ODI [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.odi.org/media

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Urbanisation: consequences and opportunities for the Netherlands’ Directorate-General for International Cooperation
Research reports and studies | January 2016 | Irina Mosel, Paula Lucci, Julian Doczi, Clare Cummings, Aditya Bahadur, David Walker, Lucy Scott, Hamish Nixon
This report examines the impacts of urbanisation on areas including water management, climate change and disaster risk reduction, gender, food security, emergency aid, and peace, security and conflict.

The urban-rural water interface: a preliminary study in Burkina Faso
Working and discussion papers | January 2016 | Peter Newborne; Josephine Tucker
An initial framing paper produced in partnership with WISE-UP that looks at water allocation in Ouagadougou, and how the government manages the issue of water allocation between rural and urban areas, especially in semi-arid regions.

10 things to know about progress in international development
Rresource | January 2016
Around the world, amazing progress is being made in human well-being, from health to poverty to education and more. Here we showcase 10 examples from Development Progress case studies.

Resilience Scan: July-September 2015
Research reports and studies | January 2016 | Aditya Bahadur, Thomas Tanner, Emma Lovell, Florence Pichon and Hani Morsi
This resilience scan summarises writing and debates in the field of resilience during the third quarter (July to September) of 2015.

Future directions of security and justice: context-relevant, flexible and transnational programming?
Research reports and studies | January 2016 | Lisa Denney and Pilar Domingo
This report identifies some emerging trends in security and justice and examines what these trends might mean for programme implementation.

Thinking and working with political settlements
Briefing papers | January 2016 | Tim Kelsall
This briefing offers advice to development practitioners on the use of Political Settlements Analysis, while drawing links between PSA and Adaptive Development approaches.

Aga Khan Foundation  [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.akdn.org/pr.asp

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Master Jury Announced for 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture
06 January 2016 – The members of the 2016 Master Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture were announced on 6 January 2016. The Jury, which independently selects the recipients of the US$ 1 million Award, will select a shortlist from hundreds of nominated projects and, after rigorous on-site inspection of the shortlisted projects, select the winners.

GHIT Fund [to 16 January 2016]
https://www.ghitfund.org/
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that devastate the world’s poorest people. Other funders include six Japanese pharmaceutical companies, the Japanese Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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2015.12.17
Event Report: International Conference on Universal Health Coverage in the New Development Era
The Government of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) co-hosted the International Conference on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the New Development Era: Toward Building Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems on December 16, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. The conference explored the role of the UHC in the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in enhancing preparedness and responses to health crises based on lessons learned from the recent Ebola crisis. Experts in global health, such as leaders from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Fund, World Bank Group, and World Health Organization participated…

Grameen Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.grameenfoundation.org/news-events/press-room

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Jan 15, 2016, 07:00 ET
Nationwide launch of Mobile Health Program in rural India signals new era of mHealth for emerging economies
Today, the Government of India launched a nationwide mobile health program designed to train community health workers and to directly reach millions of women within three years. The program is powered by MOTECH, a robust yet simple-to-use mobile health (mHealth) technology developed by Grameen…

IKEA Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.ikeafoundation.org/news/

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January 15, 2016
How soft toys are helping 12 million dreams come true
…More than 12 million children in Africa, Asia and Europe have better schools, teachers and learning materials, thanks to a successful 13-year partnership between the IKEA Foundation, Save the Children and UNICEF…

MacArthur Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.macfound.org/

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Press release
MacArthur Awards 19 Documentary Film Grants
Published January 13, 2016
MacArthur, a supporter of social-issue film and digital media projects for more than three decades, today announced 19 grants totaling nearly $2.5 million for documentary and interactive projects.
The new grants represent MacArthur’s largest single year investment in documentaries, and they bring the total number of documentary films supported by the Foundation since 1985 to more than 300…

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Press release
MacArthur Announces Performances, Discussion to Celebrate 35 Years of Iconic Fellowship Program
Published January 11, 2016
MacArthur today announced a year-long series of performances, discussions, and other events to celebrate the 35th anniversary of its iconic MacArthur Fellows Program in 2016.

