Molecular Epidemiology of Ascariasis: A Global Perspective on the Transmission Dynamics of Ascaris in People and Pigs

Background The roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides infects 0.8 billion people worldwide, and Ascaris suum infects innumerable pigs across the globe. The extent of natural cross-transmission of Ascaris between pig and human hosts in different geographical settings is unknown, warranting investigation. Methods Adult Ascaris organisms were obtained from humans and pigs in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Barcodes were assigned to 536 parasites on the basis of sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene. Genotyping of 410 worms was also conducted using a panel of microsatellite markers. Phylogenetic, population genetic, and Bayesian assignment methods were used for analysis. Results There was marked genetic segregation between worms originating from human hosts and those originating from pig hosts. However, human Ascaris infections in Europe were of pig origin, and there was evidence of cross-transmission between humans and pigs in Africa. Significant genetic differentiation exists between parasite populations from different countries, villages, and hosts. Conclusions In conducting an analysis of variation within Ascaris populations from pig and human hosts across the globe, we demonstrate that cross-transmission takes place in developing and developed countries, contingent upon epidemiological potential and local phylogeography. Our results provide novel insights into the transmission dynamics and speciation of Ascaris worms from humans and pigs that are of importance for control program

Elimination of Schistosomiasis Transmission in Zanzibar: Baseline Findings before the Onset of a Randomized Intervention Trial.

Gaining and sustaining control of schistosomiasis and, whenever feasible, achieving local elimination are the year 2020 targets set by the World Health Organization. In Zanzibar, various institutions and stakeholders have joined forces to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis within 5 years. We report baseline findings before the onset of a randomized intervention trial designed to assess the differential impact of community-based praziquantel administration, snail control, and behavior change interventions. In early 2012, a baseline parasitological survey was conducted in ∼20,000 people from 90 communities in Unguja and Pemba. Risk factors for schistosomiasis were assessed by administering a questionnaire to adults. In selected communities, local knowledge about schistosomiasis transmission and prevention was determined in focus group discussions and in-depths interviews. Intermediate host snails were collected and examined for shedding of cercariae. The baseline Schistosoma haematobium prevalence in school children and adults was 4.3% (range: 0-19.7%) and 2.7% (range: 0-26.5%) in Unguja, and 8.9% (range: 0-31.8%) and 5.5% (range: 0-23.4%) in Pemba, respectively. Heavy infections were detected in 15.1% and 35.6% of the positive school children in Unguja and Pemba, respectively. Males were at higher risk than females (odds ratio (OR): 1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-2.03). Decreasing adult age (OR: 1.04; CI: 1.02-1.06), being born in Pemba (OR: 1.48; CI: 1.02-2.13) or Tanzania (OR: 2.36; CI: 1.16-4.78), and use of freshwater (OR: 2.15; CI: 1.53-3.03) showed higher odds of infection. Community knowledge about schistosomiasis was low. Only few infected Bulinus snails were found. The relatively low S. haematobium prevalence in Zanzibar is a promising starting point for elimination. However, there is a need to improve community knowledge about disease transmission and prevention. Control measures tailored to the local context, placing particular attention to hot-spot areas, high-risk groups, and individuals, will be necessary if elimination is to be achieved

Use of near- and mid-IR hyperspectral imaging for paint identification, as an aid for artwork authentication

In recent years various scientific practices have been adapted to the artwork analysis process and a set of techniques was found advantageous for conservation and restoration works. Apart of these applications, art market also benefits from scientific testing of artwork. Although these services are already available to support determination of the authenticity of traded pieces, they are very expensive and time consuming and therefore serve only very limited range of transactions. As a response for requirements of growing market there is a need for rapid and non-destructive methods empowering art authentication

Exploring the relationship between adolescent's reading skills, reading motivation and reading habits.

