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Mucormycosis is a dreaded condition with high mortality rates noted in immunocompromised hosts. Though iron overload is a known risk factor, children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia have been rarely reported with invasive mucormycosis. We present an 8-year-old girl with transfusion-dependent thalassemia with hypersplenism and iron overload. She had invasive rhino-sino-orbital mucormycosis with a fatal outcome despite aggressive surgical and medical management.

Background: Early and delayed puberty are both associated with adverse health and psychosocial outcomes. Objectives: We assessed the impact of provision of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement (SQ-LNS) to mothers during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their children aged 6–18 mo, on pubertal status. Methods: This study was a follow-up to a partially double-blind randomized controlled trial. At ≤20 wk, 1320 females were randomly assigned to receive daily: iron and folic acid during pregnancy and placebo 0–6 mo postpartum; or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and 0–6 mo postpartum; or SQ-LNS during pregnancy and 0–6 mo postpartum and to their children from 6 to 18 mo. We re-enrolled 966 and 919 children at 9–11 y and 11–13 y, respectively. We calculated a total pubertal status score based on the Petersen Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) to assess growth spurt, skin changes, body hair, facial hair, voice break, breast development, and menstruation. Pubertal status was regressed on child’s age to generate age-adjusted PDS z-scores (aPDSZ); we performed interaction and mediation analyses. Results: Mean ± standard deviation aPDSZ did not differ between the SQ-LNS and non-LNS groups at 9–11 y (0.01 ± 0.95 compared with –0.01 ± 0.98; P = 0.958) but was more advanced in the SQ-LNS group at 11–13 y (0.07 ± 1.04 compared with –0.04 ± 0.98; P = 0.049) in the adjusted model. The effect of SQ-LNS varied by sex (P-interaction = 0.003) and household asset index z-score (P-interaction = 0.002): Puberty was more advanced in the SQ-LNS compared with non-LNS group among females (P = 0.007) but not males (P = 0.877), and within lower (P = 0.002) than average (P = 0.436) and higher (P = 0.332) socioeconomic households. Conclusion: Provision of SQ-LNS during the first 1000 d of life advanced pubertal status among females. Trial registration number: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00970866 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT00970866).

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder caused by immune system dysregulation. The present contribution describes a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparative evaluation of the influence of a unique food-grade co-delivery form of curcumin and ashwagandha extracts (CQAB) in comparison to a bioavailable curcumin formulation (CGM) and placebo employing healthy participants, (n = 96), characterized with mild AR. The subjective measurements (TNSS, BIS and POMS-SF questionnaires) clearly demonstrated the efficacy of CQAB over CGM in the alleviation of AR symptoms and hence the quality of life. Further, CQAB administration also showed significant modulation of biochemical parameters (significant decrease in Th2 cytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and IgE, and a significant increase in Th1 cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 as well as for the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA) in support of its improved immune-balancing effect, compared to CGM. Both CQAB and CGM were well tolerated without any adverse events.

The adoption of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) as a partial replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is increasing in anticipation of reducing the carbon footprint of cement and concrete industry. The resistance of concretes with SCMs against natural carbonation (a reactive-diffusion mechanism) is still a topic of research. Most literature adopt accelerated carbonation tests (under constant humidity and temperature conditions) to estimate the natural carbonation depth (dCO2) in concrete. This does not always represent the actual scenario in the field structures. Moreover, accelerated carbonation conditions could result in significantly different pore structure than that are formed in the case of natural carbonation; hence, not always reliable to model the service life. Hence, there is a need for data on long-term natural dCO2 to help design reinforced concrete for a target service life. The data presented in this paper contains long-term natural dCO2 data of 45 different concretes prepared using various SCMs like volcanic ash (from Greece), fly ash, slag, and limestone (from France). The concrete specimens were prepared in France, shipped to India by air (in moist burlap and plastic cover), and then kept in sheltered and unsheltered exposure conditions on the terrace of a building in Chennai, India, experiencing tropical climate (warm and humid conditions). The data includes mixture proportions (type of binder, water-to-binder ratio, binder content, % SCMs, fine and coarse aggregate (river sand and gravel) content, and air content). In addition, curing time and compressive strength of concrete mixes are provided in Set A. Sets B and C consist of the natural dCO2 of concrete measured at various time instances between 1 and 11 years of natural exposure. Arguably, this is the first of its kind natural dCO2 database from a tropical climate zone. The natural dCO2 values were measured using a phenolphthalein indicator prepared according to RILEM CPC 18. This data can be used by researchers and practitioners to calibrate the existing carbonation models or to develop new models to estimate natural dCO2 for concretes exposed to tropical climates. Such models can help design concretes to achieve the target corrosion-free service life for reinforced concrete systems.

Tabernaemontana crassa is a native plant indigenous to Ghana which has garnered local recognition for its purported efficacy against ringworm, wounds, abscesses, and antibacterial infections. However, the antibacterial and resistance modifying effects of the crude extracts and isolated compounds have not been investigated. Consequently, this study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial and resistance modifying effects of the extracts and affinine, a monoterpene indole alkaloid, from T. crassa. Four extracts, namely the crude, alkaloidal, glycosidic and triterpene fractions were prepared by solvent-solvent extraction from the stem bark of T. crassa. Using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, affinine was isolated and identified from the alkaloidal fraction. The effects of the extracts and affinine were investigated using the micro dilution, efflux pump and biofilm inhibition assays against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The crude extracts were effective against the two bacteria strains at a concentration of 500 µg/ml. Affinine was without activity in the in vitro antimicrobial assays with MIC >1000 µg/ml. However, affinine possessed anti-efflux and antibiofilm activity against the test microorganisms which was confirmed with in silico studies. The study showed the efficacy of the extracts against the two microbes associated with wound healing. Affinine, not previously described from T. crassa, may contribute to the anti-infective effects of the plant.

