Catalysing the monitoring and evaluation of Nationally Determined Contributions through North-South cooperation.

The recent 6th Assessment Report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been damning to the world. An overwhelming amount of evidence that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can contribute to stabilising or reversing the course of impacts of climate change is now common. Given the likely update of NDC measures compounded by their complexities and limited resources, it is imperative to adopt effective Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) systems to ensure that NDCs achieve their planned objectives. Effective roll-out and M&E of NDCs require full participation from all actors in various countries. However, despite existing evidence that shows the developing countries are the most affected by climate change, the role of their researchers in climate change research is not known. Therefore, the need to investigate the global North-South disparities and develop an agenda for future research about NDCs is imperative. To address this gap, a systematic review was undertaken using appropriate terms in Web of Science, Dimensions and ScienceDirect to identify relevant literature. The analysis of the identified literature led to two main findings. Firstly, most studies about NDCs are conducted by global North research institutes and researchers with very little involvement of those from the global South. Secondly, there is a global paucity of research about M&E of NDCs measures. As a major recommendation, while countries should equitably contribute to rolling out NDC projects, research should play a key role and should be inclusive as possible representing voices from the global North and South.

Importance of vector-borne infections in different production systems: bovine trypanosomosis and the innovation dynamics of livestock producers in Senegal.

In Senegal, a project has been undertaken to eradicate a population of tsetse flies (Glossina palpalis gambiensis) from a prime area for intensifying livestock production--the coastal region of Niayes. The project is intended to remove the constraint of trypanosomosis and allow the ecological intensification of cattle production. A cross-sectional analysis of ten case studies was the inductive phase of an assessment to gauge the impact of removing trypanosomosis on livestock production strategies. The methodology used was comprehensive analysis, with participatory epidemiology tools to understand farmers' rationales. The authors analysed the strategies of three main types of livestock producer (agro-pastoralists, mixed crop/livestock farmers and intensive dairy farmers). The strategies were in line with the farmers' goals and their ability to mobilise the socio-technical network. The risk management of trypanosomosis has been incorporated into livestock management practices through the use of trypanotolerant breeds, medical prophylaxis or placing livestock in low-risk areas. Removing the risk of disease would therefore have a major impact on decisions about the composition and strategic direction of herds. This change in the animal health environment would steer livestock production along different routes of intensification in a highly competitive environment. The indicators of innovation capacity revealed by this study will be used to quantitatively monitor various change scenarios, taking livestock producers' reasoning into account, in order to assess the socio-economic impact of eradicating the tsetse fly population in this area. The methodology presented in the study can be used to understand the impact of controlling other vector-borne infections on the innovation dynamics of livestock producers.

A pseudo-planar metasurface for a polarization rotator.

New demonstrations of effective interaction between light and artificially electromagnetic interface, or the metasurface, have stimulated intensive research interests on control of light to realize applications in beam steering, optical imaging and light focusing, etc. Here we reported a new type of planar metasurface of which every individual metamolecule is single metallic layer with stereo structure and the metasurface is name as Pseudo-Planar Metasurface (PPM). The metamolecule of the PPM is a chiral structure and therefore derives significant optical activity.

Knowledge and reported use of antibiotics amongst school-teachers in New Zealand / Conocimiento y uso comunicado de antibióticos entre profesores de escuela en Nueva Zelanda

Gaps in public knowledge about antibiotics have led to calls for public education campaigns about antibiotics, including education of school children. Objective: This study investigates New Zealand primary school teachers' current level of knowledge about antibiotics, to assess whether this is adequate for providing accurate education for children. Methods: Two hundred and sixty-six primary school teachers from 39 schools in four cities were interviewed about their knowledge and understandings of antibiotics, using a questionnaire. Results: Teachers reported having little current involvement with antibiotics. There were gaps in the understanding of antibiotics amongst many of the teachers. Only about 60% knew that antibiotics were useful only in bacterial infections, many believed antibiotics were useful for colds and flu, and many did not know about antibiotic resistance. On the other hand, teachers largely reported appropriate patterns of antibiotic use. Conclusion: If teachers are to educate children about antibiotics, basic education about antibiotics and resistance will be required for school teachers (AU)

