in perennial ryegrass

Acyclovir Suppression to Prevent Clinical Recurrences at Delivery After First Episode Genital Herpes in Pregnancy: An Open-Label Trial

Objective: To continue evaluation of the use of acyclovir suppression in late pregnancy after first episode genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, using an open-label study design. Methods: Ninety-six women diagnosed with genital herpes for the first time in the index pregnancy were prescribed suppressive acyclovir 400 mg orally three times daily from 36 weeks until delivery in an open-label fashion. Herpes cultures were obtained when patients presented for delivery. Vaginal delivery was permitted if no clinical recurrence was present; otherwise a Cesarean delivery was performed. NeonatalHSV cultures were obtained and infants were followed clinically. Rates of clinical and asymptomatic genital herpes recurrences and Cesarean delivery for genital herpes were measured, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: In 82 patients (85%) compliant with therapy, only 1% had clinical HSV recurrences at delivery. In an intent to treat analysis of the entire cohort, 4% had clinical recurrences (compared with 18–37% in historical controls). Asymptomatic shedding occurred in 1% of women without lesions at delivery. Two of the four clinical recurrences were HSV-culture positive. No significant maternal or fetal side-effects were observed. Conclusions: In clinical practice the majority of patients are compliant with acyclovir suppression at term. The therapy appears to be effective at reducing clinical recurrences after a first episode of genital herpes complicating a pregnancy

Geospatial Demand for Approved Cleft Care in the United States

BACKGROUND: Geographic information systems are powerful tools for characterizing the geospatial factors influencing access to care. As patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) require long-term care, with numerous operations and therapies, access to timely, quality care is extremely important. This study uses population level analysis and geographic information systems to identify United States counties with limited access to American Cleft Palate Association-approved cleft teams. METHODS: Natality data were queried from the National Vital Statistics System. Population and geographic data were obtained from the US Census Bureau. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was utilized to account for social inequality. Total births with CL/P, population estimates, SVI, distance to the nearest center, and total centers within 50 km were used to generate the cleft care demand index (CCDI). RESULTS: Ninety-two counties had CCDIs between 66.7 and 100. The highest scoring county, Hidalgo County, Texas, had 62 births with CL/P, population estimate of 888,367 persons, distance to the nearest cleft center of 368.4 km, and SVI of 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the power of geographic information systems for identifying areas with limited access to approved cleft teams. The CCDI measures cleft burden, socioeconomic disadvantage, and geographic barriers to quantify the demand for approved cleft care in each county. Utilizing these scores can help direct future interventions, outreach efforts, and cleft care center planning

Addressing the Surgical Deficit: A Global Imperative for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

Despite poor access to quality surgical and anesthesia care for the majority of the world\u27s people, with greatest impact on low- and middle-income countries, surgery has only recently begun to gain acceptance as a necessary component of global health. As a leader in global surgical funding, the field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is uniquely positioned to influence change in global policy and financial support. For improvements in surgical access and outcomes worldwide, investment in surgical systems, commitment to national surgery, obstetric, and anesthesia planning, and continued evaluation and improvement of care delivery should be pursued