Transforming Philanthropic Transactions

Evaluates the approach and effectiveness of SVP's first five years working to inspire philanthropy and volunteerism and build organizational capacity among nonprofits. Describes SVP's model that fuses donor education and capacity building activities

Evaluation of Selected Pulmonary Function Tests in Resting Thoroughbred Horses Having Reversible, Experimentally Induced Respiratory Dysfunctions.

The purpose of the first part of this study was to develop computerized techniques for automation of instrument calibration, data collection and calculation of indices of pulmonary mechanical function in resting and exercising horses. The microcomputer system developed enabled a single trained technician to reliably operate the equipment in an equine pulmonary mechanics laboratory. The first experiment investigated the temporal effects of histamine and methacholine aerosols on indices of pulmonary mechanics derived from the linear equation of motion. Data calculated on a breath-by-breath basis were too variable to be reliably modeled. Following application of averaging techniques, the temporal effects of histamine and methacholine on respiratory rate were the most predictable of all the response variables studied. In experiment two, normal tidal breathing flow-volume loops (TBFVLs) of resting horses were characterized. In excess of 90% of the variance of 10 TBFVL indices were summarized by a factor analysis with three factors. The first factor explained 82% of the total variance and was mainly due to time and volume relationships. Factor 2 was the expiratory flow factor, and explained a further 11% of the variance. The third factor was indicative of the shape of the inspiratory part of the TBFVL and explained 7% of the total variance. The last experiment investigated the effects of three models of obstructive airway disease on TBFVLs. TBFVLs were analyzed using loop shape indices and standardized factor scores. Factor scores were obtained using the standardized factor scoring coefficients determined in experiment two. Under control conditions the factor scores were no different from those obtained in experiment two. Histamine and methacholine inhalation caused significant (P $\u3c$ 0.05) changes in all three of the factor scores. Increased inspiratory resistance caused significant changes (P $\u3c$ 0.05) in the factor score that characterized the inspiratory limb of TBFVLs. The variability of these data implied that the techniques used in these studies were sensitive enough to detect differences between the effects of models of obstructive airway disease in a population of horses, but not to detect individual animals with sub-clinical obstructive airway disease

Income trajectories and precarity in later life

This paper captures trajectories of income in later-life and considers how membership of particular income trajectories is patterned by social class, sex and precarity in housing, pensions relationships, care and retirement. Using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2002-19) for over-50s, latent class analysis identifies 10 income trajectory clusters and on the basis of comparable income levels from around statutory retirement age (65), we further condense these clusters to four income trajectory groups of ‘Luxury’ (at or above £500 per week in retirement; 14%), Comfortable (£300-£500 per week in retirement; 28%), ‘Boom-to-Bust’ (increasing to £600 per week at age 70, falling to around £200 over age 80; 4%) and ‘Always Poor’ (typically less than £300 per week in retirement; 54%). Experiences of precarity and lower socio-economic position are independently associated with greater relative risks of being ‘Always Poor’ and lower relative risks of being in the ‘Luxury’ group, compared to the ‘Comfortable’ group. For example, those who always rent a house are 2 times (p &lt; 0.001) more likely to be ‘Always Poor’ and 0.32 times (p &lt; 0.001) less likely to be in the ‘Luxury’ than ‘Comfortable group. Women are at more risk of being ‘Always Poor’ (RRR = 1.34, p &lt; 0.001) in an unadjusted model, but the association attenuates and is not significant after controlling for pensions and partnership dissolution. Within groups, there are differences in the extent of volatility in income trajectories around retirement age across the ten clusters, that is associated with social class, pension type, involuntary retirement and partnership dissolution.</p

Descriptive epidemiology of African horse sickness in Zimbabwe

A study of the prevalence of African horse sickness in horses was conducted, using records from two private equine practices in Harare for the period 1998–2004. Results indicated a higher prevalence of the disease in horses in Zimbabwe in the late rainy season (March – May). Age of the horse was found to be a significant risk factor, with foals or yearlings appearing to be 1.80 times more likely to contract the disease compared with horses older than two years. The case fatality rate in foals or yearlings was also higher than in older age groups, but this difference was not significant. The vaccination status was an important risk factor, with vaccinated horses 0.12 times less likely to die from the disease compared with unvaccinated horses. Young, unvaccinated horses therefore seem to be the most susceptible to the disease and have greater chances of fatality. This study highlights the importance of adequately protecting horses against African horse sickness by providing immunisation through vaccination and discusses the need to review current vaccination strategies being practiced in Zimbabwe

Evaluating African horse sickness virus in horses and field-caught Culicoides biting midges on the East Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa

A prospective study was undertaken during 2013 and 2014, to determine the prevalence of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) in Culicoides midges and the incidence of infection caused by the virus in 28 vaccinated resident horses on two equine establishments on the East Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Field caught Culicoides midges together with whole blood samples from participating horses were collected every two weeks at each establishment. Culicoides midges and blood samples were tested for the presence of AHSV RNA by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Nine immunised horses became infected with AHSV during the study period, although infections were subclinical. African horse sickness virus was also identified from a field-collected midge pool. The observations recapitulate previously published data in another setting, where further investigation is warranted to determine what role subclinical infection plays in the diseases epidemiology

Use of real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the detection of African horse sickness virus replication in Culicoides imicola

Despite its important role as vector for African horse sickness virus (AHSV), very little information is available on the dissemination of this virus in Culicoides (Avaritia) imicola Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). This study reports on the applicability of a real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect AHSV in dissected midges. A total of 96 midges were fed on AHSV-infected blood, after which one test group was dissected into head/thorax and abdomen segments immediately after feeding and the other only after 10 days of incubation. The majority of the midges (96%) ingested the virus successfully and there was no significant difference between the virus concentration in the heads/thoraxes and the abdomens immediately after feeding. After incubation, virus was detected in 51% of the midges and it was confined to the abdomen in the majority of these. The fact that virus was detected only in the heads/thoraxes of four Culicoides midges after incubation suggests the presence of a mesenteronal escape barrier. Replication in the salivary glands was not shown. An increase of the mean virus concentration in the abdomen after incubation indicates localised viral replication. The real-time RT-qPCR is recommended for further studies investigating the replication and dissemination of AHSV in Culicoides midges

Frailty or frailties:Exploring frailty index subdimensions in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Background: Frailty, a state of increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, has garnered significant attention in research and clinical practice. Existing constructs aggregate clinical features or health deficits into a single score. While simple and interpretable, this approach may overlook the complexity of frailty and not capture the full range of variation between individuals. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis was used to infer latent dimensions of a frailty index constructed using survey data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, wave 9. The dataset included 58 self-reported health deficits in a representative sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65+ (N=4971). Deficits encompassed chronic disease, general health status, mobility, independence with activities of daily living, psychological well-being, memory and cognition. Multiple linear regression examined associations with CASP-19 quality of life scores. Results: Factor analysis revealed four frailty subdimensions. Based on the component deficits with the highest loading values, these factors were labelled 'mobility impairment and physical morbidity', 'difficulties in daily activities', 'mental health' and 'disorientation in time'. The four subdimensions were a better predictor of quality of life than frailty index scores. Conclusions: Distinct subdimensions of frailty can be identified from standard index scores. A decomposed approach to understanding frailty has a potential to provide a more nuanced understanding of an individual's state of health across multiple deficits.</p

Frailty or Frailties: Exploring Frailty Index Subdimensions in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Background: Frailty, a state of increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, has garnered significant attention in research and clinical practice. Existing constructs aggregate clinical features or health deficits into a single score. While simple and interpretable, this approach may overlook the complexity of frailty and not capture the full range of variation between individuals. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis was used to infer latent dimensions of a frailty index constructed using survey data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), wave 9. The dataset included 58 self-reported health deficits in a representative sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65+ (N = 4971). Deficits encompassed chronic disease, general health status, mobility, independence with activities of daily living, psychological wellbeing, memory and cognition. Multiple linear regression examined associations with CASP-19 quality of life scores. Results: Factor analysis revealed four frailty subdimensions. Based on the component deficits with the highest loading values, these factors were labelled "Mobility Impairment and Physical Morbidity", "Difficulties in Daily Activities", "Mental Health" and "Disorientation in Time". The four subdimensions were a better predictor of quality of life than frailty index scores. Conclusions: Distinct subdimensions of frailty can be identified from standard index scores. A decomposed approach to understanding frailty has potential to provide a more nuanced understanding of an individual's state of health across multiple deficits.Comment: 39 pages, 4 figure

Complete genome sequences of five bluetongue virus (BTV) vaccine strains from a commercial live attenuated vaccine, a BTV-4 field strain from South Africa, and a reassortant strain isolated from experimentally vaccinated cattle

This is a report of the complete genome sequences of plaque-selected isolates of each of the five virus strains included in a South African commercial trivalent bluetongue virus (BTV) attenuated live virus vaccine, a BTV-4 field strain isolated from Rustenburg, South Africa, in 2011, and a bluetongue reassortant (bluetongue virus 4 strain 4/O. aries-tc/ZAF/11/OBP-115) isolated from experimentally vaccinated cattle. Full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses show that the bluetongue virus 9 strain 9/B. taurus-tc/ZAF/15/Onderstepoort_B02b is a reassortant virus containing segments from both BTV-9 and BTV-8

Introducing NICE guidelines for intravenous fluid therapy into a district general hospital

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