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The aim of this article is to examine the physicochemical and microbial water quality from 3 sampling sites spread across municipal drinking water supply grid in Makana Local Municipality, South Africa. Samples were analysed for the concentrations of faecal coliforms, heterotrophic plate count, the chemical oxygen demand, concentrations of ammonium, phosphate and chlorides. The chloride concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 7.60 ± 0.08 mg/L. At the same time, the ammonium concentrations were found ranging from 0 mg/L to 1.70 ± 0.23 mg/L. For the chemical oxygen demand, the measured values ranged from 55 ± 1 to 260 ± 18 mg/L. Finally, the phosphate concentrations were shown to vary between values which were lower than 0.01 mg/L up to 1.3 ± 2.0 mg/L. There were significant differences in the values of all chemical parameters between the various sampling points and the values measured on different sampling occasions (p-value ≺ 0.01 in all cases, Kruskal-Wallis analysis and 5 % level of significance). A total of 16 drinking water samples were tested for microbial water quality and 75 % of all samples was free of faecal contamination as indicated by the faecal coliform concentration ≺ 0 colonyforming units per 100 mL. This percentage is lower than the data of 92-100 % of samples free of faecal contamination as published by local government. The discrepancy can be effected by the hygiene habits of the household occupants or from regrowth of organisms in the drinking water distribution system in Makana. Examination of the microbial quality of water led to the discovery of the presence of Vibrio cholera and Aeromonas hydrophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has been linked to the changes in the rates of diarrhoeal infectious diseases in the Southern African subcontinent. This leads to the increased significance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in public health in countries like South Africa. A study was conducted to identify bacteria providing a positive signal in the improved hydrogen-sulphide test kit. This was accomplished using the API20E test kit and the APIWEB database. Results of the bacterial identification show that 52 % of all bacterial species isolated from the faecally-contaminated samples were identified as Enterobacter cloacae. Seventeen percent of strains were identified as Serratia liquefaciens and 4 % as Enterobacter amnigenus. Finally, 30 % of the bacterial strains could not be identified. These are all potential human pathogens, if the sampled rainwater is used for potable purposes. Therefore treatment must be implemented before the water is used for potable purposes. Regular microbial water quality monitoring should also be performed using citizen science and some relevant approaches are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of such upper gastrointestinal diseases as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. The risk of infection is increased in those living in the developing world, which has been ascribed to precarious hygiene standards, crowded households, and deficient sanitation common in this part of the world. Fecal samples were collected from 356 apparently healthy subjects, consisting of 168 males and 188 females aged from 3 months to > or = 60 years (Mean = 31 years). A standardized questionnaire describing demographic characteristic including age, sex, household hygiene, socioeconomic status, and so on was applied. A sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay amplification technology (Amplified IDEIA Hp StAR, Oxoid, UK) was used to analyze the fecal samples for the detection of H. pylori antigens using monoclonal antibodies specific for H. pylori antigens. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the univariate association between H. pylori infection and the possible risk factors. Odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to measure the strength of association using EPI INFO 3.41 package. P values of < .05 were required for significance. H. pylori antigen was detected in 309 of the 356 subjects giving an overall prevalence of 86.8%. Prevalence increased with age from 75.9% in children < 12 years age to 100% in young adults aged 25-47 years and subjects aged > or = 60 years (P < .05). H. pylori prevalence was higher in females than in males. Of 188 females who participated in the study, H. pylori antigen was detected in 172 (91.5%) versus 144 (85.7%) 168 males (P > .05). Interestingly, H. pylori antigen was detected more often (100%) in the high socioeconomic group than in those of low socioeconomic group (85.9%) (P > .05). The results of this study have revealed a high prevalence of H. pylori antigens in fecal samples of asymptomatic individuals in the Nkonkobe municipality, an indication of active infection. Socioeconomic status, contaminated water, and poor sanitation may play a role in H. pylori transmission in this population. This finding is of public health and epidemiologic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori are Gram-negative micro-aerophilic motile curve rods that inhabit the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. The bacterium chronically infects billions of people worldwide and is one of the most genetically diverse of bacterial species. More than half of the world population in both developed and developing countries are infected with this organism. Infection usually occurs without overt clinical symptoms, particularly in poor communities. If untreated, the infection can last for decades without causing symptoms. In some communities, however, infection with the organism causes peptic and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, duodenitis, and gastric cancers. How H. pylori initially enters the stomach is not known, but contaminated food particles and water are suspected, with the former physically shielding it from stomach acid. Similarly, the route of