Main Points Research Articles

An Integration of Sraffa's Price Equations inside Marx's Capitalist Monetary Circulation

ABSTRACT This paper explores the integration of Sraffa's prices in Marx's ‘money-commodity-money’ circuit. We develop our interpretation of Marx's theory of new value based on the so-called ‘New Interpretation’ by Foley, Duménil, and Lipietz. The value of money allows us to sum up at the aggregate level the two factors that enter the production process: the means of production (a monetary quantity) and the living labour. Regarding Sraffa, we aim to retrace the path that leads him to believe that the labour employed is not an arbitrary but a natural measure unit of prices. The main points on which to base our reasoning are: i. in Marx, the new value or value added is identified with the aggregate living labour; ii. the distinction between new value and surplus value (which is only a part of the former) is linked to the distinction between constant and variable capital; iii. in Sraffa, the equality between employed labour and national income is considered the ‘truly natural unit' of measure of prices; iv. consequently, in both approaches, the wage rate equals the share of national income that goes to labour. Finally, we develop Marx's capitalist monetary circuit including Sraffa’s prices.

Preferences in AI algorithms: The need for relevant risk attitudes in automated decisions under uncertainties.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve life and reduce risks by providing large amounts of information embedded in big databases and by suggesting or implementing automated decisions under uncertainties. Yet, in the design of a prescriptive AI algorithm, some problems may occur, first and clearly, if the AI information is wrong or incomplete. But the main point of this article is that under uncertainties, the decision algorithm, rational or not, includes, in one way or another, a risk attitude in addition to deterministic preferences. That risk attitude implemented in the software is chosen by the analysts, the organization that they serve, the experts who inform them, and more generally by the process of identifying possible options. The problem is that it may or may not represent, as it should, the preferences of the actual decision maker (the risk manager) and of the people subjected to his/her decisions. This article briefly describes the sometimes-serious problem of that discrepancy between the preferences of the risk managers who use an AI output, and the risk attitude embedded in the AI system. The recommendation is to make these AI factors as accessible and transparent as possible and to allow for preference adjustments in the model if needed. The formulation of two simplified examples is described, that of a medical doctor and his/her patient when using an AI system to decide of a treatment option, and that of a skipper in a sailing race such as the America's Cup, receiving AI-processed sensor signals about the sailing conditions on different possible courses.

Understanding Pap Smears, HPV, and Preventive Measures in Relation to Cervical Health

Understanding HPV, Pap Smears, and Preventive Measures are examined in various facets of cervical health and how important it is to women's life. The main points of contention here are the value of maintaining cervical health, the contribution of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to the development of cervical cancer, the necessity of Pap smears for early detection, and the preventive measures that can be taken to keep cervical health. It has covered the function of HPV, the significance of Pap smears, and a number of preventive strategies, such as HPV vaccine, responsible sexual behavior, and routine screenings. The author has placed a strong emphasis on the necessity of ongoing awareness campaigns and the vital role that healthcare providers play in teaching patients about cervical health throughout this essay. By putting these steps into practice, we can lower the prevalence of cervical cancer, identify anomalies early on, and ultimately save lives. For those who are interested in learning more about cervical health and for medical professionals who want to help and counsel their patients, this paper is a great resource. It emphasizes how crucial it is for medical experts, legislators, and the community to work together in order to realize the vision of a world free from cervical cancer and manageable with it.

Using Trend Models for Analysis and Forecasting Basic Demographic Indicators (case study of Sumy Region, Ukraine)


 
 
 The article is dedicated to the analysis of the demographic situation in Sumy region and possible scenarios for its development. The aim of the article is to carry out a demographic forecast of the main demographic indicators of Sumy region (Ukraine) till 2030. Forecasting is based on defining the tendencies in the dynamics of demographic indicators during 1990-2021. It should be noted that the demographic situation in Sumy region is perhaps the most complicated in the national demographic dimension. According to many demographic indicators, the region holds the most negative positions in Ukraine. Besides, negative features continue to grow: over the past 10 years, the population of the region has decreased by 9.3%, urban – by 6.3%, and rural – by 15.4%. According to our forecast, the population of the region will decrease by another 12% and will amount to approximately 911 thousand inhabitants by 2030. Forecasting the number of the rural population showed a faster rate of its depopulation – up to 253.8 thousand people, or 18.8%. Besides, there will be negative changes in the population of certain age groups. For example, in the age group 0-17 years, there will be only 135 thousand people and the number of children will decrease by 17.7% by 2030. The main point is a significant decrease in the birth rate, which will be reduced by 14.5% during the forecast period. The fertility rate will decrease by 13.7% and it will amount to 0.7 children per woman. On the other hand, there is a tendency towards an increase in mortality, the level of which in 2021 reached the highest value – 20 ‰. According to our forecast, by 2030, the mortality rate will stabilize at the level of 19.6-19.7 ‰, and in the pessimistic scenario, it will increase by 16.2% (up to 23.2 ‰). As a result of the two demographic tendencies mentioned above, since the 1980s, there has been a natural decline in the population in Sumy region. By 2030, the rate of depopulation will increase by 2.4%, and its level will be -15.1% per year. The results of the demographic forecast can be used in assessing the balance of labor resources in the future, planning the development of the social sphere, housing construction, etc.
 
