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Interest in the study of domesticated plants increased near the end of the 18th century, mainly because of their economic potential. In the 19th century, there was a new focus on the historical understanding of species, their origin, changes in their distribution, and their evolutionary history. Charles Darwin developed an extended interpretation of species domestication, considering variations, reproduction, inheritance, and modification as standard processes between wild and domesticated organisms. In this context, one relatively neglected aspect was the geographical distribution of domesticated species. Alphonse de Candolle addressed and developed in detail the question of the geographical origin of cultivated plants. Since 1836 Alphonse de Candolle had been studying the topic and obtained evidence that contributed to understanding aspects such as the center of origin, dispersion, competition, selection, and time of domestication. Although Darwin himself admitted that Géographie botanique raisonnée (de Candolle, Alphonse,de. Géographie botanique raisonnée; ou, exposition des faits principaux et des lois concernant la distribution géographique des plantes de l'epoque actuelle, 2ème tome. Paris: Masson.) was of great help to him in the development of his evolutionary theory, the importance of de Candolle's contribution is seldom recognized. Our purpose is to detail the dialogue between Alphonse de Candolle and Darwin on the geography of domesticated plants, to understand some of the most critical discussions that contributed to the reinterpretation of domestication under the Darwinian proposal of modified descent.

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BACKGROUND: Eclampsia and pre-eclampsia rank as the third leading causes of maternal death in Ecuador, following pre-existing chronic diseases and postpartum haemorrhage, as reported by the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). In contrast, HELLP (Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count) syndrome remains underexplored epidemiologically, not only in Latin America but globally. This study marks the first population-based investigation into HELLP syndrome incidence and mortality in Ecuador, examining geographical variations, altitude influences and ethnic backgrounds. METHODS: Conducted as a retrospective population-based cohort study from 2015 to 2017, this research delves into the incidence, risk factors and maternal mortality associated with HELLP syndrome in Ecuador. Utilising data from INEC and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, we identified HELLP syndrome cases through ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision) coding in hospitalised individuals. Logistic regression analysis was employed to explore association, whilst geospatial statistical analysis focused on cantons to identify significant spatial clusters. Primary outcome measures include HELLP syndrome incidence and maternal mortality, supplying crucial insights into the syndrome's impact on maternal health in Ecuador. RESULTS: The incidence of HELLP syndrome is 0.76 (0.69-0.84)/ 1000 deliveries. Afro-Ecuadorian communities have a higher risk (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.18 (1.03-4.63)) compared to Indigenous Ecuadorian communities. Living at mid-level or high altitude is a significant risk factor OR of 2.79 (2.19-3.55) and an OR 3.61 (2.58-5.03), respectively. Being an older mother was also identified as a risk factor. Women living more than 20 km from the obstetric unit have an OR of 2.55 (2.05-3.18). Moreover, we found that cantons with higher crude HELLP syndrome incidence also have lower numbers of physicians (R = 0.503, p-value < 0.001). The mortality incidence of women with HELLP syndrome is 21.22 (12.05-20.59)/1000 deliveries with HELLP syndrome diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: High altitude, advanced maternal age and geographical distance between residence and health centres are risk factors for HELLP syndrome. Maternal mortality in women with HELLP syndrome is higher than pre-eclampsia and eclampsia but comparable with previous reports in other countries.

