Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Lower-Level Health Care Facilities of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania: Status towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Way Forward

Background: Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in health care settings is a critical prerequisite for achieving national health goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target for each United Nations member state to reach by 2030. Each member state is required to reach by 2022, 2025 and 2030 at least 60%, 80% and 100%, respectively of basic level of service of the five elements which are water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate and document the current state of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services in all lower-level health care facilities in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania as of July 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 99 public dispensaries in the Dar es Salaam region’s five councils: Ubungo, Kigamboni, Kinondoni and Temeke Municipalities, and Ilala City. The interviewee form and observational checklists were both digitalized using the Kobo tool software. The respondents were health care facility in-charges or nurse in-charges. Data were downloaded, validated, and imported to Stata version 15 for analysis. Results: The basic WASH level per JMP is far below the target in 2022. Each member state by 2022 is required to reach at least 60% of the basic level of service of each element. We found a low coverage of basic WASH in the 99 dispensaries included in this study. The basic WASH coverage was met in only 10 (10.1%) of the dispensaries, while the remaining 89 (89.9%) dispensaries fall on limited WASH services. Conclusion: This study revealed lower coverage of basic WASH services in dispensaries. An urgent need is required to improve the status of WASH in all the dispensaries and facilitate the provision of quality health care services, patient safety and reduce health care associated infections.

Low Level of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Is Associated with Human Sperm Autophagy and Vitality

Low sperm motility is one of the main causes of male infertility. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR, an anion channel protein) is related to the progressive motility of sperm. CFTR disruptor CFTRinh-172 or forskolin (FSK) in this study were used to treat human sperm separately, and the rates of sperm autophagy and progressive motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP concentration, and the expression levels of related factors were detected to explore their relationship. It was showed that sperms treated with CFTRinh-172 or FSK reduced the levels of cAMP, CFTR and PKA, but increased sperm autophagy rate, expression levels of AMPK and LC3B. However, reactive oxygen species content had no significant difference. It was indicated that low level of CFTR performed with cAMP and its downstream effectors such as PKA and AMPK to regulate mitochondrial structure and function, leading to increased autophagy rate and reduced vitality of sperm.

A Low Mach Number IMEX Flux Splitting for the Level Set Ghost Fluid Method

Considering droplet phenomena at low Mach numbers,large differences in the magnitude of the occurring characteristic waves are presented.As acoustic phenomena often play a minor role in such applications,classical explicit schemes which resolve these waves suffer from a very restrictive timestep restriction.In this work,a novel scheme based on a specific level set ghost fluid method and an implicit-explicit(IMEX)flux splitting is proposed to overcome this timestep restriction.A fully implicit narrow band around the sharp phase interface is combined with a splitting of the convective and acoustic phenomena away from the interface.In this part of the domain,the IMEX Runge-Kutta time discretization and the high order discontinuous Galerkin spectral element method are applied to achieve high accuracies in the bulk phases.It is shown that for low Mach numbers a significant gain in computational time can be achieved compared to a fully explicit method.Applica-tions to typical droplet dynamic phenomena validate the proposed method and illustrate its capabilities.

Effective Dose Screening of Low Level Red Light in Different Cell Indexes

The low level red light irradiation dose that produced positive response on different cell indexes was selected through experiments.In fibroblast detection model,the low level red light irradiation dose that had positive response to the four indicators of mitochondrial membrane potential,ATP release,cell migration and collagen synthesis was screened.The experimental results showed that low level red light with a irradiation dose of 2 J/cm^(2) had a positive response to the above four indexes in fibroblast.The test model on fibroblast was later transferred to dermal papilla cells for further experimental verification.The results showed that low level red light with a irradiation dose of 2 J/cm^(2) also had a positive response to the four indicators of dermal papilla cells,namely,mitochondrial membrane potential,ATP release,cell proliferation rate and collagen synthesis.It is proved that the low level red light with a irradiation dose of 2 J/cm^(2) could improve the mitochondrial function,cell migration and collagen synthesis of fibroblast and dermal papilla cell,thus providing energy for cell activities,improving cell repair ability and cell anti-aging ability.

