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The neural representations of prior information about the state of the world are poorly understood. To investigate this issue, we examined brain-wide Neuropixels recordings and widefield calcium imaging collected by the International Brain Laboratory. Mice were trained to indicate the location of a visual grating stimulus, which appeared on the left or right with prior probability alternating between 0.2 and 0.8 in blocks of variable length. We found that mice estimate this prior probability and thereby improve their decision accuracy. Furthermore, we report that this subjective prior is encoded in at least 20% to 30% of brain regions which, remarkably, span all levels of processing, from early sensory areas (LGd, VISp) to motor regions (MOs, MOp, GRN) and high level cortical regions (ACCd, ORBvl). This widespread representation of the prior is consistent with a neural model of Bayesian inference involving loops between areas, as opposed to a model in which the prior is incorporated only in decision making areas. This study offers the first brain-wide perspective on prior encoding at cellular resolution, underscoring the importance of using large scale recordings on a single standardized task.

A key challenge in neuroscience is understanding how neurons in hundreds of interconnected brain regions integrate sensory inputs with prior expectations to initiate movements. It has proven difficult to meet this challenge when different laboratories apply different analyses to different recordings in different regions during different behaviours. Here, we report a comprehensive set of recordings from 115 mice in 11 labs performing a decision-making task with sensory, motor, and cognitive components, obtained with 547 Neuropixels probe insertions covering 267 brain areas in the left forebrain and midbrain and the right hindbrain and cerebellum. We provide an initial appraisal of this brain-wide map, assessing how neural activity en- codes key task variables. Representations of visual stimuli appeared transiently in classical visual areas after stimulus onset and then spread to ramp-like activity in a collection of mid- and hindbrain regions that also encoded choices. Neural responses correlated with motor action almost everywhere in the brain. Responses to reward delivery and consumption versus reward omission were also widespread. Representations of objective prior expectations were weaker, found in sparse sets of neurons from restricted regions. This publicly available dataset represents an unprecedented resource for understanding how computations distributed across and within brain areas drive behaviour.

Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in developing countries are significantly affected by external donor policies which undermines systematic planning at the expense of localized norms. As the concept of evaluation planning gains prominence among academic community and practitioners, it is subject to various interpretation and misrepresentation. Conversely, in this this study evaluation planning was conceptualized as an institutional process that involves establishment of routine mechanism for ascertaining adequate allocation of staffing, budget, and stakeholder engagement actions to ensure evidence is tracked and provided for in strategic decision making. In Uganda just like other developing countries, local NGOs are increasingly under pressure to demonstrate impact and accountability and yet their planning cycles and systems reflects donor driven plans rather than a systematic long strategy continuum. This study sought to examine the relationship between evaluation planning and strategy performance of local NGOs in Uganda. Using a cross sectional design with a quantitative survey methodology, the study drew 349 participants comprising of field workers, mid-level staff and executives from local NGO from all parts of Uganda. The study found that there was a consistent weak positive correlation among the study constructs of fund stability (r= .274**), community satisfaction (r=.250****) and timelines(r=.198*). This study concludes that the correlation is positive but the extent to which it influences strategy performance is weak. The study recommends adequate attention towards the issue of inconsistent application of evaluation planning and strategy approaches. In a coherent way, the National NGO bureau, donor, voluntary associations, and peer networks should continuously ensure long term strategy continuum of local NGOs in all engagement.

Current research and development to lower the production cost of biodiesel by utilizing feedstock derived from waste motivates the quest for developing catalysts with high performance in transesterification. This study investigates the performance of citric acid as a catalyst and support catalyst in transesterification of oil from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae fed on organic kitchen waste. Two catalysts were prepared by synthesizing citric acid with NaOH and CaO by a co-precipitation and an impregnation method, respectively. The design of the experiment adopted response surface methodology for the optimization of biodiesel productivity by varying: the percentage loading weight of citric acid, the impregnation temperature, the calcinating temperature and the calcinating time. The characteristic activity and reuse of the synthesized catalysts in transesterification reactions were investigated. The morphology, chemical composition and structure of the catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). High citric acid loading on NaOH and a small amount of citric acid on CaO resulted in improved dispersion and refinement of the particle sizes. Increasing citric acid loading on NaOH improved the CaO and SiO2 composition of the modified catalyst resulting in higher biodiesel yield compared to the modified CaO catalyst. A maximum biodiesel yield of 93.08%, ±1.31, was obtained when NaOH was synthesized with a 130% weight of citric acid at 80 °C and calcinated at 600 °C for 240 min. Comparatively, a maximum biodiesel yield of 90.35%, ±1.99, was obtained when CaO was synthesized with a 3% weight of citric acid, impregnated at 140 °C and calcinated at 900 °C for 240 min. The two modified catalysts could be recycled four times while maintaining a biodiesel yield of more than 70%.

There is an increasing rate of environmental pollution resulting from high emission rates from bioprocessing industries in Kenya. This study provides information on the characterization of bioprocessing effluents from 3 industries in Kenya. To achieve this, samples of effluents were collected from the 3 industries and then transported using plastic containers to JKUAT chemistry laboratories within 24 hours for analysis. Each sample was divided into 3 different 500 ml bottles, and the experiment was replicated 3 times. Physico-chemical parameters such as total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand in 5 days at 20°C (BOD 5 ), pH, total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and electrical conductivity (EC) of collected samples were analysed. The mean concentration levels were found to be (118±5, 176±10, and 128±3) for COD and (1200±2,800±1 and 700±6) for BOD 5 for dairy, coffee, and tannery effluents, respectively. These values were found to be slightly higher than the standard removal levels. The pollutant levels noticed at the different industries were notably high in tannery with 286 mg/l and least in the dairy effluents with 28mg/l. Based on the results obtained, there is need to treat effluents before discharging to water bodies.