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Ticks of the Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodida Ixodidae) complex, the Amblyomma cajennense (Ixodida Ixodidae) complex and Amblyomma ovale (Ixodida Ixodidae) are known to transmit various Rickettsia species in Colombia, but their exact distribution is unknown. We built several models based on current climate and projected future climate changes using a maximum entropy approach. A total of 314 records of the A. cajennense complex (65.9%; n = 207), A. ovale (22.9%; n = 72), and the A. maculatum complex (11.1%; n = 35) were obtained. Amblyomma ovale has a current distribution in the Pacific, Caribbean and Andean regions and could be potentially found in the Amazon. Amblyomma maculatum has a current distribution in the Andean and could potentially be found in the Caribbean and Orinoco regions. Amblyomma mixtum can be found near the Caribbean Sea and in the Pacific region, and A. patinoi is likely to be found in the Andean region and the Caribbean. In 2070, it will be possible to find an expansion of A. ovale and A. maculatum and a decrease of A. mixtum and A. patinoi. The variables that best predict the distribution of these species are isothermality (small fluctuations in temperature) and annual precipitation. Amblyomma cajennense s.l and A. ovale, A. cajennese s.l and A. patinoi, as well as A. maculatum and A. patinoi, have an important environmental sympatry. Epidemiological and acarological surveillance is crucial to investigate rickettsiosis caused by R. parkeri in A. ovale regions, by R. rickettsii in A. patinoi and A. mixtum areas, and by R. parkeri s.s in A. maculatum regions.

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The massive arrival of pelagic Sargassum on the coasts of several countries of the Atlantic Ocean began in 2011 and to date continues to generate social and environmental challenges for the region. Therefore, knowing the distribution and quantity of Sargassum in the ocean, coasts, and beaches is necessary to understand the phenomenon and develop protocols for its management, use, and final disposal. In this context, the present study proposes a methodology to calculate the area Sargassum occupies on beaches in square meters, based on the semantic segmentation of aerial images using the pix2pix architecture. For training and testing the algorithm, a unique dataset was built from scratch, consisting of 15,268 aerial images segmented into three classes. The images correspond to beaches in the cities of Mahahual and Puerto Morelos, located in Quintana Roo, Mexico. To analyze the results the fß-score metric was used. The results for the Sargassum class indicate that there is a balance between false positives and false negatives, with a slight bias towards false negatives, which means that the algorithm tends to underestimate the Sargassum pixels in the images. To know the confidence intervals within which the algorithm performs better, the results of the f0.5-score metric were resampled by bootstrapping considering all classes and considering only the Sargassum class. From the above, we found that the algorithm offers better performance when segmenting Sargassum images on the sand. From the results, maps showing the Sargassum coverage area along the beach were designed to complement the previous ones and provide insight into the field of study.

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This study examines the structural and geographical changes in Chile's dairy cattle systems from 1997 to 2021, using data from agricultural censuses. It focuses on variables like animal stocks, herd sizes, pasture utilization, and stocking rates, analyzed through descriptive statistics, multivariable analysis, and geographical mapping. The findings show a significant decrease in dairy farms (-69%) and dairy cattle stocks (-25.4%), with regional disparities: southern farms increased in importance while central farms declined. There is a trend towards intensification, with higher stocking rates and larger herd sizes. Grassland utilization shifted, with a decrease in natural pastures and an increase in improved and sown pastures. The study identifies four typological groups based on stocking rates, dimensions, and pasture use, reflecting distinct evolutionary paths influenced by climate change, land use, economic dynamics, and technology. Geographical analyses highlight regional variations. This research provides insights into the dynamics of Chile's dairy farming sector and its sustainability challenges and opportunities amidst changing environmental and socioeconomic conditions.

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The influence of the geographical location on the chemical composition of commercial Sauvignon Blanc wines was investigated. The assay was carried out on Sauvignon Blanc wines from three cold-climate valleys in Central Chile, Casablanca, Leyda, and San Antonio. The analyses revealed clear variations in some chemical parameters, especially in titratable acidity, which was higher in the geographical areas closest to the Pacific Ocean, such as the Leyda and San Antonio valleys. Regarding the composition of low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds, 17 compounds were found, and the results show that the Casablanca valley exhibits a greater abundance of monomeric flavanols, such as (+)-catechin, whereas the Leyda valley shows a higher abundance in flavonols and phenolic acids esterified with tartaric acid. Concerning the aromatic compound profile, the wines from the Casablanca valley showed a greater abundance of esters, C13 norisoprenoids, and some terpenes. The PLS-DA analysis revealed some differences, especially between wines from Casablanca and Leyda, demonstrating that the difference in the chemical composition of the wines was influenced by the geographical area.

