The railroad switch effect of seasonally reversing currents on the Bay of Bengal high salinity core

The Southwest Monsoon Current (SMC) flows eastward from the Arabian Sea into the Bay of Bengal (BoB) during summer, advecting a core of high salinity water. This high salinity core has been linked with Arabian Sea High Salinity Water that is presumed to enter the BoB directly from the Arabian Sea via the SMC. Here we show that the high salinity core originates primarily from the western equatorial Indian Ocean, reaching the BoB via the Somali Current, the Equatorial Undercurrent and the SMC. Years with anomalously saline high salinity cores are linked with the East Africa Coastal Current and the Somali Current winter convergence, and an anomalously strong Equatorial Undercurrent. Seasonal reversals that occur at the Somali Current and SMC junctions act as 'railroad switches' diverting water masses to different basins in the northern Indian Ocean. Interannual fluctuations of the Equatorial Undercurrent are linked to wind stress and El Nino

On the limits of sexual health literacy: Insights from Ugandan schoolgirls

This article makes the case that current conceptions of sexual health literacy have limited relevance to the Ugandan context because they assume that knowledge of unsafe sexual practices will lead to changes in behavior and lifestyle. Drawing on a longitudinal case study with 15 Ugandan schoolgirls in rural Uganda from August 2004 to September 2006, this study argues that despite being well-informed about the risks and responsibilities of sexual activity, poverty and sexual abuse severely constrained options for these young women. Although many believed in the value of abstaining from sexual activity until marriage, they engaged in transactional sex to pay for school fees, supplies, clothing, and food. Further, fear of sexual abuse, early pregnancy, and HIV–AIDS compromised attempts to embrace sexuality. The article concludes with implications of the study for research and policy on sexual health literacy in Uganda and other poorly resourced regions of the world

PURIFICATION AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF L-AMINO ACID OXIDASE FROM WESTERN REGION INDIAN COBRA (NAJA NAJA) VENOM

Objective: Purification and biochemical characterization of LAAO from western region Indian Cobra (Naja naja) venom.Methods: LAAO was purified from Indian cobra (Naja naja) venom using sequential chromatography on Sephadex G-75 gel filtration followed by Ion exchange on CM-Sephadex C-25 column. Biochemical characterization viz., pH, Temperature, Km and Vmax were determined. Molecular weight of LAAO was determined by electrophoresis. Inhibition of LAAO from cold water extracts of Curcuma zedoria, Curcuma ceasia, Curcuma aromatic, Curcuma longa, Curcuma amada, Cucumis sativus and Benincasa hispida was done.Results: Purified LAAO showed the single band on non reducing SDS-PAGE with approximate molecular weight of 65 kDa. Further biochemical characterization revealed that, LAAO from Naja naja (western region) has an optimum pH of 7.0 and is stable at room Temperature upto 37 °C and showed an optimum enzyme concentration of 4µg/ml and Km 134.1µM and Vmax is 21.87 U/min. Cold water extract of Curcuma ceasia, Curcuma aromatic and Benincasa hispida showed comparatively significant inhibition of LAAO.Conclusion: LAAO has promising therapeutic prospects because of its effects on various biological functions. Variation in snake species and their geographical distribution also contributes to the venom properties such as composition, toxicity level, pharmacological and biological activities. The significant difference in protein profiling leads to substantial lethality among different geographical regions. Thus in this study Indian Cobra (Naja naja) venom from the western region of India was subjected to purification of LAAO and biochemical characterization. Â

BoBBLE: ocean-atmosphere interaction and its impact on the South Asian monsoon

The Bay of Bengal (BoB) plays a fundamental role in controlling the weather systems that make up the South Asian summer monsoon system. In particular,the southern BoB has cooler sea surface temperature (SST) that influence ocean-atmosphere interaction and impact on the monsoon. Compared to the southeast, the southwestern BoB is cooler, more saline, receives much less rain, and is influenced by the Summer Monsoon Current(SMC). To examine the impact of these features on the monsoon, the BoB Boundary Layer Experiment (BoBBLE) was jointly undertaken by India and the UK during June–July 2016. Physical and bio-geochemical observations were made using a CTD, five ocean gliders, a uCTD, a VMP, two ADCPs, Argo floats, drifting buoys, meteorological sensors and upper air radiosonde balloons. The observations were made along a zonal section at 8◦N between 85.3◦E and 89◦E with a 10-day time series at 89◦E, 8◦N. This paper presents the new observed features of the southern BoB from the BoBBLE field program, supported by satellite data. Key results from the BoBBLE field campaign show the Sri Lanka Dome and the SMC in different stages of their seasonal evolution and two freshening events during which salinity decreased in the upper layer leading to the formation of thick barrier layers. BoBBLE observations were taken during a suppressed phase of the intraseasonal oscillation; they captured in detail the warming of the ocean mixed layer and preconditioning of the atmosphere to convection

