Religious communities and HIV prevention: An intervention study using a human rights-based approach

Religious communities have been a challenge to HIV prevention globally. Focusing on the acceptability component of the right to health, this intervention study examined how local Catholic, Evangelical and Afro-Brazilian religious communities can collaborate to foster young people`s sexual health and ensure their access to comprehensive HIV prevention in their communities in Brazil. This article describes the process of a three-stage sexual health promotion and HIV prevention initiative that used a multicultural human rights approach to intervention. Methods included 27 in-depth interviews with religious authorities on sexuality, AIDS prevention and human rights training of 18 young people as research-agents, who surveyed 177 youth on the same issues using self-administered questionnaires. The results, analysed using a rights-based perspective on health and the vulnerability framework, were discussed in daylong interfaith workshops. Emblematic of the collaborative process, workshops are the focus of the analysis. Our findings suggest that this human rights framework is effective in increasing inter-religious tolerance and in providing a collective understanding of the sexuality and prevention needs of youth from different religious communities, and also serves as a platform for the expansion of state AIDS programmes based on laical principles.

The chemiluminescent peroxyoxalate system: state of the art almost 50 years from its discovery

Almost fifty years after the discovery of the peroxyoxalate reaction by E. A. Chandross in the early nineteen sixties, this review article intends to give a general overview on mechanistic aspects of this system and to describe the principles of its analytical application. After a short general introduction on the principles of chemiluminescence and the history of peroxyoxalate discovery, mechanistic aspects of high-energy intermediate formation, its structure and its reaction with an activator in the peroxyoxalate system are discussed. Finally, analytical applications of peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence are exemplified using representative recent examples, including oxalic acid detection in biological samples.

Discovery and redescription of type material of Nausithoe simplex (Kirkpatrick, 1890), comb. nov (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa: Coronatae: Nausithoidae) from the North Atlantic

With discovery and examination of type specimens in the Natural History Museum, London, UK, we reassign Stephanoscyphistoma simplex (Kirkpatrick, 1890) to the genus Nausithoe Kolliker, 1853, as Nausithoe simplex, comb. nov., and designate a lectotype for the species. Use of morphometric measurements is considered important in coronate systematics, but key features also include the unique whorl of internal cusps and the shape of these cusps. All previous records of N. simplex must be re-evaluated, taking into consideration the morphology of these internal cusps.

Dillapiole as Antileishmanial Agent: Discovery, Cytotoxic Activity and Preliminary SAR Studies of Dillapiole Analogues

In this paper, the isolation of dillapiole (1) from Piper aduncum was reported as well as the semi-synthesis of two phenylpropanoid derivatives [di-hydrodillapiole (2), isodillapiole (3)], via reduction and isomerization reactions. Also, the compounds' molecular properties (structural, electronic, hydrophobic, and steric) were calculated and investigated to establish some preliminary structureactivity relationships (SAR). Compounds were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells. Compound 1 presented inhibitory activity against Leishmania amazonensis (IC50?=?69.3 mu M) and Leishmania brasiliensis (IC50?=?59.4 mu M) and induced cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells mainly in high concentrations. Compounds 2 (IC50?=?99.9 mu M for L. amazonensis and IC50?=?90.5 mu M for L. braziliensis) and 3 (IC50?=?122.9 mu M for L. amazonensis and IC50?=?109.8 mu M for L. brasiliensis) were less active than dillapiole (1). Regarding the molecular properties, the conformational arrangement of the side chain, electronic features, and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance seem to be relevant for explaining the antileishmanial activity of dillapiole and its analogues.

The discovery of male Potiicoara brasiliensis (Crustacea, Spelaeogriphacea) with notes on biology and distribution

The male of Potiicoara brasiliensis is reported for the first time with evidence of sexual dimorphism. Male diagnostic characters are described and compared with the other three species of Spelaeogriphidae. Males present differential morphology on both distal podomere articles of the antennula and antenna, an elongate and curved bare endopod on pleopod 2, a pair of short round penes on the sternum near the base of pereopod 7, and telson with dorsum almost smooth and apex straight. Material is sampled for the first time from karstic areas north of the species type-locality, Gruta Ricardo Franco near Corumba City, and Gruta do Curupira in the Araras Mountains. These new findings expand the distribution of the species over seven hundred kilometers. Comparisons between exemplars of both sexes are presented. A hypothesis on the distributional pattern of P. brasiliensis is introduced based on the geological history of Central-West Brazil.

