Modernizing the design and analysis of prevalence surveys for neglected tropical diseases

Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Statistical methods for linking geostatistical maps and transmission models: Application to lymphatic filariasis in East Africa

Panayiota Touloupou et al.

Summary: Infectious diseases and their control strategies can be better understood and predicted by combining mathematical models and geostatistical methods. This study presents a Bayesian approach that integrates fine-scale geostatistical maps with transmission models to provide quantitative, spatially-explicit projections of the current and future impact of control programs against a disease.

SPATIAL AND SPATIO-TEMPORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY (2022)

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Review Forestry

A commentary review on the use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the era of popular remote sensing

Sha Huang et al.

Summary: The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a popular index for vegetation assessment due to its simplicity and ability to be calculated with any multispectral sensor. However, considerations such as atmospheric effects, saturation phenomena, and sensor factors must be taken into account to ensure effective use of NDVI in various applications, particularly in the UAV user community.

JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH (2021)

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Article Statistics & Probability

INTEGRATING GEOSTATISTICAL MAPS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE TRANSMISSION MODELS USING ADAPTIVE MULTIPLE IMPORTANCE SAMPLING

Renata Retkute et al.

Summary: The AMIS algorithm is an iterative technique that improves the efficiency of the proposal distribution by recycling samples from previous iterations. A new statistical framework based on AMIS is used to project disease prevalence or incidence under a mathematical model for transmission dynamics, with novel adaptations significantly enhancing sampling efficiency. The algorithm was tested on various infectious diseases in different countries, demonstrating its effectiveness.

ANNALS OF APPLIED STATISTICS (2021)

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Editorial Material Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Rethinking neglected tropical disease prevalence survey design and analysis: a geospatial paradigm

Peter J. Diggle et al.

Summary: This paper introduces a new method based on a geospatial paradigm, which can provide more accurate estimates of geographic variation in disease prevalence, with advantages in streamlining, integrating, and adapting.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE (2021)

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Article Immunology

Model-Based Geostatistical Methods Enable Efficient Design and Analysis of Prevalence Surveys for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases

Olatunji Johnson et al.

Summary: Maps of geographical variation in prevalence are crucial for large-scale programs targeting neglected tropical diseases. These maps are needed both pre- and postintervention to establish the appropriate control measures and measure the success of control efforts. The use of geospatial statistical methods in impact surveys significantly improves precision and reduces field-sampling effort, outperforming current WHO guidelines.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology