Search

Leachate collected at the bottom of dead bird’s disposal pits may leak and migrate to pollute groundwater when soils and rocks present are porous. This study assessed the coefficient of permeability (K) and porosity (Ф) of soils and rocks in poultry farmland using 2 Dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity method and soil analysis. Geo-electrical data collection was achieved by using the dipole-dipole array. The field resistivity measurement was carried out along three traverse lines (three Profiles) of 100 m long which were oriented along with East-West directions. These measurements were taken in the order of increasing in offset distance interval of 5 m. The acquired apparent resistivity data were inverted using DIPPROWIN modeling software to perform 2D data inversion. Five soil samples from different locations at depths of 0 – 15 cm and 15 – 30 cm, on the poultry farmland, were collected, transported, and tested in the laboratory. K and Ф were determined using falling head and density methods respectively. The results obtained from the processed field resistivity data from the three profiles were presented as field data pseudo-sections, theoretical pseudo-section, and 2D resistivity structures. The 2D resistivity structure revealed three structures viz; highly conductive, slightly conductive, and resistive. The resistivity values of these structures ranged from 14.1-99.0 Ω m, 100-848 Ω m, and 1350-90330 Ω m respectively. The highly conductive structures were found in profiles 1 and 3 due to the downward migration of the contaminants from the dead bird disposal pit 1 and the feces disposal site through clayey sand soil. This occurs at the depth range of few meters from the surface to greater than 20 m. The presence of the slightly conductive structure is a result of filtration of the contaminants by the soil materials which increased the resistivity of the soil. The movement of the contaminant through the soil is an indication of the porous and permeable nature of the farmland. The resistive structure is only noticeable in profiles 1 and 2 but very prominent at the depth range of 5 m to more than 20 m and 5 m to 35 m along the profile length. The results of the analysis of the five soil samples from the poultry farmland showed a high value of 0.552 and 3.554 x 10−2cm/s of porosity (Ф) and coefficient of permeability (K) respectively. A strong correlation of R 2 = 0.9878 existed between Ф and K. With these results geo-electrical method had successfully assessed Ф and K of the soil of the poultry farmland.

This paper presents the importance of load management methodology (LM) and helps in clarifying the difference between load management versus demand-side management (DSM), as LM is a crucial method of controlling the loads especially in peak periods, to prevent tripping. It was found that the previous researches focused on the dual tariff meters to force and motivate the consumer to change the demand time which was a gleam in overcoming the phenomena. However, the dilemma of the DSM was relying mainly on the consumer, who has to change the time of his needs. Therefore, it is difficult to be controlled. Consequently, they cannot find effective feedback as well. On the other hand, LM relies only on the designer or service provider in re-distributing loads according to the load behavior studies (time, location, and type of user) without depending on the consumer in solving the phenomena of extreme fluctuations of loads on the electrical equipment. In this paper, the second methodology is by the service provider, it is going to be handled and discussed by Selecting medium voltage (MV) feeders, re-distribute loads equally, and variously on transformer preventing unifying load which causes overloaded transformer on one period rather than the other. Consequently, it will lead to protect electrical equipment from no-load or overload effects, selecting the exact size. That will improve the economic status and will lead to a stable, balanced system, besides reduce heat island effects and prevent load shedding caused by sudden overloading. The model was created by using DIgSILENT power factory software.

Background The aquatic Acari are known as water mites and occupy a wide range of habitats. The freshwater mites, Unionicola aegyptiaca, were collected from the freshwater mussel, Caelatura aegyptiaca, River Nile, Sohag, Egypt. The present paper focuses on the structure of the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca. Results Histologically, the cuticle consists of two main layers: epicuticle and procuticle. The latter divided into two sublayers, exocuticle (exo) and endocuticle (en). The musculature of the present species, U. aegyptiaca, is divided into three regions: gnathosoma, idiosoma, and legs. The muscles of the body are classified according to their position and function. Conclusion Details of muscles of gnathosoma, coxal epimerae, genital field, and legs were all described and discussed. The cuticle and musculature of U. aegyptiaca were studied by using the light microscope, and the drawings were down with the help of a camera Lucida. It is likely to note that the cuticle and musculature of freshwater mite, U. aegyptiaca, were described and discussed for the first time in Egypt.