Discovery potential for supersymmetry at a high luminosity upgrade of LHC14

After completion of the LHC8 run in 2012, the plan is to upgrade the LHC for operation close to its design energy root s = 14 TeV, with a goal of collecting hundreds of fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The time is propitious to begin thinking of what is gained by even further LHC upgrades. In this report, we compute an LHC14 reach for supersymmetry in the mSUGRA/CMSSM model with an anticipated high luminosity upgrade. We find that LHC14 with 300 (3000) fb(-1) has a reach for supersymmetry via gluino/squark searches of m((g) over tilde) similar to 3.2 TeV (3.6 TeV) for m((q) over tilde) similar to m((g) over tilde), and a reach of m((g) over tilde) similar to 1.8 TeV (2.3 TeV) for m((q) over tilde) >> m((g) over tilde). In the case where m((q) over tilde) >> m((g) over tilde), then the LHC14 reach for chargino-neutralino production with decay into the Wh + 6 is not an element of(T) final state reaches to m((g) over tilde) similar to 2.6 TeV for 3000 fb(-1).

Discovery and cross-section measurement of neutron-rich isotopes in the element range from neodymium to platinum with the FRS

Using the high-resolution performance of the fragment separator FRS at GSI we have discovered 60 new neutron-rich isotopes in the atomic number range of 60 <= Z <= 78. The new isotopes were unambiguously identified in reactions with a U-238 beam impinging on a Be target at 1 GeV/nucleon. The production cross-section for the new isotopes have been measured down to the pico-barn level and compared with predictions of different model calculations. For elements above hafnium fragmentation is the dominant reaction mechanism which creates the new isotopes, whereas fission plays a dominant role for the production of the new isotopes up to thulium. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification of Leishmania infantum chagasi proteins in urine of patients with visceral leishmaniasis: a promising antigen discovery approach of vaccine candidates

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious lethal parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani in Asia and by Leishmania infantum chagasi in southern Europe and South America. VL is endemic in 47 countries with an annual incidence estimated to be 500 000 cases. This high incidence is due in part to the lack of an efficacious vaccine. Here, we introduce an innovative approach to directly identify parasite vaccine candidate antigens that are abundantly produced in vivo in humans with VL. We combined RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry and categorized three L. infantum chagasi proteins, presumably produced in spleen, liver and bone marrow lesions and excreted in the patients urine. Specifically, these proteins were the following: Li-isd1 (XP_001467866.1), Li-txn1 (XP_001466642.1) and Li-ntf2 (XP_001463738.1). Initial vaccine validation studies were performed with the rLi-ntf2 protein produced in Escherichia coli mixed with the adjuvant BpMPLA-SE. This formulation stimulated potent Th1 response in BALB/c mice. Compared to control animals, mice immunized with Li-ntf2+ BpMPLA-SE had a marked parasite burden reduction in spleens at 40 days post-challenge with virulent L. infantum chagasi. These results strongly support the proposed antigen discovery strategy of vaccine candidates to VL and opens novel possibilities for vaccine development to other serious infectious diseases.

Religious/spiritual coping in people with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis

The objective of the present study is to investigate the use of religious/spiritual coping mechanisms in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis, by means of interviews using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the religious/spiritual coping scale. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. A total of 123 individuals were interviewed, 79.6% of whom presented a high score for religious/spiritual coping and none of whom presented low or irrelevant scores. The variables that affected the religious/spiritual coping behavior were: gender, age group, treatment time, family income, and religious practice. In conclusion, the participants used religious/spiritual coping mechanisms as a strategy to cope with the disease, particularly women with a higher family income who attend church every week.

OXYGEN ABUNDANCES IN LOW- AND HIGH-alpha FIELD HALO STARS AND THE DISCOVERY OF TWO FIELD STARS BORN IN GLOBULAR CLUSTERS

Oxygen abundances of 67 dwarf stars in the metallicity range -1.6 < [Fe/H] < -0.4 are derived from a non-LTE analysis of the 777 nm O I triplet lines. These stars have precise atmospheric parameters measured by Nissen and Schuster, who find that they separate into three groups based on their kinematics and alpha-element (Mg, Si, Ca, Ti) abundances: thick disk, high-alpha halo, and low-alpha halo. We find the oxygen abundance trends of thick-disk and high-alpha halo stars very similar. The low-alpha stars show a larger star-to-star scatter in [O/Fe] at a given [Fe/H] and have systematically lower oxygen abundances compared to the other two groups. Thus, we find the behavior of oxygen abundances in these groups of stars similar to that of the a elements. We use previously published oxygen abundance data of disk and very metal-poor halo stars to present an overall view (-2.3 < [Fe/H] < +0.3) of oxygen abundance trends of stars in the solar neighborhood. Two field halo dwarf stars stand out in their O and Na abundances. Both G53-41 and G150-40 have very low oxygen and very high sodium abundances, which are key signatures of the abundance anomalies observed in globular cluster (GC) stars. Therefore, they are likely field halo stars born in GCs. If true, we estimate that at least 3% +/- 2% of the local field metal-poor star population was born in GCs.

