Climate sensitive diseases in the Mekong Region: Can we predict pests by climate factors?

A warmer, wetter world is likely to be sicker. TheMekong is a hotspot for human, animal and plant diseases, and some of themost important are highly sensitive to climate and climate changes. These diseases can impose enormous burdens on human health and the agricultural sector and hinder broader development. Better response to climate sensitive disease requires better information and tools. The objective of the project we are presenting here is to develop tools to forecast climate-sensitive animal and plant diseases in Vietnam and Laos. Key work packages will include (among others) developing and disseminating maps of hotspots for selected climate-sensitive animal and zoonotic diseases, piloting a real-time prediction system, and exploring the potential for weather-based forecasting for aflatoxin mitigation (only Vietnam). As climaticsensitive animal diseases and zoonoses leptospirosis and Japanese encephalitis have been identified in stakeholder consultations for Vietnam. Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria hosted by mammals, although the rodent-borne serovars are most often associated with serious human diseases which get infected through contact with contaminated water. Japanese encephalitis is a vector-borne viral disease transmitted by culicine mosquitoes from the amplifying hosts (e.g. pigs) to humans, where disease can be fatal. Aflatoxins, produced by Aspergillus spp in cereals, can cause acute or chronic aflatoxicosis in humans. The association of these diseases and meteorological conditions is evaluated and models will be built to predict future occurrence. If the models are successful in predicting disease, the aim is to provide policymakers and stakeholders with tools to aid in mitigating future disease and to make susceptible societies more resilient to future climate change. The ultimate outcome targets farming communities that are able to take practical action to reduce disease risk and/or benefit from risk-mitigating action provided by health providers. A framework which will guide through the various work packages will be presented and discussed. The project is funded by the CGIAR programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)

Technology Platform for Sampling Water with Electrolyte-Gated Organic Transistors Sensitised with Langmuiur-Deposited Calixarene Surface Layers.

We demonstrate a technology platform that enables the development of new, surface-sensitised organic transistor sensors. We show that an organic semiconductor can still be gated by an electric double layer within the electrochemical window of water after the deposition of up to four Langmuir- Schäfer calixarene layers onto its surface. Since many calixarenes are known to selectively bind waterborne cations, this facilitates sensitising a conventional organic semiconductor with a physically deposited layer for specific cation recognition. When at least two Langmuir-Schäfer layers are deposited, these also block the electrochemical doping of the organic semiconductor, which otherwise competes with the field effect in water-gated organic transistors. Carrier mobility is reduced by the application of calixarene layers, but transistor current measurement remains accessible by simple methods. We find that for the present purpose, Langmuir-Schäfer-printed surface layers perform better than those deposited by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition

Probing the mechanical properties of TNF-α stimulated endothelial cell with atomic force microscopy

TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that regulates the permeability of blood and lymphatic vessels. The plasma concentration of TNF-α is elevated (> 1 pg/mL) in several pathologies, including rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer, pre-eclampsia; in obese individuals; and in trauma patients. To test whether circulating TNF-α could induce similar alterations in different districts along the vascular system, three endothelial cell lines, namely HUVEC, HPMEC, and HCAEC, were characterized in terms of 1) mechanical properties, employing atomic force microscopy; 2) cytoskeletal organization, through fluorescence microscopy; and 3) membrane overexpression of adhesion molecules, employing ELISA and immunostaining. Upon stimulation with TNF-α (10 ng/mL for 20 h), for all three endothelial cells, the mechanical stiffness increased by about 50% with a mean apparent elastic modulus of E ~5 ± 0.5 kPa (~3.3 ± 0.35 kPa for the control cells); the density of F-actin filaments increased in the apical and median planes; and the ICAM-1 receptors were overexpressed compared with controls. Collectively, these results demonstrate that sufficiently high levels of circulating TNF-α have similar effects on different endothelial districts, and provide additional information for unraveling the possible correlations between circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and systemic vascular dysfunction

Class Day Programme, May (1892)

https://red.mnstate.edu/commencement/1002/thumbnail.jp

Surveillance and early warning systems for climate sensitive diseases in Vietnam and Laos

Playwright: William Shakespeare Director: Hal J. Todd Scenic: Donamarie Reeds Costumes: Lee Livingstone Lighting: Dee Cecil Academic Year: 1974-1975https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/productions_1970s/1045/thumbnail.jp

Bioresorbable silicon electronics for transient spatiotemporal mapping of electrical activity from the cerebral cortex.

Bioresorbable silicon electronics technology offers unprecedented opportunities to deploy advanced implantable monitoring systems that eliminate risks, cost and discomfort associated with surgical extraction. Applications include postoperative monitoring and transient physiologic recording after percutaneous or minimally invasive placement of vascular, cardiac, orthopaedic, neural or other devices. We present an embodiment of these materials in both passive and actively addressed arrays of bioresorbable silicon electrodes with multiplexing capabilities, which record in vivo electrophysiological signals from the cortical surface and the subgaleal space. The devices detect normal physiologic and epileptiform activity, both in acute and chronic recordings. Comparative studies show sensor performance comparable to standard clinical systems and reduced tissue reactivity relative to conventional clinical electrocorticography (ECoG) electrodes. This technology offers general applicability in neural interfaces, with additional potential utility in treatment of disorders where transient monitoring and modulation of physiologic function, implant integrity and tissue recovery or regeneration are required