The silent shot: An analysis of the origin, sustenance and implications of the MMR vaccine - autism rumour in the Somali diaspora in Sweden and beyond.

This article traces the origin, sustenance and implications of a persistent rumour that is responsible for low measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination uptake in the Somali diaspora in a number of countries across the globe. The rumour stipulates that the MMR vaccine - the silent shot - causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the association between MMR and ASD is non-causal, and various public health initiatives have promoted health information campaigns, the rumour continues to circulate in the Somali diaspora in many countries, including Sweden. This paper shows that there are valid reasons for this. The findings from this paper draw on a systematic scoping review and qualitative interview data from Sweden. The results show that the Somali community experiences higher than average rates of ASD compared to the general population. Moreover, ASD does not exist in the Somali language or their home country, is considered a Western disease that only affects Somali children in the diaspora, and is a highly stigmatised disease. Also, the Somali diaspora has had negative experiences with ASD diagnosis and care. The rumour has been sustained by the absence of an answer to their ASD fear and through active diaspora networks on social media. The network that surrounds the rumour has arguably further helped to create an epistemic community for a community whose concerns have been silenced.

Beliefs and Norms Influencing Initiation and Sustenance of Exclusive Breastfeeding: Experiences of Mothers in Primary Health Care Facilities in Ermelo, South Africa.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is not a norm in many communities in South Africa despite the World Health Organizations' recommendations for EBF in the first six months of infant's life. Thus, South Africa continues to observe suboptimal and poor practices of EBF. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of mothers who are HIV-positive and negative on EBF and examine the extent to which initiation and sustenance of EBF is influenced by cultural beliefs, societal norms, and family norms and practices in Mpumalanga Province. Three focus group discussions and twelve in-depth interviews were conducted among thirty mothers who were purposively selected during their visits to the facilities for childcare services. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were analysed through thematic analysis using NVivo version 10. Mothers were aged between 18 and 42 years, most were unemployed and were living in poor sociodemographic backgrounds in extended family households. We found evidence of factors that influence the decision to EBF and mix feed infants among mothers. Traditional and cultural beliefs and norms that exist within their communities informed decisions mothers took to EBF. These beliefs existed alongside mothers' opinions on breastfeeding (BF) and HIV infection, as well as the fears of harming the baby through HIV infection, leading to early cessation of BF. Mothers were also advised by family members, friends, and even some healthcare workers to use traditional medicines while BF. The association of EBF with sagging breasts and weight loss as well as discomfort with public BF are personal beliefs that influenced initiation and early cessation of EBF. Breastfeeding messages ought to be context specific to improve the knowledge, understanding, acceptance and practice of EBF among HIV-positive and negative mothers. Culturally appropriate counselling messages that address the known cultural practices of the populations affected are essential to changing the beliefs and norms of the communities including extended families of EBF mothers.

Induction and sustenance of antibacterial activities distinguishes response of mice to Salmonella Typhi from response to Salmonella Typhimurium.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), the causative agent of typhoid in humans, shares a high degree of homology with a closely related serovar, S. Typhimurium. Yet, unlike S. Typhimurium, S. Typhi does not establish infection in mice, the reasons for which are not well understood. Here, we present evidence that the response of mice to infection with S. Typhi is marked by early antibacterial activities. Cell-free peritoneal fluids from S. Typhi but not S. Typhimurium-infected mice inhibited the replication of Salmonella ex vivo. The production of this activity was reduced in the presence of the serine protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonlyl fluoride (PMSF). PMSF also inhibited the generation of antibacterial activity released from in vitro S. Typhi-infected peritoneal macrophages in a cell death-dependent manner. Infection with S. Typhimurium but not S. Typhi was associated with reduction in the mRNA levels of iron-regulating molecules, ferroportin and lipocalin. These results suggest that early induction and sustenance of antibacterial activities may contribute to the nonestablishment of infection with S. Typhi in mice.

Use of the multi-theory model (MTM) in explaining initiation and sustenance of indoor tanning cessation among college students.