Heat stress is a critical environmental factor that adversely affects crop productivity. With the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves and extreme weather events, heat stress has become a challenge for wheat production, which is one of the most important cereal crops. To sustain wheat production under heat stress conditions, there is an urgent need to develop high-yielding, heat-tolerant wheat varieties. This requires characterizing the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying heat tolerance, as well as developing efficient phenotyping methods to evaluate a large number of wheat genotypes under heat stress field conditions. In this study, we used 184 wheat genotypes that were sown at two times of sowing (TOS), i.e., optimal sowing as TOS1 and late sowing as TOS2, with higher temperatures faced by plants during heading and grain filling in TOS2. We used a combination of physiological traits, multispectral vegetative indices (VIs) derived from aerial imagery and machine learning approaches to effectively differentiate wheat genotypes for heat tolerance and susceptibility. The response of wheat genotypes to heat stress was delineated as being susceptible, moderate, and tolerant using the stress susceptibility index, percentage loss, and tolerance index. Different VIs varied significantly between the two TOS. The decline in VIs during anthesis and post-anthesis was minimal in heat tolerant genotypes compared to susceptible genotypes under TOS2. We classified the stress severity and yield using VIs with a machine learning approach. A model was created with a random forest classifier (RFC) trained to categorize genotypes based on the stress susceptibility index using Python libraries. The PCA was utilized to reduce dimensionality, and five principal components explaining 99 % of the variability were employed as input for developing the model. The RFC model achieved an accuracy of 64 % and excelled in recognizing crops under extreme stress, with a recall rate of 0.87 and an F1 score of 0.77 for the susceptible class. The model had high precision metrics, with values of 0.69, 0.42, and 0.80 for the susceptible, moderate, and tolerant classes, respectively. Our results suggest that multispectral-driven phenotypic traits can be used by breeders to select and develop wheat varieties tolerant to heat stress.

Purpose: We present a case of unilateral exudative retinal detachment and optic disc edema with choroidal hemangioma in a patient concurrently diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) and Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS). Observations: A seven-year-old patient presented with complaints of headache, photophobia, periocular pain, and diminished vision, accompanied by redness and lid swelling following a febrile illness. Ophthalmic examination revealed abnormally branched episcleral vasculature, exudative retinal detachment, optic disc edema and radiologically evident thickening of the choroid of the right eye. Systemic evaluation revealed hypoxia with cyanosis and clubbed fingers. The patient underwent cardiac interventions, including Fontan and Bidirectional Glenn procedures, aimed at improving systemic oxygenation. The patient's condition showed remarkable improvement following cardiac surgery. The surgical interventions not only improved systemic oxygenation but also resulted in the amelioration of ocular symptoms and visual improvement. Ophthalmic improvements included the resolution of abnormally branched episcleral vasculature, regression of exudative retinal detachment, and reduction in optic disc edema. Conclusion and Importance: This case highlights the intricate relationship between hemodynamic and vascular abnormalities of the eye and the clinical manifestations observed in patients presenting with the unique combination of SWS and TGA.

Food security worldwide is largely dependent on the rice–wheat cropping sequence (RWCS) Hence, a field study was carried out during 2018–19 and 2019–20 at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, to determine the effect of various enriched organic sources and crop establishment methods on the root parameters, water productivity and yield of rice, its carryover effect on the succeeding wheat crop and the overall efficiency of system. A split plot design was used which involved two main plot treatments, viz., aerobic rice (AR) and conventional transplanted (CT) rice, and five subplot treatments, viz., T1: control (without fertilizer), T2: 100 % RDF (100 % fertilization by using inorganic sources), T3: 50 % phosphorus was applied by using P-enriched compost + 50 % P was applied by using DAP, T4: 50 % N was applied by using N-enriched compost + 50 % nitrogen was applied by using DAP and urea, and T5: 100 % organic fertilizer was applied (100 % fertilization by using N-enriched compost and P-enriched compost). After rice, wheat was grown in all the plots under uniform management practices. Among the nutrient sources, T4 had greater effects on root activity, system economic water productivity and system water productivity than did the other treatments. CT rice can be recommended under irrigated conditions with the integration of enriched compost and inorganic fertilizers. However, under rainfed conditions with less available water, aerobic rice can also be produced by combining enriched compost and inorganic fertilizer.

Microalgae are a diverse group of microorganisms with a wide range of physical characteristics and interactions with their surroundings. They hold great promise as strategic crops capable of producing substantial quantities of valuable biomolecules, such as protein and omega-rich oils, which have extensive applications across multiple industries. This perspective aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in the utilization of photobioreactors for the large-scale cultivation of microalgae. It also delves into the implications of this technology on factors such as land efficiency, environmental impact, and the biochemical composition of microalgae. In this manuscript, the potential solution to these challenges lies in the adoption of vertical semi-closed photobioreactors, which seamlessly integrate photobioreactor technology with principles of vertical farming. This perspective effectively underscores the pivotal role of photobioreactors in mitigating global climate change, as they contribute to processes such as carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration, conversion of greenhouse gases into increased biomass production, enhancement of air quality, and the modulation of climatic parameters. Furthermore, photobioreactors have the capacity to boost the production of bioactive compounds and biomass yields. For future considerations, we propose that the application of microalgae kinetics should be employed to gain a deeper understanding of microalgae production. This knowledge forms a critical foundation for the design and optimization of photobioreactors and the manipulation of microalgae metabolites, thus offering a pathway toward sustainable and efficient microalgae-based bioprocessing.

Objectives: Countries in the South East Asian region face similar challenges in control of infectious diseases. There is limited access to experiences and learnings of neighboring countries. The Indian Council - of Medical Research (ICMR) has established a Regional Enabler for the South-East Asia Research Collaboration for Health (RESEARCH) Platform for South East Asian Region (SEAR) countries to address the above issues. This paper discusses about current practices, implementation challenges and operations research priorities of Tuberculosis Preventive therapy (TPT) in eight SEAR countries. Methods: A three day workshop on “Capacity Building for TB Research under Programmatic Settings”. was conducted under the aegis of this RESEARCH platform jointly ICMR and the Union which was participated by eight SEAR countries. Data were collected from a semi-structured questionnaire prior to the workshop and open discussions during the workshop. Results: The various challenges faced for TPT implementation were broadly categorized as poor demand and low level of acceptance by the beneficiary, low level of acceptance to provide TPT among the providers, challenges in ruling out active TB, issues with supply and supply chain management of diagnostic tests and drugs. Many operations research priorities like person centric TPT driven models, capacity building for improving cascade of care for latent TB infection, health system strengthening and effective risk communication were identified. Conclusion: Full implementation of the TPT guidelines requires focused attention and coordinated action from all stakeholders of the country to attain the full benefit of TB preventive therapy and the ultimate TB elimination goal.

