National-scale modelling of N leaching in organic and conventional horticultural crop rotations - policy implications

A method is presented to model N leaching in crop rotations on a national scale. Representative crop rotations for different regions and soil types are used in the cross-disciplinary, plant, soil, environment & economics model EU-Rotate_N. By comparing contrasting farming systems (organic and conventional) in the UK, their strengths and weaknesses in delivering environmental and economic sustainability can be assessed. Modelling results show that the annual leaching in different horticultural rotations and UK regions, using median weather, is within the range of 13-88 kg N/ha/year for organic and 54-130 kg N /ha/year for conventional. The weighted annual average figures are 39 kg N/ha/year for organic and 81 kg N/ha/year for conventional, respectively. It is concluded that organic horticultural rotations, with a current share of 6.1% already contribute to lower overall N losses from agriculture. However, on a UK national scale, only a large share of organic land use (e.g. >50%) has a large effect on reducing N losses. Similar reductions are also predicted by substantial cuts in conventional N inputs, giving a policy choice if pollution from agriculture steps up further on the political agenda

Environmental and economic modelling of organic, stockless, horticultural crop rotations

Selected results from the ongoing “EU-Rotate_N” research project are presented. This EU 5th-framework project is developing a model-based decision support system to optimise nitrogen use in horticultural crop rotations across Europe. This paper introduces the economic and the fertility-building crops sub-models, and shows data from model validation and first model runs on an organic farm in central England. Preliminary results show that the model has the potential to be a powerful support tool for farmers and advisors, making decisions on rotational plan-ning. The economic, agronomic and environmental consequences of different rotational designs can be projected and assessed in detail

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN KENYA

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to establish the relationship between self-management and effective leadership in County Governments in Kenya. Methods: The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study was 3,190 County Officials. A stratified sampling technique was used to gather for proper representation of the entire population. Data collection instrument used was a questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed statistically yielding frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, while inferential statistical tools such as correlation and regression were used to determine and explain variable relations by use of SPSS Version 22 program. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significant differences in three categories of county officers and data were presented in the form of tables, figures and charts. Results: The results revealed that there was a moderately strong, positive and significant association between self-management and effective leadership. These finding implied that increase in self-management positively resulted to increase in effective leadership. The findings of univariate and multivariate regression analysis further revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between self-management and effective leadership in county governments in Kenya. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that organisations seeking the hire effective leaders should look out for individuals\u27 self- control, conscientiousness, adaptability and innovativeness which are constructs of self-management that determines effective leadership. Institutions should design experiment during the probation stage where new recruits are evaluated on self-management before being confirmed in leadership position. The organisations should revise their recruitment policies to include self-management measures for senior leadership positions. &nbsp

Complex Reorganization and Predominant Non-Homologous Repair Following Chromosomal Breakage in Karyotypically Balanced Germline Rearrangements and Transgenic Integration

We defined the genetic landscape of balanced chromosomal rearrangements at nucleotide resolution by sequencing 141 breakpoints from cytogenetically-interpreted translocations and inversions. We confirm that the recently described phenomenon of “chromothripsis” (massive chromosomal shattering and reorganization) is not unique to cancer cells but also occurs in the germline where it can resolve to a karyotypically balanced state with frequent inversions. We detected a high incidence of complex rearrangements (19.2%) and substantially less reliance on microhomology (31%) than previously observed in benign CNVs. We compared these results to experimentally-generated DNA breakage-repair by sequencing seven transgenic animals, and revealed extensive rearrangement of the transgene and host genome with similar complexity to human germline alterations. Inversion is the most common rearrangement, suggesting that a combined mechanism involving template switching and non-homologous repair mediates the formation of balanced complex rearrangements that are viable, stably replicated and transmitted unaltered to subsequent generations

The Effects of Air Pollution on Endothelial Function: An Extended Literature Review

Exposure to elevated concentrations of ambient particulate matter (PM) has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Repeated long-term exposure to PM contributes to pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress, inflammation, atherosclerosis and increased risk of ischemic heart disease and death.1 Short-term elevated PM exposures and related inflammation may also contribute to acute complications of atherosclerosis by increasing the risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture, acceleration of acute ischemic events and endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium is a layer of thin flat cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels and is directly involved with regulation of vascular processes. Our understanding of endothelial cell responses has led to the development of tests that are believed to reflect endothelial function. Given the central role of the endothelium in maintaining vascular homeostasis and the development of atherosclerosis, endothelial function testing may serve as a “barometer” 2 for cardiovascular health and risk. This study, in conjunction with a pilot study conducted by Dr. C. Arden Pope III which seeks to examine the potential effects of short-term fine particulate air pollution on endothelial function, reviews the growing literature to further evaluate endothelial function

Improved Innate and Adaptive Immunostimulation by Genetically Modified HIV-1 Protein Expressing NYVAC Vectors.