The article considers the issue of digital transformation, which can become the basis for the further development of the principle of management by results of the state, since it allows you to overcome its previously identified limitations. The purpose of this article is a detailed study of new busi-ness models, including the so-called proactive service based on data, as well as the integration of mod-ern fragmented information systems and communication channels. It is shown that despite the results achieved, problems associated with an insufficient level of openness, customer orientation and activity remain relevant. For example, government agencies are reluctant to disclose information that can be used to create added value in the form of relevant and relevant open data. The e-government develop-ment index (EGDI) in the Republic of Kazakhstan is analyzed. The results of the analysis revealed a high level of development of e-government. However, according to the authors, it is necessary to study in more detail new business models, including the so-called proactive service based on data, as well as the integration of modern fragmented information systems and communication channels to implement a multi-channel service model by creating a single “front office” aimed at providing the availability of information and services at anytime, anywhere and on any device (contact center, web portal, smart messengers, mobile applications, SMS messages).

Smoking is a severe health problem. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of systemic inflammation. Neutophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is used as a marker of systemic inflammation and monitors prognosis, morbidity, and mortality in many diseases. This study aimed to analyze NLR in smokers. This is an observational analytic study conducted at Tadulako University, Palu. A total of 48 subjects consisted of 24 active smokers and 24 non-smokers. Subjects were given a questionnaire containing a history of the disease, smoking status, and the number of cigarettes consumed per day. Blood samples were also taken for hematological examination. NLR of the subjects was then compared with the appropriate statistical test. The NLR in the smoker’s group was 1.54 ± 0.81 and in the non-smoker’s group 1.87 ± 1.76. This NLR was not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers, with a p-value of 0.578. Most of the smoking subjects are light and moderate smokers, and it is possible that this condition has not been able to cause a significant increase in systemic inflammation.

BackgroundIsopods shape features are sensitive and respond to several selective pressures which may result in variations of these features. These pressures might reflect the heterogeneity of the environment where an animal lives. Land isopodsPorcellionides pruinosuswere collected from an agricultural field. Landmarks geometric morphometrics was applied to evaluate its shape changes during two different seasons. The present work aims to (i) assess and characterize morphological changes in body shape ofP. pruinosusas a response to seasonal variations, (ii) determine differences in the body shape during ontogeny, (iii) examine the effect of intraspecific allometry to interpret the observed variations in the species, and (iv) clarify whether the body shape ofP. pruinosuscan be used as a sexual differentiating trait.ResultsJuveniles showed no seasonal variations in the body shape, which were detected among adults, females and males as shown by PCA, DFA, and MANOVA.The adult winter forms have large bodies, small heads, broad pereons, and short but wide telsons. The adult summer forms have small slender bodies, slightly stretched heads, and relatively long telsons. Juveniles’ growth to adulthood showed body shape changes in the head and pereon, that include shrank of the head in the anteroposterior direction and its level became slightly lower than the body. The pereon becomes broader and the two anterolateral projections of the first pereonite extend anteriorly, reaching a little beyond the posterior margin of the eyes. Present species showed a shape sexual dimorphism which includes the broader body and more convex pereon in females and a small waist between the second and third pleonites in males. Shape sexual dimorphism was attributed to reproductive activity. Both allometric trajectories of juveniles and adults (ontogenetic allometry) and of sexes (static allometry) were parallel.ConclusionsThe landmark geometric morphometric technique was able to reveal the seasonal shape variations in terrestrial isopodP. pruinosus. Also, this method provides information about shape variations between juveniles and adults, as well as about shape sexual dimorphism.

