Characterizing hydrogeologic heterogeneity using lithologic data

Large-scale (>1 m) variability in hydraulic conductivity is usually the main influence on field-scale groundwater flow patterns and dispersive transport. Incorporating realistic hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity into flow and transport models is paramount to accurate simulations, particularly for contaminant migration. Sediment lithologic descriptions and geophysical logs typically offer finer spatial resolution, and therefore more potential information about site-scale heterogeneity, than other site characterization data. In this study, a technique for generating a heterogeneous, three- dimensional hydraulic conductivity field from sediment lithologic descriptions is presented. The approach involves creating a three-dimensional, fine-scale representation of mud (silt and clay) percentage using a stratified interpolation algorithm. Mud percentage is then translated into horizontal and vertical conductivity using direct correlations derived from measured data and inverse groundwater flow modeling. Lastly, the fine-scale conductivity fields are averaged to create a coarser grid for use in groundwater flow and transport modeling

Homestead food production model contributes to improved household food security and nutrition status of young children and women in poor populations

Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious public health problem among women and children in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines. Helen Keller International has been implementing homestead food production (HFP) programs (coupled with nutrition education) in these countries to increase and ensure year-round availability and intake of micronutrient-rich foods in poor households, particularly among women and children.  Between 2003 and 2007, the HFP program was implemented among ~30,000 households in these four countries. Data collected from representative samples taken for evaluations of HFP programs in these countries illustrated the benefit of the program for households. Data were collected through interviews with households in villages that had the HFP program and from control households in non-HFP program villages. Blood samples collected from ~1000 children aged 6-59 months and ~1200 non-pregnant women before and after program implementation were analyzed for hemoglobin. The review showed that the HFP program significantly improved dietary diversification. The combined data from all four countries showed improved animal food consumption among program households, with liver consumption increasing from 24% at baseline to 46% at endline and the median number of eggs consumed by families per week increasing from 2 to 5.  The sale of HFP products also improved household income. Anemia prevalence among children in program households decreased in all the countries; however, the decrease was only significant in Bangladesh and the Philippines.  Although anemia prevalence also decreased among control households in three countries, the magnitude of change was higher in program households compared with control households.Les carences en micronutriments représentent un grave problème de santé publique chez les femmes et les enfants au Bangladesh, au Cambodge, au Népal et aux Philippines. Helen Keller International met en œuvre dans ces pays un programme de production alimentaire en exploitations familiales (homestead food production - HFP) associé à une éducation à l'alimentation afin d’augmenter et de garantir la disponibilité et la consommation d'aliments riches en micronutriments tout au long de l'année dans les foyers pauvres, et plus particulièrement chez les femmes et les enfants. Entre 2003 et 2007, le programme HFP a été mis en œuvre dans environ 30 000 foyers de ces quatre pays. Les données fournies par les échantillons représentatifs utilisés pour l'évaluation de ce programme mettent en évidence les bénéfices qu'il représente pour les familles. Ces données sont le résultat des entretiens conduits avec des familles appartenant à des villages participant au programme HFP, ainsi qu’avec des familles de contrôle dans des villages non concernés par le programme. Des analyses de l’hémoglobine ont été réalisées sur des échantillons sanguins prélevés avant et après la mise en œuvre du programme sur environ 1 000 enfants âgés de 6 à 59 mois et environ 1 200 femmes (non enceintes). L’évaluation du programme HFP a montré qu’il avait amélioré significativement la diversification alimentaire. Les données combinées des quatre pays montrent une amélioration de la consommation de produits d’origine animale chez les familles du programme. La consommation de foie est passée de 24 % à 46 %, et le nombre médian d’œufs consommés par semaine et par famille est passé de 2 à 5. La vente des produits issus du programme HFP a également amélioré les revenus de ces foyers. La prévalence de l’anémie chez les enfants participant au programme a diminué dans tous les pays. Cette diminution n'était cependant significative qu'au Bangladesh et aux Philippines. Bien que, dans trois pays, la prévalence de l’anémie ait également diminué chez les familles de contrôle, la différence était plus grande chez les familles participant au programme en comparaison avec les familles de contrôle.La malnutrición en micronutrientes es un problema de salud pública serio entre las mujeres y los niños en Bangladesh, Camboya, Nepal y Filipinas. En estos países Helen Keller International ha implementado programas de producción de alimentos en casa (PAC), conjuntamente con una educación en nutrición, para aumentar y asegurar la disponibilidad y el consumo todo el año de alimentos ricos en micronutrientes en hogares desfavorecidos, en particular entre las mujeres y los niños. Entre 2003 y 2007, el programa PAC fue aplicado en unos 30.000 hogares en estos cuatro países. Los datos obtenidos de las muestras representativas tomadas para la evaluación de los programas PAC en dichos países mostraron los beneficios del programa para los hogares. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de entrevistas con hogares en los pueblos en los que se aplicó el programa PAC y con hogares de control en pueblos sin el programa PAC. Antes y después de la implementación del programa, se tomaron muestras de sangre de unos 1000 niños entre 6 y 59 meses de edad y de unas 1200 mujeres no embarazadas; dichas muestras fueron analizadas para ver la hemoglobina. El estudio revela que el programa PAC mejoró de manera significativa la diversificación en la dieta. Los datos combinados de los cuatro países mostraron una mejoría en el consumo de alimentos de origen animal entre los hogares afiliados al programa, con un aumento del consumo de hígado de 24 % al comienzo a 46 % al final, y un aumento de 2 a 5 del número medio de huevos consumidos por familia y por semana. La venta de productos PAC también mejoró los ingresos del hogar. La prevalencia de anemia en los niños de hogares afiliados al programa disminuyó en todos los países; sin embargo, la disminución sólo fue significativa en Bangladesh y Filipinas. Aunque la prevalencia de anemia también disminuyó entre los hogares de control en tres países, la magnitud del cambio fue mayor en hogares del programa que en hogares de control

