Investing in the future: lessons learnt from communicating the results of HSV/ HIV intervention trials in South Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Communicating the results of randomised controlled trials may present challenges for researchers who have to work with communities and policy-makers to anticipate positive outcomes, while being aware that results may show no effect or harm.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We present a case study from the perspective of researchers in South Africa about the lessons learnt from communicating the results of four trials evaluating treatment for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) as a new strategy for HIV prevention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that contextual factors such as misunderstandings and mistrust played an important role in defining the communications response. Use of different approaches in combination was found to be most effective in building understanding, credibility and trust in the research process. During the communication process, researchers acted beyond their traditional role of neutral observers and became agents of social change. This change in role is in keeping with a global trend towards increased communication of research results and presents both opportunities and challenges for the conduct of future research.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite disappointing trial results which showed no benefit of HSV-2 treatment for HIV prevention, important lessons were learnt about the value of the communication process in building trust between researchers, community members and policy-makers, and creating an enabling environment for future research partnerships.</p

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis: global perspectives on invasion history and ecology

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is native to Asia but has been intentionally introduced to many countries as a biological control agent of pest insects. In numerous countries, however, it has been introduced unintentionally. The dramatic spread of H. axyridis within many countries has been met with considerable trepidation. It is a generalist top predator, able to thrive in many habitats and across wide climatic conditions. It poses a threat to biodiversity, particularly aphidophagous insects, through competition and predation, and in many countries adverse effects have been reported on other species, particularly coccinellids. However, the patterns are not consistent around the world and seem to be affected by many factors including landscape and climate. Research on H. axyridis has provided detailed insights into invasion biology from broad patterns and processes to approaches in surveillance and monitoring. An impressive number of studies on this alien species have provided mechanistic evidence alongside models explaining large-scale patterns and processes. The involvement of citizens in monitoring this species in a number of countries around the world is inspiring and has provided data on scales that would be otherwise unachievable. Harmonia axyridis has successfully been used as a model invasive alien species and has been the inspiration for global collaborations at various scales. There is considerable scope to expand the research and associated collaborations, particularly to increase the breadth of parallel studies conducted in the native and invaded regions. Indeed a qualitative comparison of biological traits across the native and invaded range suggests that there are differences which ultimately could influence the population dynamics of this invader. Here we provide an overview of the invasion history and ecology of H. axyridis globally with consideration of future research perspectives. We reflect broadly on the contributions of such research to our understanding of invasion biology while also informing policy and people

Anomalous Natural Line-width in the 2p Photoelectron Spectrum of SiF4

4 pagesThe silicon 2p photoelectron spectra for SiH4, SiF4, and SiCl4 have been analyzed to give the natural linewidths of the Si 2p hole states, which reflect the Auger decay rates of the states. For SiH4 the measured width of 38 meV is in approximate agreement with the prediction of the one-center model (32 meV), but that for SiF4 of 79 meV is more than 5 times the value of 14 meV predicted by this model. Approximate theoretical calculations indicate that valence electrons from the fluorine atoms of SiF4 play an important role in the Auger decay via interatomic processes

High resolution C1s and S2p photoelectron spectra of tiophene

Vibrationally resolved C1s and S2p photoelectron spectra of the thiophene molecule have been recorded using monochromated synchrotron radiation at photon energies of 330 eV and 210 eV, respectively. The photoelectron bands contain complex vibrational structures which are analyzed using ab initio and curve-fitting procedures. The analysis is in good agreement with the experimental spectrum which enables identification of two chemically shifted carbon 1s core hole states. We were also able to determine the molecular-field splitting of the S2p3/2 ionic state to about 99 meV. The molecular-field splitting was moreover calculated using second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory, confirming the result from the fitting procedure

The role of molecular polarity in cluster local structure studied by photoelectron spectroscopy

We have studied the spatial structure and electronic levels of clusters of the molecule CH3Br to investigate the effects of molecular polarity on these properties. Analysis of the core level photoclectron spectra of initially neutral CH3Br clusters shows that the C 1 s(-1) state has a 30% larger binding energy shift between free molecules and clusters than the Br 3d(-1) state. This difference is attributed to an anti-parallel packing of the molecules induced by the polar character of bromomethane. The results obtained from the analysis of valence cluster spectra also support the proposed structure. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Laboratory-frame electron angular distributions : Probing the chemical environment through intramolecular electron scattering

Carbon 1s photoelectron asymmetry parameters beta for the chlorinated and the methyl carbon atom of CH3CH2Cl, CH3CHCl2, and CH3CCl3 have been measured using synchrotron radiation in the 340-600 eV energy range. We provide experimental evidence that the intramolecular scattering strongly affects beta values, even far from the ionization threshold. The results are in agreement with B-spline density functional theory calculations, making it possible to single out the behavior of the various continuum partial waves. We conclude that the intramolecular scattering makes electron angular distributions sensitive to the chemical environment, even in isolated gas phase molecules

First observation of vibrations in core-level photoelectron spectra of free neutral molecular clusters

Core-level photoelectron spectra of free neutral methane clusters have been recorded. These spectra exhibit well-resolved surface and bulk features as well as vibrational fine structure. The vibrational structure in the cluster signal is well reproduced by a theoretical model that assumes independent contributions from inter- and intramolecular modes. The intramolecular contribution to the vibrational line-shape is taken to be equal to that of the monomer in the gas phase, while the intermolecular part is simplified to line broadening. An estimate of the cluster size has been made on the basis of the observed surface-to-bulk intensity ratio