A Large Outbreak of Hepatitis E Among a Displaced Population in Darfur, Sudan, 2004: The Role of Water Treatment Methods.

BACKGROUND: The conflict in Darfur, Sudan, was responsible for the displacement of 1.8 million civilians. We investigated a large outbreak of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Mornay camp (78,800 inhabitants) in western Darfur. METHODS: To describe the outbreak, we used clinical and demographic information from cases recorded at the camp between 26 July and 31 December 2004. We conducted a case-cohort study and a retrospective cohort study to identify risk factors for clinical and asymptomatic hepatitis E, respectively. We collected stool and serum samples from animals and performed a bacteriological analysis of water samples. Human samples were tested for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibody to HEV (for serum samples) and for amplification of the HEV genome (for serum and stool samples). RESULTS: In 6 months, 2621 hepatitis E cases were recorded (attack rate, 3.3%), with a case-fatality rate of 1.7% (45 deaths, 19 of which involved were pregnant women). Risk factors for clinical HEV infection included age of 15-45 years (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-4.46) and drinking chlorinated surface water (odds ratio, 2.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-5.08). Both factors were also suggestive of increased risk for asymptomatic HEV infection, although this was not found to be statistically significant. HEV RNA was positively identified in serum samples obtained from 2 donkeys. No bacteria were identified from any sample of chlorinated water tested. CONCLUSIONS: Current recommendations to ensure a safe water supply may have been insufficient to inactivate HEV and control this epidemic. This research highlights the need to evaluate current water treatment methods and to identify alternative solutions adapted to complex emergencies

Origin and evolutionary relationships of giant Galapagos tortoises

Perhaps the most enduring debate in reptile systematics has involved the giant Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra), whose origins and systematic relationships captivated Charles Darwin and remain unresolved to this day. Here we report a phylogenetic reconstruction based on mitochondrial DNA sequences from Galapagos tortoises and Geochelone from mainland South America and Africa. The closest living relative to the Galapagos tortoise is not among the larger-bodied tortoises of South America but is the relatively small-bodied Geochelone chilensis, or Chaco tortoise. The split between G. chilensis and the Galapagos lineage probably occurred 6 to 12 million years ago, before the origin of the oldest extant Galapagos island. Our data suggest that the four named southern subspecies on the largest island, Isabela, are not distinct genetic units, whereas a genetically distinct northernmost Isabela subspecies is probably the result of a separate colonization. Most unexpectedly, the lone survivor of the abingdoni subspecies from Pinta Island ("Lonesome George") is very closely related to tortoises from San Cristobal and Espanola, the islands farthest from the island of Pinta, To rule out a possible recent transplant of Lonesome George, we sequenced DNA from three tortoises collected on Pinta in 1906, They have sequences identical to Lonesome George, consistent with his being the last survivor of his subspecies. This finding may provide guidance in finding a mate for Lonesome George, who so far has failed to reproduce

Characterization of a spheromak plasma gun: The effect of refractory electrode coatings

In order to investigate the proposition that high-Z impurities are responsible for the anomalously short lifetime of the Caltech spheromak, the center electrode of the spheromak plasma gun has been coated with a variety of metals (bare steel, copper, nickel, chromium, rhodium, and tungsten). Visible light (230–890 nm) emitted directly from the plasma in the gun breech was monitored for each of the coated electrodes. Plasma density and temperature and spheromak lifetime were compared for each electrode. Results indicate little difference in gun performance or macroscopic plasma parameters. The chromium and tungsten electrodes performed marginally better in that a previously reported helicity injection effect [Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 2144 (1990)] is only observed in discharges using these electrode coatings. There are subtle differences in the detailed line emission spectra from the different electrodes, but the spectra are remarkably similar. The fact that (1) contrary to expectations, attempts to reduce high-Z impurities had only marginal effect on the spheromak lifetime coupled with (2) an estimate of Zeff<2 based on a 0-D model suggests that it is not impurities but some other mechanism that limits the lifetime of small, cold spheromaks. We will discuss the general characteristics of the spheromak gun as well as effects due to the coatings

