Network Analysis of Host-Virus Communities in Bats and Rodents Reveals Determinants of Cross-Species Transmission

Bats are natural reservoirs of several important emerging viruses. Cross-species transmission appears to be quite common among bats, which may contribute to their unique reservoir potential. Therefore, understanding the importance of bats as reservoirs requires examining them in a community context rather than concentrating on individual species. Here, we use a network approach to identify ecological and biological correlates of cross-species virus transmission in bats and rodents, another important host group. We show that given our current knowledge the bat viral sharing network is more connected than the rodent network, suggesting viruses may pass more easily between bat species. We identify host traits associated with important reservoir species: gregarious bats are more likely to share more viruses and bats which migrate regionally are important for spreading viruses through the network. We identify multiple communities of viral sharing within bats and rodents and highlight potential species traits that can help guide studies of novel pathogen emergence

Adapted motivational interviewing to improve the uptake of treatment for glaucoma in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease associated with irreversible visual loss. In Africa, glaucoma patients often present late, with very advanced disease. One-off procedures, such as laser or surgery, are recommended in Africa because of lack of or poor adherence to medical treatment. However, acceptance of surgery is usually extremely low. To prevent blindness, adherence to treatment needs to improve, using acceptable, replicable and cost-effective interventions. After reviewing the literature and interviewing patients in Bauchi (Nigeria) motivational interviewing (MI) was selected as the intervention for this trial, with adaptation for glaucoma (MIG). MI is designed to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring a person's reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. The aim of this study is to assess whether MIG increases the uptake of laser or surgery amongst glaucoma patients where this is the recommended treatment. The hypothesis is that MIG increases the uptake of treatment. This will be the first trial of MI in Africa. METHODS: This is a hospital based, single centre, randomized controlled trial of MIG plus an information sheet on glaucoma and its treatment (the latter being "standard care") compared with standard care alone for glaucoma patients where the treatment recommended is surgery or laser.Those eligible for the trial are adults aged 17 years and above who live within 200 km of Bauchi with advanced glaucoma where the examining ophthalmologist recommends surgery or laser. After obtaining written informed consent, participants will be randomly allocated to MIG plus standard care, or standard care alone. Motivational interviewing will be delivered in Hausa or English by one of two MIG trained personnel. One hundred and fifty participants will be recruited to each arm. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants undergoing laser or surgery within two months of the date given to re attend for the procedure. MIG quality will be assessed using the validated MI treatment integrity scale. DISCUSSION: Motivational interviewing may be an important tool to increase the acceptance of treatment for glaucoma. The approach is potentially scalable and may be useful for other chronic conditions in Africa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN79330571 (Controlled-Trials.com)

Clinical Implication of Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells

The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is receiving increasing interest particularly due to its potential ability to enter clinical routine. Rapid advances in the CSC field have provided evidence for the development of more reliable anticancer therapies in the future. CSCs typically only constitute a small fraction of the total tumor burden; however, they harbor self-renewal capacity and appear to be relatively resistant to conventional therapies. Recent therapeutic approaches aim to eliminate or differentiate CSCs or to disrupt the niches in which they reside. Better understanding of the biological characteristics of CSCs as well as improved preclinical and clinical trials targeting CSCs may revolutionize the treatment of many cancers. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Prolonged encounters

This thesis chronicles my journey as an observational landscape painter exploring how to contend with the constant change that fascinates me as an observer, but previously frustrated me as a painter. Investigating my subjects through series and repetition, my work becomes a record of my experience of sustained engagement with consistently fluctuating environments

Teacher certification in home schools : emerging constitutional issues

This study is designed to examine the legal aspects of teacher certification in home schools in the United States. The following conclusions can be drawn based on a review of literature on the subject and an analysis of state statutes and court decisions

Comparison of two methods of improving speed in the 100 yard dash

The purpose of this study was to determine if a weight training program, used as a supplementary program to a conventional sprint training program, would improve the speed of the sprinters. Seventy-one ninth grade boys participated in the study. There were two groups, the experimental group (A) and the control group (B). Group A had thirty-eight boys while group B had only thirty-three boys. The study was carried out Monday through Friday of each week for a period of six weeks. The control group (B) performed only a designed program of sprint training, while the experimental group (A) used a supplementary program of weight training with the sprint training program. The raw data of the means were treated statistically through a "t" test to determine if there were a significant difference at the .05 level of confidence. From the results of this study it is concluded that weight training, when used as a supplement to sprint training does increase the running speed of the sprinter

Optimal characteristics of anchor tests in vertical scaling: a special case of non equivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design in vertical scaling

