484 research outputs found
Statistical mechanics in the context of special relativity
In the present effort we show that is the unique existing entropy obtained
by a continuous deformation of the Shannon-Boltzmann entropy and preserving unaltered its fundamental properties of concavity,
additivity and extensivity. Subsequently, we explain the origin of the
deformation mechanism introduced by and show that this deformation
emerges naturally within the Einstein special relativity. Furthermore, we
extend the theory in order to treat statistical systems in a time dependent and
relativistic context. Then, we show that it is possible to determine in a self
consistent scheme within the special relativity the values of the free
parameter which results to depend on the light speed and reduces
to zero as recovering in this way the ordinary statistical
mechanics and thermodynamics. The novel statistical mechanics constructed
starting from the above entropy, preserves unaltered the mathematical and
epistemological structure of the ordinary statistical mechanics and is suitable
to describe a very large class of experimentally observed phenomena in low and
high energy physics and in natural, economic and social sciences. Finally, in
order to test the correctness and predictability of the theory, as working
example we consider the cosmic rays spectrum, which spans 13 decades in energy
and 33 decades in flux, finding a high quality agreement between our
predictions and observed data.
PACS number(s): 05.20.-y, 51.10.+y, 03.30.+p, 02.20.-aComment: 17 pages (two columns), 5 figures, RevTeX4, minor typing correction
Application opportunities of geographic information systems analysis to support achievement of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets in South Africa
In an effort to achieve control of the HIV epidemic, 90-90-90 targets have been proposed whereby 90% of the HIV-infected population should know their status, 90% of those diagnosed should be receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of those on treatment should be virologically suppressed. In this article we present approaches for using relatively simple geographic information systems (GIS) analyses of routinely available data to support HIV programme management towards achieving the 90-90-90 targets, with a focus on South Africa (SA) and other high-prevalence settings in low- and middle-income countries. We present programme-level GIS applications to map aggregated health data and individual-level applications to track distinct patients. We illustrate these applications using data from City of Johannesburg Region D, demonstrating that GIS has great potential to guide HIV programme operations and assist in achieving the 90-90-90 targets in SA
High seroprevalence of human herpesviruses in HIV-infected individuals attending primary healthcare facilities in rural South Africa
Seroprevalence data of human herpesviruses (HHVs) are limited for sub-Saharan Africa. These are important to provide an indication of potential burden of HHV-related disease, in particular in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals who are known to be at increased risk of these conditions in the Western world. In this cross-sectional study among 405 HIV-infected and antiretroviral therapy naĂŻve individuals in rural South Africa the seroprevalence of HHVs was: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) (98%), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (87%), varicella zoster virus (VZV) (89%), and 100% for both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Independent factors associated with VZV seropositivity were low educational status and having children. Lack of in-house access to drinking water was independently associated with positive HSV-1 serostatus, whereas Shangaan ethnicity was associated with HSV-2 seropositivity. Increasing age was associated with higher IgG titres to both EBV and CMV, whereas CD4 cell count was negatively associated with EBV and CMV IgG titres. Moreover, IgG titres of HSV-1 and 2, VZV and CMV, and CMV and EBV were positively correlated. The high HHV seroprevalence emphasises the importance of awareness of these viral infections in HIV-infected individuals in South Africa
The church and paediatric HIV care in rural South Africa
Religion has substantial â positive and negative â influence on South Africaâs HIV context. This qualitative study explored possibilities for positive church engagement in paediatric HIV care in a rural district in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Opinions, attitudes and experiences of various stakeholders including religious leaders, healthcare workers and people infected/affected with/by HIV were investigated through participant observation, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. During the research the original focus on paediatric HIV care shifted to HIV care in general in reaction to participant responses. Participants identified three main barriers to positive church engagement in HIV care:
(a) stigma and disclosure;
(b) sexual associations with HIV and
(c) religious beliefs and practices.
All participant groups appreciated the opportunity and relevance of strengthening church involvement in HIV care. Opportunities for positive church engagement in HIV care that participants identified included:
(a) comprehensive and holistic HIV care when churches and clinics collaborate;
(b) the wide social reach of churches and
(c) the safety and acceptance in churches.
