1,035 research outputs found
Continued control of pneumococcal disease in the UK - the impact of vaccination
No full textStreptococcus pneumoniae, also known as the pneumococcus, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed and developing world. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were first introduced for routine use in the USA in 2000, although the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was not introduced into the UK's routine childhood immunization programme until September 2006. After its introduction, a marked decrease in the incidence of pneumococcal disease was observed, both in the vaccinated and unvaccinated UK populations. However, pneumococci are highly diverse and serotype prevalence is dynamic. Conversely, PCV7 targets only a limited number of capsular types, which appears to confer a limited lifespan to the observed beneficial effects. Shifts in serotype distribution have been detected for both non-invasive and invasive disease reported since PCV7 introduction, both in the UK and elsewhere. The pneumococcal Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV, Synflorix; GlaxoSmithKline) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13, Prevenar 13; Pfizer) have been newly licensed. The potential coverage of the 10- and 13-valent conjugate vaccines has also altered alongside serotype shifts. Nonetheless, the mechanism of how PCV7 has influenced serotype shift is not clear-cut as the epidemiology of serotype prevalence is complex. Other factors also influence prevalence and incidence of pneumococcal carriage and disease, such as pneumococcal diversity, levels of antibiotic use and the presence of risk groups. Continued surveillance and identification of factors influencing serotype distribution are essential to allow rational vaccine design, implementation and continued effective control of pneumococcal disease
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Benchmark Sketch of Lawrence St. T-Head Station Number: 877-5351, Date: 01/10/1995.
No full textBenchmark Sketch of Lawrence St. T-Head, Station Number: 877-5351, drawn by Tz Jefferies. Date: 01/10/1995.US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Texas General Land Office (GLO), Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and in collaboration and following the standards of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Clonal expansion within pneumococcal serotype 6C after use of seven-valent vaccine
No full textStreptococcus pneumoniae causes invasive infections, primarily at the extremes of life. A seven-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7) is used to protect against invasive pneumococcal disease in children. Within three years of PCV7 introduction, we observed a fourfold increase in serotype 6C carriage, predominantly due to a single clone. We determined the whole-genome sequences of nineteen S. pneumoniae serotype 6C isolates, from both carriage (n = 15) and disease (n = 4) states, to investigate the emergence of serotype 6C in our population, focusing on a single multi-locus sequence type (MLST) clonal complex 395 (CC395). A phylogenetic network was constructed to identify different lineages, followed by analysis of variability in gene sets and sequences. Serotype 6C isolates from this single geographical site fell into four broad phylogenetically distinct lineages. Variation was seen in the 6C capsular locus and in sequences of genes encoding surface proteins. The largest clonal complex was characterised by the presence of lantibiotic synthesis locus. In our population, the 6C capsular locus has been introduced into multiple lineages by independent capsular switching events. However, rapid clonal expansion has occurred within a single MLST clonal complex. Worryingly, plasticity exists within current and potential vaccine-associated loci, a consideration for future vaccine use, target selection and design
Statistical Characterization of Spatial Variability for a Hydraulic Fill Slope
No full textSpatial variability of heterogeneous soils has been known widely. Eurocode 7 draws attention to spatial variability by suggesting reliability based characteristic values and statistical characterization of soil properties. This dissertation describes the statistical characterization of hydraulic sand fill in the Port of Rotterdam for the placement of LNG tanks, Gate terminal. The characterization uses the concept of the critical state approach, Casagrande (1936), based on the particular condition of the soil. In addition, the NorSand model (Jefferies, 1993) has been used to calibrate the sand used for the design of the fill using drained and undrained triaxial tests. The model involves calibration and interpretation stages, where the latter is done using Cone Penetration Test (CPT) from which a state parameter profile is generated.Geo-EngineeringGeotechnologyCivil Engineering and Geoscience
850 μm Observations of the 11 July 1991 Total Solar Eclipse