The Foundation will collaborate with a diverse set of partners for the programming, including Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival, Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and New York City’s 92nd Street Y. Most of the events will be open to the public for free or at low cost. Video of many events will be made available online…

Open Society Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/issues/media-information

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Two Milestones Put Romani Cultural Discourse in the Hands of Roma Themselves
January 15, 2016 by Cayetano Fernandez
For the Roma movement in Europe, 2015 was a pivotal year. It was the year Roma intellectuals and activists moved beyond “fixes” to employment, housing, health, and access to education, and embraced a more holistic view of the Roma situation. We took a wider look at majority societies and raised the crucial question: What is wrong with European democracies that they exclude more than 12 million of their citizens at different levels? From segregating Roma students in special schools to forcibly sterilizing Roma women, how can Europe keep blaming Roma for their disadvantaged situation?

This critical approach to Roma inclusion took concrete form last year in two major milestones: the growth of a Romani studies summer session at the Central European University in Budapest, and the establishment of a European Roma Institute to honor Roma contributions to society. Both were landmark advances in letting Roma define who Roma are…

David and Lucile Packard Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.packard.org/news/

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Packard Foundation Names Dr. Stephen H. Lockhart to its Board of Trustees
January 11, 2016
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Stephen H. Lockhart, M.D., PhD., has joined its Board of Trustees. Dr. Lockhart is Chief Medical Officer for Sutter Health, a not for profit system of hospitals, physician organizations and research institutions in Northern California…

Pew Charitable Trusts [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases

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Press Release
Pew Analysis Shows Access to Workplace Retirement Plans Varies Widely Across States
January 13, 2016
WASHINGTON—Wide differences in access to and participation in employer-based retirement plans exist across states, with variations by employer size and industry type as well as by workers’ income, age, education, race and ethnicity, according to a report released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts…

Report link: Who’s In, Who’s Out: A Look at Access to Employer-Based Retirement Plans and Participation in the States

Rockefeller Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/newsroom

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Encourage Capital Releases Report on Investment Strategies for Sustainable Fisheries in Brazil, Chile and The Philippines
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Rockefeller Foundation
January 14, 2016 NEW YORK – Each year, more than $50 billion of economic value is lost due to poor fisheries management, depleting the oceans and affecting global seafood production. Today, Encourage Capital released the second installment of its comprehensive investment report, analyzing how investors can deploy capital in efforts to protect and restore global fisheries.

The report, “Investing for Sustainable Global Fisheries,” delivers a series of six blueprints about investments in fisheries in Brazil, Chile and the Philippines, which account for 7% of the global fish supply. The strategies are based on real-life examples and are available free of charge at investinvibrantoceans.org.

“More than 1 billion people globally rely on seafood as their primary source of protein, but 40% of fisheries are considered to be overexploited or collapsed,” said Jason Scott, Co-Managing Partner at Encourage Capital. “Encourage Capital’s Investment Blueprints demonstrate that there are ways to earn real profits through sustainable seafood investing strategies that improve seafood yield, enhance supply chain efficiency, and reduce supply volatility.”..

Report [42 pages]: http://encouragecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Executive_Summary_FINAL_1-11-16.pdf

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Millennial Trains Project Offers Platform for Millennial Innovators to Explore New Frontiers with Support from The Rockefeller Foundation
January 11, 2016 NEW YORK—Today, the Millennial Trains Project announced that The Rockefeller Foundation is coming on board as a major supporter of its August 2016 trans-continental train journeys for young innovators, which will support the development of next-generation, entrepreneurial leaders who share the Foundation’s desire to improve resilience and inclusivity in communities across America….

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/news-releases.html

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Warning Labels on Sweetened Drinks Deter Consumption
Thu Jan 14 2016
Health warning labels may increase parents’ understanding that sugar-sweetened beverages increase their child’s risk of weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes—and motivate them to buy fewer sugary drinks.

