38 research outputs found
Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of three diagnostic tests for Coxiella burnetii infection in cattle and buffaloes in Punjab (India) using Bayesian latent class analysis
No full textQ Fever is a zoonotic disease of significant animal and public health concern, caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), an obligate intracellular bacterium. This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and diagnostic specificity (DSp) of three diagnostic methods to diagnose C. burnetii infection in cattle and buffaloes in Punjab, India: an indirect ELISA method applied in serum samples and a trans-Polymerase Chain Reaction (trans-PCR) technique applied in milk samples and genital swabs, using a Bayesian latent class analysis. Conditional independence was assumed between the tests, given (i) the different biological principle of ELISA and trans-PCR and (ii) the fact that the trans-PCR was performed on different tissues. The ELISA method in the serum samples showed the highest DSe of 0.97 (95% Probability Intervals (PIs): 0.93; 0.99) compared to the trans-PCR method applied in milk samples 0.76 (0.63; 0.87) and genital swabs 0.73 (0.58; 0.85). The DSps of all tests were high, with trans-PCR in genital swabs recording the highest DSp of 0.99 (0.98; 1), while the DSp of trans-PCR in milk samples and ELISA in serum samples were 0.97 (0.95; 0.99) and 0.95 (0.93; 0.97) respectively. The study results show that none of the applied tests are perfect, therefore, a testing regimen based on the diagnostic characteristic of the tests may be considered for diagnosis of C. burnetii. © 2022 Meletis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
3rd Pan-European Conference on Haemoglobinopathies and Rare Anaemias, 24-26 October 2012, Limassol - Cyprus
No full textThis abstract book contains all abstracts presented to the 3rd Pan-European Conference on Haemoglobinopathies and Rare Anaemias, 24-26 October 2012, Limassol - Cyprus
Little boats and big concerns? Seeking a balance between ecotourism and motorboat use in Tortuguero, Costa Rica.
No full textMotorboat use in ecotourism is not a typical tourism-related research focus. This interdisciplinary study addresses local concerns about ecotourism-related motorboat use in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, a popular and relatively isolated ecotourism destination. My study contemplates related impacts and management suggestions by incorporating social and physical science methods, tools, and techniques including: a custom Boat Observations and Traffic Evaluations (BOTEs) protocol, semi-structured interviews, and erosion-related measures of Total Suspended Solids (TSS). My results highlight respondent concerns regarding high levels of motorboat use, captains traveling at fast speeds, and increased erosion. From the results, I derived eight management-oriented suggestions, including local respondents' most frequent recommendation: the introduction of local motorboat speed limits. To address these recommendations in the future, management should prioritize reducing negative social and environmental boat use-related impacts--an essential undertaking in seeking a balance between ecotourism and motorboat use in Tortuguero. --Leaf i.The original print copy of this thesis may be available here: http://wizard.unbc.ca/record=b186332
Engendering the blue economy : offshore oil extraction and the livelihoods of women in Ghana
No full textGhana joined the league of oil and gas producing countries in 2007 when oil was discovered in the Gulf of Guinea. Through the years, however, concerns have emerged over the impacts of oil and gas activities on coastal livelihoods, especially since the benefits of extraction do not seem to trickle down to these communities. This thesis employs the Feminist Political Economy framework to examine the gendered disparities embedded in relations between offshore oil extraction and livelihoods of women in Ghana. Through an exploratory approach and a mixed methods design, I reveal how the intersection of culture, geography, politics, race and class foster the dispossession of coastal women. Among other findings, this thesis reveals that fishing is still the main source of livelihoods, and a culturally import source of food for the Western Region. It also shows that the advent of oil in the region has not improved but worsened women's livelihoods
The importance of land and water to the culture of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation : an analysis of statements presented at environmental impact assessment hearings
No full textAn application for a new open-pit gold/copper mine in Tsilhqot’in territory raised concerns among the local Xeni Gwet’in people about potential impacts. This study examines statements about these concerns and potential impacts made by Xeni Gwet’in people during environmental assessment hearings. The research adopts a single case study approach, and the analysis uses a western social science method as well as a more holistic Indigenous approach to decolonizing research by placing Indigenous voices in the center of the research process. The results suggest that land and water are inseparable, as are their connections to the Xeni Gwet’in people, culture, and territory. Key findings include that land and water are central to Xeni Gwet’in identity and future, that they are used to demonstrate ‘control’ and ‘ownership’ of their traditional territory, and that they are crucial to Xeni Gwet’in intergenerational transfer of knowledge, culture, and sacred spiritual connections to their traditional territory
