COVID-19: a novel burden on the fragile health system of Angola

No abstract available

Dog Bites in Humans and Estimating Human Rabies Mortality in Rabies Endemic Areas of Bhutan

Dog bites in humans are a public health problem worldwide. We conducted a hospital based questionnaire survey and described the incidence and risk factors for human dog bites in Bhutan. We also estimated the human death rate attributable to rabies in two rabies endemic areas of south Bhutan. Our study shows that dog bites incidents in humans are common in the survey areas. There were significant gender and age differences in bite incidents; males and the children are affected the most. The majority of the victims were bitten by stray dogs, increasing the risk of rabies infection if not treated in time. Our decision tree model predicted 2.23 (95% CI: 1.20–3.59) human deaths from rabies/year, equivalent to an annual incidence of 4.67 (95% CI: 2.53–7.53) deaths/100,000 in the two rabies endemic areas of south Bhutan. In the absence of post exposure prophylaxis, the model predicted 19.24 (95% CI: 13.69–25.14) deaths/year in these two areas. The public should be encouraged to visit hospitals for post exposure prophylaxis following dog bite injury in south Bhutan

The GANSSER seismological network in Bhutan

Abstract HKT-ISTP 2013 A

Influence of Temperature Gradients and Heat Source in a Combined Layer on Double Component-Magneto-Marangoni-Convection

The present paper has enormous applications including fields of crystal growth, material processing, spacecraft, underground spread of chemical contaminants, petroleum reservoirs, waste dispersal and fertilizer migration in saturated soil, alloy solidification, and many more. The importance of double-diffusive convection has been recognized in various engineering applications, and it has thoroughly been investigated theoretically. In the presence of a constant heat source/sink on both layers, the double component-magneto-Marangoni-convection in a composite layer is examined. Due to heat, this combined layer is enclosed by adiabatic boundaries and exposed to basic temperature gradients. For the system of ordinary differential equations, the thermal surface-tension-driven (Marangoni) number, which also happens to be the Eigenvalue, is solved in closed form. For basic temperature gradients, the eigenvalues, or thermal Marangoni numbers are determined in closed form for lower rigid and higher free boundaries with surface tension, depending on both temperature and concentration. The effect of several parameters on the eigenvalue against depth ratio was studied. It is observed that the inverted parabolic temperature gradient on double component magneto-Marangoni-convection in a combined layer is the most stable of the three temperature gradients and for larger values of depth ratios, all physical parameters are nominal for the porous region dominant combined system

Metabarcoding shows multiple Phytophthora species associated with individual plant species: implications for restoration

Severe tree decline in natural ecosystems around the world has driven Phytophthora research, resulting in a better understanding of the diversity and association of Phytophthora species with different host plants. Improved molecular techniques have contributed significantly to that understanding. The devastating impact of Phytophthora dieback in native vegetation in the southwest of Western Australia (SWWA) has motivated a committed research effort to understand the survival and spread of this pathogen. Hot, dry summers characterise the climate of this ecosystem, and are supposedly unfavourable for a moisture-loving pathogen to survive, spread and thrive. However, Phytophthora cinnamomi can survive within the roots of native plant species allowing for its persistence. Random plant sampling, with metabarcoding from root samples, revealed the presence of at least 23 Phytophthora species on 18 of the 20 plant species growing on mining stockpiles of the Huntly mine site (Alcoa of Australia Limited) in SWWA. Phytophthora cinnamomi was detected on 16 of the 20 plant species. This finding supports the idea that native plant species have a significant role in the survival and spread of P. cinnamomi in the environment. The presence of other Phytophthora species challenges the assumption that P. cinnamomi is the main cause of Phytophthora dieback; the disease may be complex, involving several Phytophthora species. These unexpected detections indicate that plants in the natural forest can serve as the reservoir of inoculum of not only P. cinnamomi but also for other Phytophthora species

Top ten public health challenges to track in 2022

Abstract We identify ten public health challenges that need to be closely tracked in 2022. These challenges are COVID‐19, inadequate human resources for health, poor health systems financing, conflict and humanitarian crises, mental health, poverty, climate change, the health of children, reproductive health issues, and the infodemic. These global priorities, based on opinion of experts and current evidence and literature, need immediate attention and scaled‐up actions. This list of priorities does not discount the existence of other major public health challenges. We forecast and highlight those that may impact global public health in 2022 in order to progress and to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Thus, we advocate for stronger international cooperation, solidarity, and sustainable funding to address these challenges, and improve health across and within populations globally

Lifestyle management of hypertension: International Society of Hypertension position paper endorsed by the World Hypertension League and European Society of Hypertension.

Hypertension, defined as persistently elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at least 90 mmHg (International Society of Hypertension guidelines), affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Hypertension is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events (e.g. coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke) and death. An international panel of experts convened by the International Society of Hypertension College of Experts compiled lifestyle management recommendations as first-line strategy to prevent and control hypertension in adulthood. We also recommend that lifestyle changes be continued even when blood pressure-lowering medications are prescribed. Specific recommendations based on literature evidence are summarized with advice to start these measures early in life, including maintaining a healthy body weight, increased levels of different types of physical activity, healthy eating and drinking, avoidance and cessation of smoking and alcohol use, management of stress and sleep levels. We also discuss the relevance of specific approaches including consumption of sodium, potassium, sugar, fibre, coffee, tea, intermittent fasting as well as integrated strategies to implement these recommendations using, for example, behaviour change-related technologies and digital tools