280 research outputs found
Obstetric violence: a Latin American legal response to mistreatment during childbirth
Over the last several years, a new legal construct has emerged in Latin America that encompasses elements of quality of obstetric care and mistreatment of women during childbirth - both issues of global maternal health import. Termed "obstetric violence," this legal construct refers to disrespectful and abusive treatment that women may experience from health care providers during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, as well as other elements of poor quality care, such as failure to adhere to evidence-based best practices. This new legal term emerged out of concerted efforts by women's groups and networks, feminists, professional organizations, international and regional bodies, and public health agents and researchers to improve the quality of care that women receive across the region.Fil: Williams, Caitlin R.. University of North Carolina; Estados UnidosFil: Jerez, Celeste. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de FilosofĂa y Letras. Instituto Interdisciplinario de Estudios de GĂ©nero; ArgentinaFil: Klein, Karen. Instituto de Efectividad ClĂnica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Correa, Malena. Instituto de Efectividad ClĂnica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Belizan, Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad ClĂnica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Cormick, Gabriela. Instituto de Efectividad ClĂnica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; Argentina. University of Cape Town; Sudáfric
Experimental Observations of Group Synchrony in a System of Chaotic Optoelectronic Oscillators
We experimentally demonstrate group synchrony in a network of four nonlinear
optoelectronic oscillators with time-delayed coupling. We divide the nodes into
two groups of two each, by giving each group different parameters and by
enabling only inter-group coupling. When coupled in this fashion, the two
groups display different dynamics, with no isochronal synchrony between them,
but the nodes in a single group are isochronally synchronized, even though
there is no intra-group coupling. We compare experimental behavior with
theoretical and numerical results
Complex Dynamics and Synchronization of Delayed-Feedback Nonlinear Oscillators
We describe a flexible and modular delayed-feedback nonlinear oscillator that
is capable of generating a wide range of dynamical behaviours, from periodic
oscillations to high-dimensional chaos. The oscillator uses electrooptic
modulation and fibre-optic transmission, with feedback and filtering
implemented through real-time digital-signal processing. We consider two such
oscillators that are coupled to one another, and we identify the conditions
under which they will synchronize. By examining the rates of divergence or
convergence between two coupled oscillators, we quantify the maximum Lyapunov
exponents or transverse Lyapunov exponents of the system, and we present an
experimental method to determine these rates that does not require a
mathematical model of the system. Finally, we demonstrate a new adaptive
control method that keeps two oscillators synchronized even when the coupling
between them is changing unpredictably.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures. To appear in Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A (special
theme issue to accompany 2009 International Workshop on Delayed Complex
Systems
The Shibboleth of Human Rights in Public Health
Human rights discourse has greatly influenced advocacy for justice in public health. Yet, beyond rhetorical claims, how can we employ human rights to achieve the aspiration of health with justice? Without human rights education to support public health practice, human rights have become a shibboleth of public health—raised frequently to signal devotion to justice, but employed rarely in policy, programming, or practice. As advocates respond to the public health injustices of populist nationalism during an unprecedented pandemic, human rights education must be an essential foundation to hold governments accountable for implementing rights to safeguard public health
A Reverse Transcriptase-PCR Assay for Detecting Filarial Infective Larvae in Mosquitoes
The Global Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was launched in the year 1998 with the goal of eliminating lymphatic filariasis by 2020. As the success of mass drug administration (MDA) in the global program drives the rates of infection in endemic populations to very low levels, the development of new, highly sensitive methods are required for monitoring transmission by screening mosquitoes for the presence of L3 infective larvae. The current method of mosquito dissection to identify L3 larvae is laborious and insensitive and is not amenable to screening large numbers of mosquitoes. Existing molecular assays for the detection of filarial parasite DNA in mosquitoes are sensitive and can easily screen large numbers of vectors. However, current PCR-based methods cannot distinguish between infected mosquitoes that contain any stage of the parasite and infective mosquitoes that harbor third stage larvae (L3) capable of establishing new infections in humans. This paper reports the first development of a molecular L3-detection assay for a filarial parasite in mosquitoes based on RT-PCR detection of an L3-activated gene transcript. This strategy of detecting stage-specific messenger RNA from filarial parasites may also prove useful for detecting infective stages of other vector-borne pathogens
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Integrating Life Cycle and Impact Assessments to Map Food's Cumulative Environmental Footprint
