2,158 research outputs found
Factors influencing research data communication on Zika virus: a grounded theory
Full text linkPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model to illustrate factors influencing research data communication on diseases caused by the Zika virus. Design/methodology/approach – The grounded theory methodology was adopted. For data collection, interviews were conducted with 13 Brazilian researchers involved with the Zika virus theme. Data analysis was performed using the open, axial and selective coding processes, according to the principles of the grounded theory. Findings – Based on data collection and analysis, seven theoretical categories representing intervening factors in Zika virus research data communication were identified. The emerging theory showed the centrality of researchers’ expectations for acknowledgment and reward, influenced by the aspects of research funding and academic culture. Three factors involved in the macro processes of research data communication: data use, data production and data sharing. In the use and production processes, factors related to collaboration figured most strongly. In the production and sharing processes, the factors regarding data processing and the use of research data repositories were more pronounced. Finally, data sharing, and the possibility of reusing data are directly affected by the social context of Zika virus disease as an emerging disease. Originality/value – The study presents a theory developed systematically to explain the phenomenon of communication of research data on Zika virus. The theory presents a set of intervening factors of the process of communication of research data and discusses the factors in light of the fundamentals of information scienc
Detection of Autochthonous Zika Virus Transmission in Sincelejo, Colombia.
No full textArtículo digitalDuring October–November 2015, a total of 22 patients received a presumptive diagnosis of an acute viral illness by emergency department physicians at the Centro de Diagnostico Medico-Universidad de Sucre in Sincelejo. The patients began treatment for a dengue-like illness, and blood samples were obtained for diagnosis. The samples were analyzed at the Universidad de Sucre by using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to detect DENV, CHIKV, or Zika virus. Viral RNA was extracted from the serum samples by using the ZR Viral RNA Kit (Zymo Research, Irvine, CA, USA); reverse transcription was performed by using the Protoscript First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA). Amplicons were produced by using the OneTaq Quick-Load 2X Master Mix (New England Biolabs) with primers specific to DENV (7), CHIKV (forward: 5′-CGCCAACATTCTGCTTACAC-3′; reverse: 5′-AGGATGCCGGTCATTTGAT-3′), and Zika virus.
Vertical Heat Transport by Ocean Circulation and the Role of Mechanical and Haline Forcing
Full text linkVertical transport of heat by ocean circulation is investigated using a coupled climate model and novel thermodynamic methods. Using a streamfunction in temperature–depth coordinates, cells are identified by whether they are thermally direct (flux heat upward) or indirect (flux heat downward). These cells are then projected into geographical and other thermodynamic coordinates. Three cells are identified in the model: a thermally direct cell coincident with Antarctic Bottom Water, a thermally indirect deep cell coincident with the upper limb of the meridional overturning circulation, and a thermally direct shallow cell coincident with the subtropical gyres at the surface. The mechanisms maintaining the thermally indirect deep cell are investigated. Sinking water within the deep cell is more saline than that which upwells, because of the coupling between the upper limb and the subtropical gyres in a broader thermohaline circulation. Despite the higher salinity of its sinking water, the deep cell transports buoyancy downward, requiring a source of mechanical energy. Experiments run to steady state with increasing Southern Hemisphere westerlies show an increasing thermally indirect circulation. These results suggest that heat can be pumped downward by the upper limb of the meridional overturning circulation through a combination of salinity gain in the subtropics and the mechanical forcing provided by Southern Hemisphere westerly winds
ZIKA: A New System to Empower Health Workers and Local Communities to Improve Surveillance Protocols by E-learning and to Forecast Zika Virus in Real Time in Brazil
