Community Perception on Trypanosomosis, Parasitological, and Entomological Studies in Two Selected Districts of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

Participatory investigation and trypanosomosis prevalence studied during April 2019 and March 2020 in two selected districts of South Omo, Ethiopia. The study site is located in the gridline of 04.90 to 5.60oN and 35.80 to 36.900 E. Twelve community groups are employed. A cross-sectional study design and 288 animals bled and examined a wet film prepared from the buffy coat. Sixty NGU traps baited with acetone and cow urine were deployed for 48 hrs to estimate the apparent density. Data generated from focus group discussion and trypanosomosis prevalence analyzed using an appropriate statistical package. Proportional piling showed that cattle, goats, and sheep were proportionally dominant with a high median score of 32(14–40), 26(12–33), and 21(5–23), respectively; trypanosomosis ranked first with a proportional median score of 24(13–26) followed by contagious bovine/caprine pleuropneumonia with a proportional median score of 23(19–26) among others. Community unanimously agreed that (W = 0.9) trypanosomosis affects their socioeconomic status and was able to describe clinical signs with significant (p < 0.05) agreement. Tsetse fly (Echut and Kusubo) is the main vector with the agreement of W = 0.9(p < 0.05). Perception on human trypanosomosis varies between Benna Tsemay and Gnagatom districts. Therefore, further study supported by laboratory like molecular test is very important to conclude the presence of human trypanosomosis in the suggested area. The overall prevalence of cattle trypanosomosis was 10.1%. The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly higher in poor body condition (OR = 2.1, P < 0.05) and in black coat color (OR = 13.5, P < 0.05) animals. T. congolense and T. vivax were circulating in the area. A total of 455 Glossina (385 G. pallidipes, 17 G. tachinoides, and 53 G. fuscipes) were trapped. The overall apparent density of Glossina was 3.79 Flies/Trap/Day. Three species of Glossina, namely G. pallidipes, G. tachinoides, and G. fuscipes, were distributed in the study areas. Therefore, the finding suggests that the problem is significant and the human trypanosomosis is doubtful. Hence regular control measures and molecular diagnosis need to be conducted.

Behavioural Stress Propagation in Benthic Invertebrates Caused by Acute pH Drop-Induced Metabolites

Studies on pH stress in marine animals typically focus on direct or species-specific aspects. We here test the hypothesis that a drop to pH = 7.6 indirectly affects the intra- and interspecific interactions of benthic invertebrates by means of chemical communication. We recorded fitness-relevant behaviours of small hermit crabs Diogenes pugilator, green shore crabs Carcinus maenas, and harbour ragworms Hediste diversicolor in response to short-term pH drop, and to putative stress metabolites released by conspecifics or gilt-head sea bream Sparus aurata during 30 min of acute pH drop. Not only did acute pH drop itself impair time to find a food cue in small hermit crabs and burrowing in harbour ragworms, but similar effects were observed under exposure to pH drop-induced stress metabolites. Stress metabolites from S. aurata, but not its regular control metabolites, also induced avoidance responses in all recipient species. Here, we confirm that a short-term abrupt pH drop, an abiotic stressor, has the capacity to trigger the release of metabolites which induce behavioural responses in conspecific and heterospecific individuals, which can be interpreted as a behavioural cost. Our findings that stress responses can be indirectly propagated through means of chemical communication warrant further research to confirm the effect size of the behavioural impairments caused by stress metabolites and to characterise their chemical nature.

PRODUCT QUALITY CONTROL USING SIX SIGMA (DMAIC) METHODS TO MINIMIZE WAST IN BIMA MANDIRI CIGARETTE COMPANY REMBANG, PASURUAN REGENCY

Quality is a key to be able to compete in the industrial world [16. Quality control is needed to reduce the number of defective products produced by the company, thus reducing losses experienced by the company. The Bima Mandiri Rembang Pasuruan cigarette company is a company that produces cigarettes, one of which is INNO cigarettes. The number of defective products produced by the company so that the company must make an increase in quality by using a method to reduce the number of defects that occur. The number of defective products causes the company to suffer losses. For that, we need a method that can reduce cigarette defective products which in turn can improve the quality of the company's production[12]. Six Sigma with the DMAIC stage (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is a method used in this research. Based on these steps, defects that often occur are less dense cigarettes as many as 289 sticks with a percentage of 25%, tearing on the cigarettes as many as 227 cigarettes with a percentage of 20% and peeling cigarettes as many as 208 sticks with a percentage of 18%. Factors that cause defects include humans, machines, methods and materials. After calculating using the Six Sigma method, before the improvement, the DPMO value is 113988.1 and the Sigma Level value is 2.722. After the improvements were made, the DPMO value decreased to 76488.1 and the Sigma Level was 2.94715. To achieve the six sigma target, the company is expected to be able to carry out improvements with a focus on the factors that cause product defects and always carry out regular control to reduce product defects. The corrective steps taken in the Bima Mandiri Rembang Pasuruan Regency cigarette company are human: regular training for machine operators and employees; methods: inspection of raw materials, blending machines and glue residue in the teat; engine: inspection of engine components; material: reprocessing less refined raw materials and using better quality glue.

