scholarly journals Response to Valle and Zorello Laporta: Clarifying the Use of Instrumental Variable Methods to Understand the Effects of Environmental Change on Infectious Disease Transmission

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. MacDonald ◽  
Erin A. Mordecai
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Infectious Disease Transmission ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The Face ◽  
Original Approach

Identifying the effects of environmental change on the transmission of vectorborne and zoonotic diseases is of fundamental importance in the face of rapid global change. Causal inference approaches, including instrumental variable (IV) estimation, hold promise in disentangling plausibly causal relationships from observational data in these complex systems. Valle and Zorello Laporta recently critiqued the application of such approaches in our recent study of the effects of deforestation on malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon on the grounds that key statistical assumptions were not met. Here, we respond to this critique by 1) deriving the IV estimator to clarify the assumptions that Valle and Zorello Laporta conflate and misrepresent in their critique, 2) discussing these key assumptions as they relate to our original study and how our original approach reasonably satisfies the assumptions, and 3) presenting model results using alternative instrumental variables that can be argued more strongly satisfy key assumptions, illustrating that our results and original conclusion—that deforestation drives malaria transmission—remain unchanged.

scholarly journals Vector-Focused Approaches to Curb Malaria Transmission in the Brazilian Amazon: An Overview of Current and Future Challenges and Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Elerson Matos Rocha ◽  
Ricardo de Melo Katak ◽  
Juan Campos de Oliveira ◽  
Maisa da Silva Araujo ◽  
Bianca Cechetto Carlos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vector Control ◽  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Malaria Control ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Anopheles Darlingi ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Substantial Progress

In Brazil, malaria transmission is mostly confined to the Amazon, where substantial progress has been made towards disease control in the past decade. Vector control has been historically considered a fundamental part of the main malaria control programs implemented in Brazil. However, the conventional vector-control tools have been insufficient to control or eliminate local vector populations due to the complexity of the Amazonian rainforest environment and ecological features of malaria vector species in the Amazon, especially Anopheles darlingi. Malaria elimination in Brazil and worldwide eradication will require a combination of conventional and new approaches that takes into account the regional specificities of vector populations and malaria transmission dynamics. Here we present an overview on both conventional and novel promising vector-focused tools to curb malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. If well designed and employed, vector-based approaches may improve the implementation of malaria-control programs, particularly in remote or difficult-to-access areas and in regions where existing interventions have been unable to eliminate disease transmission. However, much effort still has to be put into research expanding the knowledge of neotropical malaria vectors to set the steppingstones for the optimization of conventional and development of innovative vector-control tools.

scholarly journals Development of a novel self-sanitizing mask prototype to combat the spread of infectious disease and reduce unnecessary waste

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Crawford ◽  
Sepehr Ramezani ◽  
Roghaie Jabbari ◽  
Pawan Pathak ◽  
Hyoung J. Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Infectious Disease Transmission ◽  
The Face ◽  
Ultraviolet C ◽  
Mitigation Techniques

AbstractWith the spread of COVID-19, significant emphasis has been placed on mitigation techniques such as mask wearing to slow infectious disease transmission. Widespread use of face coverings has revealed challenges such as mask contamination and waste, presenting an opportunity to improve the current technologies. In response, we have developed the Auto-sanitizing Retractable Mask Optimized for Reusability (ARMOR). ARMOR is a novel, reusable face covering that can be quickly disinfected using an array of ultraviolet C lamps contained within a wearable case. A nanomembrane UVC sensor was used to quantify the intensity of germicidal radiation at 18 different locations on the face covering and determine the necessary exposure time to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in addition to other viruses and bacteria. After experimentation, it was found that ARMOR successfully provided germicidal radiation to all areas of the mask and will inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in approximately 180 s, H1N1 Influenza in 130 s, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 113 s, proving that this design is effective at eliminating a variety of pathogens and can serve as an alternative to traditional waste-producing disposable face masks. The accessibility, ease of use, and speed of sanitization supports the wide application of ARMOR in both clinical and public settings.

scholarly journals Development of a Novel Self-Sanitizing Mask Prototype to Combat the Spread of Infectious Disease and Reduce Unnecessary Waste

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Crawford ◽  
Sepehr Ramezani ◽  
Roghaie Jabbari ◽  
Pawan Pathak ◽  
Hyong Jin Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Infectious Disease Transmission ◽  
The Face ◽  
Ultraviolet C ◽  
Mitigation Techniques

