Southeastern Districts Research Articles

The 1918-1919 Influenza Pandemic in Portugal: A Regional Analysis of Death Impact.

Although the impact of deaths occurring during the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic has been assessed in many archeo-epidemiologic studies, detailed estimates are not available for Portugal. We applied negative binomial models to monthly data on respiratory-related and all-cause deaths at the national and district levels from Portugal for 1916–1922. Influenza-related excess mortality was computed as the difference between observed and expected deaths. Poisson regression was used to estimate the association of geographic and sociodemographic factors with excess mortality. Two waves of pandemic influenza—July 1918 to January 1919 and April to May 1919—were identified, for which the excess all-cause death rate was 195.7 per 10,000 persons. All districts of Portugal were affected. The pandemic hit earlier in southeastern districts and the main cities, but excess mortality was highest in the northeast, in line with the high death burden experienced by northern Spanish provinces. During the period of intense excess mortality (fall/winter 1918–1919), population density was negatively associated with pandemic impact. This pattern changed during the March 1919 to June 1920 wave, when excess mortality increased with population density and in northern and western directions. Portuguese islands were less and later affected. Given the geographic heterogeneity evidenced in our study, subnational sociodemographic characteristics and connectivity should be integrated in pandemic preparedness plans.

Agroecological and agroeconomic aspects of the grain and grain legumes (pulses) yield dynamic within the Dnipropetrovsk region (period 1966–2016)

This paper reveals the spatial and temporal patterns of grain and leguminous crops yield dynamics in Dnipropetrovsk region and evaluates the role of agro-environmental and agro-economic factors in their formation. Crop data were obtained from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The data of the grain and grain legumes (pulses) yield during 1966–2016 on average per year in the administrative districts of Dnipropetrovsk region was analysed. The obtained data indicate that average yields of cereals and leguminous crops within Dnipropetrovsk region varies from 24.3 to 33.4 CWT/ha. The smallest interannual variability in yield is typical for Vasylkivskyi district (CV = 9.9%), and the largest is typical for Yurivskyi district (CV = 27.7%). As a result of the principal component analysis of the cereals and leguminous crops yields variability, three principal components were extracted which together explain 81.2% of the overall yield variability. Principal component 1 explains 69.4% of the total variability. It indicates the total synchronous yields variation within the area investigated as all examined variables have high loading values on principal component 1. The administrative districts that form a belt located in the direction from the north east to the south west of the region have the most coordinated variance, which is reflected by principal component 1. Principal component 2 explains 6.8% of the yield variability. This principal component is sensitive to opposite yield dynamics of central and south-western districts on the one hand and the eastern and northern districts – on the other. Principal component 3 explains 4.9% of the yield variability. This principal component reveals the opposite dynamics of productivity of the central districts on the one hand and the northern and south-eastern districts on the other. The cluster analysis of administrative districts was conducted based on the dynamics of the yield of grain and leguminous as a result of which four clusters were identified. The clusters are geographically defined administrative districts, together forming spatially connected areas. The similar temporal yield dynamics of grain and leguminous crops as a result of interaction between endogenous and exogenous ecological factors is the main principle for revealling such ecologically homogeneous territories. Spatial distribution of principal components indicates a continual pattern, but their overlapping allows one to extract spatially discrete units, which we identified as agroecological zones. Each zone is characterized by a certain character and dynamics of production capacity and has an invariant pattern of response to varying climatic, environmental, and agroeconomic factors.

A qualitative study of the determinants of HIV guidelines implementation in two south-eastern districts of Tanzania.

