scholarly journals Financial Incentives and Healthcare Provision: Evidence from an Experimental Aedes aegypti Control Programme in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Freire ◽  
Umberto Mignozzetti
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Worker Productivity ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
The Impact

Background. Mosquito control is the most effective means of reducing A. aegypti infections worldwide. In many developing countries, however, vector management programmes fail to reach their goals due to low worker productivity. Research suggests that financial incentives may increase the productivity of health personnel, yet there is little evidence about the impact of monetary rewards on A. aegypti-reduction strategies. We evaluated whether individual and collective financial incentives improve the performance of healthcare workers fighting A. aegypti, as well as their effect on city-level numbers of dengue hospitalisations. Methodology/Principal findings. We hired and trained subjects to visit households, find A. aegypti breeding sites, and eliminate mosquito larvae in the city of Rio Verde, Brazil. We randomly assigned workers into three groups. The control group received a flat compensation for their tasks, while workers in the two treatment groups received individual and collective monetary bonuses, respectively. Financial rewards increased the number of cleaned breeding sites in both treatment groups (individual and team bonuses) and the collective treatment also improved larvae extermination. The intervention lowered dengue hospitalisations in 10.3%, but the result was not consistent across all model specifications. Conclusions/Significance. A. aegypti control programmes may benefit from alternative compensation schemes, specially when provided to teams. For this strategy to succeed, financial incentives have to be distributed widely as their aggregate effect is limited. More research is needed to assess whether higher worker productivity decreases dengue hospitalisations. Keywords: Aedes aegypti, dengue, financial incentives, mosquito control, preventive healthcare, randomised field experiment, worker productivity

scholarly journals Using the Concept of Game-Based Learning in Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (14) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Zi-Yu Liu ◽  
Zaffar Ahmed Shaikh ◽  
Farida Gazizova
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Educational Material ◽  
Educational Game ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Game Based Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact

A modern school deals with a generation of students who were born and grown up in a digital environment and require other teaching methods. Changes in the technological and social conditions of modern society need new professional skills, which are often called “21st century skills”. These skills should be devel-oped starting from the primary school, as they are psychological and behavioural, rather than practical. Game-based learning and gamification are effective means of such skills development. The use of video games in teaching practice is studied multifaceted, along with formats and requirements of educational game, methods for effectiveness assessment, and the effect of games on students. The controver-sial nature of game-based learning effect on students require deeper research, as the increase in motivation and learning efficiency cannot be disputed, as well as the negative impact of a long gaming on cognitive abilities, emotional state and social skills of students. The study tested both an increase in the motivation and attraction of school students for the learning process, and the impact on the prac-tical results of information assimilation. There was conducted a survey on the re-sults of the application of game training to determine the motivation and attraction of students. Likewise, we counted time, spent by the study and control group, for mastering the main educational material and the post-class study of game content and the educational material it presents. A comparative test was conducted on the results of educational material comprehension to determine the effectiveness of the methodology in mastering knowledge. The group, with game-based learning and gamification applied, showed an increase in motivation and attraction to learning, students paid additional efforts for assimilating the material studied, and also showed significantly higher learning outcomes compared to the control group.

scholarly journals Household-Level Risk Factors for Aedes aegypti Pupal Density in Guayaquil, Ecuador

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thien-An Ha ◽  
Tomás M. León ◽  
Karina Lalangui ◽  
Patricio Ponce ◽  
John M. Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression Model ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Municipal Services ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Level Model ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundVector-borne diseases are a major cause of disease burden in Guayaquil, Ecuador, especially arboviruses spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Understanding which household characteristics and risk factors lead to higher Ae. aegypti densities and consequent disease risk can help inform and optimize vector control programs.MethodsCross-sectional entomological surveys were conducted in Guayaquil between 2013 and 2016, covering household demographics, municipal services, potential breeding containers, presence of Ae. aegypti larvae and pupae, and history of using mosquito control methods. A zero-truncated negative binomial regression model was fitted to data for estimating the household pupal index. An additional model assessed the factors of the most productive breeding sites across all of the households.ResultsOf surveyed households, 610 satisfied inclusion criteria. The final household-level model found that collection of large solid items (e.g., furniture and tires) and rainfall the week of and 2 weeks before collection were negatively correlated with average pupae per container, while bed canopy use, unemployment, container water volume, and the interaction between large solid collection and rainfall 2 weeks before the sampling event were positively correlated. Selection of these variables across other top candidate models with ΔAICc < 1 was robust, with the strongest effects from large solid collection and bed canopy use. The final container-level model explaining the characteristics of breeding sites found that contaminated water is positively correlated with Ae. aegypti pupae counts while breeding sites composed of car parts, furniture, sewerage parts, vases, ceramic material, glass material, metal material, and plastic material were all negatively correlated.ConclusionHaving access to municipal services like bulky item pickup was effective at reducing mosquito proliferation in households. Association of bed canopy use with higher mosquito densities is unexpected, and may be a consequence of large local mosquito populations or due to limited use or effectiveness of other vector control methods. The impact of rainfall on mosquito density is multifaceted, as it may both create new habitat and “wash out” existing habitat. Providing services and social/technical interventions focused on monitoring and eliminating productive breeding sites is important for reducing aquatic-stage mosquito densities in households at risk for Ae. aegypti-transmitted diseases.

scholarly journals Do EFL Learners Enhance Their knowledge of Their Home Cultures as a Result of comparing them with other Cultures Through Project-Based Learning?

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (08) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akharraz Mohamad ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

The existing research studies have revealed that project-based learning (PjBL) has significantly helped foreign language learners enhance their cultural understanding as a result of completing their projects (e.g., Bouchouk, 2017; Hsu, 2014; Kim, 2019; Liu et al., 2006; Ngo, 2014). While these studies have congruently proved the utility of PjBL in enhancing students’ cultural awareness, none of them has measured the effect of PjBL together with a comparative and contrastive approach on students’ understanding of their home cultures. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of comparing students’ home cultures with the English cultures through PjBL on students’ understanding of their own cultures in terms of cultural products, cultural practices, and cultural perspectives. Two similar intact groups were randomly assigned to control and treatment groups. The two groups were pretested, administered two different treatments for 24 weeks, and post-tested to assess their differences. The independent sample t-tests results exhibited that the experimental group substantially deepened their understanding of their home cultures as a result of comparing them with the English cultures through PjBL. The study also revealed that while the control group significantly improved their cultural products, those in the experimental group greatly enhanced their knowledge of cultural practices and perspectives.

scholarly journals Why the Gender of Traditional Authorities Matters: Intersectionality and Women’s Rights Advocacy in Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1881-1924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ragnhild L. Muriaas ◽  
Vibeke Wang ◽  
Lindsay Benstead ◽  
Boniface Dulani ◽  
Lise Rakner
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Heterogeneous Effects ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
Traditional Authorities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Marriage Reform

Traditional leadership often coexists with modern political institutions; yet, we know little about how traditional and state authority cues—or those from male or female sources—affect public opinion. Using an original survey experiment of 1,381 Malawians embedded in the 2016 Local Governance Performance Index (LGPI), we randomly assign respondents into one of four treatment groups or a control group to hear messages about a child marriage reform from a female or male traditional authority (TA) or parliamentarian. In the sample as a whole, the female TA is as effective as the control (i.e., no endorsement), while other messengers elicit lower support (i.e., backfire effects). Endorsements produce heterogeneous effects across respondent sex and patrilineal/matrilineal customs, suggesting the need for tailored programs. Our paper adds an intersectional approach to the governance literature and offers a theoretical framework capable of explaining the impact of state and traditional endorsements across policy domains.

Generating Skilled Self-Employment in Developing Countries: Experimental Evidence from Uganda *

2013 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 697-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Blattman ◽  
Nathan Fiala ◽  
Sebastian Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Training ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Grant Proposals ◽  
The Impact

Abstract We study a government program in Uganda designed to help the poor and unemployed become self-employed artisans, increase incomes, and thus promote social stability. Young adults in Uganda’s conflict-affected north were invited to form groups and submit grant proposals for vocational training and business start-up. Funding was randomly assigned among screened and eligible groups. Treatment groups received unsupervised grants of $382 per member. Grant recipients invest some in skills training but most in tools and materials. After four years, half practice a skilled trade. Relative to the control group, the program increases business assets by 57%, work hours by 17%, and earnings by 38%. Many also formalize their enterprises and hire labor. We see no effect, however, on social cohesion, antisocial behavior, or protest. Effects are similar by gender but are qualitatively different for women because they begin poorer (meaning the impact is larger relative to their starting point) and because women’s work and earnings stagnate without the program but take off with it. The patterns we observe are consistent with credit constraints.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the impact of antimicrobial use protocols in PRRS virus infected swine on phenotypic antimicrobial resistance patterns

