Impact of Community-Based Larviciding on the Prevalence of Malaria Infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The use of larval source management is not prioritized by contemporary malaria control programs in sub-Saharan Africa despite historical success. Larviciding, in particular, could be effective in urban areas where transmission is focal and accessibility to Anopheles breeding habitats is generally easier than in rural settings. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a community-based microbial larviciding intervention to reduce the prevalence of malaria infection in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. Larviciding was implemented in 3 out of 15 targeted wards of Dar es Salaam in 2006 after two years of baseline data collection. This intervention was subsequently scaled up to 9 wards a year later, and to all 15 targeted wards in 2008. Continuous randomized cluster sampling of malaria prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics was carried out during 6 survey rounds (2004-2008), which included both cross-sectional and longitudinal data (N = 64,537). Bayesian random effects logistic regression models were used to quantify the effect of the intervention on malaria prevalence at the individual level. Effect size estimates suggest a significant protective effect of the larviciding intervention. After adjustment for confounders, the odds of individuals living in areas treated with larviciding being infected with malaria were 21% lower (Odds Ratio = 0.79; 95% Credible Intervals: 0.66-0.93) than those who lived in areas not treated. The larviciding intervention was most effective during dry seasons and had synergistic effects with other protective measures such as use of insecticide-treated bed nets and house proofing (i.e., complete ceiling or window screens). A large-scale community-based larviciding intervention significantly reduced the prevalence of malaria infection in urban Dar es Salaam

Timeliness of Clinic Attendance is a good predictor of Virological Response and Resistance to Antiretroviral drugs in HIV-infected patients

Ensuring long-term adherence to therapy is essential for the success of HIV treatment. As access to viral load monitoring and genotyping is poor in resource-limited settings, a simple tool to monitor adherence is needed. We assessed the relationship between an indicator based on timeliness of clinic attendance and virological response and HIV drug resistance

Human α2β1HI CD133+VE epithelial prostate stem cells express low levels of active androgen receptor

Stem cells are thought to be the cell of origin in malignant transformation in many tissues, but their role in human prostate carcinogenesis continues to be debated. One of the conflicts with this model is that cancer stem cells have been described to lack androgen receptor (AR) expression, which is of established importance in prostate cancer initiation and progression. We re-examined the expression patterns of AR within adult prostate epithelial differentiation using an optimised sensitive and specific approach examining transcript, protein and AR regulated gene expression. Highly enriched populations were isolated consisting of stem (α(2)β(1)(HI) CD133(+VE)), transiently amplifying (α(2)β(1)(HI) CD133(-VE)) and terminally differentiated (α(2)β(1)(LOW) CD133(-VE)) cells. AR transcript and protein expression was confirmed in α(2)β(1)(HI) CD133(+VE) and CD133(-VE) progenitor cells. Flow cytometry confirmed that median (±SD) fraction of cells expressing AR were 77% (±6%) in α(2)β(1)(HI) CD133(+VE) stem cells and 68% (±12%) in α(2)β(1)(HI) CD133(-VE) transiently amplifying cells. However, 3-fold lower levels of total AR protein expression (peak and median immunofluorescence) were present in α(2)β(1)(HI) CD133(+VE) stem cells compared with differentiated cells. This finding was confirmed with dual immunostaining of prostate sections for AR and CD133, which again demonstrated low levels of AR within basal CD133(+VE) cells. Activity of the AR was confirmed in prostate progenitor cells by the expression of low levels of the AR regulated genes PSA, KLK2 and TMPRSS2. The confirmation of AR expression in prostate progenitor cells allows integration of the cancer stem cell theory with the established models of prostate cancer initiation based on a functional AR. Further study of specific AR functions in prostate stem and differentiated cells may highlight novel mechanisms of prostate homeostasis and insights into tumourigenesis

Does publication bias inflate the apparent efficacy of psychological treatment for major depressive disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis of US national institutes of health-funded trials

Background The efficacy of antidepressant medication has been shown empirically to be overestimated due to publication bias, but this has only been inferred statistically with regard to psychological treatment for depression. We assessed directly the extent of study publication bias in trials examining the efficacy of psychological treatment for depression. Methods and Findings We identified US National Institutes of Health grants awarded to fund randomized clinical trials comparing psychological treatment to control conditions or other treatments in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder for the period 1972–2008, and we determined whether those grants led to publications. For studies that were not published, data were requested from investigators and included in the meta-analyses. Thirteen (23.6%) of the 55 funded grants that began trials did not result in publications, and two others never started. Among comparisons to control conditions, adding unpublished studies (Hedges’ g = 0.20; CI95% -0.11~0.51; k = 6) to published studies (g = 0.52; 0.37~0.68; k = 20) reduced the psychotherapy effect size point estimate (g = 0.39; 0.08~0.70) by 25%. Moreover, these findings may overestimate the "true" effect of psychological treatment for depression as outcome reporting bias could not be examined quantitatively. Conclusion The efficacy of psychological interventions for depression has been overestimated in the published literature, just as it has been for pharmacotherapy. Both are efficacious but not to the extent that the published literature would suggest. Funding agencies and journals should archive both original protocols and raw data from treatment trials to allow the detection and correction of outcome reporting bias. Clinicians, guidelines developers, and decision makers should be aware that the published literature overestimates the effects of the predominant treatments for depression

