1,142 research outputs found
Plasmodium infection and its risk factors in eastern Uganda.
No full textBACKGROUND: Malaria is a leading cause of disease burden in Uganda, although surprisingly few contemporary, age-stratified data exist on malaria epidemiology in the country. This report presents results from a total population survey of malaria infection and intervention coverage in a rural area of eastern Uganda, with a specific focus on how risk factors differ between demographic groups in this population. METHODS: In 2008, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in four contiguous villages in Mulanda, sub-county in Tororo district, eastern Uganda, to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of Plasmodium species infection. All permanent residents were invited to participate, with blood smears collected from 1,844 individuals aged between six months and 88 years (representing 78% of the population). Demographic, household and socio-economic characteristics were combined with environmental data using a Geographical Information System. Hierarchical models were used to explore patterns of malaria infection and identify individual, household and environmental risk factors. RESULTS: Overall, 709 individuals were infected with Plasmodium, with prevalence highest among 5-9 year olds (63.5%). Thin films from a random sample of 20% of parasite positive participants showed that 94.0% of infections were Plasmodium falciparum and 6.0% were P. malariae; no other species or mixed infections were seen. In total, 68% of households owned at least one mosquito although only 27% of school-aged children reported sleeping under a net the previous night. In multivariate analysis, infection risk was highest amongst children aged 5-9 years and remained high in older children. Risk of infection was lower for those that reported sleeping under a bed net the previous night and living more than 750 m from a rice-growing area. After accounting for clustering within compounds, there was no evidence for an association between infection prevalence and socio-economic status, and no evidence for spatial clustering. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that mosquito net usage remains inadequate and is strongly associated with risk of malaria among school-aged children. Infection risk amongst adults is influenced by proximity to potential mosquito breeding grounds. Taken together, these findings emphasize the importance of increasing net coverage, especially among school-aged children
Supplemental video 1 and video 2 to preprint article: Surface acoustic wave integrated microfluidics for repetitive and reversible temporary immobilization of C. elegans
No full textNo audio.The ZIP file contains two supplemental videos to the preprint article: BIORXIV/2022/496864; Surface Acoustic Wave Integrated Microfluidics for Repetitive and Reversible Temporary Immobilization of C. elegans by Nakul Sridhar, Apresio Kefin Fajrial, Rachel L. Doser, Frederic L. Hoerndli, and Xiaoyun Ding
"No more canaries in the coal mine!": reimagining the lead-poisoning risk-subject and possibilities for change
No full textDespite federal, state and municipal policies implemented since the early 20th century to reduce the prevalence of lead poisoning there are still many people living in the United States who are at-risk of being exposed to lead. In an effort to reduce lead poisoning risk further in the United States this thesis examines how various lead poisoning experts in Mercer County, New Jersey define and perceive the “lead-poisoning risk-subject.” By means of analyzing how lead poisoning experts perceive the risk of lead poisoning this research works towards understanding and deconstructing the underlying assumptions pervading within experts’ discourses surrounding who lead effects, where it is most prevalent, and what the most effective solutions are in reducing the sources of lead exposure. This research adds to the current lead poisoning literature by means of pointing out the limitations of using risk factors to define lead poisoning risk and offering a new framework through which lead poisoning risk may be more productively measured. Furthermore, this research argues that in order for there to be a permanent reduction of the sources of lead exposure the “lead problem” needs to be re-politicized and constructed as a problem which effects a variety of people living across geographical, racial and class boundaries. By means of making lead poisoning into a problem the public can “see” we may be able to truly make lead poisoning a thing of the past.M.A.Includes bibliographical referencesby Rachel L. Sutto
Basil Glynn, The Mummy on Screen: Orientalism and Monstrosity in Horror Cinema
No full textBasil Glynn, The Mummy on Screen: Orientalism and Monstrosity in Horror Cinema. Bloomsbury Academic, 2020. Pp. 216. ISBN: 9781350194830 Author: Rachel L. Carazo, University of Southern Mississippi & St. Thomas University ‘Unraveling’ the Cinematic History of the Mummy and ‘Bandaging’ its Marginalized Past Unwrapping mummies has sometimes been a task infused with problematic social implications, for these beings, the once-living, have caused many critics to urge scientists and historians to p..
Level 2: A L\u27hopital / To The Hospital
No full textI dedicate this book to my family whom I love very much. We have different tastes and different opinions, but we love each other very much. This book is a donation to the non-governmental organization Seeds of Knowledge for you on my behalf.
About the author: My name is Rachel Askin. I\u27m American. I am majoring in Asian studies, and I really like languages. My hobbies are: Studying different languages and reading books.
Je dédie ce livre à ma famille que j\u27aime beaucoup. Nous avons des goûts différents et des opinions différentes, mais nous nous aimons beaucoup. Ce livre est un don à l\u27organisme non gouvernemental Seeds of Knowledgepour toi de ma part.