No full textWe present observations of the 11 July 1991 total solar eclipse made from the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. The 850 μm limb is extended 3380±140 km above the visible limb, and there is a 10% brightening at the extreme limb. The measured limb height agrees with previous work at shorter and longer wavelengths. The run of limb heights with wavelength is well fit by a single electron density scale height. We argue that there is no need to invoke spicule geometry to explain the observations
Death or survival from invasive pneumococcal disease in Scotland: associations with serogroups and multilocus sequence types
No full textWe describe associations between death from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and particular serogroups and sequence types (STs) determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using data from Scotland. All IPD episodes where blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture isolates were referred to the Scottish Haemophilus, Legionella, Meningococcal and Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory (SHLMPRL) from January 1992 to February 2007 were matched to death certification records by the General Register Office for Scotland. This represented 5959 patients. The median number of IPD cases in Scotland each year was 292. Deaths, from any cause, within 30 days of pneumococcal culture from blood or CSF were considered to have IPD as a contributing factor. Eight hundred and thirty-three patients died within 30 days of culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood or CSF [13.95%; 95% confidence interval (13.10, 14.80)]. The highest death rates were in patients over the age of 75. Serotyping data exist for all years but MLST data were only available from 2001 onward. The risk ratio of dying from infection due to particular serogroups or STs compared to dying from IPD due to all other serogroups or STs was calculated. Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing was used. Age adjustment was accomplished using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Serogroups 3, 11 and 16 have increased probability of causing fatal IPD in Scotland while serogroup 1 IPD has a reduced probability of causing death. None of the 20 most common STs were significantly associated with death within 30 days of pneumococcal culture, after age adjustment. We conclude that there is a stronger association between a fatal outcome and pneumococcal capsular serogroup than there is between a fatal outcome and ST
[Political statement soliciting support for Harley Sadler, Candidate for Representative]
No full textA statement of political support soliciting votes for Harley Sadler as a candidate for State Representative from Taylor County [written by T. N. Carswell]. Listing of names attached to the statement of support includes: Dr. Millard A. Jenkins, J. I. Moore, Marvin Lewis, Rupert N. Richardson, Tom. K. Eplin, J. B. Dalton, W. E. Fraley, D. H. Jefferies, E. S. Stewart, H. W. McDade, Grover Nelson, Otis Williams, W. E. Jarrett, C. L. Pritchard, L. Holt Magee, C. W. Rogers, Geo. S. Anderson, J. M. Wagstaff, T. F. Grisham
Temporal analysis of invasive pneumococcal clones from Scotland illustrates fluctuations in diversity of serotype and genotype in the absence of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
No full textIn September 2006, the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7; Prevenar) was introduced into the childhood vaccination schedule in the United Kingdom. We monitored the population of invasive pneumococci in Scotland in the 5 years preceding the introduction of PCV7 by using serogrouping, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and eBURST analysis. Here, we present a unique analysis of a complete national data set of invasive pneumococci over this time. We observed an increase in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by serotypes 1, 4, and 6 and a decrease in serogroup 14-, 19-, and 23-associated disease. Analysis of sequence type (ST) data shows a significant increase in ST306, associated with serotype 1, and a decrease in ST124, associated with serotype 14. There have also been increases in the amounts of IPD caused by ST227 (serotype 1) and ST53 (serotype 8), although these increases were not found to reach significance (P = 0.08 and 0.06, respectively). In the course of the study period preceding the introduction of PCV7, we observed considerable and significant changes in serogroup and clonal distribution over time
Correction for Sormaz et al., Default mode network can support the level of detail in experience during active task states
No full textPSYCHOLOGICAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES Correction for “Default mode network can support the level of detail in experience during active task states,” by Mladen Sormaz, Charlotte Murphy, Hao-ting Wang, Mark Hymers, Theodoros Karapanagiotidis, Giulia Poerio, Daniel S. Margulies, Elizabeth Jefferies, and Jonathan Smallwood, which was first published August 27, 2018; 10.1073/pnas.1721259115 (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 115:9318–9323)
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