Search

Мета. Метою дослідження є визначення перспектив розвитку лісокористування на основі проведення статистичного аналізу динаміки основних показників протягом 2015–2020 рр. та прогнозування стану лісових ресурсів на прикладі Львівської та Харківської областей. Результати. У цьому дослідженні проаналізовано тенденції та сучасний стан лісових ресурсів у Львівській і Харківській областях; здійснено статистичну оцінку й аналіз взаємодії суспільства з лісовими ресурсами протягом 2015–2020 рр. Проведено аналіз за показниками площі рубок, лісових насаджень, лісовідновлення, кількості лісових пожеж і реалізації лісової продукції. Представлено пропозиції щодо поліпшення стану лісових ресурсів в аналізованих регіонах. Установлено, що Львівській області більш притаманне стале відтворення й екологізація лісокористування, ніж Харківській області. У Харківській області лісистість більше ніж удвічі менша, ніж у Львівській області; а враховуючи, що тут критично велика кількість лісових пожеж, лісовідновлення незначне, можна зробити висновок про критичний стан лісових ресурсів у Харківській області. Наукова новизна. Здійснено порівняльний аналіз тенденцій, сучасного стану та перспектив розвитку лісових ресурсів у двох прикордонних областях різних частин України (західної – Львівської області та східної – Харківської області). Установлено, що в цілому за досліджуваний період ліси Харківської області перебували в критичному стані порівняно з лісами Львівської області. Практична цінність. Результати дослідження можна застосувати для розробки заходів, що першочергово потрібні Харківської області, яка, згідно з розрахунками, більше потерпає від негативних факторів. Водночас результати прогнозування розвитку лісокористування можуть бути корисними для управлінь лісового та мисливського господарства обох областей під час визначення перспектив розвитку.

Plasmodium falciparum parasites have evolved genetic adaptations to overcome immune responses mounted by diverse Anopheles vectors hindering malaria control efforts. Plasmodium falciparum surface protein Pfs47 is critical in the parasite's survival by manipulating the vector's immune system hence a promising target for blocking transmission in the mosquito. This study aimed to examine the genetic diversity, haplotype distribution, and population structure of Pfs47 and its implications on malaria infections in endemic lowlands in Western Kenya. Cross-sectional mass blood screening was conducted in malaria endemic regions in the lowlands of Western Kenya: Homa Bay, Kombewa, and Chulaimbo. Dried blood spots and slide smears were simultaneously collected in 2018 and 2019. DNA was extracted using Chelex method from microscopic Plasmodium falciparum positive samples and used to genotype Pfs47 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Thirteen observed haplotypes of the Pfs47 gene were circulating in Western Kenya. Population-wise, haplotype diversity ranged from 0.69 to 0.77 and the nucleotide diversity 0.10 to 0.12 across all sites. All the study sites displayed negative Tajima's D values although not significant. However, the negative and significant Fu's Fs statistical values were observed across all the study sites, suggesting population expansion or positive selection. Overall genetic differentiation index was not significant (FST = -0.00891, P > 0.05) among parasite populations. All Nm values revealed a considerable gene flow in these populations. These results could have important implications for the persistence of high levels of malaria transmission and should be considered when designing potential targeted control interventions.

Background: Systematic reviews are used to inform healthcare decision making. In reviews that aim to examine the effects of organisational, policy change or public health interventions, or exposures, evidence from interrupted time series (ITS) studies may be included. A core component of many systematic reviews is meta-analysis, which is the statistical synthesis of results across studies. There is currently a lack of guidance informing the choice of meta-analysis methods for combining results from ITS studies, and there have been no studies examining the meta-analysis methods used in practice. This study therefore aims to describe current meta-analysis methods used in a cohort of reviews of ITS studies. Methods: We will identify the 100 most recent reviews (published between 1 January 2000 and 11 October 2019) that include meta-analyses of ITS studies from a search of eight electronic databases covering several disciplines (public health, psychology, education, economics). Study selection will be undertaken independently by two authors. Data extraction will be undertaken by one author, and for a random sample of the reviews, two authors. From eligible reviews we will extract details at the review level including discipline, type of interruption and any tools used to assess the risk of bias / methodological quality of included ITS studies; at the meta-analytic level we will extract type of outcome, effect measure(s), meta-analytic methods, and any methods used to re-analyse the individual ITS studies. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarise the data. Conclusions: This review will describe the methods used to meta-analyse results from ITS studies. Results from this review will inform future methods research examining how different meta-analysis methods perform, and ultimately, the development of guidance.

