Gaps in knowledge and practices of malaria prevention in Francophone African immigrants in Metropolitan Edmonton.

BACKGROUND: Important knowledge gaps exist in the understanding of the management of the risks of imported malaria in Canada among Francophone immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa (FISSA). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the malaria related-knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of FISSA in Edmonton, where these immigrants are in an official minority language situation and the impact of language barriers on these factors. METHODS: A structured survey was used to examine the KAP of 382 FISSA in the Edmonton area from 2018 to 2019. Fisher's Exact Test was applied to determine if there were associations between knowledge of malaria and different risk factors. RESULTS: Almost all FISSA (97%) had an accurate knowledge of fever as the key symptom of malaria. Interestingly, 60% of participants identified bed nets as a preventive method and only 19% of participants had accurate knowledge of malaria transmission. An accurate knowledge of symptoms was significantly associated with a high perceived risk of contracting malaria [odds ratio (OR) 4.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-20.62]. Furthermore, even though 70% of FISSA had a high perceived risk of contracting malaria in endemic regions, only 52% of travellers had a pre-travel medical encounter. Importantly, language was not the predominant reason for not seeking pre-travel medical advice, although 84% of respondents chose French as their official language of preference when seeking medical advice. Having a French-speaking physician was correlated with satisfactory prevention knowledge (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.16-3.35). With respect to health-seeking behaviour, 88% of respondents with a child < 5 years of age would seek medical care for fever in the child after travel to sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that factors other than knowledge, risk assessment, and language might determine the lack of compliance with pre-travel medical encounters. It underscores the need for effective strategies to improve this adherence in minority settings.

Determining the Required Training Capacity Within a Military Establishment.

We address the problem of deciding how many positions to set aside for military recruits undergoing training. Within a cap on the total number of military members, we vary the ratio between positions allocated to the training pipeline versus those required in the trained effective establishment. This is done with the goal of determining the extent to which given ratios are sustainable. We use a Markovian model of the training pipeline, with parameters derived from historical personnel data. Through Monte Carlo simulation, we predict how often a given ratio allows the required trained force to be fully generated, as well as the surplus of trained personnel, it is expected to generate. We extend our previous work in this area by considering an alternative Human Resources policy that uncaps the training pipeline. Our modelling results have informed ongoing initiatives to optimize the force mix and structure of the Canadian Armed Forces.

BMP signaling is essential for sustaining proximo-distal progression in regenerating axolotl limbs.

Amputation of a salamander limb triggers a regeneration process that is perfect. A limited number of genes have been studied in this context and even fewer have been analyzed functionally. In this work, we use the BMP signaling inhibitor LDN193189 on Ambystoma mexicanum to explore the role of BMPs in regeneration. We find that BMP signaling is required for proper expression of various patterning genes and that its inhibition causes major defects in the regenerated limbs. Fgf8 is downregulated when BMP signaling is blocked, but ectopic injection of either human or axolotl protein did not rescue the defects. By administering LDN193189 treatments at different time points during regeneration, we show clearly that limb regeneration progresses in a proximal to distal fashion. This demonstrates that BMPs play a major role in patterning of regenerated limbs and that regeneration is a progressive process like development.