Predictive Value of Serum pgRNA on HBeAg Clearance in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B with Low HBeAg Levels Treated with Pegylated Interferon

Objective:To study the predictive value of serum pregenomic RNA(pgRNA)on HBeAg clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B with low HBeAg levels during pegylated interferon therapy.Methods:Twenty chronic hepatitis B patients with HBeAg positive and quantitative<50S/CO were selected for this study.The subjects underwent pegylated interferon therapy for 48-96 weeks and were followed up in the outpatient clinic after treatment.The patients were then divided into groups based on whether their HbeAg turned negative.The predictive ability of each indicator for HBeAg negative conversion was evaluated in the HBeAg negative group and the HBeAg positive group.Results:The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that pgRNA and HBcrAg were better indicators for predicting the clearance of HBeAg after treatment.Conclusion:For patients with chronic hepatitis B with low HBeAg levels,pgRNA is a good indicator in predicting HBeAg clearance during pegylated interferon therapy.

Thermal stratification level of low sidewall air supply with air-conditioning system in large space

The thermal stratification level of low sidewall air supply system in large space was defined. Depending on the experiment of low sidewall air supply in summer 2008,the thermal stratification level was studied by simulation. Based on the simulation of experiment condition,the air velocity and vertical temperature distribution in a large space were simulated at different air-outlet velocities,and then the thermal stratification level line was obtained. The simulation results well match with the experimental ones and the average relative error is 3.4%. The thermal stratification level is heightened by increasing the air-outlet velocity with low sidewall air supply mode. It is concluded that when air-outlet velocity is 0.29 m/s,which is the experimental case,a uniform thermal environment in the higher occupied zone and a stable stratification level are formed. When the air-outlet velocity is low,such as 0.05 m/s,the thermal stratification level is too low and the air velocity is too small to meet the human thermal comfort in the occupied zone. So,it would be reasonable that the air-outlet velocity may be designed as 0.31 m/s if the height of the occupied zone is 2 m.

Efficacy of super-pulsed 905 nm Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the management of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A case study

Traumatic brain injury is a major health concern worldwide with massive financial and social impact. Conventional treatments primarily focus on the prevention of further damage to the brain parenchyma, while failing to address the already existent symptoms. Previous clinical studies have shown that Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) can significantly reduce pain and induce temporary vasodilation in capillaries, which the authors hypothesize can be used to improve the quality of life in TBI patients by treating their current symptoms, which are predominately migraine-like headaches. This case report illustrates the use of LLLT in the treatment of a patient with a TBI and the great clinical success achieved in the reduction of pain, as measured by VAS—achievable within five treatments of 10 minutes in duration.

HIV Drug Resistance Profiles and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Viremia Maintained at Very Low Levels

We describe an observational study of clinical, virologic and drug resistance profiles in HIV-positive antiretroviral adherent subjects with stable low level viremia (LLV) 50 - 1000 copies/mL for more than 12 months. Subjects were followed from time of first detectable viral load (VL). In total, 102 episodes of LLV were detected among 80 individuals. The median (mean, range) HIV copy number at genotyping was 250 (486, - 3900) copies/mL after 14 (17.9, 0 - 58) months of LLV. Few patients maintained LLV for the entire 9 years period of observation, with half (52%) experiencing viremic progression following a stable period of LLV either spontaneously or after treatment interruption or failed regimen intensification. In the setting of prolonged periods of sustained LLV, mean duration 22 (range 8 - 106) months, drug resistance (DR) was almost universal. Resistance to ≥1 on-treatment drugs was defined in 97% of specimens and DR to all drugs in the treatment regimen in over half of all patients. Evolution of DR mutations during the period of LLV was observed in 20/28 (71%) subjects with specimens available for follow-up testing. This evolution was associated with viremic progression to levels >1000 copies/mL (p = 0.03). Our data suggest that DR present in patients with LLV is likely to impact long term clinical outcomes, highlighting the importance of optimizing techniques to detect the presence of drug resistant HIV in the setting of LLV and the need for larger prospective studies to assess the emergence of DR in the setting of sustained LLV and the impact of this DR on treatment outcomes.

Effect of low level laser therapy on dental pulp during orthodontic movement

AIM: To validate the protocol described here to be used in future clinical trials related to the effect of laser therapy on dental pulp. METHODS: Histologically treated samples from eight human healthy premolar teeth obtained from the middle root level were distributed in four groups: group 1(G1) absolute control; group 2(G2) only laser irradiation; group 3(G3) exposed only to orthodontics; and group 4(G4) treated with orthodontics and laser. Laser treatment was performed at 830 nm wavelength, 100 mW(energy 80 J/cm2, 2.2 J), for 22 s in the vestibular surface and 22 s in the palatal surface, 1 mm away from the dental root mucosa. Three staining methods were performed: hematoxylin-eosin(HE), Masson's Trichrome method and Gomori's method.RESULTS: The pulp histology parameters were evaluated and the results classified in to 3 parts: an inflammatory response, soft tissue response(dental pulp) and hard tissue response(dentin and predentin). There was no inflammation(chronic or acute) in any of the evaluated groups. The zones of pulp necrosis were found in one premolar of G3 and in one of G4; in groups G2 and G4 there was higher angiogenesis than in the other two groups. G4 group presented the highest level of vascularization. A reduced nerve density was observed in G3. A G2 specimen showed increased nerve density. A higher rate of calcification was observed in G1 compared to G2. Denticles, either real or false, were observed in G1, G2 and G3. Sclerosis of dentin and focal dentin loss was observed among all the groups. Secondary dentin was present in one sample in G1 and G2. A necrosis zone was found in one sample of G3 and G4. No differences between groups were observed in the odontoblast irregularity layer but the layer was wider in the group treated with laser only. A notable difference was detected in reduction of the cell-free layer between the groups G1 and G4. The findings in pulp tissue favor its adaptative response against dental movement induced by orthodontics. No definitive conclusions may be derived as this is a pilot study. CONCLUSION: The protocol described here was shown to be an effective method to evaluate changes in dental pulp submitted to low level laser in teeth under orthodontic movement.

Addressing the public health concerns of physical inactivity, low levels of fitness, and unhealthy weight among Chinese school-aged children

In China,sports and physical activity(PA)have traditionally been an integral part of school curricula to promote fitness and enhance healthy growth among children and adolescents.Three decades of economic reforms,however,have brought major changes in social,economic,and built environments that have resulted in concerns about the general health of the Chinese population due to accumulating epidemiologic evidence of increased levels of physical inactivity,high rates of obesity,and unhealthy diet.With the emergence of a progressively obesogenic environment,lack of safe and acces-

A Strategy for Magnifying Vibration in High-Energy Orbits of a Bistable Oscillator at Low Excitation Levels

This work focuses on how to maintain a high-energy orbit motion of a bistable oscillator when subjected to a low level excitation. An elastic magnifier （EM） positioned between the base and the bistable oscillator is used to magnify the base vibration displacement to significantly enhance the output characteristics of the bistable oscillator. The dimensionless electromechanical equations of the bistable oscillator with an EM are derived, and the effects of the mass and stiffness ratios between the EM and the bistable oscillator on the output displacement are studied. It is shown that the jump phenomenon occurs at a lower excitation level with increasing the mass and stiffness ratios. With the comparison of the displacement trajectories and the phase portraits obtained from experiments, it is vMidated that the bistable oscillator with an EM can effectively oscillate in a high-energy orbit and can generate a superior output vibration at a low excitation level as compared with the bistable oscillator without an EM.

Nocturnal Low-levelWinds and Their Impacts on Particulate Matter over the Beijing Area

Three-month wind profiles, 260 m PM_1 concentrations [i.e., particulate matter(PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1μm], and carrier-to-noise ratio data at two Beijing sites 55 km apart(urban and suburban) were collected to analyze the characteristics of low-level nocturnal wind and PM in autumn and winter. Three mountain-plain wind events with wind shear were selected for analysis. The measurements indicated that the maximum wind speeds of the northerly weak low-level jet(LLJ) below 320 m at the suburban site were weaker than those at the urban site, and the LLJ heights and depths at the suburban site were lower than those at the urban site. The nocturnal 140 m mean vertical velocities and the variations in vertical velocity at the urban site were larger than those at the suburban site. A nocturnal breeze with a weak LLJ of ～3 m s^(-1) noticeably offset nocturnal PM transport due to southerly flow and convergence within the northern urban area of Beijing. Characteristics of the nocturnal LLJ, such as start-up time, structure, intensity, and duration, were important factors in determining the decrease in the nocturnal horizontal range and site-based low-level variations in PM.

Effects of low level laser treatment on the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult Hamsters

Injury to axons close to the neuronal bodies in the mammalian central nervous system causes a large proportion of parenting neurons to degenerate. It is known that optic nerve transection close to the eye in rodents leads to a loss of about half of retinal ganglion cells in 1 week and about 90% in 2 weeks. Using low level laser treatment in the present study, we demonstrated that treatment with helium-neon （660 nm） laser with 15 mW power could delay retinal ganglion cell death after optic nerve axotomy in adult hamsters. The effect was most apparent in the ifrst week with a short period of treatment time （5 minutes） in which 65–66% of retinal ganglion cells survived the optic nerve axotomy whereas 45–47% of retinal ganglion cells did so in optic nerve axotomy controls. We also found that single dose and early commencement of laser irradiation were important in protecting retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve axotomy. These ifndings thus convincingly show that appropriate laser treatment may be neuroprotective to retinal gan-glion cells.

Low-Level Jets over Southeast China: The Warm Season Climatology of the Summer of 2003

The southwesterly low-level jet (LLJ) over southeast China in the summer of 2003 is analyzed in this study. The analysis is based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Final (FNL) operational global analysis data on 1.0×1.0-degree grids at 6-h intervals. The major criteria for choosing the LLJ included the following: a maximum wind speed equal to or greater than 12.0 m s -1 , a wind direction of between 180° and 270°, and the height of wind maximum at 900-700 hPa, not confined to single pressure level. The results show that the LLJs over southeast China dominate at 850 and 800 hPa. These LLJs are closely associated with the topography of this area and tend to locate regions with large terrain gradients, including the northeastern and eastern Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Under the influence of mid-latitude westerly winds, the LLJs above 750 hPa move northward to the Yangtze-Huai River Basin. Compared to the ten-year (2000-2009) mean climate conditions, the LLJs in the warm season of summer 2003 were exceptionally active and strong, as reflected by the positive anomalies of LLJ occurrence numbers and wind speed. In addition, the 2003 LLJs showed strong diurnal variation, especially at pressure levels below 800 hPa. The majority of the LLJs appeared between midnight and the early morning hours (before 8 a.m.). Finally, the summary of LLJ grid numbers indicates that more than 80% of LLJs in June and July 2003 occurred within the 33-d rainy period. Thus, these LLJs are directly related to the anomalously heavy rainfall in the Yangtze-Huai River Basin.

Role of the Nocturnal Low-level Jet in the Formation of the Morning Precipitation Peak over the Dabie Mountains

The diurnal variation of precipitation over the Dabie Mountains(DBM) in eastern China during the 2013 mei-yu season is investigated with forecasts of a regional convection-permitting model. Simulated precipitation is verified against surface rain-gauge observations. The observed morning precipitation peak on the windward(relative to the prevailing synoptic-scale wind) side of the DBM is reproduced with good spatial and temporal accuracy. The interaction between the DBM and a nocturnal boundary layer low-level jet(BLJ) due to the inertial oscillation mechanism is shown to be responsible for this precipitation peak. The BLJ is aligned with the lower-level southwesterly synoptic-scale flow that carries abundant moisture.The BLJ core is established at around 0200 LST upwind of the mountains. It moves towards the DBM and reaches maximum intensity at about 70 km ahead of the mountains. When the BLJ impinges upon the windward side of the DBM in the early morning, mechanical lifting of moist air leads to condensation and subsequent precipitation.

Integration of Low-level Waste Heat Recovery and Liquefied Nature Gas Cold Energy Utilization

分别地，二个新奇热周期基于 Brayton 周期和 Rankine 被建议它集成低级废热和液化性质气体(LNG ) 的恢复为发电的冷精力利用。在低级废热，低温度的 exergy 和 LNG 的压力 exergy 通过系统合成高效地被利用的地方，精力的串联利用在二个热周期被认识到。模拟加 10.2 用商业白杨被执行，并且结果被分析。与常规 Brayton 周期和 Rankine 相比，二个新奇周期在 exergy 效率带 60.94% 和 60% ，分别地并且 53.08% 和 52.31% 在热效率分别地。

Subjective annoyance caused by indoor low-level and low frequency noise and control method

