543 research outputs found
LBW and IUGR temporal trend in 4 population-based birth cohorts: the role of economic inequality
Can an Integrated Approach Reduce Child Vulnerability to Anaemia? Evidence from Three African Countries.
Addressing the complex, multi-factorial causes of childhood anaemia is best done through integrated packages of interventions. We hypothesized that due to reduced child vulnerability, a "buffering" of risk associated with known causes of anaemia would be observed among children living in areas benefiting from a community-based health and nutrition program intervention. Cross-sectional data on the nutrition and health status of children 24-59 mo (N = 2405) were obtained in 2000 and 2004 from program evaluation surveys in Ghana, Malawi and Tanzania. Linear regression models estimated the association between haemoglobin and immediate, underlying and basic causes of child anaemia and variation in this association between years. Lower haemoglobin levels were observed in children assessed in 2000 compared to 2004 (difference -3.30 g/L), children from Tanzania (-9.15 g/L) and Malawi (-2.96 g/L) compared to Ghana, and the youngest (24-35 mo) compared to oldest age group (48-59 mo; -5.43 g/L). Children who were stunted, malaria positive and recently ill also had lower haemoglobin, independent of age, sex and other underlying and basic causes of anaemia. Despite ongoing morbidity, risk of lower haemoglobin decreased for children with malaria and recent illness, suggesting decreased vulnerability to their anaemia-producing effects. Stunting remained an independent and unbuffered risk factor. Reducing chronic undernutrition is required in order to further reduce child vulnerability and ensure maximum impact of anaemia control programs. Buffering the impact of child morbidity on haemoglobin levels, including malaria, may be achieved in certain settings
Effective Rheology of Bubbles Moving in a Capillary Tube
We calculate the average volumetric flux versus pressure drop of bubbles
moving in a single capillary tube with varying diameter, finding a square-root
relation from mapping the flow equations onto that of a driven overdamped
pendulum. The calculation is based on a derivation of the equation of motion of
a bubble train from considering the capillary forces and the entropy production
associated with the viscous flow. We also calculate the configurational
probability of the positions of the bubbles.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
Establishment of a Bluetongue Virus Infection Model in Mice that Are Deficient in the Alpha/Beta Interferon Receptor
Bluetongue (BT) is a noncontagious, insect-transmitted disease of ruminants caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV). A laboratory animal model would greatly facilitate the studies of pathogenesis, immune response and vaccination against BTV. Herein, we show that adult mice deficient in type I IFN receptor (IFNAR(−/−)) are highly susceptible to BTV-4 and BTV-8 infection when the virus is administered intravenously. Disease was characterized by ocular discharges and apathy, starting at 48 hours post-infection and quickly leading to animal death within 60 hours of inoculation. Infectious virus was recovered from the spleen, lung, thymus, and lymph nodes indicating a systemic infection. In addition, a lymphoid depletion in spleen, and severe pneumonia were observed in the infected mice. Furthermore, IFNAR(−/−) adult mice immunized with a BTV-4 inactivated vaccine showed the induction of neutralizing antibodies against BTV-4 and complete protection against challenge with a lethal dose of this virus. The data indicate that this mouse model may facilitate the study of BTV pathogenesis, and the development of new effective vaccines for BTV
Planning and Designing Walkable Cities: A Smart Approach
Walking may be considered one of the most sustainable and democratic
ways of travelling within a city, thus providing benefits not only to pedestrians but
also to the urban environment. Besides, walking is also one of the means of transport
most likely subjected to factors outside an individual\u2019s control, like social or physical
abilities to walk and the presence of comfortable and safe street infrastructures and
services. Therefore, improving urban conditions provided to pedestrians has positive
impacts on walkability. At the same time technological solutions and innovations
have the power to encourage and support people to walk by overcoming immaterial
barriers due to a lack of information or boring travel and they give to decision makers
the possibility to gain data to understand how and where people travel. Merging
these two dimensions into a unique approach can drastically improve accessibility,
attractiveness, safety, comfort and security of urban spaces. In this context, this paper
aims to draw a more multifaceted context for walkability, where new technologies
assume a key role for introducing new approaches to pedestrian paths planning
and design and thus for enhancing this mode of transport. Indeed, by combining
more traditional spatial-based and perceptual analysis of the urban environment with
technological applications and social media exploitation there will be room to better
support the decision on and to enhance satisfaction of walking as well as to easier
plan and design more walkable cities
Bone mineral density in young women of the city of São Paulo, Brazil: correlation with both collagen type I alpha 1 gene polymorphism and clinical aspects
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