Xerophthalmia and post-measles eye lesions in children in Tanzania : a study of nutritional, biochemical and ophthalmological aspects

From 1983 until 1986 a number of studies were carried out in collaboration with the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre on vitamin A deficiency and post-measles nutritional blindness.Prevalence surveys were carried out in four regions in Tanzania in order to estimate the magnitude of xerophthalmia where it was found to be a problem in certain clusters of villages. The retinol and carotenoid content of certain food products were analysed and the results subsequently used in a study to estimate the nutrient intake of children suffering from xerophthalmia. The intake of vitamin A in these children was low.In children with measles, serious eye lesions which may easily result in blindness, were observed in 3-4% of the children admitted to a number of hospitals. Serum retinol levels in these children were extremely low while in children with measles and not developing such lesions levels were somewhat higher although they were still rather low. These findings confirm the role of vitamin A in the aetiology of post-measles eye lesions.</TT

Region-wide assessment of the capacity for human nutrition training in West Africa: current situation,challenges, and way forward

Background: There is a dearth of information on existing nutrition training programs in West Africa. A preliminary step in the process of developing a comprehensive framework to strengthen human capacity for nutrition is to conduct an inventory of existing training programs. Objective: This study was conducted to provide baseline data on university-level nutrition training programs that exist in the 16 countries in West Africa. It also aimed to identify existing gaps in nutrition training and propose solutions to address them. Design: Participating institutions were identified based on information provided by in-country key informants, UNICEF offices or through internet searches. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews during on-site visits or through self-administered questionnaires. Simple descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: In total, 83 nutrition degree programs comprising 32 B.Sc. programs, 34 M.Sc. programs, and 17 Ph.D. programs were identified in the region. More than half of these programs were in Nigeria. Six countries (Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, The Gambia, and Togo) offered no nutrition degree program. The programs in francophone countries were generally established more recently than those in anglophone countries (age: 3.5 years vs. 21.4 years). Programs were predominantly (78%) run by government-supported institutions. They did not provide a comprehensive coverage of all essential aspects of human nutrition. They were heavily oriented to food science (46%), with little emphasis on public health nutrition (24%) or overnutrition (2%). Annual student intakes per program in 2013 ranged from 3 to 262; 7 to 40; and 3 to 10, respectively, for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs while the number of graduates produced annually per country ranged from 6 to 271; 3 to 64; and 1 to 18, respectively. External collaboration only existed in 15% of the programs. In-service training programs on nutrition existed in less than half of the countries. The most important needs for improving the quality of existing training programs reported were teaching materials, equipment and infrastructures, funding, libraries and access to advanced technology resources. Conclusions: There are critical gaps in nutrition training in the West Africa region. The results of the present study underscore the urgent need to invest in nutrition training in West Africa. An expanded set of knowledge, skills, and competencies must be integrated into existing nutrition training curricula. Our study provides a basis for the development of a regional strategy to strengthen human capacity for nutrition across the region

Fielding and calibration issues for diamond photoconducting detectors

Diamond photoconducting detectors are routinely fielded as soft x-ray diagnostics on Sandia`s Saturn facility. We have developed an improved detector mount that provides a 200-ps time response, is easily cleanable, and is very rugged. In addition, we have developed a new, fast insertion unit to apply bias voltage to the detectors. Absolute calibration of the PCDs is carried out either at the Brookhaven National Synchrotron Light Source or on Sandia`s laser calibration facility. We are now fielding diamond elements that have the dimensions 1x3x0.5 nun and 1x1xO.5 mm. We are neutron damaging some of the 1x1xO.5-mm detectors to reduce their sensitivity. We can tailor PCD sensitivity by adjusting element size and neutron damage level

Radio emission of highly inclined cosmic ray air showers measured with LOPES

LOPES-10 (the first phase of LOPES, consisting of 10 antennas) detected a significant number of cosmic ray air showers with a zenith angle larger than 50$^{\circ}$, and many of these have very high radio field strengths. The most inclined event that has been detected with LOPES-10 has a zenith angle of almost 80$^{\circ}$. This is proof that the new technique is also applicable for cosmic ray air showers with high inclinations, which in the case that they are initiated close to the ground, can be a signature of neutrino events.Our results indicate that arrays of simple radio antennas can be used for the detection of highly inclined air showers, which might be triggered by neutrinos. In addition, we found that the radio pulse height (normalized with the muon number) for highly inclined events increases with the geomagnetic angle, which confirms the geomagnetic origin of radio emission in cosmic ray air showers.Comment: A&A accepte

Results from the KASCADE, KASCADE-Grande, and LOPES experiments

The origin of high-energy cosmic rays in the energy range from 10^14 to 10^18 eV is explored with the KASCADE and KASCADE-Grande experiments. Radio signals from air showers are measured with the LOPES experiment. An overview on results is given.Comment: Talk at The ninth International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics, TAUP 2005, Zaragoza, September 10-14, 200

State trust in middle childhood: an experimental manipulation of maternal support

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A pilot randomized controlled trial for a videoconference-delivered mindfulness-based group intervention in a nonclinical setting

Technology is increasingly being integrated into the provision of therapy and mental health interventions. While the evidence base for technology-led delivery of mindfulness-based interventions is growing, one approach to understanding the effects of technology-delivered elements includes so-named blended programs that continue to include aspects of traditional face-to-face interaction. This arrangement offers unique practical advantages, and also enables researchers to isolate variables that may be underlying the effects of technology-delivered interventions. The present study reports on a pilot videoconference-delivered mindfulness-based group intervention offered to university students and staff members with wait-list controls. Apart from the first session of the six-week course, the main facilitator guided evening classes remotely via online videoconferencing, with follow-up exercises via email. Participants Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation were taught a variety of mindfulness-based exercises such as meditation, breathing exercises, mindful tasting, as well as the concepts underpinning such practice. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires on depression, anxiety, repetitive negative thinking, dysfunctional attitudes, positive and negative affect, self-compassion, compassion for others, and mindfulness. For participants who attended at least five of the six sessions, scores on all outcome measures improved significantly post intervention and remained stable at three-week follow up. The videoconference-delivered mindfulness-based group intervention appears to provide a viable alternative format to standard mindfulness programs where the facilitator and participants need to live in close physical proximity with each other

Combined LOPES and KASCADE-Grande Data Analysis

First analyses of coincident data of the LOPES (LOfar PrototypE Station) radio antennas with the particle air shower experiment KASCADE-Grande show basic correlations in the observed shower parameters, like the strength of the radio signal and the particle number, or comparing the estimated shower directions. In addition, an improvement of the experimental resolution of the shower parameters reconstructed by KASCADE-Grande can be obtained by including the data of the radio antennas. This important feature will be shown in this article explicitely by an example event.Comment: 5 pages, Proceedings of International Workshop on Acoustic and Radio EeV Neutrino detection Activities: ARENA, May 17-19, 2005, DESY Zeuthe