Current HIV policies in Tanzania have adopted the three long-term impact results of zero new infections, zero HIV deaths and zero stigma and discrimination. Strategies to reach these results include scaling-up HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC); Preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT); and strengthening Care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) services. Previous studies showed that HIV policy and guideline recommendations were not always implemented in rural South Tanzania. This study aims to identify the determinants of HIV guideline implementation. A qualitative study of 23 semi-structured interviews with facility in-charges; healthcare workers; district, regional and national HIV coordinators was conducted. Five health facilities were purposively selected by level, ownership and proximity to district headquarters. Interviews were analysed according to Fleuren’s five determinants of innovation uptake related to: strategies used in guideline development and dissemination; guideline characteristics; the guideline implementing organization; guideline users; and the socio-cultural and regulatory context. None of the facilities had the HTC national guideline document. Non-involvement of providers in revisions and weak planning for guideline dissemination impeded their implementation. Lengthy guidelines and those written in English were under-used, and activities perceived to be complicated, like WHO-staging, were avoided. Availability of staff and lack of supplies like test kits and medication impeded implementation. Collaboration between facilities enhanced implementation, as did peer-support among providers. Provider characteristics including education level, knowledge of, and commitment to the guideline influenced implementation. According to providers, determinants of clients’ service use included gender norms, stigma, trust and perceived benefits. The regulatory context prohibited private hospitals from buying HIV supplies. Being tools for bringing policies to practice, national guidelines are crucial in the efforts towards the three zeros. Strategies to improve providers’ adherence to guidelines should include development of clearer guideline dissemination plans, strengthening of the health system, and possibly addressing of provider-perceived patient-level barriers to utilizing HIV services.

Molecular evidence of high rates of asymptomatic P. vivax infection and very low P. falciparum malaria in Botswana.

BackgroundBotswana is one of eight SADC countries targeting malaria elimination by 2018. Through spirited upscaling of control activities and passive surveillance, significant reductions in case incidence of Plasmodium falciparum (0.96 – 0.01) was achieved between 2008 and 2012. As part of the elimination campaign, active detection of asymptomatic Plasmodium species by a highly sensitive method was deemed necessary. This study was carried out to determine asymptomatic Plasmodium species carriage by nested PCR in the country, in 2012.MethodA cross-sectional study involving 3924 apparently healthy participants were screened for Plasmodium species in 14 districts (5 endemic: Okavango, Ngami, Tutume, Boteti and Bobirwa; and 9 epidemic: North East, Francistown, Serowe-Palapye, Ghanzi, Kweneng West, Kweneng East, Kgatleng, South East, and Good Hope). Venous blood was taken from each participant for a nested PCR detection of Plasmodium species.ResultsThe parasite rates of asymptomatic Plasmodium species detected were as follows: Plasmodium falciparum, 0.16 %; Plasmodium vivax, 4.66 %; Plasmodium malariae, (Pm) 0.16 %; Plasmodium ovale, 0 %, mixed infections (P. falciparum and P. vivax), 0.055 %; and (P. vivax and P. malariae), 0.027 %, (total: 5.062 %). The high proportion of asymptomatic reservoir of P. vivax was clustered in the East, South Eastern and Central districts of the country. There appeared to be a correlation between the occurrence of P. malariae infection with P. vivax infection, with the former only occurring in districts that had substantial P. vivax circulation. The median age among 2–12 year olds for P. vivax infection was 5 years (Mean 5.13 years, interquartile range 3–7 years). The odds of being infected with P. vivax decreased by 7 % for each year increase in age (OR 0.93, 95 % CI 0.87–1.00, p = 0.056).ConclusionWe have confirmed low parasite rate of asymptomatic Plasmodium species in Botswana, with the exception of P.vivax which was unexpectedly high. This has implication for the elimination campaign so a follow up study is warranted to inform decisions on new strategies that take this evidence into account in the elimination campaign.

Microbial Load of Hard Red Winter Wheat Produced at Three Growing Environments across Nebraska, USA