Form as process in selected works of Edgard Vare`se

The purpose of this study is to investigate structural procedure in selected works of Edgard Varese. As a point of departure, the study takes two statements of Varese concerning structure. First, Varese says that form, in his music, is the result of a process. Secondly, he draws an analogy between the formation of his works and the formation of crystal—i.e., that like crystal, his works evolve from a single idea, which is the basis of the internal structure. He also feels that, like crystal formations, possible musical forms are limitless. With these ideas in mind, the study analyzes three works: Integrals, Octandre, and Ionization. The result of analysis indicates that each work does have at its core a brief and compact musical idea which this paper calls the nucleus. The nucleus is then both fragmented and expanded, a process that results in all manner of geometrical shapes or designs.* These different manifestations of the nucleus are arranged in a series of episodic variations, which compose the body of the work

A qualitative study of relationships between suggested guidelines and actual practices in collegiate evaluation of music performance

The purpose of this study was to investigate college applied music instruction practices, evaluation agencies’ criteria, and relationships between the instruction and the criteria. The study ascertained the nature and extent of existing applied music practices required of music education majors in those North Carolina colleges and universities which (a) offer the baccalaureate degree in music education and (b) have a music unit(department or school of music) independent from a general fine arts or humanities department. The three evaluation agencies used in the study were the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction (SDPI), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Development of a paper and pencil test and a performance test to accompany a self-instructional program on the sewing machine

In this study a performance test and a paper and pencil test were developed to accompany a self-instructional program on the sewing machine. The items were analyzed to determine the test reliability end the discriminating power of each test item. The performance test consisted of student directions, a check list for the teacher, and was accompanied by a list of procedures for administering the test. The ability of the student to fill the bobbin, thread the upper and lower parts of the machine, adjust the tension and stitch-length regulator, sew a 5/8 inch seam, and replace the zipper foot was tested

Exploring critical, embodied, emancipatory education through deconstructions and reconstructions of womanist and black religious discourses : a social justice framework

"This study is a conceptual project which explores ways in which U. S. black epistemologies can provide new understandings of oppression and new strategies for transcending hierarchical relationships of power and domination. Specific epistemologies developed by enslaved Africans in the U. S. and their descendents have enabled U. S. black Americans to navigate the paradoxes and contradictions of living under conditions of oppression in a society founded on freedom and equality. It is hypothesized that these U. S. black epistemologies, which make sense of and provide strategies for managing existential feelings of alienation, displacement, and despair that accompany experiences of oppression, can be useful for the majority of people in our society who, due to the postmodern condition, are now experiencing similar existential feelings. The U. S. black epistemology chosen for this exploration is black theology. It is believed that this discipline's struggles to deal with issues of oppression, within-group heterogeneity, the complex role of Christianity in black liberation, and issues of appropriation and authenticity provide a microcosm of issues facing black Americans in U.S. The context and history of the development of black theology is provided followed by a deconstructive analysis of contemporary black theological discourse.Finally, a re-articulated black theology is constructed out of libratory black theologicaldiscourse, the Korean concept of Han (i.e. the psychological woundedness of victims of oppression), feminist theology, and selective, critical appropriations of prevailing theoriesof power and knowledge. This project ends with a discussion of the pedagogical nature of the present study. Ways in which this re-articulated black theological vision connects with critical pedagogy and social justice are explicated."--Abstract from author supplied metadata

Delphi : a collection of stories

These are stories to be taken as the truth or as lies. They are akin to oracles, like those uttered by the priestess of ancient Delphi, stories do reflect the truth or the lies about our lives, our relationships with each other, and our hidden dreams. Therefore, stories can do many things to us: nock us, comfort us, lead us, destroy us. It is the task and the responsibility of the storyteller, or the writer, to tell these oracles, to interpret these dreams, and finally to share what knowledge may be found. The people in these seven stories struggle with truth and lies. They are comforted or mocked by truth; they are led or destroyed by lies. Honesty and clearsightedness are the fruits of such struggles: the only knowledge to be found and shared