227 research outputs found
Effect of Improved Access to Antiretroviral Therapy on Clinical Characteristics of Patients Enrolled in the HIV Care and Treatment Clinic, at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
No full text\ud
Sub-Saharan Africa has been severely affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Global efforts at improving care and treatment has included scaling up use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In Tanzania, HIV care and treatment program, including the provision of free ART started in 2004 with a pilot program at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. This study describes the socio-demographic and clinical features of patients enrolled at the care and treatment clinic at MNH, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study looking at baseline characteristics of patients enrolled at the HIV clinic at MNH between June 2004-Dec 2005 compared to those enrolled between 2006 and September 2008. Of all enrolled patients, 2408 (58.5%) were used for analysis. More females than males were attending the clinic. Their baseline median CD4 cell count was low (136 cells/microl) with 65.7% having below 200 cells/microl. Females had higher CD4 cell counts (150 cells/microl) than males (109 cells/microl) p < 0.001). The most common presenting features were skin rash and/or itching (51.6%); progressive weight loss (32.7%) and fever (23.4). Patients enrolled earlier at the clinic (2004-5) were significantly more symptomatic and had significantly lower CD4 cell count (127 cells/microl) compared to CD4 of 167 cells/microl in those seen later (2006-8) (p < 0.001). Patients enrolled to the MNH HIV clinic were predominantly females, and presented with advanced immune-deficiency. Improved access to HIV care and treatment services seems to be associated with patients' early presentation to the clinics in the course of HIV disease.\u
The Perceptions on Male Circumcision as a Preventive Measure Against HIV Infection and Considerations in Scaling up of the Services: A Qualitative Study Among Police Officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
No full text\ud
In recent randomized controlled trials, male circumcision has been proven to complement the available biomedical interventions in decreasing HIV transmission from infected women to uninfected men. Consequently, Tanzania is striving to scale-up safe medical male circumcision to reduce HIV transmission. However, there is a need to investigate the perceptions of male circumcision in Tanzania using specific populations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the perceptions of male circumcision in a cohort of police officers that also served as a source of volunteers for a phase I/II HIV vaccine (HIVIS-03) trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In-depth interviews with 24 men and 10 women were conducted. Content analysis informed by the socio-ecological model was used to analyze the data. Informants perceived male circumcision as a health-promoting practice that may prevent HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections. They reported male circumcision promotes sexual pleasure, confidence and hygiene or sexual cleanliness. They added that it is a religious ritual and a cultural practice that enhances the recognition of manhood in the community. However, informants were concerned about the cost involved in male circumcision and cleanliness of instruments used in medical and traditional male circumcision. They also expressed confusion about the shame of undergoing circumcision at an advanced age and pain that could emanate after circumcision. The participants advocated for health policies that promote medical male circumcision at childhood, specifically along with the vaccination program. The perceived benefit of male circumcision as a preventive strategy to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is important. However, there is a need to ensure that male circumcision is conducted under hygienic conditions. Integrating male circumcision service in the routine childhood vaccination program may increase its coverage at early childhood. The findings from this investigation provide contextual understanding that may assist in scaling-up male circumcision in Tanzania.\u
A Qualitative Evaluation of Volunteers' Experiences in a Phase I/II HIV Vaccine Trial in Tanzania.
No full textEvaluating experiences of volunteers in an HIV vaccine trial will be useful for the conduct of future trials. The purpose of this study among volunteers who participated in a phase I/II HIV vaccine trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was to assess what characterized their experiences during the trial. We conducted four focus group discussions with 35 out of the 60 individuals (women and men) after the five scheduled vaccinations. An interpretive description approach was applied to data analysis. As a result of the trial interventions, both men and women gained confidence in their own abilities to have safer, less risky sexual behaviour. The participants experienced the trial as a way of accessing free [insured] medical services. Most of the men said they had gone from self-medication to professional medical consultation. Despite these benefits, the participants faced various challenges during the trial. Such challenges included mistrust of the trial shown by health care providers who were not connected to the trial and discouragement from friends, colleagues and family members who questioned the safety of the trial. However, they managed to cope with these doubts by using both personal and trial related interventions. We found that during the phase I/II HIV vaccine trial, participants had both the opportunities and the ability to cope with the doubts from the surrounding community. Follow up visits enhanced the opportunities and individuals' abilities to cope with the doubts during the trial. Understanding this discourse may be useful for the trial implementers when designing future trials.\ud
\ud
\ud
\u
The Constitutionality of Chemical Test Presumptions of Intoxication in Motor Vehicle Statutes
No full textThis Article explores the state statutes that create a presumption that a person is intoxicated if his blood alcohol concentration is greater than a specified percentage, usually that of 0.10 percent. The author examines the validity of these presumptions in light of recent Supreme Court decisions on the constitutionality of presumptions, with special focus on the Court\u27s decisions in County Court of Ulster County v. Allen and Sandstrom v. Montana. He examines these decisions, and outlines the standards established by these cases. He then applies these standards to four types of presumptions and inferences that have been created via statute. The author concludes that, under the new standards, many of these statutory presumptions and inferences are unconstitutional
Studies of carbohydrate structure, properties and interactions by nmr spectroscopy
No full textIn this thesis the structure, properties and interactions of different types of carbohydrates were investigated by NMR spectroscopy.
