Формообразование прецизионных плоских оптических поверхностей при полировании

Regularities of forming surface of the article and wear of working layer of the tool depending on process and kinematical parameters of polishing, coefficients of wear of tool material for existent technological schemes of machining have been reveale. Methods of calculations of production capacity of polishing flat precise of optical articles and filling coefficients of surface of the tool by working layer, which insure its regular wear

What Are the Contextual Enablers and Impacts of Using Digital Technology to Extend Maternal and Child Health Services to Rural Areas? Findings of a Qualitative Study From Nigeria

Background: Strengthening health systems to improve access to maternity services remains challenging for Nigeria due partly to weak and irregular in-service training and deficient data management. This paper reports the implementation of digital health tools for video training (VTR) of health workers and digitization of health data at scale, supported by satellite communications (SatCom) technology and existing 3G mobile networks. Objective: To understand whether, and under what circumstances using digital interventions to extend maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services to remote areas of Nigeria improved standards of healthcare delivery. Methods: From March 2017 to March 2019, VTR and data digitization interventions were delivered in 126 facilities across three states of Nigeria. Data collection combined documents review with 294 semi-structured interviews of stakeholders across four phases (baseline, midline, endline, and 12-months post-project closedown) to assess acceptability and impacts of digital interventions. Data was analyzed using a framework approach, drawing on a modified Technology Acceptance Model to identify factors that shaped technology adoption and use. Results: Analysis of documents and interview transcripts revealed that a supportive policy environment, and track record of private-public partnerships facilitated adoption of technology. The determinants of technology acceptance among health workers included ease of use, perceived usefulness, and prior familiarity with technology. Perceptions of impact suggested that at the micro (individual) level, repeated engagement with clinical videos increased staff knowledge, motivation and confidence to perform healthcare roles. At meso (organizational) level, better-trained staff felt supported and empowered to provide respectful healthcare and improved management of obstetric complications, triggering increased use of MNCH services. The macro level saw greater use of reliable and accurate data for policymaking. Conclusions: Simultaneous and sustained implementation of VTR and data digitization at scale enabled through SatCom and 3G mobile networks are feasible approaches for supporting improvements in staff confidence and motivation and reported MNCH practices. By identifying mechanisms of impact of digital interventions on micro, meso, and macro levels of the health system, the study extends the evidence base for effectiveness of digital health and theoretical underpinnings to guide further technology use for improving MNCH services in low resource settings. Trial Registration: ISRCTN32105372

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women and cord blood hepatitis B surface antigen positive newborns in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

Background: Newborns infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) are at risk of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women and cord blood Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity of their newborns in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, and South Africa. Study design: Randomly selected paired maternal and cord blood samples (n = 101 each site) taken at delivery were tested for HBsAg and Hepatitis B extractable antigen (HBeAg) in the women using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Similarly, cord blood sample of newborn was assessed for HBsAg reactivity. HBV DNA was quantified using the Xpert® HBV viral load assay, followed by genotyping. Results: The overall prevalence of maternal HBsAg positivity was 5.5 % (95 %CI: 0.4 %–7.1 %; n = 50/909). HBsAg positivity was higher in African countries (7.3 %; 95 %CI: 5.4 %–9.6 %; n = 44/606) compared to South Asian countries (2.0 %; 95 %CI: 0.8 %–4.3 %; n = 6/303; p = 0.002). Relative to South Africa, there were higher odds of HBsAg sero-positivity in women from Mozambique ((aOR): 7.7, 95 %CI: 1.6 %–37.8 %) and Mali (aOR: 5.7; 95 %CI: 1.1 %–29.7 %). The rate of HBsAg positivity in cord blood of babies born to HBsAg positive women was 28.0 % (95 %CI: 17.1 %–42.3 %; n = 14/50), including 31.8 % (95 %CI: 19.5–47.4 %; n = 14/44) in African countries. No cord blood HBsAg positivity was observed in South Asia. Genotypic analysis revealed HBV genotypes A (41.7 %) and E (58.3 %) were pre-dominant. Conclusion: The high rate of cord blood positivity (28.0 %) for HBsAg underscores the urgency of enhancing HBV prevention strategies to meet the World Health Organization's target of a 90 % reduction in new HBV infections by 2030.</p

Sero-epidemiology of measles Immunoglobulin G antibodies among newborn from South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa: an observational, multicentre study.

ObjectivesTo investigate the transplacental acquisition of measles immunoglobulin (Ig)G in newborns at delivery in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, and South Africa.MethodsArchived cord serum, from a multicenter study on Group B Streptococcus, were tested for measles IgG using a commercial enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We tested 323 randomly selected samples from each of the sites. Models using various measles antibody decay rates in infancy were explored.ResultsOverall, 2,907 cord serum samples were analyzed. At birth, 49.9% of newborns were measles IgG seronegative. Measles seronegativity ranged from 21.7% in Nigeria to 73.4% in Bhutan. The adjusted odds of seronegativity in infants of mothers born after measles vaccination implementation was 1.78 times that for infants born to unvaccinated mothers (adjusted odds ratio 1.78; 95% confidence interval 1.43-2.21; P &lt;0.001). Modeling measles-IgG kinetics predicted that 70.8%, 88.3%, and 100% of infants would be seronegative by 2, 4, and 6 months, respectively, without further exposure.ConclusionsOur findings suggest low transplacental acquisition of measles IgG in newborns, which is likely to yield susceptibility to measles infection at a very young age. The currently recommended measles vaccine schedules in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with the first dose recommended from 9 months of age and onward, warrant reconsideration, including the need for earlier dosing schedules.</p

Impact of using eHealth tools to extend health services to rural areas of Nigeria: protocol for a mixed-method, non-randomised cluster trial