Lightning activity is one of the global natural hazards that poses significant risks on human life and numerous aspects of the society's technological infrastructure. Understanding the linkage between aerosols present in the atmosphere and lightning activity is important to further advance our knowledge of the global lightning activity cycle. The southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula (AP) is home to one of the 500 hottest lightning spots in the world, and is not far from the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, the Empty Quarter (al-Rubea Al-Khali). Using data of individual lightning strokes from the the Global Lightning Detection Network (GLD360), in conjunction with remote sensing measurements of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) obtained at 500 nm from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites during active lightning days, we examine the evolution of lightning activity in two geographically and topologically different regions over the AP. One region extends inland to the desert (R1) and the other is in the southwest mountainous region that is close to the Red Sea (R2). In both regions, results from thunderdays-only indicate that lightning is strongly and positively correlated with the AOD loading, up to AOD ~ 0.8, after which the trend flattens or reverses direction. Results suggest the two opposite effects that aerosols could indirectly have on lightning activity are at play. Mountainous region exhibits much stronger linear relation compared to the inland region. Furthermore, both regions exhibit seasonal and asynchronous lightning activity and AOD loading. Year 2018 in R1 shows very high lightning activity, likely linked to the 2018 intense dust storms in the region.

Roman Sculpture , with artists from across a huge empire and changing public tastes over centuries, is above all else, remarkable for its sheer variety and eclectic mix. The art form blended the idealized perfection of earlier Classical Greek sculpture with a greater aspiration for realism and absorbed artistic preferences and styles from the East to create images in stone and bronze which rank among the finest works from antiquity. Aside from their own unique contribution, Roman sculptors have also, with their popular copies of earlier Greek masterpieces, preserved for posterity invaluable works which would have otherwise been completely lost to world art. The aim of this paper is to discuss a distinguished type of Roman sculpture which is the portrait and the differences between the schools, periods, functions and characteristics in the eastern Roman Empire. Although the political circumstances around the empire was almost the same yet Egypt had always succeeded to keep its own style and special artistic features. Egyptian artists were always affected by their predecessors and tried to keep their culture and characteristics throughput the ages. The paper will try to move smoothly through these periods focusing on Roman Egypt and the art of portraits till the early period of Christianity.

Image fusion is a technique of combining complementary information from multiple images originated from single or different sources to form single fused image. This fused image has better quality compared to the original input images. In this paper a new fusion technique based on independent component analysis (ICA) and IHS transformation is proposed. A comparison of this new technique with PCA, IHS, and ICA-based fusion techniques is given. Ikonos-2 data are used to test the new and other three techniques. Four evaluation criteria are used for quantitative assessment the quality of the obtained fused images. To assess the spectral quality the spectral discrepancy ( Dk) and correlation coefficients (cc ) are used. For spatial quality assessment high pass correlation coefficients (HPCC ) and information entropy ( EN) are used. The results of the new technique show higher performance compared to the other techniques.

Directional orientation of Clibanarius signatus toward different targets of gastropod shells was studied in a circular arena upon exposure to background seawater, calcium concentrations and predatory odor. Directional orientation was absent when crabs were presented with the white background alone. Each shell was tested in different positions (e.g., anterior, posterior, upside-down, lateral). Adult crabs were tested without their gastropod shells, and orientation varied with concentration and chemical cue. With calcium, orientation increased as concentration increased up to a maximum attraction percentage and then attraction became stable. In the case of predator cues, some individuals swim away from the target toward the opposite direction representing a predator avoidance response. Whenever, the blind hermit crab C. signatus was exposed to a shell target combined with calcium or predator cues, the majority of them stop moving or move in circles around the arena center. The others exhibited uniform orientation distribution. The responsiveness was higher with calcium cues than predator cues. Thus in the absence of vision, individual hermit crabs were able to detect both calcium and predator cues and have different response regarding them.