Skin cancer, including melanoma, is the most common cancer worldwide and a significant public health concern. A significant risk factor for melanoma is through increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the use of indoor tanning beds. Although rates of indoor tanning bed use have decreased in recent years, young adults, particularly White, college-age women, comprise the majority of indoor tanning bed users in the United States. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore and explain the initiation and sustenance of indoor tanning cessation among college students using the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data were collected from 254 college students who reported current indoor tanning use using a validated 46-item survey to assess demographics and the MTM constructs. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression to determine the ability of the MTM constructs to predict the initiation and sustenance of indoor tanning cessation. For initiation of indoor tanning cessation, participatory dialogue: advantages (B = 0.038, p = 0.001), behavioral confidence (B = 0.129, p < 0.001) and changes in the physical environment (B = 0.088, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with indoor tanning cessation following covariate adjustment. For sustenance, only emotional transformation (B = 0.140, p < 0.001) demonstrated a significant relationship with indoor tanning cessation, following adjustment. Findings from this study demonstrate the utility of the MTM in explaining indoor tanning cessation and designing intervention strategies and clinical recommendations to encourage indoor tanning cessation among college students.

Vivências de trabalho precoce de adolescentes em medida socioeducativa / Experience of child labor of adolescents complying with a social-educational measure / Vivencias de trabajo infantil de adolescentes en medidas socioeducativas

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar a vivência de trabalho precoce de adolescentes e jovens em cumprimento de medida socioeducativa, no estado da Paraíba. Os instrumentos utilizados foram um Questionário Mosquito Diagnóstico e uma Entrevista Semiestruturada. A análise foi realizada com o software Iramuteq, (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires), através da Análise Hierárquica Descendente, que gerou seis classes: significado do trabalho; infância e escola; condições objetivas de vida; trabalho, drogas e ato infracional; consequências do trabalho infantil; e trabalho infantojuvenil. A perspectiva teórica utilizada foi a psicologia histórico-cultural e os dados discutidos a partir do conceito de vivência. Conclui-se que as vivências e situações sociais de desenvolvimento foram caracterizadas pelo trabalho precoce que oportunizou o envolvimento com atos infracionais e as instituições responsáveis pela garantia de direitos em vez de garantir a proteção social, criminalizaram por meio de medidas socioeducativas.(AU)

This article aims to analyze the experience of child labor of adolescents and youngsters that are complying a social-educational measure, in the State of Paraíba. The instruments utilized were a Questionnaire Mosquito Diagnóstico and a Semi-Structured Interview. The analysis was performed by using the Iramuteq software (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires), by using Descending Hierarchical Analysis, which generated six classes: meaning of labor; childhood and school; objective conditions of life; labor, drugs, and act of infraction; consequences of child labor; and child labor. The theoretical perspective used was historical-cultural psychology and the data were discussed from the concept of experience. It was concluded that the experiences and social situations of development were characterized by child labor, which enabled the involvement with acts of infraction; and the institutions responsible for guaranteeing rights, instead of guaranteeing social protection, criminalized by using social-educational measures.(AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la vivencia precoz de adolescentes y jóvenes que cumplen medidas socioeducativas en el estado de Paraíba (Brasil). Los instrumentos utilizados fueron un Cuestionario Mosquito Diagnóstico y una entrevista semiestructurada. El análisis se realizó con el software Iramuteq (Interface de R pour les Multidimensionnelles Analyzes de Textes et de Questionnaires), mediante análisis jerárquico descendente, que generó seis clases: Significado del trabajo; Infancia y escuela; Condiciones objetivas de vida; Trabajo, drogas y acto de infracción; Consecuencias del trabajo infantil; y Trabajo infantojuvenil. La perspectiva teórica que se utilizó fue la psicología histórico-cultural, y los datos se discutieron desde el concepto de vivencia. Se concluye que las vivencias y situaciones sociales de desarrollo se caracterizaron por trabajo infantil que permitió la participación en infracciones y que las instituciones responsables de garantizar los derechos en lugar de la protección social los criminalizaron mediante medidas socioeducativas.(AU)

Crop microbiome: their role and advances in molecular and omic techniques for the sustenance of agriculture.