First report of Gibellulopsis nigrescens on peppermint in Germany

Peppermint is an important medicinal plant, and it is known for its essential oils and phenolic acids. Verticillium wilt is a vascular disease resulted from several Verticillium spp. causing significant economic losses in peppermint cultivation. In this study, the fungus Gibellulopsis nigrescens (syn. Verticillium nigrescens) was isolated from symptomless peppermint plants during the regular control of Verticillium wilt on peppermint in Germany. A pure fungal culture was prepared, and fungal DNA was extracted. Ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (TUB), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) were amplified, sequenced, and deposited in the GenBank. These sequences are located within the Gibellulopsis nigrescens cluster. Koch’s postulate was fulfilled, and the fungus was re-isolated from the inoculated plants. Up to our knowledge, this is the first report of Gibellulopsis nigrescens on peppermint in Germany.

Effects of regular control of food colours content in meat products in Serbia

Research of added food colours presence in meat products was carried out for a period of almost six years, as a continuance of previous study on market in Serbia. Improved method of high performance liquid chromatography was applied for identification and quantification od added colours in meat products. The colours were determined in variety of meat products, smoked meat and bacon, fermented sausages and heat-treated dry sausages, boiled sausages, cooked sausages, canned meat and meat meals, meat semiproducts and mechanically separated meat and, as a separated category, sea fish pastes, both from domestic market and from import. Over the 1400 products were analysed. The research results showed great improvement both in content of colours and labelling of products of meat products in Serbia.

Epidemiologic features and Management of Hypertension in Tunisia, the results from the NAtional TUnisian REgistry of HyperTensioN (NaTuRe HTN) about 25890 patients

BackgroundHypertension is the leading cause of morbi-moratlity in low, middle as well as high incomes countries. Tunisia is a developing country with a high cardiovascular profile and the prevalence of hypertension has widely increased during the last decades. Thus, we conducted this national survey on hypertension to analyze the profile of the Tunisian hypertensive patient and to assess the level of blood pressure control. MethodsNature HTN is an observational multicentric survey, including hypertensive individuals and consulting their doctors during the period of the study. The primary endpoint of our study was uncontrolled hypertension defined by a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg. Our objective is to assess the predictors of uncontrolled hypertension in our population. Results Three hundred twenty one investigators from all the Tunisian governorates participated in the study. We enrolled 25890 patients with a female predominance (Sex ratio 1.21) and an average age 64.4±12.2 year-old. Most of individuals were treated in the public sector (74%), 39.4% of patients were diabetic, 25.8% were obese, 44.6% were overweight and 14% were smokers. Hypertension was controlled in 51.7% of cases if we consider 140/90 as BP target and only in 18.6% if we consider 130/80 as a target. The independents predictors of uncontrolled blood pressure were male sex (OR=1.09, 95%CI [1.02-1.16]), age> 65 year-old (OR=1.07, 95% CI[1.01-1.13], diabetes (OR=1.18, 95% CI [1.11-1.25], Smoking (OR=1.15, 95% CI [1.05-1.25]), Obesity (OR=1.14, 95% CI[1.07-1.21]), management in public sector (OR=1.25, 95% CI [1.16-1.34]) and Heart rate >80bpm (OR=1.59, 95% CI [1.48-1.71]). Contrarily, high educational level (OR=0.9, 95% CI [0.84-0.97], absence of history of coronary disease (OR=0.86, 95% CI [0.8-0.93]), salt restriction (OR=0.48, 95% CI [0.45-0.51]), drug compliance (OR=0.57, 95% CI[0.52-0.61]) and regular physical activity (OR=0.77, 95% CI[0.71-0.84]) are strong predictors of blood pressure control. Conclusion Nature HTN showed a remarkable improvement of blood pressure control amongst Tunisian people. The control remains low in patients with high cardiovascular profile and those treated in the public sector. A national health program based on therapeutic education, regular control and continuous giving much support to the public institutions is needed to decrease the hypertension burden affection rate in our population.

