A Multimodel Framework in Support of Malaria Surveillance and Control

Background A surveillance system is the foundation for disease prevention and control. Malaria surveillance is crucial for tracking regional and temporal patterns in disease incidence, assisting in recorded details, timely reporting, and frequency of analysis. Objective In this study, we aim to develop an integrated surveillance graphical app called FeverTracker, which has been designed to assist the community and health care workers in digital surveillance and thereby contribute toward malaria control and elimination. Methods FeverTracker uses a geographic information system and is linked to a web app with automated data digitization, SMS text messaging, and advisory instructions, thereby allowing immediate notification of individual cases to district and state health authorities in real time. Results The use of FeverTracker for malaria surveillance is evident, given the archaic paper-based surveillance tools used currently. The use of the app in 19 tribal villages of the Dhalai district in Tripura, India, assisted in the surveillance of 1880 suspected malaria patients and confirmed malaria infection in 93.4% (114/122; Plasmodium falciparum), 4.9% (6/122; P vivax), and 1.6% (2/122; P falciparum/P vivax mixed infection) of cases. Digital tools such as FeverTracker will be critical in integrating disease surveillance, and they offer instant data digitization for downstream processing. Conclusions The use of this technology in health care and research will strengthen the ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria. Moreover, FeverTracker provides a modifiable template for deployment in other disease systems.

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Malaria epidemic in humanitarian crisis settings the case of South Kordofan state, Sudan

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.13122 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (01) ◽

pp. 168-171

Author(s):

Nouh S Mohamed ◽

Yousif Ali ◽

Mohamed S Muneer ◽

Emmanuel E Siddig ◽

Carol H Sibley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Short Communication ◽

Malaria Diagnosis ◽

Malaria Prevention ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

Humanitarian Crisis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Malaria Epidemic ◽

And Control ◽

South Kordofan

Introduction: Malaria remains one of the most common public health problems worldwide, especially in Sudan. With this short communication we aimed at reporting on the latest malaria epidemic that had occurred in the humanitarian settings in South Kordofan state, south-western Sudan, during 2018 and 2019. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study analyzing malaria surveillance reports between February 2018 to September 2019. Malaria was reported from febrile patients with confirmed malaria diagnosis using Giemsa stain. According to age, patients were distributed across three categories: less than 5 years, 5 to 15 years, and more than 15 years. Results: In 2019 and 2018, 63,214 and 63,224 cases of malaria were reported, respectively, constituting around 5.5% of the state population (1,152,900). In 2018, 3,571 malaria cases were reported in February, then they decreased in August followed by increase in September-October. In 2019, 15,610 malaria cases were reported in September. Malaria cases aged less than 5 years were 21,848 and 23,561 cases in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Conclusions: The reported sudden epidemic of malaria is alarming. Therefore, identifying the risk factors associated with this epidemic is crucial to malaria prevention and control, and hence successful achievement of malaria elimination.

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A five-year (2016-2020) trend analysis of malaria surveillance data in Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-789464/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zalalem Olani ◽

Samrawit Solomon ◽

Zalalem Kaba ◽

Haile Bikila

Keyword(s):

Malaria Prevention ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Control Programs ◽

Regional State ◽

Trends Over Time ◽

One Year ◽

And Control

Abstract Background:-Continues malaria surveillance data analysis plays a significant role in monitoring trends over time and evaluating the effectiveness of malaria prevention and control programs. Hence, this study was part of such an effort to achieve this goal. The main aim of this study was to analyses a five years (2016-2020) malaria surveillance data in Oromia region, Ethiopia.Methods:-a descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to analyse the five years (2016-2020) trends of malaria cases in Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.Results:-A total of 5,843,373malaria suspected cases were reported during the five-year period. Among the total reported cases 727,738 were a total of both clinical and parasitological confirmed cases. An average total malaria annual parasite incidence (API) was 4 per 1,000 person. The highest malaria cases were observed during spring and summer seasons.Conclusions and recommendation:-Trends of total clinical and confirmed malaria cases were decreased from year to year except for the recent one year with an exceptional variability in 2019.The highest or peak of malaria cases was observed during the spring season (September-November). Malaria indicator based performance plans and achievements should be regularly and strictly reviewed and evaluated at each level.

