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The perceptual layer of the Internet of Things has some security threats, such as denial of service, botnet, and falsification attacks. The existing security schemes are the symmetric polynomial concept, privacy-preserving communication protocols for IoT applications, block chain-based secure IoT systems, and mutual authentication systems for wearable technology, which cannot be directly implemented on the perceptual layer of the IoT device. This study presents a binary field elliptic curve cryptographic (ECC) algorithm to secure the perceptual layer of IoT-enabled electronic payment devices. The procedure includes device registration, authentication for key agreement and unlocking, and the communication phase. Some parameters were used to lock the node, while identification tags were used to identify an authentic node. Nodes were generated using point addition and point doubling. The processing, storage capacity, and transaction speed were directly evaluated using contactless devices with the binary field ECC security protocol. The Jitter result reveals that the value did not deviate from normal for both devices. The results time also showed that it is computationally efficient to use ECC over the binary field for the security of the perceptual layer with a significant contribution using device identification tags and point multiplication to protect against falsification attacks, node locking to combat DDoS and key exchange with node unlocking for defense against botnet attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The antibody–drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan is approved for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and has shown promising results in various other types of cancer. Its costs may limit patient access to this novel effective treatment modality. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop an evidence-based rational dosing regimen that results in targeted drug exposure within the therapeutic range while minimizing financial toxicity, to improve treatment access. Patients and Methods: Exposure equivalent dosing strategies were developed based on pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation by using the published pharmacokinetic model developed by the license holder. The alternative dose was based on the principle of using complete vials to prevent spillage and on the established non-linear relationship between body weight and systemic exposure. Equivalent exposure compared to the approved dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg was aimed for. Equivalent exposure was conservatively defined as calculated geometric mean ratios within the 0.9–1.11 boundaries for area under the concentration–time curve (AUC), trough concentration (Ctrough) and maximum concentration (Cmax) of the alternative dosing regimen compared to the approved dosing regimen. Since different vial sizes are available for the European Union (EU) and United States (US) market, because body weight distributions differ between these populations, we performed our analysis for both scenarios. Results: Dosing regimens of sacituzumab govitecan for the EU (< 50 kg: 400 mg, 50–80 kg: 600 mg, and > 80 kg: 800 mg) and US population (< 40 kg: 360 mg, 40–65 kg: 540 mg, 65–90 kg: 720 mg, and > 90 kg: 900 mg) were developed, based on weight bands. The geometric mean ratios for all pharmacokinetic outcomes were within the predefined equivalence boundaries, while the quantity of drug used was 21.5% and 19.0% lower for the EU and US scenarios, respectively. Conclusions: With the alternative dosing proposal, an approximately 20% reduction in drug expenses for sacituzumab govitecan can be realized while maintaining an equivalent and more evenly distributed exposure throughout the body weight range, without notable increases in pharmacokinetic variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Alpe-DPD study (NCT02324452) demonstrated that prospective genotyping and dose-individualization using four alleles in DPYD (DPYD*2A/rs3918290, c.1236G > A/rs75017182, c.2846A > T/rs67376798 and c.1679 T > G/rs56038477) can mitigate the risk of severe fluoropyrimidine toxicity. However, this could not prevent all toxicities. The goal of this study was to identify additional genetic variants, both inside and outside DPYD, that may contribute to fluoropyrimidine toxicity. Methods: Biospecimens and data from the Alpe-DPD study were used. Exon sequencing was performed to identify risk variants inside DPYD. In silico and in vitro analyses were used to classify DPYD variants. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) with severe fluoropyrimidine-related toxicity was performed to identify variants outside DPYD. Association with severe toxicity was assessed using matched-pair analyses for the exon sequencing and logistic, Cox, and ordinal regression analyses for GWAS. Results: Twenty-four non-synonymous, frameshift, and splice site DPYD variants were detected in ten of 986 patients. Seven of these variants (c.1670C > T, c.1913 T > C, c.1925 T > C, c.506delC, c.731A > C, c.1740 + 1G > T, c.763 − 2A > G) were predicted to be deleterious. The carriers of either of these variants showed a trend towards a 2.14-fold (95% CI, 0.41–11.3, P = 0.388) increased risk of severe toxicity compared to matched controls (N = 30). After GWAS of 942 patients, no individual single nucleotide polymorphisms achieved genome-wide significance (P ≤ 5 × 10−8), however, five variants were suggestive of association (P < 5 × 10−6) with severe toxicity. Conclusions: Results from DPYD exon sequencing and GWAS analysis did not identify additional genetic variants associated with severe toxicity, which suggests that testing for single markers at a population level currently has limited clinical value. Identifying additional variants on an individual level is still promising to explain fluoropyrimidine-related severe toxicity. In addition, studies with larger samples sizes, in more diverse cohorts are needed to identify potential clinically relevant genetic variants related to severe fluoropyrimidine toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from water by Cu(II)-quinoxaline, 3,3-thiodipropionate mixed ligand coordination polymer synthesized as [Cu2(TDPH)4(QNX)]·DMF. Characterization of the synthesized material was carried out by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), BET surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–visible spectroscopy. ν(C = O) and ν(C–O) absorption bands were detected at 1735 and 1093 cm−1, respectively, while ν(C = N) was observed at 1608 cm−1 in the synthesized compound. The synthesized material was used as adsorbent for the removal of MB dye from aqueous solution using batch adsorption technique. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 7.9745 mg/g, while the maximum decolorization efficiency for the adsorbent was observed to be 99.04%. Adsorption data from the study fitted the Langmuir isotherm with an R2 value of 0.9815, while the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with an R2 value of 0.9953. The results obtained from the study, therefore showed that the synthesized materials could be used as adsorbents in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with intellectual disability experience a high risk of being neglected and family members are often identified as the perpetrators. Analysing the media provides insight into public narratives about social problems. A search of Australian newspapers published between 2016 and 2021 identified 27 articles that predominately reported on a single case of familial neglect of an individual with intellectual disability. Using Foucauldian discourse analysis, 4 discourses and 3 subject positions were identified. The discourses include Criminal justice and law enforcement (perpetrator responsibility), Political (government responsibility), Medical (physical outcomes of neglect), and Graphic (gruesome details). The subject positions construct people with intellectual disability as different, vulnerable, and present limited consideration of suffering. This study centres on a single case providing an example of the harmful narratives presented by the Australian news media. The lack of news coverage hinders opportunities for people with intellectual disability to participate equally in society. People with intellectual disability are more likely to be maltreated that people without and maltreatment within the family can be particularly difficult to identify. The findings of this study centre on a single case demonstrating that neglect of people with intellectual disability is rarely reported in the Australian news media. This study found that Australian news media can shift responsibility away from parents who neglect their children with intellectual disability. The physical and gruesome outcomes of neglect can be used to make stories more newsworthy. In the Australian news media, people with intellectual disability can be described as being different to the rest of society. This is harmful because it can restrict how people with intellectual disability can participate in society. This study suggests that social attitudes (presented through the media) about people with intellectual disability within the context of family neglect demonstrate social inequality and require change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runners from East Africa including Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda have dominated middle- and long-distance running events, for almost six decades. This narrative review examines and updates current understanding of the factors explaining the dominance of East Africans in distance running from a holistic perspective. The dominance of East African distance runners has puzzled researchers, with various factors proposed to explain their unparalleled success. Four key elements emerge: 1) biomechanical and physiological attributes, 2) training characteristics, 3) psychological motivations, and 4) African diet. Runners from East Africa often exhibit ectomorphic somatotypes, characterized by lean body compositions which lead them to an extraordinary biomechanical and metabolic efficiency. Their sociocultural lifestyle, training regimens beginning at a young age with aerobic activities, seem crucial, as well as moderate volume, high-intensity workouts at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 m. Psychological factors, including a strong motivation to succeed driven by aspirations for socioeconomic improvement and a rich tradition of running excellence, also contribute significantly. A multifactorial explanation considering these factors, without a clear genetic influence, is nowadays the strongest argument to explain the East African phenomenon. To unravel the mystery behind the supremacy of East African runners, it is imperative to consider these multifaceted factors. The predominantly rural lifestyle of the East African population underscores the importance of aligning modern lifestyles with the evolutionary past of Homo sapiens, where physical activity was integral to daily life. Further research is required to explain this phenomenon, with a focus on genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic heart disease (CHD) is a widespread and persistent health challenge that demands immediate attention. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential for effective treatment and management of this condition. To overcome this difficulty, we created a state-of-the-art IoT-Based Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring System that provides real-time blood pressure readings, systolic, diastolic, and pulse rates at predefined intervals. This unique technology comes with a module that forecasts CHD's early warning score. Various machine learning algorithms employed comprise Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), random forest, decision tree, and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Using Naïve Bayes, the proposed model has achieved an impressive 99.44% accuracy in predicting blood pressure, a vital aspect of real-time intensive care for CHD. This IoT-based ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (IABPM) system will provide some advancement in the field of healthcare. The system overcomes the limitations of earlier BP monitoring devices, significantly reduces healthcare costs, and efficiently detects irregularities in chronic heart diseases. By implementing this system, we can take a significant step forward in improving patient outcomes and reducing the global burden of CHD. The system's advanced features provide an accurate and reliable diagnosis that is essential for treating and managing CHD. Overall, this IoT-based ambulatory blood pressure monitoring system is an important tool for the early identification and treatment of CHD in the field of healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The West African Monsoon (WAM) system plays a crucial role in the West African climate system because it transports moisture from the Atlantic Ocean into the subcontinent in summer. This study evaluates the capability of the Model for Prediction Across Scales-Atmosphere (MPAS-A) to simulate the characteristic reproduce the WAM system and the associated rainfall-producing features. The MPAS model was used to perform a 30-year global climate simulation (1981–2010) at a regular grid (uniform resolution of 60 km). The simulation was initialized with the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CSFR) dataset. The results showed that MPAS simulate well the rainfall pattern over West Africa and reproduces the different phases of the monsoon dynamics system (i.e., the northward progression, the peak period, and the southward retreat). The model also reasonably replicates the pattern of the zonal components of wind and the vertical velocity. However, MPAS underestimates the orographic rainfall over the Guinea Coast, Jos Plateau, and Mount Cameroon. It also underestimates the vertical velocity and zonal wind magnitudes over the region. In addition, the model features a weaker temperature gradient than in the reanalysis. Understanding and correcting the sources of these model biases will enhance the suitability of MPAS for weather and seasonal forecasts over West Africa. Research highlights: In this study, we investigated the ability of the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) to simulate the West African monsoon rainfall, the associated atmospheric features controlling the variability of the seasonal and annual cycle, and the thermal wind conditions. First, the model is initialized using the CSFR reanalysis. Then, we run the model simulation for 30 years, from 1981 to 2010, using a regular grid (uniform resolution of 60 km). We showed that the model realistically simulated the spatial pattern of rainfall over West Africa. However, it has some problems when it comes to capturing the monsoon features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An examination of the diversity of Zingiberaceae in Thailand led to the discovery of two undescribed taxa within the genus Kaempferia: K. sakolchaii P. Saensouk, Saensouk & Boonma, a newly described species, and K. phuphanensis var. viridans P. Saensouk, Saensouk & Boonma, a novel variety. Additionally, our investigation encompassed the chromosome numbers, karyotypes, and pollen morphological characteristics of these taxa. Both taxa share a chromosome number of 2n = 22, accompanied by distinctive karyotype patterns. Kaempferia sakolchaii displays a karyotype of 12m + 10sm chromosomes, while K. phuphanensis var. viridans presents a karyotype of 10m + 10sm + 2st chromosomes. The pollen grains of K. sakolchaii and K. phuphanensis var. viridans are monads, spheroidal in shape, radially symmetrical, apolar, inaperturate, and exine sculpturing irregularly arranged elongated ornamentation elements with verrucate features. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the taxonomic classification of these two taxa, enriching our understanding of Zingiberaceae diversity in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine pathologies refer to the various diseases, disorders, and abnormalities that can affect a dog's different body systems and cause mortality. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the common pathologies that are associated with the mortality of dogs in Ilorin, Kwara State. A retrospective review of post-mortem records from 7 years was undertaken at a necropsy unit of the Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ilorin. Data collected included age, sex, breed, disease pathogens, and year. A total of 150 dog carcasses were presented for necropsy during the period between January 2016 and December 2022. In this study, the cases used were confirmed based on PCR results in some cases, bacterial culture and isolation, parasite identification, gross lesions, and histopathological findings in other cases. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate the effect of disease pathogens on age, sex, and breed distribution patterns associated with the mortality of dogs. The prevalence of viral infection among other diseases was statistically significant (34.00%; OR = 0.53; P<0.01). The percentage prevalence of each disease showed that bacterial infections were evident, with Staphylococcosis being the most prevalent at 49.01%, followed by Salmonellosis at 7.84%, Leptospirosis at 23.53%, and Brucellosis at 19.6%. Parasitic infections were also notable, encompassing canine babesiosis (34.80%), acariosis (39.10%), and canine ehrlichiosis (26.08%). Toxicosis cases were largely dominated by diclovous poisoning, constituting 88.88% of instances, while medication toxicity was observed in 11.11% of cases. Neoplastic conditions were represented by hepatic lymphoma, with a prevalence of 1%, while nutritional deficiencies included hepatic lipidosis, noted in 1% of cases. Traumatic injuries were common, with bone fracture having the highest prevalence at 66.67% and muscle laceration observed in 33.33% of cases. Intestinal obstruction cases, specifically gastric impaction, were noted in 1% of cases. Viral infections comprised parvovirus infection with the highest prevalence at 81%, and canine distemper was observed in 18.92% of cases. In conclusion, this study has exposed the leading causes of mortalities among the dog population, which include parvovirus enteritis, staphylococcosis, and acariosis infections. The emphasis should be on preventive measures to curtail disease transmission and associated financial loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractionation of the stem bark of Enantia chlorantha Oliv yields three alkaloids, palmatine (1), jatrorrhizine (2), columbamine (3), and β-Sitosterol (4). In this investigation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to evaluate the electronic structure and properties of 1–4 by DFT-B3LYP/6-31G level of theory using Gaussian 09 software. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), HOMO-LUMO energy difference (band gap), hardness (η), softness (S), dipole moment (μ), electronegativity (χ), hydrophobicity (logP), topological surface area (TPSA), and energy gap (Eg) were calculated. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds was investigated against MCF-7 and HCT116 cancer cell lines using Wi-38 cells as a control. The compounds inhibited the proliferation of the MCF-7 and HCT116 cell lines and induced apoptosis via upregulation of caspase-3, Bax, PARP cleavage, and downregulation of Bcl-2. DFT analyses revealed that compounds 1 and 3 have smaller energy gaps, 0.072 and 0.071eV, respectively, with the highest dipole moments; hence, these compounds are more chemically reactive and exhibit better modulation of caspase-3 enzyme and inhibitory activities of the MCF-3 and HCT116 cell lines. The antimicrobial and antiparasitic evaluation of 1–4 showed moderate efficacy against the bacterial strains and moderate antiparasitic activity against Cichlidogyrus tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of cause of death and the presence of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) on eliciting public stigma toward the bereaved. Participants (N = 328, 76% female; Mage = 27.55 years) were randomly assigned to read one of four vignettes describing a bereaved man. Each vignette differed by his PGD status (PGD diagnosis or no PGD diagnosis) and his wife's cause of death (COVID-19 or brain hemorrhage). Participants completed public stigma measures assessing negative attributions, desired social distance, and emotional reactions. Bereavement with PGD (versus without PGD) elicited large and significantly stronger responses across all stigma measures. Both causes of death elicited public stigma. There was no interaction between cause of death and PGD on stigma. With increased PGD rates expected during the pandemic, the potential for public stigma and reduced social support for people bereaved via traumatic deaths and people with PGD requires mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the ability of climate models to represent rainy season (RS) dependent climate indices relevant for agriculture and crop-specific agricultural indices in eleven African subregions. For this, we analyze model ensembles build from Regional Climate Models (RCMs) from CORDEX-CORE (RCM_hist) and their respective driving General Circulation Models (GCMs) from CMIP5 (GCM_hist). Those are compared with gridded reference data including reanalyses at high spatio-temporal resolution (≤ 0.25°, daily) over the climatological period 1981–2010. Furthermore, the ensemble of RCM-evaluation runs forced by ERA-Interim (RCM_eval) is considered. Beside precipitation indices like the precipitation sum or number of rainy days annually and during the RS, we examine three agricultural indices (crop water need (CWN), irrigation requirement, water availability), depending on the RS' onset. The agricultural-relevant indices as simulated by climate models, including CORDEX-CORE, are assessed for the first time over several African subregions. All model ensembles simulate the general precipitation characteristics well. However, their performance strongly depends on the subregion. We show that the models can represent the RS in subregions with one RS adequately yet struggle in reproducing characteristics of two RSs. Precipitation indices based on the RS also show variable errors among the models and subregions. The representation of CWN is affected by the model family (GCM, RCM) and the forcing data (GCM, ERA-Interim). Nevertheless, the too coarse resolution of the GCMs hinders the representation of such specific indices as they are not able to consider land surface features and related processes of smaller scale. Additionally, the daily scale and the usage of complex variables (e.g., surface latent heat flux for CWN) and related preconditions (e.g., RS-onset and its spatial representation) add uncertainty to the index calculation. Mostly, the RCMs show a higher skill in representing the indices and add value to their forcing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The latest Gaia data release in July 2022, DR3, in addition to the refinement of the astrometric and photometric parameters from DR2, added a number of important data products to those available in earlier releases, including radial velocity data, information on stellar multiplicity, and XP spectra of a selected sample of stars. Gaia has proved to be an important search tool for white dwarf stars, which are readily identifiable from their absolute G magnitudes as low luminosity objects in the Hertzsprung–Russell (H–R) diagram. Each data release has yielded large catalogs of white dwarfs, containing several hundred thousand objects, far in excess of the numbers known from all previous surveys (∼40 000). While the normal Gaia photometry (G, GBP, and GRP bands) and astrometry can be used to identify white dwarfs with high confidence, it is much more difficult to parameterize the stars and determine the white dwarf spectral type from this information alone. Observing all stars in these catalogs with follow-up spectroscopy and photometry is also a huge logistical challenge with current facilities. Aims. The availability of the XP spectra and synthetic photometry presents an opportunity for a more detailed spectral classification and measurement of the effective temperature and surface gravity of Gaia white dwarfs. Methods. A magnitude limit of G < 17.6 was applied to the routine production of XP spectra for Gaia sources, which would have excluded most white dwarfs. Therefore, we created a catalog of 100 000 high-quality white dwarf identifications for which XP spectra were processed, with a magnitude limit of G < 20.5. Synthetic photometry was computed for all these stars, from the XP spectra, in Johnson, SDSS, and J-PAS, published as the Gaia Synthetic Photometry Catalog – White Dwarfs (GSPC-WD). We took this catalog and applied machine learning techniques to provide a classification of all the stars from the XP spectra. We have then applied an automated spectral fitting program, with χ-squared minimization, to measure their physical parameters (effective temperature and log g) from which we could estimate the white dwarf masses and radii. Results. We present the results of this work, demonstrating the power of being able to classify and parameterize such a large sample of ≈100 000 stars. We describe what we can learn about the white dwarf population from this dataset. We also explored the uncertainties in the process and the limitations of the dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of modern technology, advancements in processing and storage techniques, and increasing medical knowledge, people are becoming aware of deterioration in the quality of medicinal products due to storage methods and time. In most cases, herbal products are not consumed immediately after production; as such, improper storage can result in physical, chemical, and microbiological changes. The study evaluated the effect of storage methods and time on the quality of oil extracted from Phyllanthus amarus Schumach and Annona muricata Linn and assessed their antidiabetic and antioxidative effects. Plants were air-dried, pulverized, and then subjected to Soxhlet extraction in petroleum ether. The oil was evaluated for phytochemical constituents and the effects of time and storage methods on its physicochemical properties. Characterization of the oil was done by spectroscopic techniques. Oils from both plants contained tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, terpenoids, phlobotannins, resins, reducing sugar, phenols, and saponins in different proportions. The oil from A. muricata had higher phenolic (3.11 ± 0.31 mg GAE/g), flavonoid (11.82 ± 0.08 mg QUE/g), alkaloid (16.37 ± ± 0.56 mg APE/g), and tannin (7.13 ± 0.47 mg CE/g) contents than the oil from P. amarus, which had 0.54 ± ± 0.08 mg GAE/g, 7.83 ± 0.13 mg QUE/g, 9.87 ± 0.15 mg APE, and 3.16 ± 0.12 mg CE/g for total phenolic, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins, respectively. Initial acid, iodine, peroxide, and saponification values recorded for P. amarus were 5.63 ± 0.82 mg KOH/g, 97.17 ±0.53 Wijis, 9.31 ± 0.15 mEq/kg, and 116.11 ± 0.74 mg KOH/g, respectively, significantly different from those of A. muricata, which had values of 1.17 ± 0.08 mg KOH, 76.23 ± ± 0.03 Wijis, 6.75 ± 0.47 mEq/kg, and 193.31 ± 0.52 mg KOH/g, respectively. FT-IR characterization of the oils revealed the presence of carboxylic acid, alkyl, alkene, alkane, haloalkane, aldehyde, aromatic amine, α-unsaturated and β-unsaturated esters, and phenol functional groups. P. amarus oil inhibited α-amylase (IC50 0.17 ± ± 0.03 mg/ml), α-glucosidase (IC50 0.64 ± 0.03 mg/ml), and xanthine oxidase (0.70 ± 0.01 mg/ml) to a greater extent than A. muricata oil, with IC50 values of 0.43 ± 0.05 mg/ml (α-amylase), 2.25 ± 0.31 mg/ml (α-glucosidase), and 0.78 ± 0.07 mg/ml (xanthine oxidase). This study showed that oils from the tested plants have low rancidity with a moderate shelf life. The extracts contained essential phytoconstituents that significantly inhibited α-glucosidase and xanthine oxidase. These effects of the oil indicate their potential to prevent diabetes, gout, and oxidative stress. Consequently, the supply of P. amarus and A. muricata in homemade diets is strongly encouraged for healthy living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Available data suggests that there is no specific treatment in modern medicine. The present study aims to investigate the anti-SARSCoV-2 activity of Annona muricata and Artemisia annua leaf extracts as well as their acute toxicity study. The phytochemical screening of the plant extracts was done using standard methods. The acute toxicity evaluation was done using Lorke method. The antiviral activity screening against SARS-CoV-2 was done by plaque assay with Vero-E6 cell line. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids in both plants, while tannins and anthraquinone glycosides were absent. The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 by plaque assay with Vero (E6) cell line shows a reduction in the zones of cellular death for the extracts treated cells compared to the cells with the virus only. Acute toxicity test showed no death or abnormal behavioural changes in mice during and after 24 hours of extract administration. On the basis of the results obtained from the present study, both Annona muricata and Artemisia annua leaf extracts are considered to have some level of inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 virus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI and machine learning are increasingly often applied in the medical industry. The COVID‐19 epidemic will start to spread quickly over the planet around the start of 2020. At hospitals, there were more patients than there were beds. It was challenging for medical personnel to identify the patient who needed treatment right away. A machine learning approach is used to predict COVID‐19 pandemic patients at high risk. To provide input data and output results that execute the machine learning model on the backend, a straightforward Python Flask web application is employed. Here, the XGBoost algorithm, a supervised machine learning method, is applied. In order to predict high‐risk patients based on their current underlying health issues, the model uses patient characteristics as well as criteria like age, sex, health issues including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and smoking, among others. The XGBoost model predicts the patient's severity with an accuracy of about 98% after data pre‐processing and training. The most important factors to the models are chosen to be age, diabetes, sex, and obesity. Patients and hospital personnel will benefit from this project's assistance in making timely choices and taking appropriate action. This will let medical personnel decide how much time and space to devote to the COVID‐19 high‐risk patients. providing a treatment that is both efficient and ideal. With this programme and the necessary patient data, hospitals may decide whether a patient need immediate care or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abiraterone acetate is an irreversible 17α-hydroxylase/C17, 20-lyase (CYP17) inhibitor approved for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. Inhibition of this enzyme leads to low testosterone and cortisol levels in blood. There is growing evidence that clinical efficacy of abiraterone is related to the rate of suppression of serum testosterone. However, quantification of very low levels of circulating testosterone is challenging. We therefore aimed to investigate whether circulating cortisol levels could be used as a surrogate biomarker for CYP17 inhibition in patients with mCRPC treated with abiraterone acetate. Patients and methods: mCRPC patients treated with abiraterone acetate were included. Abiraterone and cortisol levels were measured with a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). On treatment cortisol and abiraterone concentrations were related to treatment response and progression free survival. Results: In total 117 patients were included with a median cortisol concentration of 1.13 ng/ml (range: 0.03 – 82.2) and median abiraterone trough concentration (Cmin) of 10.2 ng/ml (range: 0.58 – 92.1). In the survival analyses, abiraterone Cmin ≥ 8.4 ng/mL and cortisol < 2.24 ng/mL were associated with a longer prostate-specific antigen (PSA) independent progression-free survival than patients with an abiraterone concentration ≥ 8.4 ng/mL and a cortisol concentration ≥ 2.24 ng/mL (13.8 months vs. 3.7 months). Conclusion: Our study shows that cortisol is not an independent predictor of abiraterone response in patients with mCRPC, but it is of added value in combination with abiraterone levels, to predict a response on abiraterone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have investigated the experience of male carers of people with dementia and fewer specifically examined whether male and female carers of people with dementia differ in their approach to the caring role. As such, this research set-out to investigate whether male carers of people with dementia approach the caring role differently to female carers. Data from 167 survey participants (24 males and 143 females) were analysed using a mixed research methodology. Participants' demographics and scores on standardised burden and coping scales were analysed using linear regression. Participants' written responses to open-ended questions were analysed using thematic analysis anchored in theories of hegemonic masculinity. No significant gender differences were identified in carers' coping strategies or self-reported carer burden. However, qualitative analysis revealed strong thematic gender differences like: gendered barriers to help-seeking; gendered service preference; gendered considerations about residential care; gendered expression of burden; and themes of the absent son and exhausted daughter. This research identified that male carers of people with dementia approach help-seeking differently to female carers, typically focusing on addressing functional tasks and refraining from showing emotions, this despite reporting similar carer burden. Rapport building with male carers should start with conversations around functional issues rather than assessing the emotional impact of the caring role. The findings reinforce the need for more qualitative research into the unmet needs of male carers of people with dementia, to inform the design of male-friendly interventions which could facilitate timely access to services by male carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct ink writing is an innovative technique developed to replace traditional fabrication techniques, such as lithography, for flexible electronics. Herein, a novel ternary cadmium sulfide quantum dot-doped reduced graphene oxide-bismuth oxide (CrGB) heterojunction semiconductor material was prepared via an in situ hydrothermal technique. After that, an electroconductive ink consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and CrGB was prepared. The ink was used to fabricate a flexible circuit using nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) paper. The circuit exhibited excellent conductivity of 3900 S cm−1. Furthermore, the recyclability and biodegradation of the circuit suggest the feasibility of constructing low-cost and environmentally benign materials and devices. An in situ hydrothermal technique was used to prepare CrGB heterojunction semiconductor nanocomposites with different loadings (wt.%) of Bi2O3 nanoparticles was done successfully. Investigation of the influence of weight percent loadings of Bi2O3 and CdS QDs on the physicochemical, optoelectronic and electrical properties of the prepared nanocomposites was carried out. TEM micrograph of the CrGB semiconductor showed a dense and uniformly deposited particles of CdS QDs and Bi2O3 nanoparticles on the RGO interface. A novel ternary electroconductive ink (CrGBC) was prepared from the mixture of CrGB nanocomposite and CNTs, which exhibited a significantly improved contact angle of 31°. Also, a flexible, transparent and biodegradable thin-film was prepared from NCC. Fabrication of a recyclable and biodegradable smart electronic circuit, with the prepared ink and NCC thin-film as a substrate. This was further applied to light an LED bulb to confirm its conductivity properties. Recyclability and biodegradation (using fungi) of the fabricated smart device was successfully done. This suggest the possibility of designing biofriendly and low-cost smart devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the melt processability of cellulose is key to broadening its applications. This is done via derivatization of cellulose, and subsequent plasticization and/or blending with other biopolymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). However, derivatization of cellulose tends to reduce its biodegradability. Moreover, traditional plasticizers are non-biodegradable. In this study, we report the influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) plasticizer on the melt processibility and biodegradability of cellulose diacetate (CD) and its blends with PLA and PBAT. CD was first plasticized with PEG (PEG-200) at 35 wt%, and then blended with PLA and PBAT using a twin-screw extruder. Blends of the PEG plasticized CD with PLA at 40 wt% and with PBAT at 60 wt% were studied in detail. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that PEG reduced the glass transition of the CD from ca. 220 °C to less than 100 °C, indicating effective plasticization. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the CD/PEG-PBAT blend had a smoother morphology implying some miscibility. The CD/PEG-PBAT blend at 60 wt% PBAT had an elongation-to-break of 734%, whereas the CD/PEG-PLA blend had a tensile strength of 20.6 MPa, comparable to that of the PEG plasticized CD. After a 108-day incubation period under simulated aerobic composting, the CD/PEG-PBAT blend at 60 wt% PBAT exhibited a biodegradation of 41%, whereas that of the CD/PEG-PLA at 40 wt% PLA was 107%. This study showed that melt processible, biodegradable CD blends can be synthesized through plasticization with PEG and blending with PBAT or PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to appraise the delivery of information communication technology (ICT) projects and identify key determinants for stakeholder integration. Design/methodology/approach: Given that empirically, little was known about stakeholder integration in the ICT sector and its influence or effect on project delivery; qualitative method was used. Forty-seven semi-structured interviews were carried out to derive senior project practitioners and policymakers' constructs of stakeholder integration and infrastructure performance improvement of ICT projects. The verification and validation of the proposed assessment tool were achieved through the use of focus group discussion. Findings: As established in this research study, there is a need for project delivery teams to evaluate the level of stakeholder integration, the formulation of a project business case, the project processes and issues of compliance and regulation in ICT projects. What is evident in the findings of the study is that the management model adopted for the stakeholders in the Kenyan ICT sector ought to make communication the fulcrum of their engagement. Originality/value: The inferences made herein are critical in contributing to knowledge regarding the ICT infrastructure project management terrain in developing countries. There is evidence in the study to conclude that the concept of stakeholder management and integration has implications for the sustainability of ICT projects. One of the issues that predominantly featured in the research was the input of stakeholder integration in terms of project sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues addressed: Fathers remain less likely to participate in parenting interventions which can limit their ability to receive support and build their parenting capacity. The advent of social media has engendered novel opportunities for fathers to connect with, and support, one another in the form of online peer support. Growth of these online communities exemplifies the demand from fathers to relate to other fathers