The research focused on analyzing the antioxidant and nutritional properties of Solanum torvum leaves (STL) and berries (STF), as well as Solanum nigrum leaves (SNL) and berries (SNF). The study examined the basic nutritional composition, mineral content, metal presence, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capabilities of both plant species. Wild-harvested leaves and unripe berries of S. torvum and S. nigrum were cooked and ground for testing. Statistical analysis included the Student's T-test and calculations of mean ± SEM. Findings revealed that both species of Solanum are sources of dietary fibre, protein, and fats, along with essential minerals like sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in different amounts. Notably, the leaves had higher iron content than the berries, indicating their potential superiority in addressing Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Antioxidant activity was highest in STF (61.34±1.05 mg/mL) for water-based extracts and SNL (42.86±1.49 mg/mL) for alcohol-based extracts, highlighting the impact of solvent choice on antioxidant measurement. STL exhibited the greatest phenolic concentration in water extracts, while STF had the highest in alcohol extracts (15.88±0.87 mg/g GAE). Additionally, palmitic acid was identified in SNL and STL, oleic acid (97.03 %, retention time: 10.00 min) in SNB, and Sitosterol (94.93 %, retention time: 26.82 min), a type of phytosterol, in STB. Considering the role of antioxidants in preventing lipid oxidation in food and their contribution to combating degenerative diseases, the study advocates for the potential use of these Solanum species as natural food additives to protect against oxidative damage.

Fingerprints are considered as one of the most important and prominent feature for an individual identification. Due to their consistency and reliability in biometric feature identification, they are most widely used for biometric recognition systems. In these systems, the relevant feature extraction plays important role in achieving required classification accuracy. In recent time, deep learning techniques are being used for fingerprint recognition with more accuracy and efficient results. Major difficulty which has been reported in previous researches, is the limited size of samples. Therefore, we propose two approaches, inversion and multi augmentation to augment the sample size with newly generated images for each feature map. Besides this, multiple networks are used simultaneously for feature extraction from newly generated images in parallel mode. Deep neural network architectures are used with proposed inversion methods and multi augmentation methods to classify the samples of fingerprints for personnel identification and verification. Pre-trained deep convolutional models like VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50 and InceptionV3 are fine-tuned with new processed fingerprint images for feature extraction and classification. The collective samples of fingerprints have been classified into 10 classes. The simulation results have been obtained with different optimizers and it has been observed that VGG 19 model exhibits the accuracies of 88 % and 93 % with inversion and multi augmentation approaches respectively. Whereas, VGG16 model exhibits 93 % with inversion approach and 97 % with multi augmentation approach. Thus, the proposed approach exhibits the accuracy up to 97 % with VGG16 model which is significantly much higher than that of any other model with the same dataset FVC2000_DB4.

Objective: Early life microbial exposure influences the composition of gut microbiota. We investigated how early life factors, and the green living environment around infants’ homes, influence the development of gut microbiota during infancy by utilizing data from the Steps to Healthy Development follow-up study (the STEPS study). Methods: The gut microbiota was analyzed at early (∼3 months, n = 959), and late infancy (∼13 months, n = 984) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, and combined with residential green environment, measured as (1) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, (2) Vegetation Cover Diversity, and (3) Naturalness Index within a 750 m radius. We compared gut microbiota diversity and composition between early and late infancy, identified significant individual and family level early life factors influencing gut microbiota, and determined the role of the residential green environment measures on gut microbiota development. Results: Alpha diversity (t-test, p

Summary: Live imaging of regenerative processes can reveal how animals restore their bodies after injury through a cascade of dynamic cellular events. Here, we present a comprehensive toolkit for live imaging of tissue regeneration in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano, including a high-throughput cloning pipeline, targeted cellular ablation, and advanced microscopy solutions. Using tissue-specific reporter expression, we examine how various structures regenerate. Enabled by a custom luminescence/fluorescence microscope, we overcome intense stress-induced autofluorescence to demonstrate genetic cellular ablation and reveal the limited regenerative capacity of neurons and their essential role during wound healing, contrasting muscle cells’ rapid regeneration after ablation. Finally, we build an open-source tracking microscope to continuously image freely moving animals throughout the week-long process of regeneration, quantifying kinetics of wound healing, nerve cord repair, body regeneration, growth, and behavioral recovery. Our findings suggest that nerve cord reconnection is highly robust and proceeds independently of regeneration.

Purpose: Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality among African women. The adoption of molecular genomic technologies in the management of cancer cases is limited in Africa. To provide much-needed insights on the feasibility and utility of such precision medicine paradigms in Africa, we conducted a prospective, non-interventional study involving combined tissue and plasma Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based testing in cancer patients in Ghana. Methods: We recruited 20 newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed, treatment-naïve women with metastatic breast cancer at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Tissue (NGS) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) liquid biopsy analysis were ordered on all 20 patients. Results: All 20/20 (100 %) liquid biopsy samples were acceptable for analysis, whereas only 6/20 (30 %) passed quality control for tissue NGS testing. Liquid biopsy detected 42 cfDNA mutations in 17/20 patients. Of the 17 patients, 3 (17.6 %) had mutations previously associated with African ancestry, including BRCA1 p.K719E, ARAF p.S262I and GATA3 p.G125dup. Eight potentially actionable alterations specific to breast cancer were found in 6/17 (35.3 %) liquid biopsy samples, while potentially actionable mutations non-specific to breast cancer were detected in 12/17 (70.6 %). Tissue biopsy analysis detected mutations in all 6 patients tested, with 3/6 (50 %) patients presenting potentially actionable mutations relevant to breast cancer. Conclusion: Liquid biopsy detected multiple additional actionable variants in Ghanaian women with breast cancer. Plasma cfDNA analysis featured fewer variations in sample preparation which is a key consideration in resource-limited settings. Liquid biopsy presents a great opportunity to improve cancer care in Africa.

Urbanization negatively affects biodiversity worldwide, with the rapidly urbanizing Afrotropical area being understudied. Furthermore, most previous studies investigating this topic focused on taxonomic diversity while recent findings have highlighted the need to incorporate complementary diversity metrics. Thus, this study investigated how urbanization affects bird taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity in Nigeria, a country with one of the fastest rates of urbanization in the world. We conducted bird censuses at 400 points organized across eight paired comparisons (urban vs non-urban habitats), vegetation zones (rainforest vs savannah), and seasons (dry vs wet). Of the total 237 bird species recorded, 65 % were never encountered in urban areas, suggesting the negative effect of urbanization that was also supported by our statistical analyses. Taxonomic diversity was significantly higher in non-urban than urban habitats. This contrasted with the result on functional and phylogenetic diversity, which was higher in the urban than non-urban habitat. These relationships were similar across seasons, but more intense in the rainforest, revealing that birds in this vegetation zone are more vulnerable to urbanization than their savannah counterparts. We also found that water cover significantly promoted all avian diversity metrics analyzed during the dry season independently of urbanization. In contrast, canopy and bush cover mediated the effects of urbanization on some diversity components (i.e., functional and phylogenetic diversity). Our results highlight the significance of incorporating spatiotemporal patterns in related studies and provide much needed information for city planners and other urban stakeholders in the Afrotropics.

