Community-based survey versus sentinel site sampling in determining the nutritional status of rural children: Implications for nutritional surveillance and the development of nutritional programmes

A study of the anthropometric status of under-5-year-olds was conducted in the Nqutu district of Kwazulu by means of a representative community-based sample and concurrent samples from primary health care clinics, preschools and primary schools.The first objective of this exercise was to determine the extent of acute nutritional stress in the district as an indication of the appropriateness of food relief efforts in the region. The absence of wasting and the high prevalence of stunting (37,5%) in the community-based sample suggested that the main problem is chronic socioeconomic underdevelopment, rather than a severe or immediate lack of food. The fact that fewer than 20% of households are in any way reliant on domestic production for their maize requirements explains why the recent drought has not had a greater impact on the nutritional status of this vulnerable group. This study confirms that the more recent emphasis of the National Nutrition and Social Development Programme on social development is appropriate.An equally important objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of clinics, preschools and schools as sites for the collection of anthropometric data and the development of nutritional programmes. This preliminary attempt to develop the methodology for district-based nutrition surveillance suggested that all these sites have limitations both in respect of data collection and community access. The implications of using these sites and the developments needed to improve their usefulness in a future nutrition surveillance system are discussed

The Williams Scale of Attitude toward Paganism: development and application among British Pagans

This article builds on the tradition of attitudinal measures of religiosity established by Leslie Francis and colleagues with the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity (and reflected in the Sahin-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Islam, the Katz-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Judaism, and the Santosh-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Hinduism) by introducing a new measure to assess the attitudinal disposition of Pagans. A battery of items was completed by 75 members of a Pagan Summer Camp. These items were reduced to produce a 21-item scale that measured aspects of Paganism concerned with: the God/Goddess, worshipping, prayer, and coven. The scale recorded an alpha coefficient of 0.93. Construct validity of the Williams Scale of Attitude toward Paganism was demonstrated by the clear association with measures of participation in private rituals

The Potts Fully Frustrated model: Thermodynamics, percolation and dynamics in 2 dimensions

We consider a Potts model diluted by fully frustrated Ising spins. The model corresponds to a fully frustrated Potts model with variables having an integer absolute value and a sign. This model presents precursor phenomena of a glass transition in the high-temperature region. We show that the onset of these phenomena can be related to a thermodynamic transition. Furthermore this transition can be mapped onto a percolation transition. We numerically study the phase diagram in 2 dimensions (2D) for this model with frustration and {\em without} disorder and we compare it to the phase diagram of $i)$ the model with frustration {\em and} disorder and of $ii)$ the ferromagnetic model. Introducing a parameter that connects the three models, we generalize the exact expression of the ferromagnetic Potts transition temperature in 2D to the other cases. Finally, we estimate the dynamic critical exponents related to the Potts order parameter and to the energy.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, new result

Capturing and Quantifying Particle Transcytosis with Microphysiological Intestine-on-Chip Models

Understanding the intestinal transport of particles is critical in several fields ranging from optimizing drug delivery systems to capturing health risks from the increased presence of nano- and micro-sized particles in human environment. While Caco-2 cell monolayers grown on permeable supports are the traditional in vitro model used to probe intestinal absorption of dis-solved molecules, they fail to recapitulate the transcytotic activity of polar-ized enterocytes. Here, an intestine-on-chip model is combined with in silico modeling to demonstrate that the rate of particle transcytosis is ≈350× higher across Caco-2 cell monolayers exposed to fluid shear stress compared to Caco-2 cells in standard “static” configuration. This relates to profound phe-notypical alterations and highly polarized state of cells grown under mechan-ical stimulation and it is shown that transcytosis in the microphysiological model is energy-dependent and involves both clathrin and macropinocytosis mediated endocytic pathways. Finally, it is demonstrated that the increased rate of transcytosis through cells exposed to flow is explained by a higher rate of internal particle transport (i.e., vesicular cellular trafficking and baso-lateral exocytosis), rather than a change in apical uptake (i.e., binding and endocytosis). Taken together, the findings have important implications for addressing research questions concerning intestinal transport of engineered and environmental particles.Ludivine C. Delon, Matthew Faria, Zhengyang Jia, Stuart Johnston, Rachel Gibson, Clive A. Prestidge, and Benjamin Thierr

Identification of common bean genotypes with dual leaf and pod resistance to common bacterial blight disease in Uganda

