Clustered lot quality assurance sampling: a tool to monitor immunization coverage rapidly during a national yellow fever and polio vaccination campaign in Cameroon, May 2009

We used the clustered lot quality assurance sampling (clustered-LQAS) technique to identify districts with low immunization coverage and guide mop-up actions during the last 4 days of a combined oral polio vaccine (OPV) and yellow fever (YF) vaccination campaign conducted in Cameroon in May 2009. We monitored 17 pre-selected districts at risk for low coverage. We designed LQAS plans to reject districts with YF vaccination coverage <90% and with OPV coverage <95%. In each lot the sample size was 50 (five clusters of 10) with decision values of 3 for assessing OPV and 7 for YF coverage. We ‘rejected' 10 districts for low YF coverage and 14 for low OPV coverage. Hence we recommended a 2-day extension of the campaign. Clustered-LQAS proved to be useful in guiding the campaign vaccination strategy before the completion of the operation

Early Pregnancy Diagnosis using Trans-Abdominal Ultrasonography in West African Dwarf Goats

The purpose of this study was to determine the earliest time pregnancy could be detected and the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis in the West African Dwarf goat using trans-abdominal B-mode real-time ultrasonography. Seventeen does of varying parities (allotted to 2 groups; group 1 = 12 and group 2 = 5) and a buck of proven fertility were used for this study. The group 1 does were hand-mated following synchronized estrus while does in group 2 were left in the company of the intact fertile buck. Trans-abdominal scanning using an ultrasound machine equipped with a transducer of multiple frequency (5.0 to 8.0 MHz) was carried out every day in the group 1 does starting from Day 15 (Day of estrus/ breeding = day 0 of gestation) to Day 40 and, thereafter, every other day to Day 60 of gestation. Ultrasound scan of the group 2 does was undertaken randomly until confirmed pregnant. Acoustic coupling gel, Wavelength® was liberally applied on the animal skin area to be scanned. Sonograms were printed using UP 897MD thermal printer on Sony ultrasound paper; UPP110S. The earliest sonographic evidence of pregnancy was the imaging of circumscribed anechoic fluid in the uterus (EV) on Day 18.8 ± 0.29 and the embryo on Day 20.2 ± 0.24. Heartbeat was detected in the embryos on Day 23.8 ± 0.91, embryo cephalization and development of limb buds on Day 31.4± 0.88, and the appearance of placentomes on Day 34.4 ± 0.42 of gestation. Fifteen (ten from group 1 and all 5 from group 2) does (88.24%) were diagnosed pregnant by ultrasonography. All pregnant does subsequently kidded. The kids were born alive with no apparent morphological abnormalities. The computed average gestation length using the group 1 does was 144± 0.12 days.Key words: Pregnancy detection, accuracy, ultrasound, WAD goat

Consumer Food Waste Behaviors in Relation to Open Date Label Misinterpretation

In the United States, the legal framework for product date labeling is minimal and varies across states. Manufacturers have the discretion to use any date label that they deem appropriate, and this lack of uniformity leaves room for misinterpretation by both retailers and consumers. Previous studies have examined consumer misinterpretation of date labels and how this lack of knowledge correlates to food waste behaviors. This study was aimed at understanding how consumers apply their knowledge about date labels to make decisions about purchasing and discarding food. The research was conducted via an intercept survey outside of a grocery store to obtain information directly from consumers. Survey results showed evidence that consumers often misunderstand the meaning of date labels, particularly “best-by” and “use-by.” Results also revealed that lack of understanding varied among different age groups. Decisions about purchasing and discarding food seem to be connected more to the apparent quality of food from a sensory perspective, rather than to a direct and significant link between the date label and the safety or quality of the product

Procjena dobi ploda u crvenih Sokoto koza (Capra hircus) pomoću ultrazvučnih mjerenja različitih pokazatelja

