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BackgroundCurrent WHO strategies for reaching soil-transmitted helminths (STH) elimination as a public health problem excludes treating certain adult populations in endemic areas, creating infection reservoirs that drive ‘bounce back’ of STH infection to pretreatment levels post-mass drug administration (MDA). Predisposition is a widespread, but poorly understood phenomena among helminth infections where individuals are predisposed to reinfection after repeated treatments.MethodsThis analysis uses Geshiyaro project data, an STH control programme exploring transmission interruption by community-wide MDA and enhanced water, sanitation and hygiene during 2019–2023. Parasitological survey data from longitudinal cohorts are analysed using Kendall's Tau-b rank correlation to assess the evidence for predisposition to light or heavy infection between four consecutive rounds of MDA.ResultsCorrelation analyses revealed the strongest evidence for predisposition to heavy or light Ascaris lumbricoides infection was between survey 1 and 2 (Tau-b 0.29; pConclusionsEvidence for predisposition in endemic settings in southern Ethiopia with low STH prevalence suggests that more targeted approaches to MDA in those predisposed to infection may be a sensible control strategy if cheap, point of care diagnostics are available.

Repeated rounds of mass drug administration are the mainstay of transmission control for five of the 20 recognised neglected tropical diseases (NTDs); soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma. MDA programme efficiency is reliant upon participants swallowing treatment consistently at each treatment round, measured by the parameter compliance; the proportion of eligible participants swallowing treatment. Individually linked longitudinal compliance data is crucial for assessing MDA programmes, as such data will elucidate treatment behaviour patterns. Accurate monitoring of compliance across species will require the unanimous acceptance of epidemiological parameters across the research community. This review aims to update the review previously completed by Shuford et al (2016), which predominantly highlighted the interchange of parameters coverage (receiving treatment) and compliance (swallowing treatment). This review aims to find to collect the latest longitudinal compliance data reported by control programmes globally for the five MDA controllable species, searching PubMed and Web of Science in January 2022 for articles written since 2016 in English and Spanish. The review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022301991). Study title screening was aided by Rayyan, a machine learning software. Studies were considered for inclusion if primary compliance data for more than one time point, in a population larger than 100 participants were identified. All data analysis was conducted in R. A total of 89 studies were identified containing compliance data, 57 were longitudinal studies, 25 of which reported individually linked data which were analysed further. The association of increasing age with systematic treatment during was commonly reported. The review is limited by paucity of data. It is recommended for WHO to clearly define coverage, compliance, and longitudinal compliance in their treatment guides. Current definitions for species-specific guides contradict each other which may influence the incongruency seen definitions seen in this review.Author summaryNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect 1.74 billion people globally, often those in low socio-economic communities in tropical and sub-tropical climates. Five NTDs can be effectively treated using repeated administration of drugs across endemic communities, described as mass-drug administration (MDA). Repeated treatment is necessary due to re-infection of treated people by untreated people in these endemic communities. As such, increasing the number of people treated at each round is clearly critical to increase the number of parasite-free individuals, which will then latterly reduce the amount of re-infection to the community and therefore increase the chance of reaching elimination of transmission. Currently, the measurement of MDA success is focused upon coverage, the acceptance of treatment. However, not everyone who accepts treatment swallows the treatment, which arguably is more important to measure as it records the reality of the MDA success. This review aims to capture all the papers providing compliance data for soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma.

BackgroundSoil Transmitted Helminths (STH) infect over 1.5 billion people globally and are associated with anemia and stunting, resulting in an annual toll of 1.9 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). School-based deworming (SBD), via mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns with albendazole or mebendazole, has been recommended by the World Health Organization to reduce levels of morbidity due to STH in endemic areas. DeWorm3 is a cluster-randomized trial, conducted in three study sites in Benin, India, and Malawi, designed to assess the feasibility of interrupting STH transmission with community-wide MDA as a potential strategy to replace SBD. This analysis examines data from the DeWorm3 trial to quantify discrepancies between school-level reporting of SBD and gold standard individual-level survey reporting of SBD.Methodology/Principal FindingsPopulation-weighted averages of school-level SBD calculated at the cluster level were compared to aggregated individual-level SBD estimates to produce a Mean Squared Error (MSE) estimate for each study site. In order to estimate individual-level SBD coverage, these MSE values were applied to SBD estimates from the control arm of the DeWorm3 trial, where only school-level reporting of SBD coverage had been collected.In each study site, SBD coverage in the school-level datasets was substantially higher than that obtained from individual-level datasets, indicating possible overestimation of school-level SBD coverage. When applying observed MSE to project expected coverages in the control arm, SBD coverage dropped from 89.1% to 70.5% (p-value < 0.001) in Benin, from 97.7% to 84.5% (p-value < 0.001) in India, and from 41.5% to 37.5% (p-value < 0.001) in Malawi.Conclusions/SignificanceThese estimates indicate that school-level SBD reporting is likely to significantly overestimate program coverage. These findings suggest that current SBD coverage estimates derived from school-based program data may substantially overestimate true pediatric deworming coverage within targeted communities.

