177 research outputs found
Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Rapid Situational Analysis: Ukraine--Kyiv, Odessa & Lviv
The primary objectives of this rapid MHPSS situational analysis are to:understand the perceived and identified sources of psychosocial distress among community members affected by the war in Ukraine (with special focus on International Medical Corps' areas of operation);identify key needs for MHPSS services, traditional ways of coping, help-seeking behaviors and barriers to accessing support services;determine existing MHPSS actors and services, as well as gaps in services; andshare recommendations for MHPSS programming as a part of the humanitarian response, and advocate for increased investment in MHPSS activities and services in Ukraine
The Road to LEED Certification: Human Sciences South
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings a set number of voluntary standards. LEED EB focuses on the performance of a building rather than it’s design
Latitudinal Diversity Gradients: Hosts and Climate Shape Parasite Diversity Patterns
The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG), or the trend of higher species richness at lower latitudes, has been well documented in multiple groups of free-living organisms. Investigations of the LDG in parasitic organisms are comparatively scarce. Here, I investigated latitudinal patterns of parasite diversity by reviewing published studies and by conducting novel investigations of the LDG of parasitic helminths (nematodes, trematodes and cestodes) of cricetid rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Using published host-parasite records from 175 parasite communities and field-collected data from 294 rodent hosts, I tested for the presence and direction of a latitudinal pattern of total helminth richness, as well as latitudinal patterns of nematode, cestode, and trematode richness. Additionally, I explored climate- and host-associated variables as potential correlates of parasite richness. The analyses were performed with and without phylogenetic comparative methods, as necessary. Across both studies and all levels of community organization, all helminths and nematodes followed the traditional LDG of increasing species richness with decreasing latitude, while trematodes showed no relationship with latitude. Cestodes exhibited both a reverse LDG and no latitudinal pattern, depending on the study. Across both studies, helminth and nematode richness were higher in areas with higher mean annual temperatures, annual precipitation, and annual precipitation ranges, and lower annual temperature ranges, characteristics that often typify lower latitudes.
Cestode richness was higher in areas of lower mean annual temperatures, annual precipitation, and annual precipitation ranges, and higher annual temperature ranges, while trematode richness showed no relationship with climate. Host diet was significantly correlated with cestode and trematode species richness, while host body mass was significantly correlated with helminth, nematode, and cestode species richness. Helminth β-diversity was high between and within most communities and was primarily driven by species turnover. Geographic distance, climate, and host β-diversity may predict patterns of helminth turnover in this system. Changes in helminth community composition and rates of turnover may contribute to the detected latitudinal patterns. Results of this study support a complex association between parasite richness and latitude, and indicate that researchers should carefully consider a variety of factors when trying to understand diversity gradients in parasitic organisms
Evaluating the Impact of an Assessment Course on Preservice Teachers’ Classroom Assessment Literacy and Self-Efficacy
While educational policy has resulted in many teachers being responsible for developing and interpreting student growth measures, they generally lack adequate assessment literacy and feel ill-prepared to manage such tasks. This quasi-experimental study explores the impact of an applied assessment course on preservice teachers’ assessment literacy and self-efficacy, while also examining the intersection between these variables. Results indicate a significant increase in assessment literacy and self-efficacy after completing the assessment course. Assessment literacy and self-efficacy held a significantly negative relationship at pre-test and a significantly positive relationship at post-test, suggesting meta-ignorance existed regarding classroom assessment skills among preservice teachers
Individual and non‐additive effects of exotic sap‐feeders on root functional and mycorrhizal traits of a shared conifer host
Forest pests drive tree mortality through disruption of functional traits linked to nutrient acquisition, growth and reproduction. The impacts of attack by individual or multiple above‐ground herbivores on root functional traits critical to tree health have received little attention. This is especially true for exotic herbivores, organisms often found in disturbed forests. We excavated whole‐root systems from eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) individuals experimentally infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA: Adelges tsugae) and elongate hemlock scale (EHS: Fiorina externa) individually, or in combination, for periods of 2 and 4 years. Below‐ground root biomass, functional traits and storage nutrients were measured to assess impacts of herbivory. We also quantified ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) colonisation of fine roots and used culture‐independent methods to examine EMF diversity. Trees infested with HWA had a greater root mass fraction (root to total biomass ratio), although feeding had no observable effects on root functional traits (e.g. specific root length) or on resource allocation to roots. HWA feeding did significantly reduce EMF colonisation of hemlock fine roots, though surprisingly, EMF diversity and that of other fungal associates were unaffected. In contrast to HWA, EHS (alone or in conjunction with HWA) feeding had no observable effect on below‐ground traits or EMF colonisation alone; however, its presence mediated HWA effects when trees were co‐infested. Simultaneous infestation within the same year yielded significant reductions in EMF colonisation, whereas prior EHS attack weakened HWA effects. Our results collectively suggest that prior EHS attack dampens the impact of HWA on below‐ground functional traits. This highlights how the timing and sequence of herbivore arrival can alter plant‐mediated interactions between herbivores and their effects on above–below‐ground linkages and associated tree health