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n the Neotropics, the focus of apomictic studies predominantly centres on trees within the Brazilian savanna, characterized, mostly as sporophytic and facultative, associated with polyploidy and polyembryony. To enhance our understanding of the mechanisms governing apomixis and sexual reproduction in tropical herbaceous plants, we clarify the relationship between apomixis, chromosome counts, and polyembryony in the epiphytic orchid Zygopetalum mackayi, which forms a polyploid complex within rocky outcrops in both the Brazilian savanna and the Atlantic forest. To define embryo origins and describe megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis, we performed manual self-pollinations in first-day flowers of cultivated plants, considering all three cytotypes (2x, 3x, 4x) of this species. Flowers and fruits at different stages were collected to describe the development and morphology of ovules and seeds considering sexual and apomictic processes. As self-pollination treatments resulted in high fruit abortion in diploids, we also examined pollen tube development in aborted flowers and fruits to search for putative anomalies. Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis occur regularly in all cytotypes. Apomixis is facultative and sporophytic, and associated with polyploid cytotypes, while diploid individuals exclusively engage in sexual reproduction. Polyembryony is caused mainly by the production of adventitious embryos from nucellar cells of triploids and tetraploids, but also by the development of multiple archesporia in all cytotypes. Like other apomictic angiosperms within the Brazilian savanna, our findings demonstrate that apomixis in Z. mackayi relies on pollinators for seed production. We also consider the ecological implications of these apomictic patterns in Z. mackayi within the context of habitat loss and its dependence on pollinators.

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Lignocellulosic biomass is widely available in the world. However, a consensus has yet to be established to evaluate the biomass valorization alternatives. The chemical composition is the primary technical limitation in selecting a transformation route to obtain value-added products. In this paper, the bagasse from non-centrifuged sugar (NCS) production and Pinus patula (PP) wood chips were analyzed in terms of complete chemical composition to establish their potential for selecting the transformation routes. A strategy to select the best route based on the chemical composition was applied and a feedstock criteria model was proposed. Schemes were obtained and compared using a bioprocess selection strategy proposed in previous works. As a result, the preliminary biorefinery schemes were finally defined. The assessment of schemes derived from the outlined strategy included technical, economic, environmental, and social analyses. The environmental evaluation was complemented with a geolocation assessment, revealing a 0.75-ton CO2-eq/yr contribution to the carbon footprint for local distribution. The sustainability index for the PP biorefinery and the bagasse from NCS production was analyzed, resulting in indices of 44.8 and 60.9, respectively. These values were primarily derived from the economic and environmental analyses of both processes.

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The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) and the little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) are among the top 100 invasive alien species globally, causing significant ecological and economic harm. Therefore, it is crucial to study their potential geographic distribution worldwide. This study aimed to predict their global distribution under current and future climate conditions. We used distribution data from various sources, including CABI, GBIF, and PIAKey, and key climate variables selected from 19 environmental factors to model their potential geographic distribution using MaxEnt. The AUC values were 0.925 and 0.937 for L. humile and W. auropunctata, respectively, indicating good predictive performance. Suitable areas for L. humile were mainly in southern North America, northern South America, Europe, central Asia, southern Oceania, and parts of Africa, while W. auropunctata suitable areas were mostly in southern North America, most of South America, a small part of Europe, southern Asia, central Africa, and some parts of Oceania. Under climate change scenario, suitable areas for L. humile increased, while highly suitable areas for W. auropunctata decreased. The top four countries with the largest areas of overlapping suitable habitat under current climate were Brazil, China, Australia, and Argentina, while under future SSP585 climate scenario, the top four countries were Brazil, China, Indonesia, and Argentina. Some countries, such as Estonia and Finland, will see an overlapping adaptation area under climate change. In conclusion, this study provides insight into controlling the spread and harm of L. humile and W. auropunctata.