MAIN CONCLUSION: This review is an effort to provide in-depth knowledge of microbe's interaction and its role in crop microbiome using combination of advanced molecular and OMICS technology to translate this information for the sustenance of agriculture. Increasing population, climate change and exhaustive agricultural practices either influenced nutrient inputs of soil or generating biological and physico-chemical deterioration of the soils and affecting the agricultural productivity and agro-ecosystems. Alarming concerns toward food security and crop production claim for renewed attention in microbe-based farming practices. Microbes are omnipresent (soil, water, and air) and their close association with plants would help to accomplish sustainable agriculture goals. In the last few decades, the search for beneficial microbes in crop production, soil fertilization, disease management, and plant growth promotion is the thirst for eco-friendly agriculture. The crop microbiome opens new paths to utilize beneficial microbes and manage pathogenic microbes through integrated advanced biotechnology. The crop microbiome helps plants acquire nutrients, growth, resilience against phytopathogens, and tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as heat, drought, and salinity. Despite the emergent functionality of the crop microbiome as a complicated constituent of the plant fitness, our understanding of how the functionality of microbiome influenced by numerous factors including genotype of host, climatic conditions, mobilization of minerals, soil composition, nutrient availability, interaction between nexus of microbes, and interactions with other external microbiomes is partially understood. However, the structure, composition, dynamics, and functional contribution of such cultured and uncultured crop microbiome are least explored. The advanced biotechnological approaches are efficient tools for acquiring the information required to investigate the microbiome and extract data to develop high yield producing and resistant variety crops. This knowledge fills the fundamental gap between the theoretical concepts and the operational use of these advanced tools in crop microbiome studies. Here, we review (1) structure and composition of crop microbiome, (2) microbiome-mediated role associated with crops fitness, (3) Molecular and -omics techniques for exploration of crop microbiome, and (4) current approaches and future prospectives of crop microbiome and its exploitation for sustainable agriculture. Recent -omic approaches are influential tool for mapping, monitoring, modeling, and management of crops microbiome. Identification of crop microbiome, using system biology and rhizho-engineering, can help to develop future bioformulations for disease management, reclamation of stressed agro-ecosystems, and improved productivity of crops. Nano-system approaches combined with triggering molecules of crop microbiome can help in designing of nano-biofertilizers and nano-biopesticides. This combination has numerous merits over the traditional bioinoculants. They stimulate various defense mechanisms in plants facing stress conditions; provide bioavailability of nutrients in the soil, helps mitigate stress conditions; and enhance chances of crops establishment.

Novel behavioral model in evaluating initiation and sustenance of teeth brushing behavior among students pursuing health sciences: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Oral hygiene maintenance is a crucial and integral feature in determining the overall wellbeing of a person. It has been established that interventions for health promotion at the public health level derived from theoretical models based on social and behavioural sciences have a superior effectiveness as compared to the ones without a theoretical background. Hence a novel behavioral model known as the multi-theory model (MTM) was used to understand two important aspects of health behavior change: (i) Initiation and (ii) Sustenance in twice daily teeth brushing in a university setting with objectives to identify factors effecting MTM in initiation and sustenance of twice daily brushing behavior among students pursuing health sciences and correlating the MTM theory with socio-demographic and behavioral patterns. Methods: The study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Students pursuing Medicine and Dentistry in a University setting were included. A validated questionnaire was designed for this study. Questions were framed to evaluate the constructs of initiation and sustenance of MTM, personality, sleeping habits and demographic corelates of participants. Multiple means between the groups were compared using analysis of variance and a post hoc test. Correlation was established between different domains, the items were then entered for hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Of the 235 participants in the study, 229 completed the questionnaire. There was a significant association between brushing quartiles, professional streams (p<0.001) and academic performance (p<0.001). The hierarchical multiple regression revealed that at stage one, behavioral confidence contributed significantly to the regression model (F (1,227) = 33.227, p<0.001) and accounted for 12.4% of the variation in twice daily brushing. Conclusion: MTM is a good tool in predicting the initiation and sustenance of twice daily brushing behavior among young adults and can form a useful tool in assessing the patterns of brushing behavior in a population.

