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AbstractThis paper examines some of the contributions of Gerard de Zeeuw to scholarship in general and to the study of multi‐agent contexts in particular. His general contribution to scholarship revolves around the notions of research and improvement of action. In de Zeeuw's scholarly writings, research has been viewed as a developing narrative. As the practice of research expands in any field, it comes in contact with greater and greater variety of disturbances and this creates a strain on the basic script on which the narrative of research in that field is based. This can lead to a narrative break‐off. However, sometimes the script can be so modified as to restore the flow of the narrative, until another period of strain is experienced. Such a narrative break‐off is evident in the so‐called applied disciplines where researchers cannot ignore the influence of various agents while seeking to bring about improvements in a practical context. Here, the context of research becomes a multi‐agent context, where multiple viewpoints and frameworks intercede in the process of creation of various effects. The paper describes the kind of response developed in the work of de Zeeuw to deal with the task of improving co‐ordination in multi‐agent contexts. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of helical winding angle on buckling load of thin composite tubes is investigated in this work. Experiments are conducted on both empty and partially filled S2 glass tubes to estimate contribution of strength to the tubes by the filler material. Chosen filler material mechanically simulates behavior of typical solid propellant used in aerospace application. FE analysis with non-linear effect correlates well with the experimental data. Three series of experiments are conducted to quantify effect of helical winding angle and increase in volumetric loading fraction(VLF). Results confirm appreciable improvement in strength of filled tubes for higher VLF. For the chosen pattern of winding, lower winding angle provides more strength to the tubes against external pressure buckling.

Abstract Background Health education is an important component in disease control programme. Kalajatha is a popular, traditional art form of folk theatre depicting various life processes of a local socio-cultural setting. It is an effective medium of mass communication in the Indian sub-continent especially in rural areas. Using this medium, an operational feasibility health education programme was carried out for malaria control. Methods In December 2001, the Kalajatha events were performed in the evening hours for two weeks in a malaria-affected district in Karnataka State, south India. Thirty local artists including ten governmental and non-governmental organizations actively participated. Impact of this programme was assessed after two months on exposed vs. non-exposed respondents. Results The exposed respondents had significant increase in knowledge and change in attitude about malaria and its control strategies, especially on bio-environmental measures (p < 0.001). They could easily associate clean water with anopheline breeding and the role of larvivorous fish in malaria control. In 2002, the local community actively co-operated and participated in releasing larvivorous fish, which subsequently resulted in a noteworthy reduction of malaria cases. Immediate behavioural changes, especially maintenance of general sanitation and hygiene did not improve as much as expected. Conclusion This study was carried out under the primary health care system involving the local community and various potential partners. Kalajatha conveyed the important messages on malaria control and prevention to the rural community. Similar methods of communication in the health education programme should be intensified with suitable modifications to reach all sectors, if malaria needs to be controlled.

Dirac materials such as graphene and topological insulators (TIs) are known to have unique electronic and spintronic properties. We combine graphene with TIs in van der Waals heterostructures to demonstrate the emergence of a strong proximity-induced spin-orbit coupling in graphene. By performing spin transport and precession measurements supported by ab initio simulations, we discover a strong tunability and suppression of the spin signal and spin lifetime due to the hybridization of graphene and TI electronic bands. The enhanced spin-orbit coupling strength is estimated to be nearly an order of magnitude higher than in pristine graphene. These findings in graphene-TI heterostructures could open interesting opportunities for exploring exotic physical phenomena and new device functionalities governed by topological proximity effects. ; Chalmers researchers acknowledge financial support from the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme GrapheneCore2 contract number 785219 (Graphene Flagship), EU FLAG-ERA project (from Swedish Research Council VR no. 2015- 06813), Swedish Research Council VR project grants (no. 2016-03658), Graphene Center, and the AoA Nano program at Chalmers University of Technology. Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) was supported by the Severo Ochoa program from Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; grant no. SEV-2013-0295) and funded by the Centres de Recerca de Catalunya Programme/Generalitat de Cataluña. S.R. acknowledges the Spanish MINECO and the European Regional Development Fund (project no. FIS2015- 67767-P MINECO/FEDER), and the Secretaría de Universidades e Investigación del Departamento de Economía y Conocimiento de la Generalitat de Cataluña (2014 SGR 58). ; Peer reviewed

BACKGROUND: Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) was started as a Public-Private-Partnership between the Indian Council of Medical Research through National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and Foundation of Disease Elimination and Control of India, which is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. The project's goal was to demonstrate that malaria can be eliminated from a high malaria endemic district along with prevention of re-establishment of malaria and to develop a model for malaria elimination using the lessons learned and knowledge acquired from the demonstration project. METHODS: The project employed tested protocols of robust surveillance, case management, vector control, and capacity building through continuous evaluation and training. The model was developed using the learnings from the operational plan, surveillance and case management, monitoring and feedback, entomological investigations and vector control, IEC and capacity building, supply chain management, mobile application (SOCH), and independent reviews of MEDP. RESULTS: The MEDP has been operational since April 2017 with field operations from August 2017, and has observed: (1) reduction in indigenous cases of malaria by about 91 %; (2) need for training and capacity building of field staff for diagnosis and treatment of malaria; (3) need for improvement insecticide spraying and for distribution and usage of bed-nets; (4) need for robust surveillance system that captures and documents information on febrile cases, RDT positive individuals, and treatments provided; (5) need for effective supervision of field staff based on advance tour plan; (6) accountability and controls from the highest level to field workers; and (7) need for context-specific IEC. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria elimination is a high-priority public health goal of the Indian Government with a committed deadline of 2030. In order to achieve this goal, built-in systems of accountability, ...

Abstract Background Malaria in pregnancy in India, as elsewhere, is responsible for maternal anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight and preterm birth. It is not known whether prevention and treatment strategies for malaria in pregnancy (case management, insecticide-treated bednets, intermittent preventive therapy) are widely utilized in India. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2006-2008 in two states of India, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, at 7 facilities representing a range of rural and urban populations and areas of more versus less stable malaria transmission. 280 antenatal visits (40/site) were observed by study personnel coupled with exit interviews of pregnant women to assess emphasis upon, availability and utilization of malaria prevention practices by health workers and pregnant women. The facilities were assessed for the availability of antimalarials, lab supplies and bednets. Results All participating facilities were equipped to perform malaria blood smears; none used rapid diagnostic tests. Chloroquine, endorsed for chemoprophylaxis during pregnancy by the government at the time of the study, was stocked regularly at all facilities although the quantity stocked varied. Availability of alternative antimalarials for use in pregnancy was less consistent. In Jharkhand, no health worker recommended bednet use during the antenatal visit yet over 90% of pregnant women had bednets in their household. In Chhattisgarh, bednets were available at all facilities but only 14.4% of health workers recommended their use. 40% of the pregnant women interviewed had bednets in their household. Only 1.4% of all households owned an insecticide-treated bednet; yet 40% of all women reported their households had been sprayed with insecticide. Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine was prescribed in only 2 (0.7%) and intermittent preventive therapy prescribed in only one (0.4%) of the 280 observed visits. Conclusions A disconnect remains between routine antenatal practices in India and known strategies to prevent and treat malaria in pregnancy. Prevention strategies, in particular the use of insecticide-treated bednets, are underutilized. Gaps highlighted by this study combined with recent estimates of the prevalence of malaria during pregnancy in these areas should be used to revise governmental policy and target increased educational efforts among health care workers and pregnant women.