Implementation Of New Control Strategies Research Articles

The First Eighteen Months of African Swine Fever in Wild Boar in Saxony, Germany and Latvia—A Comparison

African swine fever (ASF) emerged in Latvia in 2014. In 2020, the virus has been detected in the German federal state, Saxony. In both regions, the virus was probably introduced by infected wild boar coming from affected neighboring countries. As the current ASF control strategy at EU level had not yet been developed at the time of ASF introduction into Latvia, disease control measures in both study areas differed over time. Assessing the course of ASF in Saxony and the implemented control strategies, the first 18 months of the ASF epidemic were epidemiologically compared between Saxony and Latvia. ASF wild boar surveillance data were analyzed and the prevalence of ASF virus-positive wild boar was estimated. For estimating the wild boar density, the numbers of wild boar per km² were calculated for the respective geographical areas. The number of samples collected from hunted wild boar and wild boar found dead was higher in Saxony. The ASF virus prevalence in Latvia was significantly higher than in Saxony, indicating that Saxony has had more time for getting prepared for dealing with an ASF incursion. Experience from other countries and the rapid implementation of new control strategies may have helped Saxony deal with ASF.

Educational intervention for the control of Aedes aegypti with Wolbachia in Yucatan, Mexico

The implementation of new control strategies for Aedes aegypti (Ae. Aegpyti), a vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, requires communities to adopt specific behaviors to achieve the success of these innovations. AimWe evaluated the effect of an educational intervention based on the Precede-Proceed Model (PPM) and the Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT) for the control and prevention of diseases transmitted by Ae. aegypti through release of male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria in a suburban town in Yucatan, Mexico. Material and methodsFrom July 2019 to February 2020, a quasi-experimental study was carried out through an educational intervention (pre- and post-measurements) using quantitative-qualitative techniques, in a Yucatan suburban town where male mosquitoes with Wolbachia were released for the suppression of Ae. aegypti populations. Eleven educational workshops were attended by heads of household (n = 19) and schoolchildren (n = 11). Other 136 heads of household not attending the workshops received information individually. ResultsThe educational intervention had a significant effect on the mean scores of the contributing and behavioral factors for adoption of innovation (p < 0.05) in the pre- and post-intervention measurements. ConclusionInnovative methods for the control and prevention of diseases related to Aedes aegypti can be strengthened through educational interventions supported by sound methodologies. DescriptorsCommunity health education, Aedes aegypti, Wolbachia, Mexico

How much does it cost to prevent and control visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil? Comparing different measures in dogs

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important zoonosis in Brazil. Dogs are considered the main domestic reservoirs of the disease in the country; hence, control measures are focused on these reservoirs. Despite efforts to prevent and control VL, important reductions in disease prevalence and incidence have not been identified, stimulating the development and application of new strategies. The choice and implementation of new control strategies can benefit from the application of mathematical models that allow the simulation of different strategies in different scenarios. Selecting the best strategy to be implemented is also supported by cost-effectiveness studies. Here we used the results of a mathematical model in which scenarios, including isolated use of the vaccine and insecticide-impregnated collar (IIC), both at different coverage rates, were simulated to conduct a cost-effectiveness study. The costs were calculated for each scenario considering a simulation period of four years. Collar application in both infected and non-infected animals was the most cost-effective strategy. For example, to reduce the prevalence in humans and dogs by approximately 70%, the costs ranged from $250,000 and $550,000 for the IICs and vaccination, respectively. Even in the scenario with 40% loss/replacement of IICs, this measure was more advantageous in terms of cost-effectiveness than vaccination. If the vaccine were applied with culling of seropositive tested dogs, then the measure became more effective with a reduced cost compared with the vaccine alone. The use of the three first consecutive vaccine doses had the greatest impact on the cost of the vaccination strategy. The advantage of using IICs is that there is no need for a prior diagnosis, unlike vaccination, reducing costs and facilitating implementation. The present study aims to contribute to strategies to reduce hosts infected with VL by reducing public expenditure.

Comparative morphology of the larvae of the palm weevils Dynamis borassi (Fabricius) and Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus) (Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae): Two major pests of peach palms in the Neotropics

The morphology of the larvae of Dynamis borassi (Fabricius) and Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus) was compared, described and illustrated. A complete definition of subtribe Rhynchophorina at the larval stage was elaborated, based on mature and submature larvae, and characters of the first instar larvae are provided for the first time. Diagnostic characters to distinguish the larvae of D. borassi and R. palmarum are mainly from the epipharynx and maxillae, but the abdominal terminal plate also provides differential features that can aid in the identification. The characterization of both species at the larval stage is expected to be useful in the implementation of new control strategies in palm plantations in South America. For practical reasons, a comparative table is appended in Spanish to serve as a quick diagnostic guide for species identification.

CTMP Process Optimization Part II: Reliability in Pulp and Handsheet Measurements

The objective of this investigation is to analyze and model pulp and handsheet properties using two different approaches based on a reduced set of binomial coefficients for small data sets and constrained linear functions for larger data sets. The properties are linked to process data from the daily CTMP operation in a CD-82 refiner. From a laboratory test program perspective, the test series was extensive and covered 80 pulp samples at different process conditions. In this paper, external variables (dilution water feed rate, specific energy and plate clearance) are compared with internal variables (consistency and fiber residence time) as predictors. It is shown that internal variables as predictors seem to outperform the external variables when estimating CSF Freeness, sheet density, tensile strength, tensile index, elongation to rupture, tensile energy absorption, tensile energy absorption index, tensile stiffness, tensile stiffness index, tear strength, tear index, short-span compressive test index, ISO brightness, Scott-Bond, Z-strength, shives(>= 0.3mm), long fibers and fines. It is important to cover all important dynamics to select the best possible models. Here, the absolute differences between the measured and estimated pulp and handsheet properties are ranked in ascending order, followed by a selection procedure before the polynomial fitting. Moreover, three different sets of chip mixtures were analyzed, and the results shown in this paper indicate that only one model is required for each pulp and handsheet property when using internal variables as predictors. Finally, at a given threshold of shives, it is shown that both Scott-Bond and sheet density can be optimized by changing the consistency and fiber residence time in the refining zones individually. This opens for implementation of new control strategies based on soft sensors.

Add Control: plant virtualization for control solutions in WWTP

This paper summarizes part of the research work carried out in the Add Control project, which proposes an extension of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) models and modelling architectures used in traditional WWTP simulation tools, addressing, in addition to the classical mass transformations (transport, physico-chemical phenomena, biological reactions), all the instrumentation, actuation and automation & control components (sensors, actuators, controllers), considering their real behaviour (signal delays, noise, failures and power consumption of actuators). Its ultimate objective is to allow a rapid transition from the simulation of the control strategy to its implementation at full-scale plants. Thus, this paper presents the application of the Add Control simulation platform for the design and implementation of new control strategies at the WWTP of Mekolalde.

Complicated malaria and other severe febrile illness in a pediatric ward in Libreville, Gabon

BackgroundAlthough a substantial decline of Plasmodium falciparum infection is observed in Africa following implementation of new control strategies, malaria is still considered as the major cause of febrile illness in hospitalized African children. The present study was designed to assess the management of febrile illness and to determine the proportion of children with febrile illness hospitalized for primary diagnosis of malaria who had confirmed complicated malaria after implementation of new malaria control strategies in Libreville, Gabon.MethodsDemographic, clinical and biological data from hospitalized children with fever or a history of fever, with a primary diagnosis of clinical malaria, aged less than 18 years old, who benefited from hematological measurements and microscopic malaria diagnosis, were recorded and analyzed during a prospective and observational study conducted in 2008 in the Centre Hospitalier de Libreville.ResultsA total of 418 febrile children were admitted at hospital as malaria cases. Majority of them (79.4%) were aged below five years. After medical examination, 168 were diagnosed and treated as clinical malaria and, among them, only 56.7% (n = 95) had Plasmodium falciparum positive blood smears. Age above five years, pallor, Blantyre Coma Score ≤2 and thrombocytopenia were predictive of malaria infection. Respiratory tract infections were the first leading cause of hospitalization (41.1%), followed by malaria (22.7%); co-morbidities were frequent (22%). Less than 5% of suspected bacterial infections were confirmed by culture. Global case fatality rate was 2.1% and 1% for malaria. Almost half (46%) of the children who received antimalarial therapy had negative blood smears. Likewise, antibiotics were frequently prescribed without bacteriological confirmation.ConclusionsThe use of clinical symptoms for the management of children febrile illness is frequent in Gabon. Information, training of health workers and strengthening of diagnosis tools are necessary to improve febrile children care.

On-line monitoring of the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process using respirometry and titrimetry

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) requires alternating anaerobic and aerobic (or anoxic) conditions to favour polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAO) against other bacteria. Due to its economical and ecological relevance, EBPR is currently a focus of interest in many environmental labs. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is used in most lab-scale EBPR systems in order to enrich the sludge with PAO. The management of these reactors is mostly based on off-line measurements such as volatile fatty acids and phosphorus and, if available, internal storage polymer measurements (polyhydroxyalkanoates or glycogen). However, off-line monitoring of the SBR cycle implies low frequency data sampling and delay between sampling and availability of the results. This is an obstacle for a proper process monitoring and makes difficult the application of control strategies to the process. For this reason, the on-line monitoring of the SBR cycle would improve the daily process management, as well as facilitate the “on-time” detection of abnormal situations and the implementation of new control strategies. This work illustrates that titrimetry and respirometry provide enough information to monitor the EBPR process in lab-scale SBR. For this aim, the effect of EBPR on respirometry and titrimetry is theoretically discussed and several monitoring examples using a lab-scale SBR with a highly PAO-enriched sludge are shown.

APLICAÇÃO DE CONTROLE AVANÇADO NOS FORNOS DE REAQUECIMENTO DE PLACAS DA LINHA DE TIRAS A QUENTE DA USIMINAS

In this paper it is presented the dynamic control improvements in the reheating furnaces of the hot strip mill plant of Usiminas. To achieve it, a methodology consisting of the application of a systematic modeling, controllers design, simulation, implementation of new control strategies and performance assessment has been used on main loops of the process. The obtained results confirm the improvement in the control system’s performance achieving an average fuel consumption saving of 3.7%. It means a monthly average saving of 301 thousand liters of oil.