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

Peer reviewe

Diversity of Mollusc Vectors of Schistosomiasis in Miti-Murhesa Health Zone, Eastern of DRC, Kabare Territory

The main objective is to inventory the vectors of bilharziasis in the aquatic ecosystems of KABARE locally in Miti-Murhesa Health zone as well as other species of aquatic molluscs in order to activate the fight against this endemic disease of this region. A total of 2762 samples were collected during our investigation period in the aquatic ecosystems in Miti-Murhesa Health Zone. We carried out field work based on shellfish sampling using appropriate methods. This sampling was carried out in 12 different sites. After collect of samples, we identified the mollusc species using the indicated identification keys, counted them and compiled them in Excel software for statistical analyses using Past software. Thus, five species of aquatic molluscs were identified. These species are Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus globosus, Pisidium casernatum, B. forskalii and Lymnaea natalensis. The species Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Bilinus globosus are intermediate hosts of intestinal schistosomiasis and urinary schistosomiasis respectively%253B while Lymnaea natalensis is the intermediate host of fasciolosis. Depending on the frequency of species, Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Lymnaea natalensis are constant species, Bulinus globosus and Psidium casernatum are accessory species and finally B. forskalii is an accidental species.Depending on the sites prospected, one species of aquatic mollusc was abundant in the aquatic ecosystems in this area%253A Biomphalaria pfeifferi%253B three species are moderately abundant%253A Lymnaea natalensis, Bulinus globosus and Pisidium casernatum, and only one is rare%253A Tomichia ventricosa. All the prospected sites are diversified in aquatic mollusc species except the Kashekesheke site, but the 2nd tarmaque site, Mulungu River and Kamulonge sites are thus the richest sites in aquatic mollusc species of Miti-Murhesa Health zone. The presence of these species clearly shows the risk of contamination of the population of Miti-Murhesa Health zone. These intermediate hosts of bilharzia are proliferating in the aquatic ecosystems of Miti-Murhesa Health zone%253B it is therefore important to recommend ways to reduce this proliferation. This study provides the basis for future ecological studies of the intermediate bilharzia host molluscs in this entity

Postnatal depression across countries and cultures : a qualitative study

Background: Postnatal depression seems to be a universal condition with similar rates in different countries. However, anthropologists question the cross-cultural equivalence of depression, particularly at a life stage so influenced by cultural factors. Aims: To develop a qualitative method to explore whether postnatal depression is universally recognised, attributed and described and to enquire into people’s perceptions of remedies and services for morbid states of unhappiness within the context of local services. Method: The study took place in 15 centres in 11 countries and drew on three groups of informants: focus groups with new mothers, interviews with fathers and grandmothers, and interviews with health professionals.Textual analysis of these three groups was conducted separately in each centre and emergent themes compared across centres. Results: All centres described morbid unhappiness after childbirth comparable to postnatal depression but not all saw this as an illness remediable by health interventions. Conclusions: Although the findings of this study support the universality of a morbid state of unhappiness following childbirth, they also support concerns about the cross-cultural equivalence of postnatal depression as an illness requiring the intervention of health professionals; this has implications for future research

The World Starts With Me: A multilevel evaluation of a comprehensive sex education programme targeting adolescents in Uganda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This paper evaluates the effect of the World Starts With Me (WSWM), a comprehensive sex education programme in secondary schools in Uganda. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of WSWM on socio-cognitive determinants of safe sex behaviour (delay; condom use and non-coercive sex).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A survey was conducted both before and immediately after the intervention among students in intervention (<it>N </it>= 853) and comparison (<it>N </it>= 1011) groups. A mixed model repeated measures analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of the WSWM programme on the main socio-cognitive determinants of safe sex behaviour at post-test. A similar post-hoc comparison was made between schools based on completeness and fidelity of implementation of WSWM.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant positive effects of WSMW were found on beliefs regarding what could or could not prevent pregnancy, the perceived social norm towards delaying sexual intercourse, and the intention to delay sexual intercourse. Furthermore, significant positive effects of WSWM were found on attitudes, self-efficacy and intention towards condom use and on self-efficacy in dealing with sexual violence (pressure and force for unwanted sex). A reversed effect of intervention was found on knowledge scores relating to non-causes of HIV (petting, fondling and deep kissing). A follow-up comparison between intervention schools based on completeness of the programme implementation revealed that almost all significant positive effects disappeared for those schools that only implemented up to 7 out of 14 lessons. Another follow-up analysis on the basis of implementation fidelity showed that schools with a "partial" fidelity score yielded more significant positive effects than schools with a "full" fidelity of implementation score.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study showed an intervention effect on a number of socio-cognitive determinants. However, the effectiveness of WSWM could be improved by giving more systematic attention to the context in which such a programme is to be implemented. Implications for the systematic development and implementation of school-based safe sex interventions in Uganda will be discussed.</p