WSPC- Proceedings Trim Size: 9in x 6in main 1 Characterizing Swing-Leg Retraction in Human Locomotion

contact, is observed in human locomotion. While several advantages of swingleg retraction, like gait stability and perturbation rejection, are shown by conceptual models, there is currently very little experimental data on swing-leg retraction in human motion. In this paper, kinematic data for twenty-eight subjects walking and running at different speeds are analyzed. Swing-leg retraction was shown to exist in walking and running at every non-zero speed. Additionally, swing-leg retraction speed and acceleration linearly increase with gait speed. At comparable gait speeds, swing-leg retraction speed is higher for running than for walking

On the population dynamics of two brackish-water Cladocera Podon leuckarti and Evadne nordmanni in Kiel Fjord

Both Podon leuckarti and Evadne nordmanni play a predominant role in the plankton community of Kiel Fjord in summer. Increase and decrease of the populations were recorded through short-term sampling from May to the beginning of July. Abundance in relation to temperature and salinity, body size, number of embryos per female and the occurrence of permanent eggs were investigated. Podon leuckarti reached its peak at the end of May, two weeks earlier than Evadne normanni; the maximum abundance was 6500 individuals · m-3 and 8900 individuals · m-3 respectively. The rapid increase of both populations is characterized by an exponential growth phase. The estimated doubling time ranged from 0.5 to 4.3 days. With increasing temperature, body size and number of embryos per female decreased. An inspection of the stomach content showed that both species apparently had fed mainly on phytoplankton

Light-Weight Wearable Gyroscopic Actuators Can Modulate Balance Performance and Gait Characteristics:A Proof-of-Concept Study

Falling is a major cause of morbidity, and is often caused by a decrease in postural stability. A key component of postural stability is whole-body centroidal angular momentum, which can be influenced by control moment gyroscopes. In this proof-of-concept study, we explore the influence of our wearable robotic gyroscopic actuator “GyroPack” on the balance performance and gait characteristics of non-impaired individuals (seven female/eight male, 30 ± 7 years, 68.8 ± 8.4 kg). Participants performed a series of balance and walking tasks with and without wearing the GyroPack. The device displayed various control modes, which were hypothesised to positively, negatively, or neutrally impact postural control. When configured as a damper, the GyroPack increased mediolateral standing time and walking distance, on a balance beam, and decreased trunk angular velocity variability, while walking on a treadmill. When configured as a negative damper, both peak trunk angular rate and trunk angular velocity variability increased during treadmill walking. This exploratory study shows that gyroscopic actuators can influence balance and gait kinematics. Our results mirror the findings of our earlier studies; though, with more than 50% mass reduction of the device, practical and clinical applicability now appears within reach.</p

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV and its prevention: awareness and knowledge in Uganda and Tanzania

