C. Funk, and A. Hoell, and S. Shukla, and I. Bladé, and B. Liebmann, and J. B. Roberts, and F. R. Robertson, and G. Husak

In eastern East Africa (the southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya and southern Somalia region), poor boreal spring (long wet season) rains in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011 contributed to severe food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition. Predicting rainfall deficits in this region on seasonal and decadal time frames can help decision makers implement disaster risk reduction measures while guiding climate-smart adaptation and agricultural development. Building on recent research th...

Takao Hoshiai

Results of marine biological research on the coastal marine ecosystem in the Syowa Station area (69°00′S, 39°35′E) in conjunction with BIOMASS are reviewed. This research aimed at the collection of year-round information on the basic elements in the ecosystem of the region in the 1982-84 winters. General information on the ecology of bacteria, phytoplankton, ice algae and zooplankton; sinking and decomposing processes of organic particulates produced; overwintering strategy of krill; and ecology...

M. Heinemann, and J. Segschneider, and B. Schneider

<p>Despite intense efforts, the mechanisms that drive glacial–interglacial changes in atmospheric <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>CO₂</span> are not fully understood. Here, we aim at quantifying the potential contribution of aeolian dust deposition changes to the atmospheric <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i>CO₂</span> drawdown during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). To this end, we use the Max Planck Institute Ocean Model (MPIOM) and the embedded Hamburg Ocean Carbo...

Tannaz Dehpouri, and Ghasem Rahmatpour Rokni, and Nematollah Ahangar Narenjbon, and Mohamad Goldust, and Paul S. Yamauchi, and Uwe Wollina, and Torello Lotti, and Leon Kircik, and Vito Giuseppe Di Lernia, and Sidharth Sonthalia, and Alexandra Vojvodic, and Jacek Szepietowski, and Philippe Bahadoran, and Enzo Errichetti, and Carmen Cantisani, and Laura Atzori, and Elham Rezaee, and Zekayi Kutlubay, and Burhan Engin, and Steven Nisticò, and Giovanni Damiani, and Rosalynn R.Z. Conic, and Andy Goren, and Leo Čabrijan, and Georgi Tchernev

Methotrexate is a systemic immunosuppressant drug that is used for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Previous studies demonstrated a potential association between psoriasis and diabetes mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis and hypertension. This study aimed at exploring the possible hyperglycaemic effects of methotrexate in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. In this prospective cross-sectional study, 27 patients with PsA were evaluated. The status of PsA and presence of accompa...

Anoop S. Mahajan, and Liselotte Tinel, and Shrivardhan Hulswar, and Carlos A. Cuevas, and Shanshan Wang, and Sachin Ghude, and Ravidas K. Naik, and Rajani K. Mishra, and P. Sabu, and Amit Sarkar, and N. Anilkumar, and Alfonso Saiz Lopez

Observations of iodine oxide (IO) were made in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean marine boundary layer (MBL) during the 8th Indian Southern Ocean Expedition. IO was observed almost ubiquitously in the open ocean with larger mixing ratios south of the Polar Front (PF). Contrary to previous reports, IO was not positively correlated to sea surface temperature (SST)/salinity, or negatively to chlorophyll a. Over the whole expedition, SST showed a weak negative correlation with respect to IO wh...

Kelli F. Koltyn, and Kevin M. Crombie, and Angelique G. Brellenthin, and Brianna Leitzelar, and Laura D. Ellingson, and Jill Renken, and Jane E. Mahoney

Background: Older adults spend most of their day in sedentary behavior (SB) (i.e., prolonged sitting), increasing risk for negative health outcomes, functional loss, and diminished ability for activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test an intervention designed to reduce SB in older adults that could be translated to communities. Methods: Two pilot studies implementing a 4-week SB intervention were conducted. SB,physical function, and health-related qualit...

Durand Jean-Dominique, and Tzeng Wann-Nian, and Hsu Chih-Chieh, and Jamandre Brian, and Shen Kang-Ning

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The study of speciation in the marine realm is challenging because of the apparent absence of physical barriers to dispersal, which are one of the main drivers of genetic diversity. Although phylogeographic studies using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) information often reveal significant genetic heterogeneity within marine species, the evolutionary significance of such diversity is difficult to interpret with these markers. In the northwestern (NW) Pacific, severa...