LHC discovery potential for supersymmetry with root s=7 TeV and 5-30 fb(-1)

We extend our earlier results delineating the supersymmetry reach of the CERN Large Hadron Collider operating at a center-of-mass energy root s = 7 TeV to integrated luminosities in the range 5-30 fb(-1). Our results are presented within the paradigm minimal supergravity model or constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model. Using a six-dimensional grid of cuts for the optimization of signal to background ratio-including missing E-T-we find for m((g) over tilde) similar to m((q) over tilde) an LHC 5 sigma supersymmetry discovery reach of m((g) over tilde) similar to 1:3, 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 TeV for 5, 10, 20, and 30 fb(-1), respectively. For m((q) over tilde) >> m((g) over tilde), the corresponding reach is instead m((g) over tilde) similar to 0: 8, 0.9, 1.0, and 1.05 TeV, for the same integrated luminosities.

THE GEMINI NICI PLANET-FINDING CAMPAIGN: DISCOVERY OF A MULTIPLE SYSTEM ORBITING THE YOUNG A STAR HD 1160

We report the discovery of two low-mass companions to the young A0V star HD 1160 at projected separations of 81 +/- 5 AU (HD 1160 B) and 533 +/- 25 AU (HD 1160 C) by the Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign. Very Large Telescope images of the system taken over a decade for the purpose of using HD 1160 A as a photometric calibrator confirm that both companions are physically associated. By comparing the system to members of young moving groups and open clusters with well-established ages, we estimate an age of 50(-40)(+50) Myr for HD 1160 ABC. While the UVW motion of the system does not match any known moving group, the small magnitude of the space velocity is consistent with youth. Near-IR spectroscopy shows HD 1160 C to be an M3.5 +/- 0.5 star with an estimated mass of 0.22(-0.04)(+0.03) M-circle dot, while NIR photometry of HD 1160 B suggests a brown dwarf with a mass of 33(-9)(+12) M-Jup. The very small mass ratio (0.014) between the A and B components of the system is rare for A star binaries, and would represent a planetary-mass companion were HD 1160 A to be slightly less massive than the Sun.

Discovery of the Persistent Luminescence Mechanism of CdSiO3:Tb3+

The persistent luminescence of CdSiO3:Tb3+ was investigated with photoluminescence, thermoluminescence (TL), synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption (XANES and EXAFS) and UV-VUV spectroscopies. Only the typical intraconfigurational 4f(8)-4f(8) transitions of the Tb3+ ion were observed with no traces of band emission in either the conventional UV excited or persistent luminescence spectra. The trap structure from TL with three traps from 0.65 to 0.85 eV is ideal for room-temperature persistent luminescence similar to, e.g., Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,R3+. Despite the rather low band gap energy, 5.28 eV, the persistent luminescence from Tb3+ is produced only under UV irradiation due to the inauspicious position of the F-7(6) ground level deep in the band gap of CdSiO3. This confirms the role of electrons as the charge carriers in the mechanism of Tb3+ persistent luminescence. The XANES spectra indicated the presence of only the trivalent Tb3+ species, thus excluding the direct Tb3+ -> Tb-IV oxidation during the charging process of persistent luminescence. Eventually, a unique persistent luminescence mechanism for Tb3+ in CdSiO3 was constructed based on the comprehensive experimental data.

Does Evolution matter?: a case study in Brazil of the effects of an evolutionary-thinking academic atmosphere in postgraduate students' belief in God/religious belief

Although the theory of evolution is more than 150 years old, a substantial proportion of the world population does not mention it when explaining the origin of human beings. The usual alternative conception is offered by creationism, one of the main obstacles to full acceptance of evolution in many countries. National polls have demonstrated that schooling and religiosity are negatively correlated, with scientists being one of the least religious professionals. Herein we analyzed both (1) the profile of 1st semester undergraduate students and (2), thesis and dissertations, concerning religious and evolutionary thoughts from Biology and Veterinary Schools at the largest university of South America. We have shown that students of Biology are biased towards evolution before they enter university and also that the presence of an evolutionary-thinking academic atmosphere influences the deism/religiosity beliefs of postgraduate students.