Elevation and cholera: an epidemiological spatial analysis of the cholera epidemic in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2008-2009

BACKGROUND: In highly populated African urban areas where access to clean water is a challenge, water source contamination is one of the most cited risk factors in a cholera epidemic. During the rainy season, where there is either no sewage disposal or working sewer system, runoff of rains follows the slopes and gets into the lower parts of towns where shallow wells could easily become contaminated by excretes. In cholera endemic areas, spatial information about topographical elevation could help to guide preventive interventions. This study aims to analyze the association between topographic elevation and the distribution of cholera cases in Harare during the cholera epidemic in 2008 and 2009. METHODS: We developed an ecological study using secondary data. First, we described attack rates by suburb and then calculated rate ratios using whole Harare as reference. We illustrated the average elevation and cholera cases by suburbs using geographical information. Finally, we estimated a generalized linear mixed model (under the assumption of a Poisson distribution) with an Empirical Bayesian approach to model the relation between the risk of cholera and the elevation in meters in Harare. We used a random intercept to allow for spatial correlation of neighboring suburbs. RESULTS: This study identifies a spatial pattern of the distribution of cholera cases in the Harare epidemic, characterized by a lower cholera risk in the highest elevation suburbs of Harare. The generalized linear mixed model showed that for each 100 meters of increase in the topographical elevation, the cholera risk was 30% lower with a rate ratio of 0.70 (95% confidence interval=0.66-0.76). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the risk reduction with an overall estimate of the rate ratio between 20% and 40%. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of considering topographical elevation as a geographical and environmental risk factor in order to plan cholera preventive activities linked with water and sanitation in endemic areas. Furthermore, elevation information, among other risk factors, could help to spatially orientate cholera control interventions during an epidemic

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6  ×  6  ×  6 m 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties

β-Defensin genomic copy number does not influence the age of onset in Huntington's Disease

none498siHuntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal expansion of a CAG triplet repeat tract in the huntingtin gene. While the length of this CAG expansion is the major determinant of the age of onset (AO), other genetic factors have also been shown to play a modulatory role. Recent evidence suggests that neuroinflammations is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of HD, and that targeting this process may have important therapeutic ramifications. The human β-defensin 2 (hBD2)- encoded by DEFB4- is an antimicrobial peptide that exhibits inducible expression in astrocytes during inflammation and is an important regulator of