Indian agriculture, air pollution, and public health in the age of COVID.

Emerging evidence supports the intuitive link between chronic health conditions associated with air pollution and the vulnerability of individuals and communities to COVID-19. Poor air quality already imposes a highly significant public health burden in Northwest India, with pollution levels spiking to hazardous levels in November and early December when rice crop residues are burned. The urgency of curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating a potential resurgence later in the year provides even more justification for accelerating efforts to dramatically reduce open agricultural burning in India.

Agricultural labor, COVID-19, and potential implications for food security and air quality in the breadbasket of India.

To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, India imposed a national lockdown at the end of March 2020, a decision that resulted in a massive reverse migration as many workers across economic sectors returned to their home regions. Migrants provide the foundations of the agricultural workforce in the 'breadbasket' states of Punjab and Haryana in Northwest India.There are mounting concerns that near and potentially longer-term reductions in labor availability may jeopardize agricultural production and consequently national food security. The timing of rice transplanting at the beginning of the summer monsoon season has a cascading influence on productivity of the entire rice-wheat cropping system. To assess the potential for COVID-related reductions in the agriculture workforce to disrupt production of the dominant rice-wheat cropping pattern in these states, we use a spatial ex ante modelling framework to evaluate four scenarios representing a range of plausible labor constraints on the timing of rice transplanting. Averaged over both states, results suggest that rice productivity losses under all delay scenarios would be low as compare to those for wheat, with total system productivity loss estimates ranging from 9%, to 21%, equivalent to economic losses of USD $674 m to $1.48 billion. Late rice transplanting and harvesting can also aggravate winter air pollution with concomitant health risks. Technological options such as direct seeded rice, staggered nursery transplanting, and crop diversification away from rice can help address these challenges but require new approaches to policy and incentives for change.

Prevention of early-onset Group B Streptococcal disease - the Northern Ireland experience.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain guideline adherence for prevention of Group B Streptococcal (GBS) neonatal infection and establish prevalence and outcomes in Northern Ireland (NI). DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Northern Ireland maternity units. POPULATION: Using NI Health Information Systems the following were identified: (1) a cohort of women with one or more risk factors for GBS disease in 2009-2010, (2) all culture-positive cases of GBS in babies aged 0-89 days (2008-2010), (3) stillbirths due to GBS (2009-2010). METHODS: Information was analysed for a 15% randomised sample of the available cases. Maternal and infant case notes were reviewed for confirmed cases of neonatal early onset GBS (EOGBS) during 2008-2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adherence to the 2003 RCOG guideline on prevention of GBS disease (2009-2010). Number of neonatal GBS infections: antenatal risk factors, management and neonatal outcomes (2008-2010). The number of stillbirths related to GBS (2009-2010). RESULTS: Five hundred and seventy-four women had one or more identifiable risk factors for GBS disease; intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) was administered in 42% of cases. Improved administration of IAP was noted in the presence of escalating risk factors. At best, guideline adherence was 50-70%. Forty-three neonates had proven early-onset Group B Streptococcal disease; 55.8% had maternal risk factors. Of the total identified cases, 25.5% received IAP. The total mortality rate was 11.46%. The incidence of EOGBS disease in NI was 0.57/1000 live births. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of EOGBS is higher in NI than the UK as a whole. Risk factors are present in 55.8% of mothers; IAP does not prevent all cases of EOGBS.

Increasing spruce budworm defoliation increases catchment discharge in conifer forests.

