Simulated lumped-parameter system reduced-order adaptive control studies

Two methods of interpreting the misbehavior of reduced order adaptive controllers are discussed. The first method is based on system input-output description and the second is based on state variable description. The implementation of the single input, single output, autoregressive, moving average system is considered

Reemergence of epidemic malaria in the highlands of western Kenya.

Hospital records (1990-1997) of a tea company in the Kericho district, western Kenya, showed malaria epidemics almost annually from May to July, with an annual attack rate of 50%, 857 hospitalizations per 100,000 per year, and 42 deaths per 100,000 per year; 32% of deaths in hospitalized patients were caused by malaria. A questionnaire survey (June 1997) of 244 patients hospitalized for malaria showed that only 8% had traveled to an area with known malaria transmission 30 days before diagnosis. The increasing malaria incidence may be due to drug resistance

Gracilaria corticata cultivation in fiberglass tanks and Agar extraction

In order to culture the G. corticata for further agar extraction, during one year study (2001), 3 treatments with 3 different densities of 500, 1000 and 2000 g/m^2 and 3 replicates were cultured in fiberglass tanks. During the culture period the parameters of temperature, pH and salinity were measured and 30-40 percent of water was exchanged once every two days. The aeration activity was constantly done and also 0.5g urea added into the water after exchanging the water. The biometric measurement of algae was carried out every week and ultimately end of the period culture, the daily growth and net production (wet weight) was calculated in proportion to g/m2. Also, amount of extracted agar (dry weight) estimated seasonally. In winter, the daily growth (%), net production and agar extracted (%) were estimated 1.46±0.11, 11.5±3.57 and 17.5%, in which these figures for three other seasons of spring, summer and autumn were: 3.74±0.31, 38.3±5.4, 19.3 and 1.5±0.28, 12.43±3.3, 14% and 3.11±0.04, 26.9±0.61 and 15%, respectively. Some epiphytes and grazers were recognized in algae cultivation tanks such as Navicula, Nitzschia, Oscillatoria, Peridinium, Chaetoceros, Enteromorpha, Ulva, and Isopoda, Nemertine and Nereis. Two seasons of spring and autumn showed the best daily growth and net production, and also the 500 g/m^2 treatment was recognized the best culture treatment

Simulation of cyclone gonu using the advanced hurricane WRF: sensitivity to domain coverage, nesting, resolution and starting time

Domain design, different starting times and applying internal fixed and moving domains within the coarser simulation domain similar to different physical options can play important roles in the results of numerical models in order prediction of tropical cyclones. In this study, Gonu Tropical Cyclone (2007) that it was formed in the northern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea) and Advanced Hurricane WRF Model (AHW) have been selected to demonstrate this sensitivity. Initial and boundary conditions, and the best track data in order to comparison was received from NCEP Final Analyses (FNL) data and the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department), respectively. The simulation results in domain design sensitivity showed, the domain that was extended more to the east and was included a lower coverage of the Persian Gulf had more accuracy in predicting of track and the best performance and also had an acceptable performance in predicting of hurricane intensity at the time to reach the coast of Oman and Iran. Although this domain in predicting the intensity peak of cyclone is better than other domain designs, but has weaker track than the available reality (IMD). Then, internal fixed and moving domains to separate within this domain is considered and the results showed that despite some improvement in simulated intensity error, there was a reduction of simulated cyclone track. Generally, the results showed that internal fixed domain rather than internal moving domain has the better performance in selected cases. Thereafter, different starting times were tested and the results showed that the simulation starting time, 48 to 60 hours before maximum intensity of storm or in other words, when the central pressure of system shows about 1000 hPa has the better performance in simulation of cyclone track and intensity. Finally, the best configuration is tested for Phet tropical cyclone (2010) that was formed in the same area. The results of this testing were satisfactory

The synthesis of 2-iminochromenes using mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 as a heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst

A highly efficient procedure for the synthesis of 2-iminochromenes via condensation of o-hydroxybenzaldehydes and malononitrile using a catalytic amount of mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 in good yields is achieved. KEY WORDS: 2-Iminochromenes, Recyclable catalyst, MCM-41, o-Hydroxybenzaldehydes  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2010, 24(2), 273-276

Indian Ocean Dipole drives malaria resurgence in East African highlands

Malaria resurgence in African highlands in the 1990s has raised questions about the underlying drivers of the increase in disease incidence including the role of El-Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, climatic anomalies other than the ENSO are clearly associated with malaria outbreaks in the highlands. Here we show that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a coupled ocean-atmosphere interaction in the Indian Ocean, affected highland malaria re-emergence. Using cross-wavelet coherence analysis, we found four-year long coherent cycles between the malaria time series and the dipole mode index (DMI) in the 1990s in three highland localities. Conversely, we found a less pronounced coherence between malaria and DMI in lowland localities. The highland/lowland contrast can be explained by the effects of mesoscale systems generated by Lake Victoria on its climate basin. Our results support the need to consider IOD as a driving force in the resurgence of malaria in the East African highlands

