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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in Pakistan, which is ranked fifth among high‐burden TB nations worldwide. The growing frequency of drug‐resistant TB strains, particularly multidrug‐resistant TB (MDR‐TB), creates new obstacles. Socioeconomic factors, a lack of awareness, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure all contribute to the spread of the disease. Objective: This study investigates the mechanisms contributing to the growth in tuberculosis cases in Pakistan, the implications for public health, and multifaceted approaches to prevention and control. Methods: A comprehensive literature study was undertaken, including an analysis of peer‐reviewed articles, World Health Organization (WHO) data, and government sources, to identify factors driving tuberculosis prevalence, control issues, and disease‐fighting tactics. Result: Several factors like Poverty, overcrowding, malnutrition, stigma, and restricted access to healthcare services are all factors contributing to an increase in tuberculosis incidence in Pakistan. The prevalence of MDR‐TB, along with a lack of an integrated healthcare response, complicates efforts to contain the disease's spread. Tuberculosis has a profound social, mental, and financial impact on individuals and communities. Public health efforts, such as the National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and international partnerships, have been created to eradicate tuberculosis, although considerable hurdles persist. Objective: This study investigates the mechanisms contributing to the growth in tuberculosis cases in Pakistan, the implications for public health, and multifaceted approaches to prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain (BCn) revolution across the world leads the global transformation by altering the existing structure and introducing the accessible and decentralized paradigm. This technology facilitates access to resources and redefines conventional frameworks, empowering people and communities globally. Motivated by these attention‐seeking potentiality of BCn features, in this article, we examine the challenges, advancements, and emerging prospects of the BCn revolution in Bangladesh. With a specific focus on BCn implications for sustainability and smart development, this study addresses the urgent need to understand how BCn can facilitate sustainable development in rapidly evolving countries like Bangladesh. The goal of this research is to draw attention to the successful revolution of BCn in the world and use this knowledge to extract best practices and cutting‐edge strategies for sustainable transformation of Bangladesh. The contribution of this study covers the underlying concepts of the BCn technology, showing the revolutionary state of BCn across the world, applications of BCn for sustainability, assessment of its current usage, and highlighting the BCn implementation problems. Furthermore, this study serves as a gateway to a transparent, decentralized future that fosters inclusive national progress and aligns with sustainable development goals. This study also strives to inspire individuals to use this transformational technology for the collective benefit of society by highlighting BCn's potential to empower communities while driving positive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Bangladesh has been going through outbreaks of dengue fever cases every year since 2000. Yet this year's (2023) episode of dengue fever has crossed every line concerning fatality. Symptoms of the fever range from high fever, headaches, and muscle aches to deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The present review aims to assess the current pathogenicity and associated risk factors of recent dengue outbreaks in Bangladesh. Methods: To perform this review work, we extracted relevant information from published articles available in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We used dengue virus, dengue fever, and dengue outbreaks as keywords while searching for information. Results: This Aedes mosquito‐transmitted viral fever is more common in Bangladesh because of the tropical nature and immense burden of populations, resulting in convenient conditions for the reproduction of the vector. The rapid genetic transformation of this RNA virus and the resistance of its vector against insecticides have intensified the situation. The number of hospitalized patients has increased, and the case fatality rate has risen to 0.47%. Inadequate mosquito control measures, plenty of vector breeding sites, and a lack of public awareness have worsened the situation. Routine spraying of effective insecticides in high‐risk zones, regular inspection of potential mosquito breeding sites, and public awareness campaigns are the keys to limiting the spread of this virus. Also, the availability of detection kits, improved hospital settings, and trained health professionals are mandatory to keep disease fatalities under control. Conclusion: Dengue fever is a preventable disease. The successful development of a competent vaccine is now a prime need for preventing any future upsurge of the disease. Also, we recommend public awareness, vector control activities, and global collaboration to prevent spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Upland rice is a distinctive drought‐aerobic ecotype of cultivated rice highly resistant to drought stress. However, the genetic and genomic basis for the drought‐aerobic adaptation of upland rice remains largely unclear due to the lack of genomic resources. In this study, we identified 25 typical upland rice accessions and assembled a high‐quality genome of one of the typical upland rice varieties, IRAT109, comprising 384 Mb with a contig N50 of 19.6 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis revealed upland and lowland rice have distinct ecotype differentiation within the japonica subgroup. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that adaptive differentiation of lowland and upland rice is likely attributable to the natural variation of many genes in promoter regions, formation of specific genes in upland rice, and expansion of gene families. We revealed differentiated gene expression patterns in the leaves and roots of the two ecotypes and found that lignin synthesis mediated by the phenylpropane pathway plays an important role in the adaptive differentiation of upland and lowland rice. We identified 28 selective sweeps that occurred during domestication and validated that the qRT9 gene in selective regions can positively regulate drought resistance in rice. Eighty key genes closely associated with drought resistance were appraised for their appreciable potential in drought resistance breeding. Our study enhances the understanding of the adaptation of upland rice and provides a genome navigation map of drought resistance breeding, which will facilitate the breeding of drought‐resistant rice and the "blue revolution" in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigella sativa is an herbal therapy for various afflictions. It has some potential to be a promising option as an efficacious treatment for COVID‐19 patients that can contribute to global healthcare as a relatively cheap therapy but evidence of its use from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is limited. Therefore, to explore the effect of N. sativa in combating COVID‐19, we undertook this meta‐analysis. We searched several databases to retrieve all RCTs investigating N. sativa for the treatment of COVID‐19 as compared to placebo or standard care. We used RevMan 5.4 for all analyses with risk ratio (RR) or odds ratio (OR) as the effect measures. We included a total of seven RCTs in this review. N. sativa significantly reduced the risk of all‐cause mortality in patients with COVID‐19 compared to the control group (RR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.72; I2 = 0%). N. sativa significantly reduced the rate of viral PCR positivity (RR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.97; I2 = 0%). We did not find any significant difference in the risk of hospitalization (RR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.04 to 1.54; I2 = 0%) and the rate of no recovery (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.20 to 1.15; I2 = 84%) between the two groups. N. sativa is an easily available herbal medicine that may decrease the risk of mortality and improve virological clearance in COVID‐19 patients. However, our results are limited by the small number of RCTs available. Further large‐scale RCTs are needed to better understand the anti‐inflammatory and antiviral effects of N. sativa in COVID‐19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pigs for biomedical research are administered commercial fluids made for human consumption when they receive intravenous (IV) fluid therapy. Although pigs and humans have slightly different bodily fluid compositions, the composition shift happens at the same rate as their rapid growth. Objective: The study aimed to analyse the composition of porcine blood according to breeding cycle using a portable blood analyser and provides data for developing customized IV fluids for pigs. Methods: Pigs were sorted 25, 50, 100 and 120 days after birth, and sows were classified into candidate, pregnant and farrowing groups. A blood sample was collected from the external jugular vein and analysed using the EPOC blood analysis system using haematological, biochemical and gas parameters. Results: There was no difference among pig groups by age, but hematocrit and haemoglobin amounts decreased in sows after farrowing, but their concentrations were higher as compared to pigs. Glucose gradually reduced as age increased in pigs and during pregnancy in sows. Conclusion: This study provided a comprehensive analysis of porcine blood composition by breeding cycle and highlighted the importance of glucose supplementation for IV fluid therapy in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human right and essential to control infectious diseases. However, many countries, including Ethiopia, do not have adequate data to report on basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Although contaminated drinking water spreads diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and dysentery, studies on drinking water contamination risk levels in households are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, closing this gap needs investigation. Methods: A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted. A total of 5350 households were included. A systematic, simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants. The information was gathered through in‐person interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Furthermore, 1070 drinking water samples were collected from household water storage. Results: This investigation revealed that 9.8%, 83.9%, and 4.9% of households used limited, basic, and safely managed drinking water services, respectively. Besides, 10.2%, 15.7% and 59.3% of households used safely managed, basic and limited sanitation services, respectively. Yet, 10.6% and 4.2% of households used unimproved sanitation facilities and open defecation practices. Also, 40.5% and 19.4% of households used limited and basic hygiene services. On the other hand, 40.1% of households lacked functional handwashing facilities. In this study, 12.1%, 26.3%, and 42% of households' drinking water samples were positive for Escherichia coli, fecal coliforms, and total coliforms, respectively. Also, 5.1% and 4.5% of households' drinking water samples had very high and high contamination risk levels for E. coli, respectively. We found that 2.5% and 11.5% of households and water distributors had unacceptable fluoride concentrations, respectively. Conclusion: The majority of households in Bishoftu town lack access to safely managed sanitation, drinking water, and basic hygiene services. Many households' water samples had very high and high health risk levels. Hence, the government and partner organizations should implement water and sanitation safety plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is causing alterations in annual temperature regimes worldwide. Important aspects of this include the reduction of winter chilling temperatures as well as the occurrence of unpredicted frosts, both significantly affecting plant growth and yields. Recent studies advanced the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying cold responses and tolerance in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, how these cold‐responsive pathways will readjust to ongoing seasonal temperature variation caused by global warming remains an open question. In this review, we highlight the plant developmental programmes that depend on cold temperature. We focus on the molecular mechanisms that plants have evolved to adjust their development and stress responses upon exposure to cold. Covering both genetic and epigenetic aspects, we present the latest insights into how alternative splicing, noncoding RNAs and the formation of biomolecular condensates play key roles in the regulation of cold responses. We conclude by commenting on attractive targets to accelerate the breeding of increased cold tolerance, bringing up biotechnological tools that might assist in overcoming current limitations. Our aim is to guide the reflection on the current agricultural challenges imposed by a changing climate and to provide useful information for improving plant resilience to unpredictable cold regimes. Summary statement: In this review, we delve into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to cold. We highlight recent insights into the (epi)genetic pathways controlling cold responses, identifying attractive targets with the potential to address some of the agricultural challenges imposed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is one of the most widely consumed animal‐derived food due to its nutritional properties. It is mainly derived from animals, which are being treated with anti‐tuberculosis (anti‐TB) drugs for disease treatment and prevention, hence, these may excrete from animals through milk, thus, pose a threat to consumers. An analytical method based on automated micro‐solid phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography‐triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was developed for the analysis of anti‐TB drugs in milk samples. The developed method was validated and estimated measurement uncertainty for its applicability to routine analysis. The method linearity was in the range of 25–1000 ng/ml with a coefficient of determination between 0.994 and 0.999. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were in the range of 1.342–9.606 and 4.469–31.98 ng/ml, respectively for anti‐TB drugs. The percent recovery was found to be in the range of 82.29%–111.84%, and the expanded uncertainty of the proposed and validated method was observed to be in the range of 2.94%–28.1%. The present method has been able to analyze 16 anti‐TB drugs in different milk samples and was found to be quick, rapid, high‐throughput, cost‐effective, precise and accurate, and useful for routine testing of anti‐tuberculosis drugs in milk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a wide group of animal pathogens, which can cause a variety of diseases, and sometimes pose a great challenge on public health.[1] CoVs belong to the I Nidovirales i order, I Coronaviridae i family, and I Coronavirinae i subfamily, which contains four genera- I Alphacoronavirus i ( -CoV), I Betacoronavirus i ( -CoV), I Gammacoronavirus i ( -CoV) and I Deltacoronavirus i ( -CoV).[2] To date, seven human CoVs (HCoVs) have been identified: HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E belong to -CoV, HCoV-OC43, HKU1, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), MERS-CoV, and the latest SARS-CoV-2 belong to -CoV.[[1], [3]] Importantly, all of them are descended from animal reservoirs. Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus replication in primary human cells reveals potential susceptibility to infection. Broad cross-species infection of cultured cells by bat HKU2-related swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus and identification of its replication in murine dendritic cells in vivo highlight its potential for diverse interspecies transmission. The solid black arrows indicate the known PDCoV and SADS-CoV transmission events occuring under experimental or natural conditions. [Extracted from the article]

This study assessed the quality and challenges of health data before and after the implementation of the Hospital Information System (HIS) for the fistula program at the Comprehensive Community‐based Rehabilitation Hospital in Tanzania. This was a mixed methods study. Data were collected at baseline and end‐line (before and after the implementation of the HIS) study using quantitative Data Quality Assessment (DQA) checklists and individual interviews. At the baseline, the DQA checklists were assessed using files registered from 2017 to May 2019. At the end‐line, the DQA checklists used data for a patient registered at the established HIS from June 2019 to December 2020. Interviews with clinical and non‐clinical staff were conducted at both baseline and end‐line studies. The study found that data quality improved after the implementation of the HIS. At baseline, data completeness declined from 85% in 2017 to 44.9% in 2019 while accuracy declined from 44% in 2017 to 31% in 2019. At the end‐line, data completeness and accuracy were >80% and 100% annually respectively. Data preciseness increased from 0% at baseline to 100% at the end‐line. Both data completeness and accuracy had inconsistent tend over months, although preciseness could not be evaluated at baseline as no breakdown of indicators was reported. The major challenges related to data quality included language barrier, incompleteness of data, incorrect data entry, use of both manual and electronic systems, as well as unreliable electricity and network. In general, the HIS had improved rates of data quality in terms of completeness, accuracy, and preciseness of data as compared to the manual system. Policy‐makers and hospital administrators should ensure that the HIS are integrated into national hospital information systems, build staff capacity, ensure reliable sources of electrical power, and regular training on data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The removal of trace amount of BCl3 from SiHCl3 by adsorption is an efficient method in manufacture of electronic grade polysilicon. Objective: DFT simulations were used to investigate the adsorption mechanism of aliphatic amine adsorbents and to compare the performance of these adsorbents. Methods: The adsorption energies, mulliken charges, dipole moments and FMOs of aliphatic amines on SiHCl3 and BCl3 were calculated using the DFT method at the B3LYP/6‐311++G (2d, p) level, and on this basis the factors affecting the adsorption capacity and selectivity were explored in depth. Results: The results indicates that these adsorbents show good adsorption performance and high separation efficiency for BCl3. In particular, (CH3)2NH has the highest adsorption capacity for BCl3 at 298 K and 1 atm and achieves effective desorption at high temperatures to allow the adsorbent to be reused. Conclusions: The adsorption behaviors are strongly affected by frontier orbitals, dipoles and polarizabilities of aliphatic amines, among which HOMO of amines plays the decisive role for adsorbing BCl3, providing theoretical guidance for adsorbent design associated with removal of BCl3 from SiHCl3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of basaltic melts in equilibrium with the mantle can be determined for several Martian meteorites and in‐situ rover analyses. We use the melting model MAGMARS to reproduce these primary melts and estimate the bulk composition and temperature of the mantle regions from which they originated. We find that most mantle sources are depleted in CaO and Al2O3 relative to models of the bulk silicate Mars and likely represent melting residues or magma ocean cumulates. The concentrations of Na2O, K2O, P2O5, and TiO2 are variable and often less depleted, pointing to the re‐fertilization of the sources by fluids and low‐degree melts, or the incorporation of residual trapped melts during the crystallization of the magma ocean. The mantle potential temperatures of the sources are 1400–1500°C, regardless of the time at which they melted and within the range of the most recent predictions from thermochemical evolution models. Plain Language Summary: Martian meteorites and rocks analyzed by rovers are witnesses of magmatic processes on Mars. Some of the basaltic specimens among them have been classified as "primitive" as they are closely related to the melts that form in the mantle and feature high MgO/FeO. They record important properties of the mantle of Mars. We use the mantle melting model MAGMARS to constrain the temperature and composition of the mantle source regions from which primitive basalts originated. We find that the mantle compositions were low in CaO and Al2O3, either because they melted on several occasions, or because these components were locked in deeper layers of the mantle when it solidified from the bottom up (early magma ocean). Several mantle sources are comparatively rich in Na2O, K2O, P2O5, and TiO2. These components were either subsequently added to the mantle sources by fluids and low‐degree melts or can be explained by the trapping of melts during the progressive crystallization of the magma ocean. The temperature of the mantle sources projected to surface conditions for easier comparison (potential temperature) was 1400–1500°C, regardless of the time at which they melted, and is within the range of recent predictions from planetary‐scale models of interior dynamics. Key Points: Basalts that sampled discrete mantle regions throughout Mars's history provide information about the mantle composition and temperatureThe mantle potential temperature of primitive basalts appears constant (1400–1500ºC), yet is likely not representative of the average mantleIncompatible element concentrations in the mantle vary due to magma ocean crystallization, partial melting, and metasomatism [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh, have