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Despite ongoing efforts for elimination, malaria continues to be a major public health problem in the Republic of Panama. For effective elimination, it is key that malaria foci and areas of high transmission are identified in a timely manner. Here, we study malaria transmission records for the 2015-2022 period, a time when cases have increased by a factor of ten. Using several methods to study spatial and spatiotemporal malaria confirmed case clusters at the level of localities, including LISA and scan, we found that cases are clustered across indigenous villages located within the autonomous indigenous regions of Ngäbe-Buglé, Guna Yala, and Embera, with the latter on the eastern border of Panama (with Colombia). We discuss the different factors that might be shaping the marked increase in malaria transmission associated with these clusters, which include an inflow of malaria-exposed migrating populations hoping to reach the USA, insufficient health services, and the lack of culturally sensitive actionable tools to reduce malaria exposure among the ethnically diverse and impoverished indigenous populations of Panama.

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Global assessments of mycorrhizal symbiosis present large sampling gaps in rich biodiversity regions. Filling these gaps is necessary to build large-scale, unbiased mycorrhizal databases to obtain reliable analyses and prevent misleading generalizations. Underrepresented regions in mycorrhizal research are mainly in Africa, Asia, and South America. Despite the high biodiversity and endemism in these regions, many groups of organisms remain understudied, especially mycorrhizal fungi. In this Viewpoint, we emphasize the importance of inclusive and collaborative continental efforts in integrating perspectives for comprehensive trait database development and propose a conceptual framework that can help build large mycorrhizal databases in underrepresented regions. Based on the four Vs of big data (volume, variety, veracity, and velocity), we identify the main challenges of constructing a large mycorrhizal dataset and propose solutions for each challenge. We share our collaborative methodology, which involves employing open calls and working groups to engage all mycorrhizal researchers in the region to build a South American Mycorrhizal Database. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and embracing a continental-scale approach, we can create robust mycorrhizal trait databases that provide valuable insights into the evolution, ecology, and functioning of mycorrhizal associations, reducing the geographical biases that are so common in large-scale ecological studies.

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Local adaptation is commonly cited to explain species distribution, but how fitness varies along continuous geographical gradients is not well understood. Here, we combine thermal biology and life-history theory to demonstrate that Drosophila populations along a 2500 km latitudinal cline are adapted to local conditions. We measured how heat tolerance and viability rate across eight populations varied with temperature in the laboratory and then simulated their expected cumulative Darwinian fitness employing high-resolution temperature data from their eight collection sites. Simulations indicate a trade-off between annual survival and cumulative viability, as both mortality and the recruitment of new flies are predicted to increase in warmer regions. Importantly, populations are locally adapted and exhibit the optimal combination of both traits to maximize fitness where they live. In conclusion, our method is able to reconstruct fitness surfaces employing empirical life-history estimates and reconstructs peaks representing locally adapted populations, allowing us to study geographic adaptation in silico.

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Ripening and growing location are important factors that can impact fruit quality characteristics. In this study, the influence of these factors on physicochemical characteristics, carbohydrates, aliphatic organic acids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of red guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) was evaluated. Fruit ripening increased fructose and glucose (up to 22.83 and 16.42 g 100 g- 1 dry matter (DM), respectively), and decreased citric acid, the major organic acid (up to 135.35 mg g- 1 DM). Ripening and growing location also influenced the concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of red guava, in which a dependency between both factors was observed in most cases. Apigenin, galangin, isoquercitrin, among other phenolic compounds were quantified for the first time in red guava, in which isoquercitrin was the major (up to 13409.81 mg kg- 1 DM). The antioxidant potential of red guava was also confirmed by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (up to 82.63 µmol Fe+ 2 g- 1 DM), Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity assay (up to 17.79 mg gallic acid equivalent g- 1 DM), and DPPH free radical scavenging assay (up to 25.36 mg ascorbic acid equivalent g- 1 DM). These results especially demonstrated the bioactive potential of red guava and provided knowledge regarding the influence of ripening and growing location on chemical and bioactive components encouraging its industrial exploitation.