Forest insect outbreaks cause significant reductions in the forest canopy through defoliation and tree mortality that modify the storage and flow of water, potentially altering catchment runoff and stream discharge patterns. Despite a growing understanding of the impacts of insect outbreaks on the hydrology of broadleaf forests, little is known about these impacts to catchment hydrology in northern conifer-dominated forests. We measured the effects of cumulative defoliation by spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) on stream discharge and runoff in 12 experimental catchments (6.33-9.85 km2) across the central Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Québec, Canada over a three-year period (2019-2021). Six catchments were aerially treated with BtK (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) insecticide to suppress the outbreak and six catchments were left untreated, leading to a defoliation gradient across the study sites. Stage-discharge relationships were established between June and October from 2019 to 2021. Stream volumetric discharge (r = 0.71, p < 0.01, t(34) = 5.85), runoff (r = 0.55, p < 0.01, t(34) = 3.81) and runoff ratios (r = 0.67, p < 0.01, t(33) = 5.19) were all strongly positively correlated with cumulative defoliation intensity, likely by reducing available water storage in the catchment and therefore enhancing runoff generation. Seasonally, volumetric discharge, runoff, and runoff ratios were more strongly correlated with defoliation in the summer than autumn months, likely because available catchment storage was more limited following the freshet. Overall, we found that insect defoliation impacts forested catchment hydrology similar to other landscape disturbances, and such consequences should be considered in forest management and the control of forest insect outbreaks.

Impacts of biotic resource enrichment on a predator-prey population.

The environmental carrying capacity is usually assumed to be fixed quantity in the classical predator-prey population growth models. However, this assumption is not realistic as the environment generally varies with time. In a bid for greater realism, functional forms of carrying capacities have been widely applied to describe varying environments. Modelling carrying capacity as a state variable serves as another approach to capture the dynamical behavior between population and its environment. The proposed modified predator-prey model is based on the ratio-dependent models that have been utilized in the study of food chains. Using a simple non-linear system, the proposed model can be linked to an intra-guild predation model in which predator and prey share the same resource. Distinct from other models, we formulate the carrying capacity proportional to a biotic resource and both predator and prey species can directly alter the amount of resource available by interacting with it. Bifurcation and numerical analyses are presented to illustrate the system's dynamical behavior. Taking the enrichment parameter of the resource as the bifurcation parameter, a Hopf bifurcation is found for some parameter ranges, which generate solutions that posses limit cycle behavior.

The role of multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography in imaging complications post-cardiac surgery.

There have been numerous advances in the field of cardiac imaging. The advent of multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) and in particular electrocardiographic (ECG)-gated acquisition has revolutionized the investigation of the complete spectrum of complications of common cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Generic complications, such as mediastinitis, pericardial effusion, sternal osteomyelitis, and mediastinal fibrosis, are discussed with illustrative examples of multiplanar and volume-rendered three-dimensional reconstructions. Graft-related complications of both coronary artery bypass grafts and aortic root grafts are reviewed. The role of MDCT-CA in the investigation of prosthetic valve endocarditis and root abscesses is outlined. We present a complete illustration of the detailed images that are obtained when investigating a full range of graft-related complications from both aortic and coronary surgery using ECG-gated MDCT-CA. MDCT-CA has the potential to become established as the optimal technique with which to image a multitude of complications post-cardiac surgery.

The increasing role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the management of pancreatic and biliary disease.

Pancreatic and biliary disease continues to have a significant impact on the workload of the National Health Service (NHS), for which there exists a multimodality approach to investigation and diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is fast becoming a fundamental tool in this cohort of patients, not only because of its ability to provide superior visualization of a difficult anatomical region, but also because of its valuable role as a problem-solving tool and ever-improving ability in an interventional capacity. We provide a comprehensive review of the benefits of EUS in everyday clinical practice.

The varied sonographic appearances of focal fatty liver disease: review and diagnostic algorithm.

Focal fat infiltration and focal fat sparing of the liver are less common than diffuse fat infiltration but present a greater diagnostic conundrum. Although typical features of these conditions are well described, there is a wide variety of different appearances. These atypical patterns present significant difficulty in differentiation from other pathological processes and often require additional investigation. We present an innovative diagnostic algorithm and illustrate its effectiveness in diagnosing focal fatty liver disease with typical and atypical examples.

Value of trainees in a radiology department. A retrospective semi-quantitative analysis.