Background: Systematic reviews are used to inform healthcare decision making. In reviews that aim to examine the effects of organisational, policy change or public health interventions, or exposures, evidence from interrupted time series (ITS) studies may be included. A core component of many systematic reviews is meta-analysis, which is the statistical synthesis of results across studies. There is currently a lack of guidance informing the choice of meta-analysis methods for combining results from ITS studies, and there have been no studies examining the meta-analysis methods used in practice. This study therefore aims to describe current meta-analysis methods used in a cohort of reviews of ITS studies. Methods: We will identify the 100 most recent reviews (published between 1 January 2000 and 11 October 2019) that include meta-analyses of ITS studies from a search of eight electronic databases covering several disciplines (public health, psychology, education, economics). Study selection will be undertaken independently by two authors. Data extraction will be undertaken by one author, and for a random sample of the reviews, two authors. From eligible reviews we will extract details at the review level including discipline, type of interruption and any tools used to assess the risk of bias / methodological quality of included ITS studies; at the meta-analytic level we will extract type of outcome, effect measure(s), meta-analytic methods, and any methods used to re-analyse the individual ITS studies. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarise the data. Conclusions: This review will describe the methods used to meta-analyse results from ITS studies. Results from this review will inform future methods research examining how different meta-analysis methods perform, and ultimately, the development of guidance.

INTRODUCTION: Pour améliorer l´accessibilité des méthodes contraceptives au Burkina Faso, il a été initié un projet pilote de transfert des compétences de l´offre du DIU et de l´implant aux agents de santé première ligne (APL) ainsi que l´offre des méthodes contraceptives injectables aux agents de santé communautaire (ASC) dans 20 centres de santé du district sanitaire de Tougan. La présente étude visait à apprécier la qualité des services de planification familiale (PF) offerts par ces délégataires (APL et ASC). METHODES: il s´est agi d´une étude transversale à visée descriptive et analytique. La collecte des données a combiné les méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives. Elle a porté sur l´ensemble des 20 centres de santé de la zone d´intervention du projet et sur tous les prestataires (54) impliqués dans l´offre des produits contraceptifs (délégants et délégataires). Dix-neuf (19) bénéficiaires dont 10 nouvelles utilisatrices d´une méthode contraceptive ont été interviewées. Les techniques de collecte étaient constituées de l´observation des prestations de services de PF et de l´environnement de travail, de la revue documentaire et des entretiens individuels. Les données ont été analysées à l´aide du logiciel Epi info 7 et Open Epi version 3.01. Le test du Chi carré et le test t de Student ont été utilisés pour déterminer s´il y existait une différence significative entre la qualité des services de PF offerts par les délégants et celle des délégataires. RESULTATS: le score de qualité générale du service de PF de la zone d´intervention était de 73% chez les délégataires contre 69% chez les délégants. Il n´y avait pas de différence statistiquement significative entre ces scores. Par contre, Il existait une différence statistiquement significative entre le score de qualité des agents de santé communautaire (75,8 %) et celui des délégants (87,5 %) en matière counseling (P =0.05). Il en était de même pour le score de qualité en matière de détermination des critères d´éligibilité des implants où la qualité chez les APL semble supérieure à celle des délégants: 79% pour les délégataires, 64% pour les délégants. CONCLUSION: cette expérience a eu l´avantage d´améliorer la couverture géographique de l´offre des méthodes contraceptives de longue durée d´action. Sous certaines conditions (renforcement des compétences, suivi, coaching), il est bien possible d´étendre l´offre des méthodes contraceptives de longues durées aux APL ainsi que celle des injectables aux ASC tout en conservant un niveau de qualité des services PF satisfaisant.

