880 research outputs found
Rabies elimination research: juxtaposing optimism, pragmatism and realism
More than 100 years of research has now been conducted into the prevention, control and elimination of rabies with safe and highly efficacious vaccines developed for use in human and animal populations. Domestic dogs are a major reservoir for rabies, and although considerable advances have been made towards the elimination and control of canine rabies in many parts of the world, the disease continues to kill tens of thousands of people every year in Africa and Asia. Policy efforts are now being directed towards a global target of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 and the global elimination of canine rabies. Here we demonstrate how research provides a cause for optimism as to the feasibility of these goals through strategies based around mass dog vaccination. We summarize some of the pragmatic insights generated from rabies epidemiology and dog ecology research that can improve the design of dog vaccination strategies in low- and middle-income countries and which should encourage implementation without further delay. We also highlight the need for realism in reaching the feasible, although technically more difficult and longer-term goal of global elimination of canine rabies. Finally, we discuss how research on rabies has broader relevance to the control and elimination of a suite of diseases of current concern to human and animal health, providing an exemplar of the value of a ‘One Health’ approach
Response to a rabies epidemic in Bali, Indonesia
Emergency vaccinations and culling failed to contain an outbreak of rabies in Bali, Indonesia, during 2008–2009. Subsequent island-wide mass vaccination (reaching 70% coverage, >200,000 dogs) led to substantial declines in rabies incidence and spread. However, the incidence of dog bites remains high, and repeat campaigns are necessary to eliminate rabies in Bali
Integrating the landscape epidemiology and genetics of RNA viruses: rabies in domestic dogs as a model
Landscape epidemiology and landscape genetics combine advances in molecular techniques, spatial analyses and epidemiological models to generate a more real-world understanding of infectious disease dynamics and provide powerful new tools for the study of RNA viruses. Using dog rabies as a model we have identified how key questions regarding viral spread and persistence can be addressed using a combination of these techniques. In contrast to wildlife rabies, investigations into the landscape epidemiology of domestic dog rabies requires more detailed assessment of the role of humans in disease spread, including the incorporation of anthropogenic landscape features, human movements and socio-cultural factors into spatial models. In particular, identifying and quantifying the influence of anthropogenic features on pathogen spread and measuring the permeability of dispersal barriers are important considerations for planning control strategies, and may differ according to cultural, social and geographical variation across countries or continents. Challenges for dog rabies research include the development of metapopulation models and transmission networks using genetic information to uncover potential source/sink dynamics and identify the main routes of viral dissemination. Information generated from a landscape genetics approach will facilitate spatially strategic control programmes that accommodate for heterogeneities in the landscape and therefore utilise resources in the most cost-effective way. This can include the efficient placement of vaccine barriers, surveillance points and adaptive management for large-scale control programmes
Spin canted magnetism, decoupling of charge and spin ordering in NdNiO
We report detailed magnetization measurements on the perovskite oxide
NdNiO. This system has a first order metal-insulator (M-I) transition at
about 200 K which is associated with charge ordering. There is also a
concurrent paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic spin ordering transition in the
system. We show that the antiferromagnetic state of the nickel sublattice is
spin canted. We also show that the concurrency of the charge ordering and spin
ordering transitions is seen only while warming up the system from low
temperature. The transitions are not concurrent while cooling the system
through the M-I transition temperature. This is explained based on the fact
that the charge ordering transition is first order while the spin ordering
transition is continuous. In the magnetically ordered state the system exhibits
ZFC-FC irreversibilities, as well as history-dependent magnetization and aging.
