Time-Dependent Effective Hamiltonians for Light-Matter Interactions.

In this paper, we present a systematic approach to building useful time-dependent effective Hamiltonians in molecular quantum electrodynamics. The method is based on considering part of the system as an open quantum system and choosing a convenient unitary transformation based on the evolution operator. We illustrate our formalism by obtaining four Hamiltonians, each suitable to a different class of applications.

Differential Gene Expression of Malaria Parasite in Response to Red Blood Cell-Specific Glycolytic Intermediate 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG).

Innovative strategies to control malaria are urgently needed. Exploring the interplay between sp. parasites and host red blood cells (RBCs) offers opportunities for novel antimalarial interventions.

Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance profiles of associated with skin and soft-tissue infections in companion animals in Lisbon, Portugal.

is the main bacterial pathogen of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) in companion animals. Antimicrobial resistance in this species is a growing public health concern. This study aims to characterize a collection of causing SSTIs in companion animals, establishing the main clonal lineages and antimicrobial resistance traits.

Exploring Efflux as a Mechanism of Reduced Susceptibility towards Biocides and Fluoroquinolones in .

is the main bacterial cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in companion animals, particularly dogs. The emergence of methicillin-resistant (MRSP) strains, frequently with multidrug resistance phenotypes is a public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate efflux, a resistance mechanism still poorly characterized in , as a contributor to biocide and fluoroquinolone resistance.

Occurrence and Variability of the Efflux Pump Gene across the Genus.

NorA is one of the main native MDR efflux pumps of , contributing to reduced susceptibility towards fluoroquinolones and biocides, but little is known about its variability within or its distribution and conservation among other staphylococci. We screened for sequences homologous to and found it in 61 out of the 63 species described. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence of across the genus.

Oral polio revaccination is associated with changes in gut and upper respiratory microbiomes of infants.

After the eradication of polio infection, the plan is to phase-out the live-attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV). Considering the protective non-specific effects (NSE) of OPV on unrelated pathogens, the withdrawal may impact child health negatively. Within a cluster-randomized trial, we carried out 16S rRNA deep sequencing analysis of fecal and nasopharyngeal microbial content of Bissau-Guinean infants aged 4-8 months, before and after 2 months of OPV revaccination (revaccinated infants = 47) vs.

Virulence Potential of Biofilm-Producing , and Causing Skin Infections in Companion Animals.

Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) account for most bacteria-related pyoderma in companion animals. Emergence of methicillin-resistant strains of (MRSP), (MRSA) or (MRSC), often with multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes, is a public health concern. The study collection comprised 237 staphylococci ( ( = 155), ( = 55) and ( = 27)) collected from companion animals, previously characterized regarding resistance patterns and clonal lineages.

Agricultural land systems importance for supporting food security and sustainable development goals: A systematic review.

Agriculture provides the largest share of food supplies and ensures a critical number of ecosystem services (e.g., food provisioning).

Proposal of Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Apramycin 15 μg and Florfenicol 30 μg Disks Applicable to .

Apramycin and florfenicol are two antimicrobial agents exclusively used in veterinary medicine. Resistance determinants to these antimicrobial agents have been described in several staphylococci, yet no inhibition zone-based epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF) values are available to detect populations harboring resistance mechanisms. In this study, we propose disk diffusion inhibition zone ECOFF values of for apramycin and florfenicol.

Future land use changes in a peri-urban context: Local stakeholder views.

Future land use/cover change (LUCC) analysis has been increasingly applied to spatial planning instruments in the last few years. Nevertheless, stakeholder participation in the land use modelling process and analysis is still low. This paper describes a methodology engaging stakeholders (from the land use planning, agriculture, and forest sectors) in the building and assessment of future LUCC scenarios.

Anopheles aquasalis transcriptome reveals autophagic responses to Plasmodium vivax midgut invasion.

Background: Elimination of malaria depends on mastering transmission and understanding the biological basis of Plasmodium infection in the vector. The first mosquito organ to interact with the parasite is the midgut and its transcriptomic characterization during infection can reveal effective antiplasmodial responses able to limit the survival of the parasite. The vector response to Plasmodium vivax is not fully characterized, and its specificities when compared with other malaria parasites can be of fundamental interest for specific control measures.

Patterns of Sexual Risk Behavior, HIV Infection, and Use of Health Services Among Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Portugal.

This study identified patterns of sexual risk behavior among a sub-Saharan African migrant (SAM) population in Portugal and examined its associations with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, sociodemographics, use of sexual health services, and HIV testing. A cross-sectional biobehavioral survey was conducted with a venue-based sample of 790 SAMs. Data were collected using questionnaires and rapid HIV tests.

Mitochondrial genome association study with peripheral arterial disease and venous thromboembolism.

Background And Aims: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are vascular traits sharing common modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. These vascular pathologies have known nuclear-encoded genetic risk factors and the mitochondrial DNA may account for part of the missing heritability. To determine if PAD and VTE have a dual genetic control (mitochondrial and nuclear), we hereby investigated the association of mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms and haplogroups with these vascular traits.

