Elimination of human rabies in Goa, India through an integrated One Health approach.

Dog-mediated rabies kills tens of thousands of people each year in India, representing one third of the estimated global rabies burden. Whilst the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have set a target for global dog-mediated human rabies elimination by 2030, examples of large-scale dog vaccination programs demonstrating elimination remain limited in Africa and Asia. We describe the development of a data-driven rabies elimination program from 2013 to 2019 in Goa State, India, culminating in human rabies elimination and a 92% reduction in monthly canine rabies cases. Smartphone technology enabled systematic spatial direction of remote teams to vaccinate over 95,000 dogs at 70% vaccination coverage, and rabies education teams to reach 150,000 children annually. An estimated 2249 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were averted over the program period at 526 USD per DALY, making the intervention 'very cost-effective' by WHO definitions. This One Health program demonstrates that human rabies elimination is achievable at the state level in India.

Percolation on Lieb lattices.

We study site- and bond-percolation on a class of lattices referred to as Lieb lattices. In two dimensions the Lieb lattice (LL) is also known as the decorated square lattice, or as the CuO_{2} lattice; in three dimensions it can be generalized to a layered Lieb lattice or to a perovskite lattice. Emergent electronic phenomena, such as topological states and ferrimagnetism, have been predicted to occur in these systems, which may be realized in optical lattices as well as in solid state. Since the study of the interplay between quantum fluctuations and disorder in these systems requires the availability of accurate estimates of geometrical critical parameters, such as percolation thresholds and correlation length exponents, here we use Monte Carlo simulations to obtain these data for LLs when a site (or bond) is present with probability p. We have found that the thresholds satisfy a mean-field (Bethe lattice) trend, namely that the critical concentration, p_{c}, increases as the average coordination number decreases; our estimates for the correlation length exponent are in line with the expectation that there is no change in the universality class.

Dietary protein modulates digestive enzyme activities and gene expression in red tilapia juveniles.

It is known that the level of dietary protein modulates the enzymatic activity of the digestive tract of fish; however, its effect at the molecular level on these enzymes and the hormones regulating appetite has not been well characterised. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of CP on the activity of proteases and the expression of genes related to the ingestion and protein digestion of juveniles of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.), as well as the effects on performance, protein retention and body composition of tilapia. A total of 240 juveniles (29.32 ± 5.19 g) were used, distributed across 20 tanks of 100 l in a closed recirculation system. The fish were fed to apparent satiety for 42 days using four isoenergetic diets with different CP levels (24%, 30%, 36% and 42%). The results indicate that fish fed the 30% CP diet exhibited a higher growth performance compared to those on the 42% CP diet (P < 0.05). Feed intake in fish fed 24% and 30% CP diets was significantly higher than that in fish fed 36% and 42% CP diets (P < 0.05). A significant elevation of protein retention was observed in fish fed with 24% and 30% CP diets. Fish fed with 24% CP exhibited a significant increase in lipid deposition in the whole body. The diet with 42% CP was associated with the highest expression of pepsinogen and the lowest activity of acid protease (P < 0.05). The expression of hepatopancreatic trypsinogen increased as CP levels in the diet increased (P < 0.05) up to 36%, whereas trypsin activity showed a significant reduction with 42% CP (P < 0.05). The diet with 42% CP was associated with the lowest intestinal chymotrypsinogen expression and the lowest chymotrypsin activity (P < 0.05). α-amylase expression decreased with increasing (P < 0.05) CP levels up to 36%. No significant differences were observed in the expression of procarboxypeptidase, lipase or leptin among all the groups (P > 0.05). In addition, the diet with 42% CP resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in the expression of ghrelin and insulin and an increase (P < 0.05) in the expression of cholecystokinin and peptide yy. It is concluded that variation in dietary protein promoted changes in the metabolism of the red tilapia, which was reflected in proteolytic activity and expression of digestion and appetite-regulating genes.

In vitro anthelmintic activity of Siparuna guianensis extract and essential oil against Strongyloides venezuelensis.

New therapeutic approaches are necessary to control strongyloidiasis due to the side effects of, and resistance to, currently available drugs thiabendazole, albendazole, and ivermectin. This study examined the anthelmintic properties of extracts and isolated compounds from Siparuna guianensis against Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs and larvae, using the egg hatching test (EHT) and larval motility test (LMT). Albendazole (0.025 mg/ml) and ivermectin (0.316 mg/ml) were used as the positive controls for the EHT and LMT assays, respectively. Strongyloides venezuelensis eggs or larvae (±50 specimens) were treated with ethanol extract (0.05-1.0 mg/ml), ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions (0.05-0.8 mg/ml), essential oil (0.2-1.0 mg/ml) and α-bisabolol (0.2-1.0 mg/ml) from S. guianensis, and analysed by optical microscopy after 48 h (EHT), or after 24, 48 and 72 h (LMT). All the tested compounds exhibited ovicidal activity equivalent to the positive control and changed the morphology of the eggs. The S. guianensis ethanol extract and aqueous fraction were as effective as the positive control. Phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract and fractions revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids. Therefore, S. guianensis is effective against S. venezuelensis eggs and larvae in vitro, and can be considered as a potential alternative treatment for strongyloidiasis.

Charge Order in the Holstein Model on a Honeycomb Lattice.