The use of D-Wave's Leap Hybrid solver is demonstrated here in solving a Knapsack optimization problem: finding meal combinations from a fixed menu that fit a diner's constraints. This is done by first formulating the optimization problem as a Constrained Quadratic Model (CQM) and then submitting it to a quantum annealer. We highlight here the steps needed, as well as the implemented code, and provide solutions from a Chicken and Waffle restaurant menu. Additionally, we discuss how this model may be generalized to find optimal drug molecules within a large search space with many complex, and often contradictory, structures and property constraints., Comment: 10 pages, 2 tables

Data on pathogen prevalence is crucial for informing exposure and disease risk. We evaluated serological evidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), West Nile (WN), Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Yersiniosis, Lyme Disease (LD), and brucellosis in 1033 patients presenting with acute febrile illness at 9 health care facilities from diverse ecological zones of Kenya: arid and semiarid (Garissa District Hospital, Lodwar District Hospital, Marigat District Hospital, Gilgil District Hospital), Lake Victoria basin (Kisumu District Hospital, Alupe District Hospital, Kombewa Sub-County Hospital), Kisii highland (Kisii District Hospital), and coastal (Malindi District Hospital). Epidemiological information of the patients such as geography, age, gender, and keeping animals were analyzed as potential risk factors. Of the 1033 samples, 619 (59.9%) were seropositive to at least one pathogen by IgM (current exposure), IgG/IgM (recent exposure), and IgG (past exposure). Collective seroprevalence for current, recent, and past to the pathogens was 9.4%, 5.1%, and 21.1% for LD; 3.6%, 0.5%, and 12.4% for WN; 0.9%, 0.5%, and 16.9% for HEV; 5.8%, 1.3%, and 3.9% for brucellosis; 5.7%, 0.2%, and 2.3% for yersiniosis; 1.7%, 0%, and 6.2% for TBE; and 0.4%, 0%, and 1.9% for CCHF. Brucellosis risk was higher in patients recruited at Garissa District Hospital (odds ratio [OR] = 3.41), HEV (OR = 2.45) and CCHF (OR = 5.46) in Lodwar District Hospital, LD in Alupe District Hospital (OR = 5.73), Kombewa Sub-district hospital (OR = 8.17), and Malindi District hospital (OR = 3.3). Exposure to LD was highest in the younger age group, whereas yersiniosis did not vary with age. Age was a significant risk for WN, brucellosis, CCHF, TBE, and HEV and in those aged >14 years there was an increased risk to WN (OR = 2.30, p

Joint analyses of cross-correlations between measurements of galaxy positions, galaxy lensing, and lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) offer powerful constraints on the large-scale structure of the Universe. In a forthcoming analysis, we will present cosmological constraints from the analysis of such cross-correlations measured using Year 3 data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), and CMB data from the South Pole Telescope (SPT) and Planck. Here we present two key ingredients of this analysis: (1) an improved CMB lensing map in the SPT-SZ survey footprint, and (2) the analysis methodology that will be used to extract cosmological information from the cross-correlation measurements. Relative to previous lensing maps made from the same CMB observations, we have implemented techniques to remove contamination from the thermal Sunyaev Zel'dovich effect, enabling the extraction of cosmological information from smaller angular scales of the cross-correlation measurements than in previous analyses with DES Year 1 data. We describe our model for the cross-correlations between these maps and DES data, and validate our modeling choices to demonstrate the robustness of our analysis. We then forecast the expected cosmological constraints from the galaxy survey-CMB lensing auto and cross-correlations. We find that the galaxy-CMB lensing and galaxy shear-CMB lensing correlations will on their own provide a constraint on $S_8=\sigma_8 \sqrt{\Omega_{\rm m}/0.3}$ at the few percent level, providing a powerful consistency check for the DES-only constraints. We explore scenarios where external priors on shear calibration are removed, finding that the joint analysis of CMB lensing cross-correlations can provide constraints on the shear calibration amplitude at the 5 to 10% level., Comment: 30 pages, 20 figures, To be submitted to PRD

We infer the mean optical depth of a sample of optically selected galaxy clusters from the Dark Energy Survey via the pairwise kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (KSZ) effect. The pairwise KSZ signal between pairs of clusters drawn from the Dark Energy Survey Year-3 cluster catalog is detected at 4.1 σ in cosmic microwave background temperature maps from two years of observations with the SPT-3G camera on the South Pole Telescope. After cuts, there are 24,580 clusters in the ∼1 ,400 deg2 of the southern sky observed by both experiments. We infer the mean optical depth of the cluster sample with two techniques. The optical depth inferred from the pairwise KSZ signal is τ¯e=(2.97 ±0.73 )×10-3 , while that inferred from the thermal SZ signal is τ¯e=(2.51 ±0.5 5stat±0.1 5syst)×10-3 . The two measures agree at 0.6 σ . We perform a suite of systematic checks to test the robustness of the analysis, The DES participants from Spanish institutions are partially E. SCHIAPPUCCI et al. PHYS. REV. D 107, 042004 (2023) 042004-14 supported by MICINN under Grants No. ESP2017-89838, No. PGC2018-094773, No. PGC2018-102021, No. SEV2016-0588, No. SEV-2016-0597, and No. MDM-2015- 0509, some of which include ERDF funds from the European Union. I. F. A. E. is partially funded by the CERCA program of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) including ERC Grant Agreements No. 240672, No. 291329, and No. 306478

Ticks harbor multiple pathogens, most of which can be transmitted to humans. The ensuing zoonoses display non-specific symptoms that make definitive diagnosis difficult. We report here the development and evaluation of multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays for eight tick-borne zoonoses (TBZ). The assays were organized in duo formats of 4-plex each. Format 1 was optimized for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdoferi and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Format 2 was optimized for Rickettsia species (spp.), Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp. other than B. burgdoferi and Babesia spp. Synthetic plasmids were used to show that the assays can specifically detect all target sequences in the same reaction tube. Assays were assayed eight times to determine assay performance and the limit of detection was determined as the lowest plasmid concentration that was amplified for all the targets. Standard curves of threshold cycle (Ct) versus copy numbers were generated and used to determine linearity and efficiency of the assays. Pairwise comparison of singleplex and multiplex assays was done using Bland-Altman plots. Prevalence was calculated as overall percentage of positive patients to each TBZ tested Assay 1 had a limit of detection of 2 copy numbers for all targets. Assay 2 was less sensitive and on average had a limit of detection of 18 gene copies. In replicate tests, both assays had intra-assay variation of less than two cycles. Multiplex assays performance was comparable to respective singleplex assays. Evaluation of 512 clinical samples collected between 2008 and 2016 from acute febrile illness patients attending hospitals in different counties in Kenya revealed a 20% prevalence of tick-borne pathogens comprising B. burgdorferi (6%), non B. burgdorferi Borrelia spp. (3%), C. burnetii (5%), A. phagocytophilum (5%), Rickettsia spp. (2%), E. chaffeensis (0.8%), Bartonella spp. (0.8%), and Babesia spp. (0.4%). The high analytical sensitivity suggests potential for the duo 4-plex qPCR for detection of common TBZ.