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FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis were used in the chemical study of the terroirs of Coffea canephora. Conilon coffees from Espírito Santo and Amazon robusta from Matas of Rondônia, were separated by PCA, with lipids and caffeine being the markers responsible for the separation. Coffees from Bahia, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo did not exhibit separation, indicating that the botanical variety had a greater effect on the terroir than geographic origin. Thus, the genetic factor was investigated considering the conilon and robusta botanical varieties. This last group was composed of hybrid robusta and apoatã. The DD-SIMCA favored the identification of the genetic predominance of the samples. PLS-DA had a high classification performance regarding the conilon, hybrid robusta, and apoatã genetic nature. Lipids, caffeine, chlorogenic acids, quinic acid, trigonelline, proteins, amino acids, and carbohydrates were identified as chemical markers that discriminated the genetic groups.

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Resumo O objetivo deste texto é compreender a vulnerabilidade de gênero experienciada pelas mulheres que vivem com HIV/Síndrome de Imunodeficiência Adquirida (SIDA) na Cidade de Maputo, Moçambique, através dos relatos de representantes e lideranças dos serviços de saúde que atuam diretamente sobre as questões dessas condições para o público feminino. Para isso, a pesquisa se embasou em metodologias qualitativas, visto que a produção dos dados foi respaldada por um roteiro semiestruturado que considera os seguintes temas: HIV/SIDA; gênero; cultura; e serviços de saúde. As interpretações são mediadas pela Análise do Discurso (AD), que possibilita a imersão nos recursos linguísticos por meio dos sentidos e conexões. Isso permite a interpretação da complexidade do contexto geográfico das mulheres que vivem com HIV/SIDA na região, evidenciando a necessidade de se empenhar mais ações voltadas às questões das doenças, uma vez que se faz premente estabelecer uma interpretação geográfica da saúde, sobretudo, no que diz respeito à realidade vivida pelas que experienciam dificuldades, opressões, estigmas e discriminações no cotidiano.

Abstract The aim of this article is to understand the gender vulnerability experienced by women living with HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the city of Maputo, Mozambique, according to the reports of representatives and leaders of the health services who work directly on the issues of these conditions for the female public. To this end, the research was based on qualitative methodologies, since the production of the data was supported by a semi-structured script that considers the following themes: HIV/AIDS; gender; culture; and health services. The interpretations are mediated by Discourse Analysis (DA), which enables immersion in linguistic resources through meanings and connections. This allows us to interpret the complexity of the geographical context of women living with HIV/AIDS in the region, highlighting the need to promote actions toward the issues surrounding the disease, since it is urgent to establish a geographical interpretation of health, especially considering the reality lived by women who experience difficulties, oppression, stigma, and discrimination on a daily basis.

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Juglans regia L. are nutritious fruit bearing plants mostly found in Northern areas of Pakistan. The population of walnuts was explored from district Dir and Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan for their geographical, climatic and chemical divergence. The geographical differences such as altitude, latitude and longitude whereas climatic differences viz. soil EC, soil pH, precipitations, intensity of light, temperature and soil temperature. In both districts TPC ranged from 211.2±0.6 to 227.8±0.4 mg/100g, RSA ranged from 43.32±1.5% to 52.18±0.4%, conductivity ranged from 296.43±0.6 to 312.22±0.3 S/m and elemental composition such as iron, copper, calcium, zinc and magnesium in Dir differs from 0.312±0.032, 0.209±0.13, 20.0±0.313, 0.406±0.10 and 10.2±0.030 mg/L to 0.543±0.65, 0.698±0.82, 28.7±0.234, 0.685±0.15 and 17.6±0.015 mg/L respectively. Altitude and temperature showed a correlation with total phenolics contents and radical scavenging activity while soil pH, precipitations, soil temperature, soil Ec and light intensity indicated a weak correlation with chemical traits of walnuts. Further studies of walnuts are needed to explore their therapeutically important phytochemicals to succeed naturally pharmaceutical nutrients of the maximum significance for the health of human beings.

