115 research outputs found
Diagnostiek van astma bij kinderen (herziene richtlijnen van de sectie kinderlongziekten van de NVK)
No full textDiagnostiek van astma bij kinderen (herziene richtlijnen van de sectie kinderlongziekten van de NVK)
No full textDevelopment of a gravid trap for collecting live malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae s.l.
No full textBACKGROUND: Effective malaria vector control targeting indoor host-seeking mosquitoes has resulted in fewer vectors entering houses in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa, with the proportion of vectors outdoors becoming more important in the transmission of this disease. This study aimed to develop a gravid trap for the outdoor collection of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. based on evaluation and modification of commercially available gravid traps. METHODS: Experiments were implemented in an 80 m(2) semi-field system where 200 gravid Anopheles gambiae s.s. were released nightly. The efficacy of the Box, CDC and Frommer updraft gravid traps was compared. The Box gravid trap was tested to determine if the presence of the trap over water and the trap's sound affected catch size. Mosquitoes approaching the treatment were evaluated using electrocuting nets or detergents added to the water in the trap. Based on the results, a new gravid trap (OviART trap) that provided an open, unobstructed oviposition site was developed and evaluated. RESULTS: Box and CDC gravid traps collected similar numbers (relative rate (RR) 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-1.2; p = 0.284), whereas the Frommer trap caught 70% fewer mosquitoes (RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.5; p < 0.001). The number of mosquitoes approaching the Box trap was significantly reduced when the trap was positioned over a water-filled basin compared to an open pond (RR 0.7 95% CI 0.6-0.7; p < 0.001). This effect was not due to the sound of the trap. Catch size increased by 60% (RR 1.6, 1.2-2.2; p = 0.001) with the new OviART trap. CONCLUSION: Gravid An. Gambiae s.s. females were visually deterred by the presence of the trapping device directly over the oviposition medium. Based on these investigations, an effective gravid trap was developed that provides open landing space for egg-laying Anopheles
Statistical Aspects of Environmental Risk Assessment of GM Plants for effects on Non-Target Organisms
No full textPrevious European guidance for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants emphasized the
concepts of statistical power but provided no explicit requirements for the provision of statistical power analyses.
Similarly, whilst the need for good experimental designs was stressed, no minimum guidelines were set
for replication or sample sizes. Furthermore, although substantial equivalence was stressed as central to risk
assessment, no means of quantification of this concept was given. This paper suggests several ways in which
existing guidance might be revised to address these problems. One approach explored is the ‘bioequivalence’
test, which has the advantage that the error of most concern to the consumer may be set relatively easily.
Also, since the burden of proof is placed on the experimenter, the test promotes high-quality, well-replicated
experiments with sufficient statistical power. Other recommendations cover the specification of effect sizes,
the choice of appropriate comparators, the use of positive controls, meta-analyses, multivariate analysis and
diversity indices. Specific guidance is suggested for experimental designs of field trials and their statistical
analyses. A checklist for experimental design is proposed to accompany all environmental risk assessments
Spatial and temporal variation in malaria transmission in a low endemicity area in northern Tanzania.
No full textBACKGROUND: Spatial and longitudinal monitoring of transmission intensity will allow better targeting of malaria interventions. In this study, data on meteorological, demographic, entomological and parasitological data over the course of a year was collected to describe malaria epidemiology in a single village of low transmission intensity. METHODS: Entomological monitoring of malaria vectors was performed by weekly light trap catches in 10 houses. Each house in the village of Msitu wa Tembo, Lower Moshi, was mapped and censused. Malaria cases identified through passive case detection at the local health centre were mapped by residence using GIS software and the incidence of cases by season and distance to the main breeding site was calculated. RESULTS: The principle vector was Anopheles arabiensis and peak mosquito numbers followed peaks in recent rainfall. The entomological inoculation rate estimated was 3.4 (95% CI 0.7-9.9) infectious bites per person per year. The majority of malaria cases (85/130) occurred during the rainy season (chi2 = 62,3, p < 0.001). Living further away from the river (OR 0.96, CI 0.92-0.998, p = 0.04 every 50 m) and use of anti-insect window screens (OR 0.65, CI 0.44-0.94, p = 0.023) were independent protective factors for the risk of malaria infection. Children aged 1-5 years and 5-15 years were at greater risk of clinical episodes (OR 2.36, CI 1.41-3.97, p = 0.001 and OR 3.68, CI 2.42-5.61, p < 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: These data show that local malaria transmission is restricted to the rainy season and strongly associated with proximity to the river. Transmission reducing interventions should, therefore, be timed before the rain-associated increase in mosquito numbers and target households located near the river
Fachkatalog Neuguinea / Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
No full textAus Anlaß des Kongresses der "Deutsch-Pazifischen Gesellschaft" im Juni 1981 in Düsseldorf legt die Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek Frankfuxt am Main ein Verzeichnis ihrer Bestände zum Raum "Neuguinea" vor . Dabei umfaßt der Katalog sowohl die Literatur zu "Papua-Neuguinea" (Niugini)" als auch zur indonesischen Provinz "West-Irian (Irian Jaya)". Aus Gründen des geographischen Zusammenhangs werden in einem Anhang allgemeine Publikationen zum Raum Melanesien in den Katalog aufgenommen. Die gezielte Sammlung der Literatur zu diesem Raum ist ein Ergebnis der Zuweisung des Sondersarnmelgebietes "Ozeanian" durch die Deutsche Forschungagemeinschaft an die Frankfurter Stadt- und Univeraitätsbibliothek. Dabei liegt der Schwerpunkt auf der Sammlung historischer und ethnologischer Literatur. Grundlage des Katalogausdruckes ist der Länderteil des Sachkataloges der Bibliothek, der nach feststehenden Länderkennziffern, Fachgruppen und Schlüsselnummern gegliedert ist. Unter jeder Schlüsselnummer sind die Eintragungen chronologisch geordnet. Auf jeder Titelkarte befindet sich rechts oben die Signatur, unter der das Buch über Fernleihe bei der Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek Frankfurt am Main bestellt werden kann
Australian Sphingidae – DNA Barcodes Challenge Current Species Boundaries and Distributions
No full text© 2014 Rougerie et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article.NHM Repositor
A translational approach to the genetics of renal disease
No full textDe invloed van genetica op het nefrologisch onderzoek is de afgelopen decennia sterk gegroeid. Toch is van progressieve nierfunctieachteruitgang nauwelijks bekend welke genen het ontstaan en de progressie ervan veroorzaken. De oplossing hiervoor ligt in een translationele aanpak. Zowel verkennende als gerichte genetische studies zoeken naar verbanden tussen een eigenschap van nierziekte en genetische variaties. Het is dus essentieel dat de eigenschappen van nierziekte goed gedefinieerd zijn.
