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This study aimed to preserve the quality of chikuwa during storage through the application of an edible coating derived from a combination of liquid smoke extracted from young coconut shell pyrolysis and chitosan. Liquid smoke was obtained through pyrolysis at temperatures of 300 °C (T1), 340 °C (T2), 380 °C (T3), and 420 °C (T4), followed by distillation to remove tar and other contaminants. A solution comprising 2 % liquid smoke was utilized to dissolve chitosan (0.5–1.5 % w/w), creating an edible coating, which was then applied to chikuwa samples through a 15-minute immersion process. Throughout the storage period, the quality of the chikuwa was evaluated using total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), total plate count (TPC), most probable number (MPN) Escherichia coli testing, as well as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum killing concentration (MKC) tests against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella enterica sv Typhimurium). Results from the TVB test indicated that chikuwa treated with an edible coating, particularly at T4, maintained freshness for up to 168 h. Microbiological analyses revealed that TPC and MPN E. coli values remained compliant with Indonesian National Standards (SNI) for up to 120 h of storage in T4-treated samples, with values of

The presence of probability-driven models is highly influential in setting the stage for vital decision-making in domains including reliability, engineering, music engineering, and other closely interconnected scenarios. With a deep understanding of the consequential roles played by probability-arisen models, we have developed and implemented a new probabilistic model. This model is constructed by utilizing the sine-based function and the exponentiated Weibull distribution, and it is known as the exponent power sine exponentiated Weibull (EPSE-Weibull) distribution. Point estimators are derived for the EPSE-Weibull distribution. These estimators are then evaluated through a simulation study. The significance of the EPSE-Weibull distribution is demonstrated through the analysis of reliability and music engineering data sets. In addition to the above, we also utilize two deep learning algorithms, namely Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Support Vector Regression (SVR), to forecast the same data sets. The findings indicate that the ANN model consistently exhibits higher levels of accuracy, as evidenced by its lower Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) values compared to the SVR model for both data sets. These findings indicate that ANN is better at capturing the fundamental patterns in the underlying data sets. In addition, visual representations, such as bar charts and line charts, further emphasize the superior performance of the ANN across both data sets.

This study assessed urban growth in Kaduna using remote sensing indices, landscape metrics, and Landsat images (2003, 2013, and 2023). Land use/land cover was carried out using the decision tree algorithm, while the transition matrix was computed using ArcGIS 10.8. Landscape fragmentation was assessed using Fragstat 4.3. The results revealed that between 2003 and 2023, bare land, built-up areas, and water bodies increased by 596 km2, 121.04 km2, and 0.22 km2, respectively, while cultivated land and tree cover decreased by 525.54 km2 and 191.91 km2, respectively. For the rate of change, bare lands, built-up areas, and water bodies increased by 29.81 km2, 6.05 km2, and 0.01 km2 annually, respectively, while cultivated lands and water bodies decreased by 26.28 km2 and 9.60 km2, respectively. For the land-use transition, 112.71 km2 of the built-up areas remained persistent. Cultivated lands, tree cover, and water bodies transitioned to built-up areas, losing 85.43 km2, 13.91 km2, and 0.91 km2, respectively. Landscape fragmentation analysis revealed that the number of patches increased from 405 in 2003 to 614 in 2023. Patch density, largest patch index, total edge, edge density, area-weighted mean shape index, and fractal dimension index decreased between 2003 and 2013 but increased between 2013 and 2023, indicating urban sprawl. However, the area-weighted mean contiguity index consistently increased between 2003 and 2023. The study concluded that urbanization is the leading driver of landscape fragmentation. This study recommends that development should be controlled to reduce encroachment on agricultural lands and habitats, thereby reducing landscape fragmentation and land degradation.

Abstract Background According to the 2016–2017 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey, only 45% of men living with HIV (MLWH) were aware of their HIV status. In an effort to increase HIV testing in Tanzania, including among men, the Government of Tanzania passed a law in December 2019 allowing HIV self-testing (HIVST) to be included in the national testing strategies. The objective of this paper is to describe the development and pilot feasibility assessment of the Self-Testing Education and Promotion (STEP) intervention, which includes male peer education and demand creation for HIVST, and nurse-led distribution of HIVST kits in a community setting. Methods The development and piloting processes were guided by the ADAPT-ITT model and informed by a national PEPFAR/USAID-funded HIV implementation science project called Sauti. The adapted STEP intervention included the following two components: 1) peer-based HIVST promotion; and 2) nurse-led HