Gaining and sustaining schistosomiasis control: study protocol and baseline data prior to different treatment strategies in five African countries

The Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation (SCORE) was established in 2008 to answer strategic questions about schistosomiasis control. For programme managers, a high-priority question is: what are the most cost-effective strategies for delivering preventive chemotherapy (PCT) with praziquantel (PZQ)? This paper describes the process SCORE used to transform this question into a harmonized research protocol, the study design for answering this question, the village eligibility assessments and data resulting from the first year of the study.; Beginning in 2009, SCORE held a series of meetings to specify empirical questions and design studies related to different schedules of PCT for schistosomiasis control in communities with high (gaining control studies) and moderate (sustaining control studies) prevalence of Schistosoma infection among school-aged children. Seven studies are currently being implemented in five African countries. During the first year, villages were screened for eligibility, and data were collected on prevalence and intensity of infection prior to randomisation and the implementation of different schemes of PZQ intervention strategies.; These studies of different treatment schedules with PZQ will provide the most comprehensive data thus far on the optimal frequency and continuity of PCT for schistosomiasis infection and morbidity control.; We expect that the study outcomes will provide data for decision-making for country programme managers and a rich resource of information to the schistosomiasis research community.; The trials are registered at International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial registry (identifiers: ISRCTN99401114 , ISRCTN14849830 , ISRCTN16755535 , ISRCTN14117624 , ISRCTN95819193 and ISRCTN32045736 )

Enhancement of the electric dipole moment of the electron in BaF molecule

We report results of ab initio calculation of the spin-rotational Hamiltonian parameters including P- and P,T-odd terms for the BaF molecule. The ground state wave function of BaF molecule is found with the help of the Relativistic Effective Core Potential method followed by the restoration of molecular four-component spinors in the core region of barium in the framework of a non-variational procedure. Core polarization effects are included with the help of the atomic Many Body Perturbation Theory for Barium atom. For the hyperfine constants the accuracy of this method is about 5-10%.Comment: 8 pages, REVTEX, report at II International Symposium on Symmetries in Subatomic Physics, Seattle 199

Lessons Learned in Conducting Mass Drug Administration for Schistosomiasis Control and Measuring Coverage in an Operational Research Setting

The Schistosomiasis Consortium for Operational Research and Evaluation (SCORE) was created to conduct research that could inform programmatic decision-making related to schistosomiasis. SCORE included several large cluster randomized field studies involving mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel. The largest of these were studies of gaining or sustaining control of schistosomiasis, which were conducted in five African countries. To enhance relevance for routine practice, the MDA in these studies was coordinated by or closely aligned with national neglected tropical disease (NTD) control programs. The study protocol set minimum targets of at least 90% for coverage among children enrolled in schools and 75% for all school-age children. Over the 4 years of intervention, an estimated 3.5 million treatments were administered to study communities. By year 4, the median village coverage was at or above targets in all studies except that in Mozambique. However, there was often a wide variation behind these summary statistics, and all studies had several villages with very low or high coverage. In studies where coverage was estimated by comparing the number of people treated with the number eligible for treatment, denominator estimation was often problematic. The SCORE experiences in conducting these studies provide lessons for future efforts that attempt to implement strong research designs in real-world contexts. They also have potential applicability to country MDA campaigns against schistosomiasis and other NTDs, most of which are conducted with less logistical and financial support than was available for the SCORE study efforts

Trapped Rydberg Ions: From Spin Chains to Fast Quantum Gates

We study the dynamics of Rydberg ions trapped in a linear Paul trap, and discuss the properties of ionic Rydberg states in the presence of the static and time-dependent electric fields constituting the trap. The interactions in a system of many ions are investigated and coupled equations of the internal electronic states and the external oscillator modes of a linear ion chain are derived. We show that strong dipole-dipole interactions among the ions can be achieved by microwave dressing fields. Using low-angular momentum states with large quantum defect the internal dynamics can be mapped onto an effective spin model of a pair of dressed Rydberg states that describes the dynamics of Rydberg excitations in the ion crystal. We demonstrate that excitation transfer through the ion chain can be achieved on a nanosecond timescale and discuss the implementation of a fast two-qubit gate in the ion chain.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figure