مقايسه فراوانی مرگ ومير و عوارض نوزادی در درمان تک‌دوره‌ای

زمينه: سندرم زجر تنفسی يکی از شايع ترين علل مرگ و مير و معلوليت در نوزادان نارس است. تأثيرمفيد تجويز کورتيکواستروئيد در مادران باردار در معرض خطر زايمان زودرس برکاهش مرگ و مير نوزادی، سندرم زجر تنفسی و ساير عوارض نوزادی ثابت شده است. تکرار تجويز کورتيکواستروئيد در مادرانی که طی 14ـ7 روز بعد از اولين دوره کورتيکواستروئيد زايمان نکرده اند از اقدامات رايج مي‎باشد، با اين وجود فوايد آن در مقايسه با درمان تک دوره ای ثابت نشده است و مطالعات متناقضی در اين رابطه وجود دارد. مواد و روش‌ها: اين مطالعه بصورت کوهورت با همسان سازی بر روی 108 نوزاد (54 نوزاد در گروه تک دوره ای کورتيکواستروئيد و 54 نوزاد در گروه چند دوره ای) انجام شد. متغيرهای مورد بررسی شامل مشخصات مادران، نوزادان و فراوانی مرگ و مير نوزادان، سندرم زجر تنفسی، خون ريزی داخل بطنی و آنتروکوليت نکروزان بود. معيارهای همسان سازی در نوزاد شامل جنس، نوع زايمان و سن حاملگی در زمان زايمان بود. ابتدا اطلاعات مامائی از پرونده مادر ثبت شد و سپس ساير اطلاعات در رابطه با نوزاد به صورت آينده نگر جمع آوری شد. يافته‌ها: در مقايسه ميانگين وزن هنگام تولد، دور سر و آپگار دقيقه اول و پنجم اختلاف آماری معنی داری در دو گروه تک دوره ای و چند دوره ای مشاهده نشد و در بررسی فراوانی ونسبت خطر مرگ و مير و عوارض نوزاد به ترتيب در دو گروه مرگ و مير (4/7 درصد و 13 درصد و 8/1= OR) سندرم زجر تنفسی(8/29 درصد و 35 درصد و 3/1= OR) خون ريزی داخل بطنی (2/22 درصد و 2/22 درصد و 0/1=OR) و سندرم آنتروليت نکروزان (1/11 درصد و 2/9 درصد و 7/0=OR) گزارش شد. نتيجه گيری: تکرار دوره های کورتيکواستروئيد پيش از زايمان در مقايسه با درمان تک دوره‎ای به نظر نمی رسد مرگ و مير و عوارض نوزادی را کاهش دهد. واژه‌های کلیدی: کورتيکواستروئيد، نوزادان نارس، زايمان، سندرم زجر تنفسی

Fungi in a Warmer World - Fungal diversity from the Peak Warming of the Miocene Climate Optimum as Recorded in the Latah Formation, Clarkia, Idaho, USA

Microfungi are a vital part of ecosystems as they help with key processes, such as carbon and nutrient cycling, especially through the actions of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic members (Nuñez Otaño et al., 2015, 2021; Willis et al., 2018). Microfungi can also be good indicators of plant biodiversity in an area because many fungal taxa are host-specific (Rutten et al., 2021; Francioli et al., 2021; Hu et al., 2021; Wijayawardene et al., 2022 ). Despite being crucial components in ecosystems, they are often overlooked. In the fossil record, microfungi have a high preservaon rate and they are often preserved close to the original substrate they were deposited in. This makes them an important proxy for understanding local past ecological and climatological conditions (Romero et al., 2021, O’Keefe et al., 2017). The Fungi in a Warmer World project seeks to use fossil fungal assemblages to study changes in biodiversity during the Miocene Climate Opmum (MCO), a period of peak warming that closely mirrors current and projected warming trends (Steinthorsdotter et al., 2021). The current atmospheric CO2 concentraon is around 420 ppm but is rapidly approaching the MCO average of 450-550 ppm (Steinthorsdotter et al., 2021).https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2022/1045/thumbnail.jp