Jacob Benjamin, and Muriu Simon M, and Shililu Josephat, and Muturi Ephantus J, and Mwangangi Joseph M, and Kabiru Ephantus W, and Mbogo Charles M, and Githure John, and Novak Robert

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The survivorship and distribution of <it>Anopheles arabiensis </it>larvae and pupae was examined in a rice agro-ecosystem in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, central Kenya, from August 2005 to April 2006, prior to implementation of larval control programme.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Horizontal life tables were constructed for immatures in semi-field condition. The time spent in the various immature stages was determined and survival established. Vertical life tables were ...

MacPherson Hugh, and Schroer Sylvia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Depression is one of the most common reasons for consulting in primary care. Acupuncture is a popular complementary therapy choice for depression but its evidence base is poor with more robust high quality trials being required. More than half of depressed patients experience painful symptoms, with severe pain being associated with poor response to antidepressants. Acupuncture may have much to offer as an intervention for depression that also helps alleviate ...

Paraskeva Paraskevas, and Netuveli Gopalakrishnan, and Panesar Sukhmeet S, and Aziz Omer, and Sheikh Aziz, and Darzi Ara

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The commercial development and expansion of mobile phone networks has led to the creation of devices combining mobile phones and personal digital assistants, which could prove invaluable in a clinical setting. This pilot study aimed to look at how one such device compared with the current pager system in facilitating inter-professional communication in a hospital clinical team.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study looked at a heterogeneous team of doctors (n = 9) ...

Heir Even, and Langsrud Solveig, and Møretrø Trond, and Vestby Lene K, and Nesse Live L

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Feed contaminated with <it>Salmonella </it>spp. constitutes a risk of <it>Salmonella </it>infections in animals, and subsequently in the consumers of animal products. <it>Salmonella </it>are occasionally isolated from the feed factory environment and some clones of <it>Salmonella </it>persist in the factory environment for several years. One hypothesis is that biofilm formation facilitates persistence by protecting bacteria against environmental stress, e.g. ...

Wilson R. Molina, and Rodrigo Pessoa, and Rodrigo Donalisio da Silva, and McCabe C. Kenny, and Diedra Gustafson, and Leticia Nogueira, and Mark E. Leo, and Michael K. Yu, and Fernando J. Kim

Abstract Background Approximately 12% of all ureteral stents placed are retained or “forgotten.” Forgotten stents are associated with significant safety concerns as well as increased costs and legal issues. Retained ureteral stents (RUS) often occur due to lack of clinical follow-up, communication or language barriers, and economic concerns. Methods We describe a multiplatform application that facilitates data collection to prevent RUS. The “Stent Tracker” application can be installed on mobile ...

Nele Stabenau, and Andreas Zehnsdorf, and Helmut Rönicke, and Harald Wedwitschka, and Lucie Moeller, and Bachar Ibrahim, and Walter Stinner

Abstract Background A major problem with farming systems is the deficiencies in phosphorus (P) due to fixation in soils, erosion and run-off, and exports of herbal and animal products. P resources for the compensation of these losses will sooner or later be depleted. For this reason, innovative ideas for phosphorus recycling are highly relevant. The P excess from farming systems mostly ends up in surface waters, leads to eutrophication, and promotes the growth of aquatic plants. Particularly inv...

Gonggalanzi, and Per Nafstad

Abstract We kindly thank the journal for the opportunity to respond to the recent comments made regarding our manuscript entitled “Acute mountain sickness among tourists visiting the high-altitude city of Lhasa, Tibet, China at 3658 m above sea level: A cross-sectional study”.

Frank H. Gleason, and Geoffrey M. Gadd, and John I. Pitt, and Anthony W. D. Larkum

Anamorphic ascomycetes have been implicated as causative agents of diseases in tissues and skeletons of hard corals, in tissues of soft corals (sea fans) and in tissues and shells of molluscs. Opportunist marine fungal pathogens, such as Aspergillus sydowii, are important components of marine mycoplankton and are ubiquitous in the open oceans, intertidal zones and marine sediments. These fungi can cause infection in or at least can be associated with animals which live in these ecosystems. A. sy...

Víctor Cortés, and Nicolás Quezada, and Sergio Uribe, and Marco Arrese, and Flavio Nervi

Abstract Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent worldwide. Experimental studies have shown that cholecystectomy (XGB) increases hepatic fat content in mice and appears associated to NAFLD in large retrospective population-based studies. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the effects of XGB on hepatic fat content (HFC) and insulin resistance (IR) in non-obese, middle aged Hispanic subjects. Methods Twenty-six gallstone patients undergoing elective X...

