1,355,533 research outputs found
Inside out. by Steven Drakeley
No full textAustralia's relationship with Indonesia is predicated on the 'stability' achieved in the Soeharto era. As this period draws to a close, the role of Islam is one of the biggest imponderables in an uncertain future. Provided by MICAH, Canberra
Measurement of Plasmodium falciparum transmission intensity using serological cohort data from Indonesian schoolchildren.
No full textBACKGROUND: As malaria transmission intensity approaches zero, measuring it becomes progressively more difficult and inefficient because parasite-positive individuals are hard to detect. This situation may arise shortly before achieving local elimination, or during surveillance post-elimination to prevent reintroduction. Antibody responses against the parasite last longer than the infections themselves. This "footprint" of infection may thus be used for assessing transmission intensity. A statistical approach is presented for measuring the seroconversion rate (SCR), a correlate of the force of infection, from individual-level longitudinal data on antibody titres in an area of low Plasmodium falciparum transmission. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 160 Indonesian schoolchildren every month for six months. Titres of antibodies against AMA-1 and MSP-1(19) antigens of P. falciparum were measured using ELISA. The distribution of antibody titres among seronegative and -positive individuals, respectively, was estimated by comparing the titres from the study data (a mixture of both seropositive and -negative individuals) with titres from a (unexposed) negative control group of Indonesian individuals. Two Markov-Chain models for the transition of individuals between serological states were fitted to individual anti-PfAMA-1 or anti-PfMSP-1 titre time series using Bayesian Markov-Chain-Monte-Carlo (MCMC). This yielded estimates of SCR as well as of the duration of seropositivity. RESULTS: A posterior median SCR of 0.02 (Pf AMA-1) and 0.09 (PfMSP-1) person(-1) year(-1) was estimated, with credible intervals ranging from 1E-4 to 0.2 person(-1) year(-1). This level of transmission intensity is at the lower range of what can reliably be measured with the present study size. A Bayesian test for seroconversion of an individual between two observations is presented and used to identify the subjects who have most likely experienced an infection. Furthermore, the theoretical limits of measuring transmission intensity, and how these depend on duration and size of a study as well as on transmission intensity itself, is illustrated. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis shows that it is possible to measure SCR's from individual-level longitudinal data on antibody titres. In addition, individual seroconversion events can be identified, which can be useful in assessing interruption of transmission. Analyses of further serological datasets using the present method are required to improve and validate it. This includes measurement of the duration of antibody responses, how it depends on host age or cumulative exposure, or on the particular antigen used
Immunophoretic rapid diagnostic tests as a source of immunoglobulins for estimating malaria sero-prevalence and transmission intensity.
No full textBACKGROUND: Sero-epidemiological methods are being developed as a tool for rapid assessment of malaria transmission intensity. Simple blood collection methods for use in field settings will make this more feasible. This paper describes validation of such a method, by analysing immunoglobulins from blood retained within immunophoretic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for Plasmodium falciparum. RDTs are now widely used for the diagnosis of malaria and estimation of parasite rates, and this method represents a further use for these devices in malaria control. METHODS: Immunoglobulins eluted from RDTs, designed to detect parasite histidine rich protein-2 (HRP-2), were analysed by indirect ELISA for IgG recognizing the P. falciparum blood stage antigens merozoite surface protein-1(19) (MSP-1(19)) and apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1). Optimal storage conditions for RDTs were evaluated by comparing antibody responses from RDTs stored in dry or humid conditions at 4 degrees C or at ambient temperature (with or without air-conditioning) for 7, 31 or 70 days. Antibody levels estimated using 3,700 RDT samples from attendees at health facilities in North-eastern Tanzania were compared with contemporaneously collected filter paper blood spots (FPBS) and used to estimate seroconversion rates. RESULTS: Storage of RDTs at 4 degrees C was optimal for immunoglobulin recovery but short-term storage at ambient temperatures did not substantially affect anti-malarial IgG levels. Results from RDTs were comparable with those from FPBSs, for both antigens. RDT-generated titres tended to be slightly higher than those generated from FPBSs, possibly due to greater recovery of immunoglobulins from RDTs compared to filter paper. Importantly, however, RDT-based seroconversion rates, and hence serological estimates of malaria transmission intensity, agreed closely with those from FPBSs. CONCLUSION: RDTs represent a practical option for collecting blood for sero-epidemiological surveys, with potential cost and logistical advantages over filter paper and other blood collection methods. RDT-based seroepidemiology can be incorporated into routine monitoring of malaria endemicity, providing information to supplement parasite prevalence rates and generating rapid, robust assessment of malaria transmission intensity at minimal extra cost
Virtual Events Management:Theory and Methods for Event Management and Tourism
