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The selection of viewpoints is a crucial aspect in conducting visual impact assessments of architectural heritage. To address this issue, a quantitative viewpoint selection method based on GIS spatial analysis is proposed. The first step involves defining the factors that influence the selection of viewpoints for architectural heritage. Next, the city's historical architectural areas are divided into units based on courtyards. Subsequently, a candidate set of viewpoints is constructed by extracting the skeleton lines and characteristic points of sub-regions. Finally, following the principles of viewpoint selection, the method achieves the selection of viewpoints for the visual impact assessment of architectural heritage. The Forbidden City is chosen as the practical area for implementation, and the results demonstrate that the viewshed coverage range in the architectural heritage area is as high as 96%. It represents that this approach for visual impact assessments of architectural heritage is more grounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The importance of Early Clinical Experience (ECE) in education is increasing. This study aimed to investigate the viewpoints of medical students about ECE in teaching endocrine and gastrointestinal physiology lessons. Method: This study was conducted on 96 second-year medical students in endocrinology and gastrointestinal physiology classes including 15 sessions in the first and second academic semesters of 2022-2023. The first 45 minutes of the class was taught via the lecture method, after the 5 minutes break, the second 45 minutes of the class started by lecture method and a question based case-senario related to the teaching subject of the same session was asked from standard questions of United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). A researcher-made questionnaire was used at the end of sessions to assess the students' viewpoints. The questionnaire included 12 questions about ECE teaching method, quality of learning, content quality, and student motivation. They were rated by a 5 point Likert scale from completely disagree to completely agree. Results: The mean age of students was 20.82±1.37 years and 51 (53.1%) of them were male. The mean score of overall students' motivation, quality of teaching and learning quality was 6.85 ± 1.97, 7.16±2.46, and 14.47±3.8 respectively. Conclusion: This study suggested the early clinical exposure in teaching endocrine and gastrointestinal physiology. This educational method can be used to solve problems such as students' understanding of the lack of connection between basic and clinical sciences to increase their motivation for learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Clinical education is the most important part of medical education that provides a golden opportunity for medical students to combine their theoretical mix with the clinical environment, and this is important in the countries of the style of the arena of medicine Special attention is paid. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the views and experiences of medical students as facilitators and inhibitors of clinical education quality. Methods : This is qualitative research and a phenomenological approach was used. The study population consisted of medical students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Target -based sampling was performed on 40 medical students. The method for collecting information was a deep interview with the participants. The data were analyzed by the Colaizzi method. Results: Two initial codes were extracted in the form of two main themes (facilitating and inhibiting factors) and 10 sub -themes including providing motivational patterns and creating interest in interns, the high scientific and educational level of attending professors, use of technology, authorizing more responsibility, inappropriate treatment, inappropriate educational planning, inappropriate evaluation method, low -quality mornings, lack of facilities, and overwhelming of some wards were classified. Conclusion: Considering these factors, it is possible to raise the quality of clinical education to the highest possible level and educate responsible and responsible physicians for generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Infectious Diseases expresses gratitude to its authors, reviewers, and readers for their support in 2023. The journal received 2121 manuscripts for peer review, an increase from the previous year. The editors acknowledge the important role of reviewers in improving and publishing scientifically sound studies. The journal introduced new article formats, such as "Viewpoints," and launched a Mentoring Pilot Program for junior faculty. In 2024, the journal plans to issue calls for papers on antimicrobial resistance, microbiome science, and vaccine science. They also aim to highlight topics important to junior investigators and career development in the field of infectious diseases. The journal will offer guaranteed reviews for Fellows of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and work to simplify submission requirements across their journals. They also plan to feature cover art and original art in their articles. The editors express their excitement for the progress made and their eagerness to consider new ideas with the support of their authors, reviewers, and readers. [Extracted from the article]

