Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Burden in Community-Dwelling and Long-Term Care Facility Older Adults in Europe and the United States: A Prospective Study

Background. Data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease burden in adults remain scarce. We assessed the burden of confirmed RSV-acute respiratory infections (cRSV-ARIs) in community-dwelling (CD) adults and those in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).Methods. In this prospective cohort study covering 2 RSV seasons (October 2019-March 2020 and October 2020-June 2021), RSVARIs were identified through active surveillance, in medically stable CD-adults =50 years (Europe) or adults =65 years in LTCFs (Europe and the United States). RSV infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction from combined nasal and throat swabs.Results. Of 1981 adults enrolled, 1251 adults in CD and 664 LTCFs (season 1) and 1223 adults in CD and 494 LTCFs (season 2) were included in the analyses. During season 1, overall incidence rates ([IRs] cases/1000 person-years) and attack rates (ARs) for cRSVARIs were 37.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.62-61.35) and 1.84% in adults in CD and 47.85 (CI, 22.58-101.4) and 2.26% in adults in LTCFs. Complications occurred for 17.4% (CD) and 13.3% (LTCFs) of cRSV-ARIs. One cRSV-ARI occurred in season 2 (IR = 2.91 [CI, 0.40-20.97]; AR = 0.20%), without complications. No cRSV-ARIs led to hospitalization or death. Viral pathogens were codetected in =17.4% of cRSV-ARIs.Conclusions. RSV is an important cause of disease burden in adults in CD and LTCFs. Despite the observed low severity of cRSVARI, our results support the need for RSV prevention strategies among adults =50 years old

Seroprevalence of Bordetella pertussis antibodies in adults in Hungary: results of an epidemiological cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pertussis (whooping cough) is well known to be underreported, particularly among adults, who can act as an infectious reservoir, potentially putting susceptible newborns at risk of serious illness. The purpose of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of pertussis in adults in Hungary. METHODS: This epidemiological, cross-sectional study was conducted in adults in five general practitioners' practices in Hungary. Serum anti-pertussis toxin immunoglobulin G (anti-PT IgG) antibody levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sera were classified following manufacturer's instructions as: strongly indicative of current/recent infection (>/=1.5 optical density [OD] units); indicative of current/recent infection (>/=1.0 OD units); seropositive (>0.3 OD units); or seronegative (/=60 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.80; p = .0002) or 18-29 years (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.13-2.46; p = .0094) vs. 45-59 years; former smoker (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.08-1.97; p = .014) or current smoker (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.89; p = .045) vs. never smoker; and male (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.01-1.68; p = .041) vs. female. Also, between increased rates of probable current/recent infection and current smoker (OR, 7.50; 95% CI, 2.32-24.31; p = .0008) or former smoker (OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.21-13.64; p = .023) vs. never smoker. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 85% of the adults studied were seronegative and therefore susceptible to pertussis infection. Approximately 1% had anti-PT IgG levels indicative of current/recent pertussis infection, which could potentially be transmitted to susceptible young infants. Vaccination of adults is a key way to indirectly protect infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov NCT02014519 . Prospectively registered 12 December 2013

Synthesis and mechanochromic investigations of new cyanopyridone derivatives

In the present work, four new cyanopyridone derivatives bearing terminal long chain alkyloxy substituents were designed and synthesized. All the synthesized target compounds were characterized by IR, NMR and Mass spectrometry. Further, their optical properties were examined in their solution state. The optical study showed that all the compounds can exhibit blue emissive behavior in their solution state and yellow fluorescence in the solid state. Furthermore, the long-tailed target compound showed intriguing fluorescence properties under the applied mechanochromic stimuli. Finally, a simple method of grinding-fuming process confirmed the morphological changes occurring in the studied compound which further resulted in the enhancement of its emission property.This research was supported by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) under Young Scientists Scheme (Project File no.: YSS/2014/000835) and Core Research Grant (Project File no.: CRG/2020/003151), Govt. of India, New Delhi

The Global Impact of Clouds on the Production of MODIS Bidirectional Reflectance Model-based Composites for Terrestrial Monitoring

A global data set of cloud occurrence probability derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua gridded daily data is analyzed to investigate the probability of obtaining at least a minimum number of cloud-free observations within various compositing periods. The probabilities derived from Terra and Aqua, with morning and afternoon overpass times, respectively, are similar and increase with compositing period. Compositing both Terra and Aqua observations results is considerably higher probabilities of obtaining a sufficient number of observations for bidirectional reflectance model-based compositing. Given that the only alternative is obtaining sufficient samples to extend the observation period, which can cause significant problems when the surface state changes, it is concluded that using data from the two MODIS sensors provides the most effective way of generating composited products. Findings with respect to the availability of cloud free composites when n-day composites are generated on a temporally overlapping daily rolling basis, i.e., every day, rather than every n-days, are also discussed for regional and global applications

Medicinal Importance of Plants Used for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India

Plants and their importance in the field of medicine go hand-in-hand since the ancient Vedic ages when Ayurveda and the other forms of treatment have come into existence. Each and every part of these plants possesses disease curing properties and is used in different forms to treat number of diseases. This paper aims to shed a light on the medicinal value of few of those plants which are used in treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis in traditional system. The plants that are selected for discussion are Cardiospermum helicacabum, Kiraganelia reticulata, Pongamia pinnata, Scoparia dulcis, Urena Lobata and Vitex negundo. The taxonomic classification along with its ayurvedic properties, ethnobotany, traditional uses that includes medical as well as day to day usage of the plant parts, pharmacognostical studies, phytochemical investigations and the pharmacological evidences along with molecular aspects are discussed in this paper. Each of these selected plants and every parts have various ayurvedic properties and are traditionally valuable, the physicochemical, microscopic and macroscopic factors also have huge importance, Several biochemical compounds, elements, fatty acids, proteins and amino acids are found to be present and pharmaceutically each of these plants have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-diabetic and various other properties which suggests the medical science can evolve and improve more with these plants in use in different preparations, which can be cost-effective, as well as devoid of side effects and would be beneficial to the medical world

The Global Impact of Clouds on the Production of MODIS Bidirectional Reflectance Model-Based Composites for Terrestrial Monitoring

Abstract—A global data set of cloud occurrence probabilit

Complexity and challenges in noncontact high temperature measurements in microwave-assisted catalytic reactors

The complexity and challenges in noncontact temperature measurements inside microwave-heated catalytic reactors are presented in this paper. A custom-designed microwave cavity has been used to focus the microwave field on the catalyst and enable monitoring of the temperature field in 2D. A methodology to study the temperature distribution in the catalytic bed by using a thermal camera in combination with a thermocouple for a heterogeneous catalytic reaction (methane dry reforming) under microwave heating has been demonstrated. The effects of various variables that affect the accuracy of temperature recordings are discussed in detail. The necessity of having at least one contact sensor, such as a thermocouple, or some other microwave transparent sensor, is recommended to keep track of the temperature changes occurring in the catalytic bed during the reaction under microwave heating.Intensified Reaction and Separation System