 

Interpretation and Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Recent Practice of the International Court of Justice

The article “Interpretation and application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the recent practice of the International Court of Justice”, written by Iryna Hrebenets and Anhelina Rozhets, summarize the recent practice of genocide cases of ICJ, find its main points and how it reflects in international law system. It was defined that the topic of genocide can not be discussed without an emotional approach to it, paying attention to the substance of the Genocide Convention – its universality of participation, binding states and not individuals. It was defined the main aim of the Convention – prevention of genocide, stopping of committing it, and punishment for guilty parties. In that point of view, it could not be placed any reservations in practice, as they would contradict the aims of the Convention. The peculiarity of punishing the state for genocide actions is the obligation to prove the connection between individuals who committed genocide and state’s financial involvement or awareness of committed actions with the specific intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The interpretations of the Convention proved the possibility of the effective fulfilment of erga omnes obligations, related to the prevention of genocide by the third and not directly related states. As the ICJ is the only legal forum that has the opportunity to interpret the Genocide Convention, thus, how it applies and interprets the Genocide Convention – shows how international law reflects the changes in the world order. Today it can be seen the results of it in the ongoing case Ukraine v. Russia, where the last acquisitions are applied in practice.

Epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminth infections and the differential effect of treatment on the distribution of helminth species in rural areas of Gabon

BackgroundSoil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are a public health concern in endemic areas. For efficient control, the epidemiology of the disease needs to be monitored. This report assesses the prevalence, incidence, post-treatment infection (PTI) rate, and risk factors for STH infections in two rural areas of Gabon.MethodIn this longitudinal and prospective study, participants aged six to 30 years from the vicinity of Lambaréné and selected households using a simple randomization process were included and followed in two consecutive periods of six and nine months. Stool samples were obtained at the beginning and the end of each follow-up phase (FUP). The Kato-Katz technique was used for the detection of STH eggs, while the Harada-Mori technique and coproculture were used for the detection of larvae in stool processed within a maximum of four hours of collection. Prevalence was determined at the three main time points of the study, incidence was assessed during the two study phases, and PTI was defined as an infection detected nine months post-treatment.ResultsA total of 262 participants were included. The overall prevalence of STH infections was 42% (95%CI: 34–50) and 44% (95%CI: 37–51) at baseline for the six and nine month FUPs, respectively. Trichuris trichiura was the most prevalent species at each time point of assessment. The cumulative incidence of STH at the 6- and 9-month follow-ups was 18% (95%CI: 12–27) and 35% (95%CI: 27–43), respectively, while the incidence rates were 41 (95%CI: 28–55) and 56 (95%CI: 46–67) per 100 person-years, respectively. The PTI rates at the 9-month follow-up for T. trichiura, hookworm, and Ascaris lumbricoides were 58% (95%CI: 41–74), 31% (95%CI: 11–59) and 18% (95%CI: 5–40), respectively. The STH infection intensity was generally light.ConclusionThe prevalence level of STH infection is moderate in the vicinity of Lambaréné, with T. trichiura being the most prevalent species. Our results reveal a rapid spread of the disease in the population mainly following intervention, particularly for trichuriasis, and therefore call for the full implementation of the World Health Organization’s recommendations in the area.Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT02769013. Registered 21 April 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02769013

The Role of Bawaslu in Preventing Money Politics in the 2019 Legislative Election in Gorontalo City

to ensure that the holding of general elections is not polluted by disgraceful acts, so that in addition to upholding the rule of law and raising the dignity of society from the habit of committing acts of money politics towards holding honest and fair general elections. The aim of the research is to determine the role of Bawaslu in preventing money politics in the 2019 legislative elections in Gorontalo City. This research uses normative legal research (normative law study) using normative case studies in the form of legal behavior products. The main point of study is law which is conceptualized as a norm or rule that is merely in society and becomes a reference for everyone's behavior. Bawaslu's role in the 2019 regional elections was carried out in accordance with Law No. 15 of 2011 concerning the Implementation of General Elections. Similar to what has been proven by the money politics violations that occurred in Gorontalo City in 2019, there were acts of promising and/or giving money or other materials to influence the holding of elections and/or elections in a structured, systematic and massive manner. Awareness about money politics must be based on shared awareness. Public Knowledge about Politics, of course, candidate pairs and the public must be able to change thought patterns that have an impact on social culture. Both candidate pairs and society must change their perspective. Not only giving, but also changing thought patterns which will later have a permissive impact.

Almost Global Existence for Some Hamiltonian PDEs with Small Cauchy Data on General Tori

In this paper we prove a result of almost global existence for some abstract nonlinear PDEs on flat tori and apply it to some concrete equations, namely a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a convolution potential, a beam equation and a quantum hydrodinamical equation. We also apply it to the stability of plane waves in NLS. The main point is that the abstract result is based on a nonresonance condition much weaker than the usual ones, which rely on the celebrated Bourgain’s Lemma which provides a partition of the “resonant sites” of the Laplace operator on irrational tori.

Important Recommendations Regarding the Test-and-Treat Strategy for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children.

Helicobacter pylori is a commonly encountered pathogen in medical practice. It causes chronic gastritis in patients of different ages. Many published papers have provided different opinions on whether the test-and-treat strategy for H. pylori infection should be implemented in children. It is critical that the opinion in favor of this strategy was published in Europe, where ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines have not recommended the use of test-and-treat strategy for H. pylori in children. Herein, I propose my opinion regarding this debate using 4 main points. First, this strategy should be implemented in areas where its benefits outweigh the associated risks. Thus, if it is not tailored to the locality, the results of the test-and-treat strategy for H. pylori in children may be erroneous. Second, the association between H. pylori infection and other diseases such as asthma and other allergic diseases should not be factored in when considering the test-and-treat strategy. This is because these diseases are associated with H. pylori noninfection and not with its posteradication status. Third, there is evidence that H. pylori infection can significantly alter children's intestinal microbiota. Finally, gastroscopy should not be performed in all H. pylori-positive children, particularly if the drug susceptibility test is not available. In the near future, it will be possible to easily conduct drug susceptibility tests for H. pylori using fecal samples. I believe that this report may expand the test-and-treat strategy for children infected with asymptomatic H. pylori outside of Japan and prevent not only gastric cancer but also minor diseases such as iron deficiency anemia, chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and failure to thrive. Pediatricians are responsible for keeping children healthy not only during childhood but also in adulthood. Thus, even if there are only a few H. pylori-related diseases and no severe cases in children, it is necessary to take early measures to prevent problems (eg, incidence of gastric cancer) in adulthood.

The variety of anti-gender alliances and democratic backsliding in Turkey: fault lines around opposition to “gender ideology” and their political implications

ABSTRACT This article examines the politics of knowledge production and the affective politics of rising anti-genderism in civil society in contemporary Turkey with a focus on two main points: (1) the variety of actors and their different strategies opposing “gender ideology,” and (2) the effects of state–movement dynamics on the political efficacy of those strategies. The findings demonstrate that anti-gender alliances between state and civil society actors display a discursive plurality in Turkey in terms of how they manage the fluidity and heterogeneity of the opposition to “gender ideology” that links a wide range of concerns about feminist ideas, movements, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI+) rights. Providing a typology of the different forms of opposition to “gender ideology,” the article concludes that in the recent era the right-wing populist regime in Turkey has redrawn its alliances in the gender policy field, accommodating illiberal actors’ anti-gender demands and anti-equality policy visions. This shift toward an aggressive performance of anti-genderism renders gender equality politics more contentious through a polarizing populist form of knowledge production and affective politics and even destabilizes gender equality policies that have already been accepted.

Navigating the infodemic: A qualitative study of university students' information strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We aimed to study the strategies which university students developed for vetting information during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated infodemic. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 34 students, using a piloted topic guide which explored several areas of pandemic experiences, including students' use of media. Transcripts were analysed inductively following the thematic approach. Higher order themes were finalised following a coding exercise undertaken by two of the authors. Participants were acutely aware of misinformation during the pandemic. They rated legacy news media (print and broadcast media with pre-Internet origins) higher than social media for reliable information about the pandemic. However, strikingly, not all legacy media were automatically trusted and not all social media were uniformly distrusted. Participants identified a set of mechanisms for establishing whether a piece of information was truthful and accurate. These mechanisms had four main focal points: (1) the source, (2) the message, (3) individual media literacy and (4) the trustworthiness of others. Despite possessing a critical awareness of misinformation, participants avoided posting anything in relation to the pandemic for fear of becoming the target of online abuse. In addition to underscoring the role of media literacy, our research foregrounds the need to attend to the importance of fostering media confidence. We define media confidence as the ability of digital media users to challenge and interrogate questionable or inaccurate information safe in the knowledge that there are adequate regulatory mechanisms in place to curb abuse, trolling and intimidation.

Structure and migration mechanism of thin liquid film in vicinity of advancing contact line

Thin liquid film near the gas-liquid-solid three phase contact line is the core area of oil and gas production, phase-change heat transfer, and material synthesis systems. Although there are many experimental studies on fluid dynamics in the contact line region, the prediction of contact angle is still difficult, and the bottleneck lies in the special structure of thin liquid film in the contact line region. Because the microstructure of thin liquid film is not well understood, the prediction of dynamic contact angle is always controversial. At present, the main controversial points focus on whether the microscopic contact angle changes with speed, and whether the microscopic contact angle is the same as the macroscopic contact angle. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor the dynamic process of the microscopic contact angle in the thin liquid film region of the contact line. In this work, the wetting system of 50 nm liquid droplets on different solid surfaces is constructed by molecular dynamics simulation, and the structure and migration mechanism of thin liquid film are studied. The structure of the precursor liquid film in the completely wetting droplet advancing contact line region and the nanoscale convex structure in the partially wetting droplet advancing contact line region are obtained. The precursor liquid film is 2–3 molecular layers in thickness, leading the droplet to move forward. However, there is no precursor liquid film in a partially wetting system, and the convex nano-bending larger than 10 nm is formed in the wetting process, resulting in the microscopic contact angle. By comparing the difference between the absolute smooth surface dynamic wetting process and the actual solid surface dynamic wetting process, the dynamic evolution law of the micro contact angle and the macro contact angle with time are obtained for the first time in the simulation. The liquid molecules in the contact line region are tracked and statistically analyzed by means of particle tracer. It is revealed that the liquid molecules in thin liquid film change from sliding mode to rolling mode with speed increasing under the action of solid surface friction, and then the air entrainment at the bottom of the contact line leads to slip and sputtering. The research results are expected to provide theoretical guidance for the following three directions: 1) improving heat transfer efficiency of micro and nano device based on wettability control; 2) improving the imbibition displacement efficiency of shale oil micro-nano matrix based on wettability regulation; 3) constructing universal contact angle prediction model.

Noise analysis of interior structure under powertrain excitation

To accurately identify the structural noise problem caused by vibration in the cockpit, an experimental study was conducted on a certain type of SUV under uniform acceleration conditions. Based on the planning of the multi-body system dynamics model, a transfer path model with secondary contributions is constructed, and the load is identified using the single degree of freedom model and multi-frequency bandwidth model under the OPAX method based on this path. The results indicate that the second-order vibration of the powertrain is transmitted to the entire suspension system through the X direction of the right suspension. The second-order vibration of the suspension system is then transmitted to the Z direction of the right rear bolt of the subframe, causing the entire subframe vibration and ultimately reaching the target point. This structural path has the greatest impact on the interior noise of the vehicle. This path research method can more accurately determine the main excitation points that cause interior noise problems on a certain path and better understand the overall energy transfer characteristics along the transmission path.

Natural Compounds Synthesis: A Perspective of Modern Chemistry

Abstract: Natural products have been created by nature and are derived from organisms such as plants or microorganisms. The natural compounds are isolated from natural sources in very small quantities, making it difficult for the form to achieve the compounds' good yields. The last is relevant for doing biological essays and chemical structure elucidation. Besides, they have diverse chemical structures, which have inspired organic chemists to do their organic synthesis. It is important to construct a strategy based on a well-designed retrosynthesis. The reproducibility of the selected methodology, the yields of the compounds of each step and stereoselectivity or diastereoselectivity of the reactions that are being used are the main key points to guarantee the success of a natural compound synthesis. Modern technologies can be the solution. In this review, we try to compile in the form of a critic perspective the most modern techniques that organic chemists are applying for the synthesis of complex natural compounds.

WiFi from past to today, consequences that can cause and measures of prevention from them, WiFi security protocols

This article is dedicated to WiFi wireless networks. WiFi is a modern wireless technology. The article provides brief information about the history of their creation and development over the years and indicates features, areas of use, and main parameters. Steps taken to eliminate the possible consequences of these vulnerabilities were investigated. The main points to be considered during planning and the important issues to pay attention to while designing have been explained. WIFI security protocols, the history of their first creation, and the reasons for their creation have been investigated. As a result of the development of science and technology, the emergence and replacement of new protocols, their areas of use, and their shortcomings were mentioned. The article also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 series. At the same time, the article explains the possibilities of using the protocols and their special characteristics. The application of these protocols in practice has also been investigated. The main purpose of the article is to create a source of information for undergraduate and graduate students who want to get information about WIFI, its efficiency, benefits, and harms, as well as WIFI security protocols to ensure its security. At the same time, this article can serve as a short resource for students preparing for exams, courses, and research papers. Also, anyone who wants to learn about WiFi security protocols can use this article.

A review of the most influential research papers on COVID-19: An excerpt with comments and insights

For the past two years, COVID-19 has been a global nightmare for human civilization. It genuinely poses a serious threat to public health because of its rapid proliferation. The deadly SARS-COV-2 virus is being researched on a global scale to determine its biology, origin, and potential treatment. Numerous research publications covering various aspects of the COVID-19 issue have already been published as a result of the burgeoning interest in this hot topic. The reputable and well-known search engine SCOPUS is used to compile crucial information. In order to emphasize a thorough and extensive assessment of research output using COVID-19 publications, we looked at 100 research and review papers that received the majority of citations. It discovers a list of keywords that appear more than 14 times. It can be seen that the terms "Human/Humans," "Coronavirus Disease 2019," "Coronavirus Infection/Coronavirus Infections," "Pneumonia viral," and "Virus pneumonia" held the top five positions. The New England Journal of Medicine is in the first place, having published 15 research papers delineating different features of SARS-CoV-2. In addition to this, a significant number of publications connected to the Covid-19 issue were also published in "The Lancet," "Nature," "JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association," and "Cell." Regarding papers published on COVID-19, China is also performing well. The USA and the UK placed second and third, respectively, in terms of the quantity of Covid-related articles published. This work outlines a detailed global research scenario of COVID-19 describing its origin, nature, identification, way of entry in a human cell, symptoms of the infected patients, way of prevention, fatal effects on comorbid and aged patients with the help of correlation between comorbidity and mortality, the effect of on newborn baby and children, the emergence of telemedicine, persistence of the virus on inanimate things, the efficacy of drugs like remdesivir, lopinavir, ritonavir and so on, the progress of vaccine development, usefulness gloves, masks, sanitizer, the advantage of maintaining physical and social distance, infrastructure development. Finally, we conclude by summarizing the main points of the 100 research papers, which will undoubtedly aid in identifying the research gap and future research directions.

Analysis of Russia's policy in the Middle East in 2000-2023 in the works of foreign researchers.

The article is devoted to the scientific consideration of foreign researchers' views on the issues and prospects of military-political, trade-economic and socio-cultural relations of the Russian Federation with the countries of the Middle East during the presidency of V.V. Putin and D.A. Medvedev from 2000 to 2023. The paper aims to identify the main points of view of foreign researchers on the issues and prospects of military-political, trade, economic, social and cultural relations of the Russian Federation with the Middle East countries during the presidency of V.V. Putin and D.A. Medvedev in 2000-2023. The purpose of the work is to highlight the main points of view on Russia's Middle East policy and identify the key areas of interest among foreign researchers. The object of the study is to examine the geopolitical significance of the region and the ways in which this significance is reflected in the studies of foreign scholars. The subject is the views of foreign researchers on Russia's policy in the Middle East. The article analyzes the differences and similarities in the interpretations of the effectiveness and consequences of Russia's actions in the region. The study is based on the principles of objectivity, systematicity and consistency. The main conclusions of the paper are that foreign researchers have different attitudes towards Russia's policy in the Middle East. Some see this policy as a constructive approach to developing relations with all countries in the region, while others point to Russia's desire to strengthen its influence and interests in certain countries and, at the same time, Russia's attempt to upset the already fragile balance of power in the region, which is considered one of the most tense and unstable in the world.