Promoting school engagement in children with cerebral Palsy: A narrative based program

This study assessed the efficacy of an educational program focused on the promotion of school engagement in children with Cerebral Palsy. A 9 weeks, narrative-based intervention program, with a pre-post neuropsychological and self-report evaluation, was developed with a dual focus: a self-regulation theoretical model and executive function stimulation. Fifteen children with Cerebral Palsy participated in the study. Results showed a significant main effect of time (F(2.82) = 6.04, p = 0.0066, partial η2 = 0.30; F(2.82) = 9.91, p = 0.0006, partial η2 = 0.41; F(2.82) = 26.90, p 2 = 0.66) in the three dimensions of school engagement. Findings indicate that the program to train self-regulated competences and executive function skills was efficacious in promoting school engagement in children with Cerebral Palsy. Educational implications were discussed.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653). A.P., S.L. and T.M. were supported by PhD fellowships from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. P.M. was supported by a Post-Doctoral fellowship from the Research Centre on Psychology (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho

La accesibilidad como la necesidad más percibida por las personas con parálisis cerebral en proceso de envejecimiento

En este estudio se recogen las necesidades que presentan las personas con parálisis cerebral (PC) en proceso de envejecimiento. Un total de 260 personas con PC de diferentes comunidades cumplimentan una entrevista semiestructurada que recoge información sobre cómo perciben las personas con PC su propio envejecimiento, cuáles son sus necesidades y de qué forma las encuentran satisfechas. Respecto a las preocupaciones presentadas, las más elegidas, con un total de 640 respuestas han sido las relacionadas con la existencia de barreras, principalmente las barreras arquitectónicas, el acceso al transporte y las barreras sociales. La accesibilidad se convierte en un factor indispensable para la igualdad de oportunidades. Este análisis permite diseñar propuestas para atender estas necesidades en la población con PC que envejece, ya que la accesibilidad es una condición previa a la participación en la sociedad y la economía. El diseño para todos es una obligación que se deriva del derecho a la accesibilidad universal, para ello hay que concienciar a la sociedad sobre la relevancia de hacer un mundo accesible que sea capaz de incluir la gran diversidad humana.In this study the needs presented by people with cerebral palsy (CP) in the aging process are collected. A total of 260 people with CP from different communities filled in a semistructured interview that collects information about how people with CP perceive their own aging, what their needs are and how those are met. Regarding the concerns raised, the most chosen responses, of a total of 640, were concerns about the existence of barriers, mainly architectural barriers, access to transportation and social barriers. Accessibility becomes an indispensable factor on the equality of opportunity. This analysis allows designing proposals to address these needs in the aging population with PC, since accessibility is a prerequisite for the participation in the society and the economy. Design for everybody is an obligation that derives from the right to universal accessibility. In order to that public awareness about the importance of making an accessible world able to include the great human diversity is required

Aerobic Exercise Responses and Blood Pressure Measurement of Individuals with Intellectual Disability in Ibadan

The benefits of physical activities are universal for all including those with intellectual disability. Individuals with intellectual disability are mostly neglected and hardly exercised. Hence, the opportunities for improved health and wellness are limited. Paucity of data that could guide ameliorative measures also presents another challenge. Participants were 65 individuals with intellectual disability drawn from four schools for the handicap in Ibadan and were assigned into three experimental groups (Down syndrome, Autism and Cerebral palsy) and control group. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance, Analysis of Variance and Scheffe post-hoc test. There were significant differences in the physiological variables of systolic blood pressure (F (2, 62) = 15.3; p &lt; 0.05), between the experimental and control groups. Therefore continuous exercise for the intellectually disabled individuals should be an integral part of the physical education curriculum. Key words: Intellectual disability, Quality of life, Physiological parameter