The effect of electron-electron interactions on Dirac fermions, and the possibility of an intervening spin-liquid phase between the semimetal and antiferromagnetic (AF) regimes, has been a focus of intense quantum simulation effort over the last five years. We use determinant quantum Monte Carlo simulations to study the Holstein model on a honeycomb lattice and explore the role of electron- phonon interactions on Dirac fermions. We show that they give rise to charge-density-wave (CDW) order and present evidence that this occurs only above a finite critical interaction strength. We evaluate the temperature for the transition into the CDW which, unlike the AF transition, can occur at finite values owing to the discrete nature of the broken symmetry.

Gene expression, enzyme activity and performance of Nile tilapia larvae fed with diets of different CP levels.

Protein is the most costly nutrient in fish feed, and while diets offered in the early stages of development typically have high levels of CP, they do not always correspond to the real requirements of the animals. Thus, research that seeks to learn the true nutritional requirements of fish is fundamental to improving commercial fish culture. The present study evaluated the protein requirements of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under larviculture. Fish performance, gene expression for digestive enzymes and their enzymatic activity and stress response to air exposure were analyzed. Four experimental diets differing in CP level were formulated: 30%, 36%, 42% and 48%. Fish larvae were fed the experimental diets during development and sampled 10, 20 and 30 days after the beginning of the experiment for performance, gene expression and enzymatic activity. At sampling time 30, stress resistance was also evaluated by means of an air exposure test. At sampling time 10, CP levels between 36% and 48% could be used for a better performance. During this period, pepsinogen expression was greater for 30% CP, intermediate for 42% and lower for 36% and 48%. After this initial period, diets of between 30% and 42% CP are recommended for better performance. At sampling time 20, gene expression for digestive enzymes and their enzymatic activity were similar for all diets tested. At sampling time 30, the diet of 42% CP induced both greater pepsinogen expression and pepsin activity. Survival after the air exposure test after 30 days of feeding was influenced by CP level in the diet, with the highest survival being for fish fed with 36% CP. Taken together, the present results demonstrate that dietary CP influences digestive enzyme gene expression and activity, and suggest that the best CP levels for Nile tilapia larviculture vary depending on larval stage.

Phonon Dispersion and the Competition between Pairing and Charge Order.

The Holstein model describes the interaction between fermions and a collection of local (dispersionless) phonon modes. In the dilute limit, the phonon degrees of freedom dress the fermions, giving rise to polaron and bipolaron formation. At higher densities, the phonons mediate collective superconducting (SC) and charge-density wave (CDW) phases. Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations have considered both these limits but have not yet focused on the physics of more general phonon spectra. Here we report QMC studies of the role of phonon dispersion on SC and CDW order in such models. We quantify the effect of finite phonon bandwidth and curvature on the critical temperature T_{cdw} for CDW order and also uncover several novel features of diagonal long-range order in the phase diagram, including a competition between charge patterns at momenta q=(π,π) and q=(0,π) which lends insight into the relationship between Fermi surface nesting and the wave vector at which charge order occurs. We also demonstrate SC order at half filling in situations where a nonzero bandwidth sufficiently suppresses T_{cdw}.

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana da planta Tradescantia pallida Munt (Taboquinha Roxa) / Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the Tradescantia pallida Munt plant (Taboquinha Roxa)

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi pesquisar o efeito antimicrobiano in vitro do extrato hidroalcóolico das folhas Tradescantia pallida Munt conhecida como Taboquinha roxa. Foram realizados testes em meio sólido, onde não observou qualquer halo de inibição, e o método de microdiluição, em que os resultados foram expressivos, com determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Bactericida Mínima (CBM), com resultados em diferentes concentrações. Foram utilizadas cepas padrão de bactérias Gram positivas e Gram negativas. De acordo com os resultados, sugere-se que essa planta apresenta um potencial antimicrobiano.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of the Tradescantia pallida Munt leaves,known as Taboquinha roxa. The tests were both conducted on solid mean, where it was not observed any zone of inhibition, and by the micro dilution method, in which the results of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were significant and related with the different concentrations. Standard strains of bacteria type Gram positive and Gram negative were employed. According to the results, this plant has an antimicrobial potential.

2, 5-diketopiperazines (cyclic dipeptides) in beef: identification, synthesis, and sensory evaluation.

Stewed beef and grilled dry aged beef were analyzed as part of an in-depth analytical program, with the aim of creating new flavors incorporating only compounds identified in the target foods and identifying new synthesis targets. In-house GC-MS analyses of several types of cooked beef have identified over 1000 volatile and semivolatile components; many for the 1st time. Among the semivolatiles detected were ten 2, 5-diketopiperazines (cyclic dipeptides) previously unreported in beef. These cyclic dipeptides are cis-cyclo(L-Ile-L-Pro), cis-cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro), cis-cyclo(L-Pro-L-Pro), cis-cyclo(L-Pro-L-Val), cis-cyclo(L-Ala-L-Pro), cyclo(Gly-L-Pro), cyclo(Gly-L-Leu), cis-cyclo(L-Met-L-Pro), cis-cyclo(L-Phe-L-Pro), and cis-cyclo(L-Phe-L-Val). All 10 cyclic dipeptides were synthesized and evaluated organoleptically. Among them cis-cyclo(L-Leu-L-Pro), cis-cyclo(L-Met-L-Pro), and cis-cyclo(L-Phe-L-Pro) were found to be of particular organoleptic interest.