who are navigating parenthood. However, the benefits of membership to these communities remain unclear. This study evaluated the perceived benefits of members of an online father‐to‐father, community‐created and moderated Facebook group designed for Australian fathers in both rural and metropolitan regions. Methods: One‐hundred and forty‐five Australian fathers (aged 23–72 years) who were members of the same online fathering community completed an online survey where they qualitatively described their experiences as members of this community. Results: Content analysis of open‐ended survey questions revealed that fathers identified a series of unique and important personal and familial benefits, which were largely attributed to their ability to connect with fellow fathers. Specifically, the opportunity to have convenient access to a safe space for fathers to connect was highly valued, providing fathers with opportunities to support, discuss and normalise parenting experiences. Conclusions: Online father‐to‐father connection is a highly valued resource for fathers who are navigating parenthood. So what?: Online, community‐led groups for fathers contribute to perceptions of genuineness and ownership by its members and provide a unique opportunity to connect and seek support for parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of electricity using solar energy is an effective system to overcome the current global energy crisis. In this regard, developing new semiconductor materials can be of great interest in overcoming the challenge of charge carrier recombination and, hence, improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in photovoltaic devices, particularly dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, reduced graphene oxide-Sr0.7Sm0.3Fe0.6Co0.4O3 (RGO-SSFC) nanocomposites were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and characterized with the aid of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, as well as a vibrating sample magnetometer, and further tested for application as photoanodes in DSSCs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of RGO nanosheets that were fully decorated by irregular- and spherical-shaped SSFC nanoparticles. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the strong synergistic interaction of the RGO-SSFC nanocomposites. The large surface area of RGO-SSFC nanocomposite photoanodes facilitated effective dye loading, high photon absorption, and efficient electron transfer, resulting in better device performance. Compared to RGO-SSFC-0.1 and RGO-SSFC-1.0, the RGO-SSFC-0.5 nanocomposite showed an enhanced open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.84 V, short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 14.02 mA cm−2 , and a PCE of 7.25%. Eosin B and MK-2 organic dyes used as photosensitizers coated on the RGO-SSFC semiconductors resulted in low-cost DSSC photoanodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyperus conglomeratus has been utilized in traditional medicine as an emollient, diuretic, analgesic, anthelmintic, and for other diseases. Furthermore, several biological activities have been reported for the plant extract and the isolated metabolites. The chromatographic investigation of an ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts led to the isolation of three aurone derivatives (1–3) from the plant for the first time. Their structures were identified as aureusidin (1), aureusidin-4-methyl ether (2), and 5-methyl aureusidin (3) using 1D and 2D NMR techniques, along with mass spectrometry. The compounds were tested for their inhibitory activities against enzymes vital in metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and glycogen phosphorylase. The results were expressed as percentage inhibition. The inhibitory activity of aurones against the tested enzymes was also analyzed by computational docking studies to provide a rational explanation for the observed results. The tested compounds formed stable interactions in terms of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction with the active site residues of the tested enzymes, and the results are in agreement with those of the in vitro antidiabetic activity. The compounds were also evaluated for their ability to support the growth and viability of beneficial bacteria in terms of prebiotic activities using two species, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, through the determination of prebiotic activity scores (Pscore). The findings of this study showed that C. conglomeratus is a potential natural source of bioactive agents. There is, however, a need for in vivo testing to evaluate this plant's efficacy for developing new drug entities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study uses numerical weather prediction models to predict the occurrence of heavy convective rainfall associated with the passage of the African Easterly Wave (AEW) during the period 23–26 August 2017 over Nigeria. Fraction skill score (FSS) and method for object‐based diagnostic evaluation (MODE) verification techniques were applied to verify how well the models predict the high‐impact event and to demonstrate how these tools can support operational forecasting. Ensemble model forecasts at a convective scale from UK Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) and a one‐way nested weather research and forecasting (WRF) model were compared with the integrated multisatellite retrievals for global precipitation measurement (IMERG GPM). The purpose is to examine skills of improved model resolution and ensemble in reproducing rainfall forecasts on useful scales and how the skill varies with spatial scale. WRF 2 and 6 km model forecasts show comparable skill at smaller grid scales. The skill of MetUM improves dramatically when the verification statistics are applied to the ensemble mean of the binary fields of the individual member forecast. The object‐based analysis reveals a similar structure as observed, although displaced eastwards. Most improvement occurred for heavier rainfall events associated with the passage of the AEW. WRF 6 km compares reasonably well with WRF 2 km in terms of shape and structure of rainfall underscoring the ability of the model to reasonably represent convection at 6 km horizontal resolution. The ensemble members in MetUM explicitly reproduce convection at 4 km resolution but are displaced at about 166 km behind observed rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge that requires a coordinated effort to address. In this study, we examined the genetic similarity of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to gain a better understanding of how these bacteria are spreading and evolving in the region. We used in silico genomic tools to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of different types of carbapenemases and their relationship to specific sequence types (STs) of CRKP commonly found in the region. We analyzed 720 publicly available genomes of multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae isolates collected from six GCC countries between 2011 and 2020. Our findings showed that ST-14 and ST-231 were the most common STs, and 51.7% of the isolates carried blaOXA-48-like genes. Additionally, we identified rare carbapenemase genes in a small number of isolates. We observed a clonal outbreak of ST-231 in Oman, and four Saudi isolates were found to have colistin resistance genes. Our study offers a comprehensive overview of the genetic diversity and resistance mechanisms of CRKP isolates in the GCC region that could aid in developing targeted interventions to combat this pressing global issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregivers play a crucial role in supporting the development of their children's emotion regulation. This study validated the Parental Assistance with Child Emotion Regulation (PACER) Questionnaire in a sample of 491 caregivers (M = 32.89 years) of young children ≤ 5 years. Exploratory structural equation modeling provided evidence of the instrument's ability to assess parental support for 10 distinct emotion regulation strategies that match the intended design of the instrument. Latent profile analysis revealed three distinct caregiver profiles characterized by above-average support for strategies that previously have been shown to be predictive of adaptive outcomes, maladaptive outcomes, or mixed-outcomes, respectively. Results add to existing literature that suggests the PACER is a valid and reliable assessment of caregiver-implemented support of emotion regulation strategies for children ≤ 5 years old. Evidence of distinct caregiver profiles highlights opportunities for prevention and intervention efforts to bolster extrinsic support for adaptive emotion regulation strategies. This instrument may be well-suited to capturing changes throughout the early developmental period, in addition to monitoring caregiver-facing interventions promoting optimal emotion regulation in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented levels of grief and psychological distress in community samples. We examined unique pandemic grief risk factors, dysfunctional grief, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, general psychiatric distress, disrupted meaning, and functional impairment in a treatment-seeking sample of people bereaved from COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. A sample of 183 participants (91.80% female; M = 47.40 years) completed an online survey as part of an intake assessment for a grief support and referral service. Most reported clinically elevated PTSD symptoms (83.1%), psychiatric distress (64.0%), and functional impairment (56.8%). A smaller, but still concerning percentage (39.3%) reported clinically significant symptoms of dysfunctional grief. Disrupted meaning substantially mediated the relationship between risk factors and all four outcomes. Counsellors should address the breadth of psychological distress in those bereaved by COVID-19 and hone their skills in promoting meaning making in the wake of the trauma and loss generated by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VPS13A