Role of mesoscale eddies in the sustenance of high biological productivity in North Eastern Arabian Sea during the winter-spring transition period.

Convective mixing, mesoscale eddies and regenerated production sustain an above-average biological productivity in the North East Arabian Sea (NEAS) during the winter-spring transition period. Satellite-derived long-term data sets on Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Sea Surface Height Anomaly (SSHA), Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Okubo-Weiss parameterization show existence of number of mesoscale eddies, propagating and non-propagating, that contribute to the regional production. The dominance of Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE) over the Available Potential Energy (APE) in the core depth and the diameter (120km) of the observed eddy being wider than the Rossby Radius of Deformation (RRD, 55 km), it is suggested that the baroclinic instability is a possible mechanism for the eddy formation. Spatial variation in APE and its influences on the regional dynamics, including chemical and biological response are explained. In the non-eddy areas, where convective mixing is active, diatoms (96.74%) dominated than dinoflagellates (3.14%), and the Chl-a in the Cold Core Eddy (CCE) were two to three folds higher to non-eddy regions. The abundance increased from core (58,152 cells L-1) to periphery (5.95 × 105 cells L-1) where the water column is less dynamic. Extensive blooms of the dinoflagellate green Noctiluca (N. scintillans) contribute to the very high cell density in the periphery of the CCE, where the currents were comparatively weak, and water column was more stable. Active mixing is associated with diatom dominance, followed by Noctiluca when the mixing slackens, making use of the available nutrients and supported by regenerated production. The bloom dynamics is explained for pre-bloom, bloom and post-bloom conditions with measurements on nutrients and plankton assemblages. The Noctiluca bloom (mid-March) is succeeded by Trichodesmium (April-May), in the stratified nutrient depleted, abundant light environment and propagated southwards. Observed increasing trends in the SSHA over the period indicate strengthening of stratification and hence altered production patterns in the NEAS.

Efficient induction and sustenance of pluripotent stem cells from bovine somatic cells.

Although derivation of naïve bovine embryonic stem cells is unachieved, the possibility for generation of bovine induced pluripotent stem cells (biPSCs) has been generally reported. However, attempts to sustain biPSCs by promoting self-renewal have not been successful. Methods established for maintaining murine and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) do not support self-renewal of iPSCs for any bovid species. In this study, we examined methods to enhance complete reprogramming and concurrently investigated signaling relevant to pluripotency of the bovine blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM). First, we identified that forced expression of SV40 large T antigen together with the reprogramming genes (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and MYC) substantially enhanced the reprogramming efficacy of bovine fibroblasts to biPSCs. Second, we uncovered that TGFß signaling is actively perturbed in the ICM. Inhibition of ALK4/5/7 to block TGFß/activin/nodal signaling together with GSK3ß and MEK1/2 supported robust in vitro self-renewal of naïve biPSCs with unvarying colony morphology, steady expansion, expected pluripotency gene expression and committed differentiation plasticity. Core similarities between biPSCs and stem cells of the 16-cell-stage bovine embryo indicated a stable ground state of pluripotency; this allowed us to reliably gain predictive understanding of signaling in bovine pluripotency using systems biology approaches. Beyond defining a high-fidelity platform for advancing biPSC-based biotechnologies that have not been previously practicable, these findings also represent a significant step towards understanding corollaries and divergent aspects of bovine pluripotency. This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.

Highly sensitive determination of cancer toxic mercury ions in biological and human sustenance samples based on green and robust synthesized stannic oxide nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide sheets.