Post-flowering weather variables in farm fields may influence the microbial loads of wheat grain. In this study, the effects of weather variables following wheat flowering on the microbiological quality of wheat were evaluated over two consecutive growing seasons (2011 to 2012 and 2012 to 2013) in the state of Nebraska, USA. Three hard red winter wheat lines, including two commercial cultivars (Overland and McGill) and one experimental line (NW07505), were planted in three regions with contrasting key weather variables (Southeast, South Central, and Panhandle district) to ensure that developing seeds were exposed to different weather conditions. The natural microbial flora and deoxynivalenol concentrations of 54 freshly harvested wheat samples (three samples per wheat line, with a total of 9 samples per district) were analyzed to evaluate the impacts of the weather conditions prevailing from flowering to harvesting in each growing location (district) and season on the microbiological quality and safety of wheat grain. In 2012, the values for aerobic plate counts, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, molds, and internal mold infection levels were significantly lower in grain samples collected from the Panhandle district than in grain harvested from the South Central and Southeastern districts. No significant differences in the yeast counts were found in grain collected from all districts in 2013, but the levels of internal mold infection and mold counts were significantly higher in grain from the Southeastern district than in grain from the Panhandle district. Deoxynivalenol was detected in all districts; however, the concentrations were below the advisory level of 1 mg/kg for processed wheat. Microbial growth during grain development seems to be dependent on the existence of a threshold level of weather variables during the season. In general, the microbial loads in wheat grain tended to be lower in those areas with lower relative humidity levels (below 55%) and with temperatures lower than 13.7°C and higher than 31.5°C.

Estimation of demand and supply of livestock feed and fodder in Rajasthan: a disaggregated analysis

The paper estimates the district level availability and requirement of livestock feed and fodder in Rajasthan using secondary data of triennium ending 2008–09. Availability of dry fodder and concentrates were estimated using appropriate conversion ratios to different field crop production, while green fodder was estimated by applying per hectare yield to different fodder sources. The requirement was worked out by converting livestock into adult cattle units and multiplying by per unit consumption capacity. The annual availability of feed and fodder in the state was estimated at 51.54 million tonne is against the requirement of 68.61 million tonne and thereby deficit of around 25% per annum. The feed deficiency was estimated almost in all the districts except in the districts of Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Churu and Ganganagar. The eastern and south eastern districts were deficit in green fodder whereas western and southern hill districts were deficit in dry fodder. Other critical dimensions were low roughage: concentration ration (1:0.06) and high population pressure on pasture and grazing lands. The policies to develop silvi-pastoral model, creation of fodder banks/ storage facilities, strengthening extension system, developing drought resistant and high yielding variety, crop varieties with emphasis on fodder component needs priority attention.

Occurrence and Genotyping of Coxiella burnetii in Ixodid Ticks in Oromia, Ethiopia

This study was conducted from September 2011 to March 2014 to address the occurrence and genotypes of Coxiella burnetii using molecular methods in ticks collected from domestic animals in Ethiopia. Ticks were tested for C. burnetii by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting two different genes followed by multispacer sequence typing (MST). An overall prevalence of 6.4% (54/842) of C. burnetii was recorded. C. burnetii was detected in 28.6% (14/49) of Amblyomma gemma, 25% (31/124) of Rhipicephalus pulchellus, 7.1% (1/14) of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, 3.2% (2/62) of Am. variegatum, 3.1% (4/128) of Am. cohaerens, 1.6% (1/63) of Rh. praetextatus, and 0.6% (1/153) of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus. Significantly higher overall frequencies of C. burnetii DNA were observed in Am. gemma and Rh. pulchellus than in other tick species (Mantel-Haenszel [MH], P < 0.0001). The overall frequency of C. burnetii was significantly higher (MH, P < 0.0001) in ticks from southeastern districts (Arero, Moyale, and Yabelo) than that from other districts. This study demonstrated the presence of C. burnetii genotype MST 18 in ticks in southeastern districts and genotype MST 20 in ticks in central districts. This study highlights the importance of ticks in the epidemiology of C. burnetii in Ethiopia.

Epidemiological dynamics of nephropathia epidemica in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, during the period of 1997-2013.

