Modeling Health Effects of Particulate Matter Emissions From Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks Involved in High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing with BenMAP-CE

The use of high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) has grown substantially in the past decade, and with it the number of heavy duty diesel trucks (HDDTs) used to transport HVHF materials and wastes. This research is a pilot study for the third phase of a three-phase project to determine the potential negative health effects caused by these HDDTs. This pilot study developed the methodology of modeling health effects, subsequent costs, and their spatial distribution with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program – Community Edition (BenMAP-CE), using data from previous phases of the project and focusing on the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in and around Pittsburgh, PA. Health endpoints modeled include adult mortality, infant mortality, respiratory hospital admissions, and cardiovascular hospital admissions. Other emissions datasets modeled for comparison are: the Pennsylvania HDDT fleet of 2008, the Pennsylvania HDDT fleet upgraded to model year 2007 emissions regulations, and ambient PM2.5 pollution. PM2.5 emissions from HVHF HDDTs have a low impact compared to the other emissions datasets and caused less than 1 incidence for each health endpoint per 1 million people in the respective age groups. These findings are likely suppressed due to data estimation and averaging in this and previous phases. However, the HVHF HDDTs impact different communities than typical HDDT traffic due to different routes and the more rural nature of HVHF activity. This model also showed that emissions regulations can have a large positive impact on reducing health impacts. This thesis successfully developed methodology involving BenMAP-CE as a modeling tool, which can be used in future studies to help quantify the health impacts of emissions from HVHF-related activity

Taxonomy and Life History of Gall Midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Drosanthemum and Malephora (Aizoaceae) in South Africa

South Africa is known for its highly endemic and remarkably species-rich fauna and flora. The Greater Cape Floristic Region, consisting of the Cape Floristic Region and the Succulent Karoo Region, is home to South Africa's second most diverse plant family, the Aizoaceae. While the Aizoaceae are relatively well studied, there has been little work done on their associated insect fauna. Preliminary observations in recent years revealed a diverse community of gall midges on these plants. This study aimed to investigate the gall midges associated with two speciose genera of Aizoaceae and it is the first of its kind in South Africa. I report five new species of gall midges, three belonging to Asphondylia Loew and two to Lasioptera Meigen. These species are described from several species within the Aizoaceae genera Drosanthemum Schwantes and Malephora N.E.Br., and additional host records were recorded from Lampranthus N.E.Br., Carpobrotus N.E.br., Acrodon N.E.Br., Cephalophyllum Haw. and Jordaaniella H.E.K. Hartmann. The gall midges are described from adults, pupae and larvae and information is provided on their galls, life history and distribution. Morphological attributes of the gall midges support the description of five distinct species. Furthermore, morphological characters of the Lasioptera species described here do not fit entirely with those of the genus, suggesting that a new genus should be established for them. These results provide a mere snapshot of the gall midge diversity that is to be found on Aizoaceae in southern Africa, and much work is still to be done on the Cecidomyiidae of South Africa as a whole. Further targeted sampling may reveal greater distribution ranges and additional host plants for the five species described here, as well as many more undescribed species across the Aizoaceae

Densovirus induces winged morphs in asexual clones of the rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea

Winged morphs of aphids are essential for their dispersal and survival. We discovered that the production of the winged morph in asexual clones of the rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, is dependent on their infection with a DNA virus, Dysaphis plantaginea densovirus (DplDNV). Virus-free clones of the rosy apple aphid, or clones infected singly with an RNA virus, rosy apple aphid virus (RAAV), did not produce the winged morph in response to crowding and poor plant quality. DplDNV infection results in a significant reduction in aphid reproduction rate, but such aphids can produce the winged morph, even at low insect density, which can fly and colonize neighboring plants. Aphids infected with DplDNV produce a proportion of virus-free aphids, which enables production of virus-free clonal lines after colonization of a new plant. Our data suggest that a mutualistic relationship exists between the rosy apple aphid and its viruses. Despite the negative impact of DplDNV on rosy apple aphid reproduction, this virus contributes to their survival by inducing wing development and promoting dispersal