The data in this article focus on the F11 Receptor (F11R/JAM-A; Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A; JAM-A, F11R), a cell adhesion protein constitutively expressed on the membrane surface of circulating platelets and localized within the tight junctions of healthy endothelial cells (ECs). Previous reports have shown that F11R/JAM-A plays a critical role in the adhesion of platelets to an inflamed endothelium due to its’ pathological expression on the luminal surface of the cytokine-inflamed endothelium. Since platelet adhesion to an inflamed endothelium is an early step in the development of atherosclerotic plaque formation, and with time, resulting in heart attacks and stroke, we conducted a long-term, study utilizing the atherosclerosis-prone ApoE-/- mice to attempt a blockade of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques by preventing the adhesion of platelets to the inflamed vasculature in vivo. Utilizing a nonhydrolyzable peptide derived from an amino acid sequence of F11R/JAM-A, peptide 4D, we have shown in culture that the adhesion of platelets to the inflamed endothelial cells could be blocked by peptide 4D. The present data demonstrate the positive health benefits of chronic peptide 4D administration to the atherosclerosis-prone ApoE-/- mice, and provides new information for potential use of this F11R derived peptide in the prevention of atherosclerosis. The data presented in this article provide further experimental support for the study presented in Babinska et al., Atherosclerosis 284 (2019) 92-101.

Background Heavy smokers perform worse on neuropsychological assessment than age‐matched peers. However, traditional pulmonary measures of airflow limitation and hypoxemia explain only a modest amount of variance in cognition. The current objective was to determine whether carotid artery stiffness is associated with cognition in former smokers beyond the effects of amount of smoking and pulmonary function. Methods and Results Eighty‐four former smokers including individuals across a spectrum of airflow limitation severity were included: 30 without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] 0 with normal spirometry and lung computed tomography), 31 with mild‐moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD 1–2), and 23 with severe‐very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD 3–4). Participants completed questionnaires, spirometry, carotid ultrasonography, and neuropsychological testing. Multiple linear regression was used to determine whether carotid artery stiffness is associated with neuropsychological performance in 4 cognitive domains after adjusting for age, sex, pack‐years of smoking, estimated premorbid intellectual functioning, and airflow limitation. Higher carotid artery β‐stiffness index was associated with reduced executive functioning‐processing speed in the fully adjusted model (β=−0.49, SE=0.14; P=0.001). Lower premorbid intellectual function, male sex, and presence of airflow limitation (GOLD 1 or 2 and GOLD 3 or 4) were also associated with worse executive functioning‐processing speed. β‐Stiffness index was not significantly associated with performance in other cognitive domains. Conclusions Carotid artery stiffness is associated with worse performance on executive functioning‐processing speed in former smokers beyond the effects of aging, amount of past smoking, severity of airflow limitation, and hypoxemia. Future research should examine whether carotid stiffness can be used to identify former smokers at risk for subsequent cognitive impairment.

Abstract Background Depressive and anxiety disorders affect 20–30% of school-age youth, most of whom do not receive adequate services, contributing to poor developmental and academic outcomes. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve outcomes, but numerous barriers limit access among affected youth. Many youth try to access mental health services in schools, but school professionals (SPs: counselors, psychologists, social workers) are rarely trained adequately in CBT methods. Further, SPs face organizational barriers to providing CBT, such as lack of administrative support. Three promising implementation strategies to address barriers to school-based CBT delivery include (1) Replicating Effective Programs (REP), which deploys customized CBT packaging, didactic training in CBT, and technical assistance; (2) coaching, which extends training via live supervision to improve SP competence in CBT delivery; and (3) facilitation, which employs an organizational expert who mentors SPs in strategic thinking to promote self-efficacy in garnering administrative support. REP is a relatively low-intensity/low-cost strategy, whereas coaching and facilitation require additional resources. However, not all schools will require all three strategies. The primary aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a school-level adaptive implementation intervention involving REP, coaching, and facilitation versus REP alone on the frequency of CBT delivered to students by SPs and student mental health outcomes. Secondary and exploratory aims examine cost-effectiveness, moderators, and mechanisms of implementation strategies. Methods Using a clustered, sequential multiple-assignment, randomized trial (SMART) design, ≥ 200 SPs from 100 schools across Michigan will be randomized initially to receive REP vs. REP+coaching. After 8 weeks, schools that do not meet a pre-specified implementation benchmark are re-randomized to continue with the initial strategy or to augment with facilitation. Discussion EBPs need to be implemented successfully and efficiently in settings where individuals are most likely to seek care in order to gain large-scale impact on public health. Adaptive implementation interventions hold the promise of providing cost-effective implementation support. This is the first study to test an adaptive implementation of CBT for school-age youth, at a statewide level, delivered by school staff, taking an EBP to large populations with limited mental health care access. Trial registration NCT03541317—Registered on 29 May 2018 on ClinicalTrials.gov PRS