The structures of kappa- (κ) and kappa/mu- (κ/μ) carrageenan oligosaccharides were analyzed by studying the hydroxy protons. It was shown that a hydrogen bonding interaction is present across the 1-4 glycosidic linkages of μ-carrabiose in the κμκ hexa- and κμμκ octasaccharides. The occurrence of hydrogen bonding in κ/μ-carrageenan oligosaccharides may suggest that μ-carrabiose units, mostly found in the non-helicoidal regions of κ-carrageenans have an underestimated role in the structural organization of the κ-carrageenan gel network.
Hydroxy proton NMR was also used to study the effect of trehalose on the hydration and hydrogen bonding in lactose in aqueous solutions. The small effects of trehalose on the hydration and hydrogen bonding interaction in lactose were very similar to those found for sucrose. The results suggested that, at concentrations below 40% (w/w), it is the concentration of hydroxy groups that governs sugar-sugar and sugar-water interactions rather than the type of sugar.
A method using diffusion-edited NMR spectroscopy was developed for solvent suppression when determining the mannuronic (M) to guluronic (M) acid ratio in alginate polysaccharides. The method could be employed to determine the M/G-ratio at temperatures below 50 °C. Through all of the work in the thesis diffusion-edited NMR experiments also proved to be practical for studies of biomolecules, to for example selectively remove interfering signals from buffer to enable the interpretation of sample signals.
The activities and specificities of four different glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sulfatases from the human gut commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron were determined. One of the sulfatases, BT3349, was found to be the first bacterial GAG endolytic-O-sulfatase, with chondroitin specific GalNAc-4-O-sulfatase activity. The other three enzymes were shown to possess strictly exolytic activity, BT3333 as a GalNAc-6-O-sulfatase, BT4656 as a GlcNAc-6-O-sulfatase and the third one, BT1596, as a Δ-4-hexuronate-2-O-sulfatase
The ATLAS(3D) Project - XXVIII. Dynamically driven star formation suppression in early-type galaxies
No full textWe present measurements of the star formation rate (SFR) in theearly-type galaxies (ETGs) of the ATLAS3D sample, based on Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) 22um and Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) far-ultraviolet emission. We combine these with gas masses estimated from 12CO and HI data in order to investigate the star formation efficiency (SFE) in a larger sample of ETGs than previously available. We first recalibrate (based on WISE data) the relation between old stellar populations (traced at Ks-band) and 22um luminosity, allowing us to remove the contribution of 22um emission from circumstellar dust. We then go on to investigate the position of ETGs on the Kennicutt-Schmidt (KS) relation. Molecular gas-rich ETGs have comparable star formation surface densities to normal spiral galaxy centres, but they lie systematically offset from the KS relation, having lower star formation efficiencies by a factor of ~2.5 (in agreement with other authors). This effect is driven by galaxies where a substantial fraction of the molecular material is in the rising part of the rotation curve, and shear is high. We show here for the first time that although the number of stars formed per unit gas mass per unit time is lower in ETGs, it seems that the amount of stars formed per free-fall time is approximately constant. The scatter around this dynamical relation still correlates with galaxy properties such as the shape of the potential in the inner regions. This leads us to suggest that dynamical properties (such as shear or the global stability of the gas) may be important second parameters that regulate star formation and cause much of the scatter around star-formation relations.Peer reviewe
Declining HIV-1 Prevalence and Incidence among Police Officers - A potential Cohort for HIV Vaccine Trials, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
No full textA safe effective and affordable HIV vaccine is the most cost effective way to prevent HIV infection worldwide. Current studies of HIV prevalence and incidence are needed to determine potentially suitable cohorts for vaccine studies. The prevalence and incidence of HIV-1 infection among the police in Dar es Salaam in 1996 were 13.8% and 19.6/1000 PYAR respectively. This study aimed at determining the current prevalence and incidence of HIV in a police cohort 10 years after a similar study was conducted. Police officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were prospectively enrolled into the study from 2005 and followed-up in an incidence study three years later. HIV infection was determined by two sequential enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in the prevalence study and discordant results between two ELISAs were resolved by a Western blot assay. Rapid HIV assays (SD Bioline and Determine) were used for the incidence study. A total of 1,240 police participated in the HIV prevalence study from August 2005 to November 2008. Of these, 1101 joined the study from August 2005-September 2007 and an additional 139 were recruited between October 2007 to November 2008 while conducting the incidence study. A total of 726 (70%) out of the 1043 eligible police participated in the incidence study.The overall HIV-1 prevalence was 65/1240 (5.2%). Females had a non-statistically significant higher prevalence of HIV infection compared to males 19/253, (7.5%) vs. 46/987 (4.7%) respectively (p = 0.07). The overall incidence of HIV-1 was 8.4 per 1000 PYAR (95% CI 4.68-14.03), and by gender was 8.8 and 6.9 per 1000 PYAR, among males and females respectively, (p = 0.82). The HIV prevalence and incidence among the studied police has declined over the past 10 years, and therefore this cohort is better suited for phase I/II HIV vaccine studies than for efficacy trials