Juglans regia L. são plantas frutíferas nutritivas encontradas nas áreas do norte do Paquistão. A população de nozes foi explorada do distrito de Dir e Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão por sua divergência geográfica, climática e química. As diferenças geográficas, como altitude, latitude e longitude, enquanto as diferenças climáticas viz. Ec do solo, pH do solo, precipitações, intensidade de luz, temperatura e temperatura do solo. Em ambos os distritos, o TPC variou de 211,2±0,6 a 227,8±0,4 mg/100g, o RSA variou de 43,32±1,5% a 52,18±0,4%, a condutividade variou de 296,43±0,6 a 312,22±0,3 S/m e composição elementar como ferro, cobre, cálcio, zinco e magnésio em Dir difere de 0,312±0,032, 0,209±0,13, 20,0±0,313, 0,406±0,10 e 10,2±0,030 mg/L a 0,543±0,65, 0,698±0,82, 28,7±0,234, 0,685±0,15 e 17,6±0,015 mg/L respectivamente. A altitude e a temperatura mostraram correlação com os teores de fenólicos totais e atividade de eliminação de radicais, enquanto o pH do solo, precipitações, temperatura do solo, Ec do solo e intensidade de luz indicaram uma correlação fraca com características químicas das nozes. Mais estudos de nozes são necessários para explorar seus fitoquímicos terapeuticamente importantes para obter naturalmente nutrientes farmacêuticos de máxima importância para a saúde dos seres humanos.

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RESUMEN Los equinoideos comprenden uno de los grupos más influyentes en los ecosistemas arrecifales y litorales rocosos, debido a su importancia en las redes tróficas y reciclado de materia orgánica. En el Caribe colombiano existe un vacío de información sobre la ecología de estos organismos. La mayoría de los estudios se han centrado en la realización de inventarios y notas taxonómica, con el fin de estudiar la diversidad, la densidad poblacional y la distribución espacial de equinoideos regulares, en Isla Fuerte, Colombia. Se realizaron siete salidas de campo en Punta El Inglés, Latal y San Diego, entre noviembre de 2018 y septiembre de 2019. En cada localidad se realizaron censos visuales, aplicando la metodología de transecto lineal en banda (10 x 2 m). Se registraron 4.061 individuos representativo de seis especies, cinco géneros y cuatro familias. La especie que presentó mayores densidades fue Echinometra lucunter y, la de menor, Lytechinus variegatus. La riqueza de especies fue la misma para las tres localidades; sin embargo, Punta El Inglés presentó mayor diversidad, uniformidad y distintividad taxonómica promedio. El análisis de similitud de Bray-Curtis muestra una asociación entre San Diego y El Latal, mientras que Punta El Inglés forma una agrupación independiente. Los resultados de esta investigación representan una línea base para Isla Fuerte y puede ayudar a los gestores ambientales para sustentar herramientas y estrategias de manejo en este grupo de invertebrados.

ABSTRACT The echinoids constitute one of the most influential groups in reef and rocky coastal ecosystems due to their significance in trophic networks and organic matter recycling. In the Colombian Caribbean, there is a lack of information regarding the ecology of these organisms. Most studies have primarily focused on conducting inventories and taxonomic notes. To study the diversity, population density, and spatial distribution of regular echinoids in Isla Fuerte, Colombia. Seven field trips were conducted at Punta El Inglés, Latal, and San Diego between November 2018 and September 2019. Visual censuses were conducted in each locality using the linear belt transect methodology (10 x 2 m). 4,061 individuals were recorded, representing six species, five genera, and four families. The species with the highest densities was Echinometra lucunter, while the lowest was Lytechinus variegatus. Species richness was the same for all three localities; however, Punta El Inglés exhibited higher diversity, uniformity, and average taxonomic distinctness. The Bray-Curtis similarity analysis indicates an association between San Diego and El Latal, whereas Punta El Inglés forms an independent grouping. The results of this research represent a baseline for Isla Fuerte and can assist environmental managers in developing tools and management strategies for this group of invertebrates.

