The spatial ecology of free-ranging domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) in western Kenya

Background In many parts of the developing world, pigs are kept under low-input systems where they roam freely to scavenge food. These systems allow poor farmers the opportunity to enter into livestock keeping without large capital investments. This, combined with a growing demand for pork, especially in urban areas, has led to an increase in the number of small-holder farmers keeping free range pigs as a commercial enterprise. Despite the benefits which pig production can bring to a household, keeping pigs under a free range system increases the risk of the pig acquiring diseases, either production-limiting or zoonotic in nature. This study used Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track free range domestic pigs in rural western Kenya, in order to understand their movement patterns and interactions with elements of the peri-domestic environment. Results We found that these pigs travel an average of 4,340 m in a 12 hr period and had a mean home range of 10,343 m2 (range 2,937–32,759 m2) within which the core utilisation distribution was found to be 964 m2 (range 246–3,289 m2) with pigs spending on average 47% of their time outside their homestead of origin. Conclusion These are the first data available on the home range of domestic pigs kept under a free range system: the data show that pigs in these systems spend much of their time scavenging outside their homesteads, suggesting that these pigs may be exposed to infectious agents over a wide area. Control policies for diseases such as Taenia solium, Trypanosomiasis, Trichinellosis, Toxoplasmosis or African Swine Fever therefore require a community-wide focus and pig farmers require education on the inherent risks of keeping pigs under a free range system. The work presented here will enable future research to incorporate movement data into studies of disease transmission, for example for the understanding of transmission of African Swine Fever between individuals, or in relation to the life-cycle of parasites including Taenia solium

The definition of katharsis in Aristotle's Poetics

Aristotle’s Poetics is a foundational piece in the history of literary criticism. In chapter six of the Poetics, Aristotle presents the concept of katharsis (trans. purification, purgation) as the goal of tragedy. The philosopher, however, never clarifies his use of the word katharsis. This thesis examines and critiques existing theories about katharsis, in particular the theories of katharsis as a homeopathic medical metaphor, a moralistic training of the emotions, intellectual clarification, or a structural component operating within the drama. In particular, it explores the developments concerning pity and fear in the Poetics and the Rhetoric. I conclude that katharsis is a general term of art which relies on the specific ability and nature of mimesis to create friction between pity and fear within the spectator. Tragic katharsis is a metaphor that refers to the arousal and subsequent purge of emotions during the course of the drama and is closely integrated with the pleasure derived from the imaginative freedom intrinsic in the cognitive and emotional experience that is tragedy. Advisor: Bruce Heiden, Department of Greek and Lati

The Framing of Urban Sustainability Transformations

Transformational change is not always intentional. However, deliberate transformations are imperative to achieve the sustainable visions that future generations deserve. Small, unintentional tweaks will not be enough to overcome persistent and emergent urban challenges. Recent scholarship on sustainability transformations has evolved considerably, but there is no consensus on what qualifies transformational change. We describe variations in current discussions of intentional sustainability transformations in the literature and synthesize strategies from funding institutions’ recent requests for proposals for urban sustainability transformations. Research funding initiatives calling for transformational change are increasingly common and are an important driver of how transformational change is articulated in research-practice in cities. From this synthesis, we present seven criteria for transformational change that provide direction for framing and implementing transformational change initiatives

Reporting Science and Conflicts of Interest in the Lay Press

BACKGROUND: Forthright reporting of financial ties and conflicts of interest of researchers is associated with public trust in and esteem for the scientific enterprise. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We searched Lexis/Nexis Academic News for the top news stories in science published in 2004 and 2005. We conducted a content analysis of 1152 newspaper stories. Funders of the research were identified in 38% of stories, financial ties of the researchers were reported in 11% of stories, and 5% reported financial ties of sources quoted. Of 73 stories not reporting on financial ties, 27% had financial ties publicly disclosed in scholarly journals. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Because science journalists often did not report conflict of interest information, adherence to gold-standard recommendations for science journalism was low. Journalists work under many different constraints, but nonetheless news reports of scientific research were incomplete, potentially eroding public trust in science

