Validity of rapid estimates of household wealth and income for health surveys in rural Africa

Drawing data from four different integrated household surveys in rural areas of Mali, Malawi, and two national surveys in Côte d'Ivoire, this paper tests the validity of proxy measures of household wealth and income that can be readily implemented in health surveys in rural Africa. The assumptions underlying the choice of wealth proxy are described, and correlations with the true value are assessed in two different settings. The expenditure proxy is developed and then tested for replicability in two independent data sets representing the same population. The study found that in both Mali and Malawi, the wealth proxy correlated highly (r $ 0.74) with the more complex monetary value method. For rural areas of Côte d'Ivoire, it was possible to generate a list of just 10 expenditure items, the values of which, when summed, correlated highly with expenditures on all items combined (r = 0.74, development data set; r = 0.72, validation data set). Total household expenditure is an accepted alternative measure of household wealth and income in developing country settings. This paper thus shows that it can be feasible to approximate both household wealth and expenditures in rural African settings without dramatically lengthening questionnaires whose primary focus is on health.Africa Rural conditions. ,Household surveys. ,Income Rural areas Africa. ,Health surveys. ,

Entorno gráfico para algoritmos de estimación de temperatura en la ciudad de Villa Mercedes, San Luis sobre la base de puntos de temperaturas conocidos

El objetivo de este trabajo es el diseño e implementación de un entorno gráfico para un algoritmo de estimación de temperaturas sobre la ciudad de Villa Mercedes, San Luis desarrollado con anterioridad. Sobre la base de datos conocidos de cinco centrales meteorológicas estratégicamente ubicadas, el algoritmo entrega una superficie tridimensional de temperatura sobre la ciudad que permite observar la variación y además entrega las isotermas sobre el mapa en función de una fecha solicitada. Este nuevo entorno gráfico, constituye una mejora desde el punto de vista de la usabilidad, no solo porque transforma el algoritmo dotándolo de una interfaz intuitiva y simple, sino también porque lo hace independiente del software utilizado para el desarrollo (Matlab), mejorando la portabilidad de la aplicación. Se presenta, el principio de funcionamiento del algoritmo, el entorno desarrollado, las distintas posibilidades que brinda, como así también los pasos para la distribución e instalación del software desarrollado.The objective of this work is to design and implement a graphical algorithm to estimate the temperatures over the city of Villa Mercedes. Previously we developed and algorithm, the challenge here is the graphical environment to simplify the use of it. We used the data from five weather stations s strategically located; the algorithm delivers a three-dimensional surface temperature over the city which allows the observation of the variation and also delivers the isotherms on the map based on a requested date. This new graphical environment, is an improvement from the point of view of usability, not only because it transforms the algorithm giving it an intuitive and simple interface, but also because it makes it independent of the software used for the development (Matlab), improving portability of the application. The operating principle of the algorithm, the environment developed, the various possibilities offered are presented as well as the steps for the distribution and installation of software developed.Tema 8: Energías renovables, modelización y simulación.Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism

Entorno gráfico para algoritmos de estimación de temperatura en la ciudad de Villa Mercedes, San Luis sobre la base de puntos de temperaturas conocidos

El objetivo de este trabajo es el diseño e implementación de un entorno gráfico para un algoritmo de estimación de temperaturas sobre la ciudad de Villa Mercedes, San Luis desarrollado con anterioridad. Sobre la base de datos conocidos de cinco centrales meteorológicas estratégicamente ubicadas, el algoritmo entrega una superficie tridimensional de temperatura sobre la ciudad que permite observar la variación y además entrega las isotermas sobre el mapa en función de una fecha solicitada. Este nuevo entorno gráfico, constituye una mejora desde el punto de vista de la usabilidad, no solo porque transforma el algoritmo dotándolo de una interfaz intuitiva y simple, sino también porque lo hace independiente del software utilizado para el desarrollo (Matlab), mejorando la portabilidad de la aplicación. Se presenta, el principio de funcionamiento del algoritmo, el entorno desarrollado, las distintas posibilidades que brinda, como así también los pasos para la distribución e instalación del software desarrollado.The objective of this work is to design and implement a graphical algorithm to estimate the temperatures over the city of Villa Mercedes. Previously we developed and algorithm, the challenge here is the graphical environment to simplify the use of it. We used the data from five weather stations s strategically located; the algorithm delivers a three-dimensional surface temperature over the city which allows the observation of the variation and also delivers the isotherms on the map based on a requested date. This new graphical environment, is an improvement from the point of view of usability, not only because it transforms the algorithm giving it an intuitive and simple interface, but also because it makes it independent of the software used for the development (Matlab), improving portability of the application. The operating principle of the algorithm, the environment developed, the various possibilities offered are presented as well as the steps for the distribution and installation of software developed.Tema 8: Energías renovables, modelización y simulación.Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism

Chromatin differentiation between Theobroma cacao L. and T. grandiflorum Schum

A comparative analysis of mitotic chromosomes of Theobroma cacao (cacao) and T. grandiflorum (cupuaçu) was performed aiming to identify cytological differences between the two most important species of this genus. Both species have symmetric karyotypes, with 2n = 20 metacentric chromosomes ranging in size from 2.00 to 1.19 μm (cacao) and from 2.21 to 1.15 μm (cupuaçu). The interphase nuclei of both species were of the arreticulate type, displaying up to 20 chromocentres, which were more regularly shaped in cacao than in cupuaçu. Prophase chromosomes of both species were more condensed in the proximal region, sometimes including the whole short arm. Both species exhibited only one pair of terminal heterochromatic bands, positively stained with chromomycin A 3 , which co-localized with the single 45S rDNA site. Each karyotype displayed a single 5S rDNA site in the proximal region of another chromosome pair. Heterochromatic bands were also observed on the centromeric/pericentromeric regions of all 20 chromosomes of cacao after C-banding followed by Giemsa or DAPI staining, whereas in cupuaçu they were never detected. These data suggest that the chromosomes of both species have been largely conserved and their pericentromeric chromatin is the only citologically differentiated region

Perfil de salud bucal de niños que concurrieron a Servicios Odontológicos Universitarios en Porto Alegre (Brasil) y Córdoba (Argentina)

OBJETIVO: Comparar las condiciones de salud bucal de niños en relación con aspectos socio-demográficos-culturales maternos y perinatales. MÉTODOS: Se realizó examen clínico odontológico a 92 niños ≤3 años, concurrentes a la Clínica Odontológica de la Facultad de Odontología, UNC Córdoba-Argentina (n=32) y a la Clínica del Bebé, Facultad Odontología, UFRG Porto Alegre-Brasil (n=60). Las madres dieron consentimiento informado por escrito. Se aplicó una entrevista semiestructurada diseñada adhoc, a las madres o acompañantes del niño, para indagar aspectos socio-demográficos-culturales, hábitos de higiene bucal, gestación dieta, tipo de parto y lactancia. Se aplicó Chi2 de Pearson y Fisher para evaluar la significación (p<0,05) de las diferencias entre cohortes. La importancia de diversos factores en relación a experiencia de caries y cohorte, se evaluó aplicando regresión logística binaria. RESULTADOS: El motivo de consulta resultó significativamente diferente entre cohortes, 100% preventivo en Argentina frente 8,3% en Brasil (p<0,001), igualmente al considerar la experiencia de caries (p<0,05). El modelo de regresión logística binaria mostró que las variables cohorte y libre de caries resultaron los factores más significativamente asociados a la experiencia de caries. Nivel de estudios de la madre bajo, dieta cariogénica del bebé y tipo de parto indicaron mayor riesgo cariogénico. Respecto a las cohortes se destacaron como estadísticamente significativos, higiene, edad, dieta del bebé y tipo de parto. CONCLUSIÓN: El nivel de instrucción de la madre y la dieta cariogénica del bebé muestran mayor riesgo de actividad de caries para ambas cohortes. Higiene bucal, dieta del bebé y tipo de parto se diferencian significativamente entre las cohortes

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for the treatment of psychosis: a systematic review

Background: Psychosis is a public health concern. There is increasing evidence suggesting trauma can play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of psychosis. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective treatment for trauma and could be a vital addition to the treatment of psychosis. Objective: To explore the evidence for EMDR as a treatment for psychosis, focussing on the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of this intervention for this population. Methods: Four databases (Cochrane, EMBASE, MEDLINE PsychINFO), and the Francine Shapiro Library were systematically searched, along with grey literature and reference lists of relevant papers. No date limits were applied as this is an area of emerging evidence. Studies were screened for eligibility based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The included studies were quality assessed and data was extracted from the individual studies, and synthesized using a narrative synthesis approach. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria (1 RCT, 2 Pilot studies, 2 Case series and 1 Case report). Across the studies EMDR was associated with reductions in delusional and negative symptoms, mental health service and medication use. Evidence for reductions in auditory hallucinations and paranoid thinking was mixed. No adverse events were reported, although initial increases in psychotic symptoms were observed in two studies. Average dropout rates across the studies were comparable to other trauma-focused treatments for PTSD. The acceptability of EMDR was not adequately measured or reported. Conclusion: EMDR appears a safe and feasible intervention for people with psychosis. The evidence is currently insufficient to determine the effectiveness and acceptability of the intervention for this population. Larger confirmative trials are required to form more robust conclusions

