Studies on the Manganese Cycle

The first studies on the manganese cycle in impoundments were concerned with the manganese concentrations in and removal from bottom waters of deep impoundments. But as work progressed, the emphasis was more on the investigation of the mechanism by which manganese is dissolved in impounded waters

Solubility of Manganese and Iron in Impoundment Waters

The purpose of this paper is to show the rate of solubility of certain elements (manganese and iron) in impoundment waters. The rate at which manganese and iron becomes soluble is important in determining if there is a change in the solubility of these elements in impoundment water and free running water. The solubility of an element under impoundment waters represents a cycle. The mud on the bottom of impoundment waters contain the elements that are insoluble. At a certain stage the element becomes soluble, and it is released from the mud. The soluble element is much lighter than the insoluble one, and it therefore rises toward the surface. When it nears the top, there is a reaction; the particles become insoluble. They are heavier than the water particles and fall back down, settling in the mud to start the cycle over again. In impoundment waters, there is a higher degree of soluble particles near the bottom than the top

Pre-pregnancy predictors of hypertension in pregnancy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in north Queensland, Australia; a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Compared to other Australian women, Indigenous women are frequently at greater risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We examined pre-pregnancy factors that may predict hypertension in pregnancy in a cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in north Queensland. METHODS Data on a cohort of 1009 Indigenous women of childbearing age (15–44 years) who participated in a 1998–2000 health screening program in north Queensland were combined with 1998–2008 Queensland hospitalisations data using probabilistic data linkage. Data on the women in the cohort who were hospitalised for birth (n = 220) were further combined with Queensland perinatal data which identified those diagnosed with hypertension in pregnancy. RESULTS Of 220 women who gave birth, 22 had hypertension in the pregnancy after their health check. The mean age of women with and without hypertension was similar (23.7 years and 23.9 years respectively) however Aboriginal women were more affected compared to Torres Strait Islanders. Pre-pregnancy adiposity and elevated blood pressure at the health screening program were predictors of a pregnancy affected by hypertension. After adjusting for age and ethnicity, each 1 cm increase in waist circumference showed a 4% increased risk for hypertension in pregnancy (PR 1.04; 95% CI; 1.02-1.06); each 1 point increase in BMI showed a 9% adjusted increase in risk (1.09; 1.04-1.14). For each 1 mmHg increase in baseline systolic blood pressure there was an age and ethnicity adjusted 6% increase in risk and each 1 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure showed a 7% increase in risk (1.06; 1.03-1.09 and 1.07; 1.03-1.11 respectively). Among those free of diabetes at baseline, the presence of the metabolic syndrome (International Diabetes Federation criteria) predicted over a three-fold increase in age-ethnicity-adjusted risk (3.5; 1.50-8.17). CONCLUSIONS Pre-pregnancy adiposity and features of the metabolic syndrome among these young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women track strongly to increased risk of hypertension in pregnancy with associated risks to the health of babies.Sandra K Campbell, John Lynch, Adrian Esterman and Robyn McDermot