Au sujet de l’auteur:Je m\u27appelle Rachel Askin. Je suis américaine. Je me spécialise en études asiatiques, et j\u27aime beaucoup les langues. Mes loisirs sont: Etudier de différentes langues et lire des livres.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/globallib/1019/thumbnail.jp
Five-year longitudinal assessment of the downstream impact on schistosomiasis transmission following closure of the Three Gorges Dam
No full textBackground: Schistosoma japonicum is a major public health concern in the Peoples' Republic of China (PRC), with about 800,000 people infected and another 50 million living in areas at risk of infection. Based on ecological, environmental, population genetic and molecular factors, schistosomiasis transmission in PRC can be categorised into four discrete ecosystems or transmission modes. It is predicted that, long-term, the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) will impact upon the transmission of schistosomiasis in the PRC, with varying degree across the four transmission modes. Methodology/Principal Findings: We undertook longitudinal surveillance from 2002 to 2006 in sentinel villages of the three transmission modes below the TGD across four provinces (Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei and Anhui) to determine whether there was any immediate impact of the TGD on schistosomiasis transmission. Eight sentinel villages were selected to represent both province and transmission mode. The primary end point measured was human incidence. Here we present the results of this five-year longitudinal cohort study. Results showed that the incidence of human S. japonicum infection declined considerably within individual villages and overall mode over the course of the study. This is also reflected in the yearly odds ratios (adjusted) for infection risk that showed significant (
Keeping Pace with Interstitial Cells of Cajal: Modelling Gastrointestinal Electrophysiology
No full textGastrointestinal (GI) motility is coordinated by several cooperating mechanisms, including myogenic, neural and hormonal control systems. This thesis focuses on one of these mechanisms: an intrinsic bioelectrical activity called slow waves, which originates in pacemaker cells called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) located within the smooth muscle layers of the GI tract. The mechanism by which ICC generate slow waves is a matter of ongoing research, although rhythmic calcium (Ca2+) oscillations are known to underlie slow wave activity, and both voltage- and Ca2+-dependent ion channels are involved in the pacemaker mechanism. In this thesis, mathematical models of pacemaker activity were developed to investigate the mechanisms by which slow waves are generated and regulated in ICC. The literature was reviewed to determine the ion channels and Ca2+ dynamics likely to contribute to ICC pacemaker activity, particularly the identity of the pacemaker channel that initiates the slow wave and the channels that contribute to the characteristic plateau phase of the slow wave. A pacemaker hypothesis was proposed in which the pacemaker channel is a Ca2+-activated chloride (Cl ) channel called anoctamin 1 (Ano1), which is activated by a localised increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Cyclical release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores is believed to initiate pacemaker activity, so Ano1 was proposed to be activated by Ca2+ in ux through store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) channels. A novel mathematical model of Ano1 current was constructed. The Ano1 model reproduced experimentally observed behaviour, including the steady-state voltage- and Ca2+-dependent activation pro le, slow activation at low [Ca2+]i, rapid activation at high [Ca2+]i, and slow deactivation when [Ca2+]i is reduced. The Ano1 model was then incorporated into a new compartmental model of small intestinal ICC pacemaker activity based on the proposed pacemaker hypothesis. A series of simulations were carried out using the ICC model to investigate current controversies about the reversal potential of the Ano1 Cl current in ICC, and to predict the characteristics of the other ion channels that are necessary to generate slow waves. The model showed that Ano1 is a likely pacemaker channel when coupled to a SOC channel, but predicted that ICC in Ano1 knockout mice may still generate small cyclical depolarisations despite the absence of the pacemaker channel. The results suggested that voltage- or Ca2+-activated non-selective channels or sodium (Na+) channels may contribute to the slow wave plateau phase, whereas voltage-dependent Ca2+ current is likely to be negligible during the plateau. The Cl equilibrium potential was shown to be an important modulator of slow wave morphology, highlighting the need for a better understanding of Cl dynamics in ICC in order to clarify how Ano1 and other Cl currents contribute to the slow wave plateau and repolarisation. The spontaneous pacemaker activity of ICC is also regulated by mechanical inputs. An original model of a mechanosensitive Na+ channel found in human small intestine ICC was developed and incorporated into a previously published small intestine ICC model. Simulation results showed that mechanosensitive changes in the Na+ current caused up to 5% depolarisation of resting membrane potential, 11% increase in slow wave upstroke rate, 5% increase in slow wave duration, and 1% increase in frequency. These results were comparable to the experimentally observed e ects of stretching smooth muscle tissue, indicating that Na+ channel mechanosensitivity can explain the e ects of stretch on slow waves. In summary, this thesis presents: a new model of Ano1 current; the rst ICC model to implement Ano1 as a pacemaker channel and to include store-operated Ca2+ entry as a component of the pacemaker cycle; and the rst model of slow wave regulation by mechanical stimuli
Heterogeneities and consequences of Plasmodium species and hookworm coinfection: a population based study in Uganda.
No full textBACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that helminth infection exacerbates malaria, but few existing epidemiological studies adequately control for infection heterogeneities and confounding factors. In this study, we investigate spatial and household heterogeneities, predictors, and consequences of Plasmodium species and hookworm coinfection in rural communities in Uganda. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1770 individuals aged 0-88 years in 4 villages. We recorded demographic, socioeconomic, and microgeographic factors during household surveys. We determined malaria parasitemia and hemoglobin concentration and collected stool samples on 2 consecutive days. For data analysis, we used a hierarchical, spatially explicit Bayesian framework. RESULTS: Prevalence of Plasmodium-hookworm coinfection was 15.5% overall and highest among school-aged children. We found strong evidence of spatial and household clustering of coinfection and an enduring positive association between Plasmodium-species and hookworm infection among preschool-aged children (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI], 1.26-4.30) and adults (OR, 2.09; 95% BCI, 1.35-3.16) but not among school-aged children. Coinfection was associated with lower hemoglobin level only among school-aged children. CONCLUSIONS: Plasmodium-hookworm coinfection exhibits marked age dependency and significant spatial and household heterogeneity, and among preschool-aged children and adults, occurs more than would be expected by chance. Such heterogeneities provide insight into factors underlying observed patterns and the design of integrated control strategies
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