Corrected thermodynamics of non-linear magnetic-charged black hole surrounded by perfect fluid dark matter

In this paper, we investigate the influence of perfect fluid dark matter and quantum corrections on the thermodynamics of non-linear magnetic-charged black hole. We consider the metric of the static non-linear magnetic-charged black hole in the background of perfect fluid dark matter. Starting with the black hole temperature and the corrected entropy, we use the event horizon propriety in order to find the temperature, and based on the surface gravity definition, we find the uncorrected entropy. However, using the definition of the corrected entropy due to thermal fluctuation, we find and plot the entropy of the black hole. We find that the entropy is highly affected for smaller non-linear magnetic-charged black holes. Afterwards, we study the thermodynamic stability of the black hole by computing and plotting the evolution of heat capacity. The results show that second-order phase transition occurs, which appears more later as the dark matter parameter decreases, and leads the black hole to move from the stable phase to the unstable phase. Furthermore, we show that the heat capacity for smaller black holes are also affected, since it appears not being only an increasing function.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

The Economics of Corruption: A Study of its rationale and measures

Our study aims at considering two aspects of the problem of corruption that are its rationale and measures. The starting point is the presentation of a concise background on the topic as Chapter I highlight definitions, causes, main effects, cate-gorisation and the measures of corruption. From the causes of corruption it is the case that our understanding of this prob-lem is limited by the assumption of the mechanism through which those causes come together to affect corruption. The way in which incentives predispose individuals to side with corruption has only been assumed in the literature. Hence, Chapter II will look into the rationale of corrupt behaviour and its implications. Using a modify version of a model developed by Macrae (1982), we build a cor-ruption game illustrating a simple game of bureaucratic corruption between farmers and government officials. We argue that not only corruption is the rationale calculus of agents maximising their income but also that the rationale following which we reach the corruption equilibrium or the honesty one could explain the pervasiveness of ei-ther corruption or honesty. At last Chapter III focuses on the measures of corruption. Perception indexes are widely used as the result of their prevalence and the lack of better alternatives. However, many studies show a disparity between the perception of corruption and its actual incidence (see Mocan 2008, Olken 2009, Donchev and Ujhelyi 2011, Fisman and Miguel 2007). We propose an alternative by putting together an index of the incidence of corruption accounting for its perception using data from the incidence of corruption as reported by the national agency responsible for the fight against corruption in Kenya. Our study suggests that not only our index account better for yearly change in the prevalence of corruption but perception indexes can be used to account for the inabil-ity to detect some form of corruption

Efectividad de la musicoterapia en pacientes con Enfermedad de Alzheimer: Revisión bibliográfica

Introducción: La Enfermedad de Alzheimer es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa que empeora progresivamente hasta ocasionar ladependencia total de la persona. Su prevalencia se encuentra altamente relacionada con el elevado envejecimiento de la población y el aumento de la esperanza de vida. Actualmente se desconoce su causa, no se puede detener o revertir su avance y sus consecuencias afectan tanto al paciente como a su entorno. Debido a ello, su tratamiento está dirigido a disminuir sus síntomas, reducir la progresión de la enfermedad y mantener la calidad de vida del paciente en la medida de lo posible. Además de los fármacos, el uso de terapias no farmacológicas, como la musicoterapia, pueden contribuir a enlentecer este deterioro. Objetivos: El objetivo principal de este trabajo es valorar la efectividad de lamusicoterapia en personas con Enfermedad de Alzheimer. Metodología: Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica mediante la búsqueda de artículos en diferentes bases de datos científicas.Resultados: Se han seleccionado 13 artículos que cumplían los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, y se han analizado las intervenciones y resultados encontrados. Conclusiones: El uso de la musicoterapia ha mostrado efectos beneficiosos en pacientes con Enfermedad de Alzheimer, pero se han encontrado numerosas discrepancias entre los artículos que impiden la generalización de sus resultadosy sugiere la realización de más investigación en el futuro para obtener datos decisivos y significativos estadísticamente.Palabras clave: "enfermedad de alzheimer (EA)"; "musicoterapia"; "music therapy"; "alzheimer’s disease".<br /

Depressive symptoms amongst people with podoconiosis and lower limb lymphoedema of other cause in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

Evidence is emerging that shows elevated mental distress and disorder amongst people with several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This study aimed to establish the prevalence of depressive symptoms amongst people with podoconiosis and lower limb lymphoedema of other cause in Cameroon. The study was part of a larger research piece that mapped the geographical distribution of podoconiosis in Cameroon. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; mean) was employed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms amongst people with lower limb lymphoedema. Linear regression was used to assess the association between socio-demographic characteristics of participants and depressive symptoms. Internal consistency of the PHQ-9 was estimated through Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.651). The mean PHQ-9 score among people with lower limb lymphoedema was 3.48 (SD ± 3.25). Using a PHQ-9 score of 5 or above as the cut-off score, 32 participants (38.6%) displayed at least mild depressive symptoms. Unemployment was the only factor that was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms overall. This study shows that depressive symptoms are common amongst people with lower limb lymphoedema in Cameroon. The findings provide support for the integration of psychosocial interventions into packages of care for the management of lower limb lymphoedema

Central African Hunters Exposed to Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

HIV-seronegative Cameroonians with exposure to nonhuman primates were tested for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. Seroreactivity was correlated with exposure risk (p<0.001). One person had strong humoral and weak cellular immune reactivity to SIVcol peptides. Humans are exposed to and possibly infected with SIV, which has major public health implications

Coupling the modeling of phage-bacteria interaction and cholera epidemiological model with and without optimal control

Please read abstract in the article.The University of Pretoria Senior Postdoctoral Program Granthttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/yjtbihj2021Mathematics and Applied Mathematic