Homestead food production model contributes to improved household food security and nutrition status of young children and women in poor populations

Micronutrient malnutrition is a serious public health problem among women and children in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines. Helen Keller International has been implementing homestead food production (HFP) programs (coupled with nutrition education) in these countries to increase and ensure year-round availability and intake of micronutrient-rich foods in poor households, particularly among women and children.  Between 2003 and 2007, the HFP program was implemented among ~30,000 households in these four countries. Data collected from representative samples taken for evaluations of HFP programs in these countries illustrated the benefit of the program for households. Data were collected through interviews with households in villages that had the HFP program and from control households in non-HFP program villages. Blood samples collected from ~1000 children aged 6-59 months and ~1200 non-pregnant women before and after program implementation were analyzed for hemoglobin. The review showed that the HFP program significantly improved dietary diversification. The combined data from all four countries showed improved animal food consumption among program households, with liver consumption increasing from 24% at baseline to 46% at endline and the median number of eggs consumed by families per week increasing from 2 to 5.  The sale of HFP products also improved household income. Anemia prevalence among children in program households decreased in all the countries; however, the decrease was only significant in Bangladesh and the Philippines.  Although anemia prevalence also decreased among control households in three countries, the magnitude of change was higher in program households compared with control households.Les carences en micronutriments représentent un grave problème de santé publique chez les femmes et les enfants au Bangladesh, au Cambodge, au Népal et aux Philippines. Helen Keller International met en œuvre dans ces pays un programme de production alimentaire en exploitations familiales (homestead food production - HFP) associé à une éducation à l'alimentation afin d’augmenter et de garantir la disponibilité et la consommation d'aliments riches en micronutriments tout au long de l'année dans les foyers pauvres, et plus particulièrement chez les femmes et les enfants. Entre 2003 et 2007, le programme HFP a été mis en œuvre dans environ 30 000 foyers de ces quatre pays. Les données fournies par les échantillons représentatifs utilisés pour l'évaluation de ce programme mettent en évidence les bénéfices qu'il représente pour les familles. Ces données sont le résultat des entretiens conduits avec des familles appartenant à des villages participant au programme HFP, ainsi qu’avec des familles de contrôle dans des villages non concernés par le programme. Des analyses de l’hémoglobine ont été réalisées sur des échantillons sanguins prélevés avant et après la mise en œuvre du programme sur environ 1 000 enfants âgés de 6 à 59 mois et environ 1 200 femmes (non enceintes). L’évaluation du programme HFP a montré qu’il avait amélioré significativement la diversification alimentaire. Les données combinées des quatre pays montrent une amélioration de la consommation de produits d’origine animale chez les familles du programme. La consommation de foie est passée de 24 % à 46 %, et le nombre médian d’œufs consommés par semaine et par famille est passé de 2 à 5. La vente des produits issus du programme HFP a également amélioré les revenus de ces foyers. La prévalence de l’anémie chez les enfants participant au programme a diminué dans tous les pays. Cette