Attenuated poxviruses are safe and capable of expressing foreign antigens. Poxviruses are applied in veterinary vaccination and explored as candidate vaccines for humans. However, poxviruses express multiple genes encoding proteins that interfere with components of the innate and adaptive immune response. This manuscript describes two strategies aimed to improve the immunogenicity of the highly attenuated, host-range restricted poxvirus NYVAC: deletion of the viral gene encoding type-I interferon-binding protein and development of attenuated replication-competent NYVAC. We evaluated these newly generated NYVAC mutants, encoding HIV-1 env, gag, pol and nef, for their ability to stimulate HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses in vitro from blood mononuclear cells of HIV-infected subjects. The new vectors were evaluated and compared to the parental NYVAC vector in dendritic cells (DCs), RNA expression arrays, HIV gag expression and cross-presentation assays in vitro. Deletion of type-I interferon-binding protein enhanced expression of interferon and interferon-induced genes in DCs, and increased maturation of infected DCs. Restoration of replication competence induced activation of pathways involving antigen processing and presentation. Also, replication-competent NYVAC showed increased Gag expression in infected cells, permitting enhanced cross-presentation to HIV-specific CD8 T cells and proliferation of HIV-specific memory CD8 T-cells in vitro. The recombinant NYVAC combining both modifications induced interferon-induced genes and genes involved in antigen processing and presentation, as well as increased Gag expression. This combined replication-competent NYVAC is a promising candidate for the next generation of HIV vaccines

Effective health care for older people living and dying in care homes: A realist review

Background: Care home residents in England have variable access to health care services. There is currently no coherent policy or consensus about the best arrangements to meet these needs. The purpose of this review was to explore the evidence for how different service delivery models for care home residents support and/or improve wellbeing and health-related outcomes in older people living and dying in care homes. Methods: We conceptualised models of health care provision to care homes as complex interventions. We used a realist review approach to develop a preliminary understanding of what supported good health care provision to care homes. We completed a scoping of the literature and interviewed National Health Service and Local Authority commissioners, providers of services to care homes, representatives from the Regulator, care home managers, residents and their families. We used these data to develop theoretical propositions to be tested in the literature to explain why an intervention may be effective in some situations and not others. We searched electronic databases and related grey literature. Finally the findings were reviewed with an external advisory group. Results: Strategies that support and sustain relational working between care home staff and visiting health care professionals explained the observed differences in how health care interventions were accepted and embedded into care home practice. Actions that encouraged visiting health care professionals and care home staff jointly to identify, plan and implement care home appropriate protocols for care, when supported by ongoing facilitation from visiting clinicians, were important. Contextual factors such as financial incentives or sanctions, agreed protocols, clinical expertise and structured approaches to assessment and care planning could support relational working to occur, but of themselves appeared insufficient to achieve change. Conclusion: How relational working is structured between health and care home staff is key to whether health service interventions achieve health related outcomes for residents and their respective organisations. The belief that either paying clinicians to do more in care homes and/or investing in training of care home staff is sufficient for better outcomes was not supported.This research was funded by National Institute of Health Research Health Service Delivery and Research programme (HSDR 11/021/02)

Psychopathic leadership a case study of a corporate psychopath CEO

This longitudinal case study reports on a charity in the UK which gained a new CEO who was reported by two middle managers who worked in the charity, to embody (respectively) all or most of the ten characteristics within a measure of corporate psychopathy. The leadership of this CEO with a high corporate psychopathy score was reported to be so poor that the organisation was described as being one without leadership and as a lost organisation with no direction. This paper outlines the resultant characteristics of the ensuing aimlessness and lack of drive of the organisation involved. Comparisons are made to a previous CEO in the same organisation, who was reportedly an authentic, effective and transformational leader. Outcomes under the CEO with a high corporate psychopathy score were related to bullying, staff withdrawal and turnover as effective employees stayed away from and/or left the organisation. Outcomes also included a marked organisational decline in terms of revenue, employee commitment, creativity and organisational innovativeness. The paper makes a contribution to both leadership and to corporate psychopathy research as it appears to be the first reported study of a CEO with a high corporate psychopathy score

Treatment Interruption and Variation in Tablet Taking Behaviour Result in Viral Failure: A Case-Control Study from Cape Town, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Understanding of the impact of non-structured treatment interruption (TI) and variation in tablet-taking on failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) is limited in a resource-poor setting. METHODS: A retrospective matched case-control analysis. Individuals failing ART were matched by time on ART with 4 controls. Viral load (VL) and CD4 count were completed 4-monthly. Adherence percentages, from tablet returns, were calculated 4-monthly (interval) and from ART start (cumulative). Variation between intervals and TI (>27 days off ART) were recorded. Conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of cumulative adherence 10% and TI on virological failure. Age, gender, baseline log VL and CD4 were included as possible confounders in the multivariate model. RESULTS: 244 patients (44 cases, 200 controls) were included. Median age was 32 years (IQR28-37), baseline CD4 108 cells/mm3 (IQR56-151), VL 4.82 log (IQR4.48-5.23). 94% (96% controls, 86% failures) had cumulative adherence >90%. The odds of failure increased 3 times (aOR 3.01, 95%CI 0.81-11.21) in individuals with cumulative adherence 10% and 4.01 times (aOR 4.01, 95%CI 1.45-11.10) in individuals with TIs. For individuals with TI and cumulative adherence >95%, the odds of failing were 5.65 (CI 1.40-22.85). CONCLUSION: It is well known that poor cumulative adherence increases risk of virological failure, but less well understood that TI and variations in tablet-taking also play a key role, despite otherwise excellent adherence