Adapted motivational interviewing to improve the uptake of treatment for glaucoma in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease associated with irreversible visual loss. In Africa, glaucoma patients often present late, with very advanced disease. One-off procedures, such as laser or surgery, are recommended in Africa because of lack of or poor adherence to medical treatment. However, acceptance of surgery is usually extremely low. To prevent blindness, adherence to treatment needs to improve, using acceptable, replicable and cost-effective interventions. After reviewing the literature and interviewing patients in Bauchi (Nigeria) motivational interviewing (MI) was selected as the intervention for this trial, with adaptation for glaucoma (MIG). MI is designed to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring a person's reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. The aim of this study is to assess whether MIG increases the uptake of laser or surgery amongst glaucoma patients where this is the recommended treatment. The hypothesis is that MIG increases the uptake of treatment. This will be the first trial of MI in Africa. METHODS: This is a hospital based, single centre, randomized controlled trial of MIG plus an information sheet on glaucoma and its treatment (the latter being "standard care") compared with standard care alone for glaucoma patients where the treatment recommended is surgery or laser.Those eligible for the trial are adults aged 17 years and above who live within 200 km of Bauchi with advanced glaucoma where the examining ophthalmologist recommends surgery or laser. After obtaining written informed consent, participants will be randomly allocated to MIG plus standard care, or standard care alone. Motivational interviewing will be delivered in Hausa or English by one of two MIG trained personnel. One hundred and fifty participants will be recruited to each arm. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants undergoing laser or surgery within two months of the date given to re attend for the procedure. MIG quality will be assessed using the validated MI treatment integrity scale. DISCUSSION: Motivational interviewing may be an important tool to increase the acceptance of treatment for glaucoma. The approach is potentially scalable and may be useful for other chronic conditions in Africa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN79330571 (Controlled-Trials.com)

Non-destructive analysis of museum objects by fibre-optic Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is a versatile technique that has frequently been applied for the investigation of art objects. By using mobile Raman instrumentation it is possible to investigate the artworks without the need for sampling. This work evaluates the use of a dedicated mobile spectrometer for the investigation of a range of museum objects in museums in Scotland, including antique Egyptian sarcophagi, a panel painting, painted surfaces on paper and textile, and the painted lid and soundboard of an early keyboard instrument. The investigations of these artefacts illustrate some analytical challenges that arise when analysing museum objects, including fluorescing varnish layers, ambient sunlight, large dimensions of artefacts and the need to handle fragile objects with care. Analysis of the musical instrument (the Mar virginals) was undertaken in the exhibition gallery, while on display, which meant that interaction with the public and health and safety issues had to be taken into account

Project overview and update on WEAVE: the next generation wide-field spectroscopy facility for the William Herschel Telescope

We present an overview of and status report on the WEAVE next-generation spectroscopy facility for the William Herschel Telescope (WHT). WEAVE principally targets optical ground-based follow up of upcoming ground-based (LOFAR) and space-based (Gaia) surveys. WEAVE is a multi-object and multi-IFU facility utilizing a new 2-degree prime focus field of view at the WHT, with a buffered pick-and-place positioner system hosting 1000 multi-object (MOS) fibres, 20 integral field units, or a single large IFU for each observation. The fibres are fed to a single spectrograph, with a pair of 8k(spectral) x 6k (spatial) pixel cameras, located within the WHT GHRIL enclosure on the telescope Nasmyth platform, supporting observations at R~5000 over the full 370-1000nm wavelength range in a single exposure, or a high resolution mode with limited coverage in each arm at R~20000. The project is now in the final design and early procurement phase, with commissioning at the telescope expected in 2017.Comment: 11 pages, 11 Figures, Summary of a presentation to Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 201

Addressing Health System’s Leadership Challenges through Different Problem-Solving Approaches

Kenya continues to face significant challenges in providing basic health services for all despite the devolution of health system functions. Some of these challenges have been attributed to healthcare leaders that are ill-equipped to succeed in their roles. This calls for innovative health worker training that yields impact. The purpose of this study was to describe health system leadership challenges in 19 counties in Kenya and how the challenges have been addressed. The research design is longitudinal without a random assignment. Comparison of catalyst projects’ key health system performance indicators for baseline, endline, and post-training indicated positive results (p=0.0018 and 0.7655) respectivel

Prevalencia y evaluación de la carga parasitaria de cerdos criados en los distritos de el Mantaro y San Lorenzo, provincia de Jauja,departamento de Junín