This report summarizes epidemiological data on nephropathia epidemica (NE) in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. NE cases identified in the period 1997-2013 were investigated in parallel with the hantavirus antigen prevalence in small rodents in the study area. A total of 13 930 NE cases were documented in all but one district of Tatarstan, with most cases located in the central and southeastern districts. The NE annual incidence rate exhibited a cyclical pattern, with the highest numbers of cases being registered once in every 3-5 years. The numbers of NE cases rose gradually from July to November, with the highest morbidity in adult males. The highest annual disease incidence rate, 64·4 cases/100 000 population, was observed in 1997, with a total of 2431 NE cases registered. NE cases were mostly associated with visiting forests and agricultural activities. The analysis revealed that the bank vole Myodes glareolus not only comprises the majority of the small rodent communities in the region, but also consistently displays the highest hantavirus prevalence compared to other small rodent species.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soils of Moscow

The contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples taken in the city of Moscow have been determined. A sixfold excess of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) for benzo[a]pyrene has been found in 66% of the studied samples; an excess of the European standard for benzo[a]pyrene has been observed in 31% of the samples. The found weight fraction of benzo[a]pyrene in soil samples varies in the range of 10–740 μg/kg. The content of the ecotoxicant in the soil increases from west to east. The total concentrations of 10 indicative PAH compounds in the soils of Moscow are usually lower than the European standard. An excess of the European standard by 2–6 times has been noted in the Southeastern, Eastern, and Central administrative districts of Moscow, with separate sites of high contamination up to 6118 μg/kg.

First report of Puccinia dracunculina on Artemisia dracunculus in Turkey

Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa (tarragon) is a medicinal and spice plant, grown commonly in home gardens, in southern and southeastern districts of Turkey. It has also been cultivated organically in fields of the Sanliurfa region in …

Bio-Active Compounds Composition in Edible Stinkbugs Consumed in South-Eastern Districts of Zimbabwe

Encosternum delegorguei Spinola (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae) are consumed as relish and with traditional claims of having medicinal roles in the South-Eastern districts of Zimbabwe. However, very little has been explored scientifically to validate these claims. The current study was conducted to investigate bio-active compound composition and diversity of stable antibacterial activity from E. delegorguei extracts. Methanol, ethanol and aqueous extractions of E. delegorguei were performed followed by qualitative, quantitative analyses of phytochemical/bioactive compounds and determination of antibacterial activities using disc diffusion method on ten clinically important microbes. Alkaloids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, tannins, phlobatannins, steroids, triterpenoids and cyanogen glycosides were detected in the insect extracts. Flavonoids were detected in significantly higher concentrations in unprocessed compared to processed insects. Mean DPPH free radical scavenging activities were 78% and 88% for traditionally processed and raw insect extracts respectively. Traditional processing resulted in reduction of bioactive compounds (22.2% total phenolics; 68.4% flavonoids) and free radical scavenging activities by 10%. However, it resulted in an increase of cyanogen glycosides by 65.7%. Methanol extracts produced highest mean inhibition zones of 20 mm while aqueous and ethanol extracts had mean inhibition of 0 to 15 mm as compared to control with 20-40 mm. High flavonoids levels could be beneficial to consumers. However, a potential trade-off from elevated levels of cyanogen glycosides after processing needs further investigation. The free radical scavenging activity displayed by E. delegorguei extracts indicate a potential source of natural anti-oxidants that can be formulated into commercial products.

English

Sex determines most of what happens in the rest of the social life of the Orring, a minority ethnolinguistic group in Nigeria&rsquo;s Southeastern districts. Like in most so-called simple societies, rules on sexual conduct also govern such relational principles as marriage, descent and kinship. But here they go a little further than this because propriety or otherwise of sexual conduct is not limited to the acts of sexual partners. It affects also the status of children of such partners or those that may be socially connected with them at other levels. For example, a category of children that are called gbụati [sing. waati] ẹ lakpe (evil children), are in their category because they are held to be those who earn their condition as a result of unconfessed infraction of sexual rules by, usually, their parents. Gbụati ẹ lakpe include those of breach birth, those that cut their upper incisors first or those with such rare physiological condition as six instead of five fingers. The Orring society is patrilineal and patrilocal which facts seem to help in explaining why rules of sexual conduct place a heavier burden on women than on men. This paper results from a participant observation of the Orring from 1998 to 2003. It is suggested in this paper that any policy on population that ignores local custom at the present stage of development in Africa may not deliver their expected impact. &nbsp;What is needed is a cross-disciplinary co-operation that will enable ethnologists, demographers, medical scientists, bureaucrats and so on to work together for effective results. Key words: Sexual conduct, &nbsp;sexual offences, sexual behaviour, Nigeria.