In grote klinische onderzoeken wordt bijvoorbeeld vaak de geschatte nierfunctie gebruikt. Bij niertransplantatiepatiënten blijkt die niet zo betrouwbaar. De grootte van de systematische afwijking wordt bepaald door leeftijd, geslacht, ware nierfunctie en BMI.
Vitamine-D-bindend eiwit in de urine lijkt een goede maat voor verbindweefseling van de ruimte tussen de tubuluscellen, een vergevorderd stadium van veel nierziekten. Normaal wordt dit eiwit, gebonden aan vitamine D, in de tubuluscellen opgenomen, waar het vitamine D geactiveerd wordt. Bij verbindweefseling functioneren de tubuluscellen minder goed en wordt vitamine-D-bindend eiwit niet meer opnomen. Dit mechanisme was overigens geen verklaring voor de prognostische slechte lage vitamine-D-spiegels bij nefrologische patiënten.
Een verkennend onderzoek naar eiwitverlies in de urine identificeerde drie DNA-gebieden bij muizen die hierbij een rol spelen. De ziekteveroorzakende genen zijn nog onbekend. Gericht onderzoek identificeerde zeven genetische variaties in het vitamine-D-metabolisme die vaker voorkomen bij niertransplantaatontvangers dan bij nierdonoren.
Hoewel er nog veel onderzoek nodig is voordat deze genetische ontdekkingen een klinische toepassing krijgen, bieden de resultaten van dit proefschrift een strategie voor betere integratie van genetica en nefrologie.
The influence of genetics on nephrology research has increased in the past decades. Still, the genetic base of progressive renal function loss is hardly known. The solution is a translational approach. Both exploratory and focused genetic studies aim to find associations between a characteristic of renal disease and genetic variation. A precise definition of characteristics of renal disease is therefore essential.
Large-scale clinical trials often rely on estimated renal function. In renal transplant recipients this measure lacks precision. Sources of bias are age, gender, BMI and true renal function.
Vitamin D binding protein is a promising novel marker for fibrosis of the space between tubular cells, a final common pathway for many renal diseases. Normally this protein, bound to vitamin D, is reabsorbed from the glomerular filtrate into tubular cells, where vitamin D is activated. Fibrosis causes tubular dysfunction and inhibits reabsorption of vitamin D binding protein. This mechanism however, did not explain lower vitamin D levels often seen in renal patients, that are associated with worse prognosis.
An exploratory study of urinary albumin loss identified three areas in mouse DNA. The causal genes are still unknown. A focused study identified seven genetic variations in vitamin D metabolism genes that are more prevalent in renal transplant recipients than in kidney donors.
Although much research is required before these genetic discoveries prove their clinical relevance, our results provide a strategy for improved integration of genetics and nephrology.
Preterm birth, infant weight gain, and childhood asthma risk: a meta-analysis of 147,000 European children
No full textYounger gestational age at birth and higher infant weight gain were associated with childhood asthma outcomes. The associations of lower birth weight with childhood asthma were largely explained by gestational age at birth
The Holy Spirit and religious experience in Christian literature c.90 - 200 ad
No full textThe thesis explores whether religious experience and the Spirit are linked in Christian literature between c90 and 200. Three spheres of religious experience were chosen as illustrations - a sense of being personally encountered/overwhelmed by the divine; of divine illumination/guidance; and of being divinely empowered for ethical conduct. The Introduction reviews previous research: since Weinel. There has not been a comprehensive survey covering both the New Testament and early Patristic evidence, in what is the transition period between the subapostolic church and the emergence of the Catholic Church by the early third century. A brief survey of the evidence before c90 sets the background for the study. Thereafter, the thesis is divided into a further seven parts, surveying the literature on a geographical basis, viz Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Rome, Southern Gaul, Northern Africa and Egypt. The final part draws together the conclusions of the study. Whether the Spirit was at different moments a part of Christian distinctiveness over against the world, Judaism and internal opponents, whether deemed "heretical" or not, is explored. The evidence for a continuing sense of being overwhelmed by an encounter with the Holy Spirit is patchy, and no uniform type of experience necessarily emerges within any given geographical area. Throughout the period Christians were confronted by the need to test claims to inspiration by the Spirit. None of the various tests proposed really centred on the actual experience itself but all were external ones. Claims to possess the truth took various forms, and again there was no necesary uniformity with any given area. Generally, the ethical demand and the Spirit's help was less held together than was characteristic of Paul. Some writers may mention both aspects but these were not expressed in an integrated way; others came close to moralism. The variegated picture which emerges probably faithfully reflects second century Christianity
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