Culturally Sustaining Math Word Problem Instruction with Hip-Hop Story Schemas

On August 11, 2023, Hip-Hop celebrated its 50th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, we share an activity that is designed to harness the power and art of Hip-Hop to support learning in mathematics for students with and without exceptionalities. Using a vignette, we examine why culturally sustaining practices are pivotal to learning and how teachers can collaborate with middle-school students to strengthen an evidence-based practice such as schema-based instruction by honoring the funds of knowledge that students possess. The activity includes (a) the creation of culturally relevant word problems in mathematics, (b) schema-based instruction for solving additive-type word problems, and (c) the development of Hip-Hop rhymes to communicate problem-solving math schemas. Schema-based instruction supports students’ mathematical reasoning and word-problem solving by teaching students to identify underlying problem structures and reasons for addition/subtraction or multiplication/division and is an evidence-based practice for supporting word problem solving skills for students with exceptionalities. Herein we provide a practitioner-ready guide for implementing these activities so that educators may replicate or adapt them to meet their students’ needs. Although we focus on schema-based instruction, the Hip-Hop pedagogical tools shared could be applied to enhance instruction in other academic areas

Slaughterhouse zoonoses: Are workers reservoirs of zoonotic disease?

Slaughterhouse workers are considered a high risk group for zoonotic disease due to increased contact with animals, animal products and excreta. Globally, slaughterhouse workers have been shown to have an increased seroprevalence to zoonotic pathogens, though no such studies exist in Kenya. Slaughterhouse workers may also act as reservoirs of these zoonotic organisms and asymptomatic carriage of pathogenic bacteria has been demonstrated. This study aimed to determine the carriage of enteropathogens in slaughterhouse workers in rural western Kenya and to determine if there was asymptomatic carriage of Staphylococcus aureus specifically Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This study was conducted in the Lake Victoria Crescent region of western Kenya. Five hundred slaughterhouse workers from this region were asked a comprehensive questionnaire regarding risk factors for zoonotic disease, faecal samples were collected for examination and culture and a nasal swab was cultured for S. aureus. This study reports on the seroprevalence of Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, pathogenic Escherichia coli and Campylobacter spp. in these individuals as well as reporting the nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA. This is the first community based study regarding S. aureus and MRSA in Kenya. The asymptomatic carriage of these organisms in slaughterhouse workers highlights a reservoir that may be important in the dissemination of these pathogens. The study further comments on the risk factors for infection with these pathogens and suggestions are made for simple hygiene interventions that can reduce disease in slaughterhouse workers and dissemination to the wider communit

Managing clustering effects and learning effects in the design and analysis of multicentre randomised trials: a survey to establish current practice.

BACKGROUND:Patient outcomes can depend on the treating centre, or health professional, delivering the intervention. A health professional's skill in delivery improves with experience, meaning that outcomes may be associated with learning. Considering differences in intervention delivery at trial design will ensure that any appropriate adjustments can be made during analysis. This work aimed to establish practice for the allowance of clustering and learning effects in the design and analysis of randomised multicentre trials. METHODS:A survey that drew upon quotes from existing guidelines, references to relevant publications and example trial scenarios was delivered. Registered UK Clinical Research Collaboration Registered Clinical Trials Units were invited to participate. RESULTS:Forty-four Units participated (N = 50). Clustering was managed through design by stratification, more commonly by centre than by treatment provider. Managing learning by design through defining a minimum expertise level for treatment provider was common (89%). One-third reported experience in expertise-based designs. The majority of Units had adjusted for clustering during analysis, although approaches varied. Analysis of learning was rarely performed for the main analysis (n = 1), although it was explored by other means. The insight behind the approaches used within and reasons for, or against, alternative approaches were provided. CONCLUSIONS:Widespread awareness of challenges in designing and analysing multicentre trials is identified. Approaches used, and opinions on these, vary both across and within Units, indicating that approaches are dependent on the type of trial. Agreeing principles to guide trial design and analysis across a range of realistic clinical scenarios should be considered