a high prevalence of pulmonary and extra‐pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). This prevalence is influenced by various risk factors such as ethnicity, nutrition, socioeconomic disparities, high out‐of‐pocket healthcare expenses, and specific Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) lineages. The COVID‐19 pandemic has likely hindered access to healthcare and led to under‐reporting of EPTB cases nationally and internationally. This rapid review aimed to summarize the literature on the prevalence and disease outcomes of EPTB in the mentioned countries, compare the situations across countries, and provide recommendations for future action. Methods: The review utilized PubMed and Google Scholar databases to search for literature on EPTB in South Asian countries. The search string included keywords related to different forms of EPTB and the countries of interest while excluding pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: The results showed that both TB, including drug‐resistant TB, and EPTB are prevalent and burdensome in South Asia. In Pakistan, pleural TB was the most commonly reported form of EPTB, followed by lymph node TB, abdominal TB, osteoarticular TB, Central Nervous System TB, and miliary TB. In India, lymph node TB(LNTB) was more common among EPTB cases. Bangladesh reported a high prevalence of EPTB involving lymph node, pleura, and abdomen, while Afghanistan had a higher prevalence of forms such as LNTB and tuberculous meningitis. Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of EPTB in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh is alarmingly high and negatively impacts population health. Effective measures are needed for treatment and management of this condition, along with addressing current and future challenges. Strengthening the evidence base through surveillance and research is crucial to understand the patterns and significant factors related to EPTB, requiring investment in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 outbreak has left an indelible effect on Bangladesh's agriculture sector, like that of most developing countries. Considering that agriculture is the cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy, we made an effort to compile a detailed scenario of COVID‐19's effect on it through a relevant literature review. Since no significant studies outlined a complete picture of the pandemic's impact on agriculture, our study ventured to reveal the circumstances of each sub‐sector of agriculture. During the early phases of the pandemic, farmers engaged in agriculture production got poor prices, with the majority of them incurring losses. Labor shortages and input scarcity were the most prevailing hindrances across all the sub‐sectors. The export volume seemed to shrink hugely, hurting the country's GDP. The supply chain for agricultural commodities was disrupted as a result of the lockdown and mobility restrictions, which resulted in the elimination of the majority of intermediaries. Unprecedented challenges occurred in the input and output markets, as well as in the agro‐industries, exacerbating the situation. However, while the vegetables and poultry sub‐sectors recovered utterly and the dairy sub‐sector somehow managed to stabilize, other sub‐sectors are still grieving. This study highlighted some policies that can mitigate the miseries of the agriculture sector and overcome further potential threats in Bangladesh and other agriculture‐led developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly‐restrictive temporary labour migration schemes are commonplace throughout the Indo‐Pacific region and continue to expand amid sustained policy enthusiasm for 'migration‐development'. Yet, the developmental benefits of guestworker schemes are routinely evaluated according to narrow economic criteria, with little consideration given to transnational family separation and the displacement of socially reproductive labour that sustains everyday life. 'Migration', 'development' and 'care' are deeply interlinked political economic processes, yet they have been theorised in partial isolation. We challenge this analytical disconnect, situating the developmental implications of guestworker migration in relation to the total social organisation of labour, and argue for a more holistic 'migration‐care‐development' nexus that foregrounds unsustainable disruptions to care economies. We ground our framework in the context of Australia's Pacific Labour Scheme to illustrate the developmental consequences for Pasifika households and communities, highlighting the need for 'decent care' policies to address care deficits in support of sustainable and gender‐equitable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring lightweight sandwich structures with excellent load‐bearing and vibration damping performances is one of the important topics in structural and functional applications. The aim of the present research is to design, fabricate carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) sandwich panels with rhombus cores and investigate their modal characteristics by comparing with the traditional elliptical sandwich structure experimentally and numerically. In order to obtain modal properties including natural frequencies, damping ratio, mode shapes, and frequency responses of the fabricated structure, modal experiment is performed using a modal hammer with an acceleration sensor. Furthermore, a finite element method is developed to validate the precision of the experimental data. It is recognized that the finite element results are in remarkably great agreement with those obtained by modal experiment. The experimental results showed that the natural frequencies of the sandwich structures with rhombus are much higher than that of the elliptical sandwich structures under free–free boundary conditions and equal relative density of the truss cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of adenosine deaminase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and the potential influence of patients' age groups and cutoffs of measured adenosine deaminase. Methods: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of relevant studies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated with a random‐effect model. Results: Overall, 43 studies with 1653 patients with TBM and 3417 controls without were included. Pooled results showed that adenosine deaminase in CSF is associated with satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for TBM, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82–0.90), specificity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86–0.91), positive likelihood ratio of 7.70 (95% CI: 6.16–9.63), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.12–0.20). The pooled receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91–0.96), suggesting good performance. Subgroup analyses showed good diagnostic efficacies of adenosine deaminase in CSF for both adults (AUC 0.95) and children (AUC 0.96) with TBM. AUCs indicating the diagnostic accuracies of adenosine deaminase in CSF for TBM were 0.93 for studies with cutoffs <10 U/L and and 0.94 for a cutoff =10 U/L, but only 0.90 for studies with cutoffs >10 U/L. Conclusions: Measuring adenosine deaminase of CSF shows satisfactory diagnostic efficacy for TBM in children and adults, particularly if using a cutoff ≤10 U/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Rice (Oryza sativa) is an