BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Madagascar have primarily been monitored in selected groups of patients attending STI clinics in major cities as part of the HIV surveillance program in Madagascar.GOAL OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to provide complementary data related to STI prevalence in a general rural population.STUDY DESIGN: STIs were investigated

INTRODUCTION: Our main aims were to establish criteria for early distinction between meningococcal disease and other conditions with similar clinical features, and to identify other causes of haemorrhagic rashes accompanied by fever.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study comprised 264 infants and children hospitalised with fever and skin haemorrhages.RESULTS: We identified an aetiological a

The parameters to extract polysaccharide-enriched fractions (PEF) from mushrooms using MAE (microwave-assisted extraction) were adjusted following a full factorial 3 2 experimental design. The highest yield and total carbohydrate values, using Lentinula edodes as model mushroom, were obtained at 180 °C and 30 min. Several mushroom species were submitted to MAE and their PEF yields ranged between

Circular business models aim to preserve the value of material resources in society by slowing and closing resource flows. Various models have been identified, including the Extending Product Value business model, which plays a role in extending product lifetimes by reversing product obsolescence. However, the characteristics of these business models and their associated environmental consequences

In today's terrorism-prone and security-focused world, evacuation emergencies, drills, and false alarms are becoming more and more common. Compliance to an evacuation order made by an authority in case of emergency can play a key role in the outcome of an emergency. In case an evacuee experiences repeated emergency scenarios which may be a false alarm (e.g., an evacuation drill, a false bomb threa

The use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)containing aqueous film forming foams (AFFF)at fire training facilities can have an adverse impact on the surrounding environment. The aim of the present study was to study the distribution and temporal trend of 26 PFAS in water and sediment cores for a lake and a pond affected by AFFF release from a fire training facility in Luleå, northern Sw

The apparition of adaptive immunity in Gnathostomata correlates with the expansion of the E-protein family to encompass E2-2, HEB, and E2A. Within the family, E2-2 and HEB are more closely evolutionarily related but their concerted action in hematopoiesis remains to be explored. Here we show that the combined disruption of E2-2 and HEB results in failure to express the early lymphoid program in Co

Purpose: To assess the effect on reducing the out-of-plane artifacts from metal objects in breast tomosynthesis (BT)using a novel artifact-reducing reconstruction algorithm in specimen radiography. Methods and Materials: The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board. BT images of 18 partial- and whole mastectomy specimens from women with breast cancer were acquired before and after a

The vaginal microbiome of healthy women is a diverse and dynamic system of various microorganisms. Any sudden change in microbe composition can increase the vaginal pH and thus lead to vaginal infections, conditions that affect a large percentage of women each year. The most common fungal strains involved in infections belong to the yeast species Candida albicans. The main virulence factor of C. a

We examined the relationships between amyloid-β PET and concurrent and longitudinal cognitive performance in 107 cognitively normal individuals with subjective cognitive decline (age: 64 ± 8 years, 44% female, Mini-Mental State Examination score 29 ± 1). All underwent 90-minute dynamic [ 18 F]florbetapir PET scanning and longitudinal neuropsychological tests with a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 3.0 ye

Do I cause global warming, climate change and their related harms when I go for a leisure drive with my gas-guzzling car? The current verdict seems to be that I do not; the emissions produced by my drive are much too insignificant to make a difference for the occurrence of global warming and its related harms. I argue that our verdict on this issue depends on what we mean by ‘causation’. If we for

In the European Union (EU), there are a large number of mandatory and voluntary policies applied to improve the environmental life cycle impacts of products. Policies are enacted at both the EU level and among the EU member states, and there is a need to develop a better coordination between the various policies. This contribution outlines the various policies and examines various conceptual appro

Recent literature mainly examines the causal relationship between the insurance market and economic activity, while agreeing on presence of cointegration. The bulk of this evidence relies on Pedroni’s (Econom Theory 20(03):597–625, 2004) very popular residual-based panel cointegration test. However, this test not only requires that the number of time periods is large, but also that it is large rel

Drying of paper during 2000–2018 is reviewed. The review includes new drying processes, multi-cylinder dryers, tissue and impingement drying, TAD-drying, infrared drying and energy use for drying of paper. It includes general aspects of infrared dryers but not drying of coated papers. Paper quality aspects, paper shrinkage and paper isotherms are not included. Impingement drying has been the most

A growing body of literature sheds light on occupational therapy (OT) interventions and outcomes in adult mental health. Although this research has not developed to the point where a systematic review is warranted, a synthesis of these findings is needed. This article provides an overview of OT interventions in adult mental health and their documented outcomes. Fifty peer-reviewed intervention stu

The neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine replaces L-serine in proteins and produces Alzheimer-like pathology. In proteoglycans, e.g. glypican-1, this should preclude substitution with heparan sulfate chains. Reduced release of heparan sulfate should increase β-secretase activity and processing of amyloid precursor protein. Cultured cells were treated with β-N-methylamino-L-alanine during the growt