Households' characteristics and perceptions of weather variability impact on rice yield: empirical analysis of small scale farmers in Tanzania / Características dos agregados familiares e percepções da variabilidade climática na produção de arroz: análise empírica de pequenos agricultores na Tanzânia

ABSTRACT: Rice farming is characterized by various factors including environmental and non-environmental factors. The current paper analyses the influence of households' characteristics, and perceptions of weather variability on rice yield. Authors used primary data collected from small-scale rice farmers in the Mbeya region of Tanzania. Garret technique and Stata software were used for data analyses. Results confirmed that farmer's education, marital status, gender, and land ownership have a positive influence on rice yield. Thus, for every 1% increase in each variable increases rice yield by 14%, 98%, 26%, and 21% respectively. Owing to empirical results on farmers' perceptions, it is confirmed that if the drought period increased by 1%, would on average reduce rice yield by 20%. The majority of farmers (70%) have perceived that drought period reduced their rice yield. In addition, farmers' used averagely less quantity of rice seeds which have impaired their rice yields. If farmers increased the seed quantity by 1%, rice yields would increase by 17%. Our findings also revealed that the previous market price has positive association with the next seasons' rice yield. Therefore, our study concluded that among households' variables and their perceptions have positive implications on rice yield; however, with the empirical analyses other variables were insignificant due to multicollinearity effects. Authors recommended to the government and other responsible organizations to capitalize on irrigation infrastructures, agricultural extension and technological services to restraint the enduring food insecurity coercions in Tanzania.

RESUMO: O presente trabalho analisa a influência das características das famílias e as percepções da variabilidade climática na produção de arroz. Os autores usaram dados primários coletados de pequenos produtores de arroz na região de Mbeya, na Tanzânia. A técnica de Garret e o software Stata foram utilizados para análise de dados. Os resultados confirmam que a educação do agricultor, estado civil, gênero e propriedade da terra têm uma influência positiva no rendimento do arroz. Assim, para cada aumento de 1% em cada variável aumenta a produção de arroz em 14%, 98%, 26% e 21%, respectivamente. Devido aos resultados empíricos sobre as percepções dos agricultores confirma-se que se o período de seca aumentar 1%, reduziria em média a produção de arroz em 20%. A maioria dos agricultores (70%) percebeu o período de seca para reduzir o rendimento do arroz. Além disso, os agricultores usam uma quantidade média menor de sementes de arroz que prejudicaram o rendimento do arroz. Se os agricultores aumentarem a quantidade de sementes em 1%, o rendimento do arroz aumentará em 17%. Nossas descobertas também revelaram que o preço de mercado anterior tem associação positiva com a produção de arroz das próximas safras. Portanto, nosso estudo conclui que entre as variáveis das famílias e suas percepções apresentam uma implicação positiva na produção de arroz, no entanto, com as análises empíricas, outras variáveis foram insignificantes devido aos efeitos de multicolinearidade. Os autores recomendaram ao governo e a outras organizações responsáveis que capitalizassem as infraestruturas de irrigação, a extensão agrícola e os serviços tecnológicos para conter as coercões duradouras de insegurança alimentar na Tanzânia.

Design and implementation of X-ray diagnosis simulation training system based on field X-ray diagnostic vehicle / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To design a vehicle-mounted X-ray diagnosis simulation training system based on the field X-ray diagnostic vehicle to solve the problems during its training and utilization.Methods The field X-ray diagnostic vehicle had its internal and external structure analyzed,and was divided into several functional modules.The technologies of computer programming and database were used for the simulation of the modules.An example was given to simulate the operating process of the vehicle by establishing traumatic condition model,war injury image library and etc.esults The system developed realized the simulation training of the vehicle,and the trainee gained feedback after simulation as references.Conclusion The system implements informatized training of the field X-ray diagnostic vehicle,shortens the training period,decreases the training cost and increases the training efficacy.

