The chicken or the egg? Exploring bi-directional associations between Newcastle disease vaccination and village chicken flock size in rural Tanzania

Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral disease of poultry with global importance, responsible for the loss of a potential source of household nutrition and economic livelihood in many low-income food-deficit countries. Periodic outbreaks of this endemic disease result in high mortality amongst free-ranging chicken flocks and may serve as a disincentive for rural households to invest time or resources in poultry-keeping. Sustainable ND control can be achieved through vaccination using a thermotolerant vaccine administered via eyedrop by trained "community vaccinators". This article evaluates the uptake and outcomes of fee-for-service ND vaccination programs in eight rural villages in the semi-arid central zone of Tanzania. It represents part of an interdisciplinary program seeking to address chronic undernutrition in children through improvements to existing poultry and crop systems. Newcastle disease vaccination uptake was found to vary substantially across communities and seasons, with a significantly higher level of vaccination amongst households participating in a longitudinal study of children's growth compared with non-participating households (p = 0.009). Two multivariable model analyses were used to explore associations between vaccination and chicken numbers, allowing for clustered data and socioeconomic and cultural variation amongst the population. Results demonstrated that both (a) households that undertook ND vaccination had a significantly larger chicken flock size in the period between that vaccination campaign and the next compared with those that did not vaccinate (p = 0.018); and (b) households with larger chicken flocks at the time of vaccination were significantly more likely to participate in vaccination programs (p < 0.001). Additionally, households vaccinating in all three vaccination campaigns held over 12 months were identified to have significantly larger chicken flocks at the end of this period (p < 0.001). Opportunities to understand causality and complexity through quantitative analyses are limited, and there is a role for qualitative approaches to explore decisions made by poultry-keeping households and the motivations, challenges and priorities of community vaccinators. Evidence of a bi-directional relationship, however, whereby vaccination leads to greater chicken numbers, and larger flocks are more likely to be vaccinated, offers useful insights into the efficacy of fee-for-service animal health programs. This article concludes that attention should be focused on ways of supporting the participation of vulnerable households in ND vaccination campaigns, and encouraging regular vaccination throughout the year, as a pathway to strengthen food security, promote resilience and contribute to improved human nutrition

Magnetic versus crystal field linear dichroism in NiO thin films

We have detected strong dichroism in the Ni $L_{2,3}$ x-ray absorption spectra of monolayer NiO films. The dichroic signal appears to be very similar to the magnetic linear dichroism observed for thicker antiferromagnetic NiO films. A detailed experimental and theoretical analysis reveals, however, that the dichroism is caused by crystal field effects in the monolayer films, which is a non trivial effect because the high spin Ni $3d^{8}$ ground state is not split by low symmetry crystal fields. We present a practical experimental method for identifying the independent magnetic and crystal field contributions to the linear dichroic signal in spectra of NiO films with arbitrary thicknesses and lattice strains. Our findings are also directly relevant for high spin $3d^{5}$ and $3d^{3}$ systems such as LaFeO$_{3}$, Fe$_{2}$O$_{3}$, VO, LaCrO$_{3}$, Cr$_{2}$O$_{3}$, and Mn$^{4+}$ manganate thin films

Assumptions for long-term stochastic population forecasts in 18 European countries: Hypothèses de projections stochastiquesàlong terme des populations de 18 pays européens

The aim of the ‘Uncertain Population of Europe’(UPE) project was to compute long-term stochastic (probabilistic) population forecasts for 18 European countries. We developed a general methodology for constructing predictive distributions for fertility, mortality and migration. The assumptions underlying stochastic population forecasts can be assessed by analysing errors in past forecasts or model-based estimates of forecast errors, or by expert judgement. All three approaches have been used in the project. This article summarizes and discusses the results of the three approaches. It demonstrates how the—sometimes conflicting—results can be synthesized into a consistent set of assumptions about the expected levels and the uncertainty of total fertility rate, life expectancy at birth of men and women, and net migration for 18 European countries

Structure and soft magnetic properties of sputter deposited MnZn-ferrite films

In this paper we report the soft magnetic properties of thin films of sputtered MnZn ferrite deposited on thermally oxidized Si substrates. A high deposition temperature, 600¿°C, together with the addition of water vapor to the sputtering gas was found to improve the initial ac permeability, µ. The highest value obtained was approximately 30. For MnZn-ferrite films with much larger grain sizes, as obtained by deposition on a polycrystalline Zn-ferrite substrate, a µ of 100 was obtained. The results are discussed in terms of the so-called nonmagnetic grain boundary model

One Health, veterinarians and the nexus between disease and food security

Achieving ecologically sustainable food systems for people and animals is one of the greatest challenges facing our world today. Four interdisciplinary approaches that promote a holistic, systems approach to disease prevention and food security are introduced. Current domestic and international initiatives that link disease prevention with food and nutrition security are presented, with an emphasis on animal‐source food and examples from Australia, Tanzania and Timor‐Leste. Veterinarians are uniquely placed to use their training in comparative physiology in support of the production of sustainable, nutritious, ethical and safe food delivered with minimal waste to promote human, animal and environmental health

An appraisal of the indigenous chicken market in Tanzania and Zambia. Are the markets ready for improved outputs from village production systems?

