A retrospective cohort study of monthly rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline in the management of leprosy at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine multi-drug therapy (MDT) for the treatment of leprosy. Severe adverse effects include dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome, skin pigmentation, haemolytic anaemia, and hepatitis. At the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD), London, United Kingdom monthly rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (mROM) is used as first line treatment for leprosy.

Recognizing microplastic deposits on sandy beaches by altimetric positioning, μ-Raman spectroscopy and multivariate statistical models.

Understanding the extent and implications of microplastic (MP) pollution along the São Paulo State coastline in southeastern Brazil is crucial, considering the significant environmental burden imposed by industrial and port activities in this region. This research aims to understand the complex dynamics of MP deposition on sandy beaches, which poses severe environmental risks to coastal ecosystems, marine organisms, and humans. Using a comprehensive five-step methodology-geodetic surveys, sediment collection, μ-RAMAN spectrometry for polymer identification, and multivariate statistical models-we analyzed the distribution of MPs across six coastal compartments (C1 to C6).

Mapping and Characterizing Instruments for Assessing Family Nurses' Workload: Scoping Review.

Background: The importance of knowing the workload of family nurses lies essentially in the possibility of improving health outcomes, care processes and the nurse's professional life. There is a lack of studies that fully describe the nursing workload in primary care, particularly, in the context of family health nursing, and the ideal metrics to be used remain unknown, making it impossible to characterize and therefore provide the necessary insight to acknowledge the different contributions of several aspects that embody the global workload of family nurses. The objective of this scoping review was to map the known evidence and characterize the instruments used to assess the workload of family nurses.

Complement-dependent virion lysis mediated by dengue-Zika virus cross-reactive antibodies correlates with protection from severe dengue disease.

Primary infection with one of four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) may generate antibodies that protect or enhance subsequent secondary heterotypic infections. However, the characteristics of heterotypic cross-reactive antibodies associated with protection from symptomatic infection and severe disease are not well-defined. We selected plasma samples collected before a secondary DENV heterotypic infection that was classified either as dengue fever (DF, n = 31) or dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS, n = 33) from our longstanding pediatric cohort in Nicaragua.

Family Nursing Care during the Transition to Parenthood: A Scoping Review.

Background: Family-centered care places the family at the core of care, with family nurses playing a pivotal role in supporting and guiding members through pregnancy and the transition to parenthood and acknowledging the significant adjustments during these phases.

Aim: To map the evidence concerning family nurses' care for families during the transition to parenthood.

Method: The scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, focusing on family-centered care during pregnancy adaptation and the initial months of parenthood.

Role of sesquiterpenes in biogenic new particle formation.

Biogenic vapors form new particles in the atmosphere, affecting global climate. The contributions of monoterpenes and isoprene to new particle formation (NPF) have been extensively studied. However, sesquiterpenes have received little attention despite a potentially important role due to their high molecular weight.

Planting Date of Cotton in the Brazilian Cerrado Drives Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Infestation.

Although the boll weevil (BW), (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been attributed to the significant losses caused to cotton yield in the Americas, the categorization as a quarentenary pest in places where it is still not occurring has increased its relevance worldwide. In areas where it is widespread, pest suppression relies on many broad-spectrum insecticide applications. However, other control tactics are sought.

A non-destructive X-ray fluorescence method of analysis of formalin fixed-paraffin embedded biopsied samples for biomarkers for breast and colon cancer.

In this work we present a methodology for the non-destructive elemental determination of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tissue samples based on the Fundamental Parameters method for the quantification of micro Energy Dispersive X Ray Fluorescence (micro-EDXRF) area scans. This methodology intended to overcome two major constraints in the analysis of paraffin embedded tissue samples - retrieval of optimal region of analysis of the tissue within the paraffin block and the determination of the dark matrix composition of the biopsied sample. This way, an image treatment algorithm, based on R® tool to select the regions of the micro-EDXRF area scans was developed.

Assessment of a Side-Row Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester and Its Adaptability to the Portuguese Cobrançosa Variety in High-Density Olive Orchards.

The olive tree is an important crop in Portugal, where different levels of intensification coexist. The traditional olive orchards present profitability problems, mainly due to harvesting, so there has been a drastic reconversion towards high-density or super-high-density olive orchards. The latter present major constraints due to very specific needs for their use, being practically destined for new orchards.

Antibody Fc characteristics and effector functions correlate with protection from symptomatic dengue virus type 3 infection.

Preexisting cross-reactive antibodies have been implicated in both protection and pathogenesis during subsequent infections with different dengue virus (DENV) serotypes (DENV1-4). Nonetheless, humoral immune correlates and mechanisms of protection have remained elusive. Using a systems serology approach to evaluate humoral responses, we profiled plasma collected before inapparent or symptomatic secondary DENV3 infection from our pediatric cohort in Nicaragua.

A Bipartite Geminivirus with a Highly Divergent Genomic Organization Identified in Olive Trees May Represent a Novel Evolutionary Direction in the Family .