important staple crop to address the Hidden Hunger problem not only in Asia but also in Africa where rice is fast becoming an important source of calories. The brown rice (whole grain with bran) is known to be more nutritious due to elevated mineral composition. The genetics underlying brown rice ionome (sum total of such mineral composition) remains largely unexplored. Hence, we conducted a comprehensive study to dissect the genetic architecture of the brown rice ionome. We used genome‐wide association studies, gene set analysis, and targeted association analysis for 12 micronutrients in the brown rice grains. A diverse panel of 300 resequenced indica accessions, with more than 1.02 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, was used. We identified 109 candidate genes with 5–20% phenotypic variation explained for the 12 micronutrients and identified epistatic interactions with multiple micronutrients. Pooling all candidate genes per micronutrient exhibited phenotypic variation explained values ranging from 11% to almost 40%. The key donor lines with larger concentrations for most of the micronutrients possessed superior alleles, which were absent in the breeding lines. Through gene regulatory networks we identified enriched functional pathways for central regulators that were detected as key candidate genes through genome‐wide association studies. This study provided important insights on the ionome variations in rice, on the genetic basis of the genome–ionome relationships and on the molecular mechanisms underlying micronutrient signatures. Significance Statement: A set of 109 candidate genes was identified that contribute to the genetic basis of variation in the content of 12 micronutrients in rice. Superior alleles for critical genes explaining high percentage phenotypic variation explained were missing in the improved elite breeding lines, suggesting the value of our results in improving the micronutrient content of the grains to address the bane of hidden hunger positively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk and dairy products are important sources of proteins, fats and vitamins. Although Brazil is the fourth largest milk producer in the world, mastitis, metritis, enteritis and respiratory diseases are still important in this industry. A number of antibiotics are employed for treatment and prophylaxis for these diseases, including cephalosporins, lincosamides, aminoglycosides, penicillins, tetracyclines and macrolides. Vaccination offers an important opportunity to reduce the demand for antibiotics. In this review, we present insights into milk production, antibiotic use in the Brazilian dairy industry, the consequences of these activities and perspectives for the control and surveillance of antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this work, the catalytic efficiency and influencing factors of supported bimetallic catalysts for the synchronised isomerisation of rice bran oil (RBO) to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)‐rich RBO under supercritical conditions were investigated. The morphology and internal composition of the metal catalysts were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed that Ru and Pd were successfully supported by ultra‐stable Y(USY). The catalyst and oil were synchronously isomerised in the supercritical CO2 environment, and the change in the fatty acid composition of the oil was measured by gas chromatography. The results showed that when the CO2 pressure was 8.0 MPa, the catalyst addition was 5% and the reaction temperature was 160 °C, the conversion of linoleic acid in the RBO catalysed by Ru‐Pd/USY was 68.25 ± 0.08%, and the produced oil met the edible standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to identify modifiable environmental risk factors that reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The B‐like vitamin choline plays key roles in body‐ and brain‐related functions. Choline produced endogenously by the phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase protein in the liver is not sufficient for adequate physiological functions, necessitating daily dietary intake. ~90% of Americans do not reach the recommended daily intake of dietary choline. Thus, it's imperative to determine whether dietary choline deficiency increases disease outcomes. Here, we placed 3xTg‐AD, a model of AD, and non‐transgenic (NonTg) control mice on either a standard laboratory diet with sufficient choline (ChN; 2.0 g/kg choline bitartrate) or a choline‐deficient diet (Ch‐; 0.0 g/kg choline bitartrate) from 3 to 12 (early to late adulthood) months of age. A Ch‐ diet reduced blood plasma choline levels, increased weight, and impaired both motor function and glucose metabolism in NonTg mice, with 3xTg‐AD mice showing greater deficits. Tissue analyses showed cardiac and liver pathology, elevated soluble and insoluble Amyloid‐β and Thioflavin S structures, and tau hyperphosphorylation at various pathological epitopes in the hippocampus and cortex of 3xTg‐AD Ch‐ mice. To gain mechanistic insight, we performed unbiased proteomics of hippocampal and blood plasma samples. Dietary choline deficiency altered hippocampal networks associated with microtubule function and postsynaptic membrane regulation. In plasma, dietary choline deficiency altered protein networks associated with insulin metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and fructose metabolic processing. Our data highlight that dietary choline intake is necessary to prevent systems‐wide organ pathology and reduce hallmark AD pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing crisis management research mostly reveals the patterns of the public's panic levels from the perspectives of public management, sociology, and psychology, only a few studies have revealed the spatiotemporal characteristics. Therefore, this study investigates the spatial distribution and temporal patterns and influencing factors on the general public's panic levels using the Baidu Index data from a geographic perspective. The results show that: (1) The public's panic levels were significantly correlated with the spatial distance between the epicenter and the region of investigation, and with the number of confirmed cases in different regions when the pandemic began to spread. (2) Based on the spatial distance between the epicenter and the region, the public's panic levels in different regions could be divided into three segments: core segment (0–500 km), buffer segment (500–1300 km), and peripheral segment (>1300 km). The panic levels of different people in the three segments were consistent with the Psychological Typhoon Eye Effect and the Ripple Effect can be detected in the buffer segment. (3) The public's panic levels were strongly correlated with whether the spread of the infectious disease crisis occurred and how long it lasted. It is suggested that crisis information management in the future needs to pay more attention to the spatial division of control measures. The type of crisis information released to the general public should depend on the spatial relationship associated with the place where the crisis breaks out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is the causative agent of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, which has caused serious challenges for public health systems worldwide. Due to the close relationship between animals and humans, confirmed transmission from humans to numerous animal species has