Summary: Despite extensive global research into genetic predisposition for severe COVID-19, knowledge on the role of rare host genetic variants and their relation to other risk factors remains limited. Here, 52 genes with prior etiological evidence were sequenced in 1,772 severe COVID-19 cases and 5,347 population-based controls from Spain/Italy. Rare deleterious TLR7 variants were present in 2.4% of young (

The double burden of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a major public health challenge that demands urgent and integrated approaches. The interplay between these two chronic conditions presents unique clinical and public health management challenges, as well as social and economic implications. We explored the bidirectional relationship between TB and DM, emphasizing how DM increases susceptibility to TB and complicates its management, while TB may exacerbate glycemic control in diabetic patients. This review underscores the challenges associated with the management of both diseases, obstacles in screening TB patients for DM and TB preventive therapy for DM since inadequate glycemic control can impact treatment outcomes. Several studies have investigated the disease interplay; however, the results have been equivocal, and this may be exerting negative impacts on the disease prevention and treatment. TB-diabetes comorbidity has been linked to poor treatment outcomes whereas TB prevention in people with DM at present is a dilemma. In addition to highlighting how urgent it is to address this comorbidity, this review offers a road map for better prevention, treatment, and control of several factors underlying the TB-diabetes syndemic interaction.

Bio-jarosite, an iron mineral synthesized biologically using bacteria, is a substitute for iron catalysts in the Fenton oxidation of organic pollutants. Iron nanocatalysts have been widely used as Fenton catalysts because they have a larger surface area than ordinary catalysts, are highly recyclable, and can be treated efficiently. This study aimed to explore the catalytic properties of bio-jarosite iron nanoparticles synthesized with green methods using two distinct plant species: Azadirachta indica and Eucalyptus gunni. The focus was on the degradation of dicamba via Fenton oxidation. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited different particle size, shape, surface area, and chemical composition characteristics. Both particles were effective in removing dicamba, with removal efficiencies of 96.8% for A. indica bio-jarosite iron nanoparticles (ABFeNPs) and 93.0% for E. gunni bio-jarosite iron nanoparticles (EBFeNPs) within 120 min of treatment. Increasing the catalyst dosage by 0.1 g/L resulted in 7.6% and 43.0% increases in the dicamba removal efficiency for EBFeNPs and ABFeNPs with rate constants of 0.025 min−1 and 0.023 min−1, respectively, confirming their catalytic roles. Additionally, the high efficiency of both catalysts was demonstrated through five consecutive cycles of linear pseudo-first-order Fenton oxidation reactions.

Summary: Neurovascular coupling (NVC) and neurometabolic coupling (NMC) provide the basis for functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography to map brain neurophysiology. While increases in neuronal activity are often accompanied by increases in blood oxygen delivery and oxidative metabolism, these observations are not the rule. This decoupling is important when interpreting brain network organization (e.g., resting-state functional connectivity [RSFC]) because it is unclear whether changes in NMC/NVC affect RSFC measures. We leverage wide-field optical imaging in Thy1-jRGECO1a mice to map cortical calcium activity in pyramidal neurons, flavoprotein autofluorescence (representing oxidative metabolism), and hemodynamic activity during wake and ketamine/xylazine anesthesia. Spontaneous dynamics of all contrasts exhibit patterns consistent with RSFC. NMC/NVC relative to excitatory activity varies over the cortex. Ketamine/xylazine profoundly alters NVC but not NMC. Compared to awake RSFC, ketamine/xylazine affects metabolic-based connectomes moreso than hemodynamic-based measures of RSFC. Anesthesia-related differences in NMC/NVC timing do not appreciably alter RSFC structure.

Tropical forests play a significant role in climate change by sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, deforestation and forest degradation adversely affect these forests’ carbon stocks. Reports indicate that anthropogenic activities have led to forest degradation and deforestation in Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) and Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (KSNR). This study assessed the effects of these activities on the carbon stocks of BFMS and KSNR. Using satellite imagery, field measurements and allometric models, carbon stocks of the study area were assessed from 1992 to 2023. The assessment revealed significant losses attributed to anthropogenic activities, such as hunting, farming and charcoal burning. BFMS experienced a total loss of 40,236 Mg C, while KSNR lost 272,109 Mg C. The closed forests had the highest carbon stock amongst the different vegetation types, with soil representing the most significant carbon pool in the protected areas, revealing the influence of vegetation structure on carbon sequestration and the need for soil conservation. The substantial carbon sequestration potential observed in the different vegetation types of the study area indicates that the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone is a prospective area for climate change mitigation aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (Goals 13 and 15) and the National Climate Change Policy of Ghana. These findings provide valuable insights for carbon trading and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the potential of nature-based solutions in addressing global climate challenges.

Many global environments face increasing pressures on soil resources, and effective, scalable methods for assessment of soil condition and capital are essential to respond to tangible soil threats. This situation is common across Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), where high throughput soil analysis laboratories are limited, and issues such as soil organic carbon decline, acidification and fertility declines are present. Soil spectral inference presents an opportunity in such regions to provide rapid insights into soil capital and condition, though the need for robust calibration libraries remains a limiting factor. This work investigates the utility of a regionally appropriate spectral library, the New Zealand Soil Spectral Library (NZSSL) to support the development of soil spectral inference in data-poor environments, such as PICTs, through a case study on the island of Tongatapu in The Kingdom of Tonga. We contrast the performance of existing partial least squares regression (PLSR) models developed for New Zealand soils on soils from Tongatapu and explore the opportunities for enhancement of predictions formed through memory-based learning (MBL) supplemented with local data. Our work shows the potential for cost-effective and timely soil monitoring through soil spectral inference in PICTs. The work further underscores the importance of regional cooperation and data-sharing for addressing soil security.

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) was estimated to be the sixth leading cause of death in 2019, and second most common cause of non-communicable disease-related deaths in India. Systemic or inhaled corticosteroid use must be assessed against any known toxicities risk to determine potential benefits. Thus, there should be a system to streamline the utilization of corticosteroids in COPD patients. Objective: To highlight the potential of clinical markers in promoting steroid stewardship. Additionally this study also emphasizes the need to identify more clinical markers that could determine steroid efficacy and help in tailoring the therapy for patients with COPD. Methodology: Two independent researchers conducted a systematic review to recognize the markers affecting COPD therapy. A literature search was conducted using a thorough search strategy, including search terms “COPD,” “corticosteroids,” “biomarkers,” and related MeSH terms to recruit all relevant literature between 2007 and 2023. In total, 919 PubMed, Embase, and Scopus articles were screened, and 16 were finalized. Results: After thoroughly screening articles, two biomarkers were identified from the review. The majority (n = 13) stated that blood eosinophil count (BEC) could impact steroid therapy in COPD patients, further strengthened by the latest Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) is another component captured from (n = 3) studies presenting its benefit in directing corticosteroid therapy in COPD patients. Conclusion: This study showed that with an understanding of patient history, using BEC and FENO to determine steroid therapy in COPD could benefit. Although more studies are required, it is believed these markers can individualize steroid therapy, leading to better patient care and shaping the core of the steroid stewardship program.