Background The Geshiyaro project is a five-year intervention to assess the impact of community and school-based water, hygiene, and sanitation (WaSH) interventions on reducing infection with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosome parasites, in combination with deworming in Wolayita zone, Ethiopia. Methods Data on baseline STH and schistosome prevalence and the association with household and community access to improved drinking water, latrines, and handwashing facilities were obtained during a population based, cross-sectional (by age and gender) survey conducted between 2018 and 2019. Results Prevalence of STH was found to be 15.5% for any STH species, 9.5% for Ascaris lumbricoides, 1.8% for Trichuris trichiura, and 7.2% for hookworm. Intestinal schistosomiasis (Schistosoma mansoni) infection prevalence was 0.85% by Kato Katz, 21.6% by POC-CCA trace positive and 13.3% trace negative. Microhaematuria was 2.8%, with only 0.13% S. haematobium eggs detected in urine filtration. Increased (>30 min) time taken to collect drinking water, sharing a latrine, and lack of handwashing facilities were all associated with a greater risk of Ascaris, hookworm, and S.mansoni infection. Not disposing of infant stool at the household was significantly associated with increased risk of schistosomiasis infection. Aggregating WaSH data at the community level, showed odds of Ascaris and Trichuris infection significantly decreased as both community sanitation coverage and access to improved drinking water improved. Hookworm had reduced odds of infection as community access to drinking water expanded but there was no effect of community sanitation, however, there was a significant impact of improved household sanitation. Conclusions These findings demonstrate the quality of, and specific behaviours related to an individual’s use of household WaSH infrastructure are likely to augment potential protection latrines can provide. Furthermore, considering an individual household’s access to WaSH alone is insufficient to demonstrate association and risk with STH/schistosomiasis infection. Increased access to improved sanitation and drinking water within the whole community significantly influences exposure and gains made at the household level.

This datasheet on Deroceras invadens covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

This datasheet on Deroceras laeve covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

The invasiveness of A. vulgaris is related to several factors. Its ability and readiness to colonize humanly-disturbed environments is of major importance. Proschwitz (1997) observed that 99% of Swedish records were from synanthropic habitats and only 1% from natural woodlands. With a proximity to humans, comes the possibility of passive dispersal through trade, particularly in living plants. The garden centre trade and horticulture are particularly implicated (Weidema, 2006). In Poland, there is evidence from studies of molecular diversity that A. vulgaris has originated from repeated, separate introductions from other parts of Europe (Soroka et al., 2007). The ability of A. vulgaris to utilize a great variety of food sources and types has been well-documented and must aid dispersal and colonization. Other than its country of origin (France), it is considered to be invasive across western and central Europe, from the Pyrenees to eastern Poland and from southern France to north Italy, Austria and Slovakia and within an isolated range in eastern Bulgaria.

El objetivo principal que se tuvo en la presente investigación de modelo de arquitectura empresarial en una empresa bancaria, 2021, aplicado como modelo y herramienta gerencial, empleado para el alineamiento de las estrategias del negocio con la tecnología, la misma que fue analizar la efectividad que tiene la aplicación de arquitectura empresarial en una entidad bancaria en lima 2021. La metodología empleada en la presente investigación fue mediante un enfoque cualitativo, con tipo de investigación básica, nivel correlacional y diseño no experimental. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta que permitió aplicar 15 preguntas específicas a fin de recolectar datos concretos con respecto a las variables planteadas. Como resultado de la investigación se obtuvo que, si existe efectividad en la aplicación de la AE en una entidad bancaria de Lima en el 2021, siendo que se logró probar que dicha entidad bancaria pudo alinear los procesos concernientes a las diferentes áreas y gerencias con el fin de conectarlas y explotar las capacidades tecnológicas. Lima Norte Escuela de Posgrado Modelo y Herramientas Gerenciales