been reported. Understanding the cross‐species transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the infection and transmission dynamics of SARS‐CoV‐2 in different animals is crucial to control COVID‐19 and protect animal health. In this review, the possible animal origins of SARS‐CoV‐2 and animal species naturally susceptible to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection are discussed. Furthermore, this review categorizes the SARS‐CoV‐2 susceptible animals by families, so as to better understand the relationship between SARS‐CoV‐2 and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although research has focused on density‐dependent responses of hosts to single‐parasite infections, hosts are exposed to numerous parasites simultaneously under natural conditions and if these exposures lead to infections, they can threaten host populations and ecosystem stability. Moreover, spatiotemporal variation in abundance of co‐occurring parasites might influence host infection intensity. If interactions are consistent between different coinfecting parasites, then these patterns could give managers another tool to control disease spread and even predict problematic disease emergences.We investigated how parasite density and identity alter within‐host coinfection dynamics. To test this, we simultaneously exposed Cuban treefrogs Osteopilus septentrionalis as a model amphibian species to all pairwise combinations of three problematic parasites that commonly coinfect amphibians: the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the nematode Aplectana hamatospicula and Ranavirus. Hosts were exposed to one parasite at a fixed dose and another parasite at a range of five doses.Higher doses of Bd decreased Ranaviral and A. hamatospicula loads, but Bd load was not influenced by the dose of either parasite. Ranaviral load was negatively associated with A. hamatospicula dose, but A. hamatospicula load was not affected by Ranaviral dose. We found that all the pairwise coinfections were dependent on parasite density and that pairwise interactions were highly asymmetric—strong in one direction and weak in the other—consistent with interactions dominating food webs.Synthesis and applications: We also revealed that the exposure dose of A. hamatospicula was positively associated with host tolerance to Bd infection and negatively associated with Ranaviral load in hosts. Ranavirus and Bd cause mass die‐offs in amphibians, but A. hamatospicula does not. Therefore, in systems where these parasites coexist, maintaining or increasing densities of A. hamatospicula could reduce the negative effects of Bd and Ranavirus infections. Additionally, if these asymmetric and density‐dependent patterns from community ecology are applicable to other amphibian coinfections or coinfections in other systems, this should allow conservation organizations and resource managers to predict outbreaks and manage host declines associated with deadly parasites by modifying the abundance of coinfecting parasites that might be easier to manage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrasting effects have been identified in association of weather (temperature and humidity) and pollutant gases with COVID‐19 infection, which could be derived from the influence of lockdowns and season change. The influence of pollutant gases and climate during the initial phases of the pandemic, before the closures and the change of season in the northern hemisphere, is unknown. Here, we used a spatial‐temporal Bayesian zero‐inflated‐Poisson model to test for short‐term associations of weather and pollutant gases with the relative risk of COVID‐19 disease in China (first outbreak) and the countries with more cases during the initial pandemic (the United States, Spain and Italy), considering also the effects of season and lockdown. We found contrasting association between pollutant gases and COVID‐19 risk in the United States, Italy, and Spain, while in China it was negatively associated (except for SO2). COVID‐19 risk was positively associated with specific humidity in all countries, while temperature presented a negative effect. Our findings showed that short‐term associations of air pollutants with COVID‐19 infection vary strongly between countries, while generalized effects of temperature (negative) and humidity (positive) with COVID‐19 was found. Our results show novel information about the influence of pollution and weather on the initial outbreaks, which contribute to unravel the mechanisms during the beginning of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a series of D‐π‐A conjugated molecules based on donor N‐methyl‐4,5‐diazacarbazole with a variety of acceptor end caps are quantum chemically proposed with aim of rational design of novel organic materials applicable in organic solar cells (OSCs) by using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Herein, the optoelectronic performance of tailored molecules was explored by substituting the bay annulated indigo dye acceptor unit with a variety of molecules including 4‐(5‐methyl‐thiophene‐2‐yl)benzothiadiazole; 1, 2‐(3‐methyl‐5‐methylene‐4‐oxothiazolidin‐2‐ylidene)‐malononitrile; 2, 3‐methyl‐5‐methylene‐2‐thioxothiazolodin‐4‐one; 3, 2‐methylenemalononitrile; 4, 2‐cynaoacryli‐caidmethylester; 5, those are linked through the thiophene bridge. The DFT results encompassed the significant variations of electronic behavior of newly designed molecules (M1‐M5) with respect to the reference molecule, especially in the case of 1, 2, and 3 substitution. The designed molecules exhibit excellent electron transition due to the increasing λmax toward the higher region. The outcomes of this study proposed the designed molecules as a possible choice in designing efficient optoelectronic materials for OSCs. From the future point of view, this finding suggests that the pre‐synthesis of such hypothetical molecules using quantum mechanics is an effective strategy for designing ideal candidates for solar cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastrointestinal tract of poultry is a potential source of Campylobacter jejuni. Here, the prevalence, risk factors, antimicrobial susceptibility profile and genetic relationship of C. jejuni were studied in broilers from farms and meat from live bird markets (LBMs) and super shops (SS). Pooled cloacal samples were obtained from farms in six districts of Bangladesh between June 2019 and March 2020. Pooled meat samples were obtained from LBMs and SS in the Chattogram district. Microbial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antimicrobial susceptibility tests were used to detect multidrug‐resistant C. jejuni. A positive PCR amplicon was validated by mapA partial gene sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis. In total, 12.5% (95% CI: 8.5–17.7%) of farms (N = 216) and 27.1% (95% CI: 15.28–41.85%) of LBMs and SS (N = 48) tested positive for C. jejuni. Moreover, 98% of the isolates were multidrug‐resistant, with 86% resistant to five or more antimicrobial groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a downtime of <14 days, no separate footwear for shed access, and more than one person entering the sheds were significantly associated with C. jejuni colonization. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a strong relationship between C. jejuni strains obtained in Bangladesh and strains isolated in India, South Africa and Grenada from humans, pigs and bats. This study revealed significant contamination of broiler meat with Campylobacter spp. and C. jejuni. Potential sources of contamination and anthropogenic factors associated with the alarming prevalence of C. jejuni identified in this study would aid in reducing the growing risks of broiler‐associated pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic mechanics of van der Waals (vdWs) materials offers opportunity to peel off individual atomic layers, initiating a 2D revolution in the fields of materials science, physics, and chemistry. The elasticity, bending, and fracture strength of most of their 2D derivatives are also orientation‐dependent, which not only determines the reliability of devices based on 2D materials but also offers a vast playground for atomic manufacturing with tunable functions. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the anisotropic mechanical properties of 2D materials is imminent. In this review, the anisotropic mechanical properties of 2D materials are summarized in attempt to capture the current progress in this field, as well as the route toward their applications. Following a brief discussion of the anisotropic lattice structures of 2D materials, unique experimental methodologies that have been developed to characterize their anisotropic mechanics are discussed. Then, the review pivots on recent processes in anisotropic elastic, fracture, friction, and bending properties of 2D materials. Unique applications of these anisotropic properties, such as mechanical fabrication of atomic precision, as well as anisotropic strain‐induced piezoelectric and band modulation, are further highlighted. Finally, besides emphasizing the need for breakthrough in anisotropic mechanics, prospects for the developments of this field are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enriched shergottites contain interstitial Si‐rich mesostasis; however, it is unclear whether such mesostasis is formed by impact or magmatic processes. We use laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb measurements of minerals within the interstitial Si‐rich mesostasis and of merrillite within the coarse‐grained groundmass of Martian‐enriched gabbroic shergottite Northwest Africa (NWA) 6963. The date derived of tranquillityite, Cl‐apatite, baddeleyite, and feldspar from the Si‐rich mesostasis is 172.4 ± 6.1 Ma, and the derived merrillite date is 178.3 ± 10.6 Ma. We conclude, based on textural observation, that merrillite is a late magmatic phase in NWA 6963, that it was not produced by shock, and that its U–Pb‐system was not reset by shock. The indistinguishable dates of the gabbroic merrillite and the minerals within the Si‐rich mesostasis in NWA 6963 indicate that the Si‐rich mesostasis represents a late‐stage differentiated melt produced in the final phase of the magmatic history of the gabbroic rock and not a shock melt. This can likely be transferred to similar Si‐rich mesostases in other enriched shergottites and opens the possibility for investigations of Si‐rich mesostasis in enriched shergottites to access their magmatic evolution. Our results also provide a crystallization age of 174 ± 6 Ma (weighted average) for NWA 6963. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant biophysical and biochemical properties play important roles to explore the resistance sources against thrips. In this study, we investigated the effect of trichomes and biochemical contents of 11 mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties to search for the most resistant varieties against the incidence and damage of two thrips species, Megalurothrips usitatus and Thrips palmi. Resistance was quantified by examining the incidence of the thrips on different plant parts regarding the trichomes and biochemical content of the varieties. Further, the extent of damage by the thrips species and the effects on yield of the selected varieties were examined. All the 11 mung bean varieties were attacked by both the thrips during vegetative and flowering stage, however, lowest incidence occurred in BARI Mung‐7 followed by BARI Mung‐8 and BU Mug 2. The lower incidence was associated with higher trichomes and biochemicals content of the same varieties, as thrips population showed significant negative relationships with trichome density, moisture, chlorophyll(a+b), potassium, and phenol content. Although several biochemicals had negative effects, the increasing total soluble sugar content in leaves increased the incidence of both M. usitatus and T. palmi. There was no variation in phosphorous content in the leaves of the 11 varieties. Significant variations were detected in damaging the flower bud, flower infestation, and shedding by thrips which affected the yield of mung bean. Negative responses of thrips to the increasing trichomes, moisture, chlorophyll, phenol, and potassium in mung bean suggest the significance of these properties to develop resistant varieties against thrips. Core Ideas: Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) and Thrips palmi (Karny) infested the mung bean.Thrips attacked all the varieties, but comparatively the lower incidence occurred in BARI Mung‐7.Thrips population negatively correlated with trichomes and biochemicals except total sugar content.Infestation by the two thrips species at flowering stage affected the yield of mung bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low‐velocity impacts that represent the equipment drop during maintenance and production, crash and drops of luggage that may occur during transportation and bird strikes during takeoff may occur in aircraft parts where honeycomb composite structures are used. Therefore, the low‐velocity impact (LVI) resistance of aircraft components is crucial. In this study, the effect of graphene nano platelets (GNPs) on the LVI behaviors of the BFR (basalt fiber reinforcement) laminated face‐sheets and the interface adhesive between the face‐sheet and the aluminum honeycomb core for composite sandwich structures were investigated. LVI tests were applied to GNPs doped and un‐doped BFR/aluminum composite sandwich samples to determine the values of the impact forces, displacements, interaction times, and absorbed energy at two different energy levels of 10 J and 20 J. The surface damages in the impact zones of the GNPs doped and un‐doped BFR laminated top face‐sheets of the sandwich samples were investigated on a macro scale with liquid penetrant. The damage formation and development of GNPs were detected in the cross‐sectional micro‐images of the top face‐sheets. SEM analysis was accomplished to define the fracture mechanisms provided by GNPs. As a consequence of tests and damage analysis, it was reported that GNPs increase the impact resistance of BFR/aluminum honeycomb composite sandwiches and limit and reduce damage development. GNPs showed increases in force and rebound energies of approximately 16.1% and 21.1% for 10 J, and approximately 8.2% and 14.7% for 20 J, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass‐reinforced plastic (GRP) composite pipes, the use of which has been increasing rapidly in many areas in recent years, may be exposed to the impact of different objects during assembly, operation, repair, and maintenance. Since composite materials are sensitive to impacts, it is vital to examine damage to the material. In this study, the repeated impact response of GRP composite pipes under internal hydrostatic pressure was investigated. In order to simulate different operating conditions on the GRP