Ecosystem services arising from the interaction between the biotic and abiotic elements of landscapes are only possible when the environment has a certain degree of stability, thus, environmental conservation becomes necessary. The work is developed from the perspective of identifying the places of geotouristic interest in the municipality of Santa Maria -- Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Such components involve the geological and geomorphological attributes of the landscape, which, associated with climate, vegetation, water and human activities, provide essential ecosystem functions for the maintenance of local and regional environmental quality. The relationship established between geology and geomorphology favors the development of soils, and it is where biological diversity is established, in such a way that the care to maintain the geodiversity present in the territories becomes a fundamental component. The procedures to identify places of geotouristic interest were based on scientific references, field work and interviews. The results obtained favored the discussion about the order of importance, regarding the conservation of these places of interest, as well as the elaboration of a map of their location. The identified sites are related to the geotouristic uses carried out on the hills and waterfalls, as well as the scientific and cultural use of fossiliferous sites. Thus, the elements analyzed constitute landscape potential for sustainable activities and for dissemination and encouragement regarding the protection of the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: It remains unclear whether there would be societal support for a lifestyle criterion for the healthcare priority setting. This study examines the viewpoints of experts in healthcare and the public regarding support for a lifestyle‐related decision criterion, relative to support for the currently applied criteria, in the healthcare priority setting in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted a Q methodology study in samples of experts in healthcare (n = 37) and the public (n = 44). Participants (total sample N = 81) ranked 34 statements that reflected currently applied decision criteria as well as a lifestyle criterion for setting priorities in healthcare. The ranking data were subjected to principal component analysis, followed by oblimin rotation, to identify clusters of participants with similar viewpoints. Findings: We identified four viewpoints. Participants with Viewpoint 1 believe that treatments that have been proven to be effective should be reimbursed. Those with Viewpoint 2 believe that life is precious and every effort should be made to save a life, even when treatment still results in a very poor state of health. Those with Viewpoint 3 accept government intervention in unhealthy lifestyles and believe that individual responsibility should be taken into account in reimbursement decisions. Participants with Viewpoint 4 attribute importance to the cost‐effectiveness of treatments; however, when priorities have to be set, treatment effects are considered most important. All viewpoints were supported by a mix of public and experts, but Viewpoint 1 was mostly supported by experts and the other viewpoints were mostly supported by members of the public. Conclusions: This study identified four distinct viewpoints on the healthcare priority setting in the Netherlands, each supported by a mix of experts and members of the public. There seems to be some, but limited, support for a lifestyle criterion—in particular, among members of the public. Experts seem to favour the decision criteria that are currently applied. The diversity in views deserves attention when policymakers want to adhere to societal preferences and increase policy acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the problem of non‐perspective pose estimation from line correspondences in the traffic scenarios. A coarse‐to‐fine 3D road registration method is proposed for this problem in two stages. Firstly, the iterative closest point algorithm is exploited to estimate the pose coarsely. An objective function is then established to incorporate the feature correspondences for refining the coarse pose. Besides, the framework including road registration is employed for traffic video augmentation. The framework begins with the inputs of traffic videos, road information from Geographic Information Systems and 3D models of traffic elements (e.g. vehicles, pedestrians). Subsequently, 3D road model generation and point‐to‐line correspondence establishment are achieved in the preprossessing stage. After road and viewpoint registration, the 3D graphic engine is employed to simulate the traffic scene with the road, viewpoints and traffic elements. The augmented videos are generated by fusing the original frames and newly projected traffic elements. The authors demonstrate the superiority of the proposed registration method by the comparison to state‐of‐the‐arts in both quantitative and qualitative experiments. In addition, the frames of the augmented videos validate the proposed method in the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the barriers to general medicine dissertation implementation in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences from the perspective of faculty members in 2017. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 100 faculty members of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences using census method and 80 questionnaires were completed. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: 49 (62.7%) of supervisors presented inadequate education of students in literature review, 32 (41.8%) lack of sufficient information about research priorities of the country, 29 (32.8%) lack of student guidance in theses writing (p=0.018) and 39 (46.3%) the statistical analysis of the results and their misunderstanding by the student as the main problems. Conclusion: The results showed that the most important obstacle for faculty members was inadequate education of the students in the review of literature and articles. In this regard, holding research methodology workshops can be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, a number of approaches have been proposed on the description of systems and software in terms of multiple views represented by models. This modelling branch, so-called multi-view software and system modelling, praises a differentiated and complex scientific body of knowledge. With this study, we aimed at identifying, classifying, and evaluating existing solutions for multi-view modelling of software and systems. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review of the existing state of the art related to the topic. More specifically, we selected and analysed 40 research studies among over 8600 entries. We defined a taxonomy for characterising solutions for multi-view modelling and applied it to the selected studies. Lastly, we analysed and discussed the data extracted from the studies. From the analysed data, we made several observations, among which: (i) there is no uniformity nor agreement in the terminology when it comes to multi-view artefact types, (ii) multi-view approaches have not been evaluated in industrial settings and (iii) there is a lack of support for semantic consistency management and the community does not appear to consider this as a priority. The study results provide an exhaustive overview of the state of the art for multi-view software and systems modelling useful for both researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally listed snakebite envenoming (snakebite hereafter) as a NTD, adding it to the global health agenda and marking an important shift in both awareness and control efforts [[1]]. We explore how human health, animal health, and reliance on agricultural activity and domestic animals for livelihood should be considered in a One Health approach. In the human health dimension, available national estimates place snakebite as a leading cause of health burden due to NTDs in terms of disability-adjusted life years [[14]]. DIAGRAM: Fig 1: Pathways to health and livelihood losses due to snakebite in a One Health approach to the socioeconomic impact assessment of snakebite. [Extracted from the article]