La propuesta de Plan de Negocio de “Nirvana Software” consiste en crear una fábrica de software gestionada principalmente desde la nube, la cual brindará servicios de desarrollo de aplicaciones o sistemas para las empresas Consultoras de mediano tamaño y que pertenezcan al sector privado. Según las investigaciones que se ha realizado en este trabajo, existe un mercado desatendido, en el cual se pierden muchas oportunidades en tomar proyectos por falta de capacidad instalada por parte de las empresas consultoras, muchas de ella al no tener suficiente personal, subcontratan a terceros para proyectos puntuales; sin embargo, la oferta no es la adecuada o no está certificada de acuerdo con los estándares que exigen los clientes finales. Es por ello, que la Fábrica de Software planteada en este Plan de Negocios, busca cubrir esta necesidad específica. Por otro lado, cabe resaltar que este Plan de Negocios cuenta con un enfoque social, al brindar trabajo a personas con discapacidad motora para el caso específico de los programadores, brindándoles capacitación, entrenamiento y certificación a quienes concluyan el programa de manera satisfactoria. Este programa aplica el modelo de capacitación-trabajo, de modo que puedan obtener los principales certificados y habilidades que la industria de este sector demanda y a cambio de ello permite negociar sus sueldos para finalmente este beneficio económico trasladarlo hacia el cliente final y así, brindamos oportunidad de crecimiento, libertad económica, inclusión laboral, entre otras. Tesis

El plomo es un agente contaminante presente en el ambiente producto de la minería, manufactura industrial y la quema de combustibles fósiles. Se ha observado que individuos expuestos ocupacionalmente a plomo presentan disfunción de las glándulas sexuales, disminución de la concentración espermática, disminución de la motilidad y algunas otras alteraciones. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del acetato de plomo sobre la capacitación espermática. El medio que se utilizó para la capacitación fue Tyrode libre de Ca+, suplementado con Albumina de Bovino Sérica (BS A) por 30 minutos a 37ºC, 6% CO y bajo concentraciones de Pb(CH3COO) a 0.6μg/dL; 6μg/dL y 66μg/dL. Se realizó la valoración de la motilidad y vitalidad espermática pre y post capacitación. Como resultados se obtuvo una disminución en la vitalidad con medias de 17.99 y 46.99 para la concentración de 66μg/dL, además se observaron efectos en la motilidad, con medias de 1.2 y 26 a la misma concentración. En conclusión, el acetato de plomo Pb(CH3COO)2 tiene efectos, sobre la motilidad y vitalidad, disminuyendo los porcentajes óptimos durante la capacitación espermática.

We have developed three types of materials composed of polyurethane–gelatin, polycaprolactone–gelatin, or polylactic acid–gelatin nanofibers by coaxially electro-spinning the hydrophobic core and gelatin sheath with a ratio of 1:5 at fixed concentrations. Results from attenuated total reflection-Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the gelatin coating around nanofibers in all of the materials. Transmission electron microscopy images further displayed the core–sheath structures showing the core-to-sheath thickness ratio varied greatly with the highest ratio found in polyurethane-gelatin nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed similar, uniform fibrous structures in all of the materials, which changed with genipin cross-linking due to interfiber interactions. Thermal analyses revealed varied interactions between the hydrophilic sheath and hydrophobic core among the three materials, which likely caused different core–sheath structures, and thus physicomechanical properties. The addition of gelatin around the hydrophobic polymer and their interactions led to the formation of graft scaffolds with tissue-like viscoelasticity, high compliance, excellent swelling capability, and absence of water permeability while maintaining competent tensile modulus, burst pressure, and suture retention. The hydrogel-like characteristics are advantageous for vascular grafting use, because of the capability of bypassing preclotting prior to implantation, retaining vascular fluid volume, and facilitating molecular transport across the graft wall, as shown by coculturing vascular cells sandwiched over a thick-wall scaffold. Varied core–sheath interactions within scaffolding nanofibers led to differences in graft functional properties such as water swelling ratio, compliance, and supporting growth of cocultured vascular cells. The PCL–gelatin scaffold with thick gelatin-sheathed nanofibers demonstrated a more compliant structure, elastic mechanics, and high water swelling property. Our results demonstrate a feasible approach to produce new hybrid, biodegradable nanofibrous scaffold biomaterials with interactive core–sheath structure, good biocompatibility, and tissue-like viscoelasticity, which may reduce potential problems with the use of individual polymers for vascular grafts.