Las lagunas en el conocimiento del público sobre antibióticos han llevado a llamadas de atención para realizar campañas sobre antibióticos, incluyendo la educación de niños en escuela. Objetivo: Este estudio investiga el nivel actual de conocimiento sobre antibióticos de los profesores de escuelas primarias en Nueva Zelanda, para evaluar si son adecuados para proporcionar educación adecuada a los niños. Métodos: Se entrevistó, utilizando un cuestionario, a 266 profesores de escuelas primarias en 39 escuelas de 4 ciudades sobre sus conocimientos e ideas de antibióticos. Resultados: Los profesores informaron tener poco conocimiento de antibióticos. Había lagunas en su comprensión de los antibióticos entre muchos profesores. Sólo el 60% sabía que los antibióticos eran útiles solo en infecciones bacterianas, muchos creían que los antibióticos eran útiles en gripe y resfriado, y muchos no sabían nada sobre resistencias a antibióticos. Por el contrario, los profesores informaron sobre patrones de uso de antibióticos adecuados. Conclusión: Si se pretende que los profesores eduquen a los niños sobre antibióticos, se requerirá una formación básica sobre antibióticos y resistencias para los profesores de escuela (AU)

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (128). Portal pyaemia.

A 66-year-old man presented with epigastric pain. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed portal venous gas with partial thrombosis of the portal veins, consistent with portal pyaemia. CT also showed nonspecific peripancreatic fat stranding. The patient was treated conservatively but did not improve, necessitating a laparotomy that revealed ischaemic colitis and bowel necrosis. He underwent a right hemicolectomy and showed clinical improvement. Portal pyaemia is a combination of infection and thrombosis within the portal veins. The presence of gas in the portal vein is a known feature in portal pyaemia. We showed radiological examples of hepatic and portal venous gas in several patients who presented to our institution, with a brief discussion of their radiological findings, causes, management and outcome. The mortality rate of patients with portal venous gas depends on the underlying cause. The high mortality rate of patients with portal venous gas due to bowel necrosis or ischaemia may necessitate emergent surgical intervention.

Knowledge and reported use of antibiotics amongst school-teachers in New Zealand.

UNLABELLED: Gaps in public knowledge about antibiotics have led to calls for public education campaigns about antibiotics, including education of school children. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates New Zealand primary school teachers' current level of knowledge about antibiotics, to assess whether this is adequate for providing accurate education for children. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-six primary school teachers from 39 schools in four cities were interviewed about their knowledge and understandings of antibiotics, using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Teachers reported having little current involvement with antibiotics. There were gaps in the understanding of antibiotics amongst many of the teachers. Only about 60% knew that antibiotics were useful only in bacterial infections, many believed antibiotics were useful for colds and flu, and many did not know about antibiotic resistance. On the other hand, teachers largely reported appropriate patterns of antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: If teachers are to educate children about antibiotics, basic education about antibiotics and resistance will be required for school teachers.

Colchicine suppresses neutrophil superoxide production in a murine model of gouty arthritis: a rationale for use of low-dose colchicine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: When used to treat gouty arthritis, colchicine is believed to work by inhibiting microtubule-dependent cell infiltration. However, in vitro, colchicine also reduces monosodium urate (MSU)-induced superoxide production by neutrophils. Our study aimed to compare the effects of colchicine on neutrophil superoxide production and infiltration in an in vivo model of acute gouty inflammation. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In vitro: Human and murine peritoneal neutrophils were incubated with MSU with and without colchicine, and superoxide production was measured. In vivo: Mice were treated with colchicine followed by an intraperitoneal injection of MSU to induce acute inflammation. After 4h, the peritoneal cells were recovered to measure superoxide production and neutrophil infiltration. Sera were tested for liver and renal toxicity. KEY RESULTS: Colchicine dose-dependently inhibited MSU-induced superoxide production by both human and murine neutrophils in vitro. Oral colchicine inhibited MSU-induced superoxide production by neutrophils in vivo at doses 100 times lower than those required to inhibit neutrophil infiltration and without acute liver or renal toxicity. Neutrophils treated with colchicine in vivo still produced superoxide in response to another stimulus, 4-beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results show a beneficial effect of colchicine for the treatment of MSU-induced superoxide production in vivo at sub-toxic doses without compromising superoxide production by other physiological processes. This is the first in vivo data to provide a biological rationale that supports the implementation of low dose, non-toxic, colchicine therapy for the treatment of gouty arthritis.