Background: Mainstreaming cancer genetics may be an option to improve access to genetic testing in most parts of Asia, including Malaysia. The MaGiC study is conducted to study the feasibility of mainstreaming and the psychosocial impact of BRCA testing in ovarian cancer patients in Malaysia. The study participants are recruited via the traditional genetics pathway where patients are counselled by the clinical geneticists or genetic counsellors or via the mainstreaming pathway where the patients are counselled by non-genetics clinicians. Methods: This is a prospective observational study of 800 patients with non-mucinous ovarian cancer irrespective of family history. Questionnaires were conducted via telephone interviews after pre-test counselling and after result disclosure. Psychosocial impact was measured using the Genetic Counselling Satisfaction Scales (GCSS), Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS), Psychosocial Aspect of Hereditary Cancer (PAHC) and Cancer Worry Scale (CWS). Results: Our preliminary analysis suggests that GCSS, DCS, PAHC and CWS were reliable. For GCSS, most of the participants were satisfied with their cancer genetic counselling experience at both pre- and post-test. Majority of participants were not conflicted in making decision and felt informed of their choices and related benefits and risks after pre-test counselling and after result disclosure. PAHC showed that 79% of participants revealed a problem in at least one domain at pre-test and about 69% at post-test mainly in the domain “‘living with cancer”’. Distress thermometer (DT) showed that about 26% of participants may need psychosocial support at pre‑test. However, this has reduced to 17% after the result disclosure. As for CWS, about 41% of participants are frequently worried about the possibility of getting cancer again at both pre- and post-test. Conclusion: Interim results from this study will demonstrate the psychosocial challenges and the feasibility of introducing mainstreaming cancer genetics in Malaysia. NMRR-16-1322-31114, UMMC 20163-2255 and RSDH 201612.2.

Background: Germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants in ovarian cancer patients may be predictive of sensitivity to platinum derivatives and PARP enzyme inhibitors. Population studies have indicated a >10% prevalence of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants with wide variance amongst ethnically different populations. We aim to establish the first population-based cohort to assess the prevalence of BRCA1/2 in ovarian cancer patients throughout Malaysia. Methods: From August 2016, women with non-mucinous epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer are continually being recruited to the MaGiC Observational Study. DNA were tested using a Hi-Plex next generation sequencing method and multiplex ligation‑dependent probe amplification to detect BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Results: Interim results from 208 patients tested until September 2017 have identified BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants in 10.1% (21/208) and 2.9% (6/208) patients, respectively. Variants of uncertain significance were detected in 15.9% (33/208) patients and no pathogenic variants were detected in 71.2% (148/208) patients. Taken together, the prevalence of BRCA1/2 in ovarian cancer patients is approximately 13.0% (27/208). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this will be the first population-based cohort of Malaysian women with ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal carcinoma. Given the clinical significance of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants in patient management and cancer risk assessment, the data arising from this study may be beneficial to healthcare professionals in medical practice and genetic service centres in Malaysia. NMRR-16-1322-31114, UMMC 20163-2255 and RSDH 201612.2.

This study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008 at the Experimental Farm of El-Kassasin Horticultural Research Station, Ismailia Governorate, to detect the effect of difference media culture and nitrogen sources and ratios and their interaction on growth and alkaloid content of Catharanthus roseus. Periwinkle plants were grown in nine different media types with nutrient solution during drip irrigation. Nitrogen was applied as constant concentration of 200 ppm using three different ratios between ammonical nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen as 100% NH4 + 0% No3, 50% NH4 + 50% No3 or 0% NH4 + 100% No3. Whereas , different media types used were peatmoss , sand , clay , vermiculite, peatmoss: sand (1:1, v:v), peatmoss: clay (1:1, v:v), peatmoss: vermiculite (1:1, v:v), sand: clay (1:1, v:v) or sand: vermiculite (1:1, v:v). Generally , the combination peatmoss, peatmoss + sand or peatmoss + vermiculite medium and 0% NH4+100% No3 treatments were more effective in plant height, number of branches /plant fresh and dry weight of leaves/ plant, fresh and dry weight of plant , alkaloids content in leaves and chemical constituents in leaves0(N, T, K and nitrate).

The experiment was carried out in the Experimental Farm of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station, Horticultural Research Institute, in El-Kanater El-Khayria, Kalyobia Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2007 and 2008, to study the effect of nitrogen fixed bacteria (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Rhizobium) and different levels (zero of NPK, half and full recommended doses) on growth, herb yield and volatile oil yield of Ocimim bacilicum plants. The tallest plants obtained from plants that treated with Azospirillum + Rhizobium + full recommended dose of NPK followed by Azotobacter + Azospirillum alone. While number of branches recorded the highest value from the treatment of Rhizobium + half recommended dose of NPK in the first cut and Rhizobium + full recommended dose of NPK in the second cut. The highest values of fresh and dry weights of herb/plant and total production of fresh and dry weights of herb/plant/season were obtained from Azotobacter + Rhizobium + half recommended dose of NPK in the two cuts of both seasons. The volatile oil percentages based on fresh and dry weights of herb and volatile oil yield of plant per cut and per season recorded the highest values when plants treated with Azospirillum alone. The high concentration from the main component of linalool in the volatile oil obtained from the treatment of Azospirillum alone.