Cement production significantly contributes to climate change, necessitating alternatives to mitigate the environmental impacts of this essential construction material. This study evaluates 18 environmental impacts of producing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Graphene (Gr) using life cycle assessment (LCA). Additionally, we explore whether mixing OPC and Gr can lower the life cycle environmental impacts of the final product (OPCGr). Our results show that OPC production in the United Kingdom generates 775 kg CO2 eq./t, 57% only from geogenic CO2 emissions. Gr production via electrochemical exfoliation in Australia results in 121,000–143,000 kg CO2 eq./t, primarily due to electricity generation. Using hydro and nuclear power (e.g., in Brazil and France) can sharply reduce these impacts (global warming potential in the range of 11,000–35,000 kg CO2 eq./t). Adding 0.02 wt% of Gr in powder form (Grpowder) from Australia to the OPC and assuming a 16.5% reduction in its usage due to increased strength, results in 674 kg CO2 eq./t OPCGr (a 13% reduction). However, some impact categories like marine eutrophication and freshwater ecotoxicity potentials increase sharply (>28%). Using Grpowder from Brazil and France further reduces the OPCGr global warming potential and the overall environmental footprint.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on tuberculosis (TB) treatment response using bacterial clearance as a surrogate marker. Method: We compared smear microscopy, culture, and tuberculosis molecular bacterial load assay (TB-MBLA) for treatment monitoring. Following that, bacterial clearance was longitudinally monitored among TB-only (TB without DM) and TB-diabetes (TBDM) patients using TB-MBLA. Results: Ninety-three participants, including 59 TB-only and 34 TBDM patients, were enrolled. TB-only patients exhibited higher upper zone infiltrations (32/35 vs 16/22, p = 0.059) suggesting a trend towards significance, and significantly more cavitation in the same zone (16/18 vs 7/13, p = 0.028). There was a high proportion of Mycobacterium africanum (Maf) among the TBDM cohort (p = 0.0044).At baseline, TB-only patients exhibited a higher average bacterial burden (4.49 logeCFU/mL) compared to the TBDM group (3.91 logeCFU/mL) (p = 0.042). The bacterial load in the TB-only group decreased significantly during treatment but the TBDM group experienced delayed clearance throughout the intensive phase of anti-TB treatment even at day 56 (p = 0.028). The TB-only group demonstrated a shorter median time to TB-MBLA conversion to negative (57 days) compared to the TBDM group (62 days) (p = 0.022). Conclusion: These findings underscore the urgent call for understanding the interplay between diabetes and TB, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions in optimizing TB care for individuals comorbid with diabetes.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens in African countries, including Ghana, are often faced with the challenge of treatment default. To maximize ART utilization and efficiency among people living with HIV (PLHIV), it is pertinent to ensure that ART-related challenges that clients encounter are identified and addressed holistically. A phenomenological qualitative study of thirty participants recruited through the purposive sampling technique was conducted using in-depth interviews from June to July 2021. Independent coding was done using Atlas ti. Sub-themes were developed from the codes, using the most expressive phrases, and grouped under two broad themes, challenges, and opportunities to maximise ART uptake. Ten different challenges, grouped into the health system and individual constraints were reported. Health system constraints included stigmatisation and discrimination by healthcare workers, queuing outside while waiting to be served, long waiting periods, non-communication of laboratory test results to clients, lack of proper education on side effects associated with ART, and language barrier. Individual constraints included financial constraints, perceived non-improvement in health outcomes, food insecurity, and forgetfulness. Opportunities identified for improved ART uptake were assuring ART clients of improved health outcomes, leveraging the good rapport between ART clients and healthcare providers, leveraging the better counselling services offered to PLHIV at the ART clinic, provision of varied ART treatment regimens to clients, routine communication of laboratory test results to clients, and leveraging clients’ satisfaction with ART services at ART clinic. We recommend health system reforms targeting healthcare service delivery to PLHIV to encourage linkage, continuity, and retention in care and augmenting ART regimes with financial and nutritional support while encouraging status disclosure to a trusted family member.

Study objectives: To develop a non-invasive and practical wearable method for long-term tracking of infants’ sleep. Methods: An infant wearable, NAPping PAnts (NAPPA), was constructed by combining a diaper cover and a movement sensor (triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope), allowing either real-time data streaming to mobile devices or offline feature computation stored in the sensor memory. A sleep state classifier (wake, N1/REM, N2/N3) was trained and tested for NAPPA recordings (N = 16649 epochs of 30 s), using hypnograms from co-registered polysomnography (PSG) as a training target in 33 infants (age 2 weeks to 18 months; Mean = 4). User experience was assessed from an additional group of 16 parents. Results: Overnight NAPPA recordings were successfully performed in all infants. The sleep state classifier showed good overall accuracy (78 %; Range 74–83 %) when using a combination of five features related to movement and respiration. Sleep depth trends were generated from the classifier outputs to visualise sleep state fluctuations, which closely aligned with PSG-derived hypnograms in all infants. Consistently positive parental feedback affirmed the effectiveness of the NAPPA-design. Conclusions: NAPPA offers a practical and feasible method for out-of-hospital assessment of infants’ sleep behaviour. It can directly support large-scale quantitative studies and development of new paradigms in scientific research and infant healthcare. Moreover, NAPPA provides accurate and informative computational measures for body positions, respiration rates, and activity levels, each with their respective clinical and behavioural value.

Summary: Timed feeding drives adipose browning, although the integrative mechanisms for the same remain unclear. Here, we show that twice-a-night (TAN) feeding generates biphasic oscillations of circulating insulin and leptin, representing their entrainment by timed feeding. Insulin and leptin surges lead to marked cellular, functional, and metabolic remodeling of subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT), resulting in increased energy expenditure. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses and flow cytometry demonstrate a role for insulin and leptin surges in innate lymphoid type 2 (ILC2) cell recruitment and sWAT browning, since sWAT depot denervation or loss of leptin or insulin receptor signaling or ILC2 recruitment each dampens TAN feeding-induced sWAT remodeling and energy expenditure. Consistently, recreating insulin and leptin oscillations via once-a-day timed co-injections is sufficient to favorably remodel innervated sWAT. Innervation is necessary for sWAT remodeling, since denervation of sWAT, but not brown adipose tissue (BAT), blocks TAN-induced sWAT remodeling and resolution of inflammation. In sum, reorganization of nutrient-sensitive pathways remodels sWAT and drives the metabolic benefits of timed feeding.