Schistosomiasis remains one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impacting millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently proposed a goal of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) for schistosomiasis to be reached by 2030. Current WHO treatment guidelines for achieving EPHP focus on targeting school-aged children. The NTD Modelling Consortium has developed mathematical models to study schistosomiasis transmission dynamics and the impact of control measures. Our modelling insights on Schistosoma mansoni have shown that EPHP is likely to be attainable in low to moderate prevalence settings using the current guidelines. However, as prevalence rises within high prevalence settings, EPHP is less likely to be achieved unless both school-aged children and adults are treated (with coverage levels increasing with the adult burden of infection). We highlight the challenges that are faced by treatment programmes, such as non-adherence to treatment and resurgence, which can hinder progress towards achieving and maintaining EPHP. Additionally, even though EPHP may be reached, prevalence can still be high due to persisting infections. Therefore, without interruption of transmission, treatment will likely have to continue to maintain EPHP. Further modelling work is being carried out, including extending our results to S. haematobium. By providing these modelling insights, we aim to inform discussions on the goals and treatment guidelines for schistosomiasis.

We investigated factors affecting wetland carabid diversity and assemblage dynamics as part of the first national survey in the Republic of Ireland. Species richness was significantly different among habitat types and was significantly higher on designated as opposed to undesignated land. However, red-data-book species richness was significantly higher on undesignated land, highlighting the importance of land outside the conservation network. This was largely due to the prominence of Carabus clatratus L. outside designated areas and often on high-disturbance land. Management for species of conservation interest outside of designated areas, and in concert with existing agri-environment, schemes is apparent. Shannon's entropy was significantly greater on grazed as compared to ungrazed land, further highlighting the importance of management in maintaining high diversity carabid assemblages, which should be included in future conservation plans for ground dwelling invertebrates. Models of diversity partitioning for a number of variables (location, habitat type, perceived habitat quality, designation status and grazing) indicated a significantly lower α (within sites) diversity than would be expected by chance, but significantly higher β diversities, indicating that diversity was significantly structured among rather than within groups of these variables. A multi-response permutation procedure, however, indicated that carabid assemblage composition was significantly, but weakly, structured in terms of domestic grazing, location and both broad and narrow habitat classifications. This indicates a difference in the significance of the effects of variables on beta-diversity as assessed through partitioning using a dimensionless value and assessments based on the pairwise dissimilarity matrix.

This qualitative study gathered the opinions of healthcare employers to better understand the importance, benefits, obstacles, and evolving issues related to allied health (AH) clinical education from the employers' perspective, with the goal to identify opportunities to strengthen and improve clinical-educational partnerships.Member deans of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) provided names and contact information of employers that routinely educate their students. Interviews were scheduled with employers who responded to Clinical Education Task Force (CETF) invitation. Twenty-one interviews were conducted by CETF members in early 2016 and analyzed utilizing qualitative software.Themes included benefits of working with students and hiring trainees, and obstacles of time and effort required to host students. A trend was noted in gaps between educational preparation and clinical performance. Recent changes highlighted increased technology and regulation, while anticipated changes included more focus on learning on site, longer clinical experiences, and payment for clinical education.Collaboration between educators and employers is essential to ensure that curriculum and outcomes match the needs of the field and effectively prepare students as entry-level clinicians.

Theoretical work indicates that HIV-1 epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa will cause major demographic changes. The current study assesses the extent to which these changes can already be seen in two rural areas of Manicaland, Zimbabwe and investigates the determinants of the epidemic and its demographic impact. The study utilizes demographic survey methods and qualitative sociological techniques. Data analysis is conducted using statistical packages and is guided by insights generated from mathematical models of the epidemiology and demographic impact of HIV-1 infections. HIV-1 prevalence is high in both areas. Among women, HIV-1 infection is associated with age and marital status. Indirect evidence indicates that religion, education, migration and socio-economic characteristics of husband may also be important determinants. Each of these factors influences the pattern of sexual behaviour. Rates of sexual partner change are heterogeneous for women but appear more homogeneous for men. Mixing patterns are disassortative: men form partnerships with women with high and low rates of partner change. Mortality has undergone a recent upturn, almost certainly associated with HIV-1 infections. Adults aged 20-45 years and men, in particular, are most affected at this (early) stage of the epidemic. Religion is an important local determinant of demographic patterns, whose influence on mortality appears to be changing vua its effect on sexual behaviour and the spread of HIV-1. Orphanhood has increased, but, as yet, there is little change in population structure. Fertility has declined since the late 1970s. It is too early in the AIDS epidemic to see an impact of HIV-1 at the population level. However, some signs of behaviour changes which affect the proximate determinants of fertility were detected. These changes may accelerate the decline in birth rates, especially at younger ages. New demographic projections for Zimbabwe are developed, based on observed trends in HIV- 1 infection and fertility, and underlying behaviour patterns. These indicate substantial further increases in mortality, particularly among women and young children, greatly reduced population growth, relative shortages of young children and older adults, and further increases in orphanhood. Families and communities will require support in facing this slowly unfolding disaster.

