Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Clement Ameh Yaro, Ezekiel Kogi, Sodangi Abdulkarim Luka, Mohamed A. Nassan, Junaidu Kabir, Kenneth Nnamdi Opara, Helal F. Hetta, Gaber El-Saber Batiha
Summary: This study focused on determining the impact of environmental risk factors on the geospatial distribution of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Kogi East, North Central Nigeria. It identified temperature, precipitation, and soil clay content as the key factors influencing the distribution of STHs in the region. Public health control programs targeting high-risk areas were recommended to include mass drug administration, health education, and improvement of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dave Eleojo Ekpa, Eunice A. Salubi, Johnson Adedeji Olusola, Dare Akintade
Summary: This study examined the spatio-temporal dynamics of malaria epidemiological patterns in Ondo State, Nigeria from 2013 to 2017, considering environmental and climatic factors. The trend analysis revealed an increase in malaria cases over time. Temperature was found to be the most important climatic variable impacting malaria transmission. Other factors include vegetation, water bodies, slopes, elevation, rainfall, and relative humidity. High-risk locations were identified in almost all local government areas, with Ondo East, Akure South, Akoko South West, and Owo being the most vulnerable areas.
Article
Ecology
David Lindenmayer, Chris Taylor, Wade Blanchard, Phil Zylstra, Maldwyn John Evans
Summary: Fire is a crucial ecosystem process that affects over half of the world's land surface. Fire frequency, a key aspect of fire ecology, appears to be increasing in some ecosystems but decreasing in others. This variability highlights the importance of accurately measuring spatiotemporal changes in fire frequency for specific environments.
Article
Soil Science
Marco Pfeiffer, Jose Padarian, Maria Paz Vega
Summary: Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) is an important component of terrestrial carbon stocks, but our understanding of its distribution and drivers is limited compared to soil organic carbon. Previous studies have suggested that the ratio of precipitation to evapotranspiration is the main driver of SIC distribution worldwide, but confounding factors have complicated this relationship. This study used a dataset of 511 soil profiles from Chile to model SIC content using climate and relief information. The study estimated a total SIC stock of around 1.4 Pg and identified precipitation thresholds that influence SIC distribution.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Pique-Fandino, Sandrine Gallois, Samuel Pavard, Fernando V. Ramirez Rozzi
Summary: Reproductive seasonality in the Baka Pygmy living in African rain forests shows a bimodal birth pattern with two birth peaks at 6-month intervals. Climate factors like precipitation and temperature may affect the monthly number of births. Therefore, attention needs to be paid to the influence of global climate change on forager societies.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gustavo Ordonez-Sierra, Diana Sarmiento-Senior, Juan Felipe Jaramillo Gomez, Paola Giraldo, Alexandra Porras Ramirez, Victor Alberto Olano
Summary: Dengue fever is a neglected tropical disease according to the World Health Organization. This study conducted a Poisson multilevel analysis on three municipalities in Colombia for the period 2010-2015, revealing that temperature had the biggest influence on the occurrence of dengue cases in the region.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xianxian Wang, Jiangfeng Wang, Liuyang Zhang, Chengyu Lv, Longlong Liu, Huixin Zhao, Jie Gao
Summary: Leaf nutrient content and N/P ratio are crucial for plant growth and development. A study in China found significant differences in leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, and N/P ratio among different life forms (tree, shrub, and herb), which were influenced by climate and soil nutrient factors.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Zemenu Tadesse Tessema, Collins Adu, Olaoye James Oyeleye, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah
Summary: Child marriage is a significant issue in Nigeria, with hotspot areas identified in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, and Adamawa. Factors such as current employment status and partner's education level are associated with the likelihood of child marriage.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Giulia Paternoster, Gianluca Boo, Roman Flury, Kursanbek M. Raimkulov, Gulnara Minbaeva, Jumagul Usubalieva, Maksym Bondarenko, Beat Mullhaupt, Peter Deplazes, Reinhard Furrer, Paul R. Torgerson
Summary: Based on the study findings, AE distribution is significantly influenced by a 10-year lag annual temperature, while CE distribution is less affected by environmental factors. Additionally, several communities at risk for these diseases were identified in the study.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fangning Shi, Shiliang Liu, Yi An, Yongxiu Sun, Shuang Zhao, Yixuan Liu, Mingqi Li
Summary: By using the MaxEnt model, this study identified the distribution patterns of 19 ungulate species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and found that their habitats have been greatly affected by human activities and climate change. The majority of these species are mainly distributed in the southeast of the plateau, and the key protected areas identified by the Zonation model are mainly located in this region as well. This research provides a scientific basis for addressing the development-protection contradiction and promoting biodiversity conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa, Kobi V. Ajayi, Sylvester Reuben Okeke, Samuel Hailegebreal, Clifford Odimegwu
Summary: This study examines the utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) among sexually active reproductive-age women in Nigeria. The results show a relatively low utilization of LARCs, especially in cosmopolitan areas. Factors associated with LARC use include prior pregnancy termination, fertility intention, and socioeconomic status.
ARCHIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Cristina Ortiz, Teresa Lopez-Cuadrado, Carmen Rodriguez-Blazquez, Lorena Simon, Raquel Perez-Vicente, Juan Merlo, Inaki Galan
Summary: This study found that low social support, neighborhood cleanliness, air pollution, and street crime were associated with the co-occurrence of behavioral risk factors. The co-occurrence of risk factors increased as the level of deprivation increased.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Sina Fackler, Lars-Erik Malmberg, Pamela Sammons
Summary: This study contributes to the understanding of teacher self-efficacy by investigating the relationship between various characteristics and three domains of TSE, showing that TSE is a multi-dimensional construct with international relevance. The findings are important for education researchers, policy makers, and practitioners.
TEACHING AND TEACHER EDUCATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jie Zhu, Anchi Wu, Guoyi Zhou
Summary: The study revealed that soil total phosphorus concentration significantly decreases with increasing soil depth, while spatial distribution increases with increasing latitude and elevation gradient, but decreases with increasing longitude gradient. Climate factors, especially temperature and precipitation, have a significant impact on the distribution of soil total phosphorus, with temperature having a higher explanatory rate compared to precipitation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yukun Kang, Zhicheng Wang, Baohui Yao, Kang An, Qiangsheng Pu, Caijun Zhang, Zhiming Zhang, Qiqi Hou, Degang Zhang, Junhu Su
Summary: This study assesses the environmental and climatic drivers of morphological evolution and distribution of Myospalacinae species in China using geometric morphometric and distributional data. The findings reveal that interspecific morphology variations are mainly concentrated in specific skull features and that temperature and precipitation are important environmental variables influencing skull morphology. Elevation, temperature annual range, and precipitation of warmest quarter are identified as dominant factors affecting the distribution of Myospalacinae species in China. The study also highlights the impact of climate change on the shrinkage of their habitats in the short-term.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Roseline Ekanem Duke, Justin Nwachukuw, Chima Torty, Uche Okorie, Min J. Kim, Kathryn Burton, Clare Gilbert, Richard Bowman
Summary: This study investigates the ocular morbidity and visual impairment in children with cerebral palsy in Nigeria. The results show that children with cerebral palsy have a wide range of visual problems, including visual acuity impairment, visual field abnormalities, strabismus, contrast sensitivity abnormalities, and more. These visual impairments are often underestimated by caregivers, highlighting the importance of comprehensive visual assessments for children with cerebral palsy.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Ian McCormick, Islay Mactaggart, Serge Resnikoff, Debbie Muirhead, G. Murthy, Juan Carlos Silva, Andrew Bastawrous, Jude Stern, Karl Blanchet, Ningli Wang, Mayinuer Yusufu, Andrew Cooper, Michael Gichangi, Matthew J. Burton, Jacqueline Ramke
Summary: This project aimed to develop a menu of eye health indicators for countries to monitor eye health within universal health coverage. By reviewing the literature and conducting two rounds of prioritization exercises with global eye health experts, a final menu of 22 indicators, including 7 core indicators, was established, ensuring they are feasible, actionable, reliable, and internationally comparable for the monitoring of eye health in 2020 and beyond.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Noopur Gupta, Saumya Yadav, Anthony W. Solomon, Shubhi Jain, Seema Kashyap, Murugesan Vanathi, Radhika Tandon
Summary: This study reported the clinical presentation, in vivo confocal microscopic features, and corneal phenotype in patients with trachomatous keratopathy (TK) and secondary amyloidosis. The study identified a distinct form of TK with atypical corneal involvement due to amyloid deposition, different from the usual presentation of dense, leucomatous, vascularized corneal scarring in trachoma. Amyloid deposits in Descemet membrane and the corneal endothelium were observed in these patients.
Editorial Material
Ophthalmology
Aeesha N. J. Malik, Clare Gilbert
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Benjamin Amoah, Claudio Fronterre, Olatunji Johnson, Michael Dejene, Fikre Seife, Nebiyu Negussu, Ana Bakhtiari, Emma M. Harding-Esch, Emanuele Giorgi, Anthony W. Solomon, Peter J. Diggle
Summary: This study utilized geostatistical methods to estimate the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis in Ethiopia, achieving significantly improved precision compared with traditional methods. Among the 482 evaluation units, 8 units had a probability of 0.9 or higher of meeting the elimination threshold, while 469 units had a probability of 0.1 or lower, with the remaining five units falling within a probability range of 0.45 to 0.65.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Blake Angell, Olutobi Sanuade, Ifedayo M. O. Adetifa, Iruka N. Okeke, Aishatu Lawal Adamu, Muktar H. Aliyu, Emmanuel A. Ameh, Fatima Kyari, Muktar A. Gadanya, Diana A. Mabayoje, Adesola Yinka-Ogunleye, Tolu Oni, Rabiu Ibrahim Jalo, Fatimah I. Tsiga-Ahmed, Sarah L. Dalglish, Seye Abimbola, Tim Colbourn, Obinna Onwujekwe, Eme Theodora Owoaje, Gambo Aliyu, Sani H. Aliyu, Belinda Archibong, Alex Ezeh, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Zubairu Iliyasu, Stephen Obaro, Ebenezer Babatunde Obadare, Friday Okonofua, Muhammed Pate, Babatunde L. Salako, Fatima H. Zanna, Scott Glenn, Ally Walker, Maha Ezalarab, Mohsen Naghavi, Ibrahim Abubakar
Summary: Despite increased health expenditure in Nigeria, health outcomes remain poor. It is suggested that strengthening the health system and implementing targeted interventions could improve population health.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Priya Morjaria, Jessica Massie, Andrew Bastawrous
Summary: Eye conditions in children can have negative consequences on visual functioning and quality of life. However, there is a lack of data on the magnitude of children with eye conditions, which hinders effective planning of school eye health programmes. To address this, the School Eye Health Rapid Assessment (SEHRA) tool is being developed to collect data and support programme planning. The first module of the SEHRA tool focuses on determining the magnitude and nature of local needs in school children through a school-based cluster survey.