Perspectival shapes are viewpoint-dependent relational properties.

Recently, there is a renewed debate concerning the role of perspective in vision. Morales et al. (2020) present evidence that, in the case of viewing a rotated coin, the visual system is sensitive to what has often been called "perspectival shapes." It has generated vigorous discussions, including an online symposium by Morales and Cohen, an exchange between Linton (2021) and Morales et al. (2021), and most recently, a fierce critique by Burge and Burge (2022), in which they launch various conceptual and empirical objections. Although Morales and Firestone (2022) have responded to them recently, and we are in agreement with Morales and Firestone in general, there are further problems in Burge and Burge (2022) that are worth highlighting. The main point of this comment is that what the Burge-Burge team call "viewpoint-dependent relational properties" are simply instances of what the Morales-Firestone team call "perspectival shapes"; the confusion arises from Burge and Burge's misconstrual of Morales et al.'s claims. This shows that conceptually, the two teams are in large agreement, as Morales and Firestone (2022) also point out, and the focus should be put on the empirical disagreements, which has been covered by Morales and Firestone (2022). Relatedly, we argue that Burge and Burge (2022) misinterpret Morales et al. (2020) as supporting a new entity in perception science, and that this misinterpretation is a primary source of their apparent disagreement. This is worth pointing out because such misunderstanding generates many unnecessary quarrels that hinder progress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining urban development trends and characteristics: future of public transportation in greater bandung

This article investigates the urban development trends and characteristics of Greater Bandung, Indonesia, with the goal of projecting the future urban landscape and proposing government actions. The study analyzes the existing situation of urban development in the region by utilizing government regulations, statutes, and planning documents, including designs. The findings provide a complete knowledge of how Greater Bandung’s urban landscape is anticipated to grow and highlight significant areas that require attention. The analysis identifies significant inadequacies in transportation infrastructure and underlines the need for government intervention to remedy these deficiencies by reviewing existing policies and plans. Transportation modelling was employed to give validation and sense in numerical sense of travel volumes in the roads of Bandung, helping to form a concise recommendation. The article will be useful for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders interested in the future development of Public Transportation in Greater Bandung. These recommendations encompass transit hubs and corridors suggestions to accommodate future growth of the city and its surrounding areas. The result of the study analysis shows that the development of the Greater Bandung Area can be done by prioritizing 7 (seven) main points of interest which are translated into 9 (nine) nodes. These nodes can be connected into 2 (two) main corridors as the backbone and 21 feeder corridors.

Insecticide treated eaves screens provide additional marginal protection compared to untreated eave screens under semi-field conditions in western Kenya.

Human habitats remain the main point of human-vector interaction leading to malaria transmission despite the sustained use of insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. Simple structural modifications involving screening of doors, windows and eaves have great potential for reducing indoor entry of mosquitoes. Moreover, insecticide treatment of the screen material may provide additional benefit in mosquito population reduction. Four huts, each constructed inside a semi-field structure, were used in the study. Two had untreated eave and door screens and screened air cavities in place of windows (experiment 1) or were similar but with the eave screens treated with Actellic® 300CS insecticide (experiment 2). The other two huts remained unscreened throughout the study. Two hundred, 3-day old adults of F1 generation Anopheles funestus collected by aspiration or F0 reared from An. arabiensis larvae or An. arabiensis (Dongola strain) were released in each semi-field structure at dusk and recaptured the following morning. A single volunteer slept in each hut under an untreated bednet each night of the study. Recaptured mosquitoes were counted and recorded by location, either indoor or outdoor of each hut in the different semi-field structures. Based on modelled estimates, significantly fewer, 10% An. arabiensis from Ahero, 11% An. arabiensis Dongola strain and 10% An. funestus from Siaya were observed inside modified huts compared to unmodified ones. Treating of eave screen material with Actellic® 300CS significantly reduced indoor numbers of An. arabiensis from Ahero, to nearly 0%, and An. arabiensis Dongola strain, to 3%, compared to huts with untreated eave screens, while eliminating An. funestus indoors. These modifications cost US$180 /structure and have been observed to last more than 15 years in a different location. Eave, door and window screening are effective ways of reducing mosquito entry into houses. Additionally, treatment of eave screen material with an effective insecticide further reduces the Anopheles population in and around the screened huts under semi-field conditions and could greatly complement existing vector control efforts.