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Washington State domestic goat herds.

A caprine herd seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection was determined by passive surveillance of domestic goat herds in Washington State. Serum samples (n=1794) from 105 herds in 31 counties were analyzed for C. burnetii antibodies using a commercially available Q fever antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit. The sera were submitted to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for routine serologic screening over an approximate 1-year period from November, 2010, through November, 2011. To avoid bias introduced by testing samples from ill animals, only accessions for routine screening of nonclinical animals were included in the study. A standard cluster sampling approach to investigate seroprevalence at the herd level was used to determine optimal study sample size. The results identified C. burnetii antibodies in 8.0% of samples tested (144/1794), 8.6% of goat herds tested (9/105), and 25.8% of counties tested (8/31). Within-herd seroprevalence in positive counties ranged from 2.9% to 75.8%. Counties with seropositive goats were represented in the western, eastern, southeastern, and Columbia basin agricultural districts of the state. To our knowledge this is the first county-specific, statewide study of C. burnetii seroprevalence in Washington State goat herds. The findings provide baseline information for future epidemiologic, herd management and public health investigations of Q fever.

Assessment of tsunami damage on the .coastal vegetation in five selected districts in the coastal zone of Sri Lanka, after one and half years of tsunami

Assessment of tsunami damage on the .coastal vegetation in five selected districts in the coastal zone of Sri Lanka, after one and half years of tsunami

Malaria Prevalence in Endemic Districts of Bangladesh

BackgroundFollowing the 1971 ban of DDT in Bangladesh, malaria cases have increased steadily. Malaria persists as a major health problem in the thirteen south-eastern and north-eastern districts of Bangladesh. At present the national malaria control program, largely supported by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), provides interventions including advocacy at community level, Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) distribution, introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) and combination therapy with Coartem. It is imperative, therefore, that baseline data on malaria prevalence and other malaria indicators are collected to assess the effectiveness of the interventions and rationalize the prevention and control efforts. The objective of this study was to obtain this baseline on the prevalence of malaria and bed net use in the thirteen malaria endemic districts of Bangladesh.Methods and Principal FindingsIn 2007, BRAC and ICDDR,B carried out a malaria prevalence survey in thirteen malaria endemic districts of Bangladesh. A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used and 9750 blood samples were collected. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) were used for the diagnosis of malaria. The weighted average malaria prevalence in the thirteen endemic districts was 3.97%. In five south-eastern districts weighted average malaria prevalence rate was 6.00% and in the eight north-eastern districts weighted average malaria prevalence rate was (0.40%). The highest malaria prevalence was observed in Khagrachari district. The majority of the cases (90.18%) were P. falciparum infections. Malaria morbidity rates in five south-eastern districts was 2.94%. In eight north-eastern districts, morbidity was 0.07%.Conclusion and SignificanceBangladesh has hypoendemic malaria with P. falciparum the dominant parasite species. The malaria situation in the five north-eastern districts of Bangladesh in particular warrants urgent attention. Detailed maps of the baseline malaria prevalence and summaries of the data collected are provided along with the survey results in full, in a supplemental information

First Report of Bacterial Wilt of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in Benin.