The literature on the Indian pharmaceutical industry has examined the importance of product patents and the attempts policy has made to regulate them. However, it has not done the same for the question of brands. Our study addresses this gap. The Tariff Commission Report of 1968, a turning point in the price control policies of the 1960s, is examined. The examination revealed two important points: first, there were attempts to regulate brands through policies; and second, brands were of high importance to all the major industry players. This became evident in the industry's resistance to the government's regulatory efforts.

The third most common disease in the world that leads to mortality is colorectal cancer (CRC). Colonoscopy, which locates and removes colonic polyps, is the most common procedure worldwide for the early identification and preventative treatment of colorectal cancer. The likelihood of a CRC patient dying can be considerably decreased by early diagnosis and treatment of precancerous polyps. Unidentified polyps may eventually turn into cancer. Although several classification algorithms have been put out to identify polyps, their effectiveness has not yet been compared to that of skilled endoscopes. An ensemble machine learning-based classification approach for detecting colorectal cancer from colonoscopy images is presented in this research. Firstly researchers collect colorectal cancer or polyp images from three standard datasets. In the preprocessing phase, researcher convert the RGB image to grayscale image and identified the region of interest (ROI) by removing the unwanted regions. A hybrid anisotropic diffusion filtering (HADF) approach was employed to eliminate noise from each image. Then the system extracts features from individual feature extractor methods and fused extracted features in a vector. The fused features help to detect colorectal polyp or cancer for increasing cancer or polyp identification rates. Finally, an ensemble classifier classifies the colorectal cancer or normal images and achieves better accuracy. The suggested technique exceeds the prior conventional methods, according to tests on widely used public datasets, improving accuracy by 99.45 %, sensitivity by 99.30 %, specificityby 99.58 %, and precision 99.53 %.

Mangroves are crucial ecosystems that play a role in carbon sequestration, shoreline fortification, and provide habitats for diverse species. In developing nations like India, there is a need for more knowledge on the occurrence and distribution of MPs in mangrove forests under changing seasons. Our investigation aimed to fulfil this research gap by studying the seasonal patterns of microplastic distribution within the sediments of the Kota mangroves in south-western India. The mean (± standard deviation) microplastic abundance was 1418.52 (±1404.34) MPs/kg during the wet season and 1414.32 (±1368.65) MPs/kg during the dry season. A consistent pattern in microplastic categories was observed, with fibres being the predominant shape followed by film, fragment, and foam. Microplastics of size 0.1–0.3mm were dominant in all seasons. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Raman Spectroscopy analyses revealed the presence of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy between control and extracted samples revealed adsorption of Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe, and Ni onto the extracted microplastics. The primary contributors to the MP pollution were attributed to fishing related activities, fish meal processing industry, tourism, and local households. This study established a baseline information on the seasonal dynamics governing the distribution of microplastics in sediment of Kota mangroves.

Background: The highly infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates using bio-containment facilities to study viral pathogenesis and identify potent antivirals. However, the lack of high-level bio-containment laboratories across the world has limited research efforts into SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the discovery of drug candidates. Previous research has reported that non-replicating SARS-CoV-2 Spike-pseudotyped viral particles are effective tools to screen for and identify entry inhibitors and neutralizing antibodies. Methods: To generate SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, a lentiviral packaging plasmid p8.91, a luciferase expression plasmid pCSFLW, and SARS-CoV-2 Spike expression plasmids (Wild-type (D614G) or Delta strain) were co-transfected into HEK293 cells to produce a luciferase-expressing non-replicating pseudovirus which expresses SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on the surface. For relative quantitation, HEK293 cells expressing ACE2 (ACE2-HEK293) were infected with the pseudovirus, after which luciferase activity in the cells was measured as a relative luminescence unit. The ACE2-HEK293/Pseudovirus infection system was used to assess the antiviral effects of some compounds and plasma from COVID-19 patients to demonstrate the utility of this assay for drug discovery and neutralizing antibody screening. Results: We successfully produced lentiviral-based SARS-CoV2 pseudoviruses and ACE2-expressing HEK293 cells. The system was used to screen compounds for SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors and identified two compounds with potent activity against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus entry into cells. The assay was also employed to screen patient plasma for neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, as a precursor to live virus screening, using successful hits. Significance: This assay is scalable and can perform medium-to high-throughput screening of antiviral compounds with neither severe biohazard risks nor the need for higher-level containment facilities. Now fully deployed in our resource-limited laboratory, this system can be applied to other highly infectious viruses by swapping out the envelope proteins in the plasmids used in pseudovirus production.

This paper aims to identify construction robotics' potential to reduce airborne virus transmission, review factors limiting the technology's adoption and highlight how similar barriers have been addressed in other industries. Construction robotics were identified and classified into 8 themes with 25 categories through a critical literature review. We undertook interviews with 4 construction contractors and conducted an online questionnaire with 32 experts from the UK (n=14) and China (n=18) who reviewed the robotic systems we identified and ranked the potential ability of each to reduce airborne virus transmission within the construction industry. The results of this study showed that construction robotics is not only beneficial to reduce airborne virus transmission, but may also help to reduce the spread of future contagious viruses. We found no significant difference (P>0.05) in practical usage and implementation barriers to construction robotics between the UK and China. Cost, training and limited awareness of robotic technologies were the main implementation barriers we identified in both countries. Both the UK and China may need to adopt strategies such as providing more financial support to small construction industries and skill training which are utilised successfully in other sectors to realise the potential of construction robotic technologies.