Full text linkThe devastating consequences of neonates infected with the Zika virus makes it necessary to fight and stop the spread of this virus and its vectors (Aedes mosquitoes). An essential part of the fight against mosquitoes is the use of mobile technology to support routine surveillance and risk assessment by community health workers (health agents). In addition, to improve early warning systems, the public health authorities need to forecast more accurately where an outbreak of the virus and its vector is likely to occur. The ZIKΛ system aims to develop a novel comprehensive framework that combines e-learning to empower health agents, community-based participatory surveillance, and forecasting of occurrences and distribution of the Zika virus and its vectors in real time. This system is currently being implemented in Brazil, in the cities of Campina Grande, Recife, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, and Olinda, the State of Pernambuco and Paraiba with the highest prevalence of the Zika virus disease. In this paper, we present the ZIKA system which helps health agents to learn new techniques and good practices to improve the surveillance of the virus and offer a real time distribution forecast of the virus and the vector. The forecast model is recalibrated in real time with information coming from health agents, governmental institutions, and weather stations to predict the areas with higher risk of a Zika virus outbreak in an interactive map. This mapping and alert system will help governmental institutions to make fast decisions and use their resources more efficiently to stop the spread of the Zika virus. The ZIKA app was developed and built in Ionic which allows for easy cross-platform rendering for both iOS and Android. The system presented in the current paper is one of the first systems combining public health surveillance, citizen-driven participatory reporting and weather data-based prediction. The implementation of the ZIKA system will reduce the devastating consequences of Zika virus in neonates and improve the life quality of vulnerable people in Brazil
Consideration of Interference Correlation Properties in a JD-CDMA Mobile Radio System with Coherent Receiver Antenna Diversity
No full textIn code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile radio systems, both intersymbol interference and multiple access interference arise which can be combatted by using Joint Detection (JD) techniques, to reduce the degradation in performance resulting from time variance, coherent receiver antenna diversity (CRAD) can be used. The application of JD techniques offers the possibility to exploit the knowledge of noise covariances at the receiver. If only intercell (cochannel) interference is considered, the noise covariances in the uplink receiver of a multiple receiver antenna CDMA mobile radio system depend mainly on the directions of arrival (DOAs) of the interfering signals and the receiver antenna placement. Therefore, if the interferer DOAs are known at the base station, these covariances could be estimated. In this thesis, a realistic model of the uplink of a JD CDMA mobile radio system with CRAD is described in which the above mentioned interference cancelling method is used. Simulation results according to this model are given and evaluated.Applied SciencesElectrical EngineeringTelecommunications and Traffic Control Systems Grou
Enfermedad por virus Zika. Revisión: ¿Que debemos saber?, ¿Cómo debemos actuar?, ¿Por qué es una alerta sanitaria?
No full textIllness or fever Zika is a benign febrile disease, zoonotic, vector-borne, acute course, emerging, self-limited and caused by Zika (ZIKAV) virus, was initially reported in Africa and Asia, but now has spread widely much of the American countries. Confirmatory diagnosis of the disease requires specialized testing and treatment is only symptomatic, with prevention of mosquito bites the best strategy to reduce its presentation. Despite being a disease that can take asymptomatic or very mild and very rarely fatal clinical manifestations, he has caught alerts health by progressive and rapid spread also to be associated with neurological, eye and joint congenital malformations in some cases irreversible.La enfermedad o fiebre del Zika es una enfermedad febril, zoonótica, transmitida por vectores, de curso agudo, emergente, autolimitada y benigna, causada por el virus Zika (ZIKAV), Se reportó inicialmente en Africa y Asia, pero actualmente se ha propagado ampliamente a gran parte de los países americanos. El diagnóstico confirmatorio de la enfermedad requiere pruebas especializadas, y su tratamiento es solamente sintomático, siendo la prevención de la picadura del mosquito la mejor estrategia para disminuir su presentación. A pesar de ser una enfermedad que puede cursar asintomática o con una manifestaciones clínicas muy benignas y muy raramente mortal, ha prendido las alertas en salud por su progresiva y rápida propagación además de estar asociada a malformaciones congénitas neurológicas, oftálmicas y articulares, en algunos casos irreversibles
Nivel de conocimientos y su relación con las actitudes y prácticas preventivas del Zika