Symptomatic acute CHIKV infection is mainly characterized by high fever and severe joint pain (arthralgia) that can compromise daily life activities [[2]]. CHIKV infection and its complications can be the underlying cause of death or trigger a decompensation of preexisting medical conditions leading to a fatal outcome. Atypical Chikungunya virus infections: clinical manifestations, mortality and risk factors for severe disease during the 2005-2006 outbreak on Reunion. A major epidemic of chikungunya virus infection on Reunion Island, France, 2005-2006. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on strengthening health research capacity in low- and middle-income countries. Topics discussed include information on the challenges for sustainable capacity in planning, monitoring and evaluating health research projects; discussions on the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases cosponsored by United Nations Development Programme; and the sustainable implementation of effective project planning and evaluation in health research.

The article argues on the burden of Hepatitis E disease, combined with the neglect by the public health, research, and limited options for treatment, make it a candidate for classification as a neglected tropical disease (NTD.) It mentions benefits of classification as an NTD to help break the cycle of neglect by accelerating advances in research and public health action; and also mentions that Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) g1/g2 has a significant burden globally among the subtropical populations.

Q Methodology is a research method that focuses on systematically exploring individuals' subjective viewpoints. Q Methodology contains both quantitative and qualitative components and involves the exploration of an individual's internal and subjective viewpoints, opinions, and attitudes, proving to be particularly relevant for counselors who are interested in human thoughts and behaviors. This article outlines the philosophical roots of Q Methodology, along with the practical steps of implementing a Q study. An overview of the potential uses of Q Methodology in counseling research and practice is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information associated with mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns to treat at-risk populations for neglected tropical diseases caused by baceteral infections. Topics discused include recent cluster-randomized trial conducted in Malawi, Niger, and Tanzania by administring twice-annual MDA with azithromycin among children aged 1-59 months, health policies to control high childhood mortality and global efforts to decrease antimicrobial use.

The article explores the neglected pediatric tropical disease burdens and the decline in number of trainees entering the field. Topics mentioned include the estimated deaths of children from malaria and the neglected tropical diseases, the vacant fellowship training slots for pediatric infectious diseases in the U.S., as well as the need for new technologies and reassessment of the framework of pediatric tropical medicine.

The article discusses the knowledge engagement in gene drive research for malaria control. Topics discussed include gene drive mosquitoes are a novel approach to vector control and phenotypic effect into a mosquito population and collaboration of social scientists, natural scientists, humanities researchers to separate gene drive.

