All posts by John Anderson

One Year Later, Gainesville Still Loves Mountains

Gainesville Loves Mountains, GRU, Moutaintop Removal Mining, , , ,

One Year Later, Gainesville Still Loves Mountains

Gainesville Loves Mountains is pushing the Gainesville City Commission to adopt an ordinance to prevent Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) from buying coal extracted by mountaintop removal mining. Jason Fults’ article in the Iguana outlines some of the background for this ordinance. They have created a petition to the Gainesville CIty Commission that you can sign. If you are interested in learning more and taking action follow Gainesville Loves Mountains on Twitter and Facebook.

Say ‘Hello’ to the 100 trillion bacteria that make up your microbiome

Gut ecology, WASH, ,

WASH Journal Club's avatarWater, Sanitation and Hygiene Journal Club

Say ‘Hello’ to the 100 trillion bacteria that make up your microbiome

Thanks Nick Kawa, for bringing Michael Pollan’s extensive article on gut ecology in NY Times Magazine to our attention. The article summarizes work from a number of labs researching the role of gut ecology on human health, a topic that has become quite popular in the media and scientific literature, particularly in the context of fecal transplants (e.g. NPR, NY Times, The Lancet Infectious Diseases).

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India develops new rotavirus vaccine

India, Rotavirus, WASH

WASH Journal Club's avatarWater, Sanitation and Hygiene Journal Club

India develops new rotavirus vaccine.  Rotavirus is estimated to cause over 100,000 deaths per year in children under five years of age in India alone.

The announcement was made at the International Symposium on “Rotavirus Vaccines For India- the Evidence and the Promise” where our own Rick Rheingans is presenting on rotavirus vaccination cost-effectiveness in India.

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Seasonality, disease and behavior: Using multiple methods to explore socio-environmental health risks in the Mekong Delta

Diarrheal Disease Ecology, WASH, , , , ,

Seasonality, disease and behavior: Using multiple methods to explore socio-environmental health risks in the Mekong Delta

This research by Roger Few et al. explores the complexities of disease risk in Mekong delta households. Simplistic relationships between seasonality and disease risk are not sufficient to explain heterogeneity of behaviors and perceptions of risk held in these communities.