innate and adaptive immune response. Therefore, DEFB4 may contribute to the neuroinflammatory processes observed in HD.openVittori A, Orth M, Roos RA, Outeiro TF, Giorgini F, Hollox EJ, Bachoud-Levi AC, Bentivoglio AR, Biunno I, Bonelli RM, Burgunder JM, Dunnett SB, Ferreira JJ, Handley OJ, Heiberg A, Illmann T, Landwehrmeyer GB, Levey J, Martinez-Jaurrieta MD, Nielsen JE, Pro Koivisto S, Piiiviirinta M, Roos RA, Sebastian AR, Tabrizi SJ, Vandenberghe W, Verellen-Dumoulin C, Zaremba J, Uhrova T, Wahlstrom J, Barth K, Correia-Guedes L, Finisterra AM, Bascuiiana Garde M, Betz S, Bos R, Ecker D, Handley OJ, Held C, Koppers K, Laura M, Descals AM, Mestre T, Monza D, Townhill J, Padieu H, Paterski L, Peppa N, Rialland A, Røren N, Sasinkova P, Trigo Cubillo P, van Walsem M, Witjes-Ane MN, Yudina E, Zielonka D, Zielonka E, Zinzi P, Bonelli RM, Herranhof B, HOd A, Kapfhammer HP, Koppitz M, Magnet M, Otti D, Painold A, Reisinge K, Scheib M, Hecht K, Lilek S, Muller N, Schoggl H, Ullah J, Ribal P, Verellen-Dumoulin C, Klempff J, Majerova V, Roth J, Hjermind LE, Jakobsen O, Vinthev-Jensen T, Larsen IU, Nielsen JE, Stokholm J, Hiivola H, Martikainen K, Tuuha K, Santala M, Milkereit E, Kosinski CM, Probst D, Reetz K, Sass C, Schiefer J, Schlangen C, Werner CJ, Andrich J, Ellrichmann G, Hoffmann R, Kaminski B, Saft C, Stamm C, Lange H, Lohle M, Schmidt S, Storch A, Wolz A, Wolz M, Capetian P, Lambeck J, Zucker B, Boelmans K, Ganos C, Hidding U, Lewerenz J, Miinchau A, Orth M, Schmalfeld J, Stubbe L, Zittel S, Heinicke W, Ribbat M, Longinus B, Miihlau M, Peinemann A, Stiidtler M, Weindl A, Winkelmann J, Ziegler C, Bechtel N, Beckmann H, Bohlen S, Holzner E, Lange H, Reilmann R, Rohm S, Rumpf S, Schepers S, Dose M, Leythaeuser G, Marquard R, Raab T, Schrenk C, Schuierer M, Barth K, Buck A, Ecker D, Eschenbach C, Held C, Landwehrmeyer B, Lezius F, Nepper S, Niess A, Orth M, Schwenk D, Siissmuth S, Trautmann S, Weydt P, Cormio C, de Tommaso M, Sciruicchio V, Serpino C, Ghelli E, Ginestroni A, Bertini E, Massaro F, Mechi C, Paganini M, Piacentini S, Pradella S, Romoli AM, Sorbi S, Abbruzzese G, Ferrandes MB, Di Maria E, Ferrandes G, Mandich P, Marchese R, Di Donato S, Gellera C, Genitrini S, Mariotti C, Nanetti L, Monza D, Soliveri P, Tomasello C, De Michele G, DiMaio L, Massarelli M, Rinaldi C, Roca A, Rossi F, Russo CV, Salvatore E, Sorrentino P, Tucci T, De Nicola A, Elifani F, Petrollini M, Martino T, Lovo F, Squitieri F, Bentivoglio AR, Catalli C, Di Giacopo R, Fasano A, Frontali M, Guidubaldi A, Ialongo T, Jacopini G, Loria G, Piano C, Piccininni C, Quaranta D, Romano S, Soleti F, Spadaro M, Zinzi P, van Hout MS, van Vugt JP, de Weert A, Bolwijn JJ, Neurologie P, Dekker M, Neurologie P, Leenders KL, van Oostrom JC, Bos R, Dumas EM, Jurgens CK, van den Bogaard SJ, Roos RA, 't Hart EP, Kremer B, Verstappen CC, Heiberg A, van Walsem MR, Frich J, Aaserud O, Wehus R, Bjørgo K, Fannemel M, Gørvell P, Lorentzen E, Koivisto SP, Retterstøl L, Stokke B, Bjørnevoll I, Sando SB, Dziadkiewicz A, Nowak M, Robowski P, Sitek E, Slawek J, Soltan W, Szinwelski M, Blaszczyk M, Boczarska-Jedynak M, Ciach-Wysocka E, Gorzkowska A, Jasinska-Myga B, Opala G, Klodowska G, Stompel D, Ciach-Wysocka E, Banaszkiewicz