samples, a prestress was created by applying 4, 16, and 32 bar internal hydrostatic pressure. Then, the prestressed pipes were subjected to low velocity repeated impact tests. As a result of repeated impact tests at low velocity, changes in maximum displacement amount, maximum contact force, energy absorption capacity, and impact velocity were evaluated depending on the number of impacts applied to the samples. The changes in the strength of the samples subjected to repeated impact tests at different internal pressure levels were determined by the hoop tensile tests performed according to the ASTM D2290 standard. As a result of the hoop tensile tests, the variation of the material's tangential tensile strength and damage behavior according to impacts' number and the prestress were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactin, produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fmb50, was used to treat insulin‐resistant (IR) hepatocyte. It was found that surfactin increased glucose consumption in insulin‐resistant HepG2 (IR‐HepG2) cells and ameliorated IR by increasing glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression and AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) mRNA expression, promoting GLUT4 translocation and activating phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) in IR‐HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, surfactin downregulated protein expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK) and glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6Pase), further inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis. In addition, surfactin played important roles in eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS), improving mitochondrial dysfunction, and inhibiting proinflammatory mediators. We observed that surfactin promoted glucose consumption, meanwhile increased translocation and protein expression of GLUT4 in Caco‐2 cells. These results confirmed the conclusion in hepatic cells. Furthermore, surfactin supplement decreased body weight, food intake, and fasting blood glucose of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice induced by streptozotocin (STZ)/high‐fat diet (HFD). Our data indicated that surfactin ameliorated insulin resistance and lowered blood glucose in intro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are the natural reservoir host for many pathogenic and non‐pathogenic viruses, potentially spilling over to humans and domestic animals directly or via an intermediate host. The ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic is the continuation of virus spillover events that have taken place over the last few decades, particularly in Asia and Africa. Therefore, these bat‐associated epidemics provide a significant number of hints, including respiratory cellular tropism, more intense susceptibility to these cell types, and overall likely to become a pandemic for the next spillover. In this systematic review, we analysed data to insight, through bat‐originated spillover in Asia and Africa. We used STATA/IC‐13 software for descriptive statistics and meta‐analysis. The random effect of meta‐analysis showed that the pooled estimates of case fatality rates of bat‐originated viral zoonotic diseases were higher in Africa (61.06%, 95%CI: 50.26 to 71.85, l2% = 97.3, p < 0.001). Moreover, estimates of case fatality rates were higher in Ebola (61.06%; 95%CI: 50.26 to 71.85, l2% = 97.3, p < 0.001) followed by Nipah (55.19%; 95%CI: 39.29 to 71.09, l2% = 94.2, p < 0.001), MERS (18.49%; 95%CI: 8.19 to 28.76, l2% = 95.4, p < 0.001) and SARS (10.86%; 95%CI: 6.02 to 15.71, l2% = 85.7, p < 0.001) with the overall case fatality rates of 29.86 (95%CI: 29.97 to 48.58, l2% = 99.0, p < 0.001). Bat‐originated viruses have caused several outbreaks of deadly diseases, including Nipah, Ebola, SARS and MERS in Asia and Africa in a sequential fashion. Nipah virus emerged first in Malaysia, but later, periodic outbreaks were noticed in Bangladesh and India. Similarly, the Ebola virus was detected in the African continent with neurological disorders in humans, like Nipah, seen in the Asian region. Two important coronaviruses, MERS and SARS, were introduced, both with the potential to infect respiratory passages. This paper explores the dimension of spillover events within and/or between bat–human and the epidemiological risk factors, which may lead to another pandemic occurring. Further, these processes enhance the bat‐originated virus, which utilises an intermediate host to jump into human species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intracellular mechanisms safeguarding DC function are of biomedical interest in several immune‐related diseases. Type 1 conventional DCs (cDC1s) are prominent targets of immunotherapy typified by constitutive activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) sensor IRE1. Through its RNase domain, IRE1 regulates key processes in cDC1s including survival, ER architecture and function. However, most evidence linking IRE1 RNase with cDC1 biology emerges from mouse studies and it is currently unknown whether human cDC1s also activate the enzyme to preserve cellular homeostasis. In this work, we report that human cDC1s constitutively activate IRE1 RNase in steady state, which is evidenced by marked expression of IRE1, XBP1s, and target genes, and low levels of mRNA substrates of the IRE1 RNase domain. On a functional level, pharmacological inhibition of the IRE1 RNase domain curtailed IL‐12 and TNF production by cDC1s upon stimulation with TLR agonists. Altogether, this work demonstrates that activation of the IRE1/XBP1s axis is a conserved feature of cDC1s across species and suggests that the UPR sensor may also play a relevant role in the biology of the human lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive breeding programs have increased rice yields, strongly contributing to increasing global food security during the post‐green revolution period. However, rice productivity has reached a yield barrier where further yield improvement is restricted by inadequate information on the association of yield components, and morphological and physiological traits with yield. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate (i) the contribution of morphological and physiological traits to yield and (ii) quantify the trade‐off effect between the yield components in rice, using a mini‐core collection of 362 rice genotypes comprising geographically distinct landraces and breeding lines. Our data point towards multiscale coordination of physiological and morphological traits associated with yield and biomass. Considerable trait variations across the genotypes in yield ranging from 0.5 to 78.5 g hill−1 and harvest index ranging from 0.7% to 60.7% highlight enormous diversity in rice across the globe. The natural elimination of trade‐off between yield components revealed the possibility to enhance rice yield in modern cultivars. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that genotypes with larger sink sizes could fix more carbon to achieve a higher yield. We propose that the knowledge thus generated in this study can be helpful for (a) trait‐based modeling and pyramiding alleles in rice‐breeding programs and (b) assisting breeders and physiologists in their efforts to improve crop productivity under a changing climate, thus harnessing the potential for sustainable productivity gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]