Cost-effectiveness index modeling for a hospital unit.

The healthcare expenditures around the world are claiming bigger and bigger share of a country GDP each year. However, the effectiveness of the healthcare system compared to the ever-rising healthcare expenditures is not clearly defined and compared. A generic model of cost-effectiveness index is developed for a hospital unit (department). The cost-effectiveness index (CEI) consists of the total operating costs (TOC) and total effect index (TEI). TEI consists of healthcare productivity index (HcPI), health status index (HSI), healthcare quality index (HcQI) and healthcare efficiency index (HcEI). All of the effect measures are in different dimensions, thus index number method was applied to convert the effect measures into non-dimensional numbers that can be summed or subtracted. The CEIs obtained are relative among a few different hospitals. The CEIs can be a performance assessment tool to compare the operation of different hospital, and subsequently act as a motivation tool to drive for improvement.

Unilateral visual impairment and health related quality of life: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable recent interest in the impact of unilateral visual impairment on functional status and wellbeing, particularly in relation to second eye cataract surgery. AIM: To determine if unilateral visual impairment has a measurable impact on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in an older community, as assessed by the generic, multidimensional 36 item short form health survey (SF-36). METHODS: All participants of the second cross sectional Blue Mountains Eye Study (n = 3508) were invited to attend comprehensive eye examinations and complete an SF-36 questionnaire. Unilateral visual impairment was defined as visual acuity (VA) <6/12 in the worse eye and > or =6/12 in the better eye. Mild visual impairment was defined as VA <6/12 but > or =6/24, moderate as VA <6/24 but > or =6/60, and severe (blindness) as VA <6/60 in the worse eye. Cases with amblyopia (n = 48) were excluded. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 3108 participants; 227 (7.3%) had unilateral visual impairment (148 mild, 29 moderate, 50 severe). Moderate to severe non-correctable unilateral impairment was associated with poorer SF-36 profiles. After adjusting for age and sex, this group had significantly poorer scores than the unimpaired group in three of eight domains (p<0.05); limitations as a result of physical problems, social function, limitations because of emotional problems, and in the mental component score. Mental domains were more affected than physical domains. Unilateral impairment from undercorrected refraction did not measurably affect HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to severe non-correctable unilateral visual impairment caused by eye diseases such as cataract had a measurable impact on HRQOL.

Analysis of P wave and P dispersion in children with secundum atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: P maximum and P dispersion are evaluated as predictors of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in adults. In this study, these variables are being investigated in children with secundum ASD in comparison with that of normal controls and in relation to size of ASD and the presence or absence of atrial dilation. METHODS: Ninety-four children with isolated secundum ASD (33 boys, 60 girls; mean +/- SD age at diagnosis 2.9 +/- 4.1 years) and 65 age-matched controls (mean +/- SD age 4.2 +/- 4.2 years) were evaluated. Resting 12-lead ECG was used to measure P waves from which P maximum and P dispersion (difference between maximum and minimum P-wave duration) were derived. ASD children were arbitrarily subgrouped according to ASD sizes (small: 1-3 mm, moderate: 4-7 mm, large: > or = 8 mm). The presence of right atrial dilation was noted from echocardiography. RESULTS: Children with ASD had significantly longer mean P dispersion compared to controls (P dispersion: 30.2 +/- 11.1 vs 26.4 +/- 6.6 ms, P = 0.008). Mean P maximum and P dispersion were significantly prolonged with increasing ASD size (P < 0.001). Children with right atrial dilation had significantly longer P maximum (102.3 +/- 15.2 vs 82.8 +/- 13.4 ms, P < 0.001) and larger P dispersion (36.1 +/- 12.5 vs 27.6 +/- 9.4 ms, P = 0.003) compared to those without right atrial dilation. CONCLUSION: Prolonged atrial conduction time and inhomogeneity of atrial conduction may possibly be present in children with moderate to large sized ASD and in those with atrial dilation.

