Using a phylogenetic approach that combines laboratory and clinical data to enhance understanding of HIV transmission events among men who have sex with men

A phylogenetic approach combining HIV pol sequences with laboratory and clinical data was undertaken to explore HIV transmissions between men who have sex with men (MSM). Combining putative transmission events (reconstructed through phylogenetic analyses of pol sequences) with clinical (e.g. viral load) and diagnostic (e.g. recently-acquired infection) data can enhance understanding of HIV transmission more than can be gleaned from each individual source. The thesis: assessed the consistency of phylogenetic reconstructions of HIV transmission events; explored transmissions from recently HIV-infected MSM at diagnosis and critiqued such analyses; and ascertained which groups of diagnosed HIV-infected MSM are generating HIV transmissions. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that phylogenetic reconstructions of transmission events were 80% consistent as sample sizes were varied. Previous phylogenetic reconstructions overestimated transmission from recently HIV-infected MSM through failing to recognize that this infection stage is transitory. Comparison of infection dates between recently HIV-infected MSM involved in transmission events revealed only half of the transmissions were generated during recent infection. Through allowing infection stage (and other markers of transmission risk) to reflect the course of HIV infection it was established that the recently HIV-infected have a transmission risk of 3.04 (compared to the chronically HIV-infected population). Transmission rates were elevated among the untreated population; 72% (28/39) were generated from treatment-naïve MSM and 23% (9/39) from MSM interrupting treatment. Overall, 69% (27/39) of transmissions occurred from MSM with CD4 counts >350 cells/mm3. BHIVA guidelines recommend treatment discussions start when patients‟ CD4 counts reach 200-350mm3. This work contributes to the debate on the public health benefit of treating all HIV-diagnosed individuals, regardless of clinical need. Behavioural interventions need to increase awareness of recent HIV infection, and the elevated transmission risk from untreated populations. Phylogenetics has enormous potential to contribute to public health, but remains in its infancy; methods need rigorous assessment and results require cautious interpretation

The holonomy groupoid of a locally topological groupoid

AbstractWe deal with the globalization of a topology on a subset W of a groupoid G, such that W contains the identities of G. The classical situation for groups, namely extendibility of the topology under suitable conditions, fails in general for groupoids, but the topology does, under suitable conditions, globalize to a topology on the holonomy groupoid Hol(G, W), which maps onto G. The construction is due to J. Pradines (unpublished). Full details and proofs of the results, with some improvements, are given

Parenting Education for Women Experiencing Incarceration: Views of Prison Staff

This qualitative study involved interviews with staff in a women’s prison to explore their suggestions about parenting education. Interviews were conducted to identify whether staff agreed with previous parenting education suggestions made by women experiencing incarceration and contribute to developing a parenting education program. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Staff highlighted the importance of accommodating complex needs, cultural safety, trauma-informed, woman-centred and a strengths-based approach. This approach to program development will contribute to a parenting education program designed for women experiencing incarceration and may support program sustainability attributing to the involvement of the prison community in program design

Ovule, seed and seedling characters in Acharia (Achariaceae) with evidence of myrmecochory in the family

An investigation of mature seed structure in Guthriea capensis and ovule-to-seed development in Acharia tragodes indicate that the two species are herbaceous myrmecochores with similar adaptations for seed dispersal and germination. The development and structure of the modified seed tissues, namely a sarcotestal elaiosome, a fringe layer in the mesotesta, endotestal-exotegmic mechanical layers and a chalazal seed lid are described. Additional embryological similarities between the two taxa include, amongst others, sessile ovules, distally lobed outer integuments, zigzag micropyle canals formed by both integuments, bisporic Allium Type embryo sacs, suspensorless embryos belonging to the Penaea Variation of the Asterad Type, and small embryos in the mature seed. In Acharia intraseminal embryo growth occurs before radicle emergence, germination is epigeal and seedlings belong to the Macaranga Type

Market Assessment and Technical Feasibility Study of Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustion Ash Use

Western Research Institute in conjunction with the Electric Power Research Institute, Foster Wheeler Energy International, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Energy Technology Center (METC), has undertaken a research and demonstration program designed to examine the market potential and the technical feasibility of ash use options for pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) ashes. The assessment is designed to address six applications, including: (1) structural fill, (2) road base construction, (3) supplementary cementing materials in portland cement, (4) synthetic aggregate, and (5) agricultural/soil amendment applications. Ash from low-sulfur subbituminous coal-fired Foster Wheeler Energia Oy pilot circulating PFBC tests in Karhula, Finland, and ash from the high-sulfur bituminous coal-fired American Electric Power (AEP) bubbling PFBC in Brilliant, Ohio, were evaluated in laboratory and pilot-scale ash use testing. This paper addresses the technical feasibility of ash use options for PFBC unit using low- sulfur coal and limestone sorbent (karhula ash) and high-sulfur coal and dolomite sorbents (AEP Tidd ash)

Good quality discussion is necessary but not sufficient in asynchronous tuition: a brief narrative review of the literature

Online learning is a growing field of education with a corresponding increase in the use of asynchronous discussion. Asynchronous discussion is a form of interaction that is mediated rather than direct and where there is a time lag in the interactions between discussants. In this paper we conducted a brief narrative review of the literature on asynchronous discussion. We argue, initially, that discussion is necessary, but not sufficient, for successful pedagogic outcomes and more so in the case of online learning. We identified agreement in the literature on what can be considered the key factors for successful asynchronous discussion

Conservation Laws and 2D Black Holes in Dilaton Gravity

A very general class of Lagrangians which couple scalar fields to gravitation and matter in two spacetime dimensions is investigated. It is shown that a vector field exists along whose flow lines the stress-energy tensor is conserved, regardless of whether or not the equations of motion are satisfied or if any Killing vectors exist. Conditions necessary for the existence of Killing vectors are derived. A new set of 2D black hole solutions is obtained for one particular member within this class of Lagrangians. One such solution bears an interesting resemblance to the 2D string-theoretic black hole, yet contains markedly different thermodynamic properties.Comment: 11 pgs. WATPHYS-TH92/0