The ultrasonic measurements of occipitonasal length (ONL), orbital (OD), biparietal (BPD), placentome (PD) and umbilical cord (UCD) diameters of red Sokoto goat foetuses with known gestational age (GA) were obtained. The data were subjected to simple linear regression analysis. The derived age prediction equations were GA = 22.881 + 6.668ONL, GA = 26.938 + 14.300BPD, GA = 17.326 + 43.534OD, GA = 48.116 + 11.869PD, GA = 35.796 + 65.195UCD where GA is the gestational age (days), ONL - occipitonasal length, BPD - biparietal, OD - orbital, PD - placentome and UCD - umbilical cord diameters (cm). The foetal ages ranged between 57 and 124 days. The coefficient of correlation (R) between occipitonasal length (R = 0.97), biparietal (R = 0.98), orbital (R = 0.92), umbilical cord (R = 0.77) diameters and gestational age were highly significant (P<0.001). The placentome diameter had low correlation (R = 0.45) with gestational age. These results suggest that occipitonasal length, biparietal, orbital and umbilical cord diameters can be used to estimate foetal age in red Sokoto goats, while placentome diameter is not useful for age prediction in this breed.Provedena su ultrazvučna mjerenja okcipitonazalne dužine (OND), orbitalnoga promjera (OP), biparijetalnoga promjera (BPP), promjera placentoma (PP) i promjera pupčanoga tračka (PPT) plodova crvene okoto koze poznate gestacijske dobi (GD). Rezultati su bili analizirani pomoću jednostavne linearne regresije. Izvedene jednadžbe za predviđene dobi bile su GD = 22,881 + 6,668 OND, GA = 26,938 + 14,300 BPP, GA = 17,326 + 43,534 OP, GA = 48,116 + 11,869 PP, GA = 35,796 + 65,195 PPT gdje je GD gestacijska dob u danima, OND - okcipitonazalna dužina, BPP - biparijetalni promjer, OP - orbitalni promjer, PP - promjer placentoma i PPT - promjer pupčanoga tračka u cm. Dob plodova kretala se od 57 do 124 dana. Koefi cijent korelacije (R) između okcipitonazalne dužine (R = 0,97), biparijetalnoga (R = 0,98), orbitalnoga (R = 0,92), i promjera pupčanoga tračka (R = 0,77) te gestacijske dobi bio je značajno velik (P<0,001). Promjer placentoma bio je u niskoj korelacije (R = 0,45) s gestacijskom dobi. Rezultati upućuju na zaključak da se okcipitonazalna dužina, biparijetalni, orbitalni i promjer pupčanoga tračka mogu rabiti za procjenu dobi ploda u crvenih Sokoto koza, dok promjer placentoma nije od koristi za određivanje dobi plodova

Effects of Various Inorganic Nitrogen Sources on the Growth and Biomass Production by Candida utilis Isolated from Fermenting Cassava Tubers

Candida utilis isolated from fermenting cassava tubers was cultivated in salt media containing sucrose as carbon source and different concentrations of ammonium sulphate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and urea used individually as sole nitrogen sources. The yeast was grown in a 100 ml shaken culture and harvested after a 10-day fermentation period. Variations in media composition significantly (P&le;0.05) affected yeast biomass production. Ammonium sulphate at 0.1% (w/v) concentration resulted in the best biomass production of the isolate. Concentrations above 0.1% (w/v) did not result in correspondingly greater biomass yield. Urea gave better yields at lower concentrations but concentrations above 0.07% (w/v) resulted in lower biomass yield. Sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate were inferior to ammonium sulphate and urea as nitrogen sources for yeast biomass production. A kinetic model based on the variations of these inorganic nitrogen supplementation, level of aeration and subsequent biomass production by the isolate was proposed.Keywords: Candida utilis, Nitrogen supplementation, Biomass, Cassava fermentation, Yeast growt