Olea europaea Geminivirus (OEGV) was recently identified in olive in Italy through HTS. In this work, we used HTS to show the presence of an OEGV isolate in Portuguese olive trees and suggest the evolution direction of OEGV. The bipartite genome (DNA-A and DNA-B) of the OEGV-PT is similar to Old World begomoviruses in length, but it lacks a pre-coat protein (AV2), which is a typical feature of New World begomoviruses (NW).

Analysis of human tissues using Energy Dispersive X Ray Fluorescence - Dark matrix determination for the application to cancer research.

Background: X ray Fluorescence has been essayed as a suitable technique for the elemental quantification of trace element in human tissues, namely comparison of normal and cancerous tissue. However, accurate results depend on a robust quantification approach, namely correct evaluation of the samples' dark matrix.

Methods: In order to determine the most suitable dark matrix composition for the quantification of such samples using the Fundamental Parameter approach, we have measured several Certified Reference Materials and essayed different dark matrix compositions to achieve the most accurate results.

Assessment of Qigong Effects on Anxiety of High-school Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: Students are vulnerable to developing anxiety, a psychiatric disorder closely related to emotional stress, when systematically stressed by classes, homework, and evaluations. Qigong integrates physical, respiratory, and mental exercises, inducing vegetative biofeedback with significant effects on physiological regulation.

Objective: The current study aimed to assess the potential effects of specific Qigong exercises on students' anxiety levels and evaluate the feasibility of practical integration in a daily school context.

Country-by-Country Reporting: A Step Towards Unitary Taxation?

Multinational companies are now obliged to deliver an annual report to the tax authorities with information disaggregated by country (country-by-country reporting) in order to show where the assets and workers are allocated, how profits are distributed and to whom taxes are paid. Unfortunately, these reports are not made public in the European Union, thus preventing public scrutiny about the strategies used by multinational companies to displace profits to tax havens. This article applies the Unitary Taxation regime proposed by the European Commission to US multinational companies.

Coronally advanced flap achieved higher esthetic outcomes without a connective tissue graft for the treatment of single gingival recessions: a 4-year randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: Limited long-term data are available when comparing the esthetic outcomes of coronally advanced flap (CAF) with or without a connective tissue graft (CTG). The aim of this study was to compare the 4-year esthetic outcomes of CAF vs CAF + CTG for the treatment of isolated maxillary gingival recessions.

Material And Methods: Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned for treatment either with CAF (control; N = 24) or to CAF + CTG (test group; N = 24).

Photo-oxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons Produces Low-Volatility Organic Compounds.

To better understand the role of aromatic hydrocarbons in new-particle formation, we measured the particle-phase abundance and volatility of oxidation products following the reaction of aromatic hydrocarbons with OH radicals. For this we used thermal desorption in an iodide-adduct Time-of-Flight Chemical-Ionization Mass Spectrometer equipped with a Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO-ToF-CIMS). The particle-phase volatility measurements confirm that oxidation products of toluene and naphthalene can contribute to the initial growth of newly formed particles.

Evaluation of Olive Pruning Effect on the Performance of the Row-Side Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester in a High Density Olive Orchard.

In 2009, the Side-Row Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester project was set to develop such technology. The prototype comprises two symmetrical harvesters trailed by a farm tractor. Each harvester has a vibratory rotor with flexible rods, a catching platform with conveyors belts delivering fruits to a temporary storage bag.

Molecular Composition and Volatility of Nucleated Particles from α-Pinene Oxidation between -50 °C and +25 °C.

We use a real-time temperature-programmed desorption chemical-ionization mass spectrometer (FIGAERO-CIMS) to measure particle-phase composition and volatility of nucleated particles, studying pure α-pinene oxidation over a wide temperature range (-50 °C to +25 °C) in the CLOUD chamber at CERN. Highly oxygenated organic molecules are much more abundant in particles formed at higher temperatures, shifting the compounds toward higher O/C and lower intrinsic (300 K) volatility. We find that pure biogenic nucleation and growth depends only weakly on temperature.

Effect of Long-Term Fungicide Applications on Virulence and Diversity of spp. Associated to Olive Anthracnose.

In this study, the presence and variability of spp. was evaluated by comparing fungal isolates obtained from olive trees under long-time phytosanitary treatments with trees without any phytosanitary treatments (treated and untreated, respectively). Olive fruits of trees of the highly susceptible 'Galega vulgar' cultivar growing in the Alentejo region were used as samples.

Spatial and temporal variation of fungal endophytic richness and diversity associated to the phyllosphere of olive cultivars.

Fungal endophytes are micro-organisms that colonize healthy plant tissues without causing disease symptoms. They are described as plant growth and disease resistance promoters and have shown antimicrobial activity. The spatial-temporal distribution of endophytic communities in olive cultivars has been poorly explored.

Multicomponent new particle formation from sulfuric acid, ammonia, and biogenic vapors.

A major fraction of atmospheric aerosol particles, which affect both air quality and climate, form from gaseous precursors in the atmosphere. Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs), formed by oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds, are known to participate in particle formation and growth. However, it is not well understood how they interact with atmospheric pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NO ) and sulfur oxides (SO ) from fossil fuel combustion, as well as ammonia (NH) from livestock and fertilizers.