Information about several papers discussed at a symposium held September 19 - 22, 2018 in Guangxi, China on health cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is presented. Topics include traditional medicine, management of hospitals and control of diseases, clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis viverrini burden on the countries and research and development on liver flukes.

Author summary A subset of anti-infective drugs are increasingly unavailable for patients in the United States due to pricing or withdrawal from the market. Timely market solutions are needed. We assert that solutions to ensure access to some essential anti-infective agents lie outside capital markets and that public-private partnerships may be the most viable solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses about approaches towards the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy in Cambodia. It looks at the retrospective active case finding (RACF) program in the country for tracing leprosy patients, screening of the patients' contacts for leprosy, and providing a single dose of rifampicin (SDR) as post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to the contacts.

The simplicity and the versatility of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR-Cas) systems have enabled the genetic modification of virtually every organism and offer immense therapeutic potential for the treatment of human disease. Although these systems may function efficiently within eukaryotic cells, there remain concerns about the accuracy of Cas endonuclease effectors and their use for precise gene editing. Recently, two independent reports investigating the editing accuracy of the CRISPR-Cas9 system were published by separate groups at the Wellcome Sanger Institute; our study—Iyer and colleagues []—defined the landscape of off-target mutations, whereas the other by Kosicki and colleagues [] detailed the existence of on-target, potentially deleterious deletions. Although both studies found evidence of large on-target CRISPR-induced deletions, they reached seemingly very different conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, which is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and has limited treatment options with two drugs available Benznidazole and Nifurtimox. It states that therapeutic vaccination has been proposed for the control of T. cruzi infection. It mentions that preconceptional vaccine aimed at preventing future congenital transmission of the parasite would be good for control of the disease.

The article offers information on the analysis of prostate cancer in terms of mutated genes. It mentions result of analysis that found mutated genes follows a long tail, with genes containing a substitution in comparatively many tumors, and many genes containing a substitution in few tumors. It also mentions ranking genes discovered by the prevalence of the mutations that are observed at high frequencies.

Variably expressive copy-number variants (CNVs) are characterized by extensive phenotypic heterogeneity of neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Approaches to identify single causative genes for these phenotypes within each CNV have not been successful. Here, we posit using multiple lines of evidence, including pathogenicity metrics, functional assays of model organisms, and gene expression data, that multiple genes within each CNV region are likely responsible for the observed phenotypes. We propose that candidate genes within each region likely interact with each other through shared pathways to modulate the individual gene phenotypes, emphasizing the genetic complexity of CNV-associated neuropsychiatric features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study of impact of economic development over neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and other poverty-related neglected diseases in Ghana. Topics discussed include declines in the prevalence of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis as per the elimination of guinea worm, human African trypanosomiasis, and trachoma; strategic approach for Snake bite envenoming; and views on vaccines innovation and several government policies for Health-system strengthening.

The article offers information on the study of risk of autochthonous yellow fever transmission in Lazio, Italy. Topics discussed include stochastic transmission model adapted to model Yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission; causes of transmission of YFV involves infected travelers and Aedes albopictus populations; and result of the study that says low, but no negligible risk of YFV transmission in European areas.

The BRCA Challenge is a long-term data-sharing project initiated within the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) to aggregate BRCA1 and BRCA2 data to support highly collaborative research activities. Its goal is to generate an informed and current understanding of the impact of genetic variation on cancer risk across the iconic cancer predisposition genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. Initially, reported variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 available from public databases were integrated into a single, newly created site, . The purpose of the BRCA Exchange is to provide the community with a reliable and easily accessible record of variants interpreted for a high-penetrance phenotype. More than 20,000 variants have been aggregated, three times the number found in the next-largest public database at the project’s outset, of which approximately 6,150 have expert classifications. The data set is based on shared information from existing clinical databases—Breast Cancer Information Core (BIC), ClinVar, and the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD)—as well as population databases, all linked to a single point of access. The BRCA Challenge has brought together the existing international Evidence-based Network for the Interpretation of Germline Mutant Alleles (ENIGMA) consortium expert panel, along with expert clinicians, diagnosticians, researchers, and database providers, all with a common goal of advancing our understanding of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variation. Ongoing work includes direct contact with national centers with access to BRCA1 and BRCA2 diagnostic data to encourage data sharing, development of methods suitable for extraction of genetic variation at the level of individual laboratory reports, and engagement with participant communities to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical significance of genetic variation in BRCA1 and BRCA2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that girls and women of reproductive age (WRA) suffer from soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. It mentions information on data on treatment coverage for WRA are not routinely collected by national programs, but it is likely that, as countries successfully transition out of lymphatic filariasis treatment programs.

