Meeting the challenges of micronutrient deficiencies in emergency-affected populations

Micronutrient deficiencies occur frequently in refugee and displaced populations. These deficiency diseases include, in addition to the most common Fe and vitamin A deficiencies, scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), pellagra (niacin and/or tryptophan deficiency) and beriberi (thiamin deficiency), which are not seen frequently in non-emergency-affected populations. The main causes of the outbreaks have been inadequate food rations given to populations dependent on food aid. There is no universal solution to the problem of micronutrient deficiencies, and not all interventions to prevent the deficiency diseases are feasible in every emergency setting. The preferred way of preventing these micronutrient deficiencies would be by securing dietary diversification through the provision of vegetables, fruit and pulses, which may not be a feasible strategy, especially in the initial phase of a relief operation. The one basic emergency strategy has been to include a fortified blended cereal in the ration of all food-aid-dependent populations (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees/World Food Programme, 1997). In situations where the emergency-affected population has access to markets, recommendations have been to increase the general ration to encourage the sale and/or barter of a portion of the ration in exchange for locally-available fruit and vegetables (World Health Organization, 1999a, b, 2000). Promotion of home gardens as well as promotion of local trading are recommended longer-term options aiming at the self-sufficiency of emergency-affected households. The provision of fortified blended foods in the general ration has successfully prevented and controlled micronutrient deficiencies in various emergency settings. However, the strategy of relying only on fortified blended foods to prevent micronutrient deficiencies should be reviewed in the light of recurring evidence that provision of adequate supplies of these foods is often problematic. Donor policies on the bartering or exchange of food aid should also be clarified. Furthermore, the establishment of micronutrient surveillance systems, including standardized micronutrient deficiency diagnostic criteria, are vital for the control of micronutrient deficiency disease

Recent Development of MESSINE, a 3D Eddy Current Model

In the 1996 QNDE Conference, we presented a parametric forward model [1], which has been recently named MESSINE (Model for Electromagnetic Simplified Simulation In Nondestructive Evaluation), to predict eddy current signal. The proposed model first discretizes the eddy current distribution into current loops. A parametric description of the shape of these loops is given according to the observation of the results obtained with a three-dimensional finite element code which provides a realistic distribution of the induced currents. The loops’ inductances and resistances are then calculated. By considering the system constituted of the coil and the current loops as a « multi-transformer», their current intensity is determined. The impedance change, which is the component of the eddy current signal, can then be deduced. The model was validated in the case of axisymmetric configurations. Comparisons with both analytical (Dodd and Deeds [2]) and numerical models showed very good agreements. Then the proposed model was applied to three-dimensional configurations. Impedance changes of a coil along rectangular through-wall slot were calculated. Comparisons with experimental results show a fairly good agreement for the impedance change phases, but a poorer one for the impedance change amplitudes. Investigations were made to improve the parametric description of the current loop deformation. One of the solutions to improve the parametric description is presented here

Subjective effects of the sleep position trainer on snoring outcomes in position-dependent non-apneic snorers

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a new-generation positional device, the sleep position trainer (SPT), in non-apneic position-dependent snorers. Methods: Non-apneic position-dependent snorers with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) < 5 events/h were included between February 2015 and September 2016. After inclusion, study subjects used the SPT at home for 6 weeks. The Snore Outcome Survey (SOS) was filled out by the subjects at baseline and after 6 weeks, and at the same time, the Spouse/Bed Partner Survey (SBPS) was filled out by their bed partners. Results: A total of 36 participants were included and 30 completed the study. SOS score improved significantly after 6 weeks from 35.0 ± 13.5 to 55.3 ± 18.6, p < 0.001. SBPS score also improved significantly after 6 weeks from 24.7 ± 16.0 versus 54.5 ± 25.2, p < 0.001. The severity of snoring assessed with a numeric visual analogue scale (VAS) by the bed partner decreased significantly from a median of 8.0 with an interquartile range (IQR) of [7.0–8.5] to 7.0 [3.8–8.0] after 6 weeks (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that positional therapy with the SPT improved several snoring-related outcome measures in non-apneic position-dependent snorers. The results of this non-controlled study demonstrate that this SPT could be considered as an alternative therapeutic option to improve sleep-related health status of snorers and their bed partners

Complete intersections: Moduli, Torelli, and good reduction

We study the arithmetic of complete intersections in projective space over number fields. Our main results include arithmetic Torelli theorems and versions of the Shafarevich conjecture, as proved for curves and abelian varieties by Faltings. For example, we prove an analogue of the Shafarevich conjecture for cubic and quartic threefolds and intersections of two quadrics.Comment: 37 pages. Typo's fixed. Expanded Section 2.

Compact groups in the UZC galaxy sample

Applying an automatic neighbour search algorithm to the 3D UZC galaxy catalogue (Falco 1999) we have identified 291 compact groups (CGs) with redshifts between 1000 and 10000 km/s. The sample is analysed to investigate whether Triplets display kinematical and morphological characteristics similar to higher order CGs (Multiplets). It is found that Triplets constitute low velocity dispersion structures, have a gas-rich galaxy population and are typically retrieved in sparse environments. Conversely Multiplets show higher velocity dispersion, include few gas-rich members and are generally embedded structures. Evidence hence emerges indicating that Triplets and Multiplets, though sharing a common scale, correspond to different galaxy systems. Triplets are typically field structures whilst Multiplets are mainly subclumps (either temporarily projected or collapsing) within larger structures. Simulations show that selection effects can only partially account for differences, but significant contamination of Triplets by field galaxy interlopers could eventually induce the observed dependences on multiplicity.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures. The file is in latex (A & A style) format. The figures are in postscript. A & A accepte