Summary Background During the past decade, renewed global and national efforts to combat malaria have led to ambitious goals. We aimed to provide an accurate assessment of the levels and time trends ...in malaria mortality to aid assessment of progress towards these goals and the focusing of future efforts. Methods We systematically collected all available data for malaria mortality for the period 1980–2010, correcting for misclassification bias. We developed a range of predictive models, including ensemble models, to estimate malaria mortality with uncertainty by age, sex, country, and year. We used key predictors of malaria mortality such as Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence, first-line antimalarial drug resistance, and vector control. We used out-of-sample predictive validity to select the final model. Findings Global malaria deaths increased from 995 000 (95% uncertainty interval 711 000–1 412 000) in 1980 to a peak of 1 817 000 (1 430 000–2 366 000) in 2004, decreasing to 1 238 000 (929 000–1 685 000) in 2010. In Africa, malaria deaths increased from 493 000 (290 000–747 000) in 1980 to 1 613 000 (1 243 000–2 145 000) in 2004, decreasing by about 30% to 1 133 000 (848 000–1 591 000) in 2010. Outside of Africa, malaria deaths have steadily decreased from 502 000 (322 000–833 000) in 1980 to 104 000 (45 000–191 000) in 2010. We estimated more deaths in individuals aged 5 years or older than has been estimated in previous studies: 435 000 (307 000–658 000) deaths in Africa and 89 000 (33 000–177 000) deaths outside of Africa in 2010. Interpretation Our findings show that the malaria mortality burden is larger than previously estimated, especially in adults. There has been a rapid decrease in malaria mortality in Africa because of the scaling up of control activities supported by international donors. Donor support, however, needs to be increased if malaria elimination and eradication and broader health and development goals are to be met. Funding The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Since the European Union's target a domestic greenhouse gas emission reduction of 80% till 2050, as compared to the value of 1990 (European Commission, 2011), there has been an increasing interest in ...greening large industrial processes. Thus, gas greening and alternative emission reduction processes are gaining importance. In this study, a gas greening system for an integrated steel plant, producing synthetic natural gas serving as a substitute for the fossil fuel-based gas, was investigated. The analysed system consisted of a Power-to-Gas unit combined with a biomass gasification plant, where carbon rich steel gases were used as a CO2 source for methanation. To analyse the system, three extreme value scenarios and three constrained scenarios were defined and evaluated. The biomass gasification plant, set to a maximum nominal power of 105 MWth, was the main limiting factor for the constrained scenarios. The assessment included a basic mass and energy balance, techno-economic analysis, sensitivity analysis, and CO2 potential impact analysis. It was found that the main cost influencing factor throughout all six scenarios was the energy supply cost (electricity and biomass).
•A high amount of COX for a potential gas greening system was identified.•Main cost driving factor is the electricity and biomass price.•For a full steel gas usage more than 1000 MW of electrolyser and biomass gasification power each would be necessary.•The carbon reduction potential is 560 Mt CO2,eq with an additional greening potential of up to 600 Mt CO2,eq per year.
A new generation of Ni–Sn–O, Ni–Ti–O, and Ni–W–O catalysts has been prepared by a solid-state grinding method. In each case the doping metal varied from 2.5% to 20%. These catalysts exhibited higher ...activity and selectivity for ethane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) than conventionally prepared mixed oxides. Detailed characterization was achieved using XRD, N2 adsorption, H2-TPR, SEM, TEM, and HAADF-STEM in order to study the detailed atomic structure and textural properties of the synthesized catalysts. Two kinds of typical structures are found in these mixed oxides, which are (major) “Ni x M y O” (M = Sn, Ti, W) solid solution phases (NiO crystalline structure with doping atom incorporated in the lattice) and (minor) secondary phases (SnO2, TiO2, or WO3). The secondary phase exists as a thin layer around small “Ni x M y O” particles, lowering the aggregation of nanoparticles during the synthesis. DFT calculations on the formation energies of M-doped NiO structures (M = Sn, Ti, W) clearly confirm the thermodynamic feasibility of incorporating these doping metals into the NiO struture. The incorporation of doping metals into the NiO lattice decreases the number of holes (h+) localized on lattice oxygen (O2– + h+ → O•–) , which is the main reason for the improved catalytic performance (O•– is known to favor complete ethane oxidation to CO2). The high efficiency of ethylene production achieved in these particularly prepared mixed oxide catalysts indicates that the solid grinding method could serve as a general and practical approach for the preparation of doped NiO-based catalysts.
Microbial processes are known to mediate selenium (Se) oxidation–reduction reactions, strongly influencing Se speciation, bioavailability, and transport throughout the environment. While these ...processes have commonly been studied in anaerobic bacteria, the role that aerobic fungi play in Se redox reactions could be important for Se‐rich soil systems, dominated by microbial activity. We quantified fungal growth, aerobic Se(IV, VI) reduction, and Se immobilization and volatilization in the presence of six, metal‐tolerant Ascomycete fungi. We found that the removal of dissolved Se was dependent on the fungal species, Se form (i.e., selenite or selenate), and Se concentration. All six species grew and removed dissolved Se(IV) or Se(VI) from solution, with five species reducing both oxyanions to Se(0) biominerals, and all six species removing at least 15%–20% of the supplied Se via volatilization. Growth rates of all fungi, however, decreased with increasing Se(IV,VI) concentrations. All fungi removed 85%–93% of the dissolved Se(IV) within 10 d in the presence of 0.01 mm Se(IV), although only about 20%–30% Se(VI) was removed when grown with 0.01 mm Se(VI). Fungi‐produced biominerals were typically 50‐ to 300‐nm‐diameter amorphous or paracrystalline spherical Se(0) nanoparticles. Our results demonstrate that activity of common soil fungi can influence Se form and distribution, and these organisms may therefore play a role in detoxifying Se‐polluted environments.