Wellcome Trust [to 16 January 2016]
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2016/index.htm

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Tribute to award-winning scientist Professor Glyn Humphreys
The news of the sudden death yesterday of Professor Glyn Humphreys, Watts Chair of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, has saddened many friends and colleagues at the Wellcome Trust.
15 January 2016.

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Alternatives to antibiotics not a short-term solution to drug-resistant infections
A handful of alternatives to antibiotics – such as treatments and preventative measures based on live microorganisms or ‘probiotics’ – have the potential to combat bacterial infections in the next decade, but they are unlikely to replace traditional antibiotics.
13 January 2016

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£3bn a year needed to prepare the world for future pandemics
An investment of less than 50p per year for every person on the planet (£3bn/$4.5bn total) would make the world significantly more resilient to the threat of infectious disease, according to a group of international experts convened in the wake of the Ebola crisis.
13 January 2016

BMC Health Services Research
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservres/content
(Accessed 16 January 2016)

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Research article
Perspectives and experiences of new migrants on health screening in Sweden
In Sweden, migrants from countries considered to have a high burden of certain infectious diseases are offered health screening to prevent the spread of these diseases, but also identify their health needs.
Faustine Kyungu Nkulu Kalengayi, Anna-Karin Hurtig, Annika Nordstrand, Clas Ahlm and Beth Maina Ahlberg
BMC Health Services Research 2016 16:14
Published on: 15 January 2016

BMC Medical Ethics
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmedethics/content
(Accessed 16 January 2016)

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Research article
“Decision-making capacity for research participation among addicted people: a cross-sectional study”
Informed consent is a key element of ethical clinical research. Addicted population may be at risk for impaired consent capacity. However, very little research has focused on their comprehension of consent for…
Inés Morán-Sánchez, Aurelio Luna, Maria Sánchez-Muñoz, Beatriz Aguilera-Alcaraz and Maria D. Pérez-Cárceles
BMC Medical Ethics 2016 17:3
Published on: 13 January 2016
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Debate
Developing a new justification for assent
Amanda Sibley, Andrew J. Pollard, Raymond Fitzpatrick and Mark Sheehan
BMC Medical Ethics 2016 17:2
Published on: 12 January 2016
Abstract
Background
Current guidelines do not clearly outline when assent should be attained from paediatric research participants, nor do they detail the necessary elements of the assent process. This stems from the fact that the fundamental justification behind the concept of assent is misunderstood. In this paper, we critically assess three widespread ethical arguments used for assent: children’s rights, the best interests of the child, and respect for a child’s developing autonomy. We then outline a newly-developed two-fold justification for the assent process: respect for the parent’s pedagogical role in teaching their child to become an autonomous being and respect for the child’s moral worth.
Discussion
We argue that the ethical grounding for the involvement of young children in medical decision-making does not stem from children’s rights, the principle of best interests, or respect for developing autonomy. An alternative strategy is to examine the original motivation to engage with the child. In paediatric settings there are two obligations on the researcher: an obligation to the parents who are responsible for determining when and under what circumstances the child develops his capacity for autonomy and reasoning, and an obligation to the child himself. There is an important distinction between respecting a decision and encouraging a decision. This paper illustrates that the process of assent is an important way in which respect for the child as an individual can be demonstrated, however, the value lies not in the child’s response but the fact that his views were solicited in the first place.
Summary
This paper demonstrates that the common justifications for the process of assent are incomplete. Assent should be understood as playing a pedagogical role for the child, helping to teach him how specific decisions are made and therefore helping him to become a better decision-maker. How the researcher engages with the child supports his obligation to the child’s parents, yet why the researcher engages with the child stems from the child’s moral worth. Treating a child as having moral worth need not mean doing what they say but it may mean listening, considering, engaging or involving them in the decision.

