Environmental and Socio-Demographic Determinants of Dengue Fever in Colombo City, Sri Lanka

Dengue fever has increased exponentially in Sri Lanka, from 24.4 cases per 100,000 in 2003 to 165.3 per 100,000 population in 2013. Although early warning systems using predictor models have been previously developed in other settings, it is important to develop such models in each local setting. Further, the ability of these models to be applicable at smaller geographic units will enhance current vector control and disease surveillance measures. The aim of this paper was to identify environmental and socio-economic status (SES) risk factors that may predict dengue fever at the Gram Niladhari Divisions (GND) level (smallest administrative unit) in Colombo city, Sri Lanka. These factors included landcover classes, amount of vegetation, population density, water access and neighborhood SES as determined by roof type. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) was used to develop the prediction model. A total 55 GND units covering an area of 37 sq km were investigated. We found that GND units with decreased vegetation, higher built-up area, higher population density and poor access to tap-water supply were associated with high risk of dengue; the pertinent GND units were concentrated in the center of the city. This is the first study in Sri Lanka to include both environmental and socio-demographic factors in prediction models for dengue fever. The methodology may be useful in enhancing ongoing dengue fever control measures in the country, and to be extended to other countries in the region that have an increasing incidence of dengue fever

Spatial Analysis of West Nile Virus: Predictive Risk Modeling of a Vector-borne Infectious Disease in Illinois by Means of NASA Earth Observation Systems

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus of the family Flaviviridae. It infects birds and various mammals, including humans, and can cause encephalitis that may prove fatal, notably among vulnerable populations. Since its identification in New York City in 1999, WNV has become established in a broad range of ecological settings throughout North America, infecting more than 25,300 people and killing 1133 as of 2008 (CDC,2009). WNV is transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. As a result, the degree of human infection depends on local ecology and human exposure. This study hypothesizes that remote sensing and GIS can be used to analyze environmental determinants of WNV transmission, such as climate, elevation, land cover, and vegetation densities, to map areas of WNV risk for surveillance and intervention

A Review of Seafood Safety after the Deepwater Horizon Blowout

Background: The Deepwater Horizon (DH) blowout resulted in fisheries closings across the Gulf of Mexico. Federal agencies, in collaboration with impacted Gulf states, developed a protocol to determine when it is safe to reopen fisheries based on sensory and chemical analyses of seafood. All federal waters have been reopened, yet concerns have been raised regarding the robustness of the protocol to identify all potential harmful exposures and protect the most sensitive populations

Reducing Tick-Borne Disease in Alabama: Linking Health Risk Perception with Spatial Analysis Using the NASA Earth Observing System

Lyme disease (LD) accounts for most vector-borne disease reports in the U.S., and although its existence in Alabama remains controversial, other tick-borne illnesses (TBI) such as Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI) pose a health concern in the state. Phase One of the Marshall Space Flight Center-UAB DEVELOP study of TBI identified the presence of the chain of infection for LD (Ixodes scapularis ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria) and STARI (Amblyomma americanum ticks and an as-yet-unconfirmed agent) in Alabama. Both LD and STARI are associated with the development of erythema migrans rashes around an infected tick bite, and while treatable with oral antibiotics, a review of educational resources available to state residents revealed low levels of prevention information. To improve prevention, recognition, and treatment of TBI in Alabama, Phase Two builds a health communication campaign based on vector habitat mapping and risk perception assessment. NASA Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery identified likely tick habitats using remotely sensed measurements of vegetation vigor (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and soil moisture. Likely tick habitats, identified as those containing both high vegetation density and soil moisture, included Oak Mountain State Park, Bankhead National Forest, and Talladega National Forest. To target a high-risk group -- outdoor recreation program participants at Alabama universities -- the study developed a behavior survey instrument based on existing studies of LD risk factors and theoretical constructs from the Social Ecological Model and Health Belief Model. The survey instrument was amended to include geographic variables in the assessment of TBI knowledge, attitudes, and prevention behaviors, and the vector habitat model will be expanded to incorporate additional environmental variables and in situ data. Remotely sensed environmental data combined with risk perception assessments inform an ongoing outreach campaign consisting of stakeholder meetings and educational seminars

PET imaging of the autonomic myocardial function: methods and interpretation.