A unique eye color, called tiger-eye, segregates in the Puerto Rican Paso Fino (PRPF) horse breed and is characterized by a bright yellow, amber, or orange iris. Pedigree analysis identified a simple autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for this trait. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 24 individuals identified a locus on ECA 1 reaching genome-wide significance (Pcorrected = 1.32 × 10−5). This ECA1 locus harbors the candidate gene, Solute Carrier Family 24 (Sodium/Potassium/Calcium Exchanger), Member 5 (SLC24A5), with known roles in pigmentation in humans, mice, and zebrafish. Humans with compound heterozygous mutations in SLC24A5 have oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) type 6 (OCA6), which is characterized by dilute skin, hair, and eye pigmentation, as well as ocular anomalies. Twenty tiger-eye horses were homozygous for a nonsynonymous mutation in exon 2 (p.Phe91Tyr) of SLC24A5 (called here Tiger-eye 1), which is predicted to be deleterious to protein function. Additionally, eight of the remaining 12 tiger-eye horses heterozygous for the p.Phe91Tyr variant were also heterozygous for a 628 bp deletion encompassing all of exon 7 of SLC24A5 (c.875-340_1081+82del), which we will call here the Tiger-eye 2 allele. None of the 122 brown-eyed horses were homozygous for either tiger-eye-associated allele or were compound heterozygotes. Further, neither variant was detected in 196 horses from four related breeds not known to have the tiger-eye phenotype. Here, we propose that two mutations in SLC24A5 affect iris pigmentation in tiger-eye PRPF horses. Further, unlike OCA6 in humans, the Tiger-eye 1 mutation in its homozygous state or as a compound heterozygote (Tiger-eye 1/Tiger-eye 2) does not appear to cause ocular anomalies or a change in coat color in the PRPF horse.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Uterine cervical cancer can invade the urinary bladder at an advanced stage. Distinguishing between primary urothelial carcinoma and secondary carcinoma involving the bladder is extremely important because these two clinical settings have completely different management and prognosis. It can be very challenging for pathologists to determine the tumor origin, since the carcinomas in bladder and cervix have overlapping histological features and immunohistochemical profiles. Here we report a case of cervical carcinoma involving the urinary bladder in a woman with a remote history of cervical carcinoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by the aid of molecular detection of high-risk human papillomavirus 16/18 (HPV16/18). Keywords: Bladder, Cervix, Metastasis, HPV

