The genetic diversity and geographical separation study of Oncomelania hupensis populations in mainland China using microsatellite loci

© 2016 Guan et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. The attached file is the published version of the article.NHM Repositor

Hybrids between Schistosoma mansoni and S. rodhaini : characterization by isoelectric focusing of six enzymes

Une étude par isoélectrofocalisation sur gels polyacrulamides à partir d'extraits de #S. mansoni (Guadeloupe) et #S. rodhaini (Burundi) et de leurs hybrides expérimentaux (première et deuxième générations) a été entreprise sur 6 systèmes enzymatiques (LDH, MDH, G6PD, AcP, PGM et GPI). Il a été mis en évidence un polymorphisme avec MDH (locus MDH-1 et MDH-2) et une hérédité liée au sexe avec GPI. Une interprétation génétique est proposée pour expliquer ces résultats et une comparaison est faite avec les résultats obtenus par électrophorèse pour #S. mansoni$ et #S. rodhaini

Characterising post-medieval pottery production centres in Somerset

This is the final version. Available from the Medieval Pottery Research Group via the link in this recordPost-medieval pottery made in Somerset is distinct from wares produced elsewhere in the south-west of England. Recent experimental work and scientific analysis, combined with study of finds from fieldwork, has led to a more complete understanding of the nature of pottery production in Somerset, how it is possible to use mineralogical and stylistic evidence to distinguish between the three major areas of earthenware production and how production changes over time

Isothermal Recombinase Polymerase amplification (RPA) of Schistosoma haematobium DNA and oligochromatographic lateral flow detection

© 2015 Rosser et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. The attached file is the published version of the article

Reconstructing Colonization Dynamics of the Human Parasite Schistosoma mansoni following Anthropogenic Environmental Changes in Northwest Senegal

© 2015 Van den Broeck et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article

Geochemical and mineralogical record of the impact of mining on the Teign Estuary, Devon, UK

Previous mineralogical and geochemical studies on the sediments in the Teign Estuary, Devon, UK, have shown that there are elevated levels of barium present within the surface sediments and the river catchment due to historical mining. For this investigation, 8 shallow cores (<1 m) were recovered from various locations in the estuary. These cores were subsequently logged, photographed and divided into approximately 5 cm depth intervals. The geochemistry and mineralogy of 68 samples from the cores were analysed. Bulk sediment geochemistry was determined by XRF and data for Ba, Cu, Pb and Zn are presented here. The mineralogy of the samples was determined by XRD. In addition, the samples from two cores were selected for mineralogical analysis using automated SEM-EDS (QEMSCAN®). The data show a sediment depth related geochemical trend with typically the lowest concentrations of Ba, Cu, Zn and Pb at the bases of the cores. Several of the sampling sites reveal a marked peak in the concentration of Pb and Zn mid-core; however, Cu values are low and invariant throughout. Postdating the Pb-Zn peak, there is a subsequent elevation in Ba in many of the cores studied, at a sediment depth of between 10 and 20 cm. Maximum concentrations of Ba reach 3360 ppm; Pb, 2220 ppm; Zn, 887 ppm and Cu, 258 ppm. Detrital minerals present include: barite, rutile, ilmenite, zircon, monazite, pyrite, cassiterite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Framboidal pyrite is the only diagenetic mineral observed. The geochemical results are consistent with the historical mining records in the catchment, with barite mining postdating Pb-Zn mining. Both episodes of mining have released particulate mine waste, which has accumulated within the estuarine sediments

Praziquantel coverage in schools and communities targeted for the elimination of urogenital schistosomiasis in Zanzibar: a cross-sectional survey

© 2015 Knopp et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. The attached file is the published version of the article

Effective elements of cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis: results of a novel type of subgroup analysis based on principal stratification

Background. Meta-analyses show that cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis (CBT-P) improves distressing positive symptoms. However, it is a complex intervention involving a range of techniques. No previous study has assessed the delivery of the different elements of treatment and their effect on outcome. Our aim was to assess the differential effect of type of treatment delivered on the effectiveness of CBT-P, using novel statistical methodology. Method. The Psychological Prevention of Relapse in Psychosis (PRP) trial was a multi-centre randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compared CBT-P with treatment as usual (TAU). Therapy was manualized, and detailed evaluations of therapy delivery and client engagement were made. Follow-up assessments were made at 12 and 24 months. In a planned analysis, we applied principal stratification (involving structural equation modelling with finite mixtures) to estimate intention-to-treat (ITT) effects for subgroups of participants, defined by qualitative and quantitative differences in receipt of therapy, while maintaining the constraints of randomization. Results. Consistent delivery of full therapy, including specific cognitive and behavioural techniques, was associated with clinically and statistically significant increases in months in remission, and decreases in psychotic and affective symptoms. Delivery of partial therapy involving engagement and assessment was not effective. Conclusions. Our analyses suggest that CBT-P is of significant benefit on multiple outcomes to patients able to engage in the full range of therapy procedures. The novel statistical methods illustrated in this report have general application to the evaluation of heterogeneity in the effects of treatment

Study and implementation of urogenital schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba islands) using an integrated multidisciplinary approach

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that continues to be a major public health problem in many developing countries being responsible for an estimated burden of at least 1.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Africa alone. However, morbidity due to schistosomiasis has been greatly reduced in some parts of the world, including Zanzibar. The Zanzibar government is now committed to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis. Over the next 3--5 years, the whole at-risk population will be administered praziquantel (40 mg/kg) biannually. Additionally, snail control and behaviour change interventions will be implemented in selected communities and the impact measured in a randomized intervention trial. METHODS: In this 5-year research study, on both Unguja and Pemba islands, urogenital schistosomiasis will be assessed in 45 communities with urine filtration and reagent strips in 4,500 schoolchildren aged 9--12 years annually, and in 4,500 first-year schoolchildren and 2,250 adults in years 1 and 5. Additionally, from first-year schoolchildren, a finger-prick blood sample will be collected and examined for Schistosoma haematobium infection biomarkers. Changes in prevalence and infection intensity will be assessed annually. Among the 45 communities, 15 were randomized for biannual snail control with niclosamide, in concordance with preventive chemotherapy campaigns. The reduction of Bulinus globosus snail populations and S. haematobium-infected snails will be investigated. In 15 other communities, interventions triggering behaviour change have been designed and will be implemented in collaboration with the community. A change in knowledge, attitudes and practices will be assessed annually through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with schoolchildren, teachers, parents and community leaders. In all 45 communities, changes in the health system, water and sanitation infrastructure will be annually tracked by standardized questionnaire-interviews with community leaders. Additional issues potentially impacting on study outcomes and all incurring costs will be monitored and recorded. DISCUSSION: Elimination of schistosomiasis has become a priority on the agenda of the Zanzibar government and the international community. Our study will contribute to identifying what, in addition to preventive chemotherapy, needs to be done to prevent, control, and ultimately eliminate schistosomiasis, and to draw lessons for current and future schistosomiasis elimination programmes in Africa and elsewhere.Trial registrationISRCTN4883768