Multicentric Genome-Wide Association Study for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

Despite elevated incidence and recurrence rates for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (PSP), little is known about its etiology, and the genetics of idiopathic PSP remains unexplored. To identify genetic variants contributing to sporadic PSP risk, we conducted the first PSP genome-wide association study. Two replicate pools of 92 Portuguese PSP cases and of 129 age- and sex-matched controls were allelotyped in triplicate on the Affymetrix Human SNP Array 6.

Low-frequency and common genetic variation in ischemic stroke: The METASTROKE collaboration.

Objective: To investigate the influence of common and low-frequency genetic variants on the risk of ischemic stroke (all IS) and etiologic stroke subtypes.

Methods: We meta-analyzed 12 individual genome-wide association studies comprising 10,307 cases and 19,326 controls imputed to the 1000 Genomes (1 KG) phase I reference panel. We selected variants showing the highest degree of association (p < 1E-5) in the discovery phase for replication in Caucasian (13,435 cases and 29,269 controls) and South Asian (2,385 cases and 5,193 controls) samples followed by a transethnic meta-analysis.

Ulcerative Colitis Is Under Dual (Mitochondrial and Nuclear) Genetic Control.

Background: Cellular oxidative stress and genetic susceptibility have been implicated in the multifactorial etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC). The nuclear genome association with UC has been intensely investigated, but the role of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has received far less attention and may account for part of the missing heritability. This study is a comprehensive analysis of the mtDNA contribution to UC susceptibility.

Genetic Variants Underlying Risk of Intracranial Aneurysms: Insights from a GWAS in Portugal.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a life-threatening event that most frequently leads to severe disability and death. Its most frequent cause is the rupture of a saccular intracranial aneurysm (IA), which is a blood vessel dilation caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall. Although the genetic contribution to IA is well established, to date no single gene has been unequivocally identified as responsible for IA formation or rupture.

IL10 low-frequency variants in Behçet's disease patients.

Aim: To explain the missing heritability after the genome-wide association studies era, sequencing studies allow the identification of low-frequency variants with a stronger effect on disease risk. Common variants in the interleukin 10 gene (IL10) have been consistently associated with Behçet's disease (BD) and the goal of this study is to investigate the role of low-frequency IL10 variants in BD susceptibility.

Methods: To identify IL10 low-frequency variants, a discovery group of 50 Portuguese BD patients were Sanger-sequenced in a 7.

Chloroquine mediated modulation of Anopheles gambiae gene expression.

Background: Plasmodium development in the mosquito is crucial for malaria transmission and depends on the parasite's interaction with a variety of cell types and specific mosquito factors that have both positive and negative effects on infection. Whereas the defensive response of the mosquito contributes to a decrease in parasite numbers during these stages, some components of the blood meal are known to favor infection, potentiating the risk of increased transmission. The presence of the antimalarial drug chloroquine in the mosquito's blood meal has been associated with an increase in Plasmodium infectivity for the mosquito, which is possibly caused by chloroquine interfering with the capacity of the mosquito to defend against the infection.

[The quality of antibiotics prescription in public health services of Belo Horizonte, MG].

This study investigates the use of antibiotics and prescribing patterns and identifies the antibiotics most frequently prescribed in public health units of Belo Horizonte, MG. The methods used were observational, cross-sectional study aimed at analyzing the consistency between a sample of medical records and antibiotic prescriptions dispensed during March 2002 in eleven public health units in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Pediatrics showed the highest proportion of antibiotic prescribing among four specialties; amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic, followed by benzathine penicillin G, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, and erythromycin.

Effect of chloroquine on gene expression of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis during its sporogonic development in the mosquito vector.

Background: The anti-malarial chloroquine can modulate the outcome of infection during the Plasmodium sporogonic development, interfering with Plasmodium gene expression and subsequently, with transmission. The present study sets to identify Plasmodium genes that might be regulated by chloroquine in the mosquito vector.

Methods: Differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) was used to identify genes expressed during the sporogonic cycle that are regulated by exposure to chloroquine.

[Quality assessment of antibiotic prescriptions dispensed at public health units in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2002].

Overuse of antibiotics is a public health problem and has raised discussions concerning their rational use. This cross-sectional study focuses on the use of systemic antibiotics under the Belo Horizonte Municipal Health Department, Minas Gerais, Brazil, evaluating prescriptions dispensed in March 2002, based on WHO indicators for antibiotic use. On average, 20% of prescriptions dispensed involved at least one systemic antibiotic, among which approximately 46% originated from health care facilities not belonging to the municipal system itself.

Analysis of medical prescriptions dispensed at health centers in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

This article focuses on medical prescriptions dispensed at health centers under the Municipal Health Department in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study analyzed 4,607 prescriptions from March to April 1999, grouped according to origin (internal or external). The analysis focused on information written on medical prescriptions.