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The impact of baseline BMI on glycemic response to group medical visits (GMV) and weight management (WM)-based interventions is unclear. Our objective is to determine how baseline BMI class impacts patient responses to GMV and interventions that combine WM/GMV. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We will perform a secondary analysis of Jump Start, a randomized, controlled trial that compared the effectiveness of a GMV-based low carbohydrate diet-focused WM program (WM/GMV) to traditional GMV-based medication management (GMV) on diabetes control. The primary and secondary outcomes will be change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and weight at 48 months, respectively. Study participants will be stratified into BMI categories defined by BMI 27-29.9kg/m2, 30.0-34.9kg/m2, 35.0-39.9kg/m2, and ≥40.0kg/m2. Hierarchical mixed models will be used to examine the differential impact of the WM/GMV intervention compared to GMV on changes in outcomes by BMI class category. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Jump Start enrolled 263 overweight Veterans (BMI ≥ 27kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes. At baseline, mean BMI was 35.3 and mean HbA1c was 9.1. 14.5% were overweight (BMI 27–29.9) and 84.5% were obese (BMI ≥ 30). The proposed analyses are ongoing. We anticipate that patients in the higher BMI obesity classes will demonstrate greater reductions in HbA1c and weight with the WM/GMV intervention relative to traditional GMV. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This work will advance the understanding of the relationship between BMI and glycemic response to targeted interventions, and may ultimately provide guidance for interventions for type 2 diabetes.

The Social Identity Approach to Health holds that groups provide us with a sense of meaning and belonging, and that these identity processes have a significant positive impact on our health and wellbeing. Typically, research drawing from the social identity approach with adolescents has focused on the benefits of existing group memberships. Here, using a sail-training intervention, we investigated the impact of providing adolescents with a new group (i.e., a new social identity) on psychological resilience. Across two studies, we demonstrate the benefits of a new social identity, in terms of increases in psychological resilience, flow predominantly to those adolescents who report the lowest levels of resilience at the start of the voyage. We discuss our findings in relation to the social identity approach and adolescent identity development more generally.

Background and objectives: The purpose of this project is to evaluate the association between twin sex discordance and menstrual characteristics. We hypothesize that sharing the uterus with a male twin can change ovulation programming, hence changing the menstrual cycle characteristics during adulthood. This project could be novel in discovering new physiological mechanisms of hormone exposure and menstrual cycles. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We asked females from sex-concordant (n = 1290) and sex-discordant (n = 168) twin pairs in the Washington State Twin Registry about characteristics of menstrual cycles. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) analysis was used to compare groups. The main outcome measures included the amount of bleeding, duration of menstruation, the timing of menstruation, length of menstruation, and a number of periods per year. Results: We found a statistically significant association between the amount of menstrual period bleeding and twin sex discordance (0.42 (95% CI 0.18–0.94)). However, twin sex discordance was not associated with period duration, length of menstrual cycle, cycle regularity, or a number of periods per year. Conclusions: Twin sex discordance is not a predictor of clinical characteristics of menstruation during adulthood except for the amount of bleeding. Future studies should focus on the impact of male hormones on the amount of bleeding during menstruation.