We present constraints on extensions to the $��$CDM cosmological model from measurements of the $E$-mode polarization auto-power spectrum and the temperature-$E$-mode cross-power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) made using 2018 SPT-3G data. The extensions considered vary the primordial helium abundance, the effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom, the sum of neutrino masses, the relativistic energy density and mass of a sterile neutrino, and the mean spatial curvature. We do not find clear evidence for any of these extensions, from either the SPT-3G 2018 dataset alone or in combination with baryon acoustic oscillation and \textit{Planck} data. None of these model extensions significantly relax the tension between Hubble-constant, $H_0$, constraints from the CMB and from distance-ladder measurements using Cepheids and supernovae. The addition of the SPT-3G 2018 data to \textit{Planck} reduces the square-root of the determinants of the parameter covariance matrices by factors of $1.3 - 2.0$ across these models, signaling a substantial reduction in the allowed parameter volume. We also explore CMB-based constraints on $H_0$ from combined SPT, \textit{Planck}, and ACT DR4 datasets. While individual experiments see some indications of different $H_0$ values between the $TT$, $TE$, and $EE$ spectra, the combined $H_0$ constraints are consistent between the three spectra. For the full combined datasets, we report $H_0 = 67.49 \pm 0.53\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}\,Mpc^{-1}}$, which is the tightest constraint on $H_0$ from CMB power spectra to date and in $4.1\,��$ tension with the most precise distance-ladder-based measurement of $H_0$. The SPT-3G survey is planned to continue through at least 2023, with existing maps of combined 2019 and 2020 data already having $\sim3.5\times$ lower noise than the maps used in this analysis., Submitted to PRD; 19 pages, 7 figures

Purpose Heterogeneity has been observed in outcomes of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Identification of clinical phenotypes may facilitate tailored therapy and improve outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify specific clinical phenotypes across COVID-19 patients and compare admission characteristics and outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients from March 7, 2020 to August 25, 2020 at 14 U.S. hospitals. Ensemble clustering was performed on 33 variables collected within 72 hours of admission. Principal component analysis was performed to visualize variable contributions to clustering. Multinomial regression models were fit to compare patient comorbidities across phenotypes. Multivariable models were fit to estimate associations between phenotype and in-hospital complications and clinical outcomes. Results The database included 1,022 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Three clinical phenotypes were identified (I, II, III), with 236 [23.1%] patients in phenotype I, 613 [60%] patients in phenotype II, and 173 [16.9%] patients in phenotype III. Patients with respiratory comorbidities were most commonly phenotype III (p = 0.002), while patients with hematologic, renal, and cardiac (all p

We perform the first simultaneous Bayesian parameter inference and optimal reconstruction of the gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), using 100 deg$^2$ of polarization observations from the SPTpol receiver on the South Pole Telescope. These data reach noise levels as low as 5.8 $\mu$K-arcmin in polarization, which are low enough that the typically used quadratic estimator (QE) technique for analyzing CMB lensing is significantly sub-optimal. Conversely, the Bayesian procedure extracts all lensing information from the data and is optimal at any noise level. We infer the amplitude of the gravitational lensing potential to be $A_\phi\,{=}\,0.949\,{\pm}\,0.122$ using the Bayesian pipeline, consistent with our QE pipeline result, but with 17\% smaller error bars. The Bayesian analysis also provides a simple way to account for systematic uncertainties, performing a similar job as frequentist "bias hardening," and reducing the systematic uncertainty on $A_\phi$ due to polarization calibration from almost half of the statistical error to effectively zero. Finally, we jointly constrain $A_\phi$ along with $A_{\rm L}$, the amplitude of lensing-like effects on the CMB power spectra, demonstrating that the Bayesian method can be used to easily infer parameters both from an optimal lensing reconstruction and from the delensed CMB, while exactly accounting for the correlation between the two. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the Bayesian approach on real data, and pave the way for future analysis of deep CMB polarization measurements with SPT-3G, Simons Observatory, and CMB-S4, where improvements relative to the QE can reach 1.5 times tighter constraints on $A_\phi$ and 7 times lower effective lensing reconstruction noise., Comment: 27 pages, 14 figures, accompanying software package available at https://cosmicmar.com/CMBLensing.jl

Expanding from previous work we present weak lensing measurements for a total sample of 30 distant ($z_\mathrm{median}=0.93$) massive galaxy clusters from the South Pole Telescope Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) Survey, measuring galaxy shapes in Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys images. We remove cluster members and preferentially select $z\gtrsim 1.4$ background galaxies via $V-I$ colour, employing deep photometry from VLT/FORS2 and Gemini-South/GMOS. We apply revised calibrations for the weak lensing shape measurements and the source redshift distribution to estimate the cluster masses. In combination with earlier Magellan/Megacam results for lower-redshifts clusters we infer refined constraints on the scaling relation between the SZ detection significance and the cluster mass, in particular regarding its redshift evolution. The mass scale inferred from the weak lensing data is lower by a factor $0.76^{+0.10}_{-0.14}$ (at our pivot redshift $z=0.6$) compared to what would be needed to reconcile a flat Planck $����$CDM cosmology (in which the sum of the neutrino masses is a free parameter) with the observed SPT-SZ cluster counts. In order to sensitively test the level of (dis-)agreement between SPT clusters and Planck, further expanded weak lensing follow-up samples are needed., 32 pages, 20 figures, 12 tables, matches the version accepted for publication in MNRAS

We derive cosmological constraints using a galaxy cluster sample selected from the 2500~deg$^2$ SPT-SZ survey. The sample spans the redshift range $0.25< z5$. The sample is supplemented with optical weak gravitational lensing measurements of 32 clusters with $0.29, Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ (v2 is accepted version), the catalog can be found at https://pole.uchicago.edu/public/data/sptsz-clusters/

Background: Due to the difficulty in implementing microscopy-based definitive diagnosis of malaria especially in resource-poor areas, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits as alternatives have been developed by different companies. Kits from different companies may differ in sensitivity and specificity. It is therefore imperative to conduct field evaluation of kits from different manufacturers before they are recommended for widespread use in diagnosis of malaria. The present study sought to evaluate the performance of malaria RDT kits from two manufacturers against microscopy in detection of Plasmodium spp. infections among primary school children in Baringo County, Kenya. Methods: Two cross-sectional comparative surveys to assess three RDT kits (CareStart HRP-2, SD Bioline Ag-Pf and SD Bioline Ag-Pf/Pan) were conducted on 561 pupils from three primary schools within the Kerio Valley of Baringo County, Kenya. Results: A total of 561 blood samples were tested for Plasmodium spp. within a period of four months. SD Bioline Ag-Pf/ Pan RDT kit had a higher sensitivity (90%) compared to that of CareStart HRP-2 (70%) but this was not statistically significant (McNemar’s χ2 = 0.5, df = 1, p = 0.4795). The sensitivity of SD Bioline Ag-Pf was the same as that of Care Start HRP-2 (82.4%). The number of positive samples by microscopy was relatively lower than those detected by RDT kits. Two cases of non-P. falciparum infections were detected by RDT kits during the second survey. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the performance of the three kits in the diagnosis of P. falciparum infections was better than microscopy. The sensitivity of SD Bioline Ag-Pf/Pan was slightly greater than that of Care Start HRP-2, although not statistically different.