There are multiple empirical issues and complications associated with vertical scaling methods that have not been sufficiently explicated even though there has been scanty research conducted within the general framework of the nonequivalent group with anchor test (NEAT) design. Germane to any vertical scale study is the issue of optimal characteristics of anchor tests whenever the preferred data collection design is NEAT. The main focal point of this research study is to explore some of practical problems as well as complexities that frequently emerge in the context of vertical scaling methods under NEAT design. Specifically, the study investigated various study conditions and comparison of their performance with different equating methods. This study used both real and simulated data. The real data were from a large-scale testing program for professionals. The simulated study was carried out using 162 conditions, where the major factors included: (1) total test length; (2) item a-discrimination parameter; (3) between-grade mean ability difference; (4) distribution of ability difference; and (5) anchor test mean difficulty difference. The results of the simulation indicate that small between-grade mean ability difficult when considered together with a short test length, a moderate item a-discrimination parameter, below average distribution of ability difference, and below average anchor test mean ability difference produce most reasonable results. In addition, the results revealed that equating error somewhat depended on satisfaction of the underlying equating assumptions that are related to a specific equating method under each study condition. For instance, Braun/Holland, Frequency Estimation Equating, keNEATPSE linear, and keNEATPSE equipercentile methods performed almost similarly under all study conditions; however, a closer examination of the above equating methods corroborate that when the equating relationship was linear, keNEATPSE linear outperformed all linear-related equating methods considered in this study. Similarly, when the equating relationship was non-linear, keNEATPSE equipercentile was more accurate in terms of total error, because it produced the smallest RMSE values than all non-linear equating methods. Other results are summarized in greater depth in Chapter V

Capturing the diversity of English language learners' cultural and linguistic backgrounds and the influence on math and reading achievement

English language learners (ELLs) are diverse individuals with various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Unlike native English speakers, they do not all share a common language. Additionally, ELL students were not all born in the same country and most have not spent the same number of years attending U.S. schools. ELL students are a heterogeneous group, but the current research does not sufficiently appreciate and recognize those differences. Examining the diversity of ELL students, by incorporating contextual variables with limited sample sizes, was accomplished by using a hierarchical linear modeling approach. The results showed that students classified as LEP in fourth grade demonstrated lower initial mean scores in both math and reading than did exited LEP students. Students in both the Asian and Austro-Asiatic native language groups demonstrated higher math and reading scores at initial status compared to students in the Spanish native language group. The number of years attending U.S. schools impacted math and reading. Students born in the U.S. or Canada demonstrated higher math scores in 4th grade than did students in the Mexico/Central America/South America/Caribbean country of birth group. These findings have implications for both future research and practice in terms of methodological choices and database management to emphasize and address the academic needs of ELL students

Global prevalence of childhood cataract: a systematic review

Childhood cataract is an avoidable cause of visual disability worldwide and is a priority for VISION 2020: The Right to Sight. There is a paucity of information about the burden of cataract in children and the aim of this review is to assess the global prevalence of childhood cataract. The methodology for the review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We performed a literature search for studies reporting estimates of prevalence or incidence of cataract among children (aged<18 years) at any global location using the Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase up to January 2015. No restrictions were imposed based on language or year of publication. Study quality was assessed using a critical appraisal tool designed for systematic reviews of prevalence. Twenty prevalence and four incidence studies of childhood cataract from five different geographical regions were included. The overall prevalence of childhood cataract and congenital cataract was in the range from 0.32 to 22.9/10000 children (median=1.03) and 0.63 to 9.74/10000 (median=1.71), respectively. The incidence ranged from 1.8 to 3.6/10000 per year. The prevalence of childhood cataract in low-income economies was found to be 0.42 to 2.05 compared with 0.63 to 13.6/10000 in high-income economies. There was no difference in the prevalence based on laterality or gender. This review highlights substantial gaps in the epidemiological knowledge of childhood cataract worldwide, particularly from low and lower middle-income economies. More studies are needed using standard definitions and case ascertainment methods with large enough sample sizes

Influences on the identification of wives with the Air Force organization : an examination of the two-person career pattern within the military

The present study investigated the processes leading wives of Air Force husbands to identify with their husband's work organization--the United States Air Force. Utilizing the two-person career family pattern, the impact of the husband's work on the wife's identification with his job and his work organization were studied. Theoretical models of family interaction suggesting that increased personal identity by the wife diminishes her identification with the husband's work role were also examined. A path model was constructed to test the explanatory power of these two processes, and to compare the strengths of their influence on the wife's identification with the Air Force. The subjects were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure. The sample consisted of 4,737 married couples located at 24 Air Force bases in the United States and Europe. Husbands were service members and wives were not