We report on a new analysis of neutrino oscillations in MINOS using the complete set of accelerator and atmospheric data. The analysis combines the ν(μ) disappearance and ν(e) appearance data using ...the three-flavor formalism. We measure |Δm(32)(2)| = 2.28-2.46 × 10(-3) eV(2) (68% C.L.) and sin(2)θ(23) = 0.35-0.65 (90% C.L.) in the normal hierarchy, and |Δm(32)(2)| = 2.32-2.53 × 10(-3) eV(2) (68% C.L.) and sin(2)θ(23) = 0.34-0.67 (90% C.L.) in the inverted hierarchy. The data also constrain δ(CP), the θ(23} octant degeneracy and the mass hierarchy; we disfavor 36% (11%) of this three-parameter space at 68% (90%) C.L.
We report measurements of oscillation parameters from ν(μ) and ν(μ) disappearance using beam and atmospheric data from MINOS. The data comprise exposures of 10.71×10(20) protons on target in the ...ν(μ)-dominated beam, 3.36×10(20) protons on target in the ν(μ)-enhanced beam, and 37.88 kton yr of atmospheric neutrinos. Assuming identical ν and ν oscillation parameters, we measure |Δm2| = (2.41(-0.10)(+0.09))×10(-3) eV2 and sin2(2θ) = 0.950(-0.036)(+0.035). Allowing independent ν and ν oscillations, we measure antineutrino parameters of |Δm2| = (2.50(-0.25)(+0.23))×10(-3) eV2 and sin2(2θ) = 0.97(-0.08)(+0.03), with minimal change to the neutrino parameters.
We report the results of a search for ν(e) appearance in a ν(μ) beam in the MINOS long-baseline neutrino experiment. With an improved analysis and an increased exposure of 8.2 × 10(20) protons on the ...NuMI target at Fermilab, we find that 2 sin(2) (θ(23))sin(2)(2θ(13))<0.12(0.20) at 90% confidence level for δ = 0 and the normal (inverted) neutrino mass hierarchy, with a best-fit of 2sin(2) (θ(23))sin(2)(2θ(13)) = 0.041(-0.031)(+0.047) (0.079(-0.053) (+0.071)). The θ(13) = 0 hypothesis is disfavored by the MINOS data at the 89% confidence level.
Whereas sexual differentiation is considered as the onset of differentiation of the male or female gonads, mounting evidence indicates that sex differences in developmental programming are ...established as early as the zygotic stage. Genetic and epigenetic differences between the sexes might govern how each responds to shifts in their early environment, including in the uterus or culture dish, as in the case of in vitro cultured pre‐implantational embryos. Even if no differences are evident between the sexes at birth, divergent conceptus responses to surrounding changes, such as maternal diet and exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), such as bisphenol A (BPA), might predispose one sex over the other to later adult‐onset diseases, otherwise termed developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD). Overall, males subjected to less than optimal in utero conditions tend to be at greater risk for various diseases, including neurobehavioural disorders. As the placenta is the primary nutrient acquisition and communication organ between the dam and foetus, its ability to adapt rapidly to environmental shifts might buffer the conceptus against environmental insults. The placenta of one sex over the other might possess greater ability to respond to environmental fluctuations. In utero environmental changes, including maternal nutrient excess or reduction or exposure to the EDC, BPA, might govern sex‐dependent behavioural alterations. In sum, this review examines the evidence to date that male and female zygotes and conceptuses diverge in their responses to shifting environmental conditions and whether these contrasting sexually dimorphic responses underpin later DOHaD outcomes, namely neurobehavioural changes.
Abundant evidence exists linking maternal and paternal environments from pericopconception through the postnatal period to later risk to offspring diseases. This concept was first articulated by the ...late Sir David Barker and as such coined the Barker Hypothesis. The term was then mutated to Fetal Origins of Adult Disease and finally broadened to developmental origins of adult health and disease (DOHaD) in recognition that the perinatal environment can shape both health and disease in resulting offspring. Developmental exposure to various factors, including stress, obesity, caloric-rich diets and environmental chemicals can lead to detrimental offspring health outcomes. However, less attention has been paid to date on measures that parents can take to promote the long-term health of their offspring. In essence, have we neglected to consider the 'H' in DOHaD? It is the 'H' component that should be of primary concern to expecting mothers and fathers and those seeking to have children. While it may not be possible to eliminate exposure to all pernicious factors, prevention/remediation strategies may tip the scale to health rather than disease. By understanding disruptive DOHaD mechanisms, it may also illuminate behavioral modifications that parents can adapt before fertilization and throughout the neonatal period to promote the lifelong health of their male and female offspring. Three possibilities will be explored in the current review: parental exercise, probiotic supplementation and breastfeeding in the case of mothers. The 'H' paradigm should be the focus going forward as a healthy start can indeed last a lifetime.
We report on ν(e) and ν(e) appearance in ν(μ) and ν(μ) beams using the full MINOS data sample. The comparison of these ν(e) and ν(e) appearance data at a 735 km baseline with θ13 measurements by ...reactor experiments probes δ, the θ23 octant degeneracy, and the mass hierarchy. This analysis is the first use of this technique and includes the first accelerator long-baseline search for ν(μ) → ν(e). Our data disfavor 31% (5%) of the three-parameter space defined by δ, the octant of the θ23, and the mass hierarchy at the 68% (90%) C.L. We measure a value of 2sin(2)(2θ13)sin(2)(θ23) that is consistent with reactor experiments.
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