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Context. Homochirality is a generic and unique property of life on Earth and is considered a universal and agnostic biosignature. Homochirality induces fractional circular polarization in the incident light that it reflects. Because this circularly polarized light can be sensed remotely, it can be one of the most compelling candidate biosignatures in life detection missions. While there are also o
Agricultural landscapes across the planet have replaced natural habitat with crop production that is less diverse at field and landscape scales. Loss of cropland heterogeneity can increase pest colonization rates and decrease predation rates, thereby exacerbating pest pressure and leading to increased use of pesticides. Linking landscape pattern, crop pest pressure, and pesticide use is emerging a
Terephthalate polyesters such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been massively produced over the last few decades due to their attractive properties in multiple applications. However, due to their limited biodegradability, they have accumulated in landfills and oceans, posing an environmental threat. Enzymatic recycling technologies are predicted to generate long-term socioeconomic benefi
BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy in adolescents living with HIV is a global challenge. One of the key strategies to improve adherence is believed to be the use of digital adherence tools. However, evidence is limited in this area. Our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of mobile phone text message reminders in improving ART adherence for adolescents.METHODS: The pre
BACKGROUND: Tailored and culturally appropriate latent tuberculosis (TB) infection screening and treatment programs, including interventions against TB stigma, are needed to reduce TB incidence in low TB incidence countries. However, we lack insights in stigma related to latent TB infection (LTBI) among target groups, such as asylum seekers and refugees. We therefore studied knowledge, attitudes,
This study in the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia assessed the outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) treatment among children younger than 15 years. Retrospective data were collected on treatment outcomes and their determinants for children with TB for the cohorts of 2012-2014 enrolled in 40 hospitals and 137 health centers. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and logistic regression were used for the analys
Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) was under-prioritized, and only 15% of childhood TB cases are microbiologically confirmed. Hence, most childhood TB diagnoses are made on a clinical basis and prone to over- or under-treatment. Xpert is a rapid method for the diagnosis of childhood TB with high sensitivity.Objective: To assess the use of Xpert for accurate diagnosis, timely initiation, and r
BACKGROUND: Optimal care for children with HIV infection includes timely assessment of treatment failure. Using HIV viral load to define treatment failure remains a challenge in resource-limited settings.METHODS: Children with HIV infection who were already on or starting first-line antiretroviral therapy were enrolled and followed over time. We examined clinical and immunologic predictors of viro
BACKGROUND: Effective tuberculosis (TB) control is the end result of improved health seeking by the community and timely provision of quality TB services by the health system. Rapid expansion of health services to the peripheries has improved access to the community. However, high cost of seeking care, stigma related TB, low index of suspicion by health care workers and lack of patient centered ca
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem. Its magnitude the required interventions are affected by changes in socioeconomic condition and urbanization. Ethiopia is among the thirty high burden countries with increasing effort to end TB. We aimed to describe the case notification rate (CNR) for urban tuberculosis (TB) and estimate the percentage of TB patients who are not from
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) affects, and claims the lives of, millions every year. Despite efforts to find and treat TB, about four million cases were missed globally in 2017. Barriers to accessing health care, inadequate health-seeking behavior of the community, poor socioeconomic conditions, and stigma are major determinants of this gap. Unfortunately, TB-related stigma remains unexplored in E
INTRODUCTION: Ethiopia is among the high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), TB/HIV, and drug-resistant TB. The aim of this nationwide study was to better understand TB-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and generate evidence for policy and decision-making.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional TB KAP survey in seven regions and two city administrations of Ethiop