Farmer field school's training on knowledge level of citrus growers regarding improved production practices / Impacto do treinamento da escola de campo para agricultores quanto ao nível de conhecimento dos produtores de citros em relação às melhores práticas de produção

ABSTRACT: The major objective of this paper was to assess the impact of the Farmer field school (FFS) training program on the knowledge level of farmers (citrus growers) regarding improved citrus production practices. Distract Sargodha was the targeted research area for this study being the leading producer of citrus in Pakistan. Quantitative data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). It was conclude that young people were more tend towards getting training under FFS program than old age farmers. Educated farmers were in majority in FFS farmers while; conversely illiterate farmers were in majority in the category of non-FFs farmers. In category of FFS farmers livestock farming was their primary income as reported by majority (31.3%) of FFS farmers and in the case of non-FFS farmer's crop sale was their primary income source as reported by 28.4% of non-FFs farmers. In addition to that both FFS and non-FFS farmers also earn income from nonfarm sources like business, job, foreign remittances and labour. FFS training program had positive and significant impact on the knowledge level of farmers regarding citrus production and protection practices. T-test statistics showed highly significant (P<0.05) difference in knowledge level of FFS farmers and non-FFS farmers.

RESUMO: O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto do programa de treinamento da escola de campo para agricultores (FFS) quanto ao nível de conhecimento dos agricultores (produtores de citros) em relação às melhores práticas de produção de citros. O Distrito de Sargodha foi a área de pesquisa escolhida para este estudo por ser o principal produtor de citros no Paquistão. Os dados quantitativos foram coletados por meio de entrevistas e analisados por meio do Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Conclui-se que os jovens eram mais tendenciosos à obtenção de treinamento através do programa FFS do que os agricultores mais velhos. Os agricultores escolarizados estavam, em sua maioria, na categoria de agricultores FFS, enquanto que os agricultores analfabetos estavam, na categoria de não FF. Na categoria de FFS, a pecuária se mostrou o principal rendimento, conforme relatado pela maioria dos agricultores (31,3%), enquanto que, em 28% dos agricultores não-FFs, a principal fonte de renda era a venda de suas colheitas. Além disso, tanto os agricultores FFS como não FFS também ganham renda com fontes não agrícolas. O programa de treinamento FFS teve impacto positivo e significativo sobre o nível de conhecimento dos agricultores em relação às práticas de produção e proteção de citrus. O teste-T mostrou diferença altamente significativa (P<0,05) no nível de conhecimento dos agricultores FFS dos não-FFS.

The value of preventive tracheal intubation in the first-aid of serious severe trauma / 重庆医学

Objective To evaluate the value of early preventive tracheal intubation in the early first‐aid of serious severe trau‐ma and improve the early first‐aid ability of serious severe trauma .Methods Using retrospective study ,among 258 patients of acute airway obstruction caused by severe trauma ,those who have reached the standard of obstruction and respiratory failure according to observation were as the contrast group (n=84) ,and those who had the tendency of airway obstruction instant treatment of preven‐tive trachea intubation were as early preventive tracheal intubation group (n=174) .The average in hospital days ,the occurrence rate of multiple organ failure and death rate were contrasted .Results In the early preventive tracheal intubation group ,in hospital days were 17 .2 on average ,the occurrence rate of multiple organ failure was 44 .59% and the death rate was 10 .67% .In the con‐trast group ,it was 27 .9 d ,67 .51% and 33 .75% ,the two groups had shown significant difference(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Early tra‐chea intubation have a good trachea management of serious severe traumas ,improve inspiration ,shorten the hospitalization days ,and reduce the occurrence rate of complication .It is important to improving rescuing rate .