No full textVirtual Events Management: Theory and Methods for Event Management and Tourism is a unique text in that it is the first academic textbook to examine events from an ‘online’ perspective and the various connotations of this – virtual, hybrid, augmented and virtual realities, and more recently within the metaverse.This book aims to help event professionals and students (both current and aspiring) to understand what virtual and hybrid events are, how they can be designed and managed, how they can be created to enhance the event experience, and how to reduce the likelihood of failure, as well as the potential future directions of events.With international case studies and contributions from an international team of experts, it examines:• What are virtual and hybrid events?• How can we make virtual event experiences meaningful and engaging?• What are the benefits of virtual events?• What are the challenges of virtual events?• What is the metaverse and what role will this play in the future of events?Written in a clear and user-friendly style, each chapter has a clear learning structure and pedagogic features including aims of the chapter, international case studies to support the learning and demonstrate industry best practice, discussion points and a concluding ‘what we have learned’ feature to finish. Each chapter is designed to explore different aspects of virtual events and how we can develop our knowledge and understanding to enable us to create positive event experiences within this new virtual arena
Indonesia's low quality democracy consolidated : the dangers of drift and corrosion
No full textAddressing the Sixth assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in Jakarta in April 2010, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared democracy in Indonesia ‘irreversible’ (Yudhoyono 2010). The sceptics had been proven wrong, he asserted, and while acknowledging that challenges remain, such as eradicating ‘money politics’, he lauded the establishment of democratic institutions and the rule of law. SBY (as Indonesians refer to him) has good reason to brag about Indonesia’s democratic achievements, but few observers give quite as much credit; indeed some denounce Indonesia’s democracy as deeply flawed (Robison and Hadiz 2004; Klinken 2009). Although the 2014 elections will constitute a more conclusive test, Indonesian democracy does appear consolidated. It is now normalized, a ‘daily fact of life’ as SBY put it, or to employ Linz and Stepan’s famous phrase (1996: 15) democracy is the ‘only game in town’ with regular changes of government accepted without challenge either on the streets or from the barracks. But SBY’s claim for its irreversibility cannot be endorsed. Indonesia’s democracy has flaws of such proportions that reversion to authoritarian government remains possible. Moreover, although consolidated, Indonesia’s democracy is of a relatively low quality and the factors that make it so are deeply entrenched. In this chapter I will discuss the defects and their dangers to Indonesia’s democracy, and consider its prospects
Is there a doctor in the house? Medical provision at live events
No full textEvent organisers have a duty of care to their attendees that extends to making suitable provisions for their health, safety, and welfare. Organisers are also responsible for ensuring their event does not create unnecessary extra demand on local healthcare services. However, alongside these basic principles lies a complex array of risks, particularly concerning the provision of medical care. This chapter delves into the intricate realm of risk attitudes, specifically regarding medical provision at events within the United Kingdom
Is there a doctor in the house? Addressing the challenges of medical provision for events
No full textThis chapter discusses the challenges of evaluating appropriate medical cover for events through the consideration of risk, attitudes to risk, lack of guidance and practical case studies. There is no consistent, robust guidance at present which leads to a dependence on the event manager to discern the risks involved and select cover within the parameters of budget, scale and stakeholder needs
Is there a doctor in the house? Addressing the challenges of medical provision for events
No full textThis chapter discusses the challenges of evaluating appropriate medical cover for events through the consideration of risk, attitudes to risk, lack of guidance and practical case studies. There is no consistent, robust guidance at present which leads to a dependence on the event manager to discern the risks involved and select cover within the parameters of budget, scale and stakeholder needs
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
The impact of hotspot-targeted interventions on malaria transmission: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial.
No full textBACKGROUND: Malaria transmission is highly heterogeneous in most settings, resulting in the formation of recognizable malaria hotspots. Targeting these hotspots might represent a highly efficacious way of controlling or eliminating malaria if the hotspots fuel malaria transmission to the wider community. METHODS/DESIGN: Hotspots of malaria will be determined based on spatial patterns in age-adjusted prevalence and density of antibodies against malaria antigens apical membrane antigen-1 and merozoite surface protein-1. The community effect of interventions targeted at these hotspots will be determined. The intervention will comprise larviciding, focal screening and treatment of the human population, distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. The impact of the intervention will be determined inside and up to 500 m outside the targeted hotspots by PCR-based parasite prevalence in cross-sectional surveys, malaria morbidity by passive case detection in selected facilities and entomological monitoring of larval and adult Anopheles populations. DISCUSSION: This study aims to provide direct evidence for a community effect of hotspot-targeted interventions. The trial is powered to detect large effects on malaria transmission in the context of ongoing malaria interventions. Follow-up studies will be needed to determine the effect of individual components of the interventions and the cost-effectiveness of a hotspot-targeted approach, where savings made by reducing the number of compounds that need to receive interventions should outweigh the costs of hotspot-detection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01575613. The protocol was registered online on 20 March 2012; the first community was randomized on 26 March 2012
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