AIM: To examine the productivity (both economic and otherwise) of trainees within a radiology department at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Productivity was measured in three ways: (1) independent workload contribution, (2) impact on on-call services, and (3) impact on day-to-day practice as perceived by consultant radiologists. Data were collected using retrospective searches on computerized radiology information system (CRIS), analysis of trainees and consultant rotas, and a questionnaire to consultants and trainees. Where possible, productivity was quantified in terms of number of programmed activities (PAs). RESULTS: The contribution of independent work by trainees in a single week was 52.75 PAs (or 1.45 PAs per trainee per week). In addition, the on-call contribution was 23.1 PAs per week (or 0.93 PAs per trainee per week). When both trainees and consultants report independently, productivity in a single list in most cases increased and can be as much as 197%. On calculating the economic impact, this amounts to significant savings of around £1.2million per year at our institution. CONCLUSION: Based upon objectively measurable areas of service provision, the employment of trainees yields considerable economic benefit. Furthermore, based upon qualitative methods we have shown that trainees contribute positively in those areas, which are much harder to quantifiably evaluate. These are benefits in addition to fundamental requirement to train future competent radiologists.

Water budgeting in conservation agriculture-based sub-surface drip irrigation in tropical maize using HYDRUS-2D in South Asia.

In water scarce regions of South Asia, diversification of rice with maize is being advocated towards sustainability of cereal-based cropping systems. Adoption of innovative agronomic management practices, i.e., conservation agriculture (CA) and sub-surface drip irrigation (SSDI) are considered as key strategies for much needed interventions to address the challenges of water scarcity under projected climate change. Benefits from CA and SSDI concerning water economy are well-established, however, information about their complementarity and water budgeting in cereal-based systems are lacking. A field study was conducted with process-based model (HYDRUS-2D) to understand water transport, root water uptake and components of soil water balance in maize grown in rotation with wheat after five years of continuous adoption of conservation agriculture. In this study, altogether eight treatments comprising of 6 CA+ treatments (CA coupled with SSDI); permanent beds using sub-surface drip (PB-SSD) with (WR) and without (WOR) crop residue at different N rates, 0, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1 were compared with CA (PB using furrow irrigation-FI with crop residue-120 kg N ha-1) and conventional tillage practices (CT) (CT using FI without crop residue-120 kg N ha-1). Results showed that the model could simulate the daily changes in profile soil water content with reasonable accuracy in all the treatments. Simulated soil water balance indicated higher cumulative root water uptake (CRWU), lower cumulative evaporation (CE) and higher soil water retention in CA+ (PB-SSD+ crop residue at 150 and 120 kg N ha-1) than CA and CT plots. Hydrus-2D model efficiency > 0, RMSE between 0.009-0.026 and R2 value between 0.80-0.92 at P < 0.01 indicates that the model is performing efficiently. The mean evaporation from CA+ treatments was 10 and 36% less than CA and CT treatments, respectively. On average, CRWU under CA+ treatments were 14-48% higher than FI treatments. The mean cumulative deep drainage in CA+ plots was 80-100 mm less than CA and CT plots. In CA+ based plots significantly higher biomass production and radiation use efficiency were observed with reduced water use than CA and CT. Therefore, the study justifies the water-saving nature of CA+, while maintaining higher productivity and meeting the transpiration demand of crops and halting unnecessary evaporation and deep drainage losses.

Molecular, Morphological, and Functional Characterization of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor 1-Expressing Neurons in the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala.