Dennis H. Murphree, and Theresa N. Kinard, and Nandita Khera, and Curtis B. Storlie, and Che Ngufor, and Sudhindra Upadhyaya, and Jyotishman Pathak, and Emma Fortune, and Eapen K. Jacob, and Rickey E. Carter, and Karl A. Poterack, and Daryl J. Kor

Abstract Background Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is frequently employed in both ambulatory and hospital environments with the aim of improving patient functional status. In the ambulatory setting, this practice is particularly common in patients with malignancy due to anemia associated with their cancer therapy. Increasingly, the efficacy of this US$10.5 billion per year practice has been called into question. While it is often standard of care for patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia t...

Jun-Ho Huh

Abstract The common cause of the mass mortality of fishes in a fish farm is a power failure. There can be many reasons for the power failures but most of them are the result of natural disasters, systematic faults, ill-willed sabotages, or mistakes of employees. Such incidents usually have a bad influence upon small or medium-scale farmers. To deal with unexpected power failures, this research proposes a status monitoring system utilizing both PLC and ICT. Consistent supply of electric power in ...

Dong Xu, and Akadia Kacha-Ochana, and Gabrielle A. Morgan, and Chiang-Ching Huang, and Lauren M. Pachman

Abstract Objective A pilot study to determine endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) number in children with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM). Methods After obtaining informed consent, the EPC number from 34 fasting children with definite/probable JDM at various stages of therapy—initially untreated, active disease on medication and clinically inactive, off medication—was compared with 13 healthy fasting pediatric controls. The EPC number was determined by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), C...

M.L. Hjuler, and M.S. Andersen, and C.M. Nielsen, and A. Mathiesen, and L. Kristensen, and N. Skaarup , and L.H. Nielsen

D. Hebbeln, and C. Wienberg, and P. Wintersteller, and A. Freiwald, and M. Becker, and L. Beuck, and C. Dullo, and G. P. Eberli, and S. Glogowski, and L. Matos, and N. Forster, and H. Reyes-Bonilla, and M. Taviani

With an extension of > 40 km² the recently discovered Campeche cold-water coral province located at the northeastern rim of the Campeche Bank in the southern Gulf of Mexico belongs to the largest coherent cold-water coral areas discovered so far. The Campeche province consists of numerous 20–40 m-high elongated coral mounds that are developed in intermediate water depths of 500 to 600 m. The mounds are colonized by a vivid cold-water coral ecosystem that covers the upper flanks and su...

Ganna Golovan

Based on World Health Organisation (2014a) identification a lack of psychosocial interventions for the c. 24 million people worldwide suffering from schizophrenia, and a corresponding paucity of relevant transactional analysis literature, the author went on to conduct a pilot study of 27 participants in Ukraine, who were hospitalised and diagnosed by psychiatrists as schizophrenia paranoid sub-type.  Four questionnaires were used in Russian: Internal Ego States Questionnaire (Hay, 1996), Driver ...

Mohammad Ali Aslankhani, and Ali Reza Farsi, and Mohammad Sohbatiha

Introduction: Aging process brings about various complications, which affect different aspects of elderly life. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of aquatic exercise on the balance and gait of healthy elderly inactive males. Materials and Methods: 30 healthy but physically inactive male volunteers, whose age were over 65 years and who had not participated in any exercise program before the initiation of the present study, were randomly assigned into experimental (mean age: 68.53 ...

Tineke Kraaij, and Richard M. Cowling, and Brian W. van Wilgen

<span>Until recently, fire ecology was poorly understood in the eastern coastal region of the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), South Africa. Rainfall in the area is aseasonal and temperatures are milder than in the winter-rainfall and drier inland parts of the CFK, with implications for the management of fire regimes. We synthesised the findings of a research programme focused on informing ecologically sound management of fire in eastern coastal fynbos shrublands and explored potential east–west trend...

Emmanuel Bonney, and Eugene Rameckers, and Gillian Ferguson, and Bouwien Smits-Engelsman

Abstract Background Adolescents with low motor competence participate less in physical activity and tend to exhibit decreased physical fitness compared to their peers with high motor competence. It is therefore essential to identify new methods of enhancing physical fitness in this population. Active video games (AVG) have been shown to improve motor performance, yet investigations of its impact on physical fitness are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the graded ...