BMC Public Health
http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles
(Accessed 16 January 2016)

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Research article
Sociocultural determinants of anticipated oral cholera vaccine acceptance in three African settings: a meta-analytic approach
Neisha Sundaram, Christian Schaetti, Sonja Merten, Christian Schindler, Said M. Ali, Erick O. Nyambedha, Bruno Lapika, Claire-Lise Chaignat, Raymond Hutubessy and Mitchell G. Weiss
BMC Public Health 2016 16:36
Published on: 14 January 2016
Abstract
Background
Controlling cholera remains a significant challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. In areas where access to safe water and sanitation are limited, oral cholera vaccine (OCV) can save lives. Establishment of a global stockpile for OCV reflects increasing priority for use of cholera vaccines in endemic settings. Community acceptance of vaccines, however, is critical and sociocultural features of acceptance require attention for effective implementation. This study identifies and compares sociocultural determinants of anticipated OCV acceptance across populations in Southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Western Kenya and Zanzibar.
Methods
Cross-sectional studies were conducted using similar but locally-adapted semistructured interviews among 1095 respondents in three African settings. Logistic regression models identified sociocultural determinants of OCV acceptance from these studies in endemic areas of Southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (SE-DRC), Western Kenya (W-Kenya) and Zanzibar. Meta-analytic techniques highlighted common and distinctive determinants in the three settings.
Results
Anticipated OCV acceptance was high in all settings. More than 93 % of community respondents overall indicated interest in a no-cost vaccine. Higher anticipated acceptance was observed in areas with less access to public health facilities. In all settings awareness of cholera prevention methods (safe food consumption and garbage disposal) and relating ingestion to cholera causation were associated with greater acceptance. Higher age, larger households, lack of education, social vulnerability and knowledge of oral rehydration solution for self-treatment were negatively associated with anticipated OCV acceptance. Setting-specific determinants of acceptance included reporting a reliable income (W-Kenya and Zanzibar, not SE-DRC). In SE-DRC, intention to purchase an OCV appeared unrelated to ability to pay. Rural residents were less likely than urban counterparts to accept an OCV in W-Kenya, but more likely in Zanzibar. Prayer as a form of self-treatment was associated with vaccine acceptance in SE-DRC and W-Kenya, but not in Zanzibar.
Conclusions
These cholera-endemic African communities are especially interested in no-cost OCVs. Health education and attention to local social and cultural features of cholera and vaccines would likely increase vaccine coverage. High demand and absence of insurmountable sociocultural barriers to vaccination with OCVs indicate potential for mass vaccination in planning for comprehensive control or elimination.

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Research article
Factors associated with incomplete childhood immunization in Arbegona district, southern Ethiopia: a case – control study
The prevention of child mortality through immunization is one of the most cost-effective and widely applied public health interventions. In Ethiopia, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) schedule is rare…
Abel Negussie, Wondewosen Kassahun, Sahilu Assegid and Ada K. Hagan
BMC Public Health 2016 16:27
Published on: 12 January 2016

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 16 January 2016)