Correction
Ophthalmology
Aeesha N. J. Malik, Clare Gilbert
Article
Ophthalmology
Nikhil S. Choudhari, Rohit C. Khanna, Srinivas Marmamula, Asha Latha Mettla, Pyda Giridhar, Seema Banerjee, Konegari Shekhar, Subhabrata Chakrabarti, Gudlavalleti V. S. Murthy, Clare Gilbert, Gullapalli N. Rao
Summary: This study aimed to report the 15-year incidence rate of pseudo-exfoliation (PXF), PXF glaucoma, and regional variation among rural participants in Andhra Pradesh, India. The study found significant regional variation in the incidence of PXF in South India. It was associated with increasing age and study site.
Article
Ophthalmology
Rebecca P. Kirby, Aeesha N. J. Malik, Kara M. Palamountain, Clare E. Gilbert
Summary: As more preterm infants survive, complications of preterm birth, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), become more prevalent. ROP rates and blindness from ROP are higher in low-income and middle-income countries, where exposure to risk factors can be higher and where detection and treatment of ROP are under-resourced or non-existent. Access to low-cost imaging devices would improve remote screening capabilities for ROP.
BMJ OPEN OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Iddi Ndyabawe, Flavia Namiiro, Anita Tumwebaze Muhumuza, Jesca Nakibuka, Juliet Otiti, Anne Ampaire, Moses Kasadhakawo, Fransisco Msonge, Siyad Mohamed, Mary Nyanzi, Victor Spector Tumukunde, Andrew Weil Semulimi, David Mukunya, Dan Bwonya, Primrose Magala, Clare Gilbert, Nancy Maria Douat Dietrich, Patricia Zanotelli Cagliari, Anna Hedstrom, Mike Blair, Becca Jones, James Nyonyintono, Aisha Muhamad Doka, Bariirah Bushirah Nakitende, Hamish R. Graham, Susan Mary Carden, Rami Subhi, Grace Ssali Nsibirwa
Summary: This article investigates the incidence rate and influencing factors of ROP in preterm infants in two hospitals in Uganda, and draws conclusions about ROP.
Article
Ophthalmology
Nikhil S. Choudhari, Rohit C. Khanna, Srinivas Marmamula, Asha Latha Mettla, Pyda Giridhar, Seema Banerjee, Konegari Shekhar, Subhabrata Chakrabarti, Gudlavalleti V. S. Murthy, Clare Gilbert, Gullapalli N. Rao, Andhra Pradesh Eye Dis Study Grp
Summary: This study reports the long-term incidence of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in rural India and explores the relationship between changes in intraocular pressure and the development of POAG.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jacqueline Ramke, Jennifer R. Evans, Esmael Habtamu, Nyawira Mwangi, Juan Carlos Silva, Bonnielin K. Swenor, Nathan Congdon, Hannah B. Faal, Allen Foster, David S. Friedman, Stephen Gichuhi, Jost B. Jonas, Peng T. Khaw, Fatima Kyari, Gudlavalleti V. S. Murthy, Ningli Wang, Tien Y. Wong, Richard Wormald, Mayinuer Yusufu, Hugh Taylor, Serge Resnikoff, Sheila K. West, Matthew J. Burton
Summary: Through the Grand Challenges in Global Eye Health exercise, key issues in improving eye health have been identified and specific challenges have been prioritised. This list can guide funders in investing in research and innovation in the field of eye health, and encourages collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and policy makers to address these challenges.
LANCET HEALTHY LONGEVITY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ailie Robinson, Laura Reis de Oliveira Gomes, Oumer Shafi Abdurahman, Wondu Alemayehu, Gemeda Shuka, Ewunetu Melese, Meseret Guye, Demitu Legesse, Eden Elias, Kedir Temam, Korso Hirpo Koro, Dereje Adugna, Fikre Seife, Muluadam Abraham Aga, Virginia Sarah, Saba M. Lambert, Stephen L. Walker, Esmael Habtamu, Anthony W. Solomon, Anna Last, David Macleod, Matthew J. Burton, James G. Logan
Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness of permethrin-treated scarves in reducing contact with eye-seeking flies. The results showed a significant decrease in fly-eye, -nose, and -mouth contacts with the use of permethrin-treated scarves.