Background: The global planetary health community increasingly recognises the need to prepare students to investigate and address connections between environmental change and human health. As we strive to support education on planetary health themes for students of all ages, understanding students' concepts of linkages between the health of people and animals, and their shared environments might advance educational approaches. Children living in villages bordering Ruaha National Park in Iringa Region, Tanzania, have direct experience of these connections as they share a water-stressed but biodiverse environment with domestic animals and wildlife. Livelihoods in these villages depend predominantly on crop and livestock production, including extensive pastoralist livestock keeping. Through qualitative research, we aim to explore and describe Tanzanian primary school students' understanding of connections between human health and the environment. Methods: Working with 26 village primary schools in Iringa Rural District, Tanzania, we adapted an art and story outreach activity to explore student perceptions of planetary health concepts. Following a standardised training session, a lead teacher at each primary school helped students aged 12–15 years form small teams to independently develop and illustrate a story centred on themes of how human health depends on water sources, wildlife, livestock, climate, and forest or grassland resources. Students were encouraged to discuss these themes with their teachers, peers, and families while developing their stories to gain broader as well as historical perspectives. The students generated stories that incorporated solutions to challenges within these themes. Written materials and illustrations were collected from each school along with data on sex and tribe of the group members. We translated all stories from Swahili to English for analysis. The primary outcomes of interest in analysing the students' writing and illustrations were the relationships students identified between human health and wildlife, livestock, water sources, and forest resources. Findings: A total of 1043 students in 168 groups participated in the art and story activity between October and November 2017, with groups containing a mean of six students (SD 1·5, range four to 11). In our preliminary review that we present here, students identified diverse beneficial and adverse connections between human health and environmental change through direct and indirect pathways, which included both ecological or biological and socioeconomic linkages. Preliminary themes noted in student work were clean air and water provision by forests, altered food, fuel, and medicinal resources, contact with animals and their waste, livelihood impacts, and cultural values. We are in the process of coding and analysing the student submissions to explore and describe their understanding of planetary health and to identify potential differences among student groups related to village, gender, and tribe. Interpretation: Through their art and writing, rural primary school students showed evidence of systems thinking in describing connections among human health and their surrounding environments. Focusing on links to wildlife, livestock, water sources, or forest resources, the students described both direct (eg, meat from wildlife or livestock to support human nutrition) and indirect (eg, funding for local human health clinics from wildlife tourism revenue) relationships between the environment and human health. Many student groups also interpreted relationships among people and components of their surrounding environment as beneficial or adverse, proposing specific solutions to enhance or mitigate these effects. Because responses varied widely among the included primary schools, future research on these gaps has the potential to improve planetary health educational approaches and student understanding. Funding: This study was supported with funding from the Agricultural Research Division of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Despite substantial recent interest in walking barefoot and in minimal footwear, little is known about potential differences in walking biomechanics when unshod versus minimally shod. To test the hypothesis that heel impact forces are similar during barefoot and minimally shod walking, we analysed ground reaction forces recorded in both conditions with a pedography platform among indigenous subsistence farmers, the Tarahumara of Mexico, who habitually wear minimal sandals, as well as among urban Americans wearing commercially available minimal sandals. Among both the Tarahumara (n = 35) and Americans (n = 30), impact peaks generated in sandals had significantly (p

Networked learning provides opportunities for learners to develop their critical thinking, an important 21st century competency, through dialogue with fellow learners to consider other perspectives and negotiate and critique ideas and arguments. However, much extant literature has not examined networked learning environments among younger learners nor the optimal conditions for enhancing critical thinking. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate these conditions. A learning analytics networked learning environment was designed and 264 secondary three students participated in the 10-week long intervention as part of their English curriculum. Individual and collective social network metrics, critical reading scores, and self-reported survey data were used to quantitatively evaluate students’ critical reading performance in relation to their participation in networked learning. Results highlight several optimal conditions, notably that it is not just participation of the learner that enhances critical thinking but the learners’ reciprocity in replying and the distance of those posts in the network. Discussions and implications of the findings follow to provide insightful understanding of how the rich and complex settings of networked learning can enhance critical thinking capacities in secondary schooling.

To determine whether population-specific normative data should be employed when screening neurocognitive functioning as part of physician fitness for duty evaluations. If so, to provide such norms based on the evidence currently available.A comparison of published data from four sources was analyzed. Data from the two physician samples were then entered into a meta-analysis to obtain full information estimates and generate provisional norms for physicians.Two-way analysis of variance (Study x Index) revealed a significant main effect and an interaction. Results indicate differences in mean levels of performance and standard deviation for physicians.Reliance on general population normative data results in under-identification of potential neuropsychological difficulties. Population specific normative data are needed to effectively evaluate practicing physicians.

Background & objectives: The use of insecticides to eliminate mosquito larvae from ground pools may disrupt atural predator-induced control of mosquito larvae. Detrimental effects on predators may be directly from toxicity or by eliminating prey organisms. Identifying the principal predators responsible for mosquito suppression is needed to select non-target indicator species for insecticide studies. In this study, we sought to determine trophic level interactions between predators and immature stages of Anopheles gambiae Giles mosquitoes under experimental conditions in the coastal region of Kenya. Methods: To identify effective predation pattern, a series of prey choice experiments was conducted. The relative abilities of five common species of aquatic insects found in the malaria-endemic coastal region of Kenya were assessed in a series of experiments. Experiments were conducted in semi-field conditions at Jaribuni, near the sites of insect collection. Results: In single predator experiments, notonectids consumed most of the mosquito larvae; hydrometrids consumed about half of the mosquito larvae in treatments. Veliids and gerrids had significant, but small effects on larval survivorship. Dytiscids did not have a significant effect on mosquito larvae survivorship. In a two-predator experiment, notonectids significantly decreased survivorship of dytiscids without a change in suppressive effects on mosquito larvae. Of the five common predators evaluated, notonectids were clearly the most voracious consumers of mosquito larvae. The predation pressure on mosquito larvae was not affected by the addition of additional prey items, consisting of small dytiscid beetles. The importance of this notonectid species in coastal Kenya suggests that it would be a valuable non-target indicator species for insecticide studies. Hydrometrids were also efficient at consuming mosquito larvae. Interpretation & conclusion: Of the five common predators from the Kenyan coast evaluated in this study, notonectids were the most voracious consumers of immature mosquitoes. Their predation pressure on mosquito larvae was not affected by the addition of additional prey items, consisting of small dytiscid beetles.