Las parasitosis que afectan a los cerdos se caracterizan por ocasionar pérdidas económicas a los productores. Los parásitos reducen el índice de conversión alimenticia y disminuyen la productividad de la crianza de porcinos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar que parásitos tenían prevalencias mayores al 5% y calcular la carga parasitaria de los mismos en los distritos de El Mantaro y San Lorenzo. Se recolectaron 257 muestras de heces de cerdo durante los meses de junio a agosto del 2013. Las muestras fueron evaluadas mediante los métodos de flotación, sedimentación y McMaster modificado. Se obtuvo una prevalencia total de 22.57% para Ascaris summ, 73.15% para HTS, 18.68% para Trichuris suis, 41.25% para Metastrongylus spp. y 12.06% para Fasciola hepatica. La carga promedio hallada fue de 2.62 hpg para Ascaris summ, 100.04 hpg para HTS, 1.33 hpg para Trichuris suis, 6.07 hpg para Metastrongylus spp. y 0.68 hpg para F. hepatica. Palabras claves: Porcinos, HTS, Fasciola hepatica, Ascaris summ, Metastrongylus spp., Trichuris suis, Valle del Mantaro.--- Parasitic diseases of pigs are characterized by producing economic losses to producers. Parasites reduce feed conversion ratio and decrease productivity of pigs. The aim of this study was to determine which parasites have prevalence rates higher than 5% and calculate the parasitic load of each of the parasites in the districts of the Mantaro and San Lorenzo. Two hundred and fifty seven fecal samples of pig feces were collected during the months of June to August 2013. The samples were evaluated using the following methods: flotation, sedimentation and modified McMaster. Pevalence of Ascaris suum was 22.57 %, 73.15 % for HTS, 18.68 % for Trichuris suis, 41.25 % for Metastrongylus spp and 12.06 % for Fasciola hepatica . The average load was found 2.62 for Ascaris summ EPG, EPG for HTS 100.04, 1.33 for Trichuris suis EPG, EPG for Metastrongylus spp. 6.07 and 0.68 epg for F. hepatica. Keywords: Swine, HTS, Fasciola hepatica, Ascaris summ, Metastrongylus spp., Trichuris suis, Mantaro Valley.Tesi

Regulatory regionalism and anti-money-laundering governance in Asia

With the intensification of the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) worldwide campaign to promote anti-money-laundering regulation since the late 1990s, all Asian states except North Korea have signed up to its rules and have established a regional institution—the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering—to promote and oversee the implementation of FATF's 40 Recommendations in the region. This article analyses the FATF regime, making two key claims. First, anti-money-laundering governance in Asia reflects a broader shift to regulatory regionalism, particularly in economic matters, in that its implementation and functioning depend upon the rescaling of ostensibly domestic agencies to function within a regional governance regime. Second, although this form of regulatory regionalism is established in order to bypass the perceived constraints of national sovereignty and political will, it nevertheless inevitably becomes entangled within the socio-political conflicts that shape the exercise of state power more broadly. Consequently, understanding the outcomes of regulatory regionalism involves identifying how these conflicts shape how far and in what manner global regulations are adopted and implemented within specific territories. This argument is demonstrated by a case study of Myanmar

The variable toxicity of silver ions in cell culture media

The elevated interest in silver ions (Ag+) as a broad spectrum antimicrobial for use on medical devices has increased the number and importance of in vitro biocompatibility testing, however little consideration is given to the culture environment in which the assessments are performed. The current investigation assessed the viability of mouse fibroblasts (L929) exposed to different concentrations of Ag+ in both Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and minimal essential medium Eagle, alpha modification (αMEM). We identified a significant increase in the EC50 of L929 cells exposed to Ag+ in αMEM compared to DMEM, which was matched by a corresponding decrease in Ag+ availability in αMEM at concentrations ≤400 μM, as detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The reduced availability was not observed for Ag+ > 400 μM, the concentration above which caused in vitro cytotoxicity in L929 cells in αMEM; while linear quantification of Ag+ was observed in DMEM. Equilibration of the chloride and glucose components between media did not affect cytotoxicity on primary test cells; mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Overall, our results present evidence of the importance of culture conditions on the in vitro evaluation of silver, with DMEM providing a reliable basal media in which to conduct assessments