A new species, Poophylax villosa, previously noted from subfossil deposits but not formally described, is described and illustrated from the Falkland Islands. Poophylax falklandica Champion, the type species of the formerly monotypic genus Poophylax, is re-examined and compared with the new species. Distinguishing features are given. Poophylax falklandica is recorded from South America for the first time.

A combination of methods, including mathematical model construction, demographic plus epidemiological data analysis and parameter estimation, are used to examine whether mass drug administration (MDA) alone can eliminate the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Numerical analyses suggest that in all but low transmission settings (as defined by the magnitude of the basic reproductive number, R0), the treatment of pre-school-aged children (pre-SAC) and school-aged children (SAC) is unlikely to drive transmission to a level where the parasites cannot persist. High levels of coverage (defined as the fraction of an age group effectively treated) are required in pre-SAC, SAC and adults, if MDA is to drive the parasite below the breakpoint under which transmission is eliminated. Long-term solutions to controlling helminth infections lie in concomitantly improving the quality of the water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). MDA, however, is a very cost-effective tool in long-term control given that most drugs are donated free by the pharmaceutical industry for poor regions of the world. WASH interventions, by lowering the basic reproductive number, can facilitate the ability of MDA to interrupt transmission.

Soils from a long-term slurry experiment established in 1970 at Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, were used in the experiment. The site has a clay loam soil overlying Silurian shale. Seven treatments were used with three replicate plots per treatment under the following manurial regimes: (1) mineral fertiliser supplying 200 kg N, 32 kg P and 160 kg K ha(-1) yr(-1); (2)-(4) pig slurry applied at 50, 100 or 200 m3 ha(-1) yr(-1); (5)-(7) cow slurry applied at 50, 100 or 200 m3 ha(-1) yr(-1). Agronomic measures of P determined on subsurface layers down to 90 cm were compared with sorption isotherm data and rates of desorption. Adsorption isotherms were fitted using a standard Langmuir model. Data were compared with soluble (molybdate-reactive) P levels in soil water collected at 35 and 90 cm using PTFE suction cup lysimeters. Agronomically available P was concentrated in the top 30 cm of soil in all treatments. The accumulation of P in surface layers of the plots was significantly greater in the pig slurry treatments compared to the cow slurry, reflecting the history of P amendments. Nevertheless, over a period of a year, molybdate-reactive phosphorus (MRP) concentrations in lysimeter collections was consistently higher at 35 cm depth in the highest cow slurry treatment (7) compared to the equivalent pig slurry treatment (4). Either the movement of soluble P down the profile is facilitated by the higher organic content of cow slurry or P movement is not directly related to P accumulation in the soils. In addition, it is hypothesised that P movement down the soil profile depends upon two separate mechanisms. First, a 'break' point above which the accumulated P in the surface horizons is less strongly held and therefore amenable to dissolution and movement down the profile. Second, a mechanism by which some solute P from the surface horizons can travel rapidly through horizons of low P status to greater depth in the soil, i.e., by preferential flow.

Soils from a long-term slurry experiment established in 1970 at Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, were used in the experiment. The site has a clay loam soil overlying Silurian shale. Seven treatments were used with three replicate plots per treatment. Control plots were treated with mineral fertiliser supplying 200 kg N, 32 kg P and 160 kg K ha(-1) yr(-1). Slurry treatment plots were in two blocks and treated with either pig or cow slurry supplied at 50, 100 or 200 m3 ha(-1) yr(-1). Agronomic measures of P determined on 10-cm soil cores were compared with measured P quantity/intensity (Q/I) parameters from fitted sorption and desorption isotherms. Phosphorus affinity constant was found to be significantly and negatively correlated with P loading of soils. Desorption rate coefficient also increased significantly with increase in P loading from slurry, although there was no significant difference between slurry types (cow vs. pig). In contrast, while agronomic measures of P (water-soluble P, Olsen P, calcium chloride-extractable P, degree of P saturation (DPS)) also correlated significantly with P loading and total P (TP) in the soils, there was a separation and significant differences between the cow and pig slurry treatment blocks, with the former being much lower. Phosphorus inputs to pig slurry treated plots were much higher than to equivalent cow slurry plots over the first 15 years of the study but declined sharply over the most recent 10 years to more or less par. Conventional measures of agronomic P such as Olsen P and DPS, measure only P accumulation over the longer term and indicated only the higher content of P accumulating in soil of pig slurry treatments. Risk of P loss estimated by Q/I parameters appeared to show very similar behaviour between the two slurry types in line with more recent manurial additions but in contradiction of P accumulation statistics.