An affordable, quality-assured community-based system for high-resolution entomological surveillance of vector mosquitoes that reflects human malaria infection risk patterns.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: More sensitive and scalable entomological surveillance tools are required to monitor low levels of transmission that are increasingly common across the tropics, particularly where vector control has been successful. A large-scale larviciding programme in urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is supported by a community-based (CB) system for trapping adult mosquito densities to monitor programme performance. Methodology An intensive and extensive CB system for routine, longitudinal, programmatic surveillance of malaria vectors and other mosquitoes using the Ifakara Tent Trap (ITT-C) was developed in Urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and validated by comparison with quality assurance (QA) surveys using either ITT-C or human landing catches (HLC), as well as a cross-sectional survey of malaria parasite prevalence in the same housing compounds. RESULTS: Community-based ITT-C had much lower sensitivity per person-night of sampling than HLC (Relative Rate (RR) [95% Confidence Interval (CI)] = 0.079 [0.051, 0.121], P < 0.001 for Anopheles gambiae s.l. and 0.153 [0.137, 0.171], P < 0.001 for Culicines) but only moderately differed from QA surveys with the same trap (0.536 [0.406,0.617], P = 0.001 and 0.747 [0.677,0.824], P < 0.001, for An. gambiae or Culex respectively). Despite the poor sensitivity of the ITT per night of sampling, when CB-ITT was compared with QA-HLC, it proved at least comparably sensitive in absolute terms (171 versus 169 primary vectors caught) and cost-effective (153US$versus 187US$ per An. gambiae caught) because it allowed more spatially extensive and temporally intensive sampling (4284 versus 335 trap nights distributed over 615 versus 240 locations with a mean number of samples per year of 143 versus 141). Despite the very low vectors densities (Annual estimate of about 170 An gambiae s.l bites per person per year), CB-ITT was the only entomological predictor of parasite infection risk (Odds Ratio [95% CI] = 4.43[3.027,7. 454] per An. gambiae or Anopheles funestus caught per night, P =0.0373). Discussion and conclusion CB trapping approaches could be improved with more sensitive traps, but already offer a practical, safe and affordable system for routine programmatic mosquito surveillance and clusters could be distributed across entire countries by adapting the sample submission and quality assurance procedures accordingly

Clinical Epidemiology of Malaria in the Highlands of Western Kenya

Malaria in the highlands of Kenya is traditionally regarded as unstable and limited by low temperature. Brief warm periods may facilitate malaria transmission and are therefore able to generate epidemic conditions in immunologically naive human populations living at high altitudes. The adult:child ratio (ACR) of malaria admissions is a simple tool we have used to assess the degree of functional immunity in the catchment population of a health facility. Examples of ACR are collected from inpatient admission data at facilities with a range of malaria endemicities in Kenya. Two decades of inpatient malaria admission data from three health facilities in a high-altitude area of western Kenya do not support the canonical view of unstable transmission. The malaria of the region is best described as seasonal and meso-endemic. We discuss the implications for malaria control options in the Kenyan highlands

Insecticide resistance status in Anopheles gambiae in southern Benin

BACKGROUND: The emergence of pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles gambiae has become a serious concern to the future success of malaria control. In Benin, the National Malaria Control Programme has recently planned to scaling up long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) for malaria prevention. It is, therefore, crucial to monitor the level and type of insecticide resistance in An. gambiae, particularly in southern Benin where reduced efficacy of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and IRS has previously been reported. METHODS: The protocol was based on mosquito collection during both dry and rainy seasons across forty districts selected in southern Benin. Bioassay were performed on adults collected from the field to assess the susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticide-impregnated papers (permethrin 0.75%, delthamethrin 0.05%, DDT 4%, and bendiocarb 0.1%) following WHOPES guidelines. The species within An. gambiae complex, molecular form and presence of kdr and ace-1 mutations were determined by PCR. RESULTS: Strong resistance to permethrin and DDT was found in An. gambiae populations from southern Benin, except in Aglangandan where mosquitoes were fully susceptible (mortality 100%) to all insecticides tested. PCR showed the presence of two sub-species of An. gambiae, namely An. gambiae s.s, and Anopheles melas, with a predominance for An. gambiae s.s (98%). The molecular M form of An. gambiae was predominant in southern Benin (97%). The kdr mutation was detected in all districts at various frequency (1% to 95%) whereas the Ace-1 mutation was found at a very low frequency (<or= 5%). CONCLUSION: This study showed a widespread resistance to permethrin in An. gambiae populations from southern Benin, with a significant increase of kdr frequency compared to what was observed previously in Benin. The low frequency of Ace-1 recorded in all populations is encouraging for the use of bendiocarb as an alternative insecticide to pyrethroids for IRS in Benin