Our analysis rules out the possibility of spin-glass or superparamagnetism and
suggests that the irreversibilities originate from magnetocrystalline
anisotropy and domain wall pinning.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Avaliação preoperatória de nódulos thireóides: papel da ultrassonografia e da biópsia de aspiraçào por agulha fina, seguida de citologia
PURPOSE:To evaluate the preoperative assessment of thyroid nodules using ultrasound studies and cytology of nodular aspirates. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 2,468 patients with thyroid nodules were examined from 1999 to 2005. All patients were clinically examined and underwent ultrasonography followed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and cytology. RESULTS:Nodules larger than 10 mm were classified ultrasonographically in a 4-tier system and received a score according to the criterion of possible malignancy. Cytological examinations were conducted independently by 2 cytologists and classified as benign (score 1), indeterminate (score 2), suspicious (score 3), and malignant (score 6). Combining both scores, an index was generated that would indicate a higher probability of malignancy (benign, doubtful, suspicious, and malignant). Thyroid surgery was performed in 274 patients. Of those, 115 patients had a score of 2 to 5 and only 8 had a histological diagnosis of thyroid cancer (6.9%). For patients with a score of 5 (n = 51), 11.5% had a malignant lesion, and 51% of the 61 patients with a score of 6 had confirmed thyroid cancer. Of the 98 patients with a combined score of 7 to 10, 99% had a histological confirmation of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: The index score had a sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 77.5%. The overall accuracy was 85.8%. Therefore, we concluded that this methodology may improve the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer in nodules larger than 10 mm. Association with other methods such as color Doppler echography, serum TSH concentration, galectin-3 expression analysis, and FDG/PET scan would be useful in avoiding the higher costs of thyroid surgical procedures.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a possibilidade de diagnóstico pré-operativo de nódulos da tireóide (de diâmetro superior a 10mm) usando ultra-sonografia da glândula tireóide e citologia de punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada pela ultra-sonografia. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Nódulos tireóideos (maiores que 10mm) foram classificados ultra-sonograficamente em graus de I a IV e escores numéricos de 1 a 4, de acordo com crescente possibilidade de malignidade. O exame citológico, subseqüentemente, classificou os nódulos como benigno (escore 1) indeterminado (escore 2) suspeito (escore 3) e maligno (escore 6). Somando-se os escores obtidos nas duas metodologias obtém-se um índice considerado benigno (índice combinado 2-4), duvidoso (índice combinado 5) suspeito para malignidade (índice combinado 6) e elevada probabilidade de malignidade (índice combinado 7 a 10). Cirurgia da Tireóide foi realizada em 274 pacientes, dos quais 64 apresentavam índice de 2-4; destes, apenas 2 pacientes (3,1%) apresentaram comprovação histológica de câncer. Em pacientes com índice 5 (n= 51), 11,8% apresentaram câncer de tireóide e, em 61 pacientes com índice 6, (n= 31), 51% tiveram diagnóstico confirmado de malignidade. O índice combinado de 7-10 (n= 98) apresentou 99% de pacientes com câncer de tireóide. CONCLUSÕES: O índice combinado apresentou sensibilidade de 94,1% e especificidade de 77,5%. A precisão desta metodologia foi de 85,8%. Concluímos que o índice combinado pode ser útil no diagnóstico pré-cirúrgico do nódulo tireóideo, mormente se associado com outras metodologias como a ecografia com Doppler colorido, nível elevado de TSH sérico, análise de expressão de galectina-3 e imagens por FDG/PET
Modelling and optimisation of the operation of a radiant warmer
This paper presents numerical calculations of the temperature field obtained for the case of a neonate placed under a radiant warmer. The results of the simulations show a very non-uniform temperature distribution on the skin of the neonate, which may cause increased evaporation leading to severe dehydration. For this reason, we propose some modifications on the geometry and operation of the radiant warmer, in order to make the temperature distribution more uniform and prevent the high temperature gradients observed on the surface of the neonate. It is concluded that placing a high conductivity blanket over the neonate and introducing additional screens along the side of the mattress, thus recovering the radiation heat escaping through the side boundaries, helped providing more uniform temperature fields.The European Union for the Marie Curie Fellowship grant awarded to the Centre for CFD, University of Leeds
Anomalous magnetotransport and cyclotron resonance of high mobility magnetic 2DHGs in the quantum Hall regime
Low temperature magnetotransport measurements and far infrared transmission
spectroscopy are reported in molecular beam epitaxial grown two-dimensional
hole systems confined in strained InAs quantum wells with magnetic impurities
