Survey results describing the levels and prevalences of zoonotic agents in 1,549 livestock waste samples were analyzed for significance with livestock husbandry and farm waste management practices. ...Statistical analyses of survey data showed that livestock groups containing calves of <3 months of age, piglets, or lambs had higher prevalences and levels of Campylobacter spp. and Escherichia coli O157 in their wastes. Younger calves that were still receiving milk, however, had significantly lower levels and prevalence of E. coli O157. Furthermore, when wastes contained any form of bedding, they had lowered prevalences and levels of both pathogenic Listeria spp. and Campylobacter spp. Livestock wastes generated by stock consuming a diet composed principally of grass were less likely to harbor E. coli O157 or Salmonella spp. Stocking density did not appear to influence either the levels or prevalences of bacterial pathogens. Significant seasonal differences in prevalences were detected in cattle wastes; Listeria spp. were more likely to be isolated in March to June, and E. coli O157 was more likely to be found in May and June. Factors such as livestock diet and age also had significant influence on the levels and prevalences of some zoonotic agents in livestock wastes. A number of the correlations identified could be used as the basis of a best-practice disposal document for farmers, thereby lowering the microbiological risks associated with applying manures of contaminated livestock to land.
To evaluate the structure-function relationship between disc margin-based rim area (DM-RA) obtained with confocal scanning laser tomography (CSLT), Bruch's membrane opening-based horizontal rim width ...(BMO-HRW), minimum rim width (BMO-MRW), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) obtained with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and visual field sensitivity.
We examined 151 glaucoma patients with CSLT, SD-OCT, and standard automated perimetry on the same day. Optic nerve head (ONH) and RNFL with SD-OCT were acquired relative to a fixed coordinate system (acquired image frame AIF) and to the eye-specific fovea-BMO center (FoBMO) axis. Visual field locations were mapped to ONH and RNFL sectors with fixed Garway-Heath (VF(GH)) and patient-specific (VF(PS)) maps customized for various biometric parameters.
Globally and sectorally, the structure-function relationships between DM-RA and VF(GH), BMO-HRW(AIF) and VF(GH), and BMO-HRW(FoBMO) and VF(PS) were equally weak. The R(2) for the relationship between DM-RA and VF(GH) ranged from 0.1% (inferonasal) to 11% (superotemporal) whereas that between BMO-HRW(AIF) and VF(GH) ranged from 0.1% (nasal) to 10% (superotemporal). Relatively stronger global and sectoral structure-function relationships with BMO-MRW(AIF) and with BMO-MRW(FoBMO) were obtained. The R(2) between BMO-MRW(AIF) and VF(GH) ranged from 5% (nasal) to 30% (superotemporal), whereas that between BMO-MRW(FoBMO) and VF(PS) ranged from 5% (nasal) to 25% (inferotemporal). The structure-function relationship with RNFLT was not significantly different from that with BMO-MRW, regardless of image acquisition method.
The structure-function relationship was enhanced with BMO-MRW compared with the other neuroretinal rim measurements, due mainly to its geometrically accurate properties.
We describe a new implementation of the one-fluid method in the SPH code PHANTOM to simulate the dynamics of dust grains in gas protoplanetary discs. We revise and extend previously developed ...algorithms by computing the evolution of a new fluid quantity that produces a more accurate and numerically controlled evolution of the dust dynamics. Moreover, by limiting the stopping time of uncoupled grains that violate the assumptions of the terminal velocity approximation, we avoid fatal numerical errors in mass conservation. We test and validate our new algorithm by running 3D SPH simulations of a large range of disc models with tightly and marginally coupled grains.
