Determining smallholder farmers’ preferences for Push-Pull technology dissemination pathways in western Kenya

The push-pull technology (PPT) has widely been disseminated to control stemborer (Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca) and Striga weeds (Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica) in maize fields in Kenya. This study examined farmers’ preferences for various dissemination pathways in order to proffer better targeting of resources in an optimal dissemination strategy. The pathways considered were public meetings (barazas), radio, farmer field schools (FFS), field days (FD), farmer teachers (FT), the fellow farmers (FF) and print materials. Using a weighted score index and ordered probit regression, the different pathways were sequentially ranked as FD, FT, FFS, FF, print materials, Radio, and barazas. Marginal effects from ordered probit showed that farmers had the least preferences for baraza and radio pathways. The farmer categories with the highest preference for particular pathways were: less educated farmers for FD, farmers with small land sizes for FT, farmers belonging to groups for FFS, and young educated farmers for the print materials. This information is extremely important for targeting the different segments of farmers.Push-pull technology, Stemborer, Striga, Dissemination pathways, preference, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Hippocampal neuronal cells that accumulate α-synuclein fragments are more vulnerable to Aβ oligomer toxicity via mGluR5--implications for dementia with Lewy bodies.

BackgroundIn dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) abnormal interactions between α-synuclein (α-syn) and beta amyloid (Aβ) result in selective degeneration of neurons in the neocortex, limbic system and striatum. However, factors rendering these neurons selectively vulnerable have not been fully investigated. The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) has been shown to be up regulated in DLB and might play a role as a mediator of the neurotoxic effects of Aβ and α-syn in vulnerable neuronal populations. In this context, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the role of mGluR5 as a mediator of the neurotoxic effects of α-syn and Aβ in the hippocampus.ResultsWe generated double transgenic mice over-expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) and α-syn under the mThy1 cassette and investigated the relationship between α-syn cleavage, Aβ, mGluR5 and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus. We found that compared to the single tg mice, the α-syn/APP tg mice displayed greater accumulation of α-syn and mGluR5 in the CA3 region of the hippocampus compared to the CA1 and other regions. This was accompanied by loss of CA3 (but not CA1) neurons in the single and α-syn/APP tg mice and greater loss of MAP 2 and synaptophysin in the CA3 in the α-syn/APP tg. mGluR5 gene transfer using a lentiviral vector into the hippocampus CA1 region resulted in greater α-syn accumulation and neurodegeneration in the single and α-syn/APP tg mice. In contrast, silencing mGluR5 with a lenti-shRNA protected neurons in the CA3 region of tg mice. In vitro, greater toxicity was observed in primary hippocampal neuronal cultures treated with Aβ oligomers and over-expressing α-syn; this effect was attenuated by down-regulating mGluR5 with an shRNA lentiviral vector. In α-syn-expressing neuronal cells lines, Aβ oligomers promoted increased intracellular calcium levels, calpain activation and α-syn cleavage resulting in caspase-3-dependent cell death. Treatment with pharmacological mGluR5 inhibitors such as 2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP) and 3-((2-Methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethynyl)pyridine (MTEP) attenuated the toxic effects of Aβ in α-syn-expressing neuronal cells.ConclusionsTogether, these results support the possibility that vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to α-syn and Aβ might be mediated via mGluR5. Moreover, therapeutical interventions targeting mGluR5 might have a role in DLB

Identification of synergistic interactions among microorganisms in biofilms by digital image analysis

Digital image analysis showed that reductions in biofilm plating efficiency were due to the loss of protection provided by two benzoate-degrading strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens. This loss in protection was due to the spatial separation of the protective organisms from benzoate-sensitive organisms during the dilution process. Communities were cultivated in flow cells irrigated with trypticase soy broth. When the effluent from these flow cells was plated on 0.15% benzoic acid, satellite colonies formed only in the vicinity of primary colonies. A digital image analysis procedure was developed to measure the size and spatial distribution of these satellites as a function of distance from the primary colony. The size of satellites served as a measure of growth, and the number per unit area served as a measure of survival. At the three dilutions tested, the size and concentration of satellite colonies varied inversely with distance from the primary colonies. When these measurements were plotted, the slopes were used to quantify the effect of bacterial association on the growth and survivability of the satellites. In the absence of the primary colonies, satellites grew in axenic culture only at low benzoate concentrations. Thus benzoate-degrading organisms are capable of creating a protective microenvironment for other members of biofilm communities