The influence of low_level noise has not been widely noticed. This paper discovered that low_level and low frequency noise(A_weighted equivalent level L eq <45 dB) causes higher probability of subjective annoyance. The fuzzy mathematic principle was applied to deal with the threshold level of subjective annoyance from noise in this study; there is preferable relationship between the indoor noise and noise annoyance at low frequency noise level. Study indicated at the same centered noise level, the change of annoyance probability is mainly caused by the change of the frequency spectrum characteristic of the indoor noise. Under low noise level environment, without change of the medium_low frequency noise, the slight increase of medium_high frequency noise level with the help of noise sheltering effect can significantly reduce the noise annoyance. This discovery brings a new resolution on how to improve the environmental quality of working or living places. A noise control model is given in this study according to the acoustic analysis.

Clock distribution and local oscillator of a digital low-level radio-frequency board for SSRF

In the storage ring RF system of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility,the clock distribution and the local oscillator are two parts of the digital low level radio frequency hardware board.In this paper,we designed and produced the clock distribution and the local oscillator board using the AD9858 and AD9510 chips.The results show that the phase noise of the local oscillator signal is lower than 100dBc/Hz with 50 kHz offset.

The Screening of Genes Sensitive to Long-Term, Low-Level Microwave Exposure and Bioinformatic Analysis of Potential Correlations to Learning and Memory

Objective To gain a better understanding of gene expression changes in the brain following microwave exposure in mice. This study hopes to reveal mechanisms contributing to microwave-induced learning and memory dysfunction. Methods Mice were exposed to whole body 2100 MHz microwaves with specific absorption rates (SARs) of 0.45 W/kg, 1.8 W/kg, and 3.6 W/kg for 1 hour daily for 8 weeks. Differentially expressing genes in the brains were screened using high-density oligonucleotide arrays, with genes showing more significant differences further confirmed by RT-PCR. Results The gene chip results demonstrated that 41 genes (0.45 W/kg group), 29 genes (1.8 W/kg group), and 219 genes (3.6 W/kg group) were differentially expressed. GO analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were primarily involved in metabolic processes, cellular metabolic processes, regulation of biological processes, macromolecular metabolic processes, biosynthetic processes, cellular protein metabolic processes, transport, developmental processes, cellular component organization, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes are mainly involved in pathways related to ribosome, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, long-term potentiation, Huntington's disease, and Neurotrophin signaling. Construction of a protein interaction network identified several important regulatory genes including synbindin (sbdn), Crystallin (CryaB), PPP1CA, Ywhaq, Psap, Psmb1, Pcbp2, etc., which play important roles in the processes of learning and memory. Conclusion Long-term, low-level microwave exposure may inhibit learning and memory by affecting protein and energy metabolic processes and signaling pathways relating to neurological functions or diseases.

Impacts of an Improved Low-Level Cloud Scheme on the Eastern Pacific ITCZ-Cold Tongue Complex

A statistically-based low-level cloud parameterization scheme is introduced, modified, and applied in the Flexible coupled General Circulation Model (FGCM-O). It is found that the low-level cloud scheme makes improved simulations of low-level cloud fractions and net surface shortwave radiation fluxes in the subtropical eastern oceans off western coasts in the model. Accompanying the improvement in the net surface shortwave radiation fluxes, the simulated distribution of SSTs is more reasonably asymmetrical about the equator in the tropical eastern Pacific, which suppresses, to some extent, the development of the double ITCZ in the model. Warm SST biases in the ITCZ north of the equator are more realistically reduced, too. But the equatorial cold tongue is strengthened and extends further westward, which reduces the precipitation rate in the western equatorial Pacific but increases it in the ITCZ north of the equator in the far eastern Pacific. It is demonstrated that the low-level cloud-radiation feedback would enhance the cooperative feedback between the equatorial cold tongue and the ITCZ. Based on surface layer heat budget analyses, it is demonstrated that the reduction of SSTs is attributed to both the thermodynamic cooling process modified by the increase of cloud fractions and the oceanic dynamical cooling processes associated with the strengthened surface wind in the eastern equatorial Pacific, but it is mainly attributed to oceanic dynamical cooling processes associated with the strengthening of surface wind in the central and western equatorial Pacific.