Mini-FLOTAC, an Innovative Direct Diagnostic Technique for Intestinal Parasitic Infections: Experience from the Field.

Soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa infection are widespread in developing countries, yet an accurate diagnosis is rarely performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recently developed mini-FLOTAC method and to compare with currently more widely used techniques for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections in different settings. The study was carried out in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India, and in Bukumbi, Tanzania. A total of 180 pupils from two primary schools had their stool analyzed (n = 80 in Dharamsala and n = 100 in Bukumbi) for intestinal parasitic infections with three diagnostic methods: direct fecal smear, formol-ether concentration method (FECM) and mini-FLOTAC. Overall, 72% of the pupils were positive for any intestinal parasitic infection, 24% carried dual infections and 11% three infections or more. The most frequently encountered intestinal parasites were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia intestinalis, hookworm, (and Schistosoma mansoni, in Tanzania). Statistically significant differences were found in the detection of parasitic infections among the three methods: mini-FLOTAC was the most sensitive method for helminth infections (90% mini-FLOTAC, 60% FECM, and 30% direct fecal smear), whereas FECM was most sensitive for intestinal protozoa infections (88% FECM, 70% direct fecal smear, and 68% mini-FLOTAC). We present the first experiences with the mini-FLOTAC for the diagnosis of intestinal helminths and protozoa. Our results suggest that it is a valid, sensitive and potentially low-cost alternative technique that could be used in resource-limited settings--particularly for helminth diagnosis

The Political Economy: Political Attitudes and Economic Behavior

It has long been recognized that voters bring their political behaviors in line with economic assessments. Recent work, however, suggests that citizens also engage in economic behaviors that align with their confidence—or lack thereof—in the political system. This alignment can happen consciously or, as we suggest, unconsciously, in the same way that positivity carries over to other behaviors on a micro-level. Using monthly time series data from 1978 to 2008, we contribute further evidence of this relationship by demonstrating that political confidence affects consumer behavior at the aggregate level over time. Our analyses employ measures more closely tied to the theoretical concepts of interest while simultaneously accounting for the complex relationships between subjective and objective economic indicators, economic behavior, political attitudes, and the media. Our results suggest that approval of the president not only increases the electorate’s willingness to spend money, but also affects the volatility of this spending. These findings suggest that the economy is influenced by politics beyond elections, and gives the “Chief Economist” another avenue by which they can affect the behavior of the electorate

Dynamics of Intra-EMS Interest Rate Linkages

interest rates, long memory, error correction

Nonlinear Visco-Elastic Response of Composites via Micro-Mechanical Models

Micro-mechanical models for a study of nonlinear visco-elastic response of composite laminae are developed and their performance compared. A single integral constitutive law proposed by Schapery and subsequently generalized to multi-axial states of stress is utilized in the study for the matrix material. This is used in conjunction with a computationally facile scheme in which hereditary strains are computed using a recursive relation suggested by Henriksen. Composite response is studied using two competing micro-models, viz. a simplified Square Cell Model (SSCM) and a Finite Element based self-consistent Cylindrical Model (FECM). The algorithm is developed assuming that the material response computations are carried out in a module attached to a general purpose finite element program used for composite structural analysis. It is shown that the SSCM as used in investigations of material nonlinearity can involve significant errors in the prediction of transverse Young's modulus and shear modulus. The errors in the elastic strains thus predicted are of the same order of magnitude as the creep strains accruing due to visco-elasticity. The FECM on the other hand does appear to perform better both in the prediction of elastic constants and the study of creep response

Introductory comments

Vibroacoustic and thermal environment data gathered from the first three flights of the space shuttle are presented. The characterization of the particulate, gaseous, and electromagnetic emissions associated with the shuttle flight is emphasized. Measurements of vehicle glow light emissions and material effects (mass loss) due to the low Earth environment interactions with the shuttle vehicle are presented

Avaliação dos impactos ambientais e socioeconômicos do sistema de produção de leite a pasto na Fazenda Escola de Cachoeiras de Macacu.

Resumo: A Fazenda Escola de Cachoeiras de Macacu da Universidade Federal Fluminense está implantando um sistema de produção de leite a pasto. Entretanto, qualquer sistema de produção animal é capaz de trazer impactos ambientais importantes. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os impactos ambientais e socioeconômicos da implantação dessa tecnologia, utilizando-se o Sistema Ambitec-Agro, desenvolvido pela Embrapa Meio Ambiente. O índice geral de impacto da atividade foi de 0,99 (em escala ±15), observando-se impactos socioeconômicos positivos, mas potencial para ocorrência de impactos ambientais negativos. Sugere-se a adoção de técnicas alternativas de manejo para a mitigação desses impactos

Untersuchungen zur Beziehung zwischen dem ökonomischen Gewinn und Indikatoren der Tiergesundheit in Milchviehbetrieben des ökologischen Landbaus in Niedersachsen

The aim of the study was to proof the effect of animal health on the economical suc-cess in organic dairy farms. From August 2002 till September 2003 25 dairy farms in lower saxony were regularly visited, while economical and health data were collected. The economical success is highly related to the milk yield per cow. The higher the profit, the higher the percentage of cows per herd with a somatic cell count under 100.000 SCC and the higher the rates of clinical mastitis or hypocalcemia. In general there is a relation between animal health and profit in organic dairy herds but this study proofs that higher milk yield leads to higher profit in spite of an increasing amount of illness

Forecasting with Big Data: A Review

Big Data is a revolutionary phenomenon which is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the modern age , and is expected to remain so in the foreseeable future. In this paper we p resent a comprehensive review on the use of Big Data for forecasting by identifying and reviewing the problems, potential, challenges and most importantly the related applications. Skills, hardware and software, algorithm architecture, statistical significance, the signal to noise ratio and the nature of Big Dat a itself are identified as the major challenges which are hindering the process of obtaining meaningful forecasts from Big Data. The review finds that at present, the fields of Economics, Energy and Population Dynamics have been the major exploiters of Big Data forecasting whilst Factor models, Bayesian models and Neural Networks are the most common tools adopted for forecasting with Big Data