No full textObjective. This correlational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge and its relationship with attitudes and Zika’s preventive practices in the district of Chepen, La Libertad, Peru, 2017. Materials and methods. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices was applied to a sample of 284 adult persons, with an average age of 37 years. Results. The results showed that the level of general knowledge about zika was regular at 79% and good at 21%. As for the most common zika’s preventive practices carried out by the inhabitants of Chepén, 83% mentioned that they frequently washed their water tanks, 77% used a brush and detergent to wash the tanks with water and 75% placed a lid over the tanks with water. Conclusions. There is a significant relationship between level of knowledge and sika’s preventive practices (p<0.05).In addition, regular knowledge is a risk factor (OR: 5, CI: 2.073-10.063) for inadequate zika’s preventive practice; people with regular knowledge are 5 times more likely to have inadequate preventive practices. However, the level of knowledge does not have a significant relationship with attitudes towards the prevention of zika (p>0.05).Objetivo. Este estudio descriptivo correlacional de corte transversal; se realizó para determinar el nivel de conocimientos y su relación con las actitudes y prácticas preventivas del Zika en el distrito de Chepen - La Libertad Perú. 2017. Materiales y métodos. Se aplicó un cuestionario sobre conocimiento, actitudes y prácticas preventivas en una muestra de 284 personas adultas, con una edad promedio de 37 años. Resultados. Los resultados demuestran que el nivel de conocimiento general sobre zika fue regular en un 79% y bueno en un 21%. En cuanto a las prácticas preventivas de zika más comunes que realizan los habitantes de Chepén, un 83% mencionan que lavan frecuentemente los depósitos de agua, 77% usan cepillo y detergente para lavar los depósitos con agua y 75% coloca una tapa sobre los depósitos con agua. Conclusiones. El nivel de conocimiento tiene una relación significativa con las practicas preventivas del zika (p<0.05). Además, el nivel de conocimiento regular constituye un factor de riesgo (OR: 5, IC: 2.073-10.063) para la inadecuada practica preventiva del zika, siendo que las personas con un nivel de conocimiento regular tienen 5 veces mayor probabilidad de tener prácticas preventivas inadecuadas. Sin embargo el nivel de conocimiento no tiene una relación significativa con las actitudes hacia la prevención del zika (p>0.05)
Rev Med Panama
Full text linkThe purpose of this review is to provide Latin America's and the region's healthcare professionals with an overview of the current situation related to Zika virus (ZIKAV), and at the same time, to provide relevant clinical and molecular knowledge against this emerging problem. We expect to have a positive impact in diagnostic, surveillance and treatment of this viral disease, specially in those endemic communities, as part of a collective effort against the virus. This review will be distributed as hard-copy and online as a public health and epidemiological initiative.U01 IP000791/IP/NCIRD CDC HHSUnited States
Dairy farmers’ perceptions toward the implementation of on-farm Johne’s disease prevention and control strategies
No full textmplementation of specific management strategies on dairy farms is currently the most effective way to reduce the prevalence of Johne’s disease (JD), an infectious chronic enteritis of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). However, dairy farmers often fail to implement recommended strategies. The objective of this study was to assess perceptions of farmers participating in a JD prevention and control program toward recommended practices, and explore factors that influence whether or not a farmer adopts risk-reducing measures for MAP transmission. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 dairy farmers enrolled in a voluntary JD control program in Alberta, Canada. Principles of classical grounded theory were used for participant selection, interviewing, and data analysis. Additionally, demographic data and MAP infection status were collected and analyzed using quantitative questionnaires and the JD control program database. Farmers’ perceptions were distinguished according to 2 main categories: first, their belief in the importance of JD, and second, their belief in recommended JD prevention and control strategies. Based on these categories, farmers were classified into 4 groups: proactivists, disillusionists, deniers, and unconcerned. The first 2 groups believed in the importance of JD, and proactivists and unconcerned believed in proposed JD prevention and control measures. Groups that regarded JD as important had better knowledge about best strategies to reduce MAP transmission and had more JD risk assessments conducted on their farm. Although not quantified, it also appeared that these groups had more JD prevention and control practices in place. However, often JD was not perceived as a problem in the herd and generally farmers did not regard JD control as a “hot topic” in communications with their herd veterinarian and other farmers. Recommendations regarding how to communicate with farmers and motivate various groups of farmers according to their specific perceptions were provided to optimize adoption of JD prevention and control measures and thereby increase success of voluntary JD control programs
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