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In this work, we present the detection of proteins expressed by poxvirus with fiber-optic probes based on a semi-distributed interferometer (SDI) assisted by a fiber Bragg grating (FBG), performing the measurement directly into a wastewater sample. Modern biosafety applications benefit from real-time, dynamic-sensing technologies that can perform diagnostic tasks into a wide set of analytes, with a particular emphasis on wastewater, which appears to collect a significant number of viral titers in urban and indoor environments. The SDI/FBG probe can perform substantial progress in this field, as it embeds a dual sensitivity mechanism to refractive index changes (sensitivity up to 266.1 dB/RIU (refractive index units)) that can be exploited in biosensing, while simultaneously having the capability to measure the temperature (sensitivity 9.888 pm/°C), thus providing an intrinsic cross-sensitivity compensation. In addition, a standard FBG analyzer can be used as an interrogator, improving affordability and real-time detection over previous works. The probes have been functionalized with antibodies specific for L1, A27 and A33 vaccinia virus proteins, performing detection of a protein concentration in a scenario compatible with online viral threat detection. Direct detection of wastewater samples shows that the L1-functionalized sensor has a higher response, 9.1–11.3 times higher than A33 and A27, respectively, with a maximum response of up to 1.99 dB and excellent specificity. Dynamic detection in wastewater shows that the sensors have a response over multiple detection cycles, with a sensitivity of 0.024–0.153 dB for each 10-fold increase of concentration.

Recent trends in electrochemical sensors based on conducting polymer functionalized graphene for the detection of pollutants in water are highlighted in this review. Graphene has been the subject of a lot of scientific research to be composited with conducting polymers. Researchers are interested in graphene and its variants because they have a lot of good qualities, like good electrical and mechanical properties and very high surface area. With this review, we intend to arouse interest in the important topic of graphene and conducting polymer nanocomposite that is making significant advances in electrochemical sensing, especially for sensing pollutants in water.

Tuberculosis (TB) in zoo animals is an important public health problem in places where it occurs. This is even very important in countries where there is little public health awareness about the disease; thus confined animals in the zoo can be infected directly or indirectly by infected humans and vice versa. In Nigeria, the problem of TB is a major concern among both humans and cattle. Here, we present cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. tuberculosis/M. bovis infections in a female gorilla and a lioness, respectively, in a zoo in Ibadan, Nigeria. These cases were confirmed after bacteriological examinations and DNA from granulomatous lesions of the animals’ carcasses were subjected to the Hain and spoligotyping techniques. Our findings reveal the first documented report of TB infections in a gorilla and a lioness in zoo animals in Nigeria. The public health risks of tuberculosis in zoological settings are therefore reemphasized.

Importance: Individuals who use contraceptive pills, patches, and rings must frequently interact with the health care system for continued and consistent use. As options for obtaining these methods expand, better understanding contraceptive users' preferences for source of contraception can help facilitate access., Objective: To describe use of preferred source of contraception and to understand associations between prior reproductive health care experiences and preference for traditional in-person sources vs alternative sources., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a cross-sectional nationally representative survey study fielded in the US in 2022 through NORC's population-based AmeriSpeak panel. Eligible panelists were assigned female sex at birth, aged 15 to 44 years, not infecund, and not personally using permanent contraception. Of the screened panelists, 3150 were eligible; 3059 completed the survey (97%). The analysis sample included 595 individuals who currently used a pill, patch, or ring contraceptive. Data were analyzed from January 25, 2023, to August 15, 2024., Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were use of any preferred source and use of most preferred source when most recently obtaining contraception. Sources included in-person care, telehealth, pharmacist-prescribed, online service, and over the counter. A binary variable captured whether respondents most preferred traditional, in-person contraceptive care vs an alternative approach. Prior reproductive health care experiences included missing a pill, patch, or ring because they couldn't obtain it on-time and receipt of person-centered contraceptive counseling at most recent contraceptive visit. Sociodemographic characteristics and responses are presented as unweighted numbers with weighted prevalences., Results: In this study, 581 of 595 unweighted respondents (weighted prevalence, 95.9%) of the analytic sample identified as female, 256 unweighted respondents (weighted prevalence, 64.4%) were ages 15 to 29 years, and 448 unweighted respondents (weighted prevalence, 73.8%) had most recently obtained their contraception in-person. Only 197 unweighted respondents (weighted prevalence, 35.6%) selected in-person care as their most preferred source. Additionally, 296 unweighted respondents (weighted prevalence, 49.7%) had most recently obtained their method through any preferred source, and 227 unweighted respondents (weighted prevalence, 39.8%) had obtained it through their most preferred source. In adjusted regression analyses, respondents who previously reported being unable to get their method on time (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.36-4.87) had higher odds of preferring an alternative source vs traditional in-person care. Those who recently received person-centered contraceptive counseling (aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.35-0.98) had lower odds of preferring an alternative source., Conclusions and Relevance: In this national study of individuals who used the pill, patch, and ring, most preferred alternative sources to obtain their contraception, and only half had most recently used a preferred source. These findings suggest that expansion of alternative contraceptive sources can better meet the needs of contraceptive users and support reproductive autonomy.

Background: Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States is the greatest among all high-income countries, and Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates-almost twice the national rate. Furthermore, inequities exist in rates of pregnancy-related deaths. In Georgia, non-Hispanic Black women are nearly 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than non-Hispanic White women. Unlike health equity, a clear definition of maternal health equity is lacking, overall and in Georgia specifically, but is needed to reach consensus and align stakeholders for action. Therefore, we used a modified Delphi method to define maternal health equity in Georgia and to determine research priorities based on gaps in understanding of maternal health in Georgia., Methods: Thirteen expert members of the Georgia Maternal Health Research for Action Steering Committee (GMHRA-SC) participated in an iterative, consensus-driven, modified Delphi study comprised of 3 rounds of anonymous surveys. In round 1 (web-based survey), experts generated open-ended concepts of maternal health equity and listed research priorities. In rounds 2 (web-based meeting) and 3 (web-based survey), the definition and research priorities suggested during round 1 were categorized into concepts for ranking based on relevance, importance, and feasibility. Final concepts were subjected to a conventional content analysis to identify general themes., Results: The consensus definition of maternal health equity created after undergoing the Delphi method is: maternal health equity is the ultimate goal and ongoing process of ensuring optimal perinatal experiences and outcomes for everyone as the result of practices and policies free of interpersonal or structural bias that tackle current and historical injustices, including social, structural, and political determinants of health impacting the perinatal period and life course. This definition highlights addressing the current and historical injustices manifested in the social determinants of health, and the structural and political structures that impact the perinatal experience., Conclusion: The maternal health equity definition and identified research priorities will guide the GMHRA-SC and the broader maternal health community for research, practice, and advocacy in Georgia., (© 2023. The Author(s).)