Use of a Semi-field System to Evaluate the Efficacy of Topical Repellents under user Conditions Provides a Disease Exposure free Technique Comparable with Field Data.

Before topical repellents can be employed as interventions against arthropod bites, their efficacy must be established. Currently, laboratory or field tests, using human volunteers, are the main methods used for assessing the efficacy of topical repellents. However, laboratory tests are not representative of real life conditions under which repellents are used and field-testing potentially exposes human volunteers to disease. There is, therefore, a need to develop methods to test efficacy of repellents under real life conditions while minimizing volunteer exposure to disease. A lotion-based, 15% N, N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) repellent and 15% DEET in ethanol were compared to a placebo lotion in a 200 sq m (10 m x 20 m) semi-field system (SFS) against laboratory-reared Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes and in full field settings against wild malaria vectors and nuisance-biting mosquitoes. The average percentage protection against biting mosquitoes over four hours in the SFS and field setting was determined. A Poisson regression model was then used to determine relative risk of being bitten when wearing either of these repellents compared to the placebo. Average percentage protection of the lotion-based 15% DEET repellent after four hours of mosquito collection was 82.13% (95% CI 75.94-88.82) in the semi-field experiments and 85.10% (95% CI 78.97-91.70) in the field experiments. Average percentage protection of 15% DEET in ethanol after four hours was 71.29% (CI 61.77-82.28) in the semi-field system and 88.24% (84.45-92.20) in the field. Semi-field evaluation results were comparable to full-field evaluations, indicating that such systems could be satisfactorily used in measuring efficacy of topically applied mosquito repellents, thereby avoiding risks of exposure to mosquito-borne pathogens, associated with field testing

PRISON PROGRAMMING AND MISCONDUCT: EXAMINING VARIATIONS ACROSS PROGRAMS AND RACE/ETHNICITY

Prior literature has suggested that prison programs can influence the prevalence of disciplinary infractions in correctional facilities. However, there is less understanding of how the race and ethnicity of program participants may impact this relationship. The current study tests the relationship between prison program participation and misconduct, including how participation in different program categories and participant race and ethnicity are differentially associated with misconduct, using data from the Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (2004). Findings suggest that overall, participation in most forms of programming is associated with a higher likelihood of prison misconduct, with the exception of religious program participation. Tests comparing coefficients for black, Latino, and white participants across logistic regression models revealed no significant differences in how educational, vocational, and religious program participation relates to prison misconduct. Future research should evaluate time-series data to better account for temporal ordering and also examine how race and ethnicity might impact the relationship between other forms of prison programming and disciplinary infractions

Ecology: a prerequisite for malaria elimination and eradication

* Existing front-line vector control measures, such as insecticide-treated nets and residual sprays, cannot break the transmission cycle of Plasmodium falciparum in the most intensely endemic parts of Africa and the Pacific * The goal of malaria eradication will require urgent strategic investment into understanding the ecology and evolution of the mosquito vectors that transmit malaria * Priority areas will include understanding aspects of the mosquito life cycle beyond the blood feeding processes which directly mediate malaria transmission * Global commitment to malaria eradication necessitates a corresponding long-term commitment to vector ecolog

Entomological Surveillance of Behavioural Resilience and Resistance in Residual Malaria Vector Populations.

The most potent malaria vectors rely heavily upon human blood so they are vulnerable to attack with insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) within houses. Mosquito taxa that can avoid feeding or resting indoors, or by obtaining blood from animals, mediate a growing proportion of the dwindling transmission that persists as ITNs and IRS are scaled up. Increasing frequency of behavioural evasion traits within persisting residual vector systems usually reflect the successful suppression of the most potent and vulnerable vector taxa by IRS or ITNs, rather than their failure. Many of the commonly observed changes in mosquito behavioural patterns following intervention scale-up may well be explained by modified taxonomic composition and expression of phenotypically plastic behavioural preferences, rather than altered innate preferences of individuals or populations. Detailed review of the contemporary evidence base does not yet provide any clear-cut example of true behavioural resistance and is, therefore, consistent with the hypothesis presented. Caution should be exercised before over-interpreting most existing reports of increased frequency of behavioural traits which enable mosquitoes to evade fatal contact with insecticides: this may simply be the result of suppressing the most behaviourally vulnerable of the vector taxa that constituted the original transmission system. Mosquito taxa which have always exhibited such evasive traits may be more accurately described as behaviourally resilient, rather than resistant. Ongoing national or regional entomological monitoring surveys of physiological susceptibility to insecticides should be supplemented with biologically and epidemiologically meaningfully estimates of malaria vector population dynamics and the behavioural phenotypes that determine intervention impact, in order to design, select, evaluate and optimize the implementation of vector control measures

Divergent Goals and Commitments in Global Malaria Intervention

Anthony Kiszewski discusses the implications of a new study that finds that global malaria funding remains inadequate

Modelling the implications of stopping vector control for malaria control and elimination

Increasing coverage of malaria vector control interventions globally has led to significant reductions in disease burden. However due to its high recurrent cost, there is a need to determine if and when vector control can be safely scaled back after transmission has been reduced.; A mathematical model of Plasmodium falciparum malaria epidemiology was simulated to determine the impact of scaling back vector control on transmission and disease. A regression analysis of simulation results was conducted to derive predicted probabilities of resurgence, severity of resurgence and time to resurgence under various settings. Results indicate that, in the absence of secular changes in transmission, there are few scenarios where vector control can be removed without high expectation of resurgence. These, potentially safe, scenarios are characterized by low historic entomological inoculation rates, successful vector control programmes that achieve elimination or near elimination, and effective surveillance systems with high coverage and effective treatment of malaria cases.; Programmes and funding agencies considering scaling back or withdrawing vector control from previously malaria endemic areas need to first carefully consider current receptivity and other available interventions in a risk assessment. Surveillance for resurgence needs to be continuously conducted over a long period of time in order to ensure a rapid response should vector control be withdrawn