This paper is concerned with the transformer coil dc leakage current under different conditions. These conditions include in-air, and in-oil leakage, currents with or without artificial coil deposits. In-oil leakage, currents are investigated when the coil is immersed in new or used transformer oil at different temperatures. The results showed that the leakage current increases with the increase in the applied voltage and oil temperatures. The rate of increase in leakage current with temperature depends on the transformer oil and coil conditions. The in-oil leakage currents are higher than those obtained in air. The leakage currents measured in used oil are higher than those resulted in new oil. Copper deposits cause higher values of leakage current than iron deposits for the same medium, applied voltage and temperature. Deposits increase the leakage current for different coil surrounding media. A linear model for the leakage current as a function of the applied voltage under different conditions has been found and its validity has been justified by statistical consideration. The parameters of this model account for various experimental conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effect of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on sexual function continues to be a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual functions in Saudi patients suffering from BPH before and after TURP.The influence of TURP on libido, erection and ejaculation was prospectively studied in 179 patients undergoing TURP for BPH. The risk factors studied for erectile dysfunction (ED) were old age, polygamy, comorbidities, late presentation, intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative capsular perforation and bacteriuria. Patients reporting ED underwent intracavernosal injection (ICI) of 20-40 AA(1/4)g of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) before and/or after surgery.Before surgery, ED was present in 33/179 patients (18%) and was significantly associated with old age and comorbidities but not with polygamy or late presentation. In the patients with normal erection before surgery, dry ejaculation, ED and diminished libido developed after TURP in 71/134 (53%), 20/137 (15%), and 22/137 (16%), respectively. Postoperative ED was significantly associated with diminished libido (P=0.001), but not with postoperative dry ejaculation. The only significant risk factor associated with ED following TURP was capsular perforation. The response to ICI before and after TURP was comparable.ED associated with TURP is most likely of neurogenic origin due to capsular perforation, or of psychogenic nature as suggested by the significant association with diminished libido.

One hundred fifty three kidney transplant recipients whose grafts functioned for longer than one year were evaluated for evidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM). Twenty-six patients (17%) developed PTDM. Patients with PTDM were older than controls (mean age 49.4 vs 37.9 years). There was no demonstrable association between sex of patients and PTDM. The body mass index (BMI) was persistently higher in patients with PTDM compared to controls, although the difference did not amount to statistical significance. The association of PTDM with HLA-A28, A30 and B8 observed in other studies was not seen in our patients. Similarly, neither the positive association of HLA-DR3 and DR4, nor the negative association of HLA-B7 and DR2 seen in population-based studies of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, were seen in our patients with PTDM. To our knowledge, this is the first report that has looked into the association of HLA antigens and PTDM in Saudi Arabia.

The risk of thromboembolic events is increased in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) as compared with other medical conditions and is a severe complication associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess the risk of renal vein thrombosis, and other venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in a large cohort of patients with NS and to identify the disease-specific risk for VTE.We performed a prospective observational study including consecutive adult patients with primitive NS admitted to our department. Clinical and biological data were obtained every six months during follow-up. Occurrence of VTE confirmed by imaging techniques was the primary study outcome.We enrolled 191 patients (47±15 years, 53% men) with a median follow-up of 24 [IQR:12,36] months. During follow-up, 23 VTE occurred, of which 65.2% in the first six months. The disease-specific risk of VTE during the follow-up period was different across the histological groups, with the lowest risk in minimal change disease and IgA nephropathy and the highest in membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis patients. In the subgroup of membranous, the severity of the subepithelial electron dense deposits did not correlate with the risk for VTE (p=0.5).In this prospective study, the risk of VTE was higher in the first six months of follow-up in NS patients. The histological pattern seems to influence the risk of VTE in this setting.