Correction of anaemia and thrombocytopenia in a case of adult Type I osteopetrosis with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO)
No full textInvestigating scientific, social and other influences on the 2017 British Columbia grizzly bear hunt ban
No full textBritish Columbia has the largest grizzly bear population in Canada. In 2017, B.C. banned the hunt of grizzly bears citing a lack of societal support, despite government-cited science that the hunt was sustainably managed. I explored the factors that influenced popular perceptions of grizzly bears, the hunt, how these factors may have influenced the province’s decision to implement the ban, and its reception by various actors. Methods included: examining key claims in government documents preceding the ban; surveying media coverage of the ban; and interviewing experts (n = 30) about their role in, and opinion of the ban. Results indicated that public perception of the hunt, and its framing as a trophy hunt outweighed scientific evidence of hunt sustainability. However, controversy over the representativeness of the “public opinion”, and comprehensiveness of government consultation processes remain. I suggest avenues for further research into roles of social values in natural resource policy
Bear jams in Kananaskis country: Visitor and expert perceptions of roadside bear viewing management in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta
No full textBear viewing poses significant risks for humans and wildlife, particularly in the form of "bear jams" - traffic congestion caused by people slowing down or stopping to view bears. This study addresses gaps in our understanding of the human dimensions of roadside bear viewing, focusing on the case study of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (PLPP) in Alberta, Canada. A mixed-methods approach is employed in this study, comprising a survey (n=380) of visitors who have witnessed or engaged in roadside bear viewing and interviews with experts who have experience in bear-related fields (n=22). The main findings indicate that a balanced approach is needed to manage bears and humans. The study suggests human, bear, infrastructure, and habitat-related approaches, including implementing no-stopping zones, enforcing regulations, and improving education and outreach, are key to managing roadside bear viewing. The results of this study provide valuable insight for park managers and wildlife officials to develop effective management strategies that balance the needs of both humans and bears. The data collected in this study underscore the importance of a holistic and adaptive management approach to addressing roadside bear viewing. The findings apply to PLPP and parks facing similar challenge
Environmental monitoring for the 21st century: Exploring Indigenous evaluations of the Canadian government’s Indigenous Guardians pilot program
No full textIn response to the exclusion of Indigenous people from natural resources management, the Canadian federal government announced that they would provide $25 million over four years to support the development of Indigenous Guardians programs across Canada. The program was promised to “provide Indigenous Peoples with greater opportunity to exercise responsibility in stewardship of their traditional lands, waters and ice” (Government of Canada 2020). I used a case study approach to explore the role of this funding to support Indigenous communities in their Guardians initiatives. I facilitated semi-structured interviews with staff from five Indigenous Guardians programs from BC and Manitoba, Canada. Participants suggested that the federal pilot program was a step in the right direction to support environmental stewardship initiatives led by Indigenous governments or communities. In particular, this program was successful in increasing monitoring of the land, collaboration with like-minded groups, and facilitating the education of youth by community Elders
Social impacts of oil extraction in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria
No full textOil was discovered in Nigeria in1956 at Oloibiri in the Niger Delta Region after almost 50 years of exploration. Shell-BP at that time, was the sole concessionaire because non-British companies were not given exploration license to operate in Nigeria. After Nigerian Independence in 1960, exploration rights were extended to other multinational oil companies. More than 16 multinational oil companies were in operation with little or no supervision from the Nigerian Government, which created significant environmental, political,and social impact in the region. A critical discourse analysis of documents from Shell, Amnesty International, THISDAY Newspaper revealed that the Nigerian government has failed to safeguard the
environment and the lives of the people. On the basis of evidence presented on this research, in addition to literature, it can be argued that oil has turned out to be a curse to the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria in general