The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is a brain region implicated in anxiety, stress-related disorders and the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF, Crh) acting at cognate type 1 receptors (CRF1, Crhr1) modulates inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission in the CeA. Here, we used CRF1:GFP reporter mice to characterize the morphological, neurochemical and electrophysiological properties of CRF1-expressing (CRF1+) and CRF1-non-expressing (CRF1-) neurons in the CeA. We assessed these two neuronal populations for distinctions in the expression of GABAergic subpopulation markers and neuropeptides, dendritic spine density and morphology, and excitatory transmission. We observed that CeA CRF1+ neurons are GABAergic but do not segregate with calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), parvalbumin (PV), or protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ). Among the neuropeptides analyzed, Penk and Sst had the highest percentage of co-expression with Crhr1 in both the medial and lateral CeA subdivisions. Additionally, CeA CRF1+ neurons had a lower density of dendritic spines, which was offset by a higher proportion of mature spines compared to neighboring CRF1- neurons. Accordingly, there was no difference in basal spontaneous glutamatergic transmission between the two populations. Application of CRF increased overall vesicular glutamate release onto both CRF1+ and CRF1- neurons and does not affect amplitude or kinetics of EPSCs in either population. These novel data highlight important differences in the neurochemical make-up and morphology of CRF1+ compared to CRF1- neurons, which may have important implications for the transduction of CRF signaling in the CeA.

Cultured fibroblasts from patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C and type D exhibit distinct defects in cholesterol esterification.

The Niemann-Pick group of diseases can be broadly classified into two types based on clinical and biochemical characteristics. Type I is characterized by a primary deficiency of lysosomal sphingomyelinase while Type II may have a defect in the regulation of intracellular cholesterol metabolism. We have studied cholesterol esterification in cultured fibroblasts from patients with two phenotypes of Type II disease: an Acadian population of southwestern Nova Scotia (Canada) with a form of the disease known as Niemann-Pick type D (NPD) and a group of panethnic origin with Niemann-Pick type C (NPC). Addition of whole serum to normal fibroblasts grown initially in lipoprotein-deficient serum caused a rapid (within 6 h) increase in cholesterol esterification, reaching maximum values at around 24 h, while NPC fibroblasts showed little increase (less than 10% of normal). In contrast, cholesterol esterification in NPD fibroblasts increased slowly during the first 6-12 h and reached 50% of normal values by 24 h. 25-Hydroxycholesterol, a non-lipoprotein stimulator of cholesterol esterification, caused a similar stimulation of cholesterol esterification in NPC, NPD and normal cells. This was inhibited by addition of serum in mutant but not in normal cells. Within 24 h of serum addition, free cholesterol accumulated in all cell types with NPC greater than NPD greater than normal. These observations indicate that (a) regulation of cholesterol esterification in response to serum lipoproteins (but not 25-hydroxycholesterol) is abnormal in both NPC and NPD fibroblasts, and (b) the biochemical phenotypes of fibroblasts from NPC and NPD patients are distinct.

Modeling thermal burns due to airbag deployment.

Automotive airbags are now a widely accepted safety measure designed to reduce morbidity associated with motor vehicle accidents. Their usage is increasing with multiple airbags (driver, passenger and side curtain) being fitted to many vehicles. However the deployment of airbags has been identified as causing injuries in some instances including minor burns. There are three mechanisms for thermal burns due to an airbag; contact with the hot expelled gases from the airbag, contact with the hot airbag itself and melting of clothing from either of these contacts. A mathematical model is used here to predict the likelihood and severity of the first two types of burns. It is shown that direct contact with high temperature exhaust gases venting from the airbag can indeed lead to burns and that burns from contacting the hot airbag material are possible but far less likely to occur.

Three uptake systems in synaptosomes for nipecotic acid and beta-alanine.

An earlier finding that three systems were responsible for the uptake of gamma-aminobutyric acid by synaptosomes was corroborated. In addition, the existence of three uptake systems for RS-nipecotic acid and beta-alanine was demonstrated. We have called these systems high affinity, medium affinity and low affinity uptake systems respectively. In the case of all three substrates, the high affinity system Km values were around 1 microM or less, the medium affinity system Km values were in the range 10-46 microM, and the low affinity system Km values were in the range 290-3400 microM.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake systems in human frontal cortex.

