With the advent of the World Health Organization End TB strategy, there has been renewed interest in screening for active tuberculosis (TB), and particularly latent tuberculous infection (LTBI). In ...low-incidence countries, a high proportion of TB cases are notified among migrants, which often occurs due to LTBI reactivation. We aimed to review the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening migrants for active TB LTBI to inform and support the TB elimination strategy in low-incidence countries. We carried out a narrative review of English language articles published between 1 January 2000 and 31 June 2016 using the PubMed database. All studies that described the effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of active TB or LTBI screening among migrants were included. We identified 55 studies, and included 40 for the effectiveness of screening, 11 for cost-effectiveness and 4 that reported both. Screening for active TB can be effective and cost-effective depending on the setting, target group and screening approach. Pre-entry screening programmes have some impact on the epidemiology of the receiving countries. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of LTBI screening as predicted in mathematical models is also highly setting-specific, with best potential results achieved if screening is restricted to high-risk groups and/or to migrants from high-burden countries.
► This is the first systematic study on the volatile profile of Negroamaro wines. ► This work identified and quantified all the wine volatile compounds. ► The calculated odourant concentrations were ...correlated to wine sensory features. ► For the first time aromatic patterns typical of Negroamaro wine were identified. ► The paper contributes to the discussion about wine geographical origin and variety.
Volatile composition of monovarietal young red wines made from Negroamaro cultivar, an autochthonous grape variety of Vitis vinifera grown exclusively in Salento area (southeast of Italy in Apulia region), was investigated. Volatile compounds were extracted following a solid phase extraction (SPE) method, and then analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results showed a complex aroma profile rich in alcohols, esters and fatty acids, with a minor contribute from aldehydes, lactones, volatile phenols and sulphur compounds. For the first time, aromatic patterns that characterise wines produced from Negroamaro autochthonous grape variety were established, starting a fundamental register of typicity and geographical identity of Apulians wines. Statistical data analysis techniques (Principal component analysis (PCA) and ANOVA) showed the structure of the experimental data and the significant differences for each compound in the different wines.
Fe3O4/γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) based thin films were used as active layers in solid state resistive chemical sensors. NPs were synthesized by high temperature solution phase reaction. Sensing NP ...monolayers (ML) were deposited by Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) techniques onto chemoresistive transduction platforms. The sensing ML were UV treated to remove NP insulating capping. Sensors surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Systematic gas sensing tests in controlled atmosphere were carried out toward NO2, CO, and acetone at different concentrations and working temperatures of the sensing layers. The best sensing performance results were obtained for sensors with higher NPs coverage (10 ML), mainly for NO2 gas showing interesting selectivity toward nitrogen oxides. Electrical properties and conduction mechanisms are discussed.
Lakes in the Adirondack region of New York have partially recovered in response to declining deposition, but information on stream recovery is limited. Here we report results of Adirondack stream ...monitoring from the early 1980s to 2008. Despite a 50% reduction in atmospheric deposition of sulfur, overall increases in pH of only 0.28 and ANC of 13 μeq L−1 were observed in 12 streams over 23 years, although greater changes did occur in streams with lower initial ANC, as expected. In the North Tributary of Buck Creek with high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, SO42− concentrations decreased from 1999 to 2008 at a rate of 2.0 μmol L−1 y−1, whereas in the neighboring South Tributary with low DOC concentrations, the decrease was only 0.73 μmol L−1 y−1. Ca2+ leaching decreased in the North Tributary due to the SO42− decrease, but this was partially offset by an increase in Ca2+ leaching from increased DOC concentrations.
► Acidity of Adirondack streams has remained unchanged or shown small decreases since the early 1980s. ► The base cation surplus in stream water did not change from 1998 to 2008. ► Increased DOC concentrations led to increased leaching of soil calcium. ► Sulfate concentrations decreased in Buck Creek tributaries from 1998 to 2008, but rates varied with soil carbon content. ► Increases in ANC in the North Tributary of Buck Creek were linked to calcium leaching by strong organic acids.
Despite a 50% reduction in atmospheric sulfur deposition since the mid 1980s, chemical recovery of Adirondack streams has been slow, with minimal recovery from 2001 to 2008.
The C-type lectin-like receptor CD161 is expressed by lymphocytes found in human gut and liver, as well as blood, especially natural killer (NK) cells, T helper 17 (Th17) cells, and a population of ...unconventional T cells known as mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. The association of high CD161 expression with innate T-cell populations including MAIT cells is established. Here we show that CD161 is also expressed, at intermediate levels, on a prominent subset of polyclonal CD8+ T cells, including antiviral populations that display a memory phenotype. These memory CD161(int)CD8+ T cells are enriched within the colon and express both CD103 and CD69, markers associated with tissue residence. Furthermore, this population was characterized by enhanced polyfunctionality, increased levels of cytotoxic mediators, and high expression of the transcription factors T-bet and eomesodermin (EOMES). Such populations were induced by novel vaccine strategies based on adenoviral vectors, currently in trial against hepatitis C virus. Thus, intermediate CD161 expression marks potent polyclonal, polyfunctional tissue-homing CD8+ T-cell populations in humans. As induction of such responses represents a major aim of T-cell prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines in viral disease and cancer, analysis of these populations could be of value in the future.