Background: Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) has been shown to be safe and efficacious in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged ≥2 years. Here, we describe results from an observational study assessing change in burden of illness following initiating ELX/TEZ/IVA in real-world settings. Methods: This US-based, multicenter, observational study used data from electronic medical records to evaluate real-world burden of illness before and after ELX/TEZ/IVA initiation in people with CF aged ≥12 years heterozygous for F508del and a minimal function mutation (F/MF) or an uncharacterized CFTR mutation. Endpoints included absolute change from baseline in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV1), body mass index (BMI) and BMI-for-age z-score, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and numbers of pulmonary exacerbations (PEx). Results: Overall, 206 people with CF were enrolled (mean [SD] age 22.5 [11.1] years; 192 [93.2%] with F/MF genotype). Mean follow-up was 15.6 (SD, 1.6) months. Improvements in ppFEV1 (7.3 [95% CI: 5.7, 8.8] percentage points) were observed from baseline through follow-up. Increases in BMI (1.40 [95% CI: 1.07, 1.77] kg/m2) and BMI-for-age z-score (0.14 [95% CI: 0.00, 0.28]) were also observed from baseline at 12 months. The estimated annualized rate of any PEx was 1.31 at baseline and 0.61 over follow-up (rate ratio 0.47 [95% CI: 0.39, 0.55]), with annualized rates of PEx requiring antibiotics and hospitalizations of 0.55 and 0.88 in the baseline period and 0.12 and 0.36 over follow-up (rate ratios 0.22 [95% CI: 0.15, 0.31] and 0.41 [95% CI: 0.32, 0.51]), respectively. Absolute change in HbA1c was −0.22 (95% CI: -0.38, −0.06) from baseline through follow-up. Conclusions: ELX/TEZ/IVA treatment was associated with improved lung function, increased BMI, reduced frequency of PEx, and improved (i.e., reduced) HbA1c. These results confirm the broad clinical benefits of ELX/TEZ/IVA seen in clinical trials and show the potential for ELX/TEZ/IVA to improve markers of glucose metabolism.

Summary: Background: Despite lifelong and detrimental effects, the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors (HRBs) during adolescence remains understudied in low- and middle-income countries. This study examines the co-occurrence of HRBs and its correlates among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India. Methods: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021–2022, involving 9697 adolescents (aged 10–19 years) from eight countries, namely Burkina Faso, China, Ethiopia, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. A standardized questionnaire was administered to examine five types of HRBs − physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior. Latent class analysis was employed to identify clustering patterns among the behaviors, and logistic regression was used to identify the correlates of these patterns. Findings: Three clusters of HRBs were identified, with Cluster 1 (27.73%) characterized by the absence of any specific risky behavior, Cluster 2 (68.16%) characterized by co-occurrence of physical inactivity and poor dietary habits, and Cluster 3 (4.11%) characterized by engagement in smoking, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior. Relative to Cluster 1, being in Cluster 2 was associated with being female (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09–1.32), not enrolled in education (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71–0.99), and not engaged in paid work (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08–1.41). Compared with those Cluster 1, adolescents in Cluster 3 were less likely to be female (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.32–0.54), be engaged in paid work (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41–0.71), more likely to be older (aOR 7.56, 95% CI 5.18–11.03), not be enrolled in educational institution (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.27–2.38), and more likely to live with guardians other than parents (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.19–2.05). Interpretation: The significant clustering patterns of HRBs among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India highlights the urgent need for convergent approaches to improve adolescent health behaviors. Early life and school-based programs aimed at promoting healthy behaviors and preventing risky and unhealthy behaviors should be prioritized to equip adolescents with the tools and skills for lifelong well-being. Funding: Fondation Botnar (Grant #INV-037672) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, partially funded this study.

Signalling peptides play a vital role in regulating a wide range of aspects, including plant growth, development, and responses to various biotic and abiotic conditions. In recent times, small post-translationally altered peptides have garnered significant attention from plant biologists due to their crucial role as signalling molecules in various biological processes. Until now, the biological function of peptides containing Tyrosine Sulfation (PSY) gene family members has only been elucidated in Arabidopsis. However, their functions in plant developmental processes and their responses to different biotic and abiotic stress conditions remain elusive in other crops. Therefore, in this study, we identified 109 PSY genes in the rice genome for the first time. However, our detailed in silico analysis focused specifically on 7 OsPSY genes of the O. sativa Japonica Group (Nippobare). Phylogenetic analysis of PSY genes from various plant species has classified these genes into eight distinct groups, designated as Group I to VIII. Interestingly, the 7 OsPSY genes identified in rice were found to be distributed across all four groups including I, V, VI and VIII. In addition, closely linked groups of PSY genes showed more similarities in terms of gene structures, conserved motif distributions, and corresponding subcellular locations. Further, the Ka/Ks score analysis revealed that OsPSY genes have undergone significant purifying selection throughout their evolutionary history. Furthermore, multiple CAREs were discovered in the OsPSY promoters, suggesting their potential importance in regulating plant growth, responses to plant hormones, and multifactorial stress conditions. Additionally, the potential miRNAs that specifically targeted to OsPSY genes were identified and also examined their expression kinetics in different tissues and developmental stage. Out of the seven OsPSY genes, six OsPSY genes were found to be targeted by twelve miRNAs. Moreover the expression profile of OsPSY genes showed a differential expression pattern in various tissues and multifactorial stress conditions. Therefore, these findings serve as a valuable reference for further molecular studies aimed at enhancing the yield and stress tolerance of rice. The understanding the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the OsPSY genes can potentially lead to the development of targeted approaches to improve crop performance under various environmental conditions, ultimately contributing to agricultural productivity and global food security.

The growth and yield of crops have been significantly affected by abiotic stresses. Although respiratory metabolism is integral to plants, its understanding within the context of stress adaptation remains limited . While the rice genome contains three Aconitase genes, their specific roles in abiotic stress tolerance and plant development remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to characterize the Aconitase gene family in rice, shedding light on the evolution of Aconitase and its involvement in diverse developmental processes, as well as its response under various abiotic stress conditions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the evolutionary relationship between rice Aconitase genes and those of other plant species. The prediction of promoter cis-elements revealed the presence of diverse cis-acting elements associated with the response to abiotic stress within the Aconitase gene family. In addition, an analysis of public RNA-seq data indicated the potential involvement of Aconitase genes in various developmental processes and mechanisms related to stress tolerance. Further, qRT-PCR confirmed the expression patterns of Aconitase genes. Expression analysis revealed differential expression of Aconitase genes under cold, drought, ABA, and salt stresses. Elevated levels of the OsAco1 transcript resulted in a phenotype that exhibited increased tolerance to salt stress. Biochemical analysis revealed higher Aconitase activity in the overexpressed line compared to the control plant. Furthermore, the overexpressed line exhibited improved growth and lower H2O2 levels than the control plant following a 2-hour exposure to 200 mM salt stress. These findings suggest a potential role of Aconitase in enhancing salt stress tolerance. Moreover, they lay the foundation for further exploration into the precise involvement of Aconitase in plant developmental processes under various stress conditions, with the ultimate aim of developing salt-tolerant rice cultivars.

