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Limited knowledge of health risks along the illegal wild meat value chain in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA)
Get PDFConsumption of and trade in wild meat could result in infectious pathogen spillover into human populations. Such spillovers could propagate into sustained outbreaks in major cities where human aggregations potentially catalyze their spread. A better understanding of how urban wild meat value chains operate could assist in mitigating spillover events. We used key informant interviews and literature review to understand the structure and operations, actors, their practices, and health risk perceptions along a wild meat value chain supplying a rapidly urbanizing city in Africa, the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA). The value chain operates via three main nodes: harvester, trader, and consumer nodes. We found wild meat to be harvested from peri-urban areas of the NMA, consumed or sold locally, or supplied to distant urban markets. Actors reported increased participation along the value chain during the dry season, and over the Christmas period. The value chain operated informally, creating a ‘rules in use’ framework focusing on sanction avoidance, while ignoring food safety concerns. Consequently, respondents reported slaughtering wild animals on the bare ground, handling wild meat with unwashed hands and uncleaned utensils. No value chain actors reported wearing personal protective equipment when handling wild meat. At the distant markets’ trader node where wild meat was sold as livestock meat, meat vendors engaged in similar unsafe practices. Actors had limited awareness of the specific health risks from wild meat. We speculate that the observed limited health risk awareness, and sanction avoidance attempts promotes unsafe practices during exploitation of wild animals for food, income and for medicinal purposes. Multisectoral efforts at the conservation and public health nexus, as well as community education on the potential health risks from wild meat are key in reducing potential spillovers
Outcomes for patients with alcohol-related liver disease admitted to Scottish intensive care units 2010-2018
Get PDFINTRODUCTION: Alcohol-related liver disease is recognised as a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to report the prevalence of, and outcomes from, alcohol-related liver disease after admission to ICUs in Scotland.METHODS: We performed a secondary data analysis using linked Scottish national databases of all adult general ICUs in Scotland. We compared emergency non-surgical patients admitted to ICU with and without alcohol-related liver disease. The primary outcome was ICU mortality, and secondary outcomes were ICU admission rate ratio; 60-day mortality; 2-year mortality; duration of ICU and hospital stay; and need for hospital readmission.RESULTS: Of the 49,420/103,103 (47.9%) patients admitted to ICU with emergency non-surgical diagnoses between 2010 and 2018, we identified 2629/49,420 (5.3%) patients with alcohol-related liver disease. Patients with alcohol-related liver disease were more likely to receive three-organ support (14.0% vs. 10.0%, p < 0.001). Mortality in the ICU was higher in patients with alcohol-related liver disease (964/2629 (36.7%) vs. 10,517/46,791 (22.5%), respectively; aOR 2.03 (95%CI 1.85-2.24)). Patients with alcohol-related liver disease who specifically presented to ICU with a gastrointestinal bleed had a lower ICU mortality (95/487 (19.5%)). Sixty-day mortality of patients with alcohol-related liver disease increased with higher levels of organ support (186/516 (36.0%) mortality with zero organs supported vs. 162/196 (82.7%) mortality with three organs supported).DISCUSSION: Early mortality was high in patients with alcohol-related liver disease who were admitted to ICU, especially if multi-organ support was required. However, nearly one-fifth of patients on multi-organ support survived to hospital discharge. Early mortality for patients with alcohol-related liver disease admitted with a gastrointestinal bleed was considerably lower and should be taken into consideration when considering management in ICU. In discussion with the patient and hepatologists, a trial of organ support with continuous re-evaluation may be appropriate.</p
First genome-wide association and genomic prediction of ammonia‑nitrogen tolerance in tiger pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes)
Get PDFAmmonia‑nitrogen stress is a significant threat to the growth and survival of tiger pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes), especially in high-density stocking integrated aquaculture systems. This study aimed to decipher the genetic background of ammonia‑nitrogen stress tolerance via heritability estimation and identification of variants associated with this stress via genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We also assessed the potential of applying genomic selection (GS) to improve this trait in T. rubripes. A customized a low-density 20 K SNP array was used to genotype 780 fish, and low-density genotypes were imputed to a high-density genotype dataset comprising over 1.3 million SNPs. The heritability of ammonia‑nitrogen tolerance was estimated as 0.20 and 0.15 and 0.21 for pedigree, low-density and high-density SNP markers panels, respectively. A suggestively significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) was detected on chromosome 8, containing 16 significant SNPs within a 70.0 kb region. Notably, two candidate genes, fgf11A and serinc5, were associated with ammonia‑nitrogen stress tolerance. Use of different genomic prediction models to estimate genetic merit of selection candidates showed improvement in accuracy of breeding value estimation by at least 57 % compared to traditional pedigree-based methods. Interestingly, the prediction remained significantly high even with the lowest number of panel markers (500 markers). These findings highlight the potential of GS to enhance ammonia‑nitrogen stress tolerance in T. rubripes breeding programs, thus contributing to the sustainability and productivity of the species.</p
Appraisal of CRISPR Technology as an Innovative Screening to Therapeutic Toolkit for Genetic Disorders
