Influence of Layer Transition Zone on Rainfall-Induced Instability of Multilayered Slope

Although numerous studies have been paid much attention to rainfall-induced instability of multilayered slopes, the interface between layers is generally considered to be “zero thickness”, and the layer transition zone between layers is neglected. In this study, the influence of the layer transition zone on the rainfall-induced instability of multilayered slope was investigated. A model was developed to simulate the rainfall infiltration process, the distribution of pore water pressure, and the stability of multilayered slope by coupling the unsaturated seepage model and the slope stability analysis method. Based on the analysis of the multilayered slopes with the different thickness ratios of the layer transition zone, a method for determining the critical thickness of the layer transition zone was proposed. The results showed that the layer transition zone had a significant influence on the stability of multilayered slope. It was found that the presence of the layer transition zone in the multilayered slope reduced the hydraulic conductivity of the slope and increased the rate of formation of transient saturated zone, which contributed to excess pore water pressure at the toe of the slope. The analysis of the local factor of safety (LFS) showed that when the thickness ratios of the layer transition zone were between 2.5% and 5%, the corresponding hydraulic conductivity of the slope decreased by 1%-2.5% and the maximum failure area of the slope during the rainfall was 25% of the slope. Our study highlighted the importance of the layer transition zone for the rainfall-induced instability of the multilayered slope.

Independent somatic evolution underlies clustered neuroendocrine tumors in the human small intestine

Small intestine neuroendocrine tumor (SI-NET), the most common cancer of the small bowel, often displays a curious multifocal phenotype with several tumors clustered together in a limited intestinal segment. SI-NET also shows an unusual absence of driver mutations explaining tumor initiation and metastatic spread. The evolutionary trajectories that underlie multifocal SI-NET lesions could provide insight into the underlying tumor biology, but this question remains unresolved. Here, we determine the complete genome sequences of 61 tumors and metastases from 11 patients with multifocal SI-NET, allowing for elucidation of phylogenetic relationships between tumors within single patients. Intra-individual comparisons revealed a lack of shared somatic single-nucleotide variants among the sampled intestinal lesions, supporting an independent clonal origin. Furthermore, in three of the patients, two independent tumors had metastasized. We conclude that primary multifocal SI-NETs generally arise from clonally independent cells, suggesting a contribution from a cancer-priming local factor.

Microbiological Assessment of Health-Care Providers in Africa: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the safeguards that help prevent illnesses and eliminate them when they occur. This study aimed to scan the related literature and provide pooled data about the level of knowledge, attitude toward infections, vaccination status, and infection prevalence among African HCWs to provide better evidence toward specific detailed determination of gaps to strengthen. A total of 11,038 published articles were identified from the search strategy. Among them, 163 articles met our inclusion criteria and passed the quality assessment procedure. Results: The prevalence of HBV was tested for 6,599 African HCWs;6.00% [95% Cl; 3.66, 8.33] were positive. The question Are you fully vaccinated against HBV? was answered by 12,036 HCWs; 43.22% [95% Cl; 31.22, 55.21] answered yes. The most crucial local factor identified among respondents for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was self-antibiotic prescription 42.00 % [18.79, 65.20]. The question (Does the infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines available in your workplace?) was asked to 1,582 HCWs; 50.95% [95% Cl; 40.22, 61.67] answered yes. Conclusion: This study determined many weaknesses to be addressed for the sake of improving health in Africa. The current pooled data are critically significant to be implemented in planning governmental or NGOs strategies.

THE PREVALENCE OF GINGIVAL RECESSION IN NORTH GUJARAT POPULATION

Background: Gingival recession (GR) is a challenging condition especially with the increasing esthetic demand of patients today. Hence, there is a need to assess the prevalence of GR and to investigate possible associations with this condition.Methods:A cross-sectional observational study design was used where a sample of 500 patients,within the age range of 18-60 years,was drawn from Department of Dentistry, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Himatnagar. The collected data included demographic and periodontal variables, and the significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square and Fisher exact test.Results:The overall prevalence of GR was 69.4%.Statistical analysis indicated a significant association between gender and GR (significant male predilection,P ≤ 0.05), and between GR and plaque biofilm due to periodontitis with 90.8% of recession cases having periodontitis. A significant association was also found between the cause and distribution of GR,where mandibular incisors showed the highest prevalence of GR.Conclusion: Gingival recession is a highly prevalent condition amongst the people in North Gujarat,with periodontitis being the fundamental cause.Frenal pull is the most prominent local factor in inducing GR in the North Gujarat population.This information can be applied by educating the population and initiating new preventive programs and awareness campaigns.

Phosphorus contents in the soil in function of the modes of application of phosphate fertilizer in two crops in succession

Tropical soils are naturally poor in phosphorus and, due to the strong interaction with mineral constituents, the ways of applying phosphate fertilizers can increase the efficiency of absorption by crops. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the distribution of P at different depths depending on the application of phosphate fertilizer in wheat and common bean crops grown in a Dystrophic Red Latosol from Toledo, western Paraná. The work was carried out under field conditions at the experimental unit of the Agronomy course at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Campus from Toledo. The block design was used in the case, in a scheme of sub-subdivided plots in the space, the first factor being the application mode, the second local factor (lines and between lines), and the third-factor sampling depth (0 – 5, 5 – 10, 10 – 15, 15 – 20 cm), and collections were carried out at seven points in each plot, in two consecutive years. The first soil collection was carried out after the wheat harvest, with soil samplings being performed to quantify the amount of P added to the soil. The soil samples were collected at seven points per plot, four between the lines and three in the sowing lines, in a straight line in each plot, the same procedure was performed after harvesting the bean crop and the second collection was carried out after the bean crop harvest, repeating the analyses, using the Mehlich-1 method. Phosphate fertilizer application modes did not influence P contents in the soil. The highest P contents were obtained at 0-5 cm depth, decreasing along the sampled depths.