Lidia B Alejo, and Itziar Pagola-Aldazabal, and Carmen Fiuza-Luces, and Daniel Huerga, and María Victoria de Torres, and Ana Soria Verdugo, and María Jesus Ortega Solano, and José Luis Felipe, and Alejandro Lucia, and Ana Ruiz-Casado

Context: Prehabilitation is emerging as a method of preparing patients physically and mentally for the often disabling effects of cancer treatment. Aims: This study aims to assess the feasibility and to explore the potential effects of a prehabilitation program consisting of educational physical exercise sessions in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy treatment (NCRT). Settings and Design: This was a pilot study with 12 patients (3 males and 9 females, age 61 ±...

Mary A. Khetani, and Beth M. McManus, and Kristen Arestad, and Zachary Richardson, and Renee Charlifue-Smith, and Cordelia Rosenberg, and Briana Rigau

Abstract Background Electronic patient-reported outcomes (e-PROs) may provide valid and feasible options for obtaining family input on their child’s functioning for care planning and outcome monitoring, but they have not been adopted into early intervention (EI). The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing technology-based functional assessment into EI practice and to examine child, family, service, and environmental correlates of caregiver-reported child func...

G Pavithra, and S Ganesh Kumar, and Gautam Roy

Background: There is a paucity of evidence on improvement in malnutrition status after follow-up intervention among malnourished under-five children. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the effect of community-based follow-up health education intervention on the awareness level of mothers, calorie intake, protein intake, and weight gain of malnourished children. Methods: This intervention study was conducted from December 2012 to October 2014 in three phases at rural Puducherry, c...

Marjeta Šašel Kos

The funerary stele of the centurion from the liburna Lucusta, Liccaeus, son of Veius, is exhibited in the lapidarium at Osor (Apsorus) on the island of Cres (Crexi). It has been published several times but no publication took into account all available data concerning its site of discovery. Liccaeus and his heir Dabalus, son of Tritus, did not belong to the indigenous population of the island, but may have been from the region of the Delmatae. However, Liccaeus must have been a distinguished per...

Marco Scardino, and Tiziana D’Amato, and Federica Martorelli, and Giorgia Fenocchio, and Vincenzo Simili, and Berardo Di Matteo, and Dario Bugada, and Elizaveta Kon

Abstract Background Currently many TKA protocols rely on multimodal analgesic protocols with patient-controlled analgesia systems that administer opioids through a patient controlled IV infusion pump, in addition to concomitant peripheral nerve blocks and local anesthetics. Although effective, PCA IV opioids do not provide optimal results with fast track rehabilitation protocols. Methods The present is a retrospective study comparing the novel sublingual sufentanil PCA system (SSTS) to our stand...

C. Vega-Retter, and N. Rojas-Hernandez, and I. Vila, and R. Espejo, and D. E. Loyola, and S. Copaja, and M. Briones, and A. W. Nolte, and D. Véliz

Abstract How organisms adapt to unfavorable environmental conditions by means of plasticity or selection of favorable genetic variants is a central issue in evolutionary biology. In the Maipo River basin, the fish Basilichthys microlepidotus inhabits polluted and non-polluted areas. Previous studies have suggested that directional selection drives genomic divergence between these areas in 4% of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) loci, but the underlying genes and functions remain unkn...

Laban M, and Ibrahim EA, and Hassanin AS, and Nasreldin MA, and Mansour A, and Khalaf WM, and Bahaa-Eldin AM, and Hussain SH, and Elsafty MS, and Hasanien AS

Mohamed Laban,1 Eman A Ibrahim,2 Alaa S Hassanin,3 Magda A Nasreldin,4 Amal Mansour,5 Waleed M Khalaf,3 Ahmed M Bahaa Eldin,3 Sherif H Hussain,3 Mohammed S Elsafty,1 Ahmad S Hasanien6 1Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Pathology Depar...

Medha Mohta, and Anju Rani, and Ashok Kumar Sethi, and Anil Kumar Jain

Background and Aims: Regional analgesic techniques are difficult to use in tubercular spine patients due to distorted spinal anatomy and presence of infection. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate analgesic efficacy of local wound infiltration before wound closure in tubercular spine patients. Methods: This pilot randomised double-blind controlled study was conducted in 32 American Society of Anesthesiologists I-III patients, age ≥15 years, undergoing elective surgery for spinal tub...

