Color-accurate underwater imaging using perceptual adaptive illumination

Capturing color in water is challenging due to the heavy non-uniform attenuation of light in water across the visible spectrum, which results in dramatic hue shifts toward blue. Yet observing color in water is important for monitoring and surveillance as well as marine biology studies related to species identification, individual and group behavior, and ecosystem health and activity monitoring. Underwater robots are equipped with motor control for large scale transects but they lack sensors that enable capturing color-accurate underwater images. We present a method for color-accurate imaging in water called perceptual adaptive illumination. This method dynamically mixes the illumination of an object in a distance-dependent way using a controllable multi-color light source. The color mix compensates correctly for color loss and results in an image whose color composition is equivalent to rendering the object in air. Experiments were conducted with a color palette in the pool and at three different coral reefs sites, and with an underwater robot collecting image data with the new sensor.United States. Office of Naval Research (Project N000140911051

Reinventing ‘Many Voices’: MacBride and a Digital New World Information and Communication Order

The MacBride Commission Report was arguably one of the most significant multilateral interventions in the history of international communication. This article charts its emergence at the time of deeply contested Cold War politics, coinciding with the rise of the southern voices in the global arena, led by the non-aligned nations. Thirty-five years after the report's publication, has the global media evolved into a more democratic system, demonstrating greater diversity of views and viewpoints? Despite the still formidable power of US-led western media, the article suggests that the globalisation and digitisation of communication has contributed to a multi-layered and more complex global media scene, demonstrating the “rise of the rest”

Detection of the tumour suppressor gene TP53 and expression of p53, Bcl-2 and p63 proteins in canine transmissible venereal tumour

Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a neoplasm transmitted among healthy dogs by direct contact with injured skin and/or mucous tissue. This study aimed to identify the TP53 gene, messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as the expression of p53, Bcl-2 and p63 proteins in histological sections of 13 CTVT samples at different stages of evolution. The in situ hybridization (ISH) and in situ reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used, which showed the DNA homologous to TP53 and its respective mRNA in 92.3% of the samples. We detected p53, p63 and Bcl-2 proteins in most of the cell samples in different grades of intensity. In addition, 46% of the samples were in the progressive and 54% in the regression phase. This is the first description of these proteins and a detailed study of their role in CTVT cells needs to be addressed in or to verify how these cells undergo apoptosis

Intravaginal practices among HIV-negative female sex workers along the US-Mexico border and their implications for emerging HIV prevention interventions.

ObjectiveTo describe intravaginal practices (IVPs) among female sex workers (FSWs) who inject drugs in two cities-Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez-on the border between the USA and Mexico.MethodsData for a secondary analysis were obtained from interviews conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial in FSWs who injected drugs between October 28, 2008, and May 31, 2010. Eligible individuals were aged at least 18years and reported sharing injection equipment and having unprotected sex with clients in the previous month. Descriptive statistics were used to assess frequency and type of IVPs. Logistic regression was used to assess correlates of IVPs.ResultsAmong 529 FSWs who completed both surveys, 229 (43.3%) had performed IVPs in the previous 6months. Factors independently associated with IVPs were reporting any sexually transmitted infection in the previous 6months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.1; P=0.03), three or more pregnancies (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.2; P=0.02), and having clients who became violent when proposing condom use (aOR 5.8, 95% CI 1.0-34.3; P=0.05), which are all factors related to inconsistent condom use.ConclusionScreening for IVPs could help to identify FSW at increased risk of HIV, and facilitate conversations about specific risk-reduction methods

Typologies of violence against women in Brazil: A latent class analysis of how violence and HIV intersect

We address the limited understanding around the overlap between violence and HIV in Brazil. Data was from two clinic-based samples of HIV-positive (n = 1534) and HIV-negative women (n = 1589) in São Paulo and Porto Alegre. We conducted latent class analysis and identified violence typologies by type of violence, life course timing, frequency, and perpetrator, stratified by city and HIV-status. Overall, HIV-positive women experienced more lifetime physical and sexual violence than HIV-negative women. Twelve unique violence latent classes were identified. In São Paulo, HIV-positive women were likely to have endured physical violence several times (Conditional Probability [CP]: 0.80) by an intimate partner (CP: 0.85), and sexual violence several times (CP: 0.46) by an intimate partner (CP: 0.62). In Porto Alegre, HIV-positive women endured physical violence several times (CP: 0.80) by an intimate partner (CP: 0.70) during childhood/adolescence (CP: 0.48), and sexual violence several times (CP: 0.54) by an intimate partner (CP: 0.60). Findings inform interventions to educate around gender equity, violence, and the health effects of violence including HIV, integrate HIV and violence services, and improve the provision of bio-medical HIV prevention among HIV-negative women who experience violence

Intravaginal practices among HIV-negative female sex workers along the US-Mexico border and their implications for emerging HIV prevention interventions

OBJECTIVE: To describe intravaginal practices (IVPs) among female sex workers (FSWs) who inject drugs in two cities—Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez—on the border between the USA and Mexico. METHODS: Data for a secondary analysis were obtained from interviews conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial in FSWs who injected drugs between October 28, 2008, and May 31, 2010. Eligible individuals were aged at least 18 years and reported sharing injection equipment and having unprotected sex with clients in the previous month. Descriptive statistics were used to assess frequency and type of IVPs. Logistic regression was used to assess correlates of IVPs. RESULTS: Among 529 FSWs who completed both surveys, 229 (43.3%) had performed IVPs in the previous 6 months. Factors independently associated with IVPs were reporting any sexually transmitted infection in the previous 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–3.1; P=0.03), three or more pregnancies (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2; P=0.02), and having clients who became violent when proposing condom use (aOR 5.8, 95% CI 1.0–34.3; P=0.05), which are all factors related to inconsistent condom use. CONCLUSION: Screening for IVPs could help to identify FSW at increased risk of HIV, and facilitate conversations about specific risk-reduction methods