diminution n'était cependant significative qu'au Bangladesh et aux Philippines. Bien que, dans trois pays, la prévalence de l’anémie ait également diminué chez les familles de contrôle, la différence était plus grande chez les familles participant au programme en comparaison avec les familles de contrôle.La malnutrición en micronutrientes es un problema de salud pública serio entre las mujeres y los niños en Bangladesh, Camboya, Nepal y Filipinas. En estos países Helen Keller International ha implementado programas de producción de alimentos en casa (PAC), conjuntamente con una educación en nutrición, para aumentar y asegurar la disponibilidad y el consumo todo el año de alimentos ricos en micronutrientes en hogares desfavorecidos, en particular entre las mujeres y los niños. Entre 2003 y 2007, el programa PAC fue aplicado en unos 30.000 hogares en estos cuatro países. Los datos obtenidos de las muestras representativas tomadas para la evaluación de los programas PAC en dichos países mostraron los beneficios del programa para los hogares. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de entrevistas con hogares en los pueblos en los que se aplicó el programa PAC y con hogares de control en pueblos sin el programa PAC. Antes y después de la implementación del programa, se tomaron muestras de sangre de unos 1000 niños entre 6 y 59 meses de edad y de unas 1200 mujeres no embarazadas; dichas muestras fueron analizadas para ver la hemoglobina. El estudio revela que el programa PAC mejoró de manera significativa la diversificación en la dieta. Los datos combinados de los cuatro países mostraron una mejoría en el consumo de alimentos de origen animal entre los hogares afiliados al programa, con un aumento del consumo de hígado de 24 % al comienzo a 46 % al final, y un aumento de 2 a 5 del número medio de huevos consumidos por familia y por semana. La venta de productos PAC también mejoró los ingresos del hogar. La prevalencia de anemia en los niños de hogares afiliados al programa disminuyó en todos los países; sin embargo, la disminución sólo fue significativa en Bangladesh y Filipinas. Aunque la prevalencia de anemia también disminuyó entre los hogares de control en tres países, la magnitud del cambio fue mayor en hogares del programa que en hogares de control

Incidence and trends of blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations in the United States

We used the State Inpatient Databases from the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to provide state-specific age-adjusted blastomycosis-associated hospitalization incidence throughout the entire United States. Among the 46 states studied, states within the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys had the highest age-adjusted hospitalization incidence. Specifically, Wisconsin had the highest age-adjusted hospitalization incidence (2.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 person-years). Trends were studied in the five highest hospitalization incidence states. From 2000 to 2011, blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations increased significantly in Illinois and Kentucky with an average annual increase of 4.4% and 8.4%, respectively. Trends varied significantly by state. Overall, 64% of blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations were among men and the median age at hospitalization was 53 years. This analysis provides a complete epidemiologic description of blastomycosis-associated hospitalizations throughout the endemic area in the United States

Relationship between oral declaration on adherence to ivermectin treatment and parasitological indicators of onchocerciasis in an area of persistent transmission despite a decade of mass drug administration in Cameroon