Awareness and knowledge about HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and preventive measures in different population groups and health personnel were analysed in future intervention areas in western Uganda and southwestern Tanzania. In Uganda, a total of 751 persons (440 clients of antenatal and outpatient clinics, 43 health workers, 239 villagers, 29 traditional birth attendants) and in Tanzania, 574 persons (410 clients, 49 health workers, 93 villagers, 18 traditional birth attendants) were interviewed.When given options, knowledge on transmission during pregnancy and delivery in women was 93% and 67% in Uganda and Tanzania respectively, and 86% and 78% for transmission during breastfeeding. In Uganda 59% of male interviewees did not believe that HIV is transmitted during breastfeeding. Expressed acceptance of HIV testing was above 90% in men and women in both countries, but only 10% of the clients in Uganda and 14% in Tanzania had been tested for HIV infection. Health workers´ knowledge regarding MTCT was acceptable, while traditional birth attendants´ knowledge on both MTCT and preventive measures was extremely poor. Recommendations on infant feeding were not compatible with WHO recommendations for HIV-infected women. If prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) interventions are to be accepted by the population and promoted by health personnel, thorough orientation and training are mandatory. Key Words:PMTCT, HIV, awareness, knowledge, western Uganda, western TanzaniaRÉSUMÉLa prise de conscience et la connaissance de la transmission mère-enfant du VIH (MTCT) et les mesures préventives parmi les différents groupes de la population et le personnel de santé ont été analysées dans des régions de l\'ouest de l\'Ouganda et le sud-ouest de la Tanzanie où les interventions auront lieu dans l\'avenir. En Ouganda, 751 personnes en tout (440 clients de centres médicaux prénatals et de services de consultation, 43 ouvriers de santé, 239 villageois, 29 préposés traditionnels de naissance) et en Tanzanie, 574 personnes (410 clients, 49 ouvriers de santé, 93 villageois et 18 préposés traditionnels de naissance) furent objet des entretiens. Lorsqu\'on leur a donné des options au choix, la connaissance de la transmission pendant la grossesse et à la naissance chez les femmes était de 93% et 67% en Ouganda et en Tanzanie respectivement et de 86% et 78% pour la transmission à l\'allaitement. En Ouganda, 59% des hommes interviewés ont eu du mal à croire que le virus peut être communiqué à l\'enfant lors de l\'allaitement. Plus de 90% des hommes et des femmes dans les deux pays ont exprimé une acceptation de dépistage du VIH. Cependant, seulement 10% de clients en Ouganda et 14% en Tanzanie ont fait le dépistage. La connaissance des ouvriers de santé concernant le MTCT était acceptable, tandis que la connaissance du MTCT et les mesures préventives chez les préposés traditionnels de naissance fut extrêmement faible. Les recommandations de l\'allaitement de l\'enfant n\'étaient pas compatibles avec les recommandations de l\'OMS pour des femmes infectées. Afin que les interventions PMTCT soient acceptées par la population et promues par le personnel de santé, une orientation et une formation approfondies sont obligatoires. Mots clés: PMTCT,VIH, prise de conscience, connaissance, l\'ouest de l\'Ouganda, l\'ouest de la Tanzanie. Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Vol 2(2) 2005:258-26

Eficácia da oxamniquine, do praziquantel e da combinação de ambas as drogas na esquistossomose mansônica no Brasil

Conduziu-se um ensaio clínico para comparar a eficácia de uma combinação em baixas doses de oxamniquine (7,5 mg/kg) mais praziquantel (20 mg/kg) com ambas as drogas - oxamniquine (15 mg/kg) e praziquantel (40 mg/kg) - empregadas isoladamente, no tratamento da esquistossomose mansônica em uma área endêmica do nordeste brasileiro. Os medicamentos foram administrados, aleatoriamente, por via oral, a 91 pacientes. Seis e doze meses depois do tratamento 89% dos admitidos no ensaio foram reexaminados segundo os métodos de Kato-Katz (dez lâminas) e MIF (um grama de fezes). Os índices de cura alcançados, representando a ausência de ovos nas fezes em todos os controles durante o acompanhamento parasitológico individualizado dos pacientes, foram de 81,8%, 81,2% e 67,6% com, respectivamente, o praziquantel, a oxamniquine e a combinação. A redução do número de ovos eliminado por gra ma de fezes nos casos não curados, variou de 93,8 96,8% com o praziquantel, 32,5 97% com a oxamniquine e 76,9-99,5% com a combinação. Concluiu-se que os três regimes terapêuticos, nas doses utilizadas, dão resultados similares e satisfatórios no tratamento da esquistossomose mansônica não complicada, no Brasil.A randomized clinical trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of a low-dosage combination of oxamniquine (7.5 mg/kg) plus praziquantel (20 mg/kg) against either agent, oxamniquine (15 mg/kg) or praziquantel (40 mg/kg) alone, in the treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni in the Brazilian north-east. The drugs were randomly administered per os to 91 patients. Six and twelve months after treatment 89% of those admitted to the trial were reexamined by Kato-Katz method (ten slides) and MIF technique (one gram of stool) The achieved cure rates, as defined by absence of S. mansoni eggs in the faeces of individual patients at all points during the parasitological follow-up, were 81.8%, 81.2% and 67.6% for praziquantel, oxamniquine and the combination respectively. The reduction of eggs excretion in non cured patients six months after therapy ranged from 93.8-96.8% with praziquantel, 32.5-97% with oxamniquine and 76.9-99.5% with the combination. It is concluded that, at the used dosages, the three therapeutical regimens give similar and satisfactory results in the treatment of uncomplicated S. mansoni infection in Brazil