Scientific reasoning, though not explicitly taught in classrooms, is promoted as a major goal for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education at all levels, worldwide. Literature also indicates that the time spent by learners explaining and justifying their ideas strongly correlates with learning improvement. In Swaziland, however, reports from school science inspectors and school leaving examiners point to weak evidence of scientific reasoning skills from school-based and high-stake examinations. This contradicts the main education goal at this level – producing learners who can use science phenomena awareness for reasoning through diverse life contexts. The study was conceived within the interplay between cognitive and sociocultural theories of constructivism. It focuses on how senior secondary school Physical Science teachers use informal formative assessment (IFA), and how the assessments so used support scientific reasoning. Through the qualitative inquiry approach a multiple case study design was used where four teachers in the Manzini Region were purposively sampled and their lessons observed. The data were then analysed through content analysis and Furtak, Harding, Beinbrech, Shavelson, and Shemwell (2008)’s analytical framework. The study revealed that teachers initiated learner-centred dialogues to address misconceptions and ask further clarification questions. Practical work and contingency based oral questions generated a reach variety of scientific reasoning levels while cases where teachers treated none response moments by supplying answers generated the least reasoning levels. All in all, by diligently using IFA to support learning, teachers realised opportunities for assisting learners migrate from concrete operational to formal thinking levels.

We perform a joint analysis of the auto and cross-correlations between three cosmic fields: the galaxy density field, the galaxy weak lensing shear field, and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) weak lensing convergence field. These three fields are measured using roughly 1300 sq. deg. of overlapping optical imaging data from first year observations of the Dark Energy Survey and millimeter-wave observations of the CMB from both the South Pole Telescope Sunyaev-Zel'dovich survey and Planck. We present cosmological constraints from the joint analysis of the two-point correlation functions between galaxy density and galaxy shear with CMB lensing. We test for consistency between these measurements and the DES-only two-point function measurements, finding no evidence for inconsistency in the context of flat $\Lambda$CDM cosmological models. Performing a joint analysis of five of the possible correlation functions between these fields (excluding only the CMB lensing autospectrum) yields $S_{8}\equiv \sigma_8\sqrt{\Omega_{\rm m}/0.3} = 0.782^{+0.019}_{-0.025}$ and $\Omega_{\rm m}=0.260^{+0.029}_{-0.019}$. We test for consistency between these five correlation function measurements and the Planck-only measurement of the CMB lensing autospectrum, again finding no evidence for inconsistency in the context of flat $\Lambda$CDM models. Combining constraints from all six two-point functions yields $S_{8}=0.776^{+0.014}_{-0.021}$ and $\Omega_{\rm m}= 0.271^{+0.022}_{-0.016}$. These results provide a powerful test and confirmation of the results from the first year DES joint-probes analysis., Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures

The impact of quality complementary food products on infant growth and body composition has not been adequately investigated. This study evaluated the effect on fat‐free mass (FFM) accrual, linear growth, and iron status of locally produced complementary food products comparing to a standard product. In a randomized, double‐blind trial, 499 infants at 6 months received nine monthly rations of (a) WinFood Classic (WFC) comprising germinated amaranth (71%), maize (10.4%), small fish (3%), and edible termites (10%); (b) WinFood Lite (WFL) comprising germinated amaranth (82.5%), maize (10.2%), and multimicronutrient premix; or (c) fortified corn–soy blend plus (CSB+). Primary outcomes were changes in FFM, length, and plasma ferritin and transferrin receptors (TfR). FFM was determined using deuterium dilution. Analysis was by intention to treat, based on available cases. Compared with CSB+, there were no differences in change from 6 to 15 months in FFM for WFC 0.0 kg (95% CI [−0.30, 0.29]) and WFL 0.03 kg (95% CI [−0.25, 0.32]) and length change for WFC −0.3 cm (95% CI [−0.9, 0.4]) and WFL −0.3 cm (95% CI [−0.9, 0.3]). TfR increased in WFC group 3.3 mg L(−1) (95% CI [1.7, 4.9]) and WFL group 1.7 mg L(−1) (95% CI [0.1, 3.4]) compared with CSB+. Compared with the increase in Hb in CSB+ group, there was a reduction in Hb in WFC of −0.9 g dl(−1) (95% CI [−1.3, −0.5]) and a lower increase in WFL −0.4 g dl(−1) (95% CI [−0.8, 0.0]). In conclusion, the tested WinFoods had the same effect on FFM and length as CSB+, whereas Hb and iron status decreased, suggesting inhibited iron bioavailability from the amaranth‐based WinFoods.

Renewable biofuels are required as a substitute to fossil-derived transport fuels, which are of limited availability and contribute to global warming. Microalgae are a potential source of renewable energy, and they can be converted into energy such as biodiesel. The aim of this study was optimization of microalgae cultivation conditions in a Flat Plate Photobioreactor (FPPBR) for biodiesel production at pilot scale using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The simulations were done at photon flux density of 70, 95 and 120 µmolphotonsm-2s-1 growth rates of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 h-1 and biomass concentration of 2, 2.5 and 3 gL-1. Design expert software was used to generate the experimental design, statistical analysis, and regression models. The results showed that the optimum point for growing microalgae in a FPPBR with RSM method can be achieved at photon flux density of 70 µmolphotonsm-2s-1, growth rate of 0.3 h-1 and biomass concentration of 3 gL-1. On the other hand, optimum point with GA method can also be obtained at 70 µmolphotonsm-2s-1, growth rate of 0.3 h-1 and biomass concentration of 3 gL-1. These results show that GA and RSM can be effectively used to optimize the cultivation conditions of microalgae in photobioreactors. Validation of the model should be done by physical experiments and further research should be done to improve the model and simultaneously study more regressor variables.