There is a growing body of literature using functional MRI to study the acute and long-term effects of concussion on functional brain networks. To date, studies have largely focused on changes in ...pairwise connectivity strength between brain regions. Less is known about how concussion affects whole-brain network topology, particularly the "small-world" organization which facilitates efficient communication at both local and global scales. The present study addressed this knowledge gap by measuring local and global efficiency of 26 concussed athletes at acute injury, return to play (RTP) and one year post-RTP, along with a cohort of 167 athletic controls. On average, concussed athletes showed no alterations in local efficiency but had elevated global efficiency at acute injury, which had resolved by RTP. Athletes with atypically long recovery, however, had reduced global efficiency at 1 year post-RTP, suggesting long-term functional abnormalities for this subgroup. Analyses of nodal efficiency further indicated that global network changes were driven by high-efficiency visual and sensorimotor regions and low-efficiency frontal and subcortical regions. This study provides evidence that concussion causes subtle acute and long-term changes in the small-world organization of the brain, with effects that are related to the clinical profile of recovery.
This paper evaluates how the global financial crisis emanating from the U.S. was transmitted to emerging markets. Our focus is on the extent that the crisis caused external market pressures (EMP), ...and whether the absorption of the shock was mainly through exchange rate depreciation or the loss of international reserves. Controlling for variety of factors associated with EMP, we find clear evidence that emerging markets with higher total foreign liabilities, including short- and long-term debt, equities, FDI and derivative products—had greater exposure and were much more vulnerable to the financial crisis. Countries with large balance sheet exposure – high external portfolio liabilities exceeding international reserves—absorbed the global shock by allowing greater exchange rate depreciation and comparatively less reserve loss. Despite the remarkable buildup of international reserves by emerging markets during the period prior to the financial crisis, countries relied primarily on exchange rate deprecation rather than reserve loss to absorb most of the exchange market pressure shock. This could reflect a deliberate choice (“fear of reserve loss”) or market actions that caused very rapid exchange rate adjustment, especially in emerging markets with open capital markets, overwhelming policy actions.
As part of a program to reduce numbers of the human pathogen Campylobacter on retail chickens, 22 broiler processing lines, representing more than 90% of UK production, were characterized by ...enumerating Campylobacter on pooled neck skins after exsanguination, scalding, defeathering, evisceration, crop removal, inside-outside washing, and air-chilling stages of processing. Sixteen of the processing lines investigated showed significant (P < 0.05) reductions in Campylobacter numbers because of carcass scalding. However, in all of these lines, the following defeathering stage caused a significant increase in Campylobacter contamination that effectively negated the reductions caused by scalding. On four processing lines, primary chilling also caused a significant reduction in numbers of Campylobacter. On three lines, there was a significant microbiological benefit from inside-outside washing. The stages where Campylobacter numbers were reduced require further investigation to determine the specific mechanisms responsible so that the observed pathogen reductions can be optimized and then more widely implemented. The transfer of up to 4 log CFU Campylobacter per g of neck skin from a colonized flock to a following uncolonized flock was observed. Cross-contamination was substantial and still detectable after 5,000 carcasses from an uncolonized flock had been processed. Numbers of Campylobacter recovered from the uncolonized flocks were highest on the first of the uncolonized birds to pass along the line, and in general, the numbers declined as more uncolonized birds were processed. Air sampling recovered low numbers at the processing stages monitored, indicating that airborne transmission was unlikely to be the primary transfer mechanism operating for cross-contamination between flocks.
Campylobacter spp. were enumerated at seven key stages on 22 chicken processing lines.Scalding, inside-outside washing, and chilling reduced Campylobacter numbers on some lines.Defeathering negated Campylobacter reductions caused by scalding.Campylobacter-positive birds cross-contaminated immediately following birds.Airborne transmission was unlikely to be the primary mechanism of between-flock transfer.