Findings indicate that despite barriers great potential exists for increased positive church engagement in HIV care in rural South Africa. Recommendations include increased medical knowledge and dialogue on HIV/AIDS within church settings, and increased collaboration between churches and the medical sector
A 10-year cohort analysis of routine paediatric ART data in a rural South African setting
South Africaâs paediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme is managed using a
monitoring and evaluation tool known as TIER.Net. This electronic system has several
advantages over paper-based systems, allowing profiling of the paediatric ART programme over
time. We analysed anonymized TIER.Net data for HIV-infected children aged <15 years who
had initiated ART in a rural district of South Africa between 2005 and 2014. We performed
KaplanâMeier survival analysis to assess outcomes over time. Records of 5461 children were
available for analysis; 3593 (66%) children were retained in care. Losses from the programme
were higher in children initiated on treatment in more recent years (P < 0·0001) and in children
aged â€1 year at treatment initiation (P < 0·0001). For children aged <3 years, abacavir was
associated with a significantly higher rate of loss from the programme compared to stavudine
(hazard ratio 1·9, P < 0·001). Viral load was suppressed in 48â52% of the cohort, with no
significant change over the years (P = 0·398). Analysis of TIER.Net data over time provides
enhanced insights into the performance of the paediatric ART programme and highlights
interventions to improve programme performance.This study was funded by the US Presidentâs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement number 674-A-12-00015 to the Anova Health Institute.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=HYGhb2016Microbiology and Plant Patholog
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Influences of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcanic plume on air quality in the northern Alpine region
A series of major eruptions of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland started on 14 April 2010 and continued until the end of May 2010. The volcanic emissions moved over nearly the whole of Europe and were observed first on 16 April 2010 in Southern Germany with different remote sensing systems from the ground and space. Enhanced PM10 and SO2 concentrations were detected on 17 April at mountain stations (Zugspitze/Schneefernerhaus and Schauinsland) as well as in Innsbruck by in situ measurement devices. On 19 April intensive vertical mixing and advection along with clear-sky conditions facilitated the entrainment of volcanic material down to the ground. The subsequent formation of a stably stratified lower atmosphere with limited mixing near the ground during the evening of 19 April led to an additional enhancement of near-surface particle concentrations. Consequently, on 19 April and 20 April exceedances of the daily threshold value for particulate matter (PM10) were reported at nearly all monitoring stations of the North Alpine foothills as well as at mountain and valley stations in the northern Alps. The chemical analyses of ambient PM10 at monitoring stations of the North Alpine foothills yielded elevated Titanium concentrations on 19/20 April which prove the presence of volcanic plume material. Following this result the PM10 threshold exceedances are also associated with the volcanic plume. The entrainment of the volcanic plume material mainly affected the concentrations of coarse particles (>1 ÎŒm) â interpreted as volcanic ash â and ultrafine particles (<100 nm), while the concentrations of accumulation mode aerosol (0.1â1 ÎŒm) were not changed significantly. With regard to the occurrence of ultrafine particles, it is concluded that their formation was triggered by high sulphuric acid concentrations which are necessarily generated by the photochemical processes in a plume rich in sulphur dioxide under high solar irradiance. It became evident that during the course of several days, the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic emissions influenced the near-surface atmosphere and thus the ambient air quality. Although the volcanic plume contributed to the overall exposure of the population of the northern Alpine region on two days, only minor effects on the exacerbation of respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms can be expected
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Multi-lingual and multi-cultural information literacy; perspectives, models and good practice
Purpose
This paper reviews current approaches to, and good practice, in information literacy development in multi-lingual and multi-cultural settings, with particular emphasis on provision for international students.
Design/methodology/approach
A selective and critical review of published literature is extended by evaluation of examples of multi-lingual information literacy tutorials and MOOCs.
Findings
Multi-lingual and multi-cultural information literacy are umbrella terms covering a variety of situations and issues. This provision is of increasing importance in an increasingly mobile and multi-cultural world. This article evaluates current approaches and good practice, focusing on issues of culture vis a vis language, the balance between individual and group needs, specific and generic information literacy instruction, and models for information literacy, pedagogy and culture. Recommendations for good practice and for further research are given,
Originality/value
This is one of very few articles critically reviewing how information literacy development is affected by linguistic and cultural factors
Taxonomic status of the extinct Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi
Mitochondrial genes were sequenced from four specimens of the extinct Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi and compared with African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and an old unidentified extralimital âblackâ oystercatcher specimen from The Gambia. At these loci, H. meadewaldoi was approximately 99.65% identical to multiple Eurasian Oystercatcher samples and in phylogenetic trees fell within the range of genetic variation observed in that species. The mystery Gambian bird was resolved as an extralimital H. moquini. We conclude that H. meadewaldoi was most likely a recently diverged melanistic morph or subspecies of H.ostralegus, although further genomic studies will be required to determine whether there has been a period of isolation followed by introgression
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