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Given rising traders and consumers concerns, the global food industry is increasingly demanding authentic and traceable products. Consequently, there is a heightened focus on verifying geographical authenticity as food quality assurance. In this work, we assessed pattern recognition approaches based on elemental predictors to discern the provenance of mandarin juices from three distinct citrus-producing zones located in the Northeast region of Argentina. A total of 202 samples originating from two cultivars were prepared through microwave-assisted acid digestion and analyzed by microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES). Later, we applied linear discriminant analysis (LDA), k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) to the element data obtained. SVM accomplished the best classification performance with a 95.1% success rate, for which it was selected for citrus samples authentication. The proposed method highlights the capability of mineral profiles in accurately identifying the genuine origin of mandarin juices. By implementing this model in the food supply chain, it can prevent mislabeling fraud, thereby contributing to consumer protection.

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BACKGROUND: Fortaleza (Brazil) is high endemic for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy. These three diseases share respiratory droplets through coughing or sneezing as the main mode of transmission but differ in incubation time, with COVID-19 having a short and leprosy a long incubation time. Consequently, contacts of a patient are at higher risk of infection and developing these diseases. There might be scope for combined preventive measures, but a better understanding of the geographical distribution and relevant socioeconomic risk factors of the three diseases is needed first. This study aims to describe the geographic distribution of COVID-19, TB and leprosy incidence and to identify common socioeconomic risk factors. METHODS: The total number of new cases of COVID-19, TB and leprosy, as well as socioeconomic and demographic variables, were retrieved from official registers. The geographical distribution of COVID-19, TB and leprosy rates per neighbourhood was visualised in Quantum GIS, and spatial autocorrelation was measured with Moran's I in GeoDa. A spatial regression model was applied to understand the association between COVID-19, TB, leprosy rates, and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: COVID-19 and TB showed a more homogenous distribution, whereas leprosy is located more in the south and west of Fortaleza. One neighbourhood (Pedras) in the southeast was identified as high endemic for all three diseases. Literacy was a socioeconomic risk factor for all three diseases: a high literacy rate increases the risk of COVID-19, and a low literacy rate (i.e., illiteracy) increases the risk of TB and leprosy. In addition, high income was associated with COVID-19, while low income with TB. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the similar mode of transmission, COVID-19, TB and leprosy show a different distribution of cases in Fortaleza. In addition, associated risk factors are related to wealth in COVID-19 and to poverty in TB and leprosy. These findings may support policymakers in developing (partially combined) primary and secondary prevention considering the efficient use of resources.

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BACKGROUND: Normalizing the eating pattern and weight recovery are the main objectives in treating anorexia nervosa (AN). Eating accompaniment through shared mealtimes is a common strategy in eating disorder management programs. This study aims to examine the impact on weight gain of an internet-delivered meal support group on patients with AN who were under ambulatory treatment with the Eating Disorders Unit of the UC Christus Health Network, Chile. METHODS: An observational study of 54 female patients with AN diagnosis who participated in Online Meal Support Groups (OMSGs) three times a week was performed. Their weight, BMI and BMI%, was reviewed at the beginning of the sessions and at 45- and 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: Patients showed significant weight gain during follow-up. At the 90-day follow-up, patients had gained 4.41 (SD ± 2.82) kg with an effect size of -1.563. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant differences were found between the weight at the beginning of the intervention and at the 45- and 90-day follow-up, meaning that eating support online groups may be an effective intervention for weight gain and maintenance in patients with AN. These findings highlight the viability of developing cost-effective and more accessible interventions for AN and thus help reduce the duration of untreated disease and its consequences.

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