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Research article
Low-tech, high impact: care for premature neonates in a district hospital in Burundi. A way forward to decrease neonatal mortality
Brigitte Ndelema, Rafael Van den Bergh, Marcel Manzi, Wilma van den Boogaard, Rose J. Kosgei, Isabel Zuniga, Manirampa Juvenal and Anthony Reid
BMC Research Notes 2016 9:28
Published on: 16 January 2016
Abstract
Background
Death among premature neonates contributes significantly to neonatal mortality which in turn represents approximately 40 % of paediatric mortality. Care for premature neonates is usually provided at the tertiary care level, and premature infants in rural areas often remain bereft of care. Here, we describe the characteristics and outcomes of premature neonates admitted to neonatal services in a district hospital in rural Burundi that also provided comprehensive emergency obstetric care. These services included a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) ward, and did not rely on high-tech interventions or specialist medical staff.
Methods
A retrospective descriptive study, using routine programme data of neonates (born at <32 weeks and 32–36 weeks of gestation), admitted to the NICU and/or KMC at Kabezi District Hospital.
Results
437 premature babies were admitted to the neonatal services; of these, 134 (31 %) were born at <32 weeks, and 236 (54 %) at 32–36 weeks. There were 67 (15 %) with an unknown gestational age but with a clinical diagnosis of prematurity. Survival rates at hospital discharge were 62 % for the <32 weeks and 87 % for the 32–36 weeks groups; compared to respectively 30 and 50 % in the literature on neonates in low- and middle-income countries. Cause of death was categorised, non-specifically, as “Conditions associated with prematurity/low birth weight” for 90 % of the <32 weeks and 40 % of the 32–36 weeks of gestation groups.
Conclusions
Our study shows for the first time that providing neonatal care for premature babies is feasible at a district level in a resource-limited setting in Africa. High survival rates were observed, even in the absence of high-tech equipment or specialist neonatal physician staff. We suggest that these results were achieved through staff training, standardised protocols, simple but essential equipment, provision of complementary NICU and KMC units, and integration of the neonatal services with emergency obstetric care. This approach has the potential to considerably reduce overall neonatal mortality.

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
February 2016 – Volume 29 – Issue 1 pp: v-vi,1-98
http://journals.lww.com/co-infectiousdiseases/pages/currenttoc.aspx

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SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Sexually transmitted infections in children as a marker of child sexual abuse and direction of future research
Rogstad, Karen E.; Wilkinson, Dawn; Robinson, Angela
Abstract
Purpose of review: This review considers recent evidence on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as a marker of child sexual abuse (CSA), when diagnosed after the neonatal period. It also aims to identify if there are specific areas where additional research is required.
Recent findings: An evidence-based systematic review using strict inclusion criteria shows that CSA is a major cause of STIs in children. In children 12 years and below, 36–83% of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and 75–94% of Chlamydia trachomatis infections are due to CSA; for children 14 years and younger, 31–58% of anogenital warts are due to CSA. In child genital sampling, genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types were more common in those considered abused (13.7%) than nonabused (1.3%). HPV typing of genital warts in children were all of genital type 6. Subsequent research, into N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis and syphilis in children including ophthalmic infection, found that 13 of 15 cases were confirmed/likely due to CSA. Recent data indicate that bacterial vaginosis and Mycoplasma genitalium are related to sexual activity in adults but did not assess children.
Summary: STIs in children under 13–14 years may indicate CSA. Genital HPV types are associated with CSA. Research is required of sufficient standard to contribute to the evidence base.

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Surveillance systems for sexually transmitted infections: a global review
Mohammed, Hamish; Hughes, Gwenda; Fenton, Kevin A.
Abstract
Purpose of review: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to exert a substantial public health burden globally but surveillance remains a challenge, especially in the developing world. We reviewed STI surveillance systems in various regions globally and used available data to provide an overview of recent trends in STI epidemiology.
Recent findings: STI surveillance systems in the developing world are often limited and restricted to ad hoc cross-sectional surveys; however, available data suggest that these areas are disproportionately affected by STIs, with a higher burden in marginalized groups such as sex workers. Developed countries typically have established surveillance systems. Recent reports suggest many of these countries are experiencing rising diagnoses of STIs in men who have sex with men (MSM) and an increasing contribution of HIV-positive MSM to STI epidemics.
Summary: There is considerable variability in the surveillance for STIs globally, ranging from active or passive, to sentinel, laboratory or clinic-based systems. Given different levels of resources and patterns of healthcare provision, it is difficult to compare surveillance data across regions; however, available data suggest that considerable inequality in STI burden exists. In resource-limited settings, syndromic surveillance with periodic laboratory assessments is recommended to monitor trends in STIs.