transmission of this pathogen is unknown. Several reports have suggested the possibility of waterborne transmission as the organism can survive for a few days in fresh cold water, salt water, distilled water, and tap water. Knowledge of the epidemiology and mode of transmission of H. pylori is important to prevent its spread and may be useful in identifying high risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2011 to 2013, there has been an upward trend in enrolment and the level of performance in geography in the national senior certificate examination. In spite of this positive upward trend, only 53.4% of Grade 12 learners achieve 40% and above. Contrary to the national trend, there has been a downward trend in performance in the Eastern Cape in the past 3 years. This article addresses the issue of quality geography education at one level of the school system, and it responds to the need for innovative, practical solutions to resolve the issue of low-quality learning outcomes. Using a qualitative research design, data were gathered through observations, a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with the geography teachers at eight schools representing the full continuum of public schools in South Africa. The findings reveal the systemic and professional factors militating against quality teaching and learning in school geography. We conclude by making a proposition for a mutually beneficial partnership focused on building teachers’ foundational and pedagogical knowledge and addressing the fundamental problem of quality geography education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation models can offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of different control strategies and act as important decision support tools when comparing and evaluating outbreak scenarios and control strategies. An international modelling study was performed to compare a range of vaccination strategies in the control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Modelling groups from five countries (Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, The Netherlands) participated in the study. Vaccination is increasingly being recognized as a potentially important tool in the control of FMD, although there is considerable uncertainty as to how and when it should be used. We sought to compare model outputs and assess the effectiveness of different vaccination strategies in the control of FMD. Using a standardized outbreak scenario based on data from an FMD exercise in the UK in 2010, the study showed general agreement between respective models in terms of the effectiveness of vaccination. Under the scenario assumptions, all models demonstrated that vaccination with ‘stamping-out’ of infected premises led to a significant reduction in predicted epidemic size and duration compared to the ‘stamping-out’ strategy alone. For all models there were advantages in vaccinating cattle-only rather than all species, using 3-km vaccination rings immediately around infected premises, and starting vaccination earlier in the control programme. This study has shown that certain vaccination strategies are robust even to substantial differences in model configurations. This result should increase end-user confidence in conclusions drawn from model outputs. These results can be used to support and develop effective policies for FMD control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autologous SCT is a potentially curative procedure for patients with relapsed lymphoma (NHL). We analyzed the outcomes of 34 patients 60 years old, including eight patients 70 years old, who received BU and CY and SCT for NHL. Patients received BU 0.8 mg/kg i.v. (n=25) or 1 mg/kg p.o. (n=9) q 6 h × 14 doses and CY 60 mg/kg i.v. q day × 2 days. The median age was 66 (range, 60–78) years. Twenty-two patients had large cell, 10 follicular and two-mantle cell lymphoma. Fifteen patients were in a second or greater CR and 19 patients were in a PR. The median days to ANC >500/μl and platelet count >50 000/μl were 10 and 13 days respectively. The 100-day transplant-related mortality was 0%. Toxicities included interstitial lung disease (n=2), seizures in a patient with CNS lymphoma (n=1), mild veno-occlusive disease (n=2), and transient atrial fibrillation (n=4). With a median follow-up of 40 months, the 2-year overall survival and PFS were 67 and 54% respectively. BU/CY is a well-tolerated conditioning regimen for older patients with NHL. Age alone should not be used as an exclusion criterion for autologous SCT.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2009) 43, 37–42; doi:10.1038/bmt.2008.298; published online 15 September 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2004 National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation recommended that the US Department of Health and Human Services convene a diverse group of experts to ensure that competency in tobacco dependence interventions be a core graduation requirement for all new physicians and other key health care professionals. Core competencies would guide the design of new modules and explicitly outline the learning objectives for all graduating medical students.In 2002, the National Cancer Institute funded a consortium to develop, test, and integrate tobacco curricula at 12 US medical schools. Because there was neither an explicit set of tobacco competencies for medical schools nor a process to develop them, one of the consortium's tasks was to articulate competencies and learning objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the effect of age-related functional changes in temporal lobe epilepsy in rats. Determination of the changes in cerebral activity during epileptogenesis; Information on the different patterns of cerebral activity observed in 21-day old and adult rats; Reason for the resistance of 10-day old rats to neuronal damage and epileptogenesis; Role of the various brain structures in the process of epileptogenesis.