K, Boewiriska D, Bojakowska-Jaremek K, Neurologii A, Dec M, Krawczyk M, Rudziriska M, Szczudlik A, Szczygiel E, Wasielewska A, Wojcik M, Wojcik M, Bryl A, Ciesielska A, Klimberg A, Marcinkowski J, Samara H, Sempolowicz J, Zielonka D, Janik P, Kalbarczyk A, Kwiecinski H, Jamrozik Z, Antczak J, Jachinska K, Krysa W, Rakowicz M, Richter P, Rola R, Ryglewicz D, Sienkiewicz-Jarosz H, Sulek A, Witkowski G, Zdzienicka E, Zaremba J, Zieora-Jakutowicz K, Coelho M, Correia-Guedes L, Ferreira JJ, Mestre T, Mendes T, Valadas A, Andrade C, Joao PS, Gago M, Garrett C, Joao PS, Guerra MR, Joao PS, Solis P, Herrera CD, Garcia PM, Cubo E, Mariscal N, Sanchez J, Barrero FJ, Alonso-Frech F, Perez MR, Fenollar M, Garda R, Rivera SV, Villanueva C, Alegre J, Bascuiiana M, Ventura MF, Ribas GG, Moreno JL, Cubillo PT, Rufz PJ, Frech FA, Dfaz J, Guerrero R, Dfaz J, Artiga MJ, Dfaz J, Sanchez V, Alcaraz LF, de Ia Arrixaca V, Manzanares S, de Ia Arrixaca V, Perea MF, Reinante G, Arrixaca Ia, Torres MM, Moreau LV, de Ia Arrixaca V, Barbera MA, Guia DB, Hernanz LC, Catena JL, Sebastian R, Ferrer PQ, Carruesco GT, Bas J, Busquets N, Calopa M, Buongiorno MT, Munoz E, Elorza MD, Lopez CD, Terol DS, Robert MF, Rufz BG, Casado AG, Martinez IH, Viladrich CM, Pons R, Roca E, Llesoy JR, Idiago JM, Vergara MR, Garcia SS, Riballo AV, Hoglund A, Palhagen SE, Paucar M, Sandstrom B, Svenningsson P, Reza-Soltani TW, Burgunder JM, Kaelin A, Romero I, Schupbach M, Stebler Y, Zaugg SW, Akhtar S, Crooks J, Curtis A, de Souza J, Rickards H, Wright J, Barker RA, Di Pietro A, Fisher K, Goodman AO, Hill S, Kershaw A, Mason S, O'Keefe D, Swain R, Guzman NV, Busse M, Butcher C, Clenaghan C, Dunnett S, Fullam R, Jones L, Jones U, Khalil H, Minster S, Owen M, Hunt S, Price K, Rosser A, Townhill J, Edwards M, Ho C, McGill M, Pearson P, Porteous M, Brockie P, Foster J, Johns N, McKenzie S, Rothery J, Thomas G, Yates S, Burrows L, Chu C, Fletcher A, Gallantrae D, Harding A, Hamer S, Kraus A, Laver F, Longthorpe M, Markova I, Raman A, Silva M, Thomson A, Wild S, Yardumian P, Hobson E, Jamieson S, Musgrave H, Rowett L, Toscano J, Wild S, Yardumian P, Clayton C, Dipple H, Middleton J, Patino D, Andrews T, Dougherty A, Kavalier F, Golding C, Laing H, Lashwood A, Robertson D, Ruddy D, Whaite A, Santhouse A, Andrews T, Bruno S, Doherty K, Lahiri N, Novak M, Patel A, Rosser E, Tabrizi S, Taylor R, Warner T, Wild E, Arran N, Bek J, Callaghan J, Craufurd D, Fullam R, Howard L, Hare M, Huson S, Johnson L, Jones M, Murphy H, Oughton E, Partington-Janes L, Rogers D, Snowden J, Sollom A, Stopford C, Thompson J, Trender-Gerhard I.Vittori, A; Orth, M; Roos, Ra; Outeiro, Tf; Giorgini, F; Hollox, Ej; Bachoud-Levi, Ac; Bentivoglio, Ar; Biunno, I; Bonelli, Rm; Burgunder, Jm; Dunnett, Sb; Ferreira, Jj; Handley, Oj; Heiberg, A; Illmann, T; Landwehrmeyer, Gb; Levey, J; Martinez-Jaurrieta, Md; Nielsen, Je; Pro Koivisto, S; Piiiviirinta, M; Roos, Ra; Sebastian, Ar; Tabrizi, Sj; Vandenberghe, W; Verellen-Dumoulin, C; Zaremba, J; Uhrova, T; Wahlstrom, J; Barth, K; Correia-Guedes, L; Finisterra, Am; Bascuiiana Garde, M; Betz, S; Bos, R; Ecker, D; Handley, Oj; Held, C; Koppers, K; Laura, M; Descals, Am; Mestre, T; Monza, D; Townhill, J; Padieu, H; Paterski, L; Peppa, N; Rialland, A; Røren, N; Sasinkova, P; Trigo