Technical aspects of CT imaging of the spine

This review article discusses technical aspects of computed tomography (CT) imaging of the spine. Patient positioning, and its influence on image quality and movement artefact, is discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the choice of scan parameters and their relation to image quality and radiation burden to the patient. Strategies to reduce radiation burden and artefact from metal implants are outlined. Data acquisition, processing, image display and steps to reduce artefact are reviewed. CT imaging of the spine is put into context with other imaging modalities for specific clinical indications or problems. This review aims to review underlying principles for image acquisition and to provide a rough guide for clinical problems without being prescriptive. Individual practice will always vary and reflect differences in local experience, technical provisions and clinical requirements

Measurement of Galaxy Cluster Sizes, Radial Profiles, and Luminosity Functions from SDSS Photometric Data

Imaging data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey is used to measure the empirical size-richness relation for a large sample of galaxy clusters. Using population subtraction methods, we determine the radius at which the cluster galaxy number density is 200/Omega_m times the mean galaxy density, without assuming a model for the radial distribution of galaxies in clusters. If these galaxies are unbiased on Mpc scales, this galaxy-density-based R_200 reflects the characteristic radii of clusters. We measure the scaling of this characteristic radius with richness over an order of magnitude in cluster richness, from rich clusters to poor groups. We use this information to examine the radial profiles of galaxies in clusters as a function of cluster richness, finding that the concentration of the galaxy distribution decreases with richness and is systematically lower than the concentrations measured for dark matter profiles in N-body simulations. Using these scaled radii, we investigate the behavior of the cluster luminosity function, and find that it is well matched by a Schechter function for galaxies brighter than M_r = -18 only after the central galaxy has been removed. We find that the luminosity function varies with richness and with distance from the cluster center, underscoring the importance of using an aperture that scales with cluster mass to compare physically equivalent regions of these different systems. We note that the lowest richness systems in our catalog have properties consistent with those expected of the earliest-forming halos; our cluster-finding algorithm, in addition to reliably finding clusters, may be efficient at finding fossil groups.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Prognostic factors and monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis: gram-positive versus gram-negative pathogens

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis is rapidly progressive and life-threatening. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether the clinical presentation and outcome for patients with this disease differ for those infected with a gram-positive as compared to gram-negative pathogen.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-six patients with monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis were examined retrospectively from November 2002 to January 2008. All patients received adequate broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, aggressive resuscitation, prompt radical debridement and adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Eleven patients were infected with a gram-positive pathogen (Group 1) and 35 patients with a gram-negative pathogen (Group 2).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Group 2 was characterized by a higher incidence of hemorrhagic bullae and septic shock, higher APACHE II scores at 24 h post-admission, a higher rate of thrombocytopenia, and a higher prevalence of chronic liver dysfunction. Gouty arthritis was more prevalent in Group 1. For non-survivors, the incidences of chronic liver dysfunction, chronic renal failure and thrombocytopenia were higher in comparison with those for survivors. Lower level of serum albumin was also demonstrated in the non-survivors as compared to those in survivors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Pre-existing chronic liver dysfunction, chronic renal failure, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia, and post-operative dependence on mechanical ventilation represent poor prognostic factors in monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis. Patients with gram-negative monobacterial necrotizing fasciitis present with more fulminant sepsis.</p

Midline fascial plication under continuous digital transrectal control: which factors determine anatomic outcome?

Contains fulltext : 88897.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to report anatomic and functional outcome of midline fascial plication under continuous digital transrectal control and to identify predictors of anatomic failure. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort. Anatomic success defined as POP-Q stage or= II underwent midline fascial plication under continuous digital transrectal control. Median follow-up was 14 months (12-35 months), and anatomic success was 80.3% (95% CI 75-86). Independent predictors of failure were posterior compartment POP stage >or= III [OR 8.7 (95% CI 2.7-28.1)] and prior colposuspension [OR 5.6 (95% CI 1.1-27.8)]. Sixty-three percent of patients bothered by obstructed defaecation experienced relief after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic and functional outcomes were good. Risk factors for anatomic failure were initial size of posterior POP (stage >or= III) and prior colposuspension.1 juni 201