Off-Label 9-Valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Actinic Keratosis: A Case Series

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The suspected link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and the development of premalignant and malignant skin lesions remains inadequately examined in clinical settings. This case series describes HPV vaccination as an off-label adjuvant therapy for actinic keratosis (AK). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Twelve immunocompetent AK patients underwent HPV vaccination at a private dermatology clinic in Naestved, Denmark. Prior to vaccination, all patients demonstrated a high AK burden that required regular control visits. At 0, 2, and 6 months, the patients received an intramuscular injection of a commercially available 9-valent HPV vaccine. Concurrently, patients continued conventional AK therapies at 3-month intervals. Clinical response, consisting of reduction in AK number and general change in skin appearance, was assessed by a dermatologist over 12 months following first vaccination. <b><i>Results:</i></b> All patients (mean age 76.2 years; 10 M and 2 F) completed the vaccine schedule. Overall, an average 85% reduction in total AK burden was recorded 12 months after beginning vaccination. Median AK burden thus fell from 56 (IQR: 44–80) to 13.5 (IQR: 1–18) lesions after 12 months. Lesion reduction was observable by the second inoculation at month 2 (34 AKs; IQR 22–80), continuing steadily until month 6 (15 AKs; IQR 5–30) and plateauing between 6 and 12 months. Clinically, HPV vaccination elicited fading of lesions’ erythematous background after the first dose, often followed by sloughing of hyperkeratotic elements in subsequent weeks. Patients reported no adverse effects related to HPV vaccination. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This case series introduces the possibility that 9-valent HPV vaccination in combination with conventional treatments may be used as a therapeutic strategy for AK.

Preparation and transfer of Burkholderia mallei production strain 5584 in accordance with the biosafety requirements

The Veterinary Service of the Russian Federation takes measures to ensure regular control of livestock health status, to prevent infectious diseases and their introduction into the country; and if such diseases are diagnosed, it takes measures to prevent their spread and contain outbreaks as soon as possible. Success of the taken measures depends on the use of various diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic drugs. In order to produce such medicinal products, biofactories use production and reference strains with stable biological properties, which are stored in national collections of microorganisms. The only keeper of glanders strains is the Laboratory for Collection of Strains of Microorganisms in the FSBSI «FCTRBS-ARRVI», subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. The following steps were taken due to the official request from FKP Kursk Biofactory – BIOK Company for the transfer of Burkholderia mallei production strain 5584 from the collection of the institution: the strain was passaged in golden hamsters, its viability was determined and biological properties of the culture were studied. The strain was transferred in accordance with the established procedure and in compliance with the biosafety requirements. As the work progressed, Burkholderia mallei strain 5584 culture was isolated and freeze-dried. Before the transfer, biological properties of the freeze-dried Burkholderia mallei strain 5584 were studied for their compliance with the passport data. The obtained results showed that the Laboratory for Collection of Strains of Microorganisms in the FSBSI «FCTRBS-ARRVI» provides optimal conditions to preserve the strain viability and initial biological properties after 5 years of storage. Analysis of the data obtained during the transfer of Burkholderia mallei strain 5584 allowed us to assess the actions taken at all stages of the procedure. It was established that the transfer procedure for the requested glanders production strain complied with the biosafety requirements and regulatory framework regulating the process.

actors of Developing Interest in Subjects from the Perspective of Students

Using a descriptive method, through an essay test, students' interests in subjects were explored, with the aim of improving the educational process. The results show that students develop situational and individual interest in subjects, predominantly due to the personality of the teacher who competently processes teaching contents, directly and indirectly encourages students to participate, achieves a positive relationship with students, contributes to a pleasant atmosphere. The development of interests is also influenced by the profit that students perceive for their own development, everyday life and further education; content of a specific subject; achieved a positive achievement. Possibilities for influencing the more intensive and wider development of students' interest in subjects are: introduction of continuous formative evaluation of teaching and learning, systematic instructive-pedagogical work; compulsory public lessons; regular control and instructional-pedagogical tour of classes; inclusion of training of pedagogical and methodological education in the portfolio of continuous professional development of teachers; choice of forms and methods of work that encourage active participation of students, with the inclusion of interesting, current examples of importance for everyday life and creating an opportunity for positive achievement of students.