Levantado do chão como romance fundador na obra de José Saramago

Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar como o romance Levantado do Chão, de José Saramago, constitui-se um romance fundador da obra do autor, a partir de três diretrizes: a metaficção historiográfica, a representação feminina e a intertextualidade. Os romances Memorial do Convento, Ensaio sobre a cegueira e O Evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo são analisados para dar sustentação às diretrizes escolhidas. Propomo-nos a averiguar através de qual modo o autor ressignifica a história portuguesa, constrói as personagens femininas e apropria-se de elementos da cultura popular e outros discursos. Tratando-se de obras que possuem um viés crítico forte, evidenciamos o caráter problematizador e questionador da obra saramaguiana.This study aims to analyze how the novel Levantado do Chão, by José Saramago, constitutes a founding novel of the author's work, based on three directives: historiographic metafiction, female representation and intertextuality. The novels Memorial do Convento, Ensaio sobre a cegueira and O Evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo are analyzed to support the chosen guidelines. We propose to find out in what way the author re-signifies Portuguese history, builds the female characters and how he appropriates elements of popular culture and other discourses. Since these works have a strong critical bias, we highlight the problematizing and questioning character of the Saramaguian work

A formação de uma comunidade imaginada : análise da identidade e necropolítica em O continente

O presente estudo tem como objetivo principal analisar a obra O continente, primeiro volume da trilogia O tempo e o vento, de Erico Verissimo a partir de fundamentos teóricos decoloniais sobre a construção da identidade de uma comunidade imaginada e a necropolítica que permeia as relações entre os diferentes grupos étnicos e sociais constitutivos de um povo. A partir de teóricos como Benedict Anderson, Stuart Hall, Achille Mbembe e Michel Foucault, o trabalho busca examinar os elementos culturais integrantes da identidade gaúcha. Para isto, realiza-se a análise da obra centrando-se em quatro grupos: os povos indígenas, os escravizados, os grupos migrantes e as mulheres. Os principais resultados obtidos indicam a subalternização e a violência sofrida pelos indígenas e os escravizados, que demonstra o apagamento de elementos culturais desses grupos dentro da sociedade gaúcha. Por outro lado, os imigrantes europeus possuem grande espaço discursivo e a representação desses grupos acentua costumes incorporados à tradição local. Os resultados apontam que as mulheres constituem um contraponto ao conceito de masculinidade e representam a força matriarcal da sociedade gaúcha. Assim, pode-se concluir que a presente dissertação contribui para o acervo crítico a respeito da obra do autor e para os estudos sobre a construção e representação de identidades coletivas, especialmente em relação a comunidades locais influenciadas pela necropolítica e o sistema imperialista.The main objective of this study is to analyze the work O continente, the first volume of the trilogy O tempo e o vento, by Erico Verissimo, based on decolonial theoretical foundations on the construction of the identity of an imagined community and the necropolitics that permeates the relations between different ethnic and social groups. Using theorists such as Benedict Anderson, Stuart Hall, Achille Mbembe and Michel Foucault, the work seeks to investigate the cultural elements that make up the Gaúcho identity. To do so, the analysis of the work focuses on four groups: indigenous peoples, enslaved groups, migrant groups and women. The main results indicate the subordination and violence suffered by indigenous peoples and enslaved groups, which demonstrates the erasure of cultural elements of these groups within Rio Grande do Sul society. On the other hand, European immigrants have a significant discursive space and the representation of these groups presents customs incorporated into local tradition. In addition, the results indicate that women constitute a counterpoint to the concept of masculinity and represent the matriarchal strength of Rio Grande do Sul society. Thus, it can be concluded that this dissertation contributes to the repertoire of criticism regarding the author's work and to studies on the construction and representation of collective identities, especially in relation to local communities influenced by necropolitics and the imperialist system

As representações suburbanas e raciais no romance Clara dos Anjos, de Lima Barreto

Este artigo tem como corpus central a obra Clara dos Anjos, de Lima Barreto, com o objetivo principal de analisar a construção da sociedade brasileira após a abolição da escravatura. Dentro desta análise, o artigo pretende abordar a construção dos subúrbios do Rio de Janeiro, evidenciando as diferenças entre as condições das pessoas brancas, membros da elite ou não, e afrodescendentes no período histórico abordado pela obra. É, ainda, objetivo deste trabalho, abordar a representação da condição da mulher negra na sociedade brasileira. Esse percurso, por fim, tem o intuito de demonstrar que o fim da escravidão não resultou na condição de igualdade e, ao contrário, contribuiu para a perpetuação e construção de preconceitos que perduram até hoje dentro da sociedade brasileira

National institutions and subnational development in Africa

Few issues have received more inquiry in the social sciences than “”what are the fundamental determinants of comparative development?”” The institutional view asserts that the ultimate causes of underdevelopment are poorly performing institutional structures, such as lack of constraints on the executive, poor property-rights protection, as well as inefficient legal and court systems (see Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson 2005 for a review and Acemoglu and Robinson 2012 for an influential popular argument). Other works downplay the role of formal institutions, emphasising instead the importance of geographical features, informal cultural norms, genetic, and epidemiological traits (see Spolaore and Wacziarg 2013 for a review, and Diamond 1997 and Landes 1998 on popular arguments on the importance of geography and culture, respectively)