This work proposes the conventional sonochemical synthesis of nanoparticles of tin (IV) oxide on reduced graphene oxide (rGOS@SnO2) influencing the formation of a composite with enhanced properties. The combination of SnO2 nanoparticles with rGOS weakens the accumulation in layered structures of the latter system, which leads to better exposure of SnO2 active sites and thus increases the conductivity of rGOS@SnO2 composite. This validates the improved electro-catalytic activity of the composite based on previous reports for its successful utilization in the electrochemical determination of toxic contaminants. The quantitative determination of mercury ions, through the use of the electrochemical sensor based on rGOS@SnO2 manifests several advantages such as simple operator, promptness, cost effectiveness and time independency when compared to other traditional techniques. The fabricated sensor displays two wide linear responses in the range of 0.25-705.3 µM for mercury ions, with a rapid response time about 1 s, and with a high sensitivity of 10.18 µA µM-1 cm-2 under optimized conditions. The accumulation of traces of mercury in the bodies of fish in the marine eco system marks the significance of its detection in real samples. The satisfactory results of the proposed sensor establish the supreme efficacy of layered nanomaterials in conjunction with nanoparticles for the simple, rapid and efficient detection of pollutants in food and biological samples.

Application of isotope techniques to enhance the conceptual hydrogeological model and to assess groundwater sustainability in the Pampean plain in Córdoba, Argentina.

The objective of this work is to enhance the conceptual hydrogeological model in the Río Cuarto River basin by using isotope and hydrochemical techniques. The precipitation pattern, as reflected in the average values of δ 2H and δ 18O in stations located in the plains and in the mountains, showed an isotope depletion from the East to the West, attributed to continental and altitude effects. Groundwater quality is mainly the result of two controlling factors: lithology and flow distances from recharge. The aquifers show fresh calcium/sodium bicarbonate water in the upper and medium basin (coarse fluvial sediments) which evolve to sodium sulphate and chloride waters in the low basin (mainly loess and fine alluvial sediments). The confined aquifer systems in the lower basin (C and D systems) averaged more negative stable isotope values, indicating that groundwater recharged during colder climatic conditions (Pleistocene period). Groundwater dating with 14C confirmed that groundwater ages range from modern to 45,000 years BP showing that as the water flows towards deeper layers and farther from the mountainous recharge area, groundwater age increases. The confined aquifers can potentially be exploited in order to partly cover different water needs but they should be managed in a sustainable way.

Sexual dimorphism in the nutritional requirement for adult lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster.

The nutritional requirements of Drosophila have mostly been studied for development and reproduction, but the minimal requirements for adult male and female flies for lifespan have not been established. Following development on a complete diet, we find substantial sex difference in the basic nutritional requirement of adult flies for full length of life. Relative to females, males require less of each nutrient, and for some nutrients that are essential for development, adult males have no requirement at all for lifespan. The most extreme (and surprising) sex differences were that chronic cholesterol and vitamin deficiencies had no effect on the lifespan of adult males, but they greatly decreased lifespan in females. Female oogenesis rather than chromosomal karyotype and mating status is the key cause of this gender difference in life-sustaining nutritional requirements. These data are important to the way we understand the mechanisms by which diet modifies lifespan.

Response Measures to Infection Outbreaks During the Second Year of Sustenance Phase of Infection Control Quality Improvement.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the infection outbreaks, control measures and outcomes of the outbreak in the NICU of a tertiary care centre in the year 2018. METHODS: This study was conducted in a 30 bedded tertiary care NICU from January 2018 through December 2018. The study design was an Outbreak investigation, based on a program of prospective surveillance for nosocomial infection. All neonates admitted to the NICU formed part of the the study. An Infection Control Quality Improvement (QI) team was available to analyze the infection and initiate response action to outbreaks. RESULTS: Three outbreaks were reported in the year 2018. The first was in May 2018 and comprised of colonization with rectal Multi-drug resistant gram negative bacilli (MDR GNB). The outbreak was controlled by using Aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) for fortification of milk and using distilled water for cleaning of diaper area. The second outbreak in August 2018 was Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) whose source was a maternal Lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) wound. The third outbreak in October 2018 was MDR Acinetobacter. The source was from an outborn having the same organism. All infants were in close proximity to the index case. This outbreak was controlled with cohorting, hand hygiene and strengthening of bundle care. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance aids in early detection and successful control of outbreaks. A systematic search for the source and meticulous containment of spread can successfully control an outbreak.