Epidemiology of Concomitant Infection Due to Loa loa and Mansonella perstans in Gabon

Loa loa and Mansonella perstans are blood filarial parasites, endemic in the central and western African forest block, and transmitted by chrysops and culicoides flies, respectively. Loa loa is pathogenic and represents a major obstacle to the control of co-endemic filariae. Treatment of individuals with >8000 Loa loa microfilariae/ml can result in severe adverse reactions. M. perstans is prevalent in the tropics, with undefined clinical symptoms. We screened 4392 individuals for these infections in 212 Gabonese villages. The overall prevalence rates were 22.4% for Loa loa microfilariae, 10.2% for M. perstans, and 3.2% for mixed infection. These rates varied across the different ecosystems: forest, savannah, Lakeland, river (Ogouée), and equator. A correlation was found between the prevalence and intensity of microfilariae, while a negative relationship was found between clinical symptoms (pruritis, Calabar swelling) and the prevalence of Loa loa microfilaremia. This study confirms the spatial uniformity of the relationship between parasitological indices, and provides a map and baseline data for implementation of mass chemotherapy for these infections

Global epidemiology of drug resistance after failure of WHO recommended first-line regimens for adult HIV-1 infection: A multicentre retrospective cohort study

Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for controlling HIV-1 infection through wide-scale treatment as prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Potent tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-containing regimens are increasingly used to treat and prevent HIV, although few data exist for frequency and risk factors of acquired drug resistance in regions hardest hit by the HIV pandemic. We aimed to do a global assessment of drug resistance after virological failure with first-line tenofovir-containing ART.Methods The TenoRes collaboration comprises adult HIV treatment cohorts and clinical trials of HIV drug resistance testing in Europe, Latin and North America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. We extracted and harmonised data for patients undergoing genotypic resistance testing after virological failure with a first-line regimen containing tenofovir plus a cytosine analogue (lamivudine or emtricitabine) plus a non-nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI; efavirenz or nevirapine). We used an individual participant-level meta-analysis and multiple logistic regression to identify covariates associated with drug resistance. Our primary outcome was tenofovir resistance, defined as presence of K65R/N or K70E/G/Q mutations in the reverse transcriptase (RT) gene.Findings We included 1926 patients from 36 countries with treatment failure between 1998 and 2015. Prevalence of tenofovir resistance was highest in sub-Saharan Africa (370/654 [57%]). Pre-ART CD4 cell count was the covariate most strongly associated with the development of tenofovir resistance (odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% CI 1.27-1.77 for CD4 cell count <100 cells per mu L). Use of lamivudine versus emtricitabine increased the risk of tenofovir resistance across regions (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.82). Of 700 individuals with tenofovir resistance, 578 (83%) had cytosine analogue resistance (M184V/I mutation), 543 (78%) had major NNRTI resistance, and 457 (65%) had both. The mean plasma viral load at virological failure was similar in individuals with and without tenofovir resistance (145 700 copies per mL [SE 12 480] versus 133 900 copies per mL [SE 16 650; p=0.626]).Interpretation We recorded drug resistance in a high proportion of patients after virological failure on a tenofovir-containing first-line regimen across low-income and middle-income regions. Effective surveillance for transmission of drug resistance is crucial. Copyright (C) The TenoRes Study Group. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY

Global epidemiology of drug resistance after failure of WHO recommended first-line regimens for adult HIV-1 infection: A multicentre retrospective cohort study

Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for controlling HIV-1 infection through wide-scale treatment as prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Potent tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-containing regimens are increasingly used to treat and prevent HIV, although few data exist for frequency and risk factors of acquired drug resistance in regions hardest hit by the HIV pandemic. We aimed to do a global assessment of drug resistance after virological failure with first-line tenofovir-containing ART.Methods The TenoRes collaboration comprises adult HIV treatment cohorts and clinical trials of HIV drug resistance testing in Europe, Latin and North America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. We extracted and harmonised data for patients undergoing genotypic resistance testing after virological failure with a first-line regimen containing tenofovir plus a cytosine analogue (lamivudine or emtricitabine) plus a non-nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI; efavirenz or nevirapine). We used an individual participant-level meta-analysis and multiple logistic regression to identify covariates associated with drug resistance. Our primary outcome was tenofovir resistance, defined as presence of K65R/N or K70E/G/Q mutations in the reverse transcriptase (RT) gene.Findings We included 1926 patients from 36 countries with treatment failure between 1998 and 2015. Prevalence of tenofovir resistance was highest in sub-Saharan Africa (370/654 [57%]). Pre-ART CD4 cell count was the covariate most strongly associated with the development of tenofovir resistance (odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% CI 1.27-1.77 for CD4 cell count <100 cells per mu L). Use of lamivudine versus emtricitabine increased the risk of tenofovir resistance across regions (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.82). Of 700 individuals with tenofovir resistance, 578 (83%) had cytosine analogue resistance (M184V/I mutation), 543 (78%) had major NNRTI resistance, and 457 (65%) had both. The mean plasma viral load at virological failure was similar in individuals with and without tenofovir resistance (145 700 copies per mL [SE 12 480] versus 133 900 copies per mL [SE 16 650; p=0.626]).Interpretation We recorded drug resistance in a high proportion of patients after virological failure on a tenofovir-containing first-line regimen across low-income and middle-income regions. Effective surveillance for transmission of drug resistance is crucial. Copyright (C) The TenoRes Study Group. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY

Professional Development, Organizational Climate, Supervisory Rapport and Overall Satisfaction of Employees: An Attitudinal Study

This study aimed to analyze the professional development, organizational climate, supervisory rapport, and overall satisfaction of employees from a local higher education institution in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study made use of a descriptive-correlational design with an adapted and modified survey questionnaire as an instrument and selected sixty-five (65) respondents using a convenience sampling technique. The paper utilized SPSS 20 to treat the gathered data with the use of the following statistical tools: frequency, percentage, weighted mean, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson-r. The study generated the following results: the employees unanimously agreed on the contexts and concepts presented in the three variables of the study namely, professional development, organizational climate, and supervisory rapport. Moreover, they responded favorably about their job satisfaction. In addition, there are significant findings observed as regards to professional development, organizational climate and supervisory rapport of the employees when grouped according to demographic profiles. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence of relationships observed among demographic profile, professional development, organizational climate, supervisory rapport, and overall satisfaction. With the foregoing results, the researchers recommended suggestions to promote organizational development among employees

Effect of Performance Review and Faculty Development to Organizational Climate

Faculty performance review, faculty development, and organizational climate are an essential element of the educational institution. More importantly, the mentioned variables have certain connections and interplay with each other. This study describes the performance review, faculty development, and organizational climate of a tertiary education institution. This study used a descriptive-correlation design. 56 faculties took part in the survey using a convenience sampling technique. The researcher adopted and modified an instrument and subjected it to validity and reliability test using Cronbach Alpha which yielded an overall coefficient of .0968. The statistical tools used were: mean, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson-r, and regression analysis. With the help of SPSS 20, it analyzed the gathered data. The study found that the respondents observed faculty performance review contexts. Also, the respondents agreed on the unique perspectives of faculty development. Also, the respondents see that the organizational climate affects the faculty to a great extent. There were significant differences found in the three variables. There was a direct, positive relationship between the three variables of the study. In confirmation, the performance review predicts the organizational climate of the faculty. Based on the results of the study, the researcher suggested recommendations essential for the institution, human resource, and faculty

Professional Development, Organizational Climate, Supervisory Rapport and Overall Satisfaction of Employees: An Attitudinal Study

This study aimed to analyze the professional development, organizational climate, supervisory rapport, and overall satisfaction of employees from a local higher education institution in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study made use of a descriptive-correlational design with an adapted and modified survey questionnaire as an instrument and selected sixty-five (65) respondents using a convenience sampling technique. The paper utilized SPSS 20 to treat the gathered data with the use of the following statistical tools: frequency, percentage, weighted mean, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson-r. The study generated the following results: the employees unanimously agreed on the contexts and concepts presented in the three variables of the study namely, professional development, organizational climate, and supervisory rapport. Moreover, they responded favorably about their job satisfaction. In addition, there are significant findings observed as regards to professional development, organizational climate and supervisory rapport of the employees when grouped according to demographic profiles. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence of relationships observed among demographic profile, professional development, organizational climate, supervisory rapport, and overall satisfaction. With the foregoing results, the researchers recommended suggestions to promote organizational development among employees

Data for: 3602445

This study aimed to analyze the professional development, organizational climate, supervisory rapport, and overall satisfaction of employees from a local higher education institution in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study made use of a descriptive-correlational design with an adapted and modified survey questionnaire as an instrument and selected sixty-five (65) respondents using a convenience sampling technique. The paper utilized SPSS 20 to treat the gathered data with the use of the following statistical tools: frequency, percentage, weighted mean, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson-r. The study generated the following results: the employees unanimously agreed on the contexts and concepts presented in the three variables of the study namely, professional development, organizational climate, and supervisory rapport. Moreover, they responded favorably about their job satisfaction. In addition, there are significant findings observed as regards to professional development, organizational climate and supervisory rapport of the employees when grouped according to demographic profiles. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence of relationships observed among demographic profile, professional development, organizational climate, supervisory rapport, and overall satisfaction. With the foregoing results, the researchers recommended suggestions to promote organizational development among employees.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

“Project TUBIG PARA SA LAHAT (Water for All)”: A Community Based Action Research

This paper aims to present the community extension project of local higher education in Olongapo City, Philippines. The project entitled “Project Tubig Para sa Lahat (Water for All).” is a collaborative effort of the Gordon College – Community Extension Service Unit (GC –CESU) and different Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The project's main objective is to provide a clean water storage for every household in a far-flung community in Olongapo City. This project is an initial step towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) mandate, in particular SDG 6. After a series of meetings, a strategic planning, and months of preparation, the project commenced. However, there were some challenges in the logistics due to the distance and terrain of the place. Nevertheless, the project was successful and turned over to the community as a sign of community engagement to all parties involved. The whole community has full access to the water tank project, and many households benefitted from the said project

Soil physical characteristics of a degraded tropical grassland and a ‘reforest’:Implications for runoff generation

Imperata grassland soils are widely perceived as having poor physical and chemical properties that render them unproductive and prone to erosion. They are therefore increasingly targeted for reforestation across the tropics. To better understand how reforestation and forest growth affect soil hydrological processes we compared the soil physical characteristics for an Imperata grassland and a 23-year-old ‘reforest’ on Leyte Island, the Philippines. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) was determined in the field (Amoozemeter, 20–90 cm depth) and the laboratory (small-core permeametry). Core-based values of Ksat were (much) lower than field-based values, suggesting macropores were not sampled adequately with the small cores. Ksat decreased exponentially with depth in both land-cover types, with a median field-measured Ksat of the grassland of 2.1 mm h−1 at the surface and 2.9 mm h−1 at 20–40 cm depth, declining to ≤1 mm h−1 below 60 cm. Corresponding values for the reforest were 59 (at 20 cm), 37 (at 40 cm) and 7.3 mm h−1 (at 60–100 cm depth). Reforest Ksat-values down to 60 cm depth were significantly higher than corresponding values in the grassland, but the difference disappeared at 90 cm depth. Organic carbon content in the top 40 cm of soil was slightly higher in the reforest than the grassland. Bulk density was higher and porosity marginally lower in the grassland than the reforest at all depths considered. The median five-min rainfall intensity (June 2013–May 2014) was 3.2 mm h−1, suggesting that >50% of the rainfall might generate Hortonian overland flow in the grassland. Overland flow is unlikely in the reforest where lateral flow is likely to be generated around 60 cm depth for ~30% of rain-time, versus 2–3% between 20 and 60 cm. Within the limitations of the space-for-time substitution approach, these results suggest that 23 years of forest development at Manobo had a positive effect on hillslope hydrological functioning