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Validation of a Mobile Health Technology Platform (FeverTracker) for Malaria Surveillance in India: Development and Usability Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28951 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ipsita Pal Bhowmick ◽

Dibyajyoti Chutia ◽

Avinash Chouhan ◽

Nilay Nishant ◽

P L N Raju ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Disease Surveillance ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Downstream Processing ◽

Malaria Surveillance ◽

Health Authorities ◽

Digital Surveillance ◽

Care Workers ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND A surveillance system is the foundation for disease prevention and control. Malaria surveillance is crucial for tracking regional and temporal patterns in disease incidence, assisting in recorded details, timely reporting, and frequency of analysis. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aim to develop an integrated surveillance graphical app called FeverTracker, which has been designed to assist the community and health care workers in digital surveillance and thereby contribute toward malaria control and elimination. METHODS FeverTracker uses a geographic information system and is linked to a web app with automated data digitization, SMS text messaging, and advisory instructions, thereby allowing immediate notification of individual cases to district and state health authorities in real time. RESULTS The use of FeverTracker for malaria surveillance is evident, given the archaic paper-based surveillance tools used currently. The use of the app in 19 tribal villages of the Dhalai district in Tripura, India, assisted in the surveillance of 1880 suspected malaria patients and confirmed malaria infection in 93.4% (114/122; Plasmodium falciparum), 4.9% (6/122; P vivax), and 1.6% (2/122; P falciparum/P vivax mixed infection) of cases. Digital tools such as FeverTracker will be critical in integrating disease surveillance, and they offer instant data digitization for downstream processing. CONCLUSIONS The use of this technology in health care and research will strengthen the ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria. Moreover, FeverTracker provides a modifiable template for deployment in other disease systems.

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Control of Metal Alloy Oxidation with Electric Fields

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100071260 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 164-165

Author(s):

R. R. Dils ◽

P. S. Follansbee

Keyword(s):

Electric Fields ◽

Oxidation Process ◽

Base Alloy ◽

Oxide Surface ◽

Platinum Electrodes ◽

Insulating Layer ◽

Iron Base Alloy ◽

Alloy Oxidation ◽

Aluminum Oxide Layer ◽

And Control

Electric fields have been applied across oxides growing on a high temperature alloy and control of the oxidation of the material has been demonstrated. At present, three-fold increases in the oxidation rate have been measured in accelerating fields and the oxidation process has been completely stopped in a retarding field.The experiments have been conducted with an iron-base alloy, Pe 25Cr 5A1 0.1Y, although, in principle, any alloy capable of forming an adherent aluminum oxide layer during oxidation can be used. A specimen is polished and oxidized to produce a thin, uniform insulating layer on one surface. Three platinum electrodes are sputtered on the oxide surface and the specimen is reoxidized.

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Evidence for a Blood Ganglion Barrier in the Superior Cervical Ganglion of the Rat

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100053681 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 204-204

Author(s):

D. M. DePace

Keyword(s):

Blood Vessels ◽

Superior Cervical Ganglion ◽

Peripheral Nerves ◽

Time Schedule ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Cervical Ganglion ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Cervical Ganglia ◽

Capillary Circulation ◽

And Control

The majority of blood vessels in the superior cervical ganglion possess a continuous endothelium with tight junctions. These same features have been associated with the blood brain barrier of the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. These vessels may perform a barrier function between the capillary circulation and the superior cervical ganglion. The permeability of the blood vessels in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat was tested by intravenous injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Three experimental groups of four animals each were given intravenous HRP (Sigma Type II) in a dosage of.08 to.15 mg/gm body weight in.5 ml of.85% saline. The animals were sacrificed at five, ten or 15 minutes following administration of the tracer. Superior cervical ganglia were quickly removed and fixed by immersion in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in Sorenson's.1M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Three control animals received,5ml of saline without HRP. These were sacrificed on the same time schedule. Tissues from experimental and control animals were reacted for peroxidase activity and then processed for routine transmission electron microscopy.

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Effects of renovascular hypertension on rat adrenal zona glomerulosa

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100083783 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 582-583

Author(s):

G. Mazzocchi ◽

P. Rebuffat ◽

C. Robba ◽

P. Vassanelli ◽

G. G. Nussdorfer

Keyword(s):

Renovascular Hypertension ◽

Left Kidney ◽

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Plasma Renin ◽

Zona Glomerulosa ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Left Renal Artery ◽

Angiotensin System ◽

And Control

It is well known that the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa steroidogenic activity is controlled by the renin-angiotensin system. The ultrastructural changes in the rat zona glomerulosa cells induced by renovascular hypertension were described previously, but as far as we are aware no correlated biochemical and morphometric investigations were performed.Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into 2 experimental groups. One group was subjected to restriction of blood flow to the left kidney by the application of a silver clip about the left renal artery. The other group was sham-operated and served as a control. Renovascular hypertension developed in about 10 days: sistolic blood pressure averaged 165 ± 6. 4 mmHg, whereas it was about 110 ± 3. 8 mmHg in the control animals. The hypertensive and control rats were sacrificed 20 days after the operation. The blood was collected and plasma renin activity was determined by radioimmunological methods. The aldosterone concentration was radioimmunologically assayed both in the plasma and in the homogenate of the left capsular adrenal gland.