Background Recent longitudinal work suggests that weight change is an important risk factor for inflammation across the full range of BMI. However, few studies have examined whether the risk of inflammation differs by patterns of weight gain over time. Using latent class trajectory analysis, we test whether patterns of weight gain are associated with elevated high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP 2–10 mg/L). Methods and Results Data come from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) participants (n=5536), aged 18 at baseline to 66 years in 2009, with measured weight over 18 years. Latent class trajectory analysis was used to identify weight‐change trajectories in 6 age and sex strata. Multivariable general linear mixed‐effects models fit with a logit link were used to assess the risk of elevated hs‐CRP across weight trajectory classes. Models were fit within age and sex strata, controlling for baseline weight, adult height, and smoking, and included random intercepts to account for community‐level correlation. Steeper weight‐gain trajectories were associated with greater risk of elevated hs‐CRP compared to more moderate weight‐gain trajectories in men and women. Initially high weight gain followed by weight loss was associated with lower risk of elevated hs‐CRP in women aged 18 to 40. Conclusions Latent class trajectory analysis identified heterogeneity in adult weight change associated with differential risk of inflammation independently of baseline weight and smoking. These results suggest that trajectories of weight gain are an important clinical concern and may identify those at risk for inflammation and the development of cardiometabolic disease.

For years the pathogenesis of periodontitis was under an immunological Th1/Th2 paradigm. Th1 cells are considered to afford protection against the intracellular pathogens. These cells produce the interferons (IFN) that are involved in macrophage activation, which, in turn, plays an important role in phagocytosis, complement fixation, and opsonization. Th2 cells are thought to have evolved as a form of protection against parasitic helminthes. Th17 subset of CD4Not Necessary+ T cells was identified in the year 2005, which added greater complexity to Th function and are pro inflammatory in nature. Interleukins (ILs) have the ability to alter immunological changes and they also possess the ability to regulate lymphocyte differentiation and haemopoietic stem cells, cell proliferation, and motility, which are classified as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. There are numerous studies that reported IL-17 levels associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) development. Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered a risk factor for the development of periodontal diseases because the incidence, progression, and severity of periodontal diseases are more common with Type II DM than without DM. This study was aimed at evaluating whether non-surgical periodontal therapy had any effect on plasma concentrations of Interleukin-17 in systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients and in chronic periodontitis patients with well controlled Type II Diabetes mellitus. Patients were divided into the two groups including the chronic periodontitis group (20 subjects) and the chronic periodontitis with well-controlled Type II Diabetes mellitus group (20 subjects). The Gingival Index and Plaque Index as well as the clinical Attachment Level (CAL) were taken from all the patients of two groups after evaluating fasting blood sugar, post prandial blood sugar, and the Glycated Hemoglobin Level (HbA1c). Then 5 mL blood samples were collected from each patient and plasma was separated and the IL-17 level is evaluated using the ELISA method. Then, as part of phase I periodontal therapy, scaling and root planning was performed. Patients were recalled after one month and clinical and biochemical parameters were reevaluated. Non-surgical periodontal therapy resulted in a reduction of plasma levels of IL-17 in chronic periodontitis patients with and without well controlled Type II Diabetes mellitus.