Neuropeptide S receptor gene - converging evidence for a role in panic disorder

Animal studies have suggested neuropeptide S (NPS) and its receptor (NPSR) to be involved in the pathogenesis of anxiety-related behavior. In this study, a multilevel approach was applied to further elucidate the role of NPS in the etiology of human anxiety. The functional NPSR A/T (Asn¹⁰⁷Ile) variant (rs324981) was investigated for association with (1) panic disorder with and without agoraphobia in two large, independent case-control studies, (2) dimensional anxiety traits, (3) autonomic arousal level during a behavioral avoidance test and (4) brain activation correlates of anxiety-related emotional processing in panic disorder. The more active NPSR rs324981 T allele was found to be associated with panic disorder in the female subgroup of patients in both samples as well as in a meta-analytic approach. The T risk allele was further related to elevated anxiety sensitivity, increased heart rate and higher symptom reports during a behavioral avoidance test as well as decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal, lateral orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex during processing of fearful faces in patients with panic disorder. The present results provide converging evidence for a female-dominant role of NPSR gene variation in panic disorder potentially through heightened autonomic arousal and distorted processing of anxiety-relevant emotional stimuli

A Context-Aware Architecture for Personalized Elderly Care in Smart Environments

Much research has focused recently on the development of smart environments and services for human-centered applications for personalized care and improved quality of life. This is especially relevant to support the elderly to lead an active and independent life. Recent efforts exploited the state of art development in the Internet of Things, Smart Sensors grid, Embedded and Wearable systems as well as Cloud Computing to build mathematical models of personal behavior and lifestyle largely driven by big data analytics. In order to overcome the range of challenges associated with the size and heterogeneity of the related data, hardware and software, as well as of the human and social factors involved, a context-aware architecture appropriate for smart environments is needed. This paper describes ACTiVAGE (ACTiVe AGeing sErvices), a conceptual framework for developing Personalized Elderly Care services that leverage big data analytics for context-awareness in smart environments

Diagnosis and management of pseudohypoparathyroidism and related disorders: first international Consensus Statement

This Consensus Statement covers recommendations for the diagnosis and management of patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and related disorders, which comprise metabolic disorders characterized by physical findings that variably include short bones, short stature, a stocky build, early-onset obesity and ectopic ossifications, as well as endocrine defects that often include resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and TSH. The presentation and severity of PHP and its related disorders vary between affected individuals with considerable clinical and molecular overlap between the different types. A specific diagnosis is often delayed owing to lack of recognition of the syndrome and associated features. The participants in this Consensus Statement agreed that the diagnosis of PHP should be based on major criteria, including resistance to PTH, ectopic ossifications, brachydactyly and early-onset obesity. The clinical and laboratory diagnosis should be confirmed by a molecular genetic analysis. Patients should be screened at diagnosis and during follow-up for specific features, such as PTH resistance, TSH resistance, growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, skeletal deformities, oral health, weight gain, glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, as well as subcutaneous and/or deeper ectopic ossifications and neurocognitive impairment. Overall, a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach from infancy through adulthood, including a transition programme, should help us to improve the care of patients affected by these disorders

Religious fanaticism and thugocracy : catalysts to the brain drain in Nigeria

Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multicultural society, and therefore, Nigeria’s religious inclinations differ broadly. There are currently three religions dominant in Nigeria, namely Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion (ATR). These three religions, especially the first two, have demonstrated varying levels of fanaticism in the past leading to many recounted crises and jungle justice incidents in Nigeria. Because of Nigerian politics, we have witnessed the use of armed thugs by politicians to harass and even kill party opponents and displace their families. These two factors have caused many young, highly skilled persons to flee Nigeria for a safer haven. This study therefore tries to review current religious fanaticism and electioneering thuggery leading to loss of lives and property, which consequently sees to the fall of the Nigerian economy and the subsequent enthronement of insecurity in the country. It suggests that these factors are foundational problems consequent to the amalgamation of 1914 and are leading causes for the rapid rate of migration of Nigerian experts out of the country. CONTRIBUTION : At a time when Nigeria is in dire need of great brains to help in its developmental struggle, politicians and religious bigots have constituted a serious blockade to this ambition. This article is a review of recent political and religious turmoil in Nigeria with a view to call the attention of all warring religious and political stakeholders to the damage their extremism has already caused and to also bring the attention of Nigerians to the foundation of these problems, namely the amalgamation and the need to address it.http://www.hts.org.zaam2023New Testament Studie