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) is mainly applied in myocardial perfusion and viability detection. Noninvasive imaging of myocardial innervation using PET is a valuable additional methodology in cardiac imaging. Novel methods and different PET ligands have been developed to measure presynaptic and postsynaptic function of the cardiac neuronal system. Obtained PET data can be analysed quantitatively or interpreted qualitatively. Thus far, PET is not a widely used clinical application in autonomic heart imaging; however, due to its technical advantages, the excellent properties of the imaging agents, and the availability of tools for quantification, it deserves a better position in the clinic. From a historical point of view, the focus of PET software packages for image analysis was mainly oncology and neurology driven. Actually, commercially available software for cardiac PET image analysis is still only available for the quantification of myocardial blood flow. Thus far, no commercial software package is available for the interpretation and quantification of PET innervation scans. However, image data quantification and analysis of kinetic data can be performed using adjusted generic tools. This paper gives an overview of different neuronal PET ligands, interpretation and quantification of acquired PET data

Nonuniform Cardiac Denervation Observed by 11C-meta-Hydroxyephedrine PET in 6-OHDA-Treated Monkeys

Parkinson's disease presents nonmotor complications such as autonomic dysfunction that do not respond to traditional anti-parkinsonian therapies. The lack of established preclinical monkey models of Parkinson's disease with cardiac dysfunction hampers development and testing of new treatments to alleviate or prevent this feature. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of developing a model of cardiac dysautonomia in nonhuman primates and preclinical evaluations tools. Five rhesus monkeys received intravenous injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (total dose: 50 mg/kg). The animals were evaluated before and after with a battery of tests, including positron emission tomography with the norepinephrine analog 11C-meta-hydroxyephedrine. Imaging 1 week after neurotoxin treatment revealed nearly complete loss of specific radioligand uptake. Partial progressive recovery of cardiac uptake found between 1 and 10 weeks remained stable between 10 and 14 weeks. In all five animals, examination of the pattern of uptake (using Logan plot analysis to create distribution volume maps) revealed a persistent region-specific significant loss in the inferior wall of the left ventricle at 10 (P<0.001) and 14 weeks (P<0.01) relative to the anterior wall. Blood levels of dopamine, norepinephrine (P<0.05), epinephrine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (P<0.01) were notably decreased after 6-hydroxydopamine at all time points. These results demonstrate that systemic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in nonhuman primates creates a nonuniform but reproducible pattern of cardiac denervation as well as a persistent loss of circulating catecholamines, supporting the use of this method to further develop a monkey model of cardiac dysautonomia

Biotechnological potential of a Halobacterium of family Bacillaceae

65-71The study aimed at assessing the biotechnological potential of Bacillus sp. PU1T (JCM-16712, NBRC-106750, KCTC-13722), a halotolerant bacterium of the family <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Bacillaceae isolated from saline rhizosphere of Sesbania grandiflora from Mahabubnagar (16.4600° N, 77.5600° E), India, with respect to its plant growth promoting (PGP) properties, and as a source of halotolerant enzymes and intracellular osmolytes. PGP parameters assessed were indoleacetic acid production, phosphate solublization, ammonia production and siderophore production. The isolate was found to be positive for amylase and lipase production, phosphate solubilization and indoleacetic acid production, all under salt stress (ranging up to 6%), and showed growth on nitrogen free NFb medium suggesting ability of nitrogen fixation. Intracellular osmolytes, a unique feature of halotolerant bacteria, was also quantified under varying salt stresses. These results indicate that halophilic bacterium, Bacillus sp. PU1T, exhibits a multitude of properties ranging from PGP to enzyme production. Multiple beneficial traits displayed by the halophilic isolate makes it a potential candidate for commercial applicability, viz., as a biofertilizer helping enhanced plant growth under saline stresses, as a producer of a unique class of ‘halotolerant’ enzymes and as a producer of high-value compatible solutes (a property exhibited exclusively by halophilic organisms)

Medium optimization for bioleaching of metals from Indian bulk polymetallic concentrate

86-91 Extensive bioleaching work is mainly done only for the Cu and gold extraction from concentrates. Bioleaching of bulk concentrate is at the developing stage. The present work deals with the formulation of an economic medium for the bioextraction of metals from GMDC polymetallic bulk concentrate. For the medium formulation, a 24 factorial statistically designed experiment was adapted. Effect of concentration at two levels each of K2HPO4, (NH4)2SO4, KCl and inoculum was studied. For Cu and Zn extraction, inoculum was the most significant factor with the nutrients checked. KCl and its interaction were found negatively significant. The formulated medium was compared with the 9K- and Jordan's medium. The highest Cu (77.8%) and Zn (84%) extraction achieved with the formulated medium was 1.25 and 1.32 folds higher than the universally used 9K- medium. The final metal extraction rates obtained were 0.65 and 4.2 g/l/d for Cu and Zn respectively with the designed medium. The composed medium was at least 4 times cheaper, less acid consuming and more suitable for the metal extraction from GMDC polymetallic concentrate compared to 9K- medium. </smarttagtype