is a lipid transfer protein localized at different membrane contact sites between organelles, and mutations in the corresponding gene produce a rare neurodegenerative disease called chorea‐acanthocytosis (ChAc). Previous studies showed that VPS13A depletion in HeLa cells results in an accumulation of endosomal and lysosomal markers, suggesting a defect in lysosomal degradation capacity leading to partial autophagic dysfunction. Our goal was to determine whether compounds that modulate the endo‐lysosomal pathway could be beneficial in the treatment of ChAc. To test this hypothesis, we first generated a KO model using CRISPR/Cas9 to study the consequences of the absence of VPS13A in HeLa cells. We found that inactivation of VPS13A impairs cell growth, which precludes the use of isolated clones due to the undesirable selection of edited clones with residual protein expression. Therefore, we optimized the use of pool cells obtained shortly after transfection with CRISPR/Cas9 components. These cells are a mixture of wild‐type and edited cells that allow a comparative analysis of phenotypes and avoids the selection of clones with residual level of VPS13A expression after long‐term growth. Consistent with previous observations by siRNA inactivation, VPS13A inactivation by CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in accumulation of the endo‐lysosomal markers RAB7A and LAMP1. Notably, we observed that rapamycin partially suppressed the difference in lysosome accumulation between VPS13A KO and WT cells, suggesting that modulation of the autophagic and lysosomal pathway could be a therapeutic target in the treatment of ChAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Olaparib is given in a fixed dose of twice-daily 300 mg in patients who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer or pancreas cancer and has a high interpatient variability in pharmacokinetic exposure. The objective of this study was to investigate whether pharmacokinetic exposure of olaparib is related to efficacy and safety in a real-life patient' cohort. Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted in patients who received olaparib for metastatic ovarian cancer of whom pharmacokinetic samples were collected. A Kaplan–Meier analyses was used to explore the relationship between olaparib exposure, measured as (calculated) minimum plasma concentrations (Cmin), and efficacy, Univariate and multivariate cox-regression analyses were performed. Also, the Cmin of patients who experienced toxicity was compared with patients who did not experience any toxicity. Results: Thirty-five patients were included in the exposure-efficacy analyses, with a median olaparib Cmin of 1514 ng/mL. There was no statistical significant difference in PFS of patients below and above the median Cmin concentration of olaparib, with a hazard ratio of 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.46–2.45, p = 0.9)). For seven patients pharmacokinetic samples were available before toxicity occurred, these patients had a higher Cmin of olaparib in comparison with patients who had not experienced any toxicity (n = 33), but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.069). Conclusions: Our study shows that exposure of olaparib is not related to PFS. This suggests that the approved dose of olaparib yields sufficient target inhibition in the majority of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four mixed-ligand complexes were prepared and formulated as [Ln(H2OBA)(H2PZDC)] and [Ln(H2OBA)(H2PDC)] {Ln = La & Gd; H2OBA = 4,4-oxybisbenzoic acid; H2PDC = 2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid; H2PZDC = 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid}. The complexes were modified by a nickel/cobalt impregnation method to generate bimetallic complexes 1–8. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis of the bimetallic complexes indicated that the carboxylate coordinated to the lanthanide ion via the OH- group while the Ni2+ and Co2+ ions were preferentially bonded to the nitrogen donor ligand via the N- group. Complete catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by the Ni@ complexes gave a maximum reduction time of 37 minutes for complex 1 while complex 7 gave a reduction time of 21 minutes. The rate constants were observed to increase with an increase in temperature up to 50 °C for complexes 3, 5, and 7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Docetaxel has been approved as an anti-cancer agent in 1995. High rates of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) and fluid retention were observed when this agent was first introduced. The use of high dose systemic corticosteroids around docetaxel infusion appeared to decrease the incidence of HSR and fluid retention and has been applied in daily practice ever since. However, there is little evidence that supports this high dose of dexamethasone. Furthermore, the application of high-dosed corticosteroids can lead to undesirable adverse effects. In this phase 1 study, we aim to evaluate the impact of reducing the dose of dexamethasone as an adjunct to docetaxel on the incidence of HSR and fluid retention in patients with prostate or breast cancer. Background: There is little evidence that supports the registered high dose of dexamethasone used around docetaxel. However, this high dose is associated with considerable side effects. This study evaluates the feasibility of reducing the prophylactic oral dosage of dexamethasone around docetaxel infusion. Patients and methods: Eligible patients had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of prostate or breast cancer and had received at least three cycles of docetaxel as monotherapy or combination therapy. Prophylactic dexamethasone around docetaxel infusion was administered in a de-escalating order per cohort of patients. Primary endpoint was the occurrence of grade III/IV fluid retention and hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). Results: Of the 46 enrolled patients, 39 were evaluable (prostate cancer (n = 25), breast cancer (n = 14). In patients with prostate cancer, the dosage of dexamethasone was reduced to a single dose of 4 mg; in patients with breast cancer, the dosage was reduced to a 3-day schedule of 4 mg–8 mg–4 mg once daily, after which no further reduction has been tested. None of the 39 patients developed grade III/IV fluid retention or HSR. One patient (2.6%) had a grade 1 HSR, and there were six patients (15.4%) with grade I or II edema. There were no differences in quality of life (QoL) between cohorts. Conclusions: It seems that the prophylactic dose of dexamethasone around docetaxel infusion can be safely reduced with respect to the occurrence of grade III/IV HSRs or the fluid retention syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review was to map the literature assessing associations between maternal or infant immune or gut microbiome biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes within the first 5 years of life. We conducted a PRISMA‐ScR compliant review of peer‐reviewed, English‐language journal articles. Studies reporting gut microbiome or immune system biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes prior to 5 years were eligible. Sixty‐nine of 23,495 retrieved studies were included. Of these, 18 reported on the maternal immune system, 40 on the infant immune system, and 13 on the infant gut microbiome. No studies examined the maternal microbiome, and only one study examined biomarkers from both the immune system and the gut microbiome. Additionally, only one study included both maternal and infant biomarkers. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed from 6 days to 5 years. Associations between biomarkers and neurodevelopmental outcomes were largely nonsignificant and small in effect size. While the immune system and gut microbiome are thought to have interactive impacts on the developing brain, there remains a paucity of published studies that report biomarkers from both systems and associations with child development outcomes. Heterogeneity of research designs and methodologies may also contribute to inconsistent findings. Future studies should integrate data across biological systems to generate novel insights into the biological underpinnings of early development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among other factors, the electrochemical capacitor (EC) properties of graphene oxide (GO) are limited by conductivity issues emanating from high oxygen concentrations. Hence, innovative GO modifications, such as derivatisation and synthesising composites with conducting polymers, are required to boost the EC properties. This allows the exploitation of the low material cost associated with carbonaceous materials. Herein, the effect of temperature (70, 130 and 190 °C) on the hydrothermal treatment of a GO/urea mixture (to form nitrogen-doped reduced GO samples U70, U130 and U190 (N-RGO), respectively) was investigated in order to study the resulting physicochemical and EC properties of N-RGO in a K2SO4 electrolyte. Subsequently, the EC properties of the N-RGO obtained from the optimum temperature were investigated in composites with polyaniline (PANI). The functionality of the composites in the electrolytes, namely, K2SO4 (SO42− radius: 258 pm) versus KOH (OH− radius: 133 pm), was compared. The nitrogen at% in GO and N-RGO (U190) was 0.39 and 6.74%, respectively, with corresponding conductivities of 4.61 × 10−7 and 4.17 × 10−1 S cm−1. Compared with GO, U130 achieved the highest increase in specific capacitance (Cs) of 200 times at 10 mV s−1. The 5 wt% PANI composite displayed the highest enhancement of Cs of 14 032% at 50 mV s−1 and 4749% at 5 mV s−1 relative to N-RGO and PANI in K2SO4, respectively. The highest Cs values for NRGO-PANI composites in KOH were more than double those of K2SO4. This work demonstrates that the hydrothermal treatment temperature tailors the physicochemical properties of the doped GO and, together with the anion size of the electrolyte and PANI wt%, synergistically tunes the EC properties of the ultimate PANI-N-RGO composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An obligatory step in the complex life cycle of the malaria parasite is sporogony, which occurs during the oocyst stage in adult female Anopheles mosquitoes. Sporogony is metabolically demanding, and successful oocyst maturation is dependent on host lipids. In insects, lipid energy reserves are mobilized by adipokinetic hormones (AKHs). We hypothesized that Plasmodium falciparum infection activates Anopheles gambiae AKH signaling and lipid mobilization. We profiled the expression patterns of AKH pathway genes and AgAkh1 peptide levels in An. gambiae during starvation, after blood feeding, and following infection and observed a significant time-dependent up-regulation of AKH pathway genes and peptide levels during infection. Depletion of AgAkh1 and AgAkhR by RNAi reduced salivary gland sporozoite production, while synthetic AgAkh1 peptide supplementation rescued sporozoite numbers. Inoculation of uninfected female mosquitoes with supernatant from P. falciparum-infected midguts activated AKH signaling. Clearly, identifying the parasite molecules mediating AKH signaling in P. falciparum sporogony is paramount. Plasmodium falciparum infection activates adipokinetic hormone signaling and lipid mobilization in the Anopheles gambiae mosquito vector to promote sporogony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Father-child attachment during the first five years of life plays a vital role in child health and wellbeing but remains an under-researched area. Recently, self-compassion has emerged as a mechanism through which parent–child attachment may be optimized via its capacity to promote parental mental health and wellbeing, yet little is known about self-compassion among fathers specifically. This study examined the association between self-compassion, negative emotional symptoms, parenting stress, and parent self-efficacy as predictors of paternal attachment. Method: One hundred and seventy-five fathers of children < 5 years participated in an online survey on parent–child relationships. Results: A regression-based approach revealed that self-compassion, negative emotional symptoms, parenting stress, and parent self-efficacy accounted for 47% of the variance in paternal attachment. Further, there was an indirect effect of self-compassion on paternal attachment via parenting stress. Partial indirect associations between self-compassion and parenting stress via negative emotional symptoms, parenting stress, and paternal attachment via parental self-efficacy were also displayed. Higher levels of self-compassion were associated with reduced negative emotional symptoms, parenting stress, and improved parent self-efficacy, contributing to a higher quality of paternal attachment. Conclusions: Though preliminary, our findings are consistent with a broader body of research supporting the utility of self-compassion as a modifiable skill that can improve mental health and wellbeing. Self-compassion may improve the quality of the attachment relationship between fathers and their young children. These preliminary cross-sectional findings suggest that longitudinal and experimental studies involving the investigation of the long-term benefits of self-compassion and associated interventions are warranted. Preregisration: This study is not pre-registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singlet exciton fission is a spin-allowed process in organic semiconductors by which one absorbed photon generates two triplet excitons. Theory predicts that singlet fission is mediated by intermolecular charge-transfer states in solid-state materials with appropriate singlet-triplet energy spacing, but direct evidence for the involvement of such states in the process has not been provided yet. Here, we report on the observation of subpicosecond singlet fission in mixed films of pentacene and perfluoropentacene. By combining transient spectroscopy measurements to nonadiabatic quantum-dynamics simulations, we show that direct excitation in the charge-transfer absorption band of the mixed films leads to the formation of triplet excitons, unambiguously proving that they act as intermediate states in the fission process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid increase of diabetes mellitus cases in the world, management and control of the disease has become a complex and highly dynamic process. This challenge requires a multifaceted approach to manage and control the complications associated with the hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia conditions. This paper presents a mathematical model for determining the influence of combined intervention strategies in the management and control for the plasma glucose of the type II diabetes. System dynamics (SD) techniques were used in modelling the sub-compartments of biological systems of an Identifiable Patient (IP). The system dynamic model developed gave an illustration on how typical glucose-insulin dynamics occur at different intervention strategies involving varying amounts of carbohydrates taken, intensity of physical exercises, stress levels and the amount of exogenous insulin administered. The model was conceptualized within a semi-closed loop system representing the patient ecosystem by extending the Bergman Minimal Model. Stochastic differential equations (SDE) were used to capture the non-linear, continuous time varying interactions of the measurements associated with plasma glucose-insulin dynamics. The estimated results from the model showed combined intervention strategies of reduced amounts of carbohydrates intake, reduced stress levels and varying moderately high-to-low exercise intensity at a constant unit of exogenous insulin produced good plasma glucose levels control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging efficient photovoltaic devices, with record-high power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of more than 25.5%. However, PSCs exhibit some drawbacks, such as poor stability upon exposure to moisture or humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and heat, which in turn limits the device lifetime and performance. In addition, the introduction of perovskite films comes with associated toxicity, which is a major environmental concern. Furthermore, the application of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as an electron transport layer (ETL) and 2,2′,7,7′-tetrakis[N,N-di(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-9,9′-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) as a hole transport layer (HTL), causes device instability. The wide-bandgap characteristic of TiO2 introduces charge carrier recombination in the ETL, which, in turn, impairs device performance. This is, over and above, the high cost of spiro-OMeTAD, coupled with its multi-step synthetic preparation method. To address the aforementioned shortcomings, approaches, such as modifying the interfacial architecture, have been explored by introducing versatile materials between the charge-collecting electrode and the perovskite active layers. In this regard, perovskite oxides are more appealing due to their wide bandgap and high electron mobility. However, perovskite oxides have limitations due to their agglomeration, which causes short-circuits and leakage current, in addition to their poor charge separation efficiency, surface hydrophilicity and weak visible-light absorption. As a result, nanocomposites of perovskite oxides with carbon-based materials, particularly graphene and its derivatives, have attracted significant research attention due to their exceptional optoelectronic properties, superior stability, and non-toxicity of graphene-based materials. Therefore, this review discusses the recent trends in graphene-based materials, their composites with perovskite oxides, effective ETLs or HTLs of PSCs and the subsequent improvement of photovoltaic performance. In addition, a summary of synthetic routes for perovskite oxides/graphene nanocomposites is presented. This review will foster the advancement of the fabrication of PSCs with improved PCE and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a standard spin echo, the time evolution due to homonuclear couplings is not reversed, leading to echo time (TE)‐dependent modulation of the signal amplitude and signal loss in the case of overlapping multiplet resonances. This has an adverse effect on quantification of several important metabolites such as glutamate and glutamine. Here, we propose a J‐refocused variant of the sLASER sequence (J‐sLASER) to improve quantification of J‐coupled metabolites at ultrahigh field (UHF). The use of the sLASER sequence is particularly advantageous at UHF as it minimizes chemical shift displacement error and results in relatively homogenous refocusing. We simulated the MRS signal from brain metabolites over a broad range of TE values with sLASER and J‐sLASER, and showed that the signal of J‐coupled metabolites was increased with J‐sLASER with TE values up to ~80 ms. We further simulated "brain‐like" spectra with both sequences at the shortest TE available on our scanner. We showed that, despite the slightly longer TE, the J‐sLASER sequence results in significantly lower Cramer–Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) for J‐coupled metabolites compared with those obtained with sLASER. Following phantom validation, we acquired spectra from two brain regions in 10 healthy volunteers (age 38 ± 15 years) using both sequences. We showed that using J‐sLASER results in a decrease of CRLBs for J‐coupled metabolites. In particular, we measured a robust ~38% decrease in the mean CRLB (glutamine) in parietal white matter and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). We further showed, in 10 additional healthy volunteers (age 34 ± 15 years), that metabolite quantification following two separate acquisitions with J‐sLASER in the PCC was repeatable. The improvement in quantification of glutamine may in turn improve the independent quantification of glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and will simultaneously help to track possible modulations of glutamine, which is a key player in the glutamatergic cycle in astrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of extracts of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG) by in vitro assay methods. The powdered plant material was successively extracted to yield n-hexane extract (CG-HX), ethyl acetate extract (CG-EA), and methanol extract (CG-ME), respectively. The crude extract (CG-TE) was separately obtained from methanol. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, steroids, and reducing sugars. The total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in the CG-ME (122.559 mg GAE/g extract), followed by CG-TE (121.913 mg GAE/g extract), while the total flavonoids content (TFC) was highest in the CG-EA extract (159.351 mg QE/g). The percentage DPPH free radical scavenging assay shows that the potency of the CG-EA extract (95.4±0.40 %) was comparable to ascorbic acid (96.22±0.692 %), p<0.05. In the ferric powerreducing antioxidant assay, CG-TE (2.246±0.1796) and CG-ME (2.140±0.1227) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to others. The extracts significantly inhibited α-Amylase and glucose uptake in yeast cells in the in vitro study. This inhibitory potential was concentration-dependent with crude methanol extract (CG-TE) showing comparable inhibitory potency with Acarbose (45.7%) at 0.05 mg/mL but 40.10% at 4.00 mg/mL as against 51.27 % for Acarbose. Similarly, CG-TE was more potent than metronidazole, with percentage glucose uptake inhibitory potency of 50.13% and 76.465% at concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL and 4.00 mg/mL, respectively. We conclude that the plant extracts possess significant antidiabetic activity, which correlated with the antioxidant effects and could be further investigated for use in managing diabetes and related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction in cell size in an ultra-dense network faces the challenge of increase in frequency of handovers and signaling overhead (mobility management) as well as inter-cell interference. Such frequent handovers leads to increased packet loss and blocking rate if the handover latency is very high, which have adverse effect on connectivity and performance. However, most existing schemes have the common characteristics of increasing spectral and energy efficiency due to increase in the number of micro cell on a network, thus decreases the general network performance. In this study, an improved scheme was developed for fixed mobility management pattern (FMP). A comparison module was established and an identifier algorithm that uses the user equipment international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) as a decisive component of its cell selection camping process was designed. Network simulator (NS-3) was used to study the impact of macro cell and inter site distance (ISD) on user throughput and battery life usage using mobility pattern of 3km/h, with A3 event based measurement for ISD 50, 150, 300, 500, and 1000 respectively. The performance evaluation metrics used are; reference signal received power (RSRP), flow monitor and handover time. The FMP results were compared with micro cell performance in an ultra-dense network. The RSRP result from FMP was higher than that of micro cell at ISD 50 and 150 respectively (-71.36, -73.97 and 83.77, 85.13). The handover time for FMP was higher than that of micro cell except for ISD 50 which was 50s and 51s respectively. The flow monitor of FMP showed a packet loss ratio of 0.0001 compare to 0.21 of micro cell. The battery life usage shows that FMP used 5943±8.7mw compare to micro cell which used 1680.2±15.7 mw. These results showed that FMP is efficient in managing the frequency of handover and battery life consumption for better connectivity and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and chemical shift dispersion at high magnetic fields (≥7 T) have enabled neuro‐metabolic imaging at high spatial resolutions. To avoid very long acquisition times with conventional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) phase‐encoding schemes, solutions such as pulse‐acquire or free induction decay (FID) sequences with short repetition time and inner volume selection methods with acceleration (echo‐planar spectroscopic imaging [EPSI]), have been proposed. With the inner volume selection methods, limited spatial coverage of the brain and long echo times may still impede clinical implementation. FID‐MRSI sequences benefit from a short echo time and have a high SNR per time unit; however, contamination from strong extra‐cranial lipid signals remains a problem that can hinder correct metabolite quantification. L2‐regularization can be applied to remove lipid signals in cases with high spatial resolution and accurate prior knowledge. In this work, we developed an accelerated two‐dimensional (2D) FID‐MRSI sequence using an echo‐planar readout and investigated the performance of lipid suppression by L2‐regularization, an external crusher coil, and the combination of these two methods to compare the resulting spectral quality in three subjects. The reduction factor of lipid suppression using the crusher coil alone varies from 2 to 7 in the lipid region of the brain boundary. For the combination of the two methods, the average lipid area inside the brain was reduced by 2% to 38% compared with that of unsuppressed lipids, depending on the subject's region of interest. 2D FID‐EPSI with external lipid crushing and L2‐regularization provides high in‐plane coverage and is suitable for investigating brain metabolite distributions at high fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practice, the capacitance from the electrochemical double layer formation on porous carbon‐based electrodes is still below preferred values, limiting their use in electrochemical capacitors. The current drive is to innovate ways that generate additional capacitance in the electrochemical double layer capacitive nature of carbon nanomaterials towards both a high specific energy density (Es) and power density (Ps). Herein we report the use of metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) to coat multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) to induce pseudocapacitive charge storage characteristics on a carbon‐based electrode. The study shows that MWCNTs were coated in bundles, and targeted TiO2 loadings were successfully attained, though the TiO2 agglomerates also increased with TiO2 wt.%. The 10 wt.% TiO2 TiO2‐MWCNT material displayed the best capacitive behavior with associated specific discharge capacitance (Cd), Es, and Ps values of 907 F kg−1, 55.56 Wh kg−1, and 2.78 W kg−1 at 0.1 A g−1, respectively, due to the synergistic effect of the two components of the composite. Additionally, the integral capacitance (Cs) of the 20 wt.% TiO2 material was enhanced more than 5000‐fold relative to that of the 5 wt.% TiO2 TiO2‐MWCNT composite at higher scan speeds of 100 and 200 mV s−1. Electrochemical measurements further demonstrated the possible positive tuning of capacitive characteristics (charge/discharge rates, Cd and Cs) with TiO2 wt.% control. The MOCVD synthesis method imparted the TiO2‐MWCNT composites with suitable traits that showed high potential in improving physicochemical processes favorable in electrical energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A multiplex gyrB PCR assay has been used to diagnose Acinetobacter baumannii. However, this assay has not been validated against the gold standard DNA-DNA hybridization assay, which is a laborious method. DNA-DNA hybridization assay is now replaced by whole genome sequence (WGS)-based methods. Two such methods are a k-mer-based search of sequence reads using the Kraken 2 program and average nucleotide identity (ANI). The objective was to validate the gyrB PCR assay with WGS-based methods.Subjects and Methods: We cultured 270 sequential A. baumannii isolates from the rectal swabs of 32 adult patients. The identity of the isolates was determined by gyrB PCR. The sequences of 269 isolates were determined by Illumina sequencing and the taxonomy was inferred by the Kraken 2 program and ANI.Results: All the 269 isolates were confirmed as A. baumannii by Kraken 2 and ANI.Conclusion: The gyrB PCR assay is now validated for easy identification of A. baumannii in comparison with gold standard WGS-based assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding index and family-based testing (HBT) is a priority for identifying children living with HIV. Our study characterizes predictors that drive testing location choice for children of parents living with HIV. Kenyan adults living with HIV were offered a choice of HBT or clinic-based testing (CBT) for any of their children (0–12 years) of unknown HIV status. Multilevel generalized linear models were used to identify correlates of choosing HBT or CBT for children and testing all versus some children within a family, including caregiver demographics, HIV history, social support, cost, and child demographics and HIV prevention history. Among 244 caregivers living with HIV and their children of unknown HIV status, most (72%) caregivers tested children using CBT. In multivariate analysis, female caregivers [aRR 0.52 (95% CI 0.34–0.80)] were less likely to choose HBT than male caregivers. Caregivers with more children requiring testing [aRR 1.23 (95% CI 1.05–1.44)] were more likely to choose HBT than those with fewer children requiring testing. In subgroup univariate analysis, female caregivers with a known HIV negative spouse were significantly more likely to choose HBT over CBT than those with a known HIV positive spouse [RR 2.57 (95% CI 1.28–5.14), p = 0.008], no association was found for male caregivers. Child demographics and clinical history was not associated with study outcomes. Caregiver-specific factors were more influential than child-specific factors in caregiver choice of pediatric HIV testing location. Home-based testing may be preferable to families with higher child care needs and may encourage pediatric HIV testing if offered as an alternative to clinic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]