Fast neutron production at the LNL Tandem from the 7^7Li(14^{14}N,xn)X reaction

Fast neutron beams are of relevance for many scientific and industrial applications. This paper explores fast neutron production using a TANDEM accelerator at the Legnaro National Laboratories, via an energetic ion beam (90 MeV $^{14}N$) onto a lithium target. The high energy models for nuclear collision of FLUKA foresee large neutron yields for reactions of this kind. The experiment aimed at validating the expected neutron yields from FLUKA simulations, using two separate and independent set-ups: one based on the multi-foil activation technique, and the other on the time of flight technique, by using liquid scintillator detectors. The results of the experiment show clear agreement of the measured spectra with the FLUKA simulations, both in the shape and the magnitude of the neutron flux at the measured positions. The neutron spectrum is centered around the 8 MeV range with mild tails, and a maximum neutron energy spanning up to 50 MeV. These advantageous results provide a starting point in the development of fast neutron beams based on high energy ion beams from medium-sized accelerator facilities

Agriculture in the Face of Changing Markets, Institutions and Policies: Challenges and Strategies

Since the late 1980s, agriculture in Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) has been under considerable adjustment pressure due to changing political, economic and institutional environments. These changes have been linked to the transition process, as well as the ongoing integration into the European Union and the world market. Reduced subsidies, increased environmental and food quality demands, as well as structural changes in the supply, processing and food retailing sector call for major structural adjustments and the improvement of farmersâ managerial abilities. Though such changes always carry significant threats to farms, they also offer new opportunities for the farms' entrepreneurial engagement. Upcoming changes in the agricultural environment and their possible consequences for farm structures across Europe are thus still timely subjects. The objective of the IAMO Forum 2006 is to contribute to the success of agriculture in the CEECs, as well as their neighboring countries, in todayâs increasingly competitive environment. Concrete questions the conference focuses on are: What are the most suitable farm organizations, cooperative arrangements and contractual forms? How to improve efficiency and productivity? Where do market niches lie and what are the new product demands? This book contains 33 invited and selected contributions. These papers will be presented at the IAMO Forum 2006 in order to offer a platform for scientists, practitioners and policy-makers to discuss challenges and potential strategies at the farm, value chain, rural society and policy levels in order to cope with the upcoming challenges. IAMO Forum 2006, as well as this book, would not have been possible without the engagement of many people and institutions. We thank the authors of the submitted abstracts and papers, as well as the referees, for their evaluation of the abstracts from which the papers were selected. In particular, we would like to express our thanks to OLIVER JUNGKLAUS, GABRIELE MEWES, KLAUS REINSBERG and ANGELA SCHOLZ, who significantly contributed to the organization of the Forum. Furthermore, our thanks goes to SILKE SCHARF for her work on the layout and editing support of this book, and to JIM CURTISS, JAMIE BULLOCH, and DÃNALL Ã MEARÃIN for their English proof-reading. As experience from previous years documents, the course of the IAMO Forum continues to profit from the support and engagement of the IAMO administration, which we gratefully acknowledge. Last but not least, we are very grateful to the Robert Bosch Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Nutrition, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Haniel Foundation and the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe (IAMO) for their respective financial support.Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Farm Management, Industrial Organization, International Development, Labor and Human Capital, Land Economics/Use, Productivity Analysis,

Weak Spatial and Temporal Population Genetic Structure in the Rosy Apple Aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, in French Apple Orchards

We used eight microsatellite loci and a set of 20 aphid samples to investigate the spatial and temporal genetic structure of rosy apple aphid populations from 13 apple orchards situated in four different regions in France. Genetic variability was very similar between orchard populations and between winged populations collected before sexual reproduction in the fall and populations collected from colonies in the spring. A very small proportion of individuals (∼2%) had identical multilocus genotypes. Genetic differentiation between orchards was low (FST<0.026), with significant differentiation observed only between orchards from different regions, but no isolation by distance was detected. These results are consistent with high levels of genetic mixing in holocyclic Dysaphis plantaginae populations (host alternation through migration and sexual reproduction). These findings concerning the adaptation of the rosy apple aphid have potential consequences for pest management