In June 2004, wilted tomatoes with no foliar yellowing were observed in Ouègbo, Atlantique District, Benin. The cut tomato stems released whitish bacterial ooze. Longitudinal sections of most stems showed brown vascular discoloration. Twenty symptomatic tomato plants were collected from 10 fields and exported to the Institute of Plant Disease and Plant Protection, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany. Bacteria were isolated on triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) medium (2) and three of the nine bacterial isolates that resembled Ralstonia solanacearum (colonies with red center and whitish periphery) and reference strain ToUdk (race 1 biovar 3; N. Thaveechai, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand) were used for pathogenicity tests. Five 4-week-old tomato plants cv. Tohounvi, grown in individual plastic pots (14 × 16 cm) containing sterilized field soil, were inoculated with each of the four isolates individually by soil drenching with 30 ml of the test cultures at 108 CFU/ml. Control plants were treated with 30 ml of sterile water. All plants were incubated in a glasshouse at 30°C. All plants inoculated with the isolates from Benin wilted 4 days after inoculation with symptoms similar to those observed in the field. Plants inoculated with the reference strain wilted 7 to 11 days after inoculation. Control plants treated with water remained healthy. R. solanacearum was recovered from the 20 symptomatic plants on TTC medium. The identity of the strains in comparison with the reference strain was confirmed by PCR with species-specific primers 759/760, which produced a single 281-bp fragment (3). Because similar symptoms were being increasingly reported by farmers across Benin and linked with reduced tomato yields, a disease survey was undertaken by IITA in 2006 and 2007. Wilted tomato plants were found across all agro-ecological zones of Benin (3 to 72% of plants per field). Isolates were recovered from the southeastern districts of Adja-Ouèrè, Sakété, Adjohoun, and Dangbo, the southwestern districts of Klouékanmè and Athiémé, the southern districts of Toffo and Bohicon, the central districts of Dassa and Savè, and the northern districts of Malanville and Karimama. Identification of R. solanacearum was confirmed following inoculation of tomato, production of characteristic wilting symptoms, recovery of the pathogen on TTC medium, and positive identification with ELISA kits (Pathoscreen Rs; Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solanacearum infecting tomato in Benin. Tomato is the most cultivated vegetable crop in Benin and important to the livelihood of many people in peri-urban and rural areas. Understanding that the cause of the observed crop losses is R. solanacearum may lead to implementation of management strategies such as deployment of disease-resistant cultivars or grafting tomatoes onto bacterial wilt-resistant rootstocks (1).

Comparison of net primary productivity in karst and non-karst areas: a case study in Guizhou Province, China

Green plants play an important role in energy flows and material cycles. The net primary productivity (NPP) reflects the capability of vegetation to convert solar energy into photosynthate (fixed carbon). Understanding the factors that contribute to variations in NPP is of key importance for improving the rock-desertification environment in karst areas. In this paper, the NPP model (Light Use Efficiency model) is modified on the basis of remote sensing data [moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS)], climate data and observed information. Then the model is employed to estimate the spatial–temporal variations of NPP in the Guizhou Province, China. Finally, the NPP differences between karst area and non-karst area, and the relationships between NPP and climate factors are analyzed. The results show that the NPP estimated using MODIS data are reasonable. The mean NPP of territorial vegetation is 421.46 gC m−2 year−1; the NPP in the non-karst area is 13.3% higher than that in the karst area; the correlation degree between NPP and precipitation is better in southeastern and western districts.

Tectonic configuration of the Apuseni–Banat—Timok–Srednogorie belt, Balkans-South Carpathians, constrained by high precision Re–Os molybdenite ages