Traditional or village poultry, consisting primarily of indigenous chickens, make up over 80% of poultry in Africa. Most are kept as small flocks in free-ranging, scavenging, low input production systems. They provide vital nutritional and financial needs especially for children, women of reproductive age, people with HIV/AIDS and the poor. Poultry meat and eggs provide animal source protein and essential micronutrients which improves growth and cognitive development in children. While productivity of indigenous chickens is low due to uncontrolled disease and an unreliable scavenging resource base, the minimal inputs result in a high benefit-cost ratio. By increasing supplementary feeding through improved crop yields and improving disease control through vaccination, a higher number of chickens of greater bodyweight will be available to market. An appraisal of the indigenous chicken market in Tanzania and Zambia was conducted to identify the key individuals (including gender imbalances), market channels, commercialisation margins, market trends and competition from exotic, commercial chickens (broilers and spent layers). Consumers preferred indigenous chickens and urban consumers paid their significantly higher price, which resulted from the accumulative costs of intermediary traders’ fees, transport costs and market fees. Commercial chickens in urban markets sold at a lower price but were vulnerable to fluctuating costs of high inputs. Indigenous chicken producers’ margins were favourable enough to suggest that some additional costs were sustainable, provided the off take channels and consumer confidence is sustained. Markets for indigenous chickens were informal and consequently, their response to increased production may be unpredictable

COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness in a UK Tertiary and Quaternary Children's Hospital: Tales of the Unexpected

We describe the adaptive coping strategies required in the management of a heterogeneous group of SARS-CoV-2 paediatric patients. The diverse range of presentations, presenting in distinct phenotypic waves, exemplified the importance of preparedness for the unknown. Lessons learned will be essential in planning for a likely second wave of SARS-CoV-2

Mortality of Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes Insight Into Their Natural History

Background-For most arrhythmia syndromes, the risk of sudden cardiac death for asymptomatic mutation carriers is ill defined. Data on the natural history of these diseases, therefore, are essential. The family tree mortality ratio method offers the unique possibility to study the natural history at a time when the disease was not known and patients received no treatment. Methods and Results-In 6 inherited arrhythmia syndromes caused by specific mutations, we analyzed all-cause mortality with the family tree mortality ratio method (main outcome measure, standardized mortality ratio [SMR]). In long-QT syndrome (LQTS) type 1, severely increased mortality risk during all years of childhood was observed (1-19 years), in particular during the first 10 years of life (SMR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5-5.1). In LQTS type 2, we observed increasing SMRs starting from age 15 years, which just reached significance between age 30 and 39 (SMR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.1-10.0). In LQTS type 3, the SMR was increased between age 15 and 19 years (SMR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.2-16.9). In the SCN5A overlap syndrome, excess mortality was observed between age 10 and 59 years, with a peak between 20 and 39 years (SMR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.5-5.7). In catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, excess mortality was restricted to ages 20 to 39 years (SMR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.0). In Brugada syndrome, excess mortality was observed between age 40 and 59 (SMR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4), particularly in men. Conclusions-We identified age ranges during which the mortality risk manifests in an unselected and untreated population, which can guide screening in these families. (Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2012;5:183-189.

Spectrophotometric, chemometric and chromatographic determination of naphazoline hydrochloride and chlorpheniramine maleate in the presence of naphazoline hydrochloride alkaline degradation product

AbstractFour accurate and sensitive methods were developed and validated for determination of naphazoline hydrochloride (NAP) and chlorpheniramine maleate (CLO) in the presence of naphazoline hydrochloride alkaline degradation product (NAP Deg). The first method is a spectrophotometric one , where NAP was determined by the fourth derivative (D4) spectrophotometric method by measuring the peak amplitude at 302nm, while CLO was determined by the second derivative of the ratio spectra (DD2) spectrophotometric method at 276.4nm. The second method is a chemometric-assisted spectrophotometric method in which partial least squares (PLS-1) and partial component regression (PCR) were used for the determination of NAP, CLO and NAP Deg using the information contained in their absorption spectra of ternary mixture. The third method is a TLC-densitometric one where NAP, CLO and NAP Deg were separated using HPTLC silica gel F254 plates using ethyl acetate:methanol:ammonia: (8:2:0.5, by volume) as the developing system followed by densitometric measurement at 245nm. The fourth method is HPLC method where NAP, CLO and NAP Deg were separated using ODS C18 column and a mobile phase consisting of 0.1M KH2PO4 (pH=7):methanol (55:45 v/v) delivered at 1.5mLmin−1 followed by UV detection at 265nm. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to the analysis of NAP and CLO in pharmaceutical formulations without interference from the dosage form additives and the results were statistically compared with a reported method

Novel mutations in PIEZO1 cause an autosomal recessive generalized lymphatic dysplasia with non-immune hydrops fetalis.

Generalized lymphatic dysplasia (GLD) is a rare form of primary lymphoedema characterized by a uniform, widespread lymphoedema affecting all segments of the body, with systemic involvement such as intestinal and/or pulmonary lymphangiectasia, pleural effusions, chylothoraces and/or pericardial effusions. This may present prenatally as non-immune hydrops. Here we report homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations in PIEZO1, resulting in an autosomal recessive form of GLD with a high incidence of non-immune hydrops fetalis and childhood onset of facial and four limb lymphoedema. Mutations in PIEZO1, which encodes a mechanically activated ion channel, have been reported with autosomal dominant dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis and non-immune hydrops of unknown aetiology. Besides its role in red blood cells, our findings indicate that PIEZO1 is also involved in the development of lymphatic structures