Fast full-color computational imaging with single-pixel detectors.

Single-pixel detectors can be used as imaging devices by making use of structured illumination. These systems work by correlating a changing incident light field with signals measured on a photodiode to derive an image of an object. In this work we demonstrate a system that utilizes a digital light projector to illuminate a scene with approximately 1300 different light patterns every second and correlate these with the back scattered light measured by three spectrally-filtered single-pixel photodetectors to produce a full-color high-quality image in a few seconds of data acquisition. We utilize a differential light projection method to self normalize the measured signals, improving the reconstruction quality whilst making the system robust to external sources of noise. This technique can readily be extended for imaging applications at non-visible wavebands.

"We have already heard that the treatment doesn't do anything, so why should we take it?": A mixed method perspective on Chagas disease knowledge, attitudes, prevention, and treatment behaviour in the Bolivian Chaco.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease (CD) is highly endemic in the Bolivian Chaco. The municipality of Monteagudo has been targeted by national interventions as well as by Médecins Sans Frontières to reduce infection rates, and to decentralize early diagnosis and treatment. This study seeks to determine the knowledge and attitudes of a population with increased awareness and to identify remaining factors and barriers for sustained vector control, health care seeking behaviour, and access, in order to improve future interventions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among approximately 10% (n = 669) of the municipality of Monteagudo's households that were randomly selected. Additionally, a total of 14 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions were conducted with patients and key informants. Several attitudes and practices were identified that could undermine effective control against (re-)infection. Knowledge of clinical symptoms and secondary prevention was limited, and revealed specific misconceptions. Although 76% of the participants had been tested for CD, only 18% of those who tested positive concluded treatment with benznidazole (BNZ). Sustained positive serologies after treatment led to perceived ineffectiveness of BNZ. Moreover, access barriers such as direct as well as indirect costs, BNZ stock-outs and a fear of adverse reactions triggered by other community members made patients opt for alternative treatments against CD such as veterinary ivermectin, used by 28% of infected participants in our study. The lack of accessible care for chronic complications as well as socioeconomic consequences, such as the exclusion from both job opportunities and bank loans contributed to the ongoing burden of CD. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Large scale interventions should be accompanied by operational research in order to identify misconceptions and unintended consequences early on, to generate accessible data for future interventions, and for rigorous evaluation. An integrated, community-based approach tackling social determinants and including both traditional and animal health sectors might help to overcome current barriers and advocate for patients' rights.

Tipping the Balance: Hepatotoxicity and the 4 Apical Key Events of Hepatic Steatosis.

Hepatic steatosis is a condition were fat accumulates in the liver and it is associated with extra-hepatic diseases related to metabolic syndrome and systemic energy metabolism. If not reversed, steatosis can progress to steatohepatitis and irreversible stages of liver disease including fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death. From a public health standpoint, identifying chemical exposures that may be factors in steatosis etiology are important for preventing hepatotoxicity and liver disease progression. It is therefore important to identify the biological events that are key for steatosis pathology mediated by chemical exposure. In this review, we give a current overview of the complex biological cascades that can disrupt lipid homeostasis in hepatocytes in the context of 4 apical key events central to hepatic lipid retention: hepatic fatty acid (FA) uptake,de novoFA and lipid synthesis, FA oxidation, and lipid efflux. Our goal is to review these key cellular events and visually summarize them using a network for application in pathway-based toxicity testing. This effort provides a foundation to improve next-generation chemical screening efforts that may be used to prevent and ultimately reverse the growing incidence of fatty liver disease in our population.

Factores asociados a la demanda insatisfecha en la consulta externa de un hospital de Ica, 2015 / Factors associated with unmet demand in the outpatient department of a hospital in Ica, 2015

Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados de la demanda insatisfecha en la consulta externa del Hospital Regional de Ica en Marzo del 2015. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal, observacional, descriptivo y correlacional, para lo cual se entrevistó a 2088 usuarios que acudieron en busca de atención por consultorio externo en el 2015, empleando un cuestionario confeccionado por los investigadores, que fue previamente validado mediante prueba piloto. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados con estadística descriptiva univariada y bivariada, con modelo matemático de regresión logística a un nivel de significancia de p<0,05. Resultados: La mayoría de usuarios fueron adultos (59,8%), de género femenino (62,3%). La demanda insatisfecha fue de 36,9%, con variaciones por diarias que van desde 23,1% hasta 53,9% siendo mayor para los consultorios de Cirugia especialidades (42,2%), se halló asociación con la edad (p=0,002), estado civil (p=0,001), años de estudios aprobados (p=0,0003), ingreso económico (p=0.00003), ocupación (p=0,003) y tiempo de espera (p=0,00001). Dentro de las categorías que presentaron mayor riesgo de demanda insatisfecha se encuentran: adultos mayores (OR 1,6, p=0,001), viudos (OR 2, p=0,000), analfabetos (OR 2,5, p=0,002), profesionales (OR 1,9, p=0,008), tiempo de espera menor a una hora (OR 2,000 y P=0,006). Conclusión: La demanda insatisfecha fue de 36,9%, los factores asociados fueron: edad, estado civil, años de estudio aprobados, ocupación y tiempo de espera. (AU)

Objective: To determine the factors associated with unmet demand in the outpatient clinic of theRegional Hospital of Ica in March 2015.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, de-scriptive and correlational study was conducted, for which we interviewed 2088 users attending seekingoutpatient care during the last week of March 2015, using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers,which was previously validated through pilot testing. The data obtained were analyzed with univariate andbivariate descriptive statistics, mathematical model with logistic regression to a significance level of p<0.05.Results:Most users were adults (59,8%) females (62,3%). The unmet demand was 36,9%, with dailyvariations ranging from 23,1% to 53,9% being higher for Surgery specialty clinics (42,2%), an association wasfound with age (p = 0,002), marital status (p = 0,001), completed years of education (p = 0,0003), income(p = 0,00003), occupation (p = 0,003) and waiting time (p = 0,00001). Within the categories that showedincreased risk of unmet demand are: elderly (OR 1,6, p = 0,001), widowed (OR 2, p = 0,000), illiterate (OR2,5, p = 0,002), professional (OR 1,9, p = 0,008), duration of less than one hour (OR 2,000 and P = 0,006)expected.Conclusion: The unmet demand was 36,9%, associated factors were age, marital status, years ofstudy, occupation and timeout. (AU)