The author comments on the approval given by the drug regulator the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in the use of priority review voucher by not-for-profit and public actors in treating river blindness.

The article presents a study which evaluates the effectiveness of point-of-care platform circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test for schistosomiasis diagnosis in low endemic areas. It mentions that rapid tests are an appealing solution for mapping and surveillance of transmission areas. It states that POC-CCA very low intensity reactions may hide low parasite–load-induced infections.

The article discusses the emergence and spread of arthropod vectors and associated pathogens and how to deal with them in the U.S. Topics discussed include global biosecurity initiatives launched by multiple U.S. agencies, the U.S. Agency for International Development Emerging Pandemic Threats program and its role in enabling countries to predict, identify, prevent, and respond rapidly, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Preventing Emerging Pathogenic Threats program.

The article offers information on the innovations in public health delivery made by Pakistan. Topics discussed include school based mental health program and a community-based perinatal and newborn care program, which improved population health in Pakistan; expanding vaccine coverage targets for major childhood diseases, including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B; and an economic impact assessment of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Pakistan.

The article examines the effectiveness of sequential aerosol technique (SAT) against riverine tsetse flies in southern Africa. An overview on the tuning control operations concerning the reproduction of tsetse flies, is highlighted. Also emphasized are the tsetse species' challenging habitats in the adaptation of SAT, is also emphasized.

The article focuses on the treatment and prevention of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus outbreak in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. Topics discussed include analysis of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) complex, and its relation to Kyasanur Forest disease virus; improving public health; and strengthening contextual hospital and/or clinical- and laboratory-based infection prevention.

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) constitute a public health problem that requires immediate action to resolve the morbidity of those harboring the parasites in their guts, to prevent infection in all those at risk, and to interrupt the vicious circle of poverty and disease in the affected communities, structural poverty being the main determinant of this group of infectious diseases. Since the times of the Rockefeller initiatives over a hundred years ago, the strategy has been viewed as one requiring community-wide efforts rather than pure individual case management. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its regional offices, as the governing institutions endorsed by the countries and their governments, have been the leaders in stating the actual executive measures to reach the goals and endpoints for the management of the problem. With the task of setting a group of activities that could be launched, monitored, and measured, these actions were established with the available resources since this public health problem had to be launched immediately, resources were those available at the moment and not those appearing on a wish list. Considerable progress has been made in the establishment of policies for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), later followed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through WHO-lead actions for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). With an initial goal of morbidity control, there are already discussions and proposals for elimination of STH if support is sustained and empiric facts confirm data emerging from modeling and small-scale studies. The aim of these comments is to describe and question instances of currently accepted concepts, theories, and practices that conform to the dogmatic status quo that serves as the foundation on top of which the new elimination aspirations are supposed to be built on, which might not be serving the desired purpose if taken unrevised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the need to bolster human rabies surveillance in Africa to eliminate canine-mediated rabies. It mentions that several organizations such as World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have proposed a feasible, strategic global plan to end canine-mediated human rabies by 2030. It highlights challenges in implementing an active surveillance system in rural areas of developing countries.