The embryogenic cell suspension was obtained from immature embryos of Lolium multiflorum through a callus culture. Somatic embryogenesis was induced by addition of 2,4-D, dicamba and picloram in 0,5 mg/l concentrations in MS liquid nutrient medium. It was shown that somatic embryos arised from single cells. In globular embryoids, the meristematic cells are characterized by the presence of phytoferritin inclusions in the leucoplasts.

Over the past three decades, obesity-related diseases have increased tremendously in China, and are now the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Patterns of weight change can be used to predict risk of obesity-related diseases, increase understanding of etiology of disease risk, identify groups at particularly high risk, and shape prevention strategies.Latent class trajectory modeling was used to compute weight change trajectories for adults aged 18 to 66 using the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data (n = 12,611). Weight change trajectories were computed separately for males and females by age group at baseline due to differential age-related patterns of weight gain in China with urbanization. Generalized linear mixed effects models examined the association between weight change trajectories and baseline characteristics including urbanicity, BMI category, age, and year of study entry.Trajectory classes were identified for each of six age-sex subgroups corresponding to various degrees of weight loss, maintenance and weight gain. Baseline BMI status was a significant predictor of trajectory membership for all age-sex subgroups. Baseline overweight/obesity increased odds of following 'initial loss with maintenance' trajectories. We found no significant association between baseline urbanization and trajectory membership after controlling for other covariates.Trajectory analysis identified patterns of weight change for age by gender groups. Lack of association between baseline urbanization status and trajectory membership suggests that living in a rural environment at baseline was not protective. Analyses identified age-specific nuances in weight change patterns, pointing to the importance of subgroup analyses in future research.

We linked an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis to ozonated apple cider by using molecular and epidemiologic methods. Because ozonation was insufficient in preventing this outbreak, its use in rendering apple cider safe for drinking is questioned.

ObjectiveTo assess whether increased awareness and diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and national guidance on tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis have influenced the socio-demographic profile of children who underwent tonsillectomy over the last decade.MethodRetrospective time-trends study of Hospital Episodes Statistics data. We examined the age, sex and deprivation level, alongside OSAS diagnoses, among children aged ResultsAmong children aged Conclusions(Adeno)tonsillectomy rates declined among children aged 4-15 years, which reflects national guidelines recommending the restriction of the operation to children with more severe recurrent throat infections. However, (adeno)tonsillectomy rates among pre-school children substantially increased over the past decade and one in five children undergoing the operation was aged

Children whose earliest relationships have been marred by violence, chaos, abuse, neglect and loss find that these experiences are ‘hard-wired’ into their brain. As a result, they will grow up believing that these negative experiences reflect what future relationships will be like. Their way of seeing and interacting with the world has been permanently altered by their earliest adverse experiences. Treatment – with a known healing agent, administered in adequate dose and for adequate time and with adequate intensity – can bring those children back into relational health. The curative factor is a relationship with direct care staff. In this paper, the author will describe a developmental/relational approach to residential care for children which has been used at Intermountain, a treatment facility in Helena, Montana, USA, for 27 years. A description of the approach, a case example and the necessity of supervising and monitoring staff are provided. Outcomes of this approach are also detailed.

In this article, we present a conceptual framework for addressing the disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education. The cornerstone of our approach to addressing disproportionate representation is through the creation of culturally responsive educational systems. Our goal is to assist practitioners, researchers, and policy makers in coalescing around culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions and strategic improvements in practice and policy to improve students’ educational opportunities in general education and reduce inappropriate referrals to and placement in special education. We envision this work as cutting across three interrelated domains: policies, practices, and people. Policies include those guidelines enacted at federal, state, district, and school levels that influence funding, resource allocation, accountability, and other key aspects of schooling. We use the notion of practice in two ways, in the instrumental sense of daily practices that all cultural beings engage in to navigate and survive their worlds, and also in a technical sense to describe the procedures and strategies devised for the purpose of maximizing students’ learning outcomes. People include all those in the broad educational system: administrators, teacher educators, teachers, community members, families, and the children whose opportunities we wish to improve.