Background The decline in global malaria cases is attributed to intensified utilization of primary vector control interventions and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). These strategies are inadequate in many rural areas, thus adopting locally appropriate integrated malaria control strategies is imperative in these heterogeneous settings. This study aimed at investigating trends and local knowledge on malaria and to develop a framework for malaria control for communities in Baringo, Kenya. Methods Clinical malaria cases obtained from four health facilities in the riverine and lowland zones were used to analyse malaria trends for the 2005–2014 period. A mixed method approach integrating eight focus group discussions, 12 key informant interviews, 300 survey questionnaires and two stakeholders’ consultative forums were used to assess local knowledge on malaria risk and develop a framework for malaria reduction. Results Malaria cases increased significantly during the 2005–2014 period (tau = 0.352; p

The global increase in vector borne diseases has been linked to climate change. Seasonal vegetation changes are known to influence disease vector population. However, the relationship is more theoretical than quantitatively defined. There is a growing demand for understanding and prediction of climate sensitive vector borne disease risks especially in regions where meteorological data are lacking. This study aimed at analyzing and quantitatively assessing the seasonal and year-to-year association between climatic factors (rainfall and temperature) and vegetation cover, and its implications for malaria risks in Baringo County, Kenya. Remotely sensed temperature, rainfall, and vegetation data for the period 2004-2015 were used. Poisson regression was used to model the association between malaria cases and climatic and environmental factors for the period 2009-2012, this being the period for which all datasets overlapped. A strong positive relationship was observed between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and monthly total precipitation. There was a strong negative relationship between NDVI and minimum temperature. The total monthly rainfall (between 94 -181mm), average monthly minimum temperatures (between 16-21°C) and mean monthly NDVI values lower than 0.35 were significantly associated with malaria incidence rates. Results suggests that a combination of climatic and vegetation greenness thresholds need to be met for malaria incidence to be significantly increased in the county. Planning for malaria control can therefore be enhanced by incorporating these factors in malaria risk mapping.

We present spectroscopic confirmation of five galaxy clusters at $1.25 < \textit{z} < 1.5$, discovered in the $2500$ deg$^{2}$ South Pole Telescope Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) survey. These clusters, taken from a mass-limited sample with a nearly redshift independent selection function, have multi-wavelength follow-up imaging data from the X-ray to near-infrared, and currently form the most homogeneous massive high-redshift cluster sample known. We identify $44$ member galaxies, along with $25$ field galaxies, among the five clusters, and describe the full set of observations and data products from Magellan/LDSS3 multi-object spectroscopy of these cluster fields. We briefly describe the analysis pipeline, and present ensemble analyses of cluster member galaxies that demonstrate the reliability of the measured redshifts. We report $\textit{z} = 1.259, 1.288, 1.316, 1.401$ and $1.474$ for the five clusters from a combination of absorption-line (Ca II H$\&$K doublet - $3968,3934$ ��) and emission-line ([OII] $3727,3729$ ��) spectral features. Moreover, the calculated velocity dispersions yield dynamical cluster masses in good agreement with SZ masses for these clusters. We discuss the velocity and spatial distributions of passive and [OII]-emitting galaxies in these clusters, showing that they are consistent with velocity segregation and biases observed in lower redshift SPT clusters. We identify modest [OII] emission and pronounced CN and H$��$ absorption in a stacked spectrum of $28$ passive galaxies with Ca II H$\&$K-derived redshifts. This work increases the number of spectroscopically-confirmed SZ-selected galaxy clusters at $\textit{z} > 1.25$ from three to eight, further demonstrating the efficacy of SZ selection for the highest redshift massive clusters, and enabling detailed study of these systems., 21 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables, submitted to ApJ

We present a multi-wavelength analysis of the four most relaxed clusters in the South Pole Telescope 2500 deg^2 survey, which lie at 0.55 < z < 0.75. This study, which utilizes new, deep data from Chandra and Hubble, along with ground-based spectroscopy from Gemini and Magellan, improves significantly on previous studies in both depth and angular resolution, allowing us to directly compare to clusters at z~0. We find that the temperature, density, and entropy profiles of the intracluster medium (ICM) are very similar among the four clusters, and share similar shapes to clusters at z~0. Specifically, we find no evidence for deviations from self similarity in the temperature profile over the radial range 10kpc < r < 1Mpc, implying that the processes responsible for preventing runaway cooling over the past >6 Gyr are, at least roughly, preserving self similarity. We find typical metallicities of ~0.3 Zsun in the bulk of the ICM, rising to ~0.5 Zsun in the inner ~100 kpc, and reaching ~1 Zsun at r < 10kpc. This central excess is similar in magnitude to what is observed in the most relaxed clusters at z~0, suggesting that both the global metallicity and the central excess that we see in cool core clusters at z~0 were in place very early in the cluster lifetime and, specifically, that the central excess is not due to late-time enrichment by the central galaxy. Consistent with observations at z~0, we measure a diversity of stellar populations in the central brightest cluster galaxies of these four clusters, with star formation rates spanning a factor of ~500, despite the similarity in cooling time, cooling rate, and central entropy. These data suggest that, while the details vary dramatically from system to system, runaway cooling has been broadly regulated in relaxed clusters over the past 6 Gyr., 15 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to ApJ. Comments welcome!

We measure the cross-correlation between redMaGiC galaxies selected from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year-1 data and gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) reconstructed from South Pole Telescope (SPT) and Planck data over 1289 sq. deg. When combining measurements across multiple galaxy redshift bins spanning the redshift range of $0.15, Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures

Aims: Immune-mediated mechanism, such as deposition of complement (C3b) on erythrocytes leading to enhanced receptor-mediated uptake by macrophages has been proposed to contribute

Application of edible insects in complementary food production has not been studied much. This study developed and evaluated complementary foods based on edible termites to combat child malnutrition in Kenya. Two complementary foods, Winfood Classic (W-C; containing termites and dagaa fish) and Winfood Lite (W-L; without termites and dagaa fish) were formulated and processed by extrusion cooking. Their nutrient content, functional properties, storage stability and cost of the foods were evaluated using standard methods. W-C contained significantly higher (P3 in complementary foods. The foods were shelf stable for 6 months of storage with neither pathogenic microorganisms nor aflatoxins reported. Peroxide value was below the limits (≤10 meq/kg) after 6 months of storage. Production cost of the foods was 3.21 and 2.23 US$/kg for W-C and W-L, respectively, with termites contributing 42.3% of the basic cost of production in W-C. The study confirms that termites and dagaa fish can be utilised in processing of affordable and safe complementary foods with adequate nutrient density.

