Explanation of the Using Pattern of Metal Resources in the North Central and Eastern provinces in the Early Period of Sri Lanka

Resources are very important for creating civilization. Archeological studiesshow that resources have been used during the primary societies. People in the stone ageof Sri Lanka had used different types of rocks for making their tools.Resources are very important for creating civilization. Archeological studiesshow that resources have been used during the primary societies. People in the stone ageof Sri Lanka had used different types of rocks for making their tools.For this research, we used collected data relating literature evidences andarcheological methods. The discovery of copper implements from the communities inAnuradhapura is now known as the copper magnetite deposit – one of the major sourcesfor this industry have been found at Seruwila. Recent ecological and archeologicalstudies indicate that copper was extracted from this deposit as early as the 7th centuryB.C.Mineral resources have been used in the 8th century BC in Sri Lanka. But noscientific investigation has been done on the subject. However this research focuses onhow Sri Lankan societies used mineral resources from the 8th century to the 1st centuryB.C.Key words: Creating civilization, Primary society, Mineral resources, Residentialommunitie

Avaliação sobre a posse e uso de redes mosquiteiras em Moçambique

OBJECTIVE To assess the ownership and use of mosquito nets in 2014, in Mozambique. METHODS This observational and cross-sectional study assessed, in February and March 2015, 69 districts (nine of 11 provinces of Mozambique) that have benefited from the mass distribution of mosquito nets. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling methodology was used. Each locality was denominated supervision area. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling opts for a minimum of 19 households (in this case, we decided for a minimum of 100 households per district) from each supervision area to assess an indicator (in this case, two indicators were assessed: ownership and use of mosquito nets). Two questions guided the research: a) received a mosquito net; b) used a mosquito net the night before. RESULTS A total of 6,725 households were assessed. Eighty three percent of them had received mosquito nets in the campaign. Of the 6,232 respondents, 82.0% said they used mosquito nets the night before. The districts of the provinces with low coverage of ownership and use were Tete (69.5% and 60.0%, respectively), Zambezia (79.0% and 60.0%, respectively), and Gaza (81.6% and 70.7%, respectively). The largest coverage of ownership and use were observed in the districts of Nampula (96.7% and 93.8%, respectively) and Niassa (86.0% and 85.4% respectively). CONCLUSIONS In the districts assessed, the progression of ownership and use of mosquito nets is satisfactory. Nampula and Niassa are the only provinces where ownership and use are at desired levels.OBJECTIVO Avaliar a posse e o uso das redes mosquiteiras no ano de 2014 em Moçambique. MÉTODOS Este estudo observacional transversal avaliou, em fevereiro e março de 2015, 68 distritos (nove das 11 províncias de Moçambique) que se beneficiaram da distribuição de redes em massa. Usou-se a metodologia Lot Quality Assurance Sampling. Cada localidade foi designada de área de supervisão. O Lot Quality Assurance Sampling opta por um mínimo de 19 agregados familiares (neste caso decidiu-se um mínimo de 100 agregados familiares por distrito) de cada área de supervisão, a fim de avaliar um indicador (neste caso dois indicadores foram avaliados: posse e uso de redes mosquiteiras). Duas perguntas nortearam a pesquisa: a) recebeu rede; b) usou rede na noite anterior. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 6.725 agregados familiares . Desses, 83,0% tinham recebido redes na campanha. Dos 6.232 inqueridos, 82,0% disseram que usaram na noite anterior. As províncias com distritos com menores coberturas de posse e uso foram Tete (69,5% e 60,0%, respectivamente), Zambézia (79,0% e 60,0%, respectivamente) e Gaza (81,6% e 70,7%, respectivamente). As maiores coberturas de posse e uso foram observadas nos distritos de Nampula (96,7% e 93,8%, respectivamente) e Niassa (86,0% e 85,4%, respectivamente). CONCLUSÕES Nos distritos avaliados, a progressão para a posse e uso de redes mosquiteiras é satisfatória. Nampula e Niassa são as únicas províncias onde a posse e o uso estão em níveis desejados

a before-and-after study and scale-up process in Mozambique

BACKGROUND: The universal coverage bed nets campaign is a proven health intervention promoting increased access, ownership, and use of bed nets to reduce malaria burden. This article describes the intervention and implementation strategies that Mozambique carried out recently in order to improve access and increase demand for long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). METHODS: A before-and-after study with a control group was used during Stage I of the implementation process. The following strategies were tested in Stage I: (1) use of coupons during household registration; (2) use of stickers to identify the registered households; (3) new LLIN ascription formula (one LLIN for every two people). In Stage II, the following additional strategies were implemented: (4) mapping and micro-planning; (5) training; and (6) supervision. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to compare and establish differences between intervened and control districts in Stage I. Main outcomes were: percentage of LLINs distributed, percentage of target households benefited. RESULTS: In Stage I, 87.8% (302,648) of planned LLINs were distributed in the intervention districts compared to 77.1% (219,613) in the control districts [OR: 2.14 (95% CI 2.11-2.16)]. Stage I results also showed that 80.6% (110,453) of households received at least one LLIN in the intervention districts compared to 72.8% (87,636) in the control districts [OR: 1.56 (95% CI 1.53-1.59)]. In Stage II, 98.4% (3,536,839) of the allocated LLINs were delivered, covering 98.6% (1,353,827) of the registered households. CONCLUSIONS: Stage I results achieved better LLINs and household coverage in districts with the newly implemented strategies. The results of stage II were also encouraging. Additional strategies adaptation is required for a wide-country LLIN campaignpublishersversionpublishe

Effectiveness of a new long-lasting insecticidal nets delivery model in two rural districts of Mozambique: a before-after study

