322 research outputs found

    Opportunities and challenges for modelling epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics in a multihost, multiparasite system: Zoonotic hybrid schistosomiasis in West Africa

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    Multihost multiparasite systems are evolutionarily and ecologically dynamic, which presents substantial trans‐disciplinary challenges for elucidating their epidemiology and designing appropriate control. Evidence for hybridizations and introgressions between parasite species is gathering, in part in line with improvements in molecular diagnostics and genome sequencing. One major system where this is becoming apparent is within the Genus Schistosoma, where schistosomiasis represents a disease of considerable medical and veterinary importance, the greatest burden of which occurs in sub‐Saharan Africa. Interspecific hybridizations and introgressions bring an increased level of complexity over and above that already inherent within multihost, multiparasite systems, also representing an additional source of genetic variation that can drive evolution. This has the potential for profound implications for the control of parasitic diseases, including, but not exclusive to, widening host range, increased transmission potential and altered responses to drug therapy. Here, we present the challenging case example of haematobium group Schistosoma spp. hybrids in West Africa, a system involving multiple interacting parasites and multiple definitive hosts, in a region where zoonotic reservoirs of schistosomiasis were not previously considered to be of importance. We consider how existing mathematical model frameworks for schistosome transmission could be expanded and adapted to zoonotic hybrid systems, exploring how such model frameworks can utilize molecular and epidemiological data, as well as the complexities and challenges this presents. We also highlight the opportunities and value such mathematical models could bring to this and a range of similar multihost, multi and cross‐hybridizing parasites systems in our changing world

    Effects of the Balanced Gap Technique on Femoral Component Rotation in TKA

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    Femoral component rotation from a total knee prosthesis can be determined by either a measured resection technique or a balanced gap technique. With the balanced gap implantation technique, femoral component rotation can vary freely within the restrictions produced by soft tissue structures. Because internal rotation might cause patella problems, the effect of ligament releases on femoral component rotation in a prospective clinical study was studied. Femoral component rotation was measured intraoperatively with a tensor applied in flexion at 150 N in 87 knees. Great interpatient variability was found; femoral component rotation, reference from the posterior condyles, ranged from −4° to 13°. There was no difference in femoral component rotation of knees with or without ligament releases in extension. However, knees with major medial release had less external femoral component rotation than knees with minor lateral releases. Preoperative alignment had no influence on femoral component rotation. The use of the balanced gap implantation technique theoretically will result in a balanced flexion gap, but the amount of femoral component rotation will be variable owing to patient variability and variation in ligament releases

    Méthodes participatives. Un guide pour lutilisateur

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    La participation aux processus participatifs développe également les capacités du public en l'(in)formant et en créant des réseaux de personnes qui peuvent continuer à aborder les questions politiques lorsqu'elles évoluent. Toutefois, le public n'est pas le seul qui ait besoin d'apprendre. Le meilleur moyen pour les décideurs de savoir comment améliorer leurs 'produits et services' est de recevoir un feed-back direct des usagers. Plutôt que d'agir d'abord, puis de corriger, il est plus efficace que les utilisateurs finaux soient impliqués d'emblée dans la conception et la planification

    Genetic Risk in Families with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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    PURPOSE: To determine the contribution of common and rare genetic risk variants in families with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A family cohort (355 affected and 342 unaffected family members from 144 families with AMD) and an unrelated case-control cohort (1078 patients, 952 controls), recruited from the European Genetic Database. METHODS: Genetic data of both cohorts were filtered for carriership of rare genetic variants in the coding and splice-site regions of the complement factor H (CFH) and complement factor I (CFI) genes, and 52 AMD-associated variants were extracted for calculation of genetic risk scores (GRS). To compare GRSs between familial and nonfamilial rare CFH and CFI variant carriers and noncarriers and between AMD disease stages, we performed a 2-way analysis of variance, with Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. Within families with AMD carrying rare CFH and CFI variants, we analyzed segregation patterns by calculating the proportion of affected among carriers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: GRSs and segregation of rare CFH and CFI variants. RESULTS: We observed higher GRSs in familial versus nonfamilial individuals without rare CFH and CFI variants: mean GRS, 1.76 (standard error [SE], 0.08) versus 0.83 (SE, 0.03; P < 0.001). In 51 of 144 families (35.4%), rare CFH and CFI variants were identified. Within the AMD family cohort, carriers of rare CFH and CFI variants showed lower GRSs compared with noncarriers (mean GRS, 1.05 [SE, 0.23] vs. 1.76 [SE, 0.08]; P = 0.02). The proportion of affected family members with a high GRS was 57.3% (176/307). Of the affected family members with a low or intermediate GRS, 40.0% carried rare CFH or CFI variants. Among carriers of 11 rare CFH or CFI variants, the proportion affected by AMD was more than 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic risk in families with AMD often is attributed to high GRSs based on common variants. However, in part of the families with a low or intermediate GRS, rare CFH and CFI variants contributed to disease development. We recommend computing GRSs and sequencing the CFH and CFI genes in families with AMD, in particular in the light of ongoing gene-specific clinical trials

    Концепты «скука», «тоска» и ментальные особенности советской прозы 1920-х-1930-х гг.

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    В предлагаемой статье исследуется изменение художественной семантики концептов «Тоска», «Скука» в советской литературе 1920-х-1930-х гг., совершается попытка расширить современное представление о феномене социалистического реализма через описание ключевых ментальных понятий.У статтi, що пропонується, досліджуються зміни художньої семантики концептів „Туга” („Тоска”), „Нудьга” („Скука”). За допомогою ключових ментальних понять автор намагається розширити сучасне уявлення про феномен соціалистичного реализма.The article studies the change of literary semantics of such concepts as “sadness”, “boredom” in Soviet literature of 1920-193

    Model-consistent estimation of the basic reproduction number from the incidence of an emerging infection

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    We investigate the merit of deriving an estimate of the basic reproduction number \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} R0 \mathcal{R}_0 \end{document} early in an outbreak of an (emerging) infection from estimates of the incidence and generation interval only. We compare such estimates of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} R0 \mathcal{R}_0 \end{document} with estimates incorporating additional model assumptions, and determine the circumstances under which the different estimates are consistent. We show that one has to be careful when using observed exponential growth rates to derive an estimate of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} R0 \mathcal{R}_0 \end{document} , and we quantify the discrepancies that arise
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