Agriculture is a leading source of employment for rural populations in Kenya. Through a mixed methods approach, this study sought to investigate youth participation in smallholder livestock production and marketing in Baringo County. The specific focus is on how social norms and micropolitics enable or constrain participation of particular groups of young people. The study established that personal choice, preference for paid over unpaid labour and gender norms in asset access, ownership and control influence smallholder participation in livestock production and trade. This shows a disconnect between Kenya’s youth policy which advocates for equitable distribution of employment opportunities and the reality at community level. Interventions that seek to improve livestock production and marketing, particularly involving young people, should therefore adopt strategies that recognise these norms as a first step to addressing social exclusion.

Vector populations fluctuate on a seasonal basis annually. Knowledge on seasonal abundance and distribution of vector species at the local level would improve vector control programmes and contribute to malaria prevention. Despite this, information on malaria vector species distribution and seasonal fluctuations in Baringo County is scarce. This study examined distribution and seasonal abundance of malaria vector species in Baringo. The study area was stratified into four ecological zones namely; lowland, riverine, midland and highland. Monthly collection of outdoor and indoor mosquitoes was conducted between June 2015 and May 2016 using CDC light traps and pyrethrum spray collection respectively. A total of 6,113 anopheline mosquitoes belonging to four species were collected across the four ecological zones. Anopheles gambiae was the most abundant malaria vector species accounting for (93.8%) while An. pharoensis and An . funestus accounted for 4.8% and 1.1% respectively. Mosquitoes were mainly collected from lowlands (79.8%) and riverine (19.0%) zones. Malaria vector abundance was higher in the dry season compared to the rainy season. Anopheles gambiae abundance showed high positive correlation with rainfall in the riverine zone only (r=0.7). Knowledge gained from this study, on malaria vector species distribution and seasonal abundance at local level, is important in implementation of control strategies against malaria by the Baringo County Health Department. The findings highlight the seasons when malaria cases are likely to be higher due to vector abundance and also inform specific areas to target for intervention.

We estimate total mass ($M_{500}$), intracluster medium (ICM) mass ($M_{\mathrm{ICM}}$) and stellar mass ($M_{\star}$) in a Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect (SZE) selected sample of 91 galaxy clusters with masses $M_{500}\gtrsim2.5\times10^{14}M_{\odot}$ and redshift $0.2 < z < 1.25$ from the 2500 deg$^2$ South Pole Telescope SPT-SZ survey. The total masses $M_{500}$ are estimated from the SZE observable, the ICM masses $M_{\mathrm{ICM}}$ are obtained from the analysis of $Chandra$ X-ray observations, and the stellar masses $M_{\star}$ are derived by fitting spectral energy distribution templates to Dark Energy Survey (DES) $griz$ optical photometry and $WISE$ or $Spitzer$ near-infrared photometry. We study trends in the stellar mass, the ICM mass, the total baryonic mass and the cold baryonic fraction with cluster mass and redshift. We find significant departures from self-similarity in the mass scaling for all quantities, while the redshift trends are all statistically consistent with zero, indicating that the baryon content of clusters at fixed mass has changed remarkably little over the past $\approx9$ Gyr. We compare our results to the mean baryon fraction (and the stellar mass fraction) in the field, finding that these values lie above (below) those in cluster virial regions in all but the most massive clusters at low redshift. Using a simple model of the matter assembly of clusters from infalling groups with lower masses and from infalling material from the low density environment or field surrounding the parent halos, we show that the measured mass trends without strong redshift trends in the stellar mass scaling relation could be explained by a mass and redshift dependent fractional contribution from field material. Similar analyses of the ICM and baryon mass scaling relations provide evidence for the so-called "missing baryons" outside cluster virial regions., Accepted by MNRAS with further clarification and discussion of the mass calibration added

Aims: Erythrocyte complement regulatory proteins, complement receptor 1 (CR1) and decay accelerating factor (CD55) protect red blood cells (RBCs) from complement mediated damage by controlling complement activation cascade and potentially protect RBCs from complement mediated damage that may occur when immune complexes are Research Article International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 3(2): 133-147, 2013 134 formed following malaria infection. Given the important role of RBCs in regulation of complement activation, we considered the competence of sickle cell trait RBCs in these functions. Methods: Children (age 0-192 months; n=116) were enrolled in a nested case controlled study conducted in Kombewa Division, Kisumu west District between October and December 2004. Based on hemoglobin (Hb) type, children were stratified into those with HbAS (n=47) and HbAA (n=69). The 47 HbAS individuals were matched to the 69 HbAA individuals of similar age (± 2 months or ± 24 months for those below or more than 192 months, respectively) at a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2. Circulating CR1 levels and CD levels were quantified using a FACScan cytometer under normal and reduced oxygen saturation. Results: The mean CR1 copy numbers per RBC was comparable in the two groups. However, between the ages of 49-192 months, the mean CR1 copy numbers per erythrocyte was significantly higher in children who had HbAS compared to those with HbAA (P=0.0332). The mean CD55 levels were comparable between the two groups but after deoxygenation, the mean CD levels in RBCs of individuals with HbAS was significantly higher than in the HbAA (P=0.011). Conclusion: The mean CR1 and CD55 copy numbers per RBC were comparable between the two groups under normal and reduced oxygen saturation. Beyond the age of 49 months, the CR1 copy numbers was higher in the HbAS compared to HbAA and this was also true for CD55 levels under deoxygenated conditions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that in the younger age groups, the protection afforded by HbAS against severe manifestations of malaria may be due to other factors other than complement regulatory proteins but beyond the age of 49 months, this protection may be partly due to the high CR1 copy numbers in the HbAS individuals.

Aims: Malaria infection leads to the formation of circulating immune complexes (CICs) which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of complicated malaria which includes severe malarial anemia. Children with sickle cell trait (HbAS) are less predisposed to getting severe manifestations of malaria. We carried out a study to determine the competence of the red blood cells (RBCs) of children with HbAS to bind immune complexes (ICs) and compared this with normal hemoglobin (HbAA). Methods: Children (aged 0-192 months) were enrolled in a nested case controlled study

We aimed to determine whether endothelial activation biomarkers increase after HIV-1 acquisition, and whether biomarker levels measured in chronic infection would predict disease progression and death in HIV-1 seroconverters.HIV-1-seronegative Kenyan women were monitored monthly for seroconversion, and followed prospectively after HIV-1 acquisition.Plasma levels of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-1, ANG-2) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin were tested in stored samples from pre-infection, acute infection, and two chronic infection time points. We used nonparametric tests to compare biomarkers before and after HIV-1 acquisition, and Cox proportional-hazards regression to analyze associations with disease progression (CD4200 cells/μl, stage IV disease, or antiretroviral therapy initiation) or death.Soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were elevated relative to baseline in all postinfection periods assessed (P0.0001). Soluble E-selectin and the ANG-2:ANG-1 ratio increased in acute infection (P = 0.0001), and ANG-1 decreased in chronic infection (P = 0.0004). Among 228 participants followed over 1028 person-years, 115 experienced disease progression or death. Plasma VCAM-1 levels measured during chronic infection were independently associated with time to HIV progression or death (adjusted hazard ratio 5.36, 95% confidence interval 1.99-14.44 per log10 increase), after adjustment for set point plasma viral load, age at infection, and soluble ICAM-1 levels.HIV-1 acquisition was associated with endothelial activation, with sustained elevations of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 postinfection. Soluble VCAM-1 may be an informative biomarker for predicting the risk of HIV-1 disease progression, morbidity, and mortality.