BACKGROUND: Onchocerciasis control for years has been based on mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin (IVM). Adherence to IVM repeated treatment has recently been shown to be a confounding factor for onchocerciasis elimination precisely in rain forest areas where transmission continues and Loa loa co-exists with Onchocerca volvulus. In this study, participants’ oral declarations were used as proxy to determine the relationship between adherence to IVM treatment and parasitological indicators of onchocerciasis in the rain forest area of Cameroon with more than a decade of MDA. METHODS: Participants were recruited based on their IVM intake profile with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire. Parasitological examinations (skin sniping and nodule palpation) were done on eligible candidates. Parasitological indicators were calculated and correlated to IVM intake profile. RESULTS: Of 2,364 people examined, 15.5 % had never taken IVM. The majority (40.4 %) had taken the drug 1–3 times while only 18 % had taken ≥ 7 times. Mf and nodule prevalence rates were still high at 47 %, 95 % CI [44.9–49.0 %] and 36.4 %, 95 % CI [34.4–38.3 %] respectively. There was a treatment-dependent reduction in microfilaria prevalence (r(s) =−0.986, P = 0.01) and intensity (r(s) =−0.96, P = 0.01). The highest mf prevalence (59.7 %) was found in the zero treatment group and the lowest (33.9 %) in the ≥ 7 times treatment group (OR = 2.8; 95 % CI [2.09–3.74]; P < 0.001). Adults with ≥ 7 times IVM intake were 2.99 times more likely to have individuals with no microfilaria compared to the zero treatment group (OR = 2.99; 95 % CI [2.19–4.08], P < 0.0001). There was no clear correlation between treatment and nodule prevalence and intensity. CONCLUSION: Adherence to ivermectin treatment is not adequate in this rain forest area where L. loa co-exists with O. volvulus. The prevalence and intensity of onchocerciasis remained high in individuals with zero IVM intake after more than a decade of MDA. Our findings show that using parasitological indicators, reduction in prevalence is IVM intake-dependent and that participants’ oral declaration of treatment adherence could be relied upon for impact studies. The findings are discussed in the context of challenges for the elimination of onchocerciasis in this rain forest area

Situation analysis of parasitological and entomological indices of onchocerciasis transmission in three drainage basins of the rain forest of South West Cameroon after a decade of ivermectin treatment

BACKGROUND: Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) is the main strategy adopted by the African Programme for Onchocerciasis control (APOC). Recent reports from onchocerciasis endemic areas of savannah zones have demonstrated the feasibility of disease elimination through CDTI. Such information is lacking in rain forest zones. In this study, we investigated the parasitological and entomological indices of onchocerciasis transmission in three drainage basins in the rain forest area of Cameroon [after over a decade of CDTI]. River basins differed in terms of river number and their flow rates; and were characterized by high pre-control prevalence rates (60-98%). METHODS: Nodule palpation and skin snipping were carried out in the study communities to determine the nodule rates, microfilarial prevalences and intensity. Simulium flies were caught at capture points and dissected to determine the biting, parous, infection and infective rates and the transmission potential. RESULTS: The highest mean microfilaria (mf) prevalence was recorded in the Meme (52.7%), followed by Mungo (41.0%) and Manyu drainage basin (33.0%). The same trend was seen with nodule prevalence between the drainage basins. Twenty-three (23/39) communities (among which 13 in the Meme) still had mf prevalence above 40%. All the communities surveyed had community microfilarial loads (CMFL) below 10 mf/skin snip (ss). The infection was more intense in the Mungo and Meme. The intensity of infection was still high in younger individuals and children less than 10 years of age. Transmission potentials as high as 1211.7 infective larvae/person/month were found in some of the study communities. Entomological indices followed the same trend as the parasitological indices in the three river basins with the Meme having the highest values. CONCLUSION: When compared with pre-control data, results of the present study show that after over a decade of CDTI, the burden of onchocerciasis has reduced. However, transmission is still going on in this study site where loiasis and onchocerciasis are co-endemic and where ecological factors strongly favour the onchocerciasis transmission. The possible reasons for this persistent and differential transmission despite over a decade of control efforts using ivermectin are discussed. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0817-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Defense Waste Processing Facility

The information contained in this report is intended to supplement the original Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). Since the original EIS in 1982, alterations have been made to he conceptual process that reduce the impact to the groundwater. This reduced impact is documented in this report along with an update of the understanding of seismology and geology of the Savannah River Site. 6 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs