In spring quarter 1999 the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost conducted a survey of a random sample of university students to assess their satisfaction with various aspects of their University of Minnesota experience. The results of the survey are presented in a report titled The 1999 Student experiences Survey: Students’ Perspectives on Their experiences at the University of Minnesota and Changes Since 1997 (Hendel, 2000). A complete description of the methods used to collect the survey responses is included in that report. The survey asked students to rate their experience on a wide variety of topics everything from parking to instruction. The respondents included undergraduate and graduate students from the Twin Cities and coordinate campuses.
Background Bicycles are an essential part of the urban mobility mix worldwide, and it is important to consider cycling safety to a greater extent than has hitherto been the case. Aims/Objectives/Purpose The aim of the working group was to analyse the international situation regarding bicycle use and safety, with consideration of relevant policy and practice. Methods Group members responded to surveys regarding the situation in their countries, and literature regarding cycling safety measures was reviewed. Results/Outcomes Key recommendations of the group are • Policies increasing the number of cyclists should be accompanied by strategies to improve safety, as well as perceived safety. • Adopting the Safe System Approach. All aspects of the transport system (policy, infrastructure, vehicles, and users) should be designed to improve cycling safety. • Cyclists should not be the only target of cycling safety policies. • Road networks that are accessible to cyclists should be designed to ensure high levels of safety- with particular focus on speed management and intersection design. • Bicycle facilities should be located away from road traffic when feasible. • Authorities should match investments in cycle safety to local contexts (eg, level and types of bicycle usage)—at a minimum. • Authorities should set standards for, collect, or otherwise facilitate the collection of, data on cycling crashes of all severities and on bicycle usage. • Terminology should be standardised to allow international comparisons. Significance/Contribution to the Field Adoption of measures to improve cycling safety is critical to promoting this beneficial form of transport.
Recognising radical shifts in the global health research (GHR) environment, participants in a 2013 deliberative dialogue called for careful consideration of equity-centred principles that should inform Canadian funding polices. This study examined the existing funding structures and policies of Canadian and international funders to inform the future design of a responsive GHR funding landscape. We used a three-pronged analytical framework to review the ideas, interests and institutions implicated in publically accessible documents relevant to GHR funding. These data included published literature and organisational documents (e.g. strategic plans, progress reports, granting policies) from Canadian and other comparator funders. We then used a deliberative approach to develop recommendations with the research team, advisors, industry informants and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) partners. In Canada, major GHR funders invest an estimated CA$90 M per annum; however, the post-2008 re-organization of funding structures and policies resulted in an uncoordinated and inefficient Canadian strategy. Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America invest proportionately more in GHR than Canada. Each of these countries has a national strategic plan for global health, some of which have dedicated benchmarks for GHR funding and policy to allow funds to be held by partners outside of Canada. Key constraints to equitable GHR funding included (1) funding policies that restrict financial and cost burden aspects of partnering for GHR in LMICs; and (2) challenges associated with the development of effective governance mechanisms. There were, however, some Canadian innovations in funding research that demonstrated both unconventional and equitable approaches to supporting GHR in Canada and abroad. Among the most promising were found in the International Development Research Centre and the (no longer active) Global Health Research Initiative. Promoting equitable GHR funding policies and practices in Canada requires cooperation and actions by multiple stakeholders, including government, funding agencies, academic institutions and researchers. Greater cooperation and collaboration among these stakeholders in the context of recent political shifts present important opportunities for advancing funding policies that enable and encourage more equitable investments in GHR.