in the channel. The interactions of the free holes spin with the magnetic
moment of 5/2 provided by manganese features intriguing localization phenomena
and anomalies in the Hall and the quantum Hall resistance. In magnetic field
dependent far infrared spectroscopy measurements well pronounced cyclotron
resonance and an additional resonance are found that indicates an anticrossing
with the cyclotron resonance
The feasibility of canine rabies elimination in Africa: dispelling doubts with data
<p><b>Background:</b> Canine rabies causes many thousands of human deaths every year in Africa, and continues to increase throughout much of the continent.</p>
<p><b>Methodology/Principal Findings:</b> This paper identifies four common reasons given for the lack of effective canine rabies control in Africa: (a) a low priority given for disease control as a result of lack of awareness of the rabies burden; (b) epidemiological constraints such as uncertainties about the required levels of vaccination coverage and the possibility of sustained cycles of infection in wildlife; (c) operational constraints including accessibility of dogs for vaccination and insufficient knowledge of dog population sizes for planning of vaccination campaigns; and (d) limited resources for implementation of rabies surveillance and control. We address each of these issues in turn, presenting data from field studies and modelling approaches used in Tanzania, including burden of disease evaluations, detailed epidemiological studies, operational data from vaccination campaigns in different demographic and ecological settings, and economic analyses of the cost-effectiveness of dog vaccination for human rabies prevention.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions/Significance:</b> We conclude that there are no insurmountable problems to canine rabies control in most of Africa; that elimination of canine rabies is epidemiologically and practically feasible through mass vaccination of domestic dogs; and that domestic dog vaccination provides a cost-effective approach to the prevention and elimination of human rabies deaths.</p>
Strong coupling between single-electron tunneling and nano-mechanical motion
Nanoscale resonators that oscillate at high frequencies are useful in many
measurement applications. We studied a high-quality mechanical resonator made
from a suspended carbon nanotube driven into motion by applying a periodic
radio frequency potential using a nearby antenna. Single-electron charge
fluctuations created periodic modulations of the mechanical resonance
frequency. A quality factor exceeding 10^5 allows the detection of a shift in
resonance frequency caused by the addition of a single-electron charge on the
nanotube. Additional evidence for the strong coupling of mechanical motion and
electron tunneling is provided by an energy transfer to the electrons causing
mechanical damping and unusual nonlinear behavior. We also discovered that a
direct current through the nanotube spontaneously drives the mechanical
resonator, exerting a force that is coherent with the high-frequency resonant
mechanical motion.Comment: Main text 12 pages, 4 Figures, Supplement 13 pages, 6 Figure
Costs analysis of a population level rabies control programme in Tamil Nadu, India
The study aimed to determine costs to the state government of implementing different interventions for controlling rabies among the entire human and animal populations of Tamil Nadu. This built upon an earlier assessment of Tamil Nadu’s efforts to control rabies. Anti-rabies vaccines were made available at all health facilities. Costs were estimated for five different combinations of animal and human interventions using an activity-based costing approach from the provider perspective. Disease and population data were sourced from the state surveillance data, human census and livestock census. Program costs were extrapolated from official documents. All capital costs were depreciated to estimate annualized costs. All costs were inflated to 2012 Rupees. Sensitivity analysis was conducted across all major cost centres to assess their relative impact on program costs. It was found that the annual costs of providing Anti-rabies vaccine alone and in combination with Immunoglobulins was \$0.7 million (Rs 36 million) and \$2.2 million (Rs 119 million), respectively. For animal sector interventions, the annualised costs of rolling out surgical sterilisation-immunization, injectable immunization and oral immunizations were estimated to be \$ 44 million (Rs 2,350 million), \$23 million (Rs 1,230 million) and \$ 11 million (Rs 590 million), respectively. Dog bite incidence, health systems coverage and cost of rabies biologicals were found to be important drivers of costs for human interventions. For the animal sector interventions, the size of dog catching team, dog population and vaccine costs were found to be driving the costs. Rabies control in Tamil Nadu seems a costly proposition the way it is currently structured. Policy makers in Tamil Nadu and other similar settings should consider the long-term financial sustainability before embarking upon a state or nation-wide rabies control programme
- …