JORGE CEPEDA-PIZARRO, and JAIME PIZARRO-ARAYA, and HERNÁN VÁSQUEZ

Mediante el empleo de trampas de intercepción se examinó la composición taxonómica y los patrones de abundancia (denso-actividad) de la fauna de Arthropoda del transecto 27-30º S del desierto costero transicional de Chile, particularmente la distribución geográfica y las relaciones de abundancia de los componentes del ensamble de Tenebrionidae. Durante el período estudiado, cinco órdenes dominaron numéricamente el ensamble de Arthropoda. Estos fueron Coleoptera, Diptera, Psocoptera, Collembola e...

Hannan Peter J, and Fulkerson Jayne A, and Kubik Martha Y, and Arcan Chrisa, and Story Mary

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Substance use and poor dietary practices are prevalent among adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine frequency of substance use and associations between cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use and selected dietary practices, such as sugar-sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, fruits and vegetables, and frequency of fast food restaurant use among alternative high school students. Associations between multi-substance use and the same dietary practices...

Novak Vera, and Novak Peter

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies have suggested that impaired proprioceptive processing in the striatum may contribute to abnormal gait in Parkinson's disease (PD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This pilot study assessed the effects of enhanced proprioceptive feedback using step-synchronized vibration stimulation of the soles (S-VS) on gait in PD. S-VS was used in 8 PD subjects (3 women and 5 men, age range 44–79 years, on medication) and 8 age-matched healthy subjects (5 women and ...

Lubans David R, and Morgan Philip J, and Collins Clare E, and Okely Anthony D, and Burrows Tracy, and Callister Robin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A poor understanding of the specific lifestyle behaviors that result in weight loss has hindered the development of effective interventions. The aim of this paper was to identify potential behavioral mediators of weight loss in the Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids (HDHK) intervention for overweight fathers.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The three-month intervention was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial and conducted in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Basel...

Deverill Mark, and Moffatt Suzanne, and Chadwick Tom, and Howel Denise, and White Martin, and Mackintosh Joan, and Sandell Adam

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little research has directly evaluated the impact of increasing financial or material resources on health. One way of assessing this lies with assisting people to obtain full welfare benefit entitlements. In 2000–1, 2.3 million pensioners were living in poverty in the UK and estimates suggest that around one million do not claim the financial support to which they are entitled. The effectiveness of welfare rights advice services delivered via primary health c...

Mistri Amit, and Robinson Tom, and Ford Gary A, and Wilson Edward CF, and Jagger Carol, and Potter John F

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elevated blood pressure (BP) levels are common following acute stroke. However, there is considerable uncertainty if and when antihypertensive therapy should be initiated.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Economic evaluation alongside a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial (National Research Register Trial Number N0484128008) of 112 hypertensive patients receiving an antihypertensive regimen (labetalol or lisinopril) within 36 hours post stroke versus 59 rece...

Freeman Mark A, and Sommerville Christina

<p>Abstract</p> <p>A microsporidian hyperparasite, <it>Desmozoon lepeophtherii</it>, of the parasitic copepod <it>Lepeophtheirus salmonis </it>(salmon louse), infecting farmed Atlantic salmon (<it>Salmo salar</it>), was first discovered in the west of Scotland in 2000. Heavily infected salmon lice are easily recognised as they have large opaque inclusions distributed throughout the body. The prevalence of salmon lice with visible signs of microsporidiosis can be up to 10% of the population from ...

Lingler Jacqui, and Faber Jon E, and Stansbrey Robert J, and McNamara Nora K, and Pagano Maria E, and Findling Robert L, and Demeter Christine A, and Bedoya Denise, and Reed Michael D

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of this study was to examine whether fluoxetine was superior to placebo in the acute amelioration of depressive symptomatology in adolescents with depressive illness and a comorbid substance use disorder.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eligible subjects ages 12–17 years with either a current major depressive disorder (MDD) or a depressive disorder that were also suffering from a comorbid substance-related disorder were randomized to receive either fluoxe...

Leslie S. Babonis, and Mark Q. Martindale

Abstract Background Pax genes are a family of conserved transcription factors that regulate many aspects of developmental morphogenesis, notably the development of ectodermal sensory structures including eyes. Nematostella vectensis, the starlet sea anemone, has numerous Pax orthologs, many of which are expressed early during embryogenesis. The function of Pax genes in this eyeless cnidarian is unknown. Results Here, we show that PaxA, but not PaxC, plays a critical role in the development of cn...

Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, and Sarah Saleem, and Elizabeth McClure, and Farnaz Zehra Naqvi, and Farina Abrejo, and Zahid Soomro, and Dennis Wallace, and Robert L Goldenberg

Background: Effectively monitoring the coverage and quality of data in low-resource settings is challenging. Lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) is a method to classify coverage as adequate or inadequate. The aim of this pilot study is sought to determine the coverage and quality of a birth registry in a rural district in Pakistan. Methods: This survey was conducted in 14 clusters of Thatta, Pakistan. LQAS methodology was used to monitor the birth registry from December 2015 to February 2016. ...

S.A. Vedra, and M.J.O Baclayon, and J.L. Labalan, and D.D. Gonzales, and H.E. Dejarme, and J.P. Juario, and P.G. Roxas

Declining fish catch, conversion of mangroves into fish ponds and overexploitation of coastal resources were rampant among the coastal areas of Philippines. Hence, the national government initiated the implementation of Philippine National Aquasilviculture Program aimed to achieve food security, promote sustainable development of fisheries resources, and reduce poverty incidence among fisherfolk and other disadvantaged groups. To this, the Mindanao State University at Naawan served as the academ...

J.J. Donner, and H. Jungner

Radiocarbon determinations of salt water drawn from some deep wells drilled into the bedrock confirmed the earlier suggestion that this ground water with a high chloride content is relic water from the time in the development of the Baltic when the coastal areas of Finland were submerged. An exact date cannot be given for the salt water because it has later been mixed with younger ground water.

Eunjoo Kim, and Jeong-Ah Lee

Background The stroke population needing physical rehabilitation of the upper extremity is constantly increasing. To solve this problem, robot devices for improving motor performance are developed to assist physical rehabilitation in Korea. The aim of this study was to develop the robot-assisted wrist training system and to apply this to the chronic hemiplegic stroke participants. Methods Bilateral wrist robotic device was developed and we applied this to four chronic hemiplegic stroke participa...

Trevor A. Hall, and Robert D. Steiner, and Hollis Wright, and Beth Wilmot, and Jean-Baptiste Roullet, and Meaghan Peters, and Michael Harris

Objective Research has uncovered potential links between lipid and sterol metabolism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We worked to characterize genetic sequence variants in lipid/sterol related genes in children affected with ASD to investigate the association between lipid/sterol gene sequence variation and neurodevelopmental phenotype that could identify new etiologies for ASD and eventually aid to focus intervention strategies. Design and methods Children with confirmed ASD were recruited ...

Tian Shen, and Guoqiang Xing, and Jingfen Zhu, and Shuxian Zhang, and Yong Cai, and Donghua Li, and Gang Xu, and Evan Xing, and Jianyu Rao, and Rong Shi

Abstract Backgrounds To study the effects of supplementation of a marine omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) formulation (Omega3Q10) in older adults with hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia. Methods A total of 97 people were enrolled to receive 12-week supplementation of either Omega3Q10 (n = 48) or soybean oil (n = 49). Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and hypertension-related symptoms were determi...

David C. Bosanquet, and Graeme K. Ambler, and Cherry-Ann Waldron, and Emma Thomas-Jones, and Lucy Brookes-Howell, and Mark Kelson, and Tim Pickles, and Debbie Harris, and Deborah Fitzsimmons, and Neeraj Saxena, and Christopher P. Twine

Abstract Background Pain after major lower limb amputation for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a significant problem. A perineural catheter (PNC) can be placed adjacent to the major nerve at the time of amputation with a continuous local anaesthetic infusion given postoperatively to try and reduce pain. Although low-quality observational data suggest that PNC usage reduces postoperative opioid requirements, there are limited data regarding its effect on pain. The aim of PLACEMENT is to expl...

Kate Bryson, and Chris Wilkinson, and Sabrina Kuah, and Geoff Matthews, and Deborah Turnbull

Abstract Background Women’s views are critical for informing the planning and delivery of maternity care services. ST segment analysis (STan) is a promising method to more accurately detect when unborn babies are at risk of brain damage or death during labour that is being trialled for the first time in Australia. This is the first study to examine women’s views about STan monitoring in this context. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant women recruited across a range o...