An evaluation of the AbTox Plazlyte Sterilization System.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the AbTox Plazlyte Sterilization System against selected microbial species using inoculated carriers and surgical instruments. SETTING: The microbiology laboratory of a 700-bed adult tertiary-care hospital. DESIGN: The study was conducted in two phases. In phase 1, microorganisms were inoculated to various metal, paper, plastic, and glass carriers, as well as surgical equipment, and processed in cycle II of the AbTox sterilizer. Phase 2 compared AbTox cycle III with ethylene oxide sterilization using stainless steel washers, penicylinders, and surgical equipment. In both phases, cultures of equipment and carriers were obtained after processing. The phenotypic profiles and antibiograms of positive cultures were compared to the original inoculate to rule out the possibility of contamination. RESULTS: Of a total of 350 paper carriers, 375 metal washers, and 234 pieces of equipment processed in cycle II and using trypticase soy broth as the inoculating medium, 123 metal washers (32%) and 8 instruments (3%) failed to be sterilized. Similar failures were noted with cycle III. The presence of either salt or protein adversely affected the system's ability to sterilize in either cycle. CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed to evaluate the extent to which salt or organic material compromise low-temperature gas-plasma sterilization. Meanwhile, users should exercise caution and use care in the cleaning of instruments that will be processed in the plasma-based sterilization technologies.

The effects of stereotyping on impression formation: cross-cultural perspectives on viewing religious persons.

We examined the effects of stereotyping on impression formation when encountering people dressed to represent a religious faith. We used stimulus photographs of eight male and female models dressed casually and a second photograph of one male and one female model in religious attire that was placed beside the control photos of models dressed causally. From each set of photographs, subjects selected a photo of the person with whom they would associate the various positive personality traits suggested by our stimulus questions. Subjects were students from a U.S. Catholic school, a U.S. public school, and a Malaysian Muslim school. All the subjects attributed more of the positive traits to photos of the models who were religiously attired than to photos of those who were casually dressed, but subjects from U.S. schools attributed more of the positive traits to the photos of religiously dressed models than did the subjects from the Malaysian school.

T cell-dependent suppression of antibody production. I. Characteristics of suppressor T cells following tolerance induction.

Specific immunological tolerance was induced in adult CBA mice by a single injection of deaggregated human IgG (dHGG). Spleen cells taken 7 to 42 days later, produced consistent suppression of a DNP-HGG collaborative antibody response on adoptive transfer into heavily irradiated recipients. Noncentrifuged F(ab')2 fragments of HGG were as effective as dHGG in the production of suppressor cells. Suppression was antigen-specific since HGG-tolerant cells failed to abrogate either a DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin collaborative response or antibody production to the noncross-reactive antigen, horse erythrocytes. Pretreatment of the tolerant cell population with anti-Thy-1 serum and complement reversed the suppressive effect. However, purified tolerant T cells obtained by passage through nylon wool or anti-Ig columns were less effective than the original spleen cells in mediating suppression. Analysis of the cell types appearing in the column effluents indicated that the reduction in suppressive activity is best explained by retention of T cells rather than macrophages. Different T cell populations, however, were retained on the two types of columns. In the case of anti-Ig columns, these consisted of Ly-2,3+, Ia+ effector cells, whereas nylon wool columns caused depletion of Ly-1,2,3+ cells which are known to act as amplifiers of suppression. Suppression could not be explained in terms of delay in differentiation of antibody-forming cell precursors since the effect persisted for up to 15 days after transfer of tolerant cells. The demonstration of a reduction in serum anti-DNP and anti-HGG antibodies excluded the possibility of antibody production in sites other than the spleen. A role for anti-carrier antibody-antigen complexes in mediating the effector phase of suppression was rendered unlikely by the finding that the suppressive effect of tolerant cells persisted in the absence of detectable anti-HGG antibody production. Effector T cells mediating suppression in this system were shown to bear the phenotype Ia+, Ly-2,3+ as judged by the effect of pretreatment with appropriate antisera and complement. They were spleen-seeking, but were not detected in the thymus or recirculating lymphocyte pool. Adult thymectomy failed to cause a significant reduction in suppressive activity by tolerant spleen cells indicating that at least a major component of the immediate precursors is not of recent thymic origin.