Expression of the estrogen receptor α and β in mouse thymus / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective: To detect estrogen receptor α and β(ER-α, ER-β)protein expression in different age of mouse thymus.Methods:Protein expression of ER-α and ER-β in thymus was analyzed via immunohistochemistry.Moreover,the relationship between ER-α and cytokeratin 18(epithelial cell marker)was further tested through fluorescence double-staining.Results: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that both ER-α and β protein was found in nuclei of some thymocytes of 3 month mice.However,expression of ER-β was absence while ER-α was still positive in aged mice, such as 12 months and 16 months old.Double staining further confirmed that lots of ER-α/β positive cells were Foxp3 negative cells.Conclusion: Expression of ER-β is absent while ER-α is still positive in thymus of aged mice, which indicates ER-α is the critical estrogen receptor that involves in thymic involution.Moreover, ER-α/β do not participate in Treg development within thymus.

The significance of erythrocyte fragment count to predicting hemolysis in roller pumps / 生物医学工程学杂志

Hemolysis in blood pumps has been measured by various in vitro tests, in which normalized index of hemolysis (NIH) was established. As NIH is complicated and difficult to calculate, erythrocyte fragment count (EFC) is proposed in the present study to predict hemolysis in roller pumps. Five paired in vitro tests were conducted using the POLYSTAN pediatric pump (group A) and COBE pump (group B). Ten whole blood samples (400ml) were circled in the roller pump for 16 hours. Erythrocyte fragments count and plasma-free hemoglobin (FHb) were measured before pumping and every 2 hours through circulation after 4 hours pumping. The morphological changes of erythrocyte were observed by scanning electron microscope. Simple linear regression analysis showed the two groups' EFC and FHb levels increased linearly during a long period of pumping, and the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.64. These data suggested that Erythrocyte fragments count could be used as an index in evaluating the in vitro hemolytic properties of blood pumps.

Observation of the antithrombotic property of a new prosthetic heart valve in sheep / 生物医学工程学杂志

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>To observe the antithrambotic property of a new prosthetic made double bileaflet valve of all-pyrolytic carbon.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fifteen sheeps underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) with this new mechanical valve. Each animal was placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. All of the sheep were given in an anticoagulation protocol and followed for three months. Final studies were performed on all animals surviving for more than 12 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ten sheeps died within 48 h after operation, five sheeps survived. The long-term survivors were killed forautopsies, two sheeps were killed in the 1st week after operation, one in 12th weeks and two in 2.5 years. Pathological examination of 10 sheeps which died early after operation revealed that there was no either evidence of thromboembotic phenomenon, or any failures of the mechanical valve. Autopsy studies in the five long-term survivors revealed that the sewing ring was covered by a thin layer of microthrombi consisted most of platelets and fibrin in 1th week after operation. The sewing rings was covered by a tissue layer, with partial organized micro thrombi and endothelialization in 12th weeks after the operation. Two and half years after operation, the complete endothelialization presented around the sewing ring without restriction of bileaflet motion. The tissue ingrowth tends to stop at the pyrolytic carbon-fabric interface on both surfaces of left atrium and ventricle. This study demonstrated that the new prosthetic heart valve had not promoted thrombosis and thrombembolism.</p>

Expression of the estrogen receptor ? and ? in mouse thymus / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To detect estrogen receptor ? and ?(ER-?,ER-?) protein expression in different age of mouse thymus.Methods:Protein expression of ER-? and ER-? in thymus was analyzed via immunohistochemistry.Moreover,the relationship between ER-? and cytokeratin 18(epithelial cell marker) was further tested through fluorescence double-staining.Results:Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that both ER-? and ? protein was found in nuclei of some thymocytes of 3 month mice.However,expression of ER-? was absence while ER-? was still positive in aged mice,such as 12 months and 16 months old.Double staining further confirmed that lots of ER-?/? positive cells were Foxp3 negative cells.Conclusion:Expression of ER-? is absent while ER-? is still positive in thymus of aged mice,which indicates ER-? is the critical estrogen receptor that involves in thymic involution.Moreover,ER-?/? do not participate in Treg development within thymus.