Complex Structure in Class 0 Protostellar Envelopes II: Kinematic Structure from Single-Dish and Interferometric Molecular Line Mapping
We present a study of dense molecular gas kinematics in seventeen nearby
protostellar systems using single-dish and interferometric molecular line
observations. The non-axisymmetric envelopes around a sample of Class 0/I
protostars were mapped in the N2H+ (J=1-0) tracer with the IRAM 30m, CARMA and
PdBI as well as NH3 (1,1) with the VLA. The molecular line emission is used to
construct line-center velocity and linewidth maps for all sources to examine
the kinematic structure in the envelopes on spatial scales from 0.1 pc to ~1000
AU. The direction of the large-scale velocity gradients from single-dish
mapping is within 45 degrees of normal to the outflow axis in more than half
the sample. Furthermore, the velocity gradients are often quite substantial,
the average being ~2.3 km\s\pc. The interferometric data often reveal
small-scale velocity structure, departing from the more gradual large-scale
velocity gradients. In some cases, this likely indicates accelerating infall
and/or rotational spin-up in the inner envelope; the median velocity gradient
from the interferometric data is ~10.7 km/s/pc. In two systems, we detect
high-velocity HCO+ (J=1-0) emission inside the highest-velocity \nthp\
emission. This enables us to study the infall and rotation close to the disk
and estimate the central object masses. The velocity fields observed on large
and small-scales are more complex than would be expected from rotation alone,
suggesting that complex envelope structure enables other dynamical processes
(i.e. infall) to affect the velocity field.Comment: 85 Pages, 31 Figures, 11 Tables, Accepted to ApJ
A CESA from Griffithsia monilis (Rhodophyta, Florideophyceae) has a family 48 carbohydrate-binding module
Cellulose synthases form rosette terminal complexes in the plasma membranes of Streptophyta and various linear terminal complexes in other taxa. The sequence of a putative CESA from Griffithsia monilis (Rhodophyta, Floridiophyceae) was deduced using a cloning strategy involving degenerate primers, a cDNA library screen, and 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). RACE identified two alternative transcriptional starts and four alternative polyadenylation sites. The first translation start codon provided an open reading frame of 2610 bp encoding 870 amino acids and was PCR amplified without introns from genomic DNA. Southern hybridization indicated one strongly hybridizing gene with possible weakly related genes or pseudogenes. Amino acid sequence analysis identified a family 48 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) upstream of the protein's first predicted transmembrane domain. There are broad similarities in predicted 3D structures of the family 48 modules from CESA, from several glycogen- and starch-binding enzymes, and from protein kinases, but there are substitutions at some residues thought to be involved in ligand binding. The module in G. monilis CESA will be on the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane so that it could potentially bind either low molecular weight ligands or starch which is cytosolic rather than inside membrane-bound plastids in red algae. Possible reasons why red algal CESAs have evolved family 48 modules perhaps as part of a system to regulate cellulose synthase activity in relation to cellular carbohydrate status are briefly discussed
Effectiveness of a peer-refugee delivered psychological intervention to reduce psychological distress among adult Syrian refugees in the Netherlands: study protocol
Background: Syrian refugees face multiple hardships and adversities which put them at risk for the development of mental health problems. However, access to adequate mental health care in host countries is limited. The WHO has developed Problem Management Plus (PM+), a brief, scalable psychological intervention, delivered by non-specialist helpers, that addresses common mental disorders in people affected by adversity. This study is part of the STRENGTHS project, that aims to evaluate peer-refugee delivered psychological interventions for Syrian refugees in Europe and the Middle East. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the peer-refugee delivered PM+ intervention among Syrian refugees with elevated levels of psychological distress in the Netherlands. Methods: PM+ will be tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) among Arabic-speaking Syrian refugees in the Netherlands aged 18 years and above with self-reported psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; K10 >15) and impaired daily functioning (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule; WHODAS 2.0 >16). Participants (N = 380) will be randomized into care as usual with PM+ (CAU/PM+, n = 190) or CAU only (CAU, n = 190). Baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and 3-month and 12-month follow-up assessments will be conducted. Primary outcomes are symptoms of depression and anxiety. Secondary outcomes are functional impairment, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, self-identified problems, anger, health and productivity costs, and hair cortisol concentrations. A process evaluation will be carried out to evaluate treatment dose, protocol fidelity and stakeholder views on barriers and facilitators to implementing PM+. Results and Conclusions: PM+ has proved effectiveness in other populations and settings. After positive evaluation, the adapted manual and training materials for individual PM+ will be made available through the WHO to encourage further replication and scaling up. Trial registration: Trial registration Dutch Trial Registry, NL7552, registered prospectively on March 1, 2019. Medical Ethics Review Committee VU Medical Center Protocol ID 2017.320, 7 September 2017
Eff ectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against invasive pneumococcal disease in South African children: a case-control study
Background The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was designed to include disease-causing
serotypes that are important in low-income and middle-income countries. Vaccine eff ectiveness estimates are scarce
in these settings. South Africa replaced PCV7 with PCV13 in 2011 using a 2 + 1 schedule. We aimed to assess the
eff ectiveness of two or more doses of PCV13 against invasive pneumococcal disease in children with HIV infection
and in those not infected with HIV.