Eurosurveillance
Volume 21, Issue 2, 14 January 2016
http://www.eurosurveillance.org/Public/Articles/Archives.aspx?PublicationId=11678

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Rapid Communications
Zika virus infection in a traveller returning from the Maldives, June 2015
by E Korhonen, E Huhtamo, T Smura, H Kallio-Kokko, M Raassina, O Vapalahti

Multidrug-resistant bacteria in unaccompanied refugee minors arriving in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, October to November 2015
by U Heudorf, B Krackhardt, M Karathana, N Kleinkauf, C Zinn

Multidrug-resistant organisms detected in refugee patients admitted to a University Hospital, Germany June-December 2015
by C Reinheimer, V Kempf, S Göttig, M Hogardt, T Wichelhaus, F O’Rourke, C Brandt

Respiratory diphtheria in an asylum seeker from Afghanistan arriving to Finland via Sweden, December 2015
by J Sane, T Sorvari, M Wideström, H Kauma, U Kaukoniemi, E Tarkka, T Puumalainen, M Kuusi, M Salminen, O Lyytikäinen

Health Research Policy and Systems
http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content
[Accessed 16 January 2016]

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Research
The development of ORACLe: a measure of an organisation’s capacity to engage in evidence-informed health policy
Steve R Makkar, Tari Turner, Anna Williamson, Jordan Louviere, Sally Redman, Abby Haynes, Sally Green, Sue Brennan Health Research Policy and Systems 2016, 14:4 (14 January 2016)
Abstract
Background
Evidence-informed policymaking is more likely if organisations have cultures that promote research use and invest in resources that facilitate staff engagement with research. Measures of organisations’ research use culture and capacity are needed to assess current capacity, identify opportunities for improvement, and examine the impact of capacity-building interventions. The aim of the current study was to develop a comprehensive system to measure and score organisations’ capacity to engage with and use research in policymaking, which we entitled ORACLe (Organisational Research Access, Culture, and Leadership).
Method
We used a multifaceted approach to develop ORACLe. Firstly, we reviewed the available literature to identify key domains of organisational tools and systems that may facilitate research use by staff. We interviewed senior health policymakers to verify the relevance and applicability of these domains. This information was used to generate an interview schedule that focused on seven key domains of organisational capacity. The interview was pilot-tested within four Australian policy agencies. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was then undertaken using an expert sample to establish the relative importance of these domains. This data was used to produce a scoring system for ORACLe.
Results
The ORACLe interview was developed, comprised of 23 questions addressing seven domains of organisational capacity and tools that support research use, including (1) documented processes for policymaking; (2) leadership training; (3) staff training; (4) research resources (e.g. database access); and systems to (5) generate new research, (6) undertake evaluations, and (7) strengthen relationships with researchers. From the DCE data, a conditional logit model was estimated to calculate total scores that took into account the relative importance of the seven domains. The model indicated that our expert sample placed the greatest importance on domains (2), (3) and (4).
Conclusion
We utilised qualitative and quantitative methods to develop a system to assess and score organisations’ capacity to engage with and apply research to policy. Our measure assesses a broad range of capacity domains and identifies the relative importance of these capacities. ORACLe data can be used by organisations keen to increase their use of evidence to identify areas for further development.

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
January 2016 Volume 42, p1-74
http://www.ijidonline.com/issue/S1201-9712%2815%29X0012-9

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Editorial
Why is Pakistan a threat to “The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018”? A look into the past decade
Tariq Khan, Bilal Haider Abbasi, Mubarak Ali Khan, Akhtar Nadhman
p4–6
Published online: November 16 2015
Abstract
The fight against endemic polio transmission is restricted to three countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. In 2012, when the world saw the lowest numbers of cases from polio-reporting countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a comprehensive strategy, “The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018”.1 The plan (as it will be called from this point onwards) aims at: (1) wild polio virus (WPV) interruption by the end of 2014, (2) a strengthened immunization system and cessation of oral polio vaccine (OPV), (3) containment and certification, and (4) the quest for maintenance of a polio-free world by 2018.