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X-Ray Replication of Submicrometer Linewidth Patterns

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100078250 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 136-137

Author(s):

Henry I. Smith ◽

D.C. Flanders

Keyword(s):

Electron Beam Lithography ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

X Ray ◽

Electron Backscattering ◽

Spatial Frequencies ◽

Cross Sectional Profile ◽

Carbon Foils ◽

Sectional Profile ◽

And Control ◽

Soft Radiation

Scanning electron beam lithography has been used for a number of years to write submicrometer linewidth patterns in radiation sensitive films (resist films) on substrates. On semi-infinite substrates, electron backscattering severely limits the exposure latitude and control of cross-sectional profile for patterns having fundamental spatial frequencies below about 4000 Å(l),Recently, STEM'S have been used to write patterns with linewidths below 100 Å. To avoid the detrimental effects of electron backscattering however, the substrates had to be carbon foils about 100 Å thick (2,3). X-ray lithography using the very soft radiation in the range 10 - 50 Å avoids the problem of backscattering and thus permits one to replicate on semi-infinite substrates patterns with linewidths of the order of 1000 Å and less, and in addition provides means for controlling cross-sectional profiles. X-radiation in the range 4-10 Å on the other hand is appropriate for replicating patterns in the linewidth range above about 3000 Å, and thus is most appropriate for microelectronic applications (4 - 6).

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Ultrastructural changes in sciatic nerve tissue: Effects of passive maternal smoking

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100076858 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 650-651

Author(s):

Amankwah K.S. ◽

A.D. Weberg ◽

R.C. Kaufmann

Keyword(s):

Sciatic Nerve ◽

Maternal Smoking ◽

Ultrastructural Level ◽

Uranyl Acetate ◽

Nerve Tissue ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Cacodylate Buffer ◽

And Control ◽

Spontaneous Delivery

Previous research has revealed that passive (involuntary inhalation) tobacco smoking during gestation can have adverse effects upon the developing fetus. These prior investigations did not concentrate on changes in fetal morphology. This study was undertaken to delineate fetal neural abnormalities at the ultrastructural level in mice pups exposed in utero to passive maternal smoking.Pregnant study animals, housed in a special chamber, were subjected to cigarette smoke daily from conception until delivery. Blood tests for determination of carbon monoxide levels were run at 15-18 days gestation. Sciatic nerve tissue from experimental and control animals were obtained following spontaneous delivery and fixed in 2.5% gluteraldehyde in 0.1M cacodylate buffer pH 7.3. The samples were post-fixed in osmium ferrocyanide (1:1 mixture of 1.5% aqueous OSO4 and 2.5% K4 Fe(CN)6). Following dehydration, the tissues were infiltrated with and embedded in Spurr. Sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.

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A Superconducting Microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100064104 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 10-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. E. Worsham ◽

J. E. Mann ◽

E. G. Richardson

Keyword(s):

Liquid Helium ◽

Focal Length ◽

Vacuum System ◽

Objective Lens ◽

Electrical Instability ◽

Radiation Shields ◽

And Control ◽

Thermal Oscillations ◽

Flux Pump

This superconducting microscope, Figure 1, was first operated in May, 1970. The column, which started life as a Siemens Elmiskop I, was modified by removing the objective and intermediate lenses, the specimen chamber, and the complete vacuum system. The large cryostat contains the objective lens and stage. They are attached to the bottom of the 7-liter helium vessel and are surrounded by two vapor-cooled radiation shields.In the initial operational period 5-mm and 2-mm focal length objective lens pole pieces were used giving magnification up to 45000X. Without a stigmator and precision ground pole pieces, a resolution of about 50-100Å was achieved. The boil-off rate of the liquid helium was reduced to 0.2-0.3ℓ/hour after elimination of thermal oscillations in the cryostat. The calculated boil-off was 0.2ℓ/hour. No effect caused by mechanical or electrical instability was found. Both 4.2°K and 1.7-1.9°K operation were routine. Flux pump excitation and control of the lens were quite smooth, simple, and, apparently highly stable. Alignment of the objective lens proved quite awkward, however, with the long-thin epoxy glass posts used for supporting the lens.

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