Use of wild bird surveillance, human case data and GIS spatial analysis for predicting spatial distributions of West Nile Virus in Greece

West Nile Virus (WNV) is the causative agent of a vector-borne, zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Recent expansion and introduction of WNV into new areas, including southern Europe, has been associated with severe disease in humans and equids, and has increased concerns regarding the need to prevent and control future WNV outbreaks. Since 2010, 524 confirmed human cases of the disease have been reported in Greece with greater than 10% mortality. Infected mosquitoes, wild birds, equids, and chickens have been detected and associated with human disease. The aim of our study was to establish a monitoring system with wild birds and reported human cases data using Geographical Information System (GIS). Potential distribution of WNV was modelled by combining wild bird serological surveillance data with environmental factors (e.g. elevation, slope, land use, vegetation density, temperature, precipitation indices, and population density). Local factors including areas of low altitude and proximity to water were important predictors of appearance of both human and wild bird cases (Odds Ratio = 1,001 95%CI = 0,723–1,386). Using GIS analysis, the identified risk factors were applied across Greece identifying the northern part of Greece (Macedonia, Thrace) western Greece and a number of Greek islands as being at highest risk of future outbreaks. The results of the analysis were evaluated and confirmed using the 161 reported human cases of the 2012 outbreak predicting correctly (Odds = 130/31 = 4,194 95%CI = 2,841–6,189) and more areas were identified for potential dispersion in the following years. Our approach verified that WNV risk can be modelled in a fast cost-effective way indicating high risk areas where prevention measures should be implemented in order to reduce the disease incidence

A multinational study exploring adolescent perception of school climate and mental health

School climate is a topic of increasing importance internationally. The current study investigated the established measurement invariance of an eight-factor school climate scale using a multinational sample of secondary students. School climate factor means across 14 international groups were compared and findings on the association between school climate factors and mental health were also investigated. Findings, from this study, illustrate several cross-national similarities regarding the ways in which secondary students perceive school climate and the influence of school climate on student mental health. These findings can support school psychologists’ efforts to identify strategies and supports that improve the school environment in areas that are most consistently related to student experiences, such as school safety and school connectedness. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed

NeuroSuitUp: System Architecture and Validation of a Motor Rehabilitation Wearable Robotics and Serious Game Platform

Background: This article presents the system architecture and validation of the NeuroSuitUp body–machine interface (BMI). The platform consists of wearable robotics jacket and gloves in combination with a serious game application for self-paced neurorehabilitation in spinal cord injury and chronic stroke. Methods: The wearable robotics implement a sensor layer, to approximate kinematic chain segment orientation, and an actuation layer. Sensors consist of commercial magnetic, angular rate and gravity (MARG), surface electromyography (sEMG), and flex sensors, while actuation is achieved through electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and pneumatic actuators. On-board electronics connect to a Robot Operating System environment-based parser/controller and to a Unity-based live avatar representation game. BMI subsystems validation was performed using exercises through a Stereoscopic camera Computer Vision approach for the jacket and through multiple grip activities for the glove. Ten healthy subjects participated in system validation trials, performing three arm and three hand exercises (each 10 motor task trials) and completing user experience questionnaires. Results: Acceptable correlation was observed in 23/30 arm exercises performed with the jacket. No significant differences in glove sensor data during actuation state were observed. No difficulty to use, discomfort, or negative robotics perception were reported. Conclusions: Subsequent design improvements will implement additional absolute orientation sensors, MARG/EMG based biofeedback to the game, improved immersion through Augmented Reality and improvements towards system robustness

Available avian samples: species, migratory status and number of samples per region.

<p>Available avian samples: species, migratory status and number of samples per region.</p

Box-plots of range and altitude.

<p>Box-plots displaying range of altitude (left) and distance from water (right) in the three clusters of humans 2011 WNV positive cases and seropositive wild birds.</p

Clusters of human cases of seropositive wild birds and reported human cases of 2010–2011.

<p>Clusters of WNV reported human cases of 2010–2011 and seropositive wild birds, according to attributes of altitude and distance from water. Mean values of the two variables are presented under each cluster.</p

Environmental variables used in the analysis.

<p>Environmental variables used in the analysis.</p

Descriptive statistics of positive human cases 2010–2011.

<p>*<i>Statistically significant reduction in 2011 (5 years) (p-value = 0.024<0.05).</i></p>+<p><i>Independence between 2010 and 2011 (p-value = 0.000<0.001).</i></p

Map of Greece showing potential geographic distribution of WNV.

<p>Map of Greece showing potential geographic distribution of WNV, predicted by GIS and MD based on the attributes of the major clusters of reported human cases of 2011 and seropositive wild birds (low altitude, small distance from water). Black dots indicate reported human cases in 2012. Black circles indicate suggested high-risk areas for WNV further dispersion in following years.</p

Map of Greece showing WNV laboratory-confirmed human cases and seropositive resident wild birds, 2010–2012.

<p>Map of Greece showing the distribution of WNV laboratory-confirmed human cases and seropositive resident wild bird samples for the 2010–2012 period. Red, yellow and green dots indicate human cases reported in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. Black dots indicate seropositive resident wild birds detected during the same period. Text boxes refer to available avian samples (resident and migratory) per each region.</p