Get PDFThe high frequency of genetic diseases compels the development of refined diagnostic and therapeutic systems. CRISPR is a precise genome editing tool that offers detection of genetic mutation with high sensitivity, specificity and flexibility for point-of-care testing in low resource environment. Advancements in CRISPR ushered new hope for the detection of genetic diseases. This review aims to explore the recent advances in CRISPR for the detection and treatment of genetic disorders. It delves into the advances like next-generation CRISPR diagnostics like nano-biosensors, digitalized CRISPR, and omicsintegrated CRISPR technologies to enhance the detection limits and to facilitate the “lab-on-chip” technologies. Additionally, therapeutic potential of CRISPR technologies is reviewed to evaluate the implementation potential of CRISPR technologies for the treatment of hematological diseases, (sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia), HIV, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders, etc. Emerging CRISPR therapeutic approaches such as base/epigenetic editing and stem cells for the development of foreseen CRIPSR drugs are explored for the development of point-of-care testing. A combination of predictive models of artificial intelligence and machine learning with growing knowledge of genetic disorders has also been discussed to understand their role in acceleration of genetic detection. Ethical consideration are briefly discussed towards to end of review. This review provides the comprehensive insights into advances in the CRISPR diagnostics/therapeutics which are believed to pave the way for reliable, effective, and low-cost genetic testing
Progress on thermal storage technologies with high heat density in renewables and low carbon applications: Latent and thermochemical energy storage
Get PDFAs the global energy system shifts to renewable energy, high-density energy storage methods are crucial for stable output and efficiency, but several challenges remain. This article presents research progress and comprehensively summarizes high density heat storage methods from the perspectives of material preparation, packaging container, molecular simulation, system design, device structure,and applications encompassing areas like the conservation of energy in building environments, renewable energy, and carbon emission reduction. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive focus on latent heat and thermochemical energy storage tech nologies, particularly in the context of renewable energy and low-carbon applications. While similar review papers exist, this work uniquely integrates recent advancements in material fabrication, system design, and molecular simulation, offering a more holistic perspective on this field. Technological requirements and development routes for high density heat storage methods are discussed respectively. The potential application to renewable energy and carbon reduction is illustrated by examples. Finally, conclusions are drawn on many as pects, and recommendations including material property, system construction and high-performance research are provided. The review may serve as a trustworthy reference for the development of excellent performance materials, efficient system construction, large-scale application, and energy strategy innovation in the field of energy storage
School staff members’ professional agency in Finland, Scotland and Sweden – A comparative study
Get PDFProfessional agency has been comprehensively investigated in educational contexts, but there have been few quantitative or comparative studies. This quantitative study explored school staff members’ professional agency in Finland, Scotland, and Sweden, addressing three dimensions of agency: influencing at work, participation at work, and negotiating professional identity. The questionnaire data indicated fairly strong agency among lower secondary school staff members across the dimensions and countries. Professional agency was perceived to be stronger in Sweden than in Finland or Scotland. There were some differences between the countries in terms of the background variables (e.g. working experience) affecting professional agency in schools
Association of Plasma Biomarkers With Longitudinal Atrophy and Microvascular Burden on MRI Across Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Get PDFOptimising participation in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme for people living with Chronic Respiratory Diseases in rural India: a feasibility study.
Get PDFBackground Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) plays a vital role in managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). However, implementation of this multidisciplinary approach in resource-poor settings may not be sufficient because of referrers’ uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of PR, inconvenient timing, travel issues, patients’ lack of motivation, and poor family support. The aim was to test the feasibility of a peer-led, professionally-assisted community-based PR programme for CRD patients in a rural, low literacy setting. Methods We conducted a single-center, pre-post feasibility study. Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of CRD were recruited and treatment was optimised. After completing baseline assessments, the participants underwent eight weeks of PR training (16 sessions) in six groups at five local facilities led by peers selected by the participants and assisted by professionals. Exercise capacity was assessed with 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT). Other outcomes were: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) scale. Upper and lower limb strength were assessed using a handheld dynamometer and cycle ergometer, respectively. Descriptive analysis was performed, and pre-and post-outcomes were compared using parametric tests. Results Thirty participants (20 COPD, 10 asthma; 15 female; median age 57.5 years) completed baseline and endline assessments. 70% completed at least 12/16 sessions. After 8 weeks of training, the 6-MWT had improved from 263.3 (SD72.3) to 319.6 (84.7) metres (p<0.001) with significant improvement in mMRC (p=0.022), LCADL (p<0.001) and dominant handgrip strength (p<0.001) but no significant change in physical activity (p=0.791).Conclusions The community-based PR led by peer volunteers and supported by professionals proved to be feasible in our low-resource setting and was associated with improved exercise tolerance and other outcomes.<br/
Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Raw, Processed, and Cooked Elk Meat, Texas, USA
Get PDFWe describe chronic wasting disease (CWD) prion detection in raw and cooked meat from a CWD-positive elk. We found limited zoonotic potential in CWD prions from those meat products. Nonetheless, risk for transmission to humans is still unclear, and monitoring of circulating and emerging CWD prion strains for zoonotic potential is warranted.</p
Stability of stationary states for mean field models with multichromatic interaction potentials
Get PDFWe consider weakly interacting diffusions on the torus, for multichromatic interaction potentials. We consider interaction potentials that are not H-stable, leading to phase transitions in the mean field limit. We show that the mean field dynamics can exhibit multipeak stationary states, where the number of peaks is related to the number of nonzero Fourier modes of the interaction. We also consider the effect of a confining potential on the structure of nonuniform steady states. We approach the problem by means of analysis, perturbation theory and numerical simulations for the interacting particle systems and the PDEs.</p
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