A receptor for antibody on B lymphocytes. III. Relationship to immunoglobulin and ia determinants.

The physicochemical structure of the receptor for antibody (FcR) on B cells and its interrelationship with Ig and H-2 gene complex associated antigens were examined. FcR were found to be sensitive to treatment with phospholipase C and pronase, but resistant to neuraminidase, phospholipase A and chymotrypsin. They would therefore appear to be composed of phospholipoproteins. Several lines of evidence indicated that FcR and Ig receptors were discrete entities: thus, FcR (1) were resistant to chymotrypsin; (2) capped independently of Ig, as demonstrated by means of Fab fragments of anti-Ig, and (3) were closely associated with at least some Ia determinants, which are known to be distinct from Ig determinants. The relationship between FcR and H-2 gene complex associated antigens was confirmed by demonstrating inhibition of binding of aggregates by anti-Ia serum and vice versa. If, however, FcR were capped, anti-Ia serum applied under non-capping conditions was still found to bind diffusely to the great majority of B cells. Although this could be explained in part by the presence of residual FcR, some Ia determinants appeared to be distinct from FcR. The finding of residual FcR after capping with aggregates or immune complexes implied that FcR are a more integral part of the cell membrane than Ig receptors and could therefore act as proreceptors for the latter. Consistent with this was the demonstration of a significant polar distribution of Ig on B cells capped for FcR and then labelled under non-capping conditions with anti-Ig.

A subpopulation of T cells bearing Fc receptors.

A wide range of cell populations were examined for Fc receptor (FcR)-bearing T cells: thymus, spleen, peritoneal cells, and T cells activated to H-2 antigens in spleen (ATC spleen) and in thoracic duct lymph (T-TDL). In addition, B lymphocytes from thoracic duct lymph of athymic nude mice and a Thy-1-positive, FcR-positive thymoma served as control cell populations. Reagents used were aggregates of human gamma-globulin and of various mouse myeloma proteins (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b), radioiodinated antigen-antibody complexes, and sheep erythrocyte antibody rosettes. Labeling techniques involving radioautography and immunofluorescence were used to demonstrate FcR by one of the above reagents and to identify T cells either by staining with anti-Thy-1.2 or by a specific rabbit anti-mouse T cell serum, or by failure to stain with anti-mouse immunoglobulin. In some experiments phagocytic cells were removed whereas in others they were identified by their capacity to engulf latex particles. Approximately 25% of cells with T cell markers were FcR-bearing cells in thymus, normal spleen, and peritoneal cavity, and 17% in ATC spleen. FcR on T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues were detectable by aggregates of HGG and myeloma proteins and by radioiodinated immune complexes. Those on T cells in thymus were revealed only by aggregates of HGG. Circulating T cells (T.TDL) failed to display FcR: a) despite the use of a wide range of the above labeling techniques, each of which was shown to detect FcR on other T cells, thymoma cells, and B cells, and b) even after removal of Ig associated with their cell membranes. In contrast to B cell FcR which bound IgG1 preferentially, those on T cells bound both IgG1 and IgG2, raising the possibility that the FcR on T cell is distinct from that on B cell. It is concluded that FcR-bearing T cells represent a subpopulation of cells within the thymus and the secondary lymphoid tissues.

Detection of membrane-associated antigens on lymphoid cells by antibody coupled to staphylococcal protein A.

A simple technique is described for the detection of membrane-associated antigens on lymphoid cells. It is based on the observation that the protein A component of staphylococci binds to the Fc pieces of IgG molecules. Lymphocytes from various sources (mouse, rat, and human tissues) were incubated with hyperimmune antisera directed against surface determinants. Subsequent treatment with a suspension of staphylococci containing protein A permitted visualization of both the presence and distribution of determinants on the cell membrane. The method had comparable sensitivity to the fluorescent sandwich technique and could be used to detect a variety of membrane antigens on both T cells and B cells.