Common Bacterial Blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans (Xapf), is a serious disease that affects common bean production worldwide. In Uganda, it is the most severe and widely occurring bacterial disease, causing significant yield losses in common bean. Although various sources of resistance have been developed around the world, none of the varieties grown in Uganda is known to be resistant. The objective of this study was to identify lines with combined leaf and pod resistance for introgression into locally adapted but susceptible Ugandan genotypes. A total of 132 common bean accessions was evaluated in a screenhouse and under field conditions, in an 11x12 alpha lattice design. Genotypes were inoculated with a local isolate in a screenhouse; while the plants were left to undergo natural infestation in field. Results indicated significant differences (P<0.001) in genotypic reactions against the CBB disease, with a range of disease scores of 2.2 - 7.8 on leaves and 2.6 - 7.1 on pods (1-9 CIAT disease scale), suggesting high genetic variability among the tested germplasm. Relatively low correlation (r = 0.39) was observed between leaf and pod reactions, suggesting differential expression of CBB resistance in these two plant organs. Overall, four genotypes, NE2-14-8, NE17-14-29, NE14-09-78 and VAX3, consistently showed resistance in both screenhouse and field evaluations, leaf and pod inoculations and at all sampling stages. These genotypes were, therefore, identified for transferring CBB resistance into Ugandan susceptible market class bean varieties.Le fl\ue9trissement bact\ue9rien commun (CBB) caus\ue9 par Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp) et Xanthomonas spp. var. fuscans (Xcpf) est une s\ue9rieuse maladie qui affecte, de fa\ue7on globale, la production du haricot commun. En Ouganda, elle est, de loin, la maladie bact\ue9rienne la plus s\ue9v\ue8re et vastement r\ue9pandue causant de pertes significatives au rendement du haricot commun. Malgr\ue9 que de nombreuses sources de r\ue9sistance aient \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9velopp\ue9es dans le monde, aucune des vari\ue9t\ue9s cultiv\ue9es en Ouganda n\u2019est connue \ueatre r\ue9sistante. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019identifier des lignes \ue0 r\ue9sistance combin\ue9e des feuilles et gousses pour son introgression dans les vari\ue9t\ue9s locales adapt\ue9es mais susceptibles. Au total, 132 accessions de haricot commun \ue9taient \ue9valu\ue9es sous serre et dans le champ dans un dispositif experimental alpha-lattice 11x12. Les g\ue9notypes \ue9taient inocul\ue9s sous serre par un isolat local pendant que l\u2019infestation \ue9tait naturelle dans le champ. Les r\ue9sultats montrent de diff\ue9rences hautement significatives dans la r\ue9action des g\ue9notypes face \ue0 la maladie CBB avec des scores variant de 2,2 \ue0 7,8 sur les feuilles et de 2.6 \ue0 7.1 sur les gousses (l\u2019\ue9chelle 1-9 de CIAT) indiquant une forte variabilt\ue9 g\ue9n\ue9tique au sein du germoplasm test\ue9. Une corr\ue9lation relativement faible (r = 0.39) \ue9tait observ\ue9e entre la r\ue9action des feuilles et celle des gousses sugg\ue9rant une expression diff\ue9rentielle de la r\ue9sistance \ue0 la maladie CBB dans ces deux organes de la plante. De fa\ue7on g\ue9n\ue9rale, quatre g\ue9notypes NE2-14-8, NE17-14-29, NE14-09-78 and VAX3 ont \ue9t\ue9, de fa\ue7on constante, r\ue9sistants aux \ue9valuations sous serre et dans le champ, aux inoculations des feuilles et des gousses et durant toute la p\ue9riode de mesure. Ces g\ue9notypes \ue9taient donc identifi\ue9s pour le transfert de la r\ue9sistance dans les vari\ue9t\ue9s locales susceptibles d\u2019Ouganda

Blood Pressure and Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability among Individuals with Primary Proteinuric Glomerulopathies

Hypertension and blood pressure variability (BPV; SD and average real variability) in primary proteinuric glomerulopathies are not well described. Data were from 433 participants in the NEPTUNE (Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network). Hypertensive BP status was defined as previous history of hypertension or BP ≥140/90 mm Hg for adults/≥95th percentile for children at baseline. BPV was measured in participants with ≥3 visits in the first year. Two-hundred ninety-six adults (43 years [interquartile range, 32-57.8 years], 61.5% male) and 147 children (11 years [interquartile range, 5-14 years], 57.8% male) were evaluated. At baseline, 64.8% of adults and 46.9% of children were hypertensive. Histological diagnosis was associated with hypertensive status in adults (P=0.036). In adults, hypertensive status was associated with lower hazard of complete remission (hazard ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.68) and greater hazard of achieving the composite end point (end-stage renal disease or estimated glomerular filtration rate decline >40%; hazard ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-12). Greater systolic and diastolic SD and average real variability were also associated with greater hazard of reaching the composite end point in adults (all P<0.01). In children, greater BPV was an independent predictor of composite end point (determined by systolic SD and average real variability) and complete remission (determined by systolic and diastolic average real variability; all P<0.05). Hypertensive status was common among adults and children enrolled in NEPTUNE. Differences in hypertensive status prevalence, BPV, and treatment were found by age and histological diagnosis. In addition, hypertensive status and greater BPV were associated with poorer clinical outcomes