Sequence analysis and genomic organization of Aphid lethal paralysis virus: a new member of the family Dicistroviridae

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of an aphid-infecting virus, Aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV), has been determined. The genome is 9812 nt in length and contains two long open reading frames (ORFs), which are separated by an intergenic region of 163 nt. The first ORF (5' ORF) is preceded by an untranslated leader sequence of 506 nt, while an untranslated region of 571 nt follows the second ORF (3' ORF). The deduced amino acid sequences of the 5' ORF and 3' ORF products respectively showed similarity to the non-structural and structural proteins of members of the newly recognized genus Cripavirus (family Dicistroviridae). On the basis of the observed sequence similarities and identical genome organization, it is proposed that ALPV belongs to this genus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ALPV is most closely related to Rhopalosiphum padi virus, and groups in a cluster with Drosophila C virus and Cricket paralysis virus, while the other members of this genus are more distantly related. Infectivity experiments showed that ALPV can not only infect aphid species but is also able to infect the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, extending its host range to another family of the order Hemipter

RecognEYEze: detecting and discussing depression and anxiety in adults with vision impairment

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent, but often unrecognized in adults with vision impairment (VI). The first aim of this thesis was to determine barriers and facilitators in discussing (subthreshold) depression and anxiety in patients. A semi-structured interview study was conducted to explore these barriers and facilitators from the patients’ perspective. Thereafter, the current practice of low vision service workers and factors associated with discussing depression and anxiety with patients were determined. This was followed by an international study in which a prediction model for discussing depression by healthcare providers was developed and internally validated in a Welsh sample of eye care practitioners, and subsequently externally validated in a Dutch sample of low vision service workers and an Australian sample of eye care practitioners and rehabilitation workers. The second aim of this thesis was to investigate ways to support healthcare providers to address depression and anxiety in patients with VI. Therefore, the usability and feasibility of introducing a screening instrument for depression and anxiety, i.e. the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-4, in low vision service organizations was investigated. Moreover, a pragmatic mixed-methods study was performed to determine the potential effectiveness and feasibility of two tailored training programs about the detection of depression and anxiety for eye care practitioners and low vision workers. Barriers and facilitators for implementation in clinical practice were explored in both studies. The results of this thesis showed that recognition and discussion of depression and anxiety is not self-evident due to barriers in patients with VI and healthcare providers. There is still work to be done to integrate mental health in ophthalmic care and low vision services, and to support healthcare providers to feel competent in performing routines regarding mental health in patients. Implications for clinical practices focus on the organization of care, accessible information for patients with VI, screening for depression and anxiety as a standard procedure, low intensity mental health support, and providing training to healthcare providers

Disability in multiple sclerosis:Improving clinical assessment

he findings of this thesis contribute to the resolution of these clinical challenges, specifically: • Clinical assessment of disability can be improved when (i) UEF and ambu- lation are assessed independently (chapter 3), (ii) tasks of ADL are used in conjunction to other measures (chapter 4), and (iii) a value for MCID of improvement for AMSQ is determined (chapter 5) • Multimodal assessment of UEF and mobility, and subgroup analyses im- prove evaluation of treatment effects (chapter 6) • Reference videos reduce the variability of motor functioning assessment (chapter 7) • Detection of change in UEF and mobility can be improved when video-as- sisted composite measures are used in conjunction with conventional measures (chapter 8) • Autoencoders are a valuable method to preserve data privacy in analyses of patient videos (chapter 9). Final conclusion The clinical assessment of MS patients is an exciting field grounded on illustrious historical foundations and deepened through contemporary technological innovation. Further improvement and integration into multidisciplinary data infrastructures will eventually lead to a better understanding and control of MS, which ultimately improves the quality of the life of our patients

Relapsing hepatitis due to cytomegalovirus?

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