The world economy was slowing prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The slowdown began after a record-long period of expansion marked with record lows in unemployment and strong economic ...indicators along most dimensions. Even at a high point of the business cycle, however, "depression style" economic policies of very low or zero policy interest rates and large budget deficits were being followed in many countries-partly due to the lingering effects of the Great Recession and partly due the longstanding problem of "deficit bias" in fiscal policy. Fiscal responses to the Covid-19 shock in the form of wage support, business loans and other programs in 2020 were substantial and necessary but, following already large fiscal deficits and growing government debt, have aggravated the problem of long-term fiscal solvency. In some cases, concerns over record peacetime budget deficits constrained government's willingness to pursue further rounds of fiscal stimulus as the Covid-19 crisis deepened. This article argues that deficit bias constrained discretionary fiscal policy actions arises from political economy factors and demonstrates that fiscal rules are an important instrument to mitigate deficit bias and restore countries to longer-term solvency. Countries with strong fiscal rules had much better fiscal and debt positions prior to the Great Financial Crisis, allowing them in turn to pursue much more stimulative fiscal policies in response to the crisis. The same situation faced policy makers at the onset of the pandemic economic crisis-- those with strong fiscal rules were in a much better position to provide large fiscal responses to support the economy without endangering national debt solvency. Facilitating long-term fiscal solvency and allowing for larger discretionary fiscal actions in crisis situations provides a strong argument for the strengthening and enforcement of fiscal rules around the world.
Flint Photovoice represents the work of 41 youths and adults recruited to use a participatory-action research approach to photographically document community assets and concerns, critically discuss ...the resulting images, and communicate with policymakers. At the suggestion of grassroots community leaders, we included policymakers among those asked to take photographs. In accordance with previously established photovoice methodology, we also recruited at the project's outset another group of policymakers and community leaders to provide political will and support for implementing photovoice participants' policy and program recommendations. Flint Photovoice enabled youths to express their concerns about neighborhood violence to policymakers and was instrumental in acquiring funding for local violence prevention. We note salutary outcomes produced by the inclusion of policymakers among adults who took photographs.
A study was undertaken to simulate the likely effects of a field worker with poor hygienic practices that had returned to work too soon after recovering from an infection by an enteric pathogen. The ...studies simulated a variety of hand‐washing practices from no washing to washing with soap and water followed by an application of alcohol gel after using a field latrine. The numbers of generic Escherichia coli isolated from workers' hands declined with increasing thoroughness of hand‐washing treatments with unwashed hands > water > water and soap > water, soap and alcohol gel. Where gloves were worn the counts obtained for the treatments were significantly reduced, but it was observed that unwashed hands contaminated gloves during the process of putting them on. Hand contamination following the use of a field latrine transferred contamination to carrots. These results suggest that if no gloves are worn it would be best practice to wash hands with water and soap and apply alcohol gel after using a field latrine. Wearing gloves reduced the risk of contaminating handled produce but workers should still wash their hands after using a field latrine before applying gloves. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study shows that inadequate hand hygiene in the field following the use of a field latrine can transfer bacterial contamination to hand‐harvested carrots. Where fresh produce crops are to be handled by workers, wearing gloves reduces the risk of contaminating produce but workers should still wash their hands after using a field latrine before applying gloves. If no gloves are worn it would be best practice to wash hands with water and soap and apply alcohol gel after using a field latrine.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the public health measures to combat it, have strained the finances of many families. While parents transitioned to working from home, children transitioned to learning ...virtually, limiting their organized social and physical activities. Families also reduced the frequency and size of gatherings, impacting psychological wellbeing. This study sought to understand the influence of financial wellbeing on children’s physical activity and leisure screen-based activities via mothers’ and children’s psychological wellbeing. In May and June of 2020, 254 Grade 7 Canadian children and their mothers completed separate online surveys assessing family financial wellbeing, mothers’ and children’s psychological wellbeing, and children’s physical activity and leisure screen-based activities. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the indirect effects of mothers’ and children’s psychological wellbeing on the relationship between financial wellbeing and children’s physical activity and leisure screen-based activities. Final models were adjusted for potential confounders. Study results indicate a significant indirect association between financial wellbeing and children’s physical activity and leisure screen-based activities via mothers’ and children’s psychological wellbeing. These findings demonstrate that higher levels of financial wellbeing are associated with better mental and physical health benefits in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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