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Perspective
Impacts of neglected tropical disease on incidence and progression of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria: scientific links
G.G. Simon
Management Sciences for Health, Arlington VA, USA
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2015.11.006
Highlights
:: The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) share a high degree of geographic overlap with malaria and HIV.
:: Research suggests that NTDs can impact HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria disease progression.
:: Immunological, epidemiological, and social cofactors contribute to disease impact.
Summary
The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are the most common infections of humans in Sub-Saharan Africa. Virtually all of the population living below the World Bank poverty figure is affected by one or more NTDs. New evidence indicates a high degree of geographic overlap between the highest-prevalence NTDs (soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and trachoma) and malaria and HIV, exhibiting a high degree of co-infection. Recent research suggests that NTDs can affect HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria disease progression. A combination of immunological, epidemiological, and clinical factors can contribute to these interactions and add to a worsening prognosis for people affected by HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. Together these results point to the impacts of the highest-prevalence NTDs on the health outcomes of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB and present new opportunities to design innovative public health interventions and strategies for these ‘big three’ diseases. This analysis describes the current findings of research and what research is still needed to strengthen the knowledge base of the impacts NTDs have on the big three.

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Reviews
Bridging the gap between evidence and policy for infectious diseases: How models can aid public health decision-making
Gwenan M. Knight, Nila J. Dharan, Gregory J. Fox, Natalie Stennis, Alice Zwerling, Renuka Khurana, David W. Dowdy
p17–23
Published online: November 3 2015
Highlights
:: Mathematical models are under-utilized in public health.
:: We discuss the current use of infectious disease modelling with a case study.
:: We lay out the methods and limitations of modelling infectious diseases.
:: We present a framework for improved interaction between public health and modellers.
:: This could lead to more transparent and evidence-driven policy decisions.
Summary
The dominant approach to decision-making in public health policy for infectious diseases relies heavily on expert opinion, which often applies empirical evidence to policy questions in a manner that is neither systematic nor transparent. Although systematic reviews are frequently commissioned to inform specific components of policy (such as efficacy), the same process is rarely applied to the full decision-making process. Mathematical models provide a mechanism through which empirical evidence can be methodically and transparently integrated to address such questions. However, such models are often considered difficult to interpret. In addition, models provide estimates that need to be iteratively re-evaluated as new data or considerations arise. Using the case study of a novel diagnostic for tuberculosis, a framework for improved collaboration between public health decision-makers and mathematical modellers that could lead to more transparent and evidence-driven policy decisions for infectious diseases in the future is proposed. The framework proposes that policymakers should establish long-term collaborations with modellers to address key questions, and that modellers should strive to provide clear explanations of the uncertainty of model structure and outputs. Doing so will improve the applicability of models and clarify their limitations when used to inform real-world public health policy decisions.

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Original Reports
Age and Ebola viral load correlate with mortality and survival time in 288 Ebola virus disease patients
Jin Li, Hui-Juan Duan, Hao-Yang Chen, Ying-Jie Ji, Xin Zhang, Yi-Hui Rong, Zhe Xu, Li-Jian Sun, Ji-Yuan Zhang, Li-Ming Liu, Bo Jin, Jian Zhang, Ning Du, Hai-Bin Su, Guang-Ju Teng, Yue Yuan, En-Qiang Qin, Hong-Jun Jia, Shu Wang, Tong-Sheng Guo, Ye Wang, Jin-Song Mu, Tao Yan, Zhi-Wei Li, Zheng Dong, Wei-Min Nie, Tian-Jun Jiang, Chen Li, Xu-Dong Gao, Dong Ji, Ying-Jie Zhuang, Lei Li, Li-Fu Wang, Wen-Gang Li, Xue-Zhang Duan, Yin-Ying Lu, Zhi-Qiang Sun, Alex B.J. Kanu, Sheku M. Koroma, Min Zhao, Jun-Sheng Ji, Fu-Sheng Wang
p34–39
Published online: October 30 2015