Presents a study which explored the correlation between metabolic changes, neuronal damage and epileptogenesis during the acute, silent and chronic phases following status epilepticus induced by lithium-pilocarpine in rats. Materials and methods; Results and discussion.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a 2-hour, multicomponent educational intervention on provider skin cancer control practices.Design: Nonrandomized intervention study. The intervention was a 2-hour curriculum designed to augment provider skin cancer control practices through instruction in basic skin cancer triage (BSCT) and a brief summary of skin cancer epidemiology, prevention, and counseling.Setting: Five staff-model health maintenance organizations in southeastern New England.Participants: Convenience sample of primary care providers. Providers older than age 75, individuals in practice for less than 1 year, or individuals planning to retire in the next 2 years were excluded from the study. Twenty-two of 28 participants completed the study.Results: Providers completed preintervention and postintervention surveys asking them to rate their attitudes towards skin examination and skin cancer counseling and to rate the frequency of their skin cancer control practices, using 5-point Likert scales. We independently assessed provider behavior through surveys of their patients, eliciting information on provider practices before and after BSCT participation. Following participation in the curriculum, there was significant improvement in provider attitudes towards the total body skin examination but not towards skin cancer prevention counseling. Significant increases in provider self- reported skin cancer control practices during an initial visit with a new patient (2.17 to 3.21, P <.0001) and a routine visit with a patient at high risk for melanoma (2.15 to 3.00, P <.0001) were demonstrated. Analysis of the patient exit interviews independently confirmed these changes in practice patterns.Conclusions: The study results suggest that the BSCT curriculum may be a useful tool in increasing the practice of skin cancer control measures by primary care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a retrospective analyses of adults with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) which showed a high prevalence of a history of prolonged febrile seizures during early childhood. Indication of an etiological role for febrile seizures in the development of TLE; Neuronal damage induced by febrile seizures.

The utilization of 17 different carbohydrates by four isolates of Pestalotiopsis was studied by the paper chromatographic technique. Among the pentoses, xylose, which was recorded as a poor source, was not consumed even in 15 days by any of the isolates. L-arabinose was exhausted in 6-8 days while L-rhamnose was used up in 9-10 days, both supporting growth equal to glucose as a source. There was a good correlation between the efficiency and the rate of utilization of the three pentose sugars. The utilization of the hexoses had no correlation with dry weight output as was in the case of the pentoses. Glucose from the medium was exhausted between 4-9 days; fructose required 7-10 days. Fructose was much superior than glucose but was consumed slowly as compared to glucose. D-galactose which was a poor source was used up only in 7 days by P. royneae but the other three isolates took longer time, 11-14 days to exhaust the sugar. L-sorbose was used up in 10-15 days. D-mannose, which was a good source for mycelial attainment required 6-12 days for complete utilization. Hydrolytic pathway of utilization of oligosaccharides was recorded for all the isolates; in lactose, however, the component sugars could not be detected and the disaccharide was present up to the end of the incubation period. This was obviously due to slow rate of its breakdown. Sucrose was hydrolysed in the shortest period of 2 days in all cases. Glucose was utilized faster than the other hydrolytic products by three isolates. P. royneae, however, finished both in equal time of 6 days. Maltose, cellobiose and trehalose were used slowly. In maltose, one or two transient oligosaccharides were also detected. Trehalose persisted for the longest time. Melibiose was present till the end of the incubation period during the growth of P. gracilis and P. paeoniae isolate I. The isolate II of P. paeoniae and P. royneae consumed it in 9 days. Only one of its hydrolytic products, i.e. glucose was detected in the medium, on raffinose solution only fructose and galactose were spotted. The hydrolytic products of starch could not be detected in the medium. In dextrin, however, glucose was detected in the medium used by three isolates other than P. paeoniae isolate I. Oligosaccharide synthesis was accomplished by all the isolates of Pestalotiopsis under study. On maltose medium, P. gracilis and P. paeoniae isolate I synthesised two such transient oligosaccharides, P. royneae and P. paeoniae II formed only one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory study of high-frequency acoustic scattering from stratified turbulence was performed in order to test the theories and techniques used for the prediction of acoustic scattering. Scattering predictions were made with a computer simulation code which incorporates Lane's hydrodynamic model of stratified turbulence with the relevant aspects of linear scattering theory. Laboratory acoustic measurements were made for a range of acoustic system parameters, including forward scatter in the vertical and horizontal planes, and vertical backscatter. Hydrodynamic characterization of the sound speed spectrum was made with traversing conductivity probe arrays and with quantitative optical shadowgraphs; the data were then used to define the turbulence model parameters. The analytical techniques used to extract the hydrodynamic model parameters from both conductivity and shadowgraph data gave consistent results, and verified the Lane model as a valid descriptor of stratified turbulence. Theoretical acoustic scattering level predictions made with the simulation code are in good agreement with the laboratory acoustic measurements. These results verify the laboratory measurement techniques and validate our implementation of linear scattering theory and Lane's turbulence model for predicting acoustic scattering from stratified tubulence. [Work supported by Navy SSPO and Dynamics Technology internal R&D funding.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]