Introduction: eHealth solutions that use internet and related technologies to deliver and enhance health services and information are emerging as novel approaches to support healthcare delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. Using digital technology in this way can support cost-effectiveness of care delivery and extend the reach of services to remote locations. Despite the burgeoning literature on eHealth approaches, little is known about the effectiveness of eHealth tools for improving the quality and efficiency of health systems functions or client outcomes in resource-limited countries. eHealth tools including satellite communications are currently being implemented at scale, to extend health services to rural areas of Nigeria, in Ondo and Kano States and the Federal Capital Territory. This paper shares the protocol for a 2-year project (‘EXTEND’) that aims to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on health system functions and health outcomes. Methodology and analysis: This multisite, mixed-method evaluation includes a non-randomised, cluster trial design. The study comprises three phases—baseline, midline and endline evaluations—that involve: (1) process evaluation of video training and digitisation of health data interventions; (2) evaluation of contextual influences on the implementation of interventions; and (3) impact evaluation of results of the project. A convergent mixed-method model will be adopted to allow integration of quantitative and qualitative findings to achieve study objectives. Multiple quantitative and qualitative datasets will be repeatedly analysed and triangulated to facilitate better understanding of impact of eHealth tools on health worker knowledge, quality and efficiency of health systems and client outcomes. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approvals were obtained from the University of Leeds and three States’ Ministries of Health in Nigeria. All data collected for this study will be anonymised and reports will not contain information that could identify respondents. Study findings will be presented to Ministries of Health at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number: ISRCTN32105372; Pre-results

Genetic Variations and Haplotype Diversity of the UGT1 Gene Cluster in the Chinese Population

Vertebrates require tremendous molecular diversity to defend against numerous small hydrophobic chemicals. UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are a large family of detoxification enzymes that glucuronidate xenobiotics and endobiotics, facilitating their excretion from the body. The UGT1 gene cluster contains a tandem array of variable first exons, each preceded by a specific promoter, and a common set of downstream constant exons, similar to the genomic organization of the protocadherin (Pcdh), immunoglobulin, and T-cell receptor gene clusters. To assist pharmacogenomics studies in Chinese, we sequenced nine first exons, promoter and intronic regions, and five common exons of the UGT1 gene cluster in a population sample of 253 unrelated Chinese individuals. We identified 101 polymorphisms and found 15 novel SNPs. We then computed allele frequencies for each polymorphism and reconstructed their linkage disequilibrium (LD) map. The UGT1 cluster can be divided into five linkage blocks: Block 9 (UGT1A9), Block 9/7/6 (UGT1A9, UGT1A7, and UGT1A6), Block 5 (UGT1A5), Block 4/3 (UGT1A4 and UGT1A3), and Block 3′ UTR. Furthermore, we inferred haplotypes and selected their tagSNPs. Finally, comparing our data with those of three other populations of the HapMap project revealed ethnic specificity of the UGT1 genetic diversity in Chinese. These findings have important implications for future molecular genetic studies of the UGT1 gene cluster as well as for personalized medical therapies in Chinese

Plasma Sex Steroid Levels and Steroidogenesis in the Gonad of the Self-fertilizing Fish Rivulus marmoratus

The mangrove killifish, Rivulus marmoratus, is the only known self-fertilizing vertebrate. This species is sexually dimorphic; sexually mature individuals are either hermaphrodite or primary and secondary males. Although the mangrove killifish has a unique reproductive strategy, there has been no study on the reproductive endocrinology of this species. Thus we investigated plasma sex steroid hormone levels and steroidogenesis in the gonads of R. marmoratus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma 17β-estradiol (E2) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) were detected both in hermaphrodite and in primary male. Ovarian follicles (follicle-enclosed oocytes) from hermaphrodites, which were categorized into early yolk stage and late yolk stage, and testis tissue of primary males were cultured with different concentrations of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) or testosterone (T) for 24 h. Production of T, E2, 11-KT and 17α-20 β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α,20β-P) in the medium from tissue culture were measured by ELISA. Early and late ovarian follicles of hermaphrodites and testis pieces of primary males synchronously secreted E2, 11-KT, and 17α,20β-P following incubation with OHP or T. We conclude that both hermaphrodite and primary male of the mangrove killifish secrete estrogen, androgen, and progestin synchronously

Sero-epidemiology of measles Immunoglobulin G antibodies among newborn from South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa: an observational, multicentre study.

Objectives To investigate the transplacental acquisition of measles immunoglobulin (Ig)G in newborns at delivery in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, and South Africa. Methods Archived cord serum, from a multicenter study on Group B Streptococcus, were tested for measles IgG using a commercial enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We tested 323 randomly selected samples from each of the sites. Models using various measles antibody decay rates in infancy were explored. Results Overall, 2,907 cord serum samples were analyzed. At birth, 49.9% of newborns were measles IgG seronegative. Measles seronegativity ranged from 21.7% in Nigeria to 73.4% in Bhutan. The adjusted odds of seronegativity in infants of mothers born after measles vaccination implementation was 1.78 times that for infants born to unvaccinated mothers (adjusted odds ratio 1.78; 95% confidence interval 1.43-2.21; P <0.001). Modeling measles-IgG kinetics predicted that 70.8%, 88.3%, and 100% of infants would be seronegative by 2, 4, and 6 months, respectively, without further exposure. Conclusions Our findings suggest low transplacental acquisition of measles IgG in newborns, which is likely to yield susceptibility to measles infection at a very young age. The currently recommended measles vaccine schedules in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with the first dose recommended from 9 months of age and onward, warrant reconsideration, including the need for earlier dosing schedules