The disease melioidosis, caused by the soil bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, often manifests as acute septicemia with high fatality. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) plays a key role during the inflammatory response induced by bacteria. We used a murine model of acute melioidosis to investigate the effects of LiCl, a GSK3 inhibitor on experimental animal survivability as well as TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-1Ra cytokine levels in blood, lung, liver and spleen of B. pseudomallei-infected mice. Our results showed that administration of 100 μg/g LiCl improved survivability of mice infected with 5 X LD50 of B. pseudomallei. Bacterial counts in spleen, liver and lungs of infected mice administered with LiCl were lower than non-treated controls. Our data also revealed that GSK3β is phosphorylated in the spleen, liver and lung of animals infected with B. pseudomallei. However in infected animals administered with LiCl, higher levels of pGSK3 were detected in the organs. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1Ra) in sera and organs tested were elevated significantly following B. pseudomallei infection. With GSK3β inhibition, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β) were significantly decreased in all the samples tested whilst the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 (spleen and lung) and IL-1Ra (spleen, liver and sera) were further elevated. This study represents the first report implicating GSK3β in the modulation of cytokine production during B. pseudomallei infection thus reiterating the important role of GSK3β in the inflammatory response caused by bacterial pathogens.

We conducted a cross sectional study to examine the association of intestinal parasitic infections and protein energy malnutrition (PEM) with iron-status indicators and anaemia among Orang Asli children in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 281 children aged 2 - 15 years were studied. The data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis for blood and faecal samples. All children were infected either by A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura or hookworm and almost 19%, 26% and 3% of the children had severe infection of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection respectively. The prevalence of giardiasis among them was 24.9%. Overall, 41.5% of the children were anaemic (haemoglobin11.0 g/dL). Of these 61.0% of the children had iron deficiency and 36.5% had iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), which accounted for 88.0% of anaemia in this population. Severe trichuriasis had the most significant correlation with anaemia and iron deficiency in this population. It contributed to low concentrations of haemoglobin, serum iron and serum ferritin and high total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Significant underweight and stunting were associated with low concentrations of haemoglobin and serum iron while significant wasting was significantly associated with low concentration of serum ferritin. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that severe trichuriasis was a strong predictor of IDA. It also confirmed that children who were significantly underweight and whose mother was working were independent predictors of IDA in this population.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition and its association with soil-transmitted helminthiases in Orang Asli (Aborigine) children in Selangor, Malaysia. The results obtained from 368 children aged 2-15 years showed that the overall prevalence of mild and significant underweight was 32.1% and 56.5% respectively. The prevalence of mild stunting was 25.6% while another 61.3% had significant stunting. The overall prevalence of mild and significant wasting was 39.0% and 19.5% respectively. The overall prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection were 61.9%, 98.2% and 37.0% respectively and of these 18.9%, 23.5% and 2.5% of the children had severe infection of the respective helminthes. The overall prevalence of giardiasis was 24.9%. The present study vividly shows that stunting and underweight are highly prevalent among Orang Asli children and therefore of concern in this community. In this population intestinal parasitic infections, especially severe trichuriasis and giardiasis, were identified as the main predictors of stunting and wasting respectively, in addition to age between 2 to 6 years.

We have recently reported that a dipstick colloidal dye immunoassay (DIA) that detect parasite antigens in human serum is sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of active infection of lymphatic filariasis. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies (RbBmCAg) labelled with a commercial dye, palanil navy blue was used to detect filarial antigenemia among Indonesian and Bangladeshi immigrant workers (N= 630) at oil palm estates at Hulu Trengganu District, Peninsular Malaysia. Microfilaremia with Brugia malayi were detected in 51 (8.10 %) individuals, of which 42 (6.67 %) were among the Indonesians and 9 (1.98 %) among the Bangladeshis. Microfilaremia with Wuchereria bancrofti were detected in 33 (5.24 %) individuals of which 15 (2.38 %) were among the Indonesians and 18 (2.86 %) among the Bangladeshis workers. The DIA detected 96 (15.24 %) antigenemic cases which comprise of all the microfilaremic cases and 15 (2.38 %) amicrofilaremic cases. The amicrofilaremic cases with filarial antigenemia consisted of 9 (1. 43 %) Indonesians and 6 (0.95%) Bangladeshis. We have used 6 ul of the RbBmCAg and diluted (1:10) patients’ sera per dipstick which make the DIA reagent conservative. The DIA is a rapid test and can be read in approximate 2 hours.. Additionally, coloured dots developed in the DIA can be qualitatively assessed visually for intensity. The DIA does not require sophisticated equipment or radioactivity, and therefore suitable for field application.