Further evidence of the cross-reactivity of the Binax NOW® Filariasis ICT cards to non-Wuchereria bancrofti filariae: experimental studies with Loa loa and Onchocerca ochengi

Background The immunochromatographic test (ICT) for lymphatic filariasis is a serological test designed for unequivocal detection of circulating Wuchereria bancrofti antigen. It was validated and promoted by WHO as the primary diagnostic tool for mapping and impact monitoring for disease elimination following interventions. The initial tests for specificity and sensitivity were based on samples collected in areas free of loiasis and the results suggested a near 100 % specificity for W. bancrofti. The possibility of cross-reactivity with non-Wuchereria bancrofti antigens was not investigated until recently, when false positive results were observed in three independent studies carried out in Central Africa. Associations were demonstrated between ICT positivity and Loa loa microfilaraemia, but it was not clearly established if these false positive results were due to L. loa or can be extended to other filarial nematodes. This study brought further evidences of the cross-reactivity of ICT card with L. loa and Onchocerca ochengi (related to O. volvulus parasite) using in vivo and in vitro systems. Methods Two filarial/host experimental systems (L. loa-baboon and O. ochengi-cattle) and the in vitro maintenance of different stages (microfilariae, infective larvae and adult worm) of the two filariae were used in three experiments per filarial species. First, whole blood and sera samples were prepared from venous blood of patent baboons and cattle, and applied on ICT cards to detect circulating filarial antigens. Secondly, larval stages of L. loa and O. ochengi as well as O. ochengi adult males were maintained in vitro. Culture supernatants were collected and applied on ICT cards after 6, 12 and 24 h of in vitro maintenance. Finally, total worm extracts (TWE) were prepared using L. loa microfilariae (Mf) and O. ochengi microfilariae, infective larvae and adult male worms. TWE were also tested on ICT cards. For each experiment, control assays (whole blood and sera from uninfected babon/cattle, culture medium and extraction buffer) were performed. Results Positive ICT results were obtained with whole blood and sera of L. loa microfilaremic baboons, culture supernatants of L. loa Mf and infective larvae as well as with L. loa Mf protein extracts. In contrast, negative ICT results were observed with whole blood and sera from the O. ochengi-cattle system. Surprisingly, culture supernatant of O. ochengi adult males and total worm extracts (Mf, infective larvae and adult worm) were positive to the test. Conclusions This study has provided further evidence of L. loa cross-reactivity for the ICT card. All stages of L. loa seem capable of inducing the cross-reactivity. Onchocerca ochengi. can also induce cross-reactivity in vitro, but this is less likely in vivo due to the location of parasite. The availability of the parasite proteins in the blood stream determines the magnitude of the cross-reactivity. The cross-reactivity of the ICT card to these non-W. bancrofti filariae poses some doubts to the reliability and validity of the current map of LF of Central Africa that was generated using this diagnostic tool

HIV Genetic Diversity in Cameroon: Possible Public Health Importance

To monitor the evolving molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of HIV in a country where many distinct strains cocirculate, we performed genetic analyses on sequences from 75 HIV-1-infected Cameroonians: 74 were group M and 1 was group O. Of the group M sequences, 74 were classified into the following env gp41 subtypes or recombinant forms: CRF02 (n = 54), CRF09 (n = 2), CRF13 (n = 2), A (n = 5), CRF11 (n = 4), CRF06 (n = 1), G (n = 2), F2 (n = 2), and E (n = 1, CRF01), and 1 was a JG recombinant. Comparison of phylogenies for 70 matched gp41 and protease sequences showed inconsistent classifications for 18 (26%) strains. Our data show that recombination is rampant in Cameroon with recombinant viruses continuing to recombine, adding to the complexity of circulating HIV strains. This expanding genetic diversity raises public health concerns for the ability of diagnostic assays to detect these unique HIV mosaic variants and for the development of broadly effective HIV vaccines.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63150/1/aid.2006.22.812.pd

Comparison of immune responses to Loa loa stage-specific antigen extracts in Loa loa-exposed BALB/c mice upon clearance of infection

Background: Different immune mechanisms are capable of killing developmental stages of filarial nematodes and these mechanisms are also likely to vary between the primary and a challenge infection. However, the lack of a detailed analysis of cytokine, chemokine and immunoglobulin levels in human loiasis is still evident. Therefore, detailed analysis of immune responses induced by the different developmental stages of Loa loa in immune-competent BALB/c mice will aid in the characterization of distinct immune responses that are important for the immunity against loiasis. Methods: Different developmental stages of L. loa were obtained from human peripheral blood (microfilariae, MF), the transmitting vector, Chrysops (larval stage 3, L3) and infected immune-deficient BALB/cRAG2γc−/− mice (L4, L5, adult worms). Groups of wildtype BALB/c mice were then injected with the isolated stages and after 42 days postinfection (pi), systemic cytokine, chemokine and immunoglobulin levels were determined. These were then compared to L. loa-specific responses from in vitro re-stimulated splenocytes from individual mice. All parameters were determined using Luminex technology. Results: In a pilot study, BALB/c mice cleared the different life stages of L. loa within 42 days pi and systemic cytokine, chemokine and munoglobulin levels were equal between infected and naive mice. Nevertheless, L. loa-specific re-stimulation of splenocytes from mice infected with L5, MF or adult worms led to induction of Th2, Th17 and chemokine secretion patterns. Conclusions: This study shows that although host immunity remains comparable to naive mice, clearance of L. loa life-cycle development stages can induce immune cell memory leading to cytokine, chemokine and mmunoglobulins secretion patterns which might contribute to immunity and protection against reinfection