I explore a series of incidents in my English classroom, which occurred while I was preparing my students for their high-stakes GCSE English Language exam (‘Paper 2: Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives’). I thereby attempt to confront some of my own failings and biases with regard to non-fiction and the teaching of persuasive writing in particular, as well as to unleash the huge potential I now believe it offers, when combined with the multi-voiced space of a classroom, for creative play and the productive skills of English. In doing so I argue, drawing on Vygotskian notions of the internalisation of concepts and the developmental benefits of play, that in order for truly ‘productive’ learning to occur, students need agency and a sense of empowerment to construct knowledge together, and to experiment with and develop their understanding of and flexibility with their own ‘voice’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the cysteine proteases which are attractive targets for structure-based drug design because of their well-defined active site topology and mechanism of action, available high-throughput assays and known drugability. It states that newly developed drugs such as cathepsin S, cathepsin K and cathepsin B are entered in clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

The article explores the major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that have either been introduced into the Middle East through Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages from tropical disease-endemic countries of Asia and Africa. The diseases have also become endemic in Saudi Arabia as well as in the MENA region. Concerns that other Aedes aegypti mosquito-transmitted viruses could follow during Hajj seasons based on the ease of introduction of dengue into Saudi Arabia are explored.

The article focuses on aspects of the snail or schistosome relationship elucidating common pathways to enable both snails and humans to accommodate parasitism by schistosomes in view of physiological and immunological environments. It notes that the excretory or secretory products (ESPs) of the miracidium include the stress-inducing factor. Gene repositioning in B. glabrata by schistosomes exemplifies how a eukaryotic pathogen influences hijack of the genome behavior of its host.

The article offers information on the use of precision mapping for the schistosomiasis disease for its elimination. Topics discussed include the use of preventive chemotherapy (PC) with praziquante for schistosomiasis control, the limitation of current World Health Organization-recommended (WHO) mapping design, and the need to improve global access to praziquantel treatment.

An editorial is presented on the increase in the risk of mortality in French Guiana induced by snakebites. It highlights its indication of the need for re-assessing the protocols of medical management in the country. It also outlines the various species of Viperidae and Elapidae snakes classified as potentially harmful to people.

The article discusses the role of medical and scientific cooperation on the snakebites in the Caribbean, a region that includes a number of countries having venomous snakes, as the disease has been neglected and lacked the attention it deserves. The need for a concerted regional strategy to effectively reduce the burden of snakebite envenomation in the region is tackled. The essence of strengthening the local scientific capacity to study venoms in the Caribbean is also explored.

The article discusses how current public health strategies for schistosomiasis involves decreasing morbidity through preventive chemotherapy. It notes that periodic large-scale administration of the drug praziquantel focusing on the school-aged population and high-risk adults aims to reduce the prevalence and intensity of infection.

The article provides an overview of the history and the global emergence of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in 2018. It mentions that ZIKV was first discovered in a Rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947, but not until its 2007 emergence did the flavivirus grab researchers' attention. In 2016, the World Health Organization declared officially ZIKV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern because of its consequences on developing fetuses.

The article talks about the need for more support for public health and research on fungal diseases. Topics discussed include the prevalence of diseases such as chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, cryptococcal meningitis and invasive candidiasis; the treatments for mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis; and the need to provide funding for fungal disease research.

The article offers the authors' insights on the prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases (NTD). Topics mentioned include the partnership of several nongovernmental development organizations (NGDOs) to promote programs that will help prevent NTD, the implementation of mass drug administration (MDA) activities, and the importance of community volunteers, health workforce, and drug procurement in the implementation of NTD programs.

The article offers the authors' insights on the use of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) for treatmet of leprosy. Topics mentioned include the use of SDR treatment by the Indian National Leprosy Programme, the effectiveness of SDR to leprosy patient, and the importance of early detection and treatment of leprosy to prevent physical defornity. Also mentioned are the rifampicin drug resistance and the relapsed leprosy in several countries such as Brazil and India.

The article offers information on a report on integrated neglected tropical disease control from 2006-2016 from the Global Burden of Disease. Topics discussed include declines in the prevalence and disease burden; data on helminth infections such as ascariasis, trichuriasis, and lymphatic filariasis; and concept of rapid impact helped to drive new pro-poor policies.