Balancing Collective Responsibility, Individual Opportunities and Risks: A Qualitative Study on How Police Officers Reason Around Volunteering in an HIV Vaccine Trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
No full textResults from HIV vaccine trials on potential volunteers will contribute to global efforts to develop an HIV vaccine. The purpose of this study among police officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was to explore the underlying reasons that induce people to enrol in an HIV vaccine trial.\ud
We conducted discussions with eight focus groups, containing a total of 66 police officers. The information collected was analyzed using interpretive description. The results showed that participants were motivated to participate in the trial by altruism, and that the participants experienced some concerns about their participation. They stated that altruism in the fight against HIV infection was the main reason for enrolling in the trial. However, young participants were seriously concerned about a possible loss of close relationships if they enrolled in the HIV vaccine trial. Both men and women feared the effect of the trial on their reproductive biology, and they feared interference with pregnancy norms. They were unsure about risks such as the risks of acquiring HIV infection and of suffering physical harm, and they were unsure of the intentions of the researchers conducting the trial. Further, enrolling in the trial required medical examination, and this led some participants to fear that unknown diseases would be revealed. Other participants, however, saw an opportunity to obtain free health services.\ud
We have shown that specific fears are important concerns when recruiting volunteers to an HIV vaccine trial. More knowledge is needed to determine participants' views and to ensure that they understand the conduct of the trial and the reasons it is being carried out
An introduction to the applicability of qualitative research methodologies to the field of Library and Information Sciences
No full textThis is the original pre-print written on the 17 November 2003 which eventually got published in 2006 –see its history of publication inside the actual document--, and since the article got originally reduced by the editors of Liber of the Mexican Association of Librarians then this original pre-print includes many examples excluded there by Liber's editors. This is an introductory work to the qualitative research methodologies and methods aplied to the Library and Information Studies (LIS) field, as a way to expand the horizons of librarians so they might be able to explore different roads to improve the common telology of LIS which is basically to fuse the library (informational - cognitive) services with the needs and issues, wishes and dreams of society in its respective communities. It argues for the demystification of LIS research which is impregnated with an halo and cult almost mystical that far from motivating librarians both practical and teorethical to carry out research work in a daily basis, it plays an inhibitor role affecting not only the development of LIS research, but the LIS profession itself; this demystification implies that research could be for everyone who wants it to. It also argues that it is necessary to study in depth the epistemological debate in LIS to promote LIS research as a sub-discipline and the education and training of LIS researchers in order to transform such a plausible activity into an attractive one that becomes even a fun thing to do. The author considers that the examples of applicabilities of qualitative research in LIS given here, but which they could not be included in the published version due to the barriers impossed by the editors of Liber the journal of the Mexican Association of Librarians, are worthwhile to be known by the community interested in these methodologies and it is for them that this original draft is open to the public, thanks to the request of a colleague.
This draft, after many unexplained acts of negligence and censorship by the Chairs of the Mexican Association of Librarians and the other editors of their association journal Liber, during the period of 2004-2005, finally was partly published by this Peruvian journal:
Muela-Meza, Zapopan Martín (2006) Una introducción a las metodologías de investigación cualitativa aplicadas a la bibliotecología. BiblioDocencia : Revista de Profesores de Bibliotecología 2(12):pp. 4-12.
http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00006732
IceCube-Gen2: A Vision for the Future of Neutrino Astronomy in Antarctica
No full text20 pages, 12 figures. Address correspondence to: E. Blaufuss, F. Halzen, C. Kopper (Changed to add one missing author, no other changes from initial version.)20 pages, 12 figures. Address correspondence to: E. Blaufuss, F. Halzen, C. Kopper (Changed to add one missing author, no other changes from initial version.)20 pages, 12 figures. Address correspondence to: E. Blaufuss, F. Halzen, C. Kopper (Changed to add one missing author, no other changes from initial version.)The recent observation by the IceCube neutrino observatory of an astrophysical flux of neutrinos represents the "first light" in the nascent field of neutrino astronomy. The observed diffuse neutrino flux seems to suggest a much larger level of hadronic activity in the non-thermal universe than previously thought and suggests a rich discovery potential for a larger neutrino observatory. This document presents a vision for an substantial expansion of the current IceCube detector, IceCube-Gen2, including the aim of instrumenting a volume of clear glacial ice at the South Pole to deliver substantial increases in the astrophysical neutrino sample for all flavors. A detector of this size would have a rich physics program with the goal to resolve the sources of these astrophysical neutrinos, discover GZK neutrinos, and be a leading observatory in future multi-messenger astronomy programs
- …
