Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe

The effects of host resistance on the pick-up rates of ticks under natural infestation in Uganda

The pick-up rates of tick species by various resistant groups of animals, dipped once a month and not dipped were investigated under ranch conditions in Nabiswera, Luwero district, Uganda. During the first three weeks of exposure of cattle to natural tick infestation, two phases of tick build-up and one phase of decline in tick population were demonstrated with R. appendiculatus. The other tick species were too few for comparisons to be made. Each of these phases lasted about 7 days, except on animals dipped once a month where the phase of decline in tick population lasted only 3 days. These fluctuations in pick-up rates were attributed to differences between drop-off rhythms of engorged female ticks and reinfestation pressure of unfed ticks. The peak numbers of R. appendiculatus were determined by the carrying capacity of the ears of animals. After three weeks of exposure, the population of R. appendiculatus on cattle stabilized and this could be due to the attainment of an equilibrium balance between drop-off rhythms and reinfestations. The pick-up rates were highest on the low resistance (LR) groups of animals, followed by the medium resistance (MR) and was lowest on the high resistance groups (HR). These patterns of tick infestation were identical in both treatment groups of animals. The significance of using pick-up rates of ticks for differentiating the levels of host resistance in cattle are discussed

Biomass equations for Brazilian semiarid caatinga plants Equações para estimar a biomassa de plantas da caatinga do semi-árido brasileiro

Allometric equations to estimate total aboveground alive biomass (B) or crown projection area (C) of ten caatinga species based on plant height (H) and/or stem diameter at ground level (DGL) or at breast height (DBH) were developed. Thirty plants of each species, covering the common range of stem diameters (3 to 50 cm), were measured (C, H, DGL, DBH), cut at the base, separated into parts, weighted and subsampled to determine dry biomass. Wood density (p) of the stem and the largest branches was determined. B, C, H and p ranged from 1 to 500 kg, 0.2 to 112 m², 1.3 to 11.8 m, and 0.45 to 1.03 g cm-3. Biomass of all 10 species, separately or together (excluding one cactus species), could be estimated with high coefficients of determination (R²) using the power equation (B = aDGLb) and DGL, DBH, H or combinations of diameter, height and density. Improvement by multiplying H and/or p to DGL or DBH was small. The mixed-species equation based only on DBH (valid up to 30 cm) had a = 0.173 and b = 2.295, similar to averages of these parameters found in the literature but slightly lower than most of those for humid tropical vegetation. Crown area was significantly related to diameter, height and biomass.<br>Equações alométricas foram desenvolvidas para estimar a biomassa aérea viva (B) e a área de projeção da copa (C) de dez espécies da caatinga, com base na altura da planta (H) e/ou do diâmetro do caule ao nível do solo (DNS) ou à altura do peito (DAP). Trinta plantas de cada espécie, cobrindo a faixa usual de diâmetros (3 a 50 cm), foram medidas (C, H, DNS, DAP), cortadas na base, separadas em partes, pesadas e subamostradas para determinação da biomassa seca. A densidade (p) da madeira dos caules e galhos maiores foi determinada. B, C, H e p variaram de 1 a 500 kg, 0,2 a 112 m², 1,3 a 11,8 m e 0,45 a 1,03 g cm-3. A biomassa das 10 espécies, separadamente ou em conjunto (exceto pela espécie de Cactaceae), foi estimada com alto coeficiente de determinação (R²), usando a equação de potência (B = aDNSb) e DNS, DAP ou combinações de diâmetro, altura e densidade. A melhora com a multiplicação de DNS ou DAP por H e/ou p foi pequena. A equação de DAP (válida até 30 cm) para o conjunto das nove espécies teve a = 0,173 e b = 2,295, semelhantes aos valores das médias das equações encontradas na literatura, mas um pouco abaixo dos referidos para vegetação tropical úmida. A projeção das copas foi significativamente relacionada com diâmetros do caule, alturas e biomassas