To improve health at the human, animal, and ecosystem interface, defined as One Health, training of researchers must transcend individual disciplines to develop a new process of collaboration. The transdisciplinary research approach integrates frameworks and methodologies beyond academic disciplines and includes involvement of and input from policy makers and members of the community. The authors argue that there should be a significant shift in academic institutions’ research capacity to achieve the added value of a transdisciplinary approach for addressing One Health problems. This Perspective is a call to action for academic institutions to provide the foundations for this salient shift. The authors begin by describing the transdisciplinary approach, propose methods for building transdisciplinary research capacity, and highlight three value propositions that support the case. Examples are provided to illustrate how the transdisciplinary approach to research adds value through improved sustainability of impact, increased cost-effectiveness, and enhanced abilities to mitigate potentially harmful unintended consequences. The authors conclude with three key recommendations for academic institutions: (1) a focus on creating enabling environments for One Health and transdisciplinary research, (2) the development of novel funding structures for transdisciplinary research, and (3) training of “transmitters” using real-world-oriented educational programs that break down research silos through collaboration across disciplines.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is associated with release of neurotoxic metallic or metalloid chemical elements including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). To examine associations between prenatal exposure and co-exposure to total lead (T-Pb), total mercury (T-Hg), total cadmium (T-Cd) and total arsenic (T-As) and infant neurodevelopment at 6 to 12 months of age in areas with ASGM activities in Tanzania. Women in their second trimester of pregnancy who resided in ASGM areas were enrolled from 2015 to 2017 (n = 883). At 6 to 12 months of age, children were assessed with the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) (n = 439). We measured T-Pb, T-Hg, and T-Cd in maternal dried blood spots and T-As in maternal urines. Poisson regression was used to examine associations between prenatal concentrations of these elements and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Prenatal T-Hg concentration was associated with global neurodevelopment status (aPR 1.03, CI:1.01–1.04; p < 0.001) and language impairment (aPR 1.05, CI:1.03–1.07; p < 0.001) on the MDAT. When prenatal T-Hg and T-As values were at or above the human biomonitoring reference values (≥95%) of the German Environmental Survey for Human Biomonitoring, that is 0.80 µg/L and 15 µg/L, respectively, the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment was two times higher (aPR 2.1, CI:1.0–4.3; p = 0.034). There was a 40% increase in the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment (aPR 1.4, CI:0.90–2.10, p = 0.027), when prenatal T-Hg was at or above the reference value of 0.80 µg/L and T-Pb was at or above the reference value of 35 µg/L. When prenatal T-Hg was at or above the reference value of 0.80 µg/L and T-As was at or above the reference value of 15 µg/L, the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment was two times higher (aPR 2.1, CI:1.0–4.3; p < 0.034). Infants born to women in areas with ASGM activities are at significant risk for neurodevelopmental impairment and this is associated with exposure to higher concentrations of Hg prenatally. Co-exposure to high concentrations of Hg and Pb, or Hg and As appeared to have negative potentiated effects on infants' neurodevelopment.
Background:In a low transmissi on zone for malaria, we explored the presence of brucellosis as an alternative diagnosis in febrile patients. Specifically, the objective of our study was to determine the proportion of patients presenting to the hospital with malaria -like febrile symptoms that were concurrently brucellosis sero positive, and assess related risk factors. Methods:The study was done at the rural hospital in Endulen, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania. Hospital patients were enrolled showing malaria -like febrile symptoms and were tested for malaria (microscopy) as well as brucellosis (agglutination test, plus commercial ELISAs for IgM and for IgG). Patient demographic characteristics and risk factors for brucellosis were determined using a questionnaire inter view. Results:A total of 159 patients were enrolled, of which 57 were positive for malaria and 58 were positive by ELISA for brucellosis, with 54 (93%) of these brucellosis -positives solely positive for isotype IgG, 1 (1.7%) solely for isotype IgM, and 3 (5.2%) positive for both IgM and IgG. However, the brucellosis agglutination test was only positive in 9 of 159 samples. Co -infections of malaria and brucellosis occurred, but malaria disease status was not significantly correlated with brucellosis status . Patients serologically positive for brucellosis were more likely to have had contact with aborted animal materials (p=0.002). Conclusions:Brucellosis is a potentially missed diagnosis amongst pastoralists in rural Tanzania with malaria