Cubillo, P; van Walsem, M; Witjes-Ane, Mn; Yudina, E; Zielonka, D; Zielonka, E; Zinzi, P; Bonelli, Rm; Herranhof, B; Hod, A; Kapfhammer, Hp; Koppitz, M; Magnet, M; Otti, D; Painold, A; Reisinge, K; Scheib, M; Hecht, K; Lilek, S; Muller, N; Schoggl, H; Ullah, J; Ribal, P; Verellen-Dumoulin, C; Klempff, J; Majerova, V; Roth, J; Hjermind, Le; Jakobsen, O; Vinthev-Jensen, T; Larsen, Iu; Nielsen, Je; Stokholm, J; Hiivola, H; Martikainen, K; Tuuha, K; Santala, M; Milkereit, E; Kosinski, Cm; Probst, D; Reetz, K; Sass, C; Schiefer, J; Schlangen, C; Werner, Cj; Andrich, J; Ellrichmann, G; Hoffmann, R; Kaminski, B; Saft, C; Stamm, C; Lange, H; Lohle, M; Schmidt, S; Storch, A; Wolz, A; Wolz, M; Capetian, P; Lambeck, J; Zucker, B; Boelmans, K; Ganos, C; Hidding, U; Lewerenz, J; Miinchau, A; Orth, M; Schmalfeld, J; Stubbe, L; Zittel, S; Heinicke, W; Ribbat, M; Longinus, B; Miihlau, M; Peinemann, A; Stiidtler, M; Weindl, A; Winkelmann, J; Ziegler, C; Bechtel, N; Beckmann, H; Bohlen, S; Holzner, E; Lange, H; Reilmann, R; Rohm, S; Rumpf, S; Schepers, S; Dose, M; Leythaeuser, G; Marquard, R; Raab, T; Schrenk, C; Schuierer, M; Barth, K; Buck, A; Ecker, D; Eschenbach, C; Held, C; Landwehrmeyer, B; Lezius, F; Nepper, S; Niess, A; Orth, M; Schwenk, D; Siissmuth, S; Trautmann, S; Weydt, P; Cormio, C; de Tommaso, M; Sciruicchio, V; Serpino, C; Ghelli, E; Ginestroni, A; Bertini, E; Massaro, F; Mechi, C; Paganini, M; Piacentini, S; Pradella, S; Romoli, Am; Sorbi, S; Abbruzzese, G; Ferrandes, Mb; Di Maria, E; Ferrandes, G; Mandich, P; Marchese, R; Di Donato, S; Gellera, C; Genitrini, S; Mariotti, C; Nanetti, L; Monza, D; Soliveri, P; Tomasello, C; De Michele, G; Dimaio, L; Massarelli, M; Rinaldi, C; Roca, A; Rossi, F; Russo, Cv; Salvatore, E; Sorrentino, P; Tucci, T; De Nicola, A; Elifani, F; Petrollini, M; Martino, T; Lovo, F; Squitieri, F; Bentivoglio, Ar; Catalli, C; Di Giacopo, R; Fasano, A; Frontali, M; Guidubaldi, A; Ialongo, T; Jacopini, G; Loria, G; Piano, C; Piccininni, C; Quaranta, D; Romano, S; Soleti, F; Spadaro, M; Zinzi, P; van Hout, Ms; van Vugt, Jp; de Weert, A; Bolwijn, Jj; Neurologie, P; Dekker, M; Neurologie, P; Leenders, Kl; van Oostrom, Jc; Bos, R; Dumas, Em; Jurgens, Ck; van den Bogaard, Sj; Roos, Ra; 't Hart, Ep; Kremer, B; Verstappen, Cc; Heiberg, A; van Walsem, Mr; Frich, J; Aaserud, O; Wehus, R; Bjørgo, K; Fannemel, M; Gørvell, P; Lorentzen, E; Koivisto, Sp; Retterstøl, L; Stokke, B; Bjørnevoll, I; Sando, Sb; Dziadkiewicz, A; Nowak, M; Robowski, P; Sitek, E; Slawek, J; Soltan, W; Szinwelski, M; Blaszczyk, M; Boczarska-Jedynak, M; Ciach-Wysocka, E; Gorzkowska, A; Jasinska-Myga, B; Opala, G; Klodowska, G; Stompel, D; Ciach-Wysocka, E; Banaszkiewicz, K; Boewiriska, D; Bojakowska-Jaremek, K; Neurologii, A; Dec, M; Krawczyk, M; Rudziriska, M; Szczudlik, A; Szczygiel, E; Wasielewska, A; Wojcik, M; Wojcik, M; Bryl, A; Ciesielska, A; Klimberg, A; Marcinkowski, J; Samara, H; Sempolowicz, J; Zielonka, D; Janik, P; Kalbarczyk, A; Kwiecinski, H; Jamrozik, Z; Antczak, J; Jachinska, K; Krysa, W; Rakowicz, M; Richter, P; Rola, R; Ryglewicz, D; Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, H; Sulek, A; Witkowski, G; Zdzienicka, E; Zaremba, J; Zieora-Jakutowicz, K; Coelho, M; Correia-Guedes, L; Ferreira, Jj; Mestre, T; Mendes, T; Valadas, A; Andrade, C; Joao, Ps; Gago, M; Garrett, C; Joao, Ps; Guerra, Mr; Joao, Ps; Solis, P; Herrera, Cd; Garcia, Pm; Cubo, E; Mariscal, N; Sanchez, J; Barrero, Fj; Alonso-Frech, F; Perez, Mr; Fenollar, M; Garda, R; Rivera, Sv; Villanueva, C; Alegre, J; Bascuiiana, M; Ventura, Mf; Ribas, Gg; Moreno, Jl; Cubillo, Pt; Rufz, Pj; Frech, Fa; Dfaz, J; Guerrero, R; Dfaz, J; Artiga, Mj; Dfaz, J; Sanchez, V; Alcaraz, Lf; de Ia Arrixaca, V; Manzanares, S; de Ia Arrixaca, V; Perea, Mf; Reinante, G; Arrixaca, Ia; Torres, Mm; Moreau, Lv; de Ia Arrixaca, V; Barbera, Ma; Guia, Db; Hernanz, Lc; Catena, Jl; Sebastian, R; Ferrer, Pq; Carruesco, Gt; Bas, J; Busquets, N; Calopa, M; Buongiorno, Mt; Munoz, E; Elorza, Md; Lopez, Cd; Terol, Ds; Robert, Mf; Rufz, Bg; Casado, Ag; Martinez, Ih; Viladrich, Cm; Pons, R; Roca, E; Llesoy, Jr; Idiago, Jm; Vergara, Mr; Garcia, Ss; Riballo, Av; Hoglund, A; Palhagen, Se; Paucar, M; Sandstrom, B; Svenningsson, P; Reza-Soltani, Tw; Burgunder, Jm; Kaelin, A; Romero, I; Schupbach, M; Stebler, Y; Zaugg, Sw; Akhtar, S; Crooks, J; Curtis, A; de Souza, J; Rickards, H; Wright, J; Barker, Ra; Di Pietro, A; Fisher, K; Goodman, Ao; Hill, S; Kershaw, A; Mason, S; O'Keefe, D; Swain, R; Guzman, Nv; Busse, M; Butcher, C; Clenaghan, C; Dunnett, S; Fullam, R; Jones, L; Jones, U; Khalil, H; Minster, S; Owen, M; Hunt, S; Price, K; Rosser, A; Townhill, J; Edwards, M; Ho, C; Mcgill, M; Pearson, P; Porteous, M; Brockie, P; Foster, J; Johns, N; Mckenzie, S; Rothery, J; Thomas, G; Yates, S; Burrows, L; Chu, C; Fletcher, A; Gallantrae, D; Harding, A; Hamer, S; Kraus, A; Laver, F; Longthorpe, M; Markova, I; Raman, A; Silva, M; Thomson, A; Wild, S; Yardumian, P; Hobson, E; Jamieson, S; Musgrave, H; Rowett, L; Toscano, J; Wild, S; Yardumian, P; Clayton, C; Dipple, H; Middleton, J; Patino, D; Andrews, T; Dougherty, A; Kavalier, F; Golding, C; Laing, H; Lashwood, A; Robertson, D; Ruddy, D; Whaite, A; Santhouse, A; Andrews, T; Bruno, S; Doherty, K; Lahiri, N; Novak, M; Patel, A; Rosser, E; Tabrizi, S; Taylor, R; Warner, T; Wild, E; Arran, N; Bek, J; Callaghan, J; Craufurd, D; Fullam, R; Howard, L; Hare, M; Huson, S; Johnson, L; Jones, M; Murphy, H; Oughton, E; Partington-Janes, L; Rogers, D; Snowden, J; Sollom, A; Stopford, C; Thompson, J; Trender-Gerhard, I

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure

Search for flavour-changing neutral current top-quark decays to q Z in pp collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at root s=8 TeV

A search for the flavour-changing neutral-current decay is presented. Data collected by the ATLAS detector during 2012 from proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb(-1), are analysed. Top-quark pair-production events with one top quark decaying through the t -> qZ (q = u,c) channel and the other through the dominant Standard Model mode t -> bW are considered as signal. Only the decays of the Z boson to charged leptons and leptonic W boson decays are used. No evidence for a signal is found and an observed (expected) upper limit on the t -> qZ branching ratio of 7 x 10(-4) (8 x 10(-4)) is set at the 95 % confidence level