On Sharp Interface Limits for Diffuse Interface Models for Two-Phase Flows

We discuss the sharp interface limit of a diffuse interface model for a two-phase flow of two partly miscible viscous Newtonian fluids of different densities, when a certain parameter \epsilon>0 related to the interface thickness tends to zero. In the case that the mobility stays positive or tends to zero slower than linearly in \epsilon we will prove that weak solutions tend to varifold solutions of a corresponding sharp interface model. But, if the mobility tends to zero faster than \epsilon^3 we will show that certain radially symmetric solutions tend to functions, which will not satisfy the Young-Laplace law at the interface in the limit.Comment: 27 pages, 1 figur

Tanzania Malaria Indicator Surveys 2001 - 2008:\ud Morbidity Indicators and Coverage of Major\ud Malaria Prevention and Control Interventions

Background\ud \ud Malaria continues to be a major public health problem in Africa. In Tanzania alone, thereare an estimated 17 to 20 million malaria cases per year resulting in approximately100,000 deaths. The main strategies to control malaria are vector control through insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and idoor residual spraying (IRS), intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) and early diagnosis and prompt and effective treatment of cases. In 2001, the first Malaria Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MMTSP) was launched in Tanzania followed by the second MMTSP implemented in 2008. In order to evaluate the MMTSP, the NMCP conducted 4 cross-sectional community-based surveys in the years 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008, as well as one survey collecting only malaria biomarkers in 2006. The findings of the latest survey are presented and analyzed in the present work.\ud \ud Methods\ud The NMCP 2008 malaria indicator survey was carried out in 21 malaria sentinel districts, one per region, in Mainland Tanzania. Demographic data of all household members and information on mosquito net availability and use was collected, as well as data on use of IPTp and prompt and effective treatment of fever in children. Further, malaria prevalence and haemoglobin levels were tested in children under the age of five years and in currently pregnant women. In the analysis, logistic regressions with the outcome variables net use, prevalence of malaria and anaemia, and linear regressions with the outcome haemoglobin level were conducted, using location, altitude, distance to health facility, sex and age group as explanatories.\ud \ud Data found in this work was compared with both, the Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS) and the Tanzania National Insecticide Treated Nets Programme (NATNETS) survey (both conducted in 2008). Principle findings 8377 households were interviewed with a total population of 40,135. 65% of the households owned at least one mosquito net and 40% owned at least one ITN. Household net ownership was associated with location, altitude and distance to health facility. 42% of the population slept under a net the night before the survey and 27% under an ITN.\ud \ud Location, distance to health facility, sex and age group were significant determinants for net use. Among children under the age of five years, net use was found to be 49% for any net and 33% for ITN, while among pregnant women it was 47% for any net and 31% for ITN. Overall, household net ownership and personal net use increased over the survey years.\ud \ud Malaria and anaemia prevalence among children was 16.1% and 5.6%, respectively. Malaria prevalence was associated with location, altitude, age group and use of ITN, while anaemia prevalence was associated with altitude and age group. Both, prevalence of anaemia and malaria among children under five decreased between 2006 and 2008. 26% of the children reported to have had a fever during the past two weeks. 15% of these children received the first line antimalarial drug within 24 hours from onset. 76% of the women who had delivered during the two years prior to the survey used IPTp and 44% took at least two doses of SP as IPTp.\ud \ud Discussion\ud It was shown that increasing coverage of malaria prevention and control interventions is negatively correlated with malaria and anaemia prevalences, hence lower prevalences for both conditions. The results of the NMCP survey were similar to those of the THMIS and the NATNETS survey and were as well externally confirmed by other studies.\ud \u

Local Well-Posedness for Relaxational Fluid Vesicle Dynamics

We prove the local well-posedness of a basic model for relaxational fluid vesicle dynamics by a contraction mapping argument. Our approach is based on the maximal $L_p$-regularity of the model's linearization.Comment: 29 page

Targeted Subsidy for Malaria Control With Treated Nets Using a Discount Voucher System in Tanzania.

During the last decade insecticide-treated nets have become a key strategy for malaria control. Social marketing is an appealing tool for getting such nets to poor rural African communities who are most afflicted by malaria. This approach usually involves subsidized prices to make nets and insecticide more affordable and help establish a commercial market. We evaluated a voucher system for targeted subsidy of treated nets in young children and pregnant women in two rural districts of southern Tanzania. Qualitative work involved focus group discussions with community leaders, male and female parents of children under 5 years. In-depth interviews were held with maternal and child health clinic staff and retail agents. Quantitative data were collected through interviewing more than 750 mothers of children under 5 years during a cluster sample survey of child health. The voucher return rate was extremely high at 97% (7720/8000). However, 2 years after the start of the scheme awareness among target groups was only 43% (45/104), and only 12% of women (12/103; 95% CI 4-48%) had used a voucher towards the cost of a net. We found some evidence of increased voucher use among least poor households, compared with the poorest households. On the basis of these results we renewed our information, education and communication (IEC) campaign about vouchers. Discount vouchers are a feasible system for targeted subsidies, although a substantial amount of time and effort may be needed to achieve high awareness and uptake - by which we mean the proportion of eligible women who used the vouchers - among those targeted. Within a poor society, vouchers may not necessarily increase health equity unless they cover a high proportion of the total cost: since some cash is needed when using a voucher as part-payment, poorer women among the target group are likely to have lower uptake than richer women. The vouchers have two important additional functions: strengthening the role of public health services in the context of a social marketing programme and forming an IEC tool to demonstrate the group at most risk of severe malaria

Case studies from the biomedical and health systems research activities of the Swiss Tropical Institute in Africa

Neither high theoretical efficacy of disease control tools, nor diagnostic accuracy, nor good compliance, nor adequate coverage can lead on its own to the final goal of community effectiveness. There is a complex relationship between these factors. The different steps in the process leading to effective health care in the community are discussed on the basis of biomedical and health systems research activities of the Swiss Tropical Institute. Schistosomiasis and malaria control provide the background to problems related to the efficacy of tools. In particular, information on the trial of a malaria vaccine candidate (SPf66) is given. Approaches to the rapid, accurate and economical diagnosis of communities at risk are discussed with reference to Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni. Health service support projects in Tanzania and Chad are presented to exemplify problems linked to the compliance of users/providers and coverage. Finally, it is shown that community effectiveness depends on the highest possible success rate for each step. This requires the co-operative efforts of all those involved: the scientist, the manager, the community health worker and, last but not least, the community itsel