The purpose of this study was to identify the putative regulatory elements in the promoter region of An. arabiensis strains which differed in susceptibility to DDT and compare with those identified in its sibling An. gambaie. Basal expression level of Epsilon class GSTs (Glutathione S – transferases) GSTe1 gene was 0.512 – 0.658 (95% CI) and GSTe2 0.672 – 1.204 (95% CI) in adults of DDT resistant KGB compared to 0.031 – 0.04 (95% CI) and 0.148 – 0.199 (95% CI) respectively in susceptible MAT strains of An. arabiensis. Induced mean expression of GSTe2 in larvae exposed to DDT for one hour was 0.901 – 1.172 (95% CI) in KGB and 0.475 – 0.724 (95% CI) in MAT strain. In present work, strain specific primers were used to amplify and sequenced the promoter regions of GSTe1 and GSTe2 in the KGB, MAT and field specimens. Computational analysis revealed presence of classical arthropod initiator sequence TCAGT and putative core promoter elements, GC, CAAT, TATA boxes. A typical TATA box was identified at 35 bp upstream Transcription Start Site (TSS) in GSTe1 but was absent in GSTe2. Several binding sites for regulatory elements downstream and multiple polymorphic sites were identified between strains. The role of these regulatory elements in transcription of these genes has not been determined. However, on comparison the 2 bp adenosine indel (insertion/deletion) which was essential in driving the promoter activity in An. gambiae was identified only DDT resistant KGB strain.

Summary: Chronic viral hepatitis is a significant public health concern in the Western Pacific, including in Vietnam and the Philippines. To accelerate progress toward meeting the 2030 elimination goals, the World Health Organization (WHO) encourages countries to adopt an integrated, people-centered health sector response to hepatitis, grounded in Primary Health Care (PHC). A review of the academic and grey literature, along with policy documents, was conducted to describe the national health system and PHC response to hepatitis B and C in Vietnam and the Philippines. Information was analyzed against the four strategic levers of the WHO Operational Framework for PHC to identify challenges and opportunities. The findings suggest that both countries have relatively robust policy frameworks, with some room for improvement. Vietnam may have stronger political commitment and funding than the Philippines, while the Philippines appears to be stronger in community engagement. Both countries share challenges and opportunities for learning to actualize viral hepatitis elimination utilizing a PHC approach.

Detecting z-drugs, a sedative-hypnotic medication, is also misused for criminal activities. Therefore, the analysis of urine samples is crucial for clinical and forensic purposes. We conducted a study where we developed, validated, and compared an analytical method for simultaneously detecting z-drugs in urine samples. Our approach uses the QuEChERS method for sample preparation, combined with liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). We optimized the QuEChERS method to effectively extract z-drugs from urine samples while minimizing matrix effects and achieving high recovery rates. After extraction, we split the samples into two parts for analysis using LC-MS/MS and GC–MS/MS. We validated our methods, and the results showed good linearity over a broad concentration range (1–200 ng/mL) for each z-drug. The limits of detection and quantification were within clinically relevant ranges, ensuring sensitivity for detecting z-drugs in urine samples. We compared the two chromatographic techniques by analyzing a set of urine samples spiked with known concentrations of z-drugs using both LC-MS/MS and GC–MS/MS methods and then applied to the real samples. The results were statistically analyzed to assess any significant differences in accuracy and precision above 95 %, and both methods offered reliable and consistent results with the samples as well. In conclusion, our analytical method coupled with both LC-MS/MS and GC–MS/MS using the QuEChERS approach provides a comprehensive and robust solution for the simultaneous detection of z-drugs in urine samples. The choice between the two chromatographic techniques can be based on the specific z-drugs of interest and the required analytical performance. This method holds promise for applications in clinical toxicology, forensic analysis, and monitoring z-drug usage.

Limited evidence exists that serves to guide the field of practice and research pertaining to the long-term issues and needs of adults with spina bifida. Understanding the lived experience of adults with spina bifida has lagged behind considerably resulting in limited evidence-based guidance for individuals with spina bifida and their families and the health care professionals who provide services to this population. Given the paucity of knowledge of the lived experience as it pertains to adulthood, this scoping review was undertaken. More than 10,000 records from 1974 through 2023 were screened based upon the search criteria whose purpose was to examine the research conducted the psychosocial outcomes and needs of adults with spina bifida. A total of 81 articles were included in this review. The findings of this review revealed significant gaps were apparent. There was limited data on adulthood benchmarks of employment, education, community living and social relationships. Limitations associated with the investigations of this review included underpowered samples, lack of longitudinal designs, use of instruments with insufficient psychometrics, and the use of clinical and administrative data sets not designed for research purposes. As the survival rates of individuals with spina bifida continue to improve with medical advances more robust psychosocial research pertaining to this population is needed.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of work-life balance on project performance among construction professionals, with an emphasis on understanding how co-worker relationship quality influences this dynamic. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was adopted. Validated questionnaires were used to gather data from 335 construction professionals, selected via convenience sampling to reflect the dynamic and dispersed nature of the construction sector. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS (version 28.0) and SmartPLS version 4, employing PLS-SEM to examine the hypothesised model and assess relationships among latent constructs. To ensure the model's predictive accuracy and relevance, we adopted the PLSpredict method and the cross-validated predictive ability test, comparing our model's predictions against established benchmarks. Results indicate both work-life balance and co-worker relationship quality had significant positive effects on project performance. Moreover, the co-worker relationship quality was found to play a crucial moderating role in this relationship, with a harmonious co-worker relationship further enhancing the positive effect of a balanced work-life on project performance of construction professionals. Construction firms are advised to prioritise initiatives promoting work-life balance, recognising its pivotal role in enhancing project outcomes. Furthermore, fostering positive co-worker relationships can amplify these benefits, indicating the need for team-building and positive workplace culture initiatives. While work-life balance has been extensively studied in other sectors, this research fills a significant gap in the construction management literature, especially regarding the role of co-worker relationships quality in moderating the work-life balance and performance nexus. Lastly, the current study contributes to the work-life balance, co-worker relationship quality and project performance discourse by dissecting this relationship through a confluence of social exchange theory, JD-R model, and conservation of resources theory.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) contamination of foodstuffs has become a topical issue in recent years on account of its potential hepatotoxicity to consumers. This review therefore highlights human exposure to PAs across Africa, focusing on their occurrence, current trends of food contamination, and their associated health implications. A comprehensive search of peer-scientific literature and relevant databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus, was conducted from 2001 to 2023 focusing mainly on foodstuffs, including grains, herbs, teas, honey, and livestock products. The findings revealed that PA contamination is a prevalent issue in several African countries, with the primary sources of contamination attributed to the consumption of honey and the use of PA plants as herbs in food preparations. Additionally, poor farming practices have been found to influence the presence and levels of PAs in foodstuffs. To mitigate PA contamination in food and safeguarding public health across the continent, several strategies are proposed, including the implementation of stringent regulatory and quality control measures, adoption of Good Agricultural Practices, and public awareness campaigns to educate producers, consumers and beekeepers about the risks associated with PA-contaminated food products.