Parasite transmission in size-structured populations.

Host heterogeneity can affect parasite transmission, but determining underlying traits and incorporating them into transmission models remains challenging. Body size is easily measured and affects numerous ecological interactions, including transmission. In the snail-schistosome system, larger snails have a higher exposure to parasites but lower susceptibility to infection per parasite.

Towards globally relevant, small-footprint dewatering solutions: Optimal conditioner dose for highly variable blackwater from non-sewered sanitation.

Globally, the sanitation needs of three billion people are met by non-sewered sanitation. Small-footprint treatment technologies are needed that are appropriate for dense urban areas. Blackwater (BW) (or fecal sludge), contains more than 95% liquid, and dewatering it without conditioning requires large footprints.

Optimizing falls risk prediction for inpatient stroke rehabilitation: A secondary data analysis.

Background: Identifying individuals at risk for falls during inpatient stroke rehabilitation can ensure timely implementation of falls prevention strategies to minimize the negative personal and health system consequences of falls.

Objectives: To compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of fallers and non-fallers; and evaluate the ability of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Morse Falls Scale (MFS) to predict falls in an inpatient stroke rehabilitation setting.

Methods: A longitudinal study involving a secondary analysis of health record data from 818 patients with stroke admitted to an urban, rehabilitation hospital was conducted.

Extracellular cGAMP is a cancer cell-produced immunotransmitter involved in radiation-induced anti-cancer immunity.

2'3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) is an intracellular second messenger that is synthesized in response to cytosolic double-stranded DNA and activates the innate immune STING pathway. Our previous discovery of its extracellular hydrolase ENPP1 hinted at the existence of extracellular cGAMP. Here, we detected that cGAMP is continuously exported but then efficiently cleared by ENPP1, explaining why it has previously escaped detection.

Dominant decomposition pathways in pit latrines: a commentary.

In a recent article an assessment of decomposition within pit latrines measured with regard to chemical oxygen demand (COD) reductions was reported on. Some fundamental concerns were raised with regard to a key assumption of the study. The alternative perspective that is presented here does not support the study's conclusion that anaerobic processes are the dominant decomposition pathway in pit latrines.