Fine-scale mapping of vector habitats using very high resolution satellite imagery : a liver fluke case-study

The visualization of vector occurrence in space and time is an important aspect of studying vector-borne diseases. Detailed maps of possible vector habitats provide valuable information for the prediction of infection risk zones but are currently lacking for most parts of the world. Nonetheless, monitoring vector habitats from the finest scales up to farm level is of key importance to refine currently existing broad-scale infection risk models. Using Fasciola hepatica, a parasite liver fluke as a case in point, this study illustrates the potential of very high resolution (VHR) optical satellite imagery to efficiently and semi-automatically detect detailed vector habitats. A WorldView2 satellite image capable of <5m resolution was acquired in the spring of 2013 for the area around Bruges, Belgium, a region where dairy farms suffer from liver fluke infections transmitted by freshwater snails. The vector thrives in small water bodies (SWBs), such as ponds, ditches and other humid areas consisting of open water, aquatic vegetation and/or inundated grass. These water bodies can be as small as a few m(2) and are most often not present on existing land cover maps because of their small size. We present a classification procedure based on object-based image analysis (OBIA) that proved valuable to detect SWBs at a fine scale in an operational and semi-automated way. The classification results were compared to field and other reference data such as existing broad-scale maps and expert knowledge. Overall, the SWB detection accuracy reached up to 87%. The resulting fine-scale SWB map can be used as input for spatial distribution modelling of the liver fluke snail vector to enable development of improved infection risk mapping and management advice adapted to specific, local farm situations

Intrathoracic Caecal Perforation Presenting as Dyspnea

Introduction. Bochdalek hernia is a congenital defect of the diaphragm that is usually diagnosed in the neonatal period and incidentally in asymptomatic adults. Small bowel incarceration in a right-sided Bochdalek hernia is exceptional for an adult. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old woman was admitted for acute dyspnea, tachycardia, hypotension, and fever. Five days before, she had been experiencing an episode of diffuse abdominal pain. The admission chest X-ray was interpreted as right pleural effusion and pneumothorax with left mediastinal shift. Chest tube drainage was purulent. The thoracoabdominal CT examination suspected an intestinal incarceration through a right diaphragmatic defect. At laparotomy, a right-sided Bochdalek hernia was confirmed with a complete necrosis of the incarcerated caecum. Ileocaecal resection was performed, but the patient died from delayed septic complications. Conclusion. Intrathoracic perforation of the caecum is a rare occurrence; delayed diagnosis due to misleading initial symptoms may lead to severe complications and poor prognosis

Sulfiidne mineralisatsioon Kärdla kraatri valli kirdeosas

Töös uuriti hüdrotermaalse sulfiidse mineralisatsiooni ilminguid Kärdla kraatri vallitagusel alal puursüdamiku F 374 materjali põhjal, kust võeti 17 proovi sügavustelt 5, -60 m. Sulfiidsetest mineraalidest leiti sfaleriiti (ZnS), püriiti (FeS2) ning galeniiti (PbS). Kõikidest proovidest tehti kivimi keemiline ja mineraloogiline analüüs vastavalt XRF ja XRD meetoditega. Sfaleriidistumise iseloomustamiseks valiti neli pala, mida uuriti SEM-iga ning koostati EDS-iga elementide leviku kaardid. Sfaleriit esineb massivsena dolomiidi sisse tunginuna (impregneeritult), soontena ning peenekristalsena hajusalt lõhede ümbruses. Massiivne sfaleriidistumine esineb läbilõike dolomiitse osa alumises osas, sfaleriiti sisaldavad sooned levivad kõrgemale. Soontes on jälgitav mineralistsiooni järjekord dolomiit → püriit → sfaleriit → dolomiit. Hüdrotermaalsete fluidide ning nende tekkeks vajaliku soojusallika päritolu selgitamiseks tuleks läbi viia täiendavaid uuringuid, sealhulgas fluidisuletiste koostise ja tekketemperatuuri mõõtmisi ning väävli ja plii stabiilsete isotoopide analüüse. Töö tulemuste põhjal võib järeldada, et: 1. Proovides esinenud sulfiidistumine on toimunud mitmes eri faasis, sest proovides esineb nii fluidist varakult välja mineraliseeruvat püriiti kui ka viimasena välja minealiseeruvat sfaleriiti. 2. Tegemist on arvatavasti Mississippi Valley tüüpi sulfiidse maagistumisega, sest maagistumine on seotud valli taga esinevate lubjakividega ja neis esinevate lõhedega, mis on omased ka MVT mineralisatsioonile, kuid täpsemaks määratluseks oleks vaja täiendavaid uuringuid

A Behavioral and Ecological Study of the Fiddler Crab UCA CRENULATA

The social interaction and behavioral activities of a population of fiddler crabs, Uca crenulatat located in the Aqua Hedianda lagoon in Carlsbad, California, is the subject of this study. Variations in environmental factors as well as seasonal behavioral changes cause an important fluctuation in the male to female ratio and in population density. A daily and seasonal variation is observed in the different behavioral activities displayed by the crab colony and are caused by biotic and abiotic environmental factors and by intrinsic hormonal changes. A male color variation from dark to light is related to behavioral changes during the breeding season. This lightening of the carapace, most likely caused by sexual hormones, is a thermoregulatory advantage for the mating male. Studies of the waving behavior of the light colored male in presence of a female, shows wave periods ranging from 1 to 5 seconds. The rate of the wave\u27s major component corresponds to the optimum stimulus speeds (30-50 degrees,/ sec.) of a rate sensitive neuron found in the optic nerve of the crabs. These results show a strong relation between behavioral data obtained on the field and physiological data concerning movement and rate selective neurons in the eye of the crab U. crenulata. The identification of 9 different stages in the egg development of U. crenulata as well as the time necessary to complete the incubation shows that the breeding cycle length is 2 weeks

Refractory High Intracranial Pressure following Intraventricular Hemorrhage due to Moyamoya Disease in a Pregnant Caucasian Woman

Intraventricular hemorrhage during pregnancy is usually followed by a poor recovery. When caused by moyamoya disease, ischemic or hemorrhagic episodes may complicate the management of high intracranial pressure. A 26-year-old Caucasian woman presented with generalized seizures and a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 3 during the 36th week of pregnancy. The fetus was delivered by caesarean section. The brain CT in the mother revealed bilateral intraventricular hemorrhage, a callosal hematoma, hydrocephalus and right frontal ischemia. Refractory high intracranial pressure developed and required bilateral ventricular drainage and intensive care treatment with barbiturates and hypothermia. Magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiography revealed a moyamoya syndrome with rupture of the abnormal collateral vascular network as the cause of the hemorrhage. Intracranial pressure could only be controlled after the surgical removal of the clots after a large opening of the right ventricle. Despite an initially low GCS, this patient made a good functional recovery at one year follow-up. Management of refractory high intracranial pressure following moyamoya related intraventricular bleeding should require optimal removal of ventricular clots and appropriate control of cerebral hemodynamics to avoid ischemic or hemorrhagic complications

Extensive Spinal Cord Injury following Staphylococcus aureus Septicemia and Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is rarely complicated by spinal cord involvement in adults. We report a case of Staphylococcus aureus septicemia complicated by meningitis and extensive spinal cord injury, leading to ascending brain stem necrosis and death. This complication was investigated by magnetic resonance imaging which demonstrated intramedullary hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and by multimodality evoked potentials. Postmortem microscopic examination confirmed that the extensive spinal cord injury was of ischemic origin, caused by diffuse leptomeningitis and endarteritis