Producing food exerts pressures on the environment. Understanding the location and magnitude of food production is key to reducing the impacts of these pressures on nature and people. In this Perspective, Kuempel et al. outline an approach for integrating life cycle assessment and cumulative impact mapping data and methodologies to map the cumulative environmental pressure of food systems. The approach enables quantification of current and potential future environmental pressures, which are needed to reduce the net impact of feeding humanity. © 2020 The AuthorsFeeding a growing, increasingly affluent population while limiting environmental pressures of food production is a central challenge for society. Understanding the location and magnitude of food production is key to addressing this challenge because pressures vary substantially across food production types. Applying data and models from life cycle assessment with the methodologies for mapping cumulative environmental impacts of human activities (hereafter cumulative impact mapping) provides a powerful approach to spatially map the cumulative environmental pressure of food production in a way that is consistent and comprehensive across food types. However, these methodologies have yet to be combined. By synthesizing life cycle assessment and cumulative impact mapping methodologies, we provide guidance for comprehensively and cumulatively mapping the environmental pressures (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, spatial occupancy, and freshwater use) associated with food production systems. This spatial approach enables quantification of current and potential future environmental pressures, which is needed for decision makers to create more sustainable food policies and practices. © 2020 The Author
Objectively-assessed physical activity and weight change in young adults: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract Background Reductions in physical activity (PA) are common throughout young adulthood and low PA is associated with weight gain. The SNAP Trial previously reported that two self-regulation approaches to weight gain prevention reduced weight gain over a 2-year period in 18–35 year olds. Presented here are secondary analyses examining changes in PA and the relationship between PA and weight change over 2 years. Methods 599 young adults (age: 27.4 ± 4.4 yrs.; BMI: 25.4 ± 2.6 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment arms: Small Changes (reduce calorie intake by 100 kcals/day & add 2000 steps/day), Large Changes (lose 2.3–4.5 kg initially & increase PA to ≥250 min/wk), or Self-guided (control condition). Small and Large Changes received 10, face-to-face group sessions (months 1–4), and two 4-week refresher courses each subsequent year. Body weight and PA were objectively-measured at baseline, 4 months, 1 and 2 years. Daily steps and bout-related moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA: ≥3 METs, ≥10-min bouts) was calculated. Results Changes in bout-related MVPA and daily steps did not differ among treatment groups over the 2-year period (p’s > 0.16). Collapsed across groups, participants gaining >1 lb. (n = 187; 39.6%) had smaller changes in bout-related MVPA at 4 months, 1 and 2 years relative to those maintaining or losing weight (≤1 lb. weight gain; n = 282, 60.4%, p’s 1 lb. did not differ on daily steps (p’s > 0.10). Among participants engaging in ≥250 min/wk. of MVPA at 2 years (n = 181), 30% gained >1 lb. from baseline to 2 years, which was not different from those engaging in 150–250 min/wk. (n = 87; 36%; p = 0.40), but this percentage was significantly lower when compared to those engaging in 150 min/week of MVPA is needed for weight gain prevention and that increasing MVPA, rather than steps, should be targeted. Trial registration www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01183689). Registered Aug 13, 2010
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Contraceptive stockouts in Western Kenya: a mixed-methods mystery client study
Background
The prevalence of modern contraception use is higher in Kenya than in most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The uptake has however slowed down in recent years, which, among other factors, has been attributed to challenges in the supply chain and increasing stockouts of family planning commodities. Research on the frequency of contraceptive stockouts and its consequences for women in Kenya is still limited and mainly based on facility audits.
Methods
This study employs a set of methods that includes mystery clients, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and journey mapping workshops. Using this multi-method approach, we aim to quantify the frequency of method denial resulting from contraceptive stockout and describe the impact of stockouts on the lived experiences of women seeking contraception in Western Kenya.
Results
Contraceptives were found to be out of stock in 19% of visits made to health facilities by mystery clients, with all contraceptive methods stocked out in 9% of visits. Women experienced stockouts as a sizeable barrier to accessing their preferred method of contraception and a reason for taking up non-preferred methods, which has dire consequences for heath, autonomy, and the ability to prevent unintended pregnancy. Reasons for contraceptive stockouts are many and complex, and often linked to challenges in the supply chain – including inefficient planning, procurement, and distribution of family planning commodities.
Conclusions
Contraceptive stockouts are frequent and negatively impact patients, providers, and communities. Based on the findings of this study, the authors identify areas where funding and sustained action have the potential to ameliorate the frequency and severity of contraceptive stockouts, including more regular deliveries, in-person data collection, and use of data for forecasting, and point to areas where further research is needed
Diversifying Implementation Science: A Global Perspective.
We present a joint global perspective about the urgent need to diversify the loci of knowledge creation and sharing in global implementation science. We underscore the imperative of addressing implementation research questions relevant to practitioners, policy makers, and researchers from low- and middle-income countries
A high-resolution melt curve toolkit to identify lineage-defining SARS-CoV-2 mutations.
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs), with mutations linked to increased transmissibility, vaccine escape and virulence, has necessitated the widespread genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. This has placed a strain on global sequencing capacity, especially in areas lacking the resources for large scale sequencing activities. Here we have developed three separate multiplex high-resolution melting assays to enable the identification of Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron VOCs. The assays were evaluated against whole genome sequencing on upper-respiratory swab samples collected during the Alpha, Delta and Omicron [BA.1] waves of the UK pandemic. The sensitivities of the eight individual primer sets were all 100%, and specificity ranged from 94.6 to 100%. The multiplex HRM assays have potential as a tool for high throughput surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, particularly in areas with limited genomics facilities
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