The present study examines the extent to which adolescents’ reading affect (reading motivation) and behaviour (reading habits) predict different components of reading (word reading, comprehension, summarisation and text reading speed) and also adds to the limited research examining group differences (gender, age, ability) in adolescents’ reading motivation and reading habits. A representative sample of three hundred and twelve students (aged 11–16) from the UK participated. Adolescents’ reading motivation predicted significant variance in their reading comprehension and summarisation skills, after accounting for word reading and text reading speed. Reading motivation also predicted significant variance in text reading speed after accounting for word reading. Notably, however, different dimensions of motivation predicted variance in different reading skills. Of all the reading habits, only fiction book reading emerged as a consistent predictor of variation in the different reading skills, after accounting for the other reading abilities. Group differences (gender, age and ability) were consistent with previous literature

The use of hyperspectral imaging for cake moisture prediction

In this paper, hyperspectral imaging is demonstrated to be a valid method for predicting the moisture content of baked sponge cakes. The application of this technology in the cake production environment, empowered by sophisticated signal & image processing techniques and prediction algorithms has the potential to provide on-line, real-time, non-destructive cake moisture monitoring

Exploring the healthcare experiences and support needs of chestfeeding or breastfeeding for trans and non-binary parents based in the United Kingdom

Background: Trans and/or non-binary parents experience structural exclusion in family healthcare and there is a need for specialist training for healthcare professionals so that they are able to create a gender inclusive environment. Aim: As part of a continued effort to address health inequity this study explores the body experiences of infant feeding within trans and non binary communities. Method: Semi structured interviews were conducted with seven trans or non-binary parents, based in the United Kingdom, who have experienced chestfeeding or breastfeeding. Results: A reflexive thematic analysis was utlitised to identify three main themes which centered around baby, body and support in health care settings. Parents were informed of the benefits of their milk and were strongly motivated by their child’s needs. However, body feeding was emotionally and physically challenging. Conclusion: Person-centered care with consistent attention to language is required when supporting lactation

In-depth annotation of SNPs arising from resequencing projects using NGS-SNP

Summary: NGS-SNP is a collection of command-line scripts for providing rich annotations for SNPs identified by the sequencing of whole genomes from any organism with reference sequences in Ensembl. Included among the annotations, several of which are not available from any existing SNP annotation tools, are the results of detailed comparisons with orthologous sequences. These comparisons can, for example, identify SNPs that affect conserved residues, or alter residues or genes linked to phenotypes in another species

Use of hyperspectral imaging for artwork authentication

In recent years various scientific practices have been adapted to the artwork analysis process and a set of techniques was found advantageous for conservation and restoration works. Apart of these applications, art market also benefits from scientific testing of artwork. Although these services are available to determine authenticity of traded pieces, they are very expensive and time consuming and therefore serve only very limited range of transactions. As a response for requirements of growing market there is a need for rapid and non-destructive methods empowering art authentication. Hyperspectral imaging combined with signal processing and classification techniques are proposed as a tool to enhance the identification of art forgeries. Using bespoke paintings designed for this work, a spectral library of selected pigments was established and the viability of training and the application of classification techniques based on this data was demonstrated. Developed techniques were used for the analysis of actual forged paintings held by the Berlin police, which comprised known and suspected forgeries from the infamous Beltracchi case. The analysis resulted in the identification of anachronistic paint, confirming the falsity of the artwork. Figure 1 illustrates one of analysed paintings and result of the classification, indicating Titanium White – a pigment known as anachronistic for this case

Adolescent reading skill and engagement with digital and traditional literacies as predictors of reading comprehension

This study investigates the concurrent predictors of adolescent reading comprehension (literal, inferential) for fiction and non-fiction texts. Predictors were examined from the cognitive (word identification, reading fluency), psychological (gender), and ecological (print exposure) domains. Print exposure to traditional and digital texts was surveyed using a diary method of reading habits. A cross-sectional sample of 312 students in early (11–13 years) or middle adolescence (14–15 years) participated from a range of SES backgrounds. Word identification emerged as a strong predictor of reading comprehension across adolescence and text genres. Gender effects favouring female students were evident for reading frequency but not for reading skill itself. Reading habits also differed, and comprehension advantages were observed among females for fiction and males for non-fiction. Age effects emerged for reading frequency, which was lower in middle adolescence. Although more time was spent on digital than on traditional texts, traditional extended text reading was the only reading habit to predict inference-making in comprehension and to distinguish skilled from less skilled comprehenders. The theoretical and educational implications of these results are discussed