The Apuseni–Banat–Timok–Srednogorie magmatic–metallogenic belt (ABTS belt), forms a substantial metallogenic province in the Balkan-South Carpathian system in southeastern Europe. The belt hosts porphyry, skarn, and epithermal deposits mined since pre-Roman times. Generally, the deposits, prospects, and occurrences within the belt are linked to magmatic centers of calc-alkaline affinity. Fifty-one rhenium-osmium (Re–Os) ages and Re concentration data for molybdenites define systematic geochronologic trends and constrain the geochemical-metallogenic evolution of the belt in space and time. From these data and additional existing geologic-geochemical data, a general tectonic history for the belt is proposed. Mineralization ages in Apuseni-Banat, Timok, and Panagyurishte (the central district of the larger E–W Srednogorie Zone) range from 72–83, 81–88, and 87–92 Ma, respectively, and clearly document increasing age from the northwestern districts to the southeastern districts. Further, Re–Os ages suggest rapidly migrating pulses of Late Cretaceous magmatic–hydrothermal activity with construction of deposits in ~1 m.y., districts in ~10 m.y., and the entire 1,500 km belt in ~20 m.y. Ages in both Timok and Panagyurishte show systematic younging, while deposit ages in Banat and Apuseni are less systematic reflecting a restricted evolution of the tectonic system. Systematic differences are also observed for molybdenite Re concentrations on the belt scale. Re concentrations generally range from hundreds to thousands of parts per million, typical of subduction-related Cu–Au–Mo–(PGE) porphyry systems associated with the generation of juvenile crust. The geochronologic and geochemical trends are compatible with proposed steepening of subducting oceanic slab and relaxation of upper continental plate compression. Resulting influx of sub-continental mantle lithosphere (SCML) and asthenosphere provide a fertile metal source and heat, while the subducting slab contributes connate and mineral dehydration fluids, which facilitate partial melting and metal leaching of SCML and asthenosphere. Cu–Au–Mo–(PGE) porphyry deposits may develop where melts are trapped at shallow crustal levels, often with associated volcanism and epithermal-style deposits (South Banat, Timok, and Panagyurishte). Mo–Fe–Pb–Zn skarn deposits may develop where felsic melts are trapped adjacent to Mesozoic limestones at moderate crustal levels (North Banat and Apuseni). Systematic spatial variations in deposit style, commodity enrichment, Re–Os ages, and Re concentrations support specific tectonic processes that led to ore formation. In a post-collisional setting, subduction of Vardar oceanic crust may have stalled, causing slab steepening and rollback. The slab rollback relaxes compression, facilitating and enhancing orogenic collapse of previously thickened Balkan-South Carpathian crust. The progression of coupled rollback-orogenic collapse is evidenced by the width of Late Cretaceous extensional basins and northward younging of Re–Os ages, from Panagyurishte (~60 km; 92–87 Ma) to Timok (~20 km; 88–81 Ma) to Apuseni-Banat (~5 km; 83–72 Ma). Generation of a well-endowed mineral belt, such as the ABTS, requires a temporally and spatially restricted window of magmatic–hydrothermal activity. This window is quickly opened as upper plate compression relaxes, thereby inducing melt generation and ingress of melt to higher crustal levels. The window is just as quickly closed as upper plate compression is reinstated. The transient tectonic state responsible for economic mineralization in the ABTS belt may be a paleo-analogue to transient intervals in the present subduction tectonics of SE Asia where much mineral wealth has been created in the last few million years.

The hydration status of lambs after lairage at two Australian abattoirs

Urine samples were collected from lambs slaughtered at 2 abattoirs, 1 in Western Australia (WA) and 1 in Victoria (Vic.), for the purpose of estimating hydration status at the time of slaughter. Collections were made from 219 consignments at WA and 57 consignments at Vic., over a 12-month period commencing in July 2003 and finishing in June 2004. The average consignment urine specific gravity was high, suggesting subclinical dehydration was common at both abattoirs. Consignment urine specific gravity was higher at Vic. than WA during the months from January to June. Analyses of demographic data collected at WA suggested that average consignment urine specific gravity was higher in sucker lambs than carry over lambs, highest in August and lowest in January, and higher in lambs from the south-eastern districts compared with other districts within the state.

Participant Observation

Indigenous social anthropologists investigating communities in their own country are not insulated from many of the difficulties their foreign counterparts face. This article is based on the experience of the author while carrying out, as a doctoral student, a year-long participant observation among the Orring, a little-known minority ethnic group in Nigeria's south-eastern districts. The researcher's ethnic group is not the same as that of his host community but both are Nigerian. Initially interactions with the culture-bearers went on without any trouble but the more the researcher became integrated in the host community, human-relations problems that are hard to ignore arose. But the author concludes that experiences such as the ones the article describes, inconvenient such as they certainly can be, may be the indication that an ethnographer has been integrated in their host community without which no claim of participant observation may be made. Low literacy rate and peculiarities of social structure of non-Western host communities both make the use of participant observation compelling in many cases despite current innovations in qualitative research.