Abstract
Cohorts of healthy younger adults (18–50yrs) and healthy older adults (60–75yrs) were immunized intramuscularly or intranasally with an adenovirus-vectored RSV vaccine (PanAd3-RSV) as a ...prime dose and boosted with PanAd3-RSV or a poxvirus-vectored vaccine (MVA-RSV) encoding the same insert. Whole blood gene expression was measured at baseline, 3- and 7-days post vaccination. Intramuscular prime vaccination with PanAd3-RSV induced differential expression of 643 genes (DEGs, FDR < 0.05). Intranasal prime vaccination with PanAd3-RSV did not induce any differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in blood samples at 3 days post vaccination. Intranasally primed participants showed greater numbers of DEGS on boosting than intramuscularly primed participants. The most highly enriched biological processes related to DEGs after both prime and boost vaccination were type-1 interferon related pathways, lymphocytic and humoral immune responses.
PanAd3 vaccination of healthy adults induces type-1 interferon and humoral immune responses.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) is a new promising laser-based technique thought for polymer or biomaterial thin films deposition. In this work, the MAPLE technique has been used for ...the deposition of titania (TiO2) nanoparticle thin films to be used for gas sensor applications. For this purpose, an aqueous solution of TiO2 nanoparticles, synthesized by a novel chemical route, was frozen at the liquid nitrogen temperature and introduced in a vacuum chamber to be irradiated with a pulsed ArF excimer laser. The volatile solvent was pumped away while the TiO2 nanoparticles were deposited on Si and Al2O3 substrates. A uniform distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles with an average size of about 10nm was obtained, as demonstrated by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM-FEG) inspection. We realized gas-sensing devices based on resistive transduction mechanism by using the TiO2 nanoparticles thin films deposited by the MAPLE technique onto suitable rough alumina substrates equipped with interdigitated electrical contacts (IDC) and heating elements. Electrical characterization measurements were carried out in controlled environment. The results of the gas-sensing tests towards low concentrations of ethanol and acetone vapors are reported. Typical gas sensor parameters (gas responses, response/recovery time, sensitivity, and low detection limit) towards ethanol were extracted and compared with to the corresponding parameters towards acetone.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes respiratory disease throughout life. Here we report differences in naturally acquired immunity with age and presumed exposure.
A longitudinal, ...non-interventional, observational study was performed in healthy adults (20 paediatric healthcare workers and 10 non-healthcare workers), children (10 aged 3–6 years) and infants (5 aged 2–4 months and 20 aged 6–12 months). Blood samples were analysed for RSV-neutralising antibody titre, F/Ga/Gb-specific antibody titres, F-specific IgG/IgA memory B-cell frequencies and T-cell production of IFNγ, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17.
Serum G-specific antibody titres were significantly lower in infants and children than adults. However, serum titres of F-specific and RSV-neutralising antibody and IFNγ-producing T-cell frequencies were low or absent in the infants, but comparable between children and adults. Interestingly, F-specific memory IgA B-cells could not be detected in paediatric samples and in samples from non-healthcare workers, but recordable IgA memory B-cells were found in 9/18 paediatric healthcare workers and 2/8 non-healthcare workers at the end of the RSV season. These responses waned 4–6 months later. By contrast, F-specific IgG memory B-cells were detectable in samples from all adults without significant variation across time points. T-cells producing IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17 responses were not detectable in peripheral blood from a subset of volunteers.
Repeated RSV exposure in early life generates immune responses that are inversely related to frequency of severe disease. Induction of F-specific antibody and cellular immune responses through infant vaccination might help to accelerate the development of protective immune responses at an early age.
Clinicaltrials.gov reference NCT01563692 and NCT01640652.
SnO₂ nanorods were successfully deposited on 3″ Si/SiO₂ wafers by inductively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) and a wafer-level patterning of nanorods layer for ...miniaturized solid state gas sensor fabrication were performed. Uniform needle-shaped SnO₂ nanorods in situ grown were obtained under catalyst- and high temperature treatment-free growth condition. These nanorods have an average diameter between 5 and 15nm and a length of 160–300nm. The SnO₂-nanorods based gas sensors were tested towards NH₃ and CH₃OH and gas sensing tests show remarkable response, showing promising and repeatable results compared with the SnO₂ thin films gas sensors.
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