Infection with Schistosoma mansoni has an Effect on Quality of Life, but not on Physical Fitness in Schoolchildren in Mwanza Region, North-Western Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Infection with Schistosoma mansoni negatively impact children's physical health and may influence their general well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of S. mansoni infections on a panel of morbidity indicators with emphasis on quality of life (PedsQL; measured in four different dimensions) and physical fitness (measured as VO2 max) among 572 schoolchildren aged 7-8 years. Prevalence of S. mansoni infections was 58.7%, with an arithmetic mean (95% CI) among positives of 207.3 (169.2-245.4) eggs per gram (epg). Most infections were light (56.5%), while 16.4% had heavy infections. Girls had significantly higher arithmetic mean intensities (95% CI) than boys (247.4 (189.2-305.6) vs. 153.2 (110.6-195.8); P = 0.004). A total of 30.1% were anaemic with no sex difference. Stunting and wasting was found in less than 10% of the population. There was no association between S. mansoni prevalence or intensities and the following parameters: anthropometry, anaemia, liver or spleen pathology in neither univariable nor multivariable linear regression analyses. However, in univariable analyses children with S. mansoni infection had a significantly lower score in emotional PedsQL (95% CI) than uninfected (77.3 (74.5-80.1) vs. 82.7 (79.9-85.5); P = 0.033) and infected children had a higher VO2 max (95% CI) compared to uninfected (51.4 (51.0-51.8) vs. 50.8 (50.3-51.3); P = 0.042). In multivariable linear regression analyses, age, S. mansoni infection, haemoglobin and VO2 max were significant predictors for emotional PedsQL while significant predictors for VO2 max were physical PedsQL, height, age and haemoglobin. S. mansoni infection was thus not retained in the multivariable regression analyses on VO2 max. Of the measured morbidity parameters, S. mansoni infection had a significant effect on the emotional dimension of quality of life, but not on physical fitness. If PedsQL should be a useful tool to measure schistosome related morbidity, more in depth studies are needed in order to refine the tool so it focuses more on aspects of quality of life that may be affected by schistosome infections

Statistical modelling of conidial discharge of entomophthoralean fungi using a newly discovered Pandora species

Entomophthoralean fungi are insect pathogenic fungi and are characterized by their active discharge of infective conidia that infect insects. Our aim was to study the effects of temperature on the discharge and to characterize the variation in the associated temporal pattern of a newly discovered Pandora species with focus on peak location and shape of the discharge. Mycelia were incubated at various temperatures in darkness, and conidial discharge was measured over time. We used a novel modification of a statistical model (pavpop), that simultaneously estimates phase and amplitude effects, into a setting of generalized linear models. This model is used to test hypotheses of peak location and discharge of conidia. The statistical analysis showed that high temperature leads to an early and fast decreasing peak, whereas there were no significant differences in total number of discharged conidia. Using the proposed model we also quantified the biological variation in the timing of the peak location at a fixed temperature.Comment: 23 pages including supplementary materia

Statistical modelling of conidial discharge of entomophthoralean fungi using a newly discovered Pandora species

Entomophthoralean fungi are insect pathogenic fungi and are characterized by their active discharge of infective conidia that infect insects. Our aim was to study the effects of temperature on the discharge and to characterize the variation in the associated temporal pattern of a newly discovered Pandora species with focus on peak location and shape of the discharge. Mycelia were incubated at various temperatures in darkness, and conidial discharge was measured over time. We used a novel modification of a statistical model (pavpop), that simultaneously estimates phase and amplitude effects, into a setting of generalized linear models. This model is used to test hypotheses of peak location and discharge of conidia. The statistical analysis showed that high temperature leads to an early and fast decreasing peak, whereas there were no significant differences in total number of discharged conidia. Using the proposed model we also quantified the biological variation in the timing of the peak location at a fixed temperature

Educators, Bell Curves, and Rousseau

This essay examines the differences between two universities (neither named) that value and reward very different teaching strategies and philosophies. Whereas one has esteem for “tough” professors with high drop and fail rates, seeing them as educators with high standards and principles, the second aligns itself more closely with today’s best practices in the academy, and seeks educators who nurture the talents, abilities, and unique qualities of individual students

Prevalence of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium on three organic pig farms in Denmark

Pigs are potential sources of contamination with Cryptosporidium spp., which can lead to infection in humans. Cryptosporidiosis in humans is primarily caused by two species, C. hominis and the zoonotic C. parvum, however, other species including C. suis and C. scrofarum are able to cause zoonotic infection. The oocysts can survive for long periods in the environment and are able to resist most disinfectants. In order to estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in organic pigs and to improve knowledge of the epidemiology, the oocyst excretion was monitored at quarterly intervals during the period September 2011 to June 2012 in each of three organic, Danish pig farms. Faecal samples for examination of Cryptosporidium spp. were collected from 994 pigs allocated into four age groups, piglets (n = 161), weaners (n = 315), fatteners (n = 232) and sows (n = 286), distributed on the three farms and four sampling times. Oocysts were quantified by immunofluorescence microscopy, and the overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was found to be 38%. The prevalence varied significantly between age groups with 45% piglets, 65% weaners, 40% fatteners and 3% sows found positive. No significant difference in the overall prevalence was detected between farms or seasons. Intensity of infection was age dependent with piglets and weaners having the highest oocyst excretion. No clear differences in the intensity of infections were seen between the four sampling times, but an apparent correlation was observed between number of positive sows and number of piglets with massive oocyst excretion (>105 oocysts per gram faeces ( OPG). Nine of the ten animals with highest OPG originated from the same farm which also had the highest prevalence in sows. Molecular characterisation of the collected Cryptosporidium isolates is ongoing and will reveal the zoonotic potential as well as the genetic variation between farms, seasons and age groups