Synaptosomes prepared from human frontal cortex possessed two uptake systems for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with Km values of 1.9 and 20.6 microM respectively, and with Vmax values of 0.15 and 0.78 nmol/min/mg protein respectively. In this respect, human tissue preparations differed from cortical synaptosomes from rodents in that a third, low-affinity GABA uptake system was not detectable in human synaptosomes.

Evaluating Children in the Ukraine for Colonization With the Intestinal Bacterium Oxalobacter formigenes, Using a Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Detection System.

Background: Oxalobacter formigenes is a recently discovered anaerobic bacterium residing in the gastrointestinal tracts of most vertebrates, including humans. Evidence suggests that this bacterium plays an important symbiotic relationship with its hosts by regulating oxalic acid homeostasis. Oxalic acid is a ubiquitous toxic by-product of metabolism associated with numerous pathologic conditions, including hyperoxaluia, cardiac myopathy and conductance disorders, kidney stones, and even death. Despite the potential importance of O. formigenes in several major health disorders, the difficulty in culturing, isolating, and identifying this fastidious anaerobe has limited research of its disease associations. Because O. formigenes must use two unique enzymes to catabolize oxalic acid, this bacterium appeared to be a suitable model for DNA-based identification, thereby circumventing the labor-intensive procedures currently used. Methods and Results: In this study, genus- and group-specific oligonucleotide sequences were designed corresponding to homologous regions residing in the oxc gene that enodes for oxalyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based amplification of the 5'end of this gene directly from genomic DNA isolated from various strains of O. formigenes was used to show that the genus- and group-specific oligonucleotide probes could identify and subgroup the bacterium. Field testing of this PCR-based detection system with 100 fecal cultures collected from children aged 0-12 years demonstrated the ease and efficacy with which O. formigenes can now be identified. Furthermore, these latter data provide a profile for the natural colonization of a human population with this intestinal bacterium. Conclusions: Development and use of this PCR-based detection system permit the rapid identification and classification of the gut-associated bacterium O. formigenes, thereby circumventing the need for the more labor-intensive and lengthy method currently used. The first field test of this detection system indicates that humans apparently do not become colonized with O. formigenes until they begin crawling about in the environment. Furthermore, studies investigating the association between several disorders (eg, kidney stones, irritable bowel syndrome, and hyperoxaluria) and the absence of the bacterium from the gut will now prove far easier.

Myocardial infarction in pregnancy.

Three cases of myocardial infarction occurring in the third trimester of pregnancy are presented. The method of delivery in each case was individualised with no maternal or fetal mortality. Each patient had significant risk factors for coronary arterial disease or thrombosis. One patient had normal coronary arteries demonstrated at coronary arteriography.

Determination of thiuram disulphides and analysis of thiuram disulphide-dithiocarbamate mixtures.

Potassium trithiocarbonate is used as reluctant for the titrimetric determination of thiuram disulphides in dimethylformamide-water media. The method is based on reductive cleavage of the disulphide linkage to yield the corresponding dithiocarbamates. In visual titrations, the end-point is marked by appearance of a yellow colour with the first drop of reagent added in excess. The method is simple, accurate, reliable and of wide applicability. It has been successfully extended to the analysis, in the same sample solution, of thiuram disulphide-dithiocarbamate mixtures.

A new colorimetric method for the determination of carbon disulphide and its application to the analysis of some dithiocarbamate fungicides.

A new and convenient colorimetric method for determination of carbon disulphide, based on its transformation into bright yellow potassium benzyl trithiocarbonate through reaction with benzyl mercaptan and potassium hydroxide in tert.-butyl alcohol, has been successfully applied to determination of some dithiocarbamate fungicides in their formulations. The method possesses a distinct advantage in that it is free from all sources of errors/problems which are associated with the xanthate method for the analysis of these materials. The proposed method is precise and accurate and hence recommended for routine analysis of technical formulations containing dithiocarbamate fungicides.