Cluster Algorithm for a Solid-On-Solid Model with Constraints

We adapt the VMR (valleys-to-mountains reflections) algorithm, originally devised by us for simulations of SOS models, to the BCSOS model. It is the first time that a cluster algorithm is used for a model with constraints. The performance of this new algorithm is studied in detail in both phases of the model, including a finite size scaling analysis of the autocorrelations.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures appended as ps-file

Unpacking ‘women’s health’ in the context of PPPs: a return to instrumentalism in development policy and practice?

There has been a significant increase in funding for health programmes in development over the last two decades, partly due to the formation of public–private partnerships. This article examines the impact of public–private partnerships from the perspective of women’s health, asks whether the current culture of funding has led to an increased instrumentalism in women’s health programming and what effects this has on how women’s health is addressed at the level of practice. The article is based on research carried out with UK-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and its conclusions raise further challenges for improving women’s health policies and programmes in development

Uji Diagnostik Troponin T-RA Pada Penderita Miokarditis Akut

Kardiak troponin-T (cTnT) adalah protein yang spesifik dari otot jantung, dan dikeluarkan ke dalam sirkulasi bila terjadi kerusakan otot jantung. Protein tersebut dipergunakan sebagai petanda (marker) diagnostik untuk kerusakan otot jantung baik yang disebabkan infark miokard akut, ataupun nekrose oleh sebab proses inflamasi miokarditis, atau kerusakan atau kontusio jaringan otot jantung. Untuk mendiagnosis adanya miokarditis, yang penyebabnya  heterogen sampai saat ini hanya berdasarkan gejala klinik dan atau EKG yang tidak khas, satu-satunya cara untuk memastikan diagnosis adalah biopsi endokardial, karenanya perlu dicari cara lain, yang sederhana, mudah dilakukan dan aman. Tujuan  :  Di RS Immanuel kasus-kasus miokarditis akut sering dijumpai, terutama pada kasus-kasus tifoid toksik, difteri, postinfeksi Streptococcus hemolyticus (demam rematik), demam berdarah dengue (DBD) berat, penyakit kolagen a.l. sistemik lupus eritematosus (SLE), bahkan penyakit beri-beri yang berat (Shosin) dan lain-lain sebagainya. Walaupun selama ini banyak kecurigaan adanya miokarditis akut sebagai komplikasi penyakit-penyakit tersebut, diagnosis hanya bergantung pada tanda-tanda klinis atau EKG yang tidak selalu khas. Sesuai dengan judul, maka penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan penggunaan Uji TnT–RA (RA=Rapid Assay) sebagai modalitas diagnostik baru untuk mendeteksi adanya keru-sakan jantung yang disebabkan miokarditis akut. Metode  :  Penelitian ini merupakan studi uji diagnostik untuk mencari kepastian diagnosis pada kasus-kasus yang dicurigai miokarditis. Dalam perioda Januari 1999 s/d Agustus 2000, penderita-penderita yang dirawat di bangsal SMF Penyakit Dalam RS Immanuel Bandung, yang berdasarkan gejala klinis dan EKG, dicurigai menderita miokarditis; sebanyak 20 penderita, masuk ke dalam penelitian ini. Uji TnT menggunakan cara kualitatif dan rapid immunoassay (RnT-RA) Hasil :   20 penderita terdiri dari 12 penderita laki-laki dan 8 wanita. Usia termuda adalah 14 th, tertua 40 th. Uji TnT-SR yang positif 7/20 atau 35%. Sensitifitas uji tersebut adalah 66,7% dan spesifisitas yang tinggi yakni 90,9%. Kesimpulan :   Hasil penelitian membuktikan bahwa uji TnT dapat digunakan untuk membantu memastikan diagnosa adanya kerusakan otot jantung yang disebabkan miokarditis. Dengan sensitifitas yang cukup (66.7%) dan spesifisitas yang tinggi  (90.9%). Karena jumlah subjek yang diteliti relatif sedikit maka perlu penelitian lebih lanjut.&nbsp