Trials were carried out on the commercially available Millipore isoproturon ELISA microtiter plate tests and on laboratory assays developed by Hirst as part of a Joint European Union research project (BIOPTICAS). The lowest detectable dose (LDD) was determined as three times the standard deviation of the blanks. Depending on the calibration curves obtained on different days with different plates, the LDD varied from 0.020 to 0.064 microgram/L for the Millipore test and from 0.080 to 0.329 microgram/L for the Hirst test. The mean coefficients of variation within a single plate for triplicate determinations of standard solutions in the 0.05 to 0.5 microgram/L range were 5.5 and 3.6% for Millipore and Hirst respectively. Cross-reactivity was studied for mono- and di-demethylated isoproturon, chlortoluron, diuron and linuron. The highest cross-reactivity with both tests was that of mono-demethylated isoproturon (22% for Millipore, 4% for Hirst). This molecule was the only one to show significant cross-reactivity in the Hirst test, whereas in the Millipore test, the di-demethylated isoproturon also cross-reacted (4%). Natural water samples, 19 ground-, 53 lysimetric plate and 47 suction cup water samples, and 32 soil samples were also analysed with the ELISA tests. HPLC with a diode array detector was used as a validated control technique for the natural samples. For each water type, ELISA concentrations of both tests were significantly correlated with the HPLC values (r > or = 0.937; p < 0.001). For the soil extracts, the correlations were also significant (p < 0.001), but the scatter in the data was greater. Overall, the Millipore correlation coefficients were higher than those of Hirst.

The Southern Region renal transplant program was established in February 1989. The appointment of a transplant co-ordinator and creation of a waiting list for the Southern Region as well as tissue typing of all patients in the region were important early steps. Between February 1989 and December 1995, 155 transplants were performed on 152 patients at the Armed Forces Hospital, Southern Region (AFHSR). Of them, 52 were cadaveric donor transplants and the remaining were from living related donors. The overall five-year actuarial patient and graft survival was 93% and 78% respectively. Of the 152 patients who were transplanted, 79 patients were from other hospitals in the region and 73 were from AFHSR. Maintenance immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin, azathioprine and prednisolone. Use of the spouse as a donor was an early feature of this program. Our results compare favorably with results published from other centers. To cope with the increasing demand of transplantation in the Southern Region, we have to look into ways of increasing our transplant numbers to match the needs.

Cette etude a pour but de determiner si les bauges du rhinoceros D. sumatrensis peuvent etre des sources potentielles d'elements mineraux. Les echantillons de sols ont ete preleves dans 10 bauges de la Danum valley en Malaisie

During phagocytosis of opsonized lipopolysaccharide-coated paraffin oil droplets, rabbit alveolar macrophages reduced nitroblue tetrazolium, which effect was in part inhibitable with the use of superoxide dismutase. Exposure of cytochalasin-B-treated rabbit alveolar macrophages to opsonized zymosan led to the generation of superoxide, as quantitated by ferricytochrome C reduction. It was found that nitroblue tetrazolium in the presence of ferricytochrome C could in turn serve as scavenger of superoxide during stimulation of cytochalasin-B-treated rabbit alveolar macrophages. Following challenge with either opsonized zymosan or the membrane perturbant digitonin, rabbit alveolar macrophages released hydrogen peroxide into the extracellular medium. Employment of the surface membrane stimulant phorbol myristrate acetate led to activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt, which activity could be further enhanced in the presence of superoxide dismutase or attenuated in the presence of catalase. These studies demonstrate that rabbit alveolar macrophages release superoxide and hydrogen peroxide during surface membrane perturbation. In turn, hydrogen peroxide generation can stimulate the hexose monophosphate shunt.