Rush to Judgment: The STI-Treatment Trials and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction: The extraordinarily high incidence of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa led to the search for cofactor infections that could explain the high rates of transmission in the region. Genital inflammation and lesions caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were a probable mechanism, and numerous observational studies indicated several STI cofactors. Nine out of the ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs), however, failed to demonstrate that treating STIs could lower HIV incidence. We evaluate all 10 trials to determine if their design permits the conclusion, widely believed, that STI treatment is ineffective in reducing HIV incidence. Discussion: Examination of the trials reveals critical methodological problems sufficient to account for statistically insignificant outcomes in nine of the ten trials. Shortcomings of the trials include weak exposure contrast, confounding, non-differential misclassification, contamination and effect modification, all of which consistently bias the results toward the null. In any future STI-HIV trial, ethical considerations will again require weak exposure contrast. The complexity posed by HIV transmission in the genital microbial environment means that any future STI-HIV trial will face confounding, non-differential misclassification and effect modification. As a result, it is unlikely that additional trials would be able to answer the question of whether STI control reduces HIV incidence. Conclusions: Shortcomings in published RCTs render invalid the conclusion that treating STIs and other cofactor infections is ineffective in HIV prevention. Meta-analyses of observational studies conclude that STIs can raise HIV transmission efficiency two- to fourfold. Health policy is always implemented under uncertainty. Given the known benefits of STI control, the irreparable harm from not treating STIs and the likely decline in HIV incidence resulting from STI control, it is appropriate to expand STI control programmes and to use funds earmarked for HIV prevention to finance those programmes

General Variability Leads to Specific Adaptation Toward Energy Optimal Policies

Our nervous systems can learn optimal control policies in response to changes to our bodies, tasks, and movement contexts. For example, humans can learn to adapt their control policy in walking contexts where the energy-optimal policy is shifted along variables such as step frequency or step width. However, it is unclear how the nervous system determines which ways to adapt its control policy. Here, we asked how human participants explore through variations in their control policy to identify more optimal policies in new contexts. We created new contexts using exoskeletons that apply assistive torques to each ankle at each walking step. We analyzed four variables that spanned the levels of the whole movement, the joint, and the muscle: step frequency, ankle angle range, total soleus activity, and total medial gastrocnemius activity. We found that, across all of these analyzed variables, variability increased upon initial exposure to new contexts and then decreased with experience. This led to adaptive changes in the magnitude of specific variables, and these changes were correlated with reduced energetic cost. The timescales by which adaptive changes progressed and variability decreased were faster for some variables than others, suggesting a reduced search space within which the nervous system continues to optimize its policy. These collective findings support the principle that exploration through general variability leads to specific adaptation toward optimal movement policies

Development of a risk assessment tool for contact tracing people after contact with infectious patients while travelling by bus or other public ground transport: a Delphi consensus approach

Background: Tracing persons who have been in contact with an infectious patient may be very effective in preventing the spread of communicable diseases. However, criteria to decide when to conduct contact tracing are not well established. We have investigated the available evidence for contact tracing with a focus on public ground transport aiming to give guidance in what situations contact tracing should be considered. Methods: Relevant infectious diseases suitable for contact tracing in ground transport and a set of disease-specific epidemiological criteria were defined through literature search and structured multistep expert consultations. We developed continuous scales for each criterion to be rated for its relevance to contact tracing in ground transport. We used the Delphi method with an international expert panel to position the values of criteria on the respective scales. Results: The study led to the development of the ‘Contact Tracing-Risk Assessment Profile’ (CT-RAP), a decision-making instrument, taking into account pathogen-specific as well as situation-specific criteria. This report describes the methodology of this instrument and presents two examples of ready-to-use CT-RAP for tuberculosis and for meningococcal disease in public ground transport. Discussion: The systematic and transparent use of the CT-RAP for tuberculosis and meningococcal disease is likely to facilitate reasonable, efficient and user-friendly decisions with respect to contact tracing. New CT-RAPs for additional pathogens and different settings such as schools and kindergartens are being planned