Abstract With the spread of COVID-19, significant emphasis has been placed on mitigation techniques such as mask wearing to slow infectious disease transmission. Widespread use of face coverings has revealed challenges such as mask contamination and waste, presenting an opportunity to improve the current technologies. In response, we have developed the Auto-sanitizing Retractable Mask Optimized for Reusability (ARMOR). ARMOR is a novel, reusable face covering that can be quickly disinfected using an array of ultraviolet C lamps contained within a wearable case. A nanomembrane UVC sensor was used to quantify the intensity of germicidal radiation at 18 different locations on the face covering and determine the necessary exposure time to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in addition to other viruses and bacteria. After experimentation, it was found that ARMOR successfully provided germicidal radiation to all areas of the mask and will inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in approximately 180 seconds, H1N1 Influenza in 130 seconds, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 113 seconds, proving that this design is effective at eliminating a variety of pathogens and can serve as an alternative to traditional waste-producing disposable face masks. The accessibility, ease of use, and speed of sanitization supports the wide application of ARMOR in both clinical and public settings.

scholarly journals Vector-focused Approaches to Curb Malaria Transmission in the Brazilian Amazon: An Overview of Current and Future Challenges and Strategies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elerson Matos Rocha ◽  
Ricardo de Melo Katak ◽  
Juan Campos-de-Oliveira ◽  
Maisa da Silva Araujo ◽  
Bianca Cechetto Carlos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vector Control ◽  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Malaria Control ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Anopheles Darlingi ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Substantial Progress

In Brazil, malaria transmission is mostly confined to the Amazon, where substantial progress has been achieved towards disease control in the past decade. Vector control has been historically considered a fundamental part of the main malaria control programs implemented in Brazil. However, the conventional vector-control tools have been insufficient to eliminate local vector populations due to the complexity of the Amazonian rainforest environment and ecological features of malaria vector species in the Amazon, especially Anopheles darlingi. Malaria elimination in Brazil and worldwide eradication will require a combination of conventional and new approaches that takes into account the regional specificities of vector populations and malaria transmission dynamics. Here we present an overview on both conventional and novel promising vector-focused tools to curb malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. If well designed and employed, these new vector-based approaches may improve the implementation of malaria-control programs, particularly in remote or difficult-to-access areas and in regions where existing interventions have been unable to eliminate disease transmission. However, much effort still has to be put on research expanding the knowledge of neotropical malaria vectors to set the steppingstones for the development of such innovative tools.

Travel Connectivity and Infectious Disease Transmission Risks in Oceania

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Maria Cadavid Restrepo ◽  
Luis Furuya-Kanamori ◽  
Helen Mayfield ◽  
Eric J. Nilles ◽  
Colleen L. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Infectious Disease Transmission

The Experience of Violence Against Women Who Use Injection Drugs: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 084456212097957
Author(s):  
Cynthia Kitson ◽  
Patrick O’Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Homeless Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Infectious Disease Transmission ◽  
Injection Drugs ◽  
Authority Figures ◽  
Canadian Context ◽  
Societal Violence

Background While literature exists about persons who use injection drugs, few studies explore the experience of women who use these substances. Furthermore, even less research specifically focuses on the lives and experiences of homeless women who use injection drugs. What literature does exist, moreover, is often dated and primarily addresses concerns about infectious disease transmission among these women; and some highlight that these women have lives fraught with violence. Purpose To update this knowledge and better understand the lives of women who use injection drugs in the Canadian context. Methods We undertook an exploratory qualitative study and we engaged in semi-structured interviews with 31 homeless women who use injection drugs in downtown Ottawa, Canada. We analyzed the data using the principles of applied thematic analysis. Results Our data identified that violence pervaded the lives of our participants and that these experiences of violence could be categorized into three main areas: early and lifelong experiences of violence; violence with authority figures (e.g., police, healthcare); and societal violence toward women who use injection drugs. Conclusions We take these findings to mean that, violence toward women is rampant in Canada (not just internationally) and that healthcare workers play a role in propagating and addressing this violence.

Flying in the face of environmental change

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 553-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
The Face

scholarly journals SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY IN SIMPLE DETERMINISTIC SIR MODELS ASSESSED ECOLOGICALLY

2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. K. WATERS ◽  
H. S. SIDHU ◽  
G. N. MERCER
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Epidemic Models ◽  
Final Size ◽  
Infectious Disease Transmission ◽  
Epidemic Dynamics ◽  
Mean Crowding ◽  
Rate Of Movement

AbstractPatchy or divided populations can be important to infectious disease transmission. We first show that Lloyd’s mean crowding index, an index of patchiness from ecology, appears as a term in simple deterministic epidemic models of the SIR type. Using these models, we demonstrate that the rate of movement between patches is crucial for epidemic dynamics. In particular, there is a relationship between epidemic final size and epidemic duration in patchy habitats: controlling inter-patch movement will reduce epidemic duration, but also final size. This suggests that a strategy of quarantining infected areas during the initial phases of a virulent epidemic might reduce epidemic duration, but leave the population vulnerable to future epidemics by inhibiting the development of herd immunity.

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