BACKGROUND: In 2015, Mozambique piloted a new model of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) delivery in a campaign. The new delivery model was used in two rural districts were, and two others were considered as control, maintaining the old delivery model. The aim of this study is to compare the coverage of ownership and use of LLINs in intervention and control districts in Mozambique. METHODS: A before-after design with control group was carried out 6 months after LLINs distribution. Using systematic probabilistic sampling, 1547 households were surveyed by means of a questionnaire. To find associations between the district categories (intervention and control) and the main outcomes of the study (LLIN ownership, use, and universal coverage achievement), odds ratio (OR) and respective confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 760 households surveyed in the intervention districts, 98.8% had at least one LLIN; of the 787 households surveyed in the control districts, 89.6% had at least one LLIN [OR: 9.7, 95% (CI 4.84-19.46)]. Around 95 and 87% of households owning at least one LLIN reported having slept under the LLIN the previous night in the intervention and control districts, respectively [OR: 3.2; 95% (CI 2.12-4.69)]. Seventy-one percent of the households surveyed achieved universal coverage in the intervention districts against 59.6% in the control districts [OR: 1.6; 95% (CI 1.33-2.03)]. CONCLUSIONS: The universal coverage campaign piloted with the new delivery model has increased LLINs ownership, use, and progression for reaching universal coverage targets in the community.publishersversionpublishe

a supplementary tool for improving bed nets universal coverage campaign in Mozambique

BACKGROUND: WhatsApp (WA) is the most recent and attractive applicative among Smartphone users. The use of WA in healthcare environment has been shown of multiple benefices. Mozambique team involved in 2017 bed nets universal coverage campaign (UCC) implemented a distant mentoring strategy using WA. This study aims to perform a descriptive analysis of the use of WA as a supplementary tool for mentoring provincial and district health teams during bed nets universal coverage campaign in Mozambique. METHODS: Using WA, a qualitative study was carried out between March and July 2017. Seven WA groups were created. One group for central-level team, and six groups corresponding to each implementation province. The WA content was analyzed, grouped into separate themes, and subject to information triangulation among researchers and group participants. Saturation guided the quantity and quality of information. RESULTS: A total of 511 members were included in all WA groups. Of these, 96% were provincial WA groups. A total of 24,897 messages (text and images) were exchanged in all WA groups. The main communication form was text (22,660-91%), followed by images (2237-9%). Five themes emerged from content analyses: 1) administrative/financial, 2) logistic, 3) planning and implementation, 4) monitoring and evaluation, and 5) best practice. CONCLUSIONS: The use of WA during universal coverage bed nets campaign implementation in Mozambique fostered central-level coordination, providing implementation support to district and provincial teams, and promoting wider and timely information sharing among group members.publishersversionpublishe

Assessment on the ownership and use of mosquito nets in Mozambique

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the ownership and use of mosquito nets in 2014, in Mozambique. METHODS This observational and cross-sectional study assessed, in February and March 2015, 69 districts (nine of 11 provinces of Mozambique) that have benefited from the mass distribution of mosquito nets. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling methodology was used. Each locality was denominated supervision area. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling opts for a minimum of 19 households (in this case, we decided for a minimum of 100 households per district) from each supervision area to assess an indicator (in this case, two indicators were assessed: ownership and use of mosquito nets). Two questions guided the research: a) received a mosquito net; b) used a mosquito net the night before. RESULTS A total of 6,725 households were assessed. Eighty three percent of them had received mosquito nets in the campaign. Of the 6,232 respondents, 82.0% said they used mosquito nets the night before. The districts of the provinces with low coverage of ownership and use were Tete (69.5% and 60.0%, respectively), Zambezia (79.0% and 60.0%, respectively), and Gaza (81.6% and 70.7%, respectively). The largest coverage of ownership and use were observed in the districts of Nampula (96.7% and 93.8%, respectively) and Niassa (86.0% and 85.4% respectively). CONCLUSIONS In the districts assessed, the progression of ownership and use of mosquito nets is satisfactory. Nampula and Niassa are the only provinces where ownership and use are at desired levels

Non-thermal plasma-based inactivation of bacteria in water using a microfluidic reactor

Failure of conventional water treatment systems may lead to the contamination of water sources, which can cause outbreaks of waterborne healthcare associated infections. Advanced oxidation processing by non-thermal plasma has the potential to treat water without the addition of chemicals. Antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were chosen to investigate the use of non-thermal plasma generated in a microfluidic reactor to disinfect bacteria contaminated water. The microfluidic reactor used in this study utilized a dielectric barrier discharge, in a gas-liquid phase annular flow regime. Microbiological analysis of water inoculated with P. aeruginosa and E. coli was carried out before and after plasma treatment. Using air as the carrier gas, effective disinfection of water was achieved. At the lowest flow rate (35 µL/min), P. aeruginosa and E. coli viability were drastically reduced, with an approximate 8 log maximum decrease in viability following an estimated residence time of 5 s of plasma treatment. Scanning electron microscopy indicated changes in cell morphology due to the plasma treatment. Live/Dead assays revealed that the membranes of the cells had been damaged after plasma treatment. This work demonstrated that non-thermal plasma has the potential to disinfect against microbial contamination in water

Exflagellation responses of cultured Plasmodium falciparum (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) gametocytes to human sera and midguts of anopheline mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

The process of exflagellation was quantified for cultured Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes exposed to human sera and midgut homogenates from six vector species of Anopheles mosquitoes. Neither serum factors related to malaria exposure nor factors in the midguts of taxonomically diverse anophelines had significant inhibitory effects on the exflagellation of P. falciparum microgametocytes. Therefore, differences in vector competence among anopheline species most likely are caused by vector-parasite interactions occurring after microgametogenesis.Peer reviewedEntomology and Plant Patholog