46 research outputs found
Antibody acquisition models: a new tool for serological surveillance of malaria transmission intensity
Get PDFSerology has become an increasingly important tool for the surveillance of a wide range of infectious diseases. It has been particularly useful to monitor malaria transmission in elimination settings where existing metrics such as parasite prevalence and incidence of clinical cases are less sensitive. Seroconversion rates, based on antibody prevalence to Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood-stage antigens, provide estimates of transmission intensity that correlate with entomological inoculation rates but lack precision in settings where seroprevalence is still high. Here we present a new and widely applicable method, based on cross-sectional data on individual antibody levels. We evaluate its use as a sero-surveillance tool in a Tanzanian setting with declining malaria prevalence. We find that the newly developed mathematical models produce more precise estimates of transmission patterns, are robust in high transmission settings and when sample sizes are small, and provide a powerful tool for serological evaluation of malaria transmission intensity
Suppression of Plasmodium falciparum Infections during Concomitant Measles or Influenza but not during Pertussis
No full textExtensive dynamics of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>densities, stages and genotyping profiles
No full textAbstract Background Individuals living in areas of high malaria transmission often have different Plasmodium falciparum clones detected in the peripheral blood over time. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of asymptomatic P. falciparum infections in a few hours intervals. Methods Capillary blood samples were collected 6-hourly during five days from asymptomatic children in a highly endemic area in Tanzania. Parasite densities and maturation stages were investigated by light microscopy. Types and number of clones were analysed by PCR based genotyping of the polymorphic merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 genes. Results: Parasite densities and maturation stages fluctuated 48-hourly with a gradual shift into more mature forms. Various genotyping patterns were observed in repeated samples over five days with only few samples with identical profiles. Up to six alleles differed in samples collected six hours apart in the same individual. Conclusion This detailed assessment highlights the extensive within-host dynamics of P. falciparum populations and the limitations of single blood samples to determine parasite densities, stages and genotyping profiles in a malaria infected individual.</p
Plasmodium falciparum Reinfection in Children from a Holoendemic Area in Relation to Seroreactivities against Oligopeptides from Different Malaria Antigens
No full textAntillean Cyanophyceae from salt-pans and marine localities
No full textA number of samples from salt-pans collected by J. Rooth in Bonaire and by Miss T. M. Emeis in Curasao were handed over to the author for identification. Frémy (1941) has published a list of Cyanophyceae collected by Wagenaar Hummelinck in Bonaire, Klein Bonaire and Curaçao in 1930 and 1932. Among the last mentioned collection there were samples from the same salt-pans in Bonaire, where also J. Rooth did his collecting. It is interesting to compare both results.
Dr Fr. Drouet had the kindness to procure some identifications for this part as well as for part II
ARIADNE beheerscentrale
No full textIn dit verslag wordt voor het ARIADNE route geleidingssysteem een beschrijving gegeven van de communicatie procedures tussen knooppuntscentrum en voertuig en tussen beheerscentrum en knooppuntscentra. Voorts wordt een brug open/dicht algorithme beschreven.Applied SciencesElectrotechniekAutomatische Verkeerssysteme
Scientific (Wo)manpower? Gender and the Composition and Earnings of PhDs in Sweden
Get PDFAlthough the share of female PhDs has increased explosively since the 1980s, little research has focused on the utilisation and remuneration of female versus male scientific human capital. Using rich Swedish cross-sectional register data on the stock of PhDs in 2004, this paper analyses to what extent men and women choose academic versus non-academic employment, and to what earnings differences these choices lead. Results show that women are significantly less likely than men to be academically employed in the natural sciences and medicine, whereas no significant gender differences prevail for the social sciences and the humanities. On average, women earn 15 per cent less than men, and the academically employed earn 24 per cent less than PhDs outside academia. Gender earnings differences are larger in the academic than in the non-academic labour market in the humanities and the natural sciences, whereas the opposite holds in the social sciences and medicine.gender, earnings, scientific human capital
Analysis of the strategic planning and decision-making process in a hospital setting
Get PDFThe purpose of this project is to demonstrate the application of an integrated strategic planning and decision-making process in a specific health care facility. Various planning and decision-making models are presented and the significant principles are discussed. The models are compared to the actual planning and decision-making process as it occurred at Medical Center of Tarzana in Tarzana, California. Information regarding the actual process was developed as a result of the author's direct observation and participation. Planning data is developed and categorized into external and internal environment groups and is presented as follows: A. External Environment 1. Demographic Assessment 2. Competitive Assessment 3. Regulatory Assessment B. Internal Environment 1. Hosptial Activity Assessment 2. Medical Staff Assessment 3. Financial Assessment The data is analyzed and five planning alternatives are presented. The paper also identifies those issues the hospital governing body considered significant in their selection of specific planning alternatives. These issues include: (1) a positive utilization trend and anticipated service area population growth; (2) the significance of the perinatal and intensive care newborn nursery service; (3) the HSA plan which identified an excess of acute medical-surgical beds, but a shortage of intensive care newborn nursery beds; (4) a supportive medical staff; and (5) pro-forma profitability statements. Significant findings of the paper are: (1) the formation of the Planning Committee, (2) interpretation of the planning data, (3) development of planning alternatives, (4) the Board of Directors' reactions to these alternatives, (5) the adoption of a 20-Year Master Plan, (6) a description of the strategic planning and decision-making process, and (7) recommendations to the Board regarding the Medical Center of Tarzana's planning and decision-making process. Finally, this paper concludes with recommendations by the author regarding the strategic planning and decision-making process as it occurred. These recommendations were discussed with hospital administration, corporate planning staff, and members of the hospital board.Includes bibliographical references (pages 73-78)California State University, Northridge. Department of Health Sciences
Daily Dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum Subpopulations in Asymptomatic Children in a Holoendemic Area
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