Methods Cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in children aged 5 years or younger were identifi ed through national
laboratory-based surveillance. Isolates were serotyped with the Quellung reaction or PCR. We sought in-hospital
controls for every case, matched for age, HIV status, and study site. We aimed to enrol four controls for every case not
infected with HIV and six controls for every case with HIV infection (case-control sets). With conditional logistic
regression, we calculated vaccine eff ectiveness as a percentage, with the equation 1 – [adjusted odds ratio for
vaccination] × 100. We included data from an earlier investigation of PCV7 to assess vaccine eff ectiveness in children
exposed to but not infected with HIV and in malnourished children not infected with HIV.
Findings Between January, 2012, and December, 2014, we enrolled children aged 16 weeks or older to our study:
240 were cases not infected with HIV, 75 were cases with HIV infection, 1118 were controls not infected with HIV,
and 283 were controls with HIV infection. The eff ectiveness of two or more doses of PCV13 against PCV13-serotype
invasive pneumococcal disease was 85% (95% CI 37 to 96) among 11 case-control sets of children not infected with
HIV and 91% (–35 to 100) among three case-control sets of children with HIV infection. PCV13 eff ectiveness among
26 case-control sets of children not infected with HIV was 52% (95% CI –12 to 79) against all-serotype invasive
pneumococcal disease and 94% (44 to 100) for serotype 19A. Vaccine eff ectiveness against PCV7-serotype
invasive pneumococcal disease was 87% (95% CI 38 to 97) in children exposed to HIV but uninfected and 90%
(53 to 98) in malnourished children not infected with HIV.
Interpretation Our results indicate that PCV13 in a 2 + 1 schedule is eff ective for preventing vaccine-type
pneumococcal infections in young children not infected with HIV, including those who are malnourished or who
have been exposed to HIV. Although the point estimate for PCV13 vaccine eff ectiveness in children infected with
HIV was high, it did not reach signifi cance, possibly because of the small sample size. These fi ndings support
recommendations for widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in low-income and middle-income
countries
A Triple Protostar System Formed via Fragmentation of a Gravitationally Unstable Disk
Binary and multiple star systems are a frequent outcome of the star formation
process, and as a result, almost half of all sun-like stars have at least one
companion star. Theoretical studies indicate that there are two main pathways
that can operate concurrently to form binary/multiple star systems: large scale
fragmentation of turbulent gas cores and filaments or smaller scale
fragmentation of a massive protostellar disk due to gravitational instability.
Observational evidence for turbulent fragmentation on scales of 1000~AU has
recently emerged. Previous evidence for disk fragmentation was limited to
inferences based on the separations of more-evolved pre-main sequence and
protostellar multiple systems. The triple protostar system L1448 IRS3B is an
ideal candidate to search for evidence of disk fragmentation. L1448 IRS3B is in
an early phase of the star formation process, likely less than 150,000 years in
age, and all protostars in the system are separated by 200~AU. Here we
report observations of dust and molecular gas emission that reveal a disk with
spiral structure surrounding the three protostars. Two protostars near the
center of the disk are separated by 61 AU, and a tertiary protostar is
coincident with a spiral arm in the outer disk at a 183 AU separation. The
inferred mass of the central pair of protostellar objects is 1 M,
while the disk surrounding the three protostars has a total mass of 0.30
M_{\sun}. The tertiary protostar itself has a minimum mass of 0.085
M. We demonstrate that the disk around L1448 IRS3B appears susceptible
to disk fragmentation at radii between 150~AU and 320~AU, overlapping with the
location of the tertiary protostar. This is consistent with models for a
protostellar disk that has recently undergone gravitational instability,
spawning one or two companion stars.Comment: Published in Nature on Oct. 27th. 24 pages, 8 figure
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