The objective of this study was to gain knowledge on the nutrient composition of Macrotermes subhylanus , Pseudacanthotermes militaris , Macrotermes bellicosus and Pseudacanthotermes spiniger termite species consumed in western Kenya. Proximate, iron, zinc, calcium and fatty acid composition were analysed in order to ascertain their potential in food-based strategies to improve nutritional health. The fat content was 44.82–47.31 g/100 g, protein 33.51–39.74 g/100 g, available carbohydrate 0.72–8.73 g/100 g, iron 53.33–115.97 mg/100 g and zinc 7.10–12.86 mg/100 g. The level of unsaturated fatty acids was 50.54–67.83%, while n-6:n-3 ratio ranged between 5.80:1.00 and 57.70:1.00, signifying potential nutritional and public health significance. The termites may be exploited to provide high-quality diets especially in the developing countries, which have been plagued by iron and zinc deficiencies as well as poor supply of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid sources.

The present study aimed at determining whether short-term exposure to art in shared common areas in congregate housing units could affect health and health determinants among the residents. Ten residents (mean age 80.4 years) at one block were exposed to visual art environmental enrichment in common areas over a period of three months. Thirteen persons (mean age 86.6 years) living in another block played in-house boule. Cornell’s test, Mini-Mental tests (MMT), and face recognition test were performed to assess depression, cognition, and episodic memory, respectively before and after the intervention. The results show that visual art environmental enrichment in common areas and lack of stimulating and guiding dialogues show a change in depression scores in the intervention group (p = 0.018) and the control group (p = 0.009). MMT scores improved only in the control group (p = 0.003). No changes in episodic memory in any of the groups were observed. It could be concluded that in order to obtain a positive result of short term visual art environmental enrichment, guiding art dialogues conducted by nurses, as described in previous research, should be added to visual art environmental enrichment in healthcare settings.

We present the results of an X-ray spectral analysis of 153 galaxy clusters observed with the Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Suzaku space telescopes. These clusters, which span 0 < z < 1.5, were drawn from a larger, mass-selected sample of galaxy clusters discovered in the 2500 square degree South Pole Telescope Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SPT-SZ) survey. With a total combined exposure time of 9.1 Ms, these data yield the strongest constraints to date on the evolution of the metal content of the intracluster medium (ICM). We find no evidence for strong evolution in the global (r = 0.23 +/- 0.01 Zsun and a scatter of 0.08 +/- 0.01 Zsun. These results imply that >60% of the metals in the ICM were already in place at z=1 (at 95% confidence), consistent with the picture of an early (z>1) enrichment. We find, in agreement with previous works, a significantly higher mean value for the metallicity in the centers of cool core clusters versus non-cool core clusters. We find weak evidence for evolution in the central metallicity of cool core clusters (dZ/dz = -0.21 +/- 0.11 Zsun), which is sufficient to account for this enhanced central metallicity over the past ~10 Gyr. We find no evidence for metallicity evolution outside of the core (dZ/dz = -0.03 +/- 0.06 Zsun), and no significant difference in the core-excised metallicity between cool core and non-cool core clusters. This suggests that strong radio-mode AGN feedback does not significantly alter the distribution of metals at r>0.15R500. Given the limitations of current-generation X-ray telescopes in constraining the ICM metallicity at z>1, significant improvements on this work will likely require next-generation X-ray missions., 11 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to ApJ. Comments welcome!

BACKGROUND Our goal in the present study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of genital warts in a population of female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. Because of the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in this population, we were particularly interested in the association between HIV-1 infection and genital warts. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of the prevalence and correlates of genital warts among high-risk women in Mombasa, Kenya. Between 2001 and 2007, 1182 women were enrolled, of whom 613 (51.4%) were HIV-1 seropositive. Chi square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the associations between genital warts and potential correlates. RESULTS Genital warts were identified on clinical examination in 27 (2.3%) women. Women who were HIV-1 seropositive were nearly 8 times as likely to have genital warts compared with HIV-1-seronegative women (odds ratio, 7.69; 95% confidence interval, 2.30-25.6). CONCLUSION Understanding the prevalence and correlates of genital warts will help to determine whether coverage for the wart-inducing subtypes 6 and 11 in a human papillomavirus vaccine is an important consideration in resource-limited countries.

Aims: The frequency of the mutant gene for sickle cell is widely distributed in the subSaharan Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. There is epidemiologic evidence that sickle cell trait confers a survival advantage against malaria and that the selection pressure due to malaria has resulted in high frequencies of the mutant gene in areas of high malaria transmission. We carried out a study to look at the relationship between sickle cell trait, age, haemoglobin level, and malaria parasite density. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study between the months of October and December, 2004 in Kombewa Division of Kisumu West District, a P. falciparum malaria

Respiratory abnormalities are common causes of decreased performance in horses presumably because of impaired pulmonary gas exchange. The objectives of the present study were to describe respiratory abnormalities in poorly performing horses and to investigate the relationships between dynamic upper respiratory tract (URT) videoendoscopy, postexercising bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, and exercising arterial blood gas analysis. Medical records of 93 horses with exercise intolerance, which presented for treadmill evaluation, were reviewed. Relationships between horse demographics, treadmill endoscopic findings, exercising blood gas values, and BAL cytology results were examined. A total of 25 (27%) horses had a URT obstruction and 91 (98%) horses had abnormal BAL cytology; 73 (78%) had evidence of inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and 83 (89%) had exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). In all, 39 (42%) horses had abnormal blood gas values. Dynamic URT obstruction was significantly associated with exercising hypoxemia ( P = .036). There were no significant relationships between gas exchange and IAD or between EIPH. Out of 24 (26%) horses with combined URT obstruction and abnormal BAL, horses with URT obstruction and EIPH were more likely to be hypoxic during exercise ( P = .037). It was concluded that horses with dynamic URT abnormalities are likely to have exercising hypoxemia. Although IAD and EIPH were commonly indentified in poor performers, they were not significantly associated with abnormal exercising blood gas analysis.

Summary Reasons for performing study: Although well documented in racehorses, there is paucity in the literature regarding the prevalence of dynamic upper airway abnormalities in nonracing performance horses. Objective: To describe upper airway function of nonracing performance horses with abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance via exercising upper airway videoendoscopy. Methods: Medical records of nonracing performance horses admitted for exercising evaluation with a chief complaint of abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance were reviewed. All horses had video recordings of resting and exercising upper airway endoscopy. Relationships between horse demographics, resting endoscopic findings, treadmill intensity and implementation of head and neck flexion during exercise with exercising endoscopic findings were examined. Results: Dynamic upper airway obstructions were observed in 72% of examinations. Head and neck flexion was necessary to obtain a diagnosis in 21 horses. Pharyngeal wall collapse was the most prevalent upper airway abnormality, observed in 31% of the examinations. Complex abnormalities were noted in 27% of the examinations. Resting laryngeal dysfunction was significantly associated with dynamic arytenoid collapse and the odds of detecting intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) during exercise in horses with resting DDSP was only 7.7%. Exercising endoscopic observations were different from the resting observations in 54% of examinations. Conclusions: Dynamic upper airway obstructions were common in nonracing performance horses with respiratory noise and/or poor performance. Resting endoscopy was only helpful in determining exercising abnormalities with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. Potential relevance: This study emphasises the importance of exercising endoscopic evaluation in nonracing performance horses with abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance for accurate assessment of dynamic upper airway function.

Objective: To (1) assess upper airway function by videoendoscopy in horses performing poorly after laryngoplasty and (2) establish whether dynamic collapse of the left arytenoid can be predicted by the degree of resting postsurgical abduction. Study Design: Case series. Animals: Horses that had left laryngoplasty (n=45). Methods: Medical records (June 1993–December 2007) of horses evaluated for abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance after laryngoplasty were reviewed. Horses with video recordings of resting and exercising upper airway endoscopy were included and postsurgical abduction categorized. Horses with immediate postoperative endoscopy recordings were also evaluated and postsurgical abduction categorized. Relationships between resting postsurgical abduction and historical information with exercising endoscopic findings were examined. Results: Dynamic collapse of the left arytenoid cartilage was probable in horses with no postsurgical abduction and could not be predicted in horses with grade 3 or 4 postsurgical abduction. Respiratory noise was associated with upper airway obstruction but was not specific for arytenoid collapse. Most horses with a left vocal fold had billowing of the fold during exercise. Other forms of dynamic collapse involved the right vocal fold, aryepiglottic folds, corniculate process of left arytenoid cartilage, dorsal displacement of soft palate, and pharyngeal collapse. Complex obstructions were observed in most examinations and in all horses with exercising collapse of the left arytenoid cartilage. Conclusions: There was no relationship between exercising collapse of the left arytenoid cartilage and grade 3 or 4 postsurgical abduction but was likely in horses with no abduction.

Mobile (cell) phone communication has been suggested as a method to improve delivery of health services. However, data on the effects of mobile health technology on patient outcomes in resource-limited settings are limited. We aimed to assess whether mobile phone communication between health-care workers and patients starting antiretroviral therapy in Kenya improved drug adherence and suppression of plasma HIV-1 RNA load.WelTel Kenya1 was a multisite randomised clinical trial of HIV-infected adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in three clinics in Kenya. Patients were randomised (1:1) by simple randomisation with a random number generating program to a mobile phone short message service (SMS) intervention or standard care. Patients in the intervention group received weekly SMS messages from a clinic nurse and were required to respond within 48 h. Randomisation, laboratory assays, and analyses were done by investigators masked to treatment allocation; however, study participants and clinic staff were not masked to treatment. Primary outcomes were self-reported ART adherence (95% of prescribed doses in the past 30 days at both 6 and 12 month follow-up visits) and plasma HIV-1 viral RNA load suppression (400 copies per mL) at 12 months. The primary analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00830622.Between May, 2007, and October, 2008, we randomly assigned 538 participants to the SMS intervention (n=273) or to standard care (n=265). Adherence to ART was reported in 168 of 273 patients receiving the SMS intervention compared with 132 of 265 in the control group (relative risk [RR] for non-adherence 0·81, 95% CI 0·69-0·94; p=0·006). Suppressed viral loads were reported in 156 of 273 patients in the SMS group and 128 of 265 in the control group, (RR for virologic failure 0·84, 95% CI 0·71-0·99; p=0·04). The number needed to treat (NNT) to achieve greater than 95% adherence was nine (95% CI 5·0-29·5) and the NNT to achieve viral load suppression was 11 (5·8-227·3).Patients who received SMS support had significantly improved ART adherence and rates of viral suppression compared with the control individuals. Mobile phones might be effective tools to improve patient outcome in resource-limited settings.US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The paper uses the DEA technique to estimate efficiency scores in Kenyan public hospitals and then applies the Tobit regression to study inter-hospital variation in the scores. The DEA analysis reveals that small hospitals are more efficient than large hospitals, with efficiency levels ranging from 74-91% in small DMUs and from 57-78% in large DMUs. Tobit regression analysis shows efficiency scores are negatively correlated with the hospital’s distance from the manager’s residence and from the capital city. Internal and external supervisions are suggested as mechanisms for increasing performance of hospitals.

Attendance at cultural events is associated with better survival and self-rated health. This study aimed to determine whether attendance at cinemas, theater, art galleries, live music shows, and museums was associated with cancer-related mortality. A randomly selected, cancer-free cohort of Swedish adults aged 25–74 years (n = 9011), formed in 1990–91, was followed up to 31 December 2003. The outcome measure was cancer-related mortality. The main independent variable was a cultural attendance index. A proportional hazards analysis adjusted for age, sex, chronic conditions, disposable income, educational attainment, smoking status, leisure time physical activity, and urban/non-urban residency was conducted. Rare and moderate attendees were 3.23 (95% CI: 1.60–6.52) and 2.92 (95% CI: 1.52–5.62) times, respectively, more likely to die of cancer during the follow-up period than frequent attendees. The effect was observed only among residents of urban areas. The results, if replicated, imply that promoting atte...