The Effect of Local Forcing on Anomalously High Rainfall during Dry Season in Java, Indonesia

During the dry season (May to October) in Java, Indonesia, anomalously high rainfall is investigated using 37-year rainfall data from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data. The analysis focuses on the years having high rainfall during the dry season between 1982 and 2019. It is conducted using a combination of the presence and absence of La Niña, negative Indian Ocean Dipole Mode events, and other atmospheric/oceanic parameters, such as 2-m temperature, sea surface temperature, outgoing longwave radiation, 200 mb and 850 mb wind. The results show that the presence of both La Niña and negative Indian Ocean Dipole Mode events contributes around 39% to the high rainfall during the dry season, the presence of negative Indian Ocean Dipole Mode - 22%, the absence of both events - 22%, and the presence of La Niña - 17%. The dynamics of monsoon circulation anomaly (200 mb and 850 mb) in the southern Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra and Java also plays a role in the increased rainfall during the dry season in Java. This anomaly occurs due to a vortex in the southern equatorial Indian Ocean around 10⁰S, triggering the formation of double Inter-tropical Convergence Zones over the area north of the equator and the southern waters of Java. The increase in rainfall due to this local factor reaches a maximum and extends in June and October, which is associated with the strengthening of circulation anomalies in southern Java, both spatially and vertically (850 and 200 mb).

Current and next-year cranberry yields predicted from local features and carryover effects

Wisconsin and Quebec are the world leading cranberry-producing regions. Cranberries are grown in acidic, naturally low-fertility sandy beds. Cranberry fertilization is guided by general soil and tissue nutrient tests in addition to yield target and vegetative biomass. However, other factors such as cultivar, location, and carbon and nutrient storage impact cranberry nutrition and yield. The objective of this study was to customize nutrient diagnosis and fertilizer recommendation at local scale and for next-year cranberry production after accounting for local factors and carbon and nutrient carryover effects. We collected 1768 observations from on-farm surveys and fertilizer trials in Quebec and Wisconsin to elaborate a machine learning model using minimum datasets. We tested carryover effects in a 5-year Quebec fertilizer experiment established on permanent plots. Micronutrients contributed more than macronutrients to variation in tissue compositions. Random Forest model related accurately current-year berry yield to location, cultivars, climatic indices, fertilization, and tissue and soil tests as features (classification accuracy of 0.83). Comparing compositions of defective and successful tissue compositions in the Euclidean space of tissue compositions, the general across-factor diagnosis differed from the local factor-specific diagnosis. Nutrient standards elaborated in one region could hardly be transposed to another and, within the same region, from one bed to another due to site-specific characteristics. Next-year yield and nutrient adjustment could be predicted accurately from current-year yield and tissue composition and other features, with R2 value of 0.73 in regression mode and classification accuracy of 0.85. Compositional and machine learning methods proved to be effective to customize nutrient diagnosis and predict site-specific measures for nutrient management of cranberry stands. This study emphasized the need to acquire large experimental and observational datasets to capture the numerous factor combinations impacting current and next-year cranberry yields at local scale.

Potential of ecotourism as a mechanism to buoy community livelihoods: the case of Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa

PurposeThis study evaluates prospects of using ecotourism industry to advance community livelihoods in Musina Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa.Design/methodology/approachUsing questionnaire surveys, interviews primarily, supplemented by focus group discussions and interviews, primary data has been collected reflective of the potentiality of ecotouristic activities in Musina Municipality. To a lesser extent, field observations contribute to these primary sources. Extra insights are obtained through documentary reviews (secondary sources). Data is analyzed using quantitative statistical techniques supplemented by qualitative approaches.FindingsThe study confirmed substantial ecotourism potential of the Musina Municipality and that this potential is manifest irrespective of geographic and demographic factors. However, the study reports a low current ecotourism impact in the Musina Municipality with consequential minimal benefits accruing to the enhancement of the standard of living in the local community. An inference is made that the key gap area impeding the realization of ecotourism potential in the Musina Municipality is the absence of a well-articulated tourism strategy linked to the sustainable economic development of the communities involved. Several fruitful initiatives for ecotourism consonant with local factor endowments are proposed.Originality/valueAlthough, taken in topical isolation, matters of community livelihoods and sustainable development have been increasingly coming to the forefront of research on tourism, few studies have taken a holistic approach predicated on the integration of community livelihood and sustainable development roles of various forms of ecotourism in community development within many rural areas. This study represents the first case study employing an integrated approach to analyze ecotouristic potential of rural Musina Municipality, one of the driest areas in the far North of Limpopo Province, South Africa, characterized by low standard of living juxtaposed with high touristic potential.

Pemphigus Vulgaris and its Comprehensive Management: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

In the oral cavity, gingiva lesions may occur that are not associated with bacterial plaque, which require adequate diagnosis and treatment. Desquamative gingivitis is usually related to mucocutaneous disorders, such as pemphigus vulgaris (PV), where oral lesions, including gingival lesions, may precede skin lesions. Management is multidisciplinary and treatment includes topical and systemic pharmacological therapy, require adequate control of dental plaque by the patient and strict supervision over time by the professional for the maintenance and stability of the gingival tissues. Two clinical cases of patients with a diagnosis of PV are presented, which were managed in a timely and integral way to control and stabilize the systemic and local factor.