Assessment of iron bioavailability from different bread making processes using an in vitro intestinal cell model

Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), is the main iron chelator in cereals and bread. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three commercial baking processes (sourdough, conventional yeast and Chorleywood Bread Making Process (CBP)) on the IP6 content of wholemeal bread, its impact on iron uptake in Caco-2 cells and the predicted bioavailability of iron from these breads with added iron, simulating a mixed-meal. The sourdough process fully degraded IP6 whilst the CBP and conventional processes reduced it by 75% compared with wholemeal flour. The iron released in solution after a simulated digestion was 8-fold higher in sourdough bread than with others but no difference in cellular iron uptake was observed. Additionally, when iron was added to the different breads digestions only sourdough bread elicited a significant ferritin response in Caco-2 cells (4.8-fold compared to the other breads) suggesting that sourdough bread could contribute towards improved iron nutrition

Programmable antivirals targeting critical conserved viral RNA secondary structures from influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2

Influenza A virus’s (IAV’s) frequent genetic changes challenge vaccine strategies and engender resistance to current drugs. We sought to identify conserved and essential RNA secondary structures within IAV’s genome that are predicted to have greater constraints on mutation in response to therapeutic targeting. We identified and genetically validated an RNA structure (packaging stem–loop 2 (PSL2)) that mediates in vitro packaging and in vivo disease and is conserved across all known IAV isolates. A PSL2-targeting locked nucleic acid (LNA), administered 3 d after, or 14 d before, a lethal IAV inoculum provided 100% survival in mice, led to the development of strong immunity to rechallenge with a tenfold lethal inoculum, evaded attempts to select for resistance and retained full potency against neuraminidase inhibitor-resistant virus. Use of an analogous approach to target SARS-CoV-2, prophylactic administration of LNAs specific for highly conserved RNA structures in the viral genome, protected hamsters from efficient transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 USA_WA1/2020 variant. These findings highlight the potential applicability of this approach to any virus of interest via a process we term ‘programmable antivirals’, with implications for antiviral prophylaxis and post-exposure therapy

Single Spin Asymmetry ANA_N in Polarized Proton-Proton Elastic Scattering at s=200\sqrt{s}=200 GeV

We report a high precision measurement of the transverse single spin asymmetry $A_N$ at the center of mass energy $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV in elastic proton-proton scattering by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The $A_N$ was measured in the four-momentum transfer squared $t$ range $0.003 \leqslant |t| \leqslant 0.035$ \GeVcSq, the region of a significant interference between the electromagnetic and hadronic scattering amplitudes. The measured values of $A_N$ and its $t$-dependence are consistent with a vanishing hadronic spin-flip amplitude, thus providing strong constraints on the ratio of the single spin-flip to the non-flip amplitudes. Since the hadronic amplitude is dominated by the Pomeron amplitude at this $\sqrt{s}$, we conclude that this measurement addresses the question about the presence of a hadronic spin flip due to the Pomeron exchange in polarized proton-proton elastic scattering.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Shrinking a large dataset to identify variables associated with increased risk of Plasmodium falciparum infection in Western Kenya

Large datasets are often not amenable to analysis using traditional single-step approaches. Here, our general objective was to apply imputation techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), elastic net and generalized linear models to a large dataset in a systematic approach to extract the most meaningful predictors for a health outcome. We extracted predictors for Plasmodium falciparum infection, from a large covariate dataset while facing limited numbers of observations, using data from the People, Animals, and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project to demonstrate these techniques: data collected from 415 homesteads in western Kenya, contained over 1500 variables that describe the health, environment, and social factors of the humans, livestock, and the homesteads in which they reside. The wide, sparse dataset was simplified to 42 predictors of P. falciparum malaria infection and wealth rankings were produced for all homesteads. The 42 predictors make biological sense and are supported by previous studies. This systematic data-mining approach we used would make many large datasets more manageable and informative for decision-making processes and health policy prioritization