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carissa A. Odland ◽  
Roy Edler ◽  
Noelle R. Noyes ◽  
Scott A. Dee ◽  
Joel Nerem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Longitudinal Studies ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Resistance Patterns ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

A longitudinal study was conducted to assess the impact of different antimicrobial exposures of nursery-phase pigs on patterns of phenotypic antimicrobial resistance in fecal indicator organisms throughout the growing phase. Based on practical approaches used to treat moderate to severe PRRSV-associated secondary bacterial infections, two antimicrobial protocols of differing intensity of exposure [44.1 and 181.5 animal-treatment days per 1000 animal days at risk (ATD)] were compared with a control group with minimal antimicrobial exposure (2.1 ATD). Litter-matched pigs (n = 108) with no prior antimicrobial exposure were assigned randomly to the treatment groups. Pen fecal samples were collected nine times during the wean-to-finish period and cultured for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using NARMS gram-negative and gram-positive antibiotic panels. Despite up to 65-fold difference in ATD, few and modest differences were observed between groups and over time. Resistant patterns at marketing overall remained similar to those observed at weaning, prior to any antimicrobial exposures. Those differences observed could not readily be reconciled with the patterns of antimicrobial exposure. Resistance of E. coli to streptomycin was higher in the group exposed to 44.1 ATD, but no aminoglycosides were used. In all instances where resistance differed between time points, the higher resistance occurred early in the trial prior to any antimicrobial exposures. These minimal impacts on AMR despite substantially different antimicrobial exposures point to the lack of understanding of the drivers of AMR at the population level and the likely importance of factors other than antimicrobial exposure. IMPORTANCE Despite a recognized need for more longitudinal studies to assess the effects of antimicrobial use on resistance in food animals, they remain sparse in the literature, and most longitudinal studies of pigs have been observational. The current experimental study had the advantages of greater control of potential confounding, precise measurement of antimicrobial exposures which varied markedly between groups and tracking of pigs until market age. Overall, resistance patterns were remarkably stable between the treatment groups over time, and the differences observed could not be readily reconciled with the antimicrobial exposures, indicating the likely importance of other determinants of AMR at the population level.

scholarly journals Transcriptomic analysis and molecular docking reveal genes involved in the response of Aedes aegypti larvae to an essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0009587
Author(s):  
Ivana Sierra ◽  
Jose Manuel Latorre-Estivalis ◽  
Lucila Traverso ◽  
Paula V. Gonzalez ◽  
Ariel Aptekmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Essential Oil ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Chemosensory Proteins ◽  
The Impact

Background Aedes aegypti (L.) is an urban mosquito, vector of several arboviruses that cause severe diseases in hundreds of million people each year. The resistance to synthetic insecticides developed by Ae. aegypti populations worldwide has contributed to failures in vector control campaigns, increasing the impact of arbovirus diseases. In this context, plant-derived essential oils with larvicidal activity could be an attractive alternative for vector control. However, the mode of action and the detoxificant response of mosquitoes to plant derived compounds have not been established, impairing the optimization of their use. Methods and findings Here we compare gene expression in Ae. aegypti larvae after 14 hrs of exposure to Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oil with a control group exposed to vehicle (acetone) for the same lapse, by using RNA-Seq. We found differentially expressed genes encoding for cuticle proteins, fatty-acid synthesis, membrane transporters and detoxificant related gene families (i.e. heat shock proteins, cytochromes P450, glutathione transferases, UDP-glycosyltransferases and ABC transporters). Finally, our RNA-Seq and molecular docking results provide evidence pointing to a central involvement of chemosensory proteins in the detoxificant response in mosquitoes. Conclusions and significance Our work contributes to the understanding of the physiological response of Ae. aegypti larvae to an intoxication with a natural toxic distilled from Eucalyptus leafs. The results suggest an involvement of most of the gene families associated to detoxification of xenobiotics in insects. Noteworthy, this work provides important information regarding the implication of chemosensory proteins in the detoxification of a natural larvicide. Understanding the mode of detoxification of Eucalyptus distilled compounds could contribute to their implementation as a tool in mosquito control.

scholarly journals Aedes aegypti Males as Vehicles for Insecticide Delivery

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey L. Brelsfoard ◽  
James W. Mains ◽  
Steve Mulligan ◽  
Anthony Cornel ◽  
Jodi Holeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Initial Field ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Larval Habitats ◽  
Control Techniques ◽  
Oviposition Sites ◽  
Lethal Doses

Aedes aegypti continues to spread globally and remains a challenge to control, in part due to its ‘cryptic behavior’ in that it often deposits eggs (oviposits) in larval habitats that are difficult to find and treat using traditional methods. Auto-dissemination strategies target these cryptic breeding sites by employing mosquitoes to deliver lethal doses of insecticide. This report describes the initial field trials of an application known as Autodissemination Augmented by Males (ADAM), utilizing A. aegypti males dusted with pyriproxyfen (PPF). Findings presented here are drawn from both caged and field trial studies. Together, these trials examined for the ability of A. aegypti males to disseminate PPF and to impact field populations. PPF-dusted males were able to effectively deliver lethal doses of PPF to oviposition sites under the conditions tested. Results from field trials in Florida and California demonstrated reduced A. aegypti populations in treated areas, compared to areas where PPF-treated males were not released. These results indicate that the release of PPF-dusted A. aegypti males can impact A. aegypti populations as measured by both reduced larval survival and lower numbers of adult female A. aegypti. We propose the ADAM approach as an addition to existing mosquito control techniques targeting A. aegypti and other mosquitoes that utilize cryptic larval habitats.

scholarly journals 18 Impact of in-feed vs. in-water antibiotic administrations on the fecal prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Campylobacter and Salmonella in piglets

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 35-36
Author(s):  
Victor L Ishengoma ◽  
Raghavendra G Amachawadi ◽  
Kellen A Habib ◽  
Xiaorong Shi ◽  
Taghreed Mahmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Culture Method ◽  
Oral Route ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Food Borne Pathogens ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Campylobacter and Salmonella are common food borne pathogens in the gut of pigs and are shed in the feces. The control of these bacteria in pigs is of importance in reducing the potential for transmission to humans. In swine, oral route, either in-feed or in-water, is by far the most common route of administration of antibiotics. Because the distribution of the antibiotic in the gut and the dosage are different, the impact of in-feed vs. in-water administration of antibiotics on the fecal shedding of food borne pathogens, Campylobacter and Salmonella, and on the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in gut bacteria is a largely unexplored area. Therefore, a study was conducted to compare the effects of in-feed and in-water antibiotic administration on fecal prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella and AMR development in nursery piglets. A total of 1,296 weaned piglets were allocated into pens (48 pens; 27 pigs per pen) distributed in a single room. Pens were assigned randomly to six treatment groups; Control (No antibiotic), In-feed chlortetracycline (CTC), In-water CTC, In-feed tiamulin, In-water tiamulin, and a combination of CTC and tiamulin (In-feed). Fresh fecal samples were collected randomly from 5 of 27 piglets from each pen on pre-treatment (days -7, 0), treatment (days 7, 14) and post-treatment (days 21, 28) phases. Bacterial isolations and identifications were done by culture method and PCR, respectively. Overall prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella were 18.2% (262/1,440) and 3.9% (56/1,440) respectively. Speciation of Campylobacter isolates indicated C. hyointestinalis (17.9%; 258/1,440) and C. coli (0.3%; 4/1,440). Pigs from control group had a higher prevalence (P&lt; 0.05) of both Campylobacter and Salmonella when compared to other treatment groups. Both treatment and post-treatment phases had a significant effect on the prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella (P&lt; 0.05).

scholarly journals Children’s Reading Comprehension and Motivation on Screen Versus on Paper

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402098884
Author(s):  
Ayşegül Liman Kaban ◽  
Sirin Karadeniz
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
School Students ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Electronic Reading ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The young generation, born into digital technologies and called Millennials or the Y-Generation, are raised in a world where everybody has a computer in their pockets (Hamari et al., 2014), and they are constantly engaged in digital activities. However, research on the impact of digital devices on learners’ educational performance and motivation is still an emerging field. This article aims to examine perceptions of the sixth-grade students in Turkey of their e-reading experiences on the basis of their personalized/gamified/PDF electronic reading practices in school and the influences of their perceptions on their reading comprehension and levels of motivation in English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom. The study follows a quasi-experimental approach with four treatment groups and a control group, involving 96 sixth-grade state school students in Turkey. The three treatment groups read in order from the personalized/gamified/PDF electronic reading for 5 weeks whereas the control group used printed guided reading program. The results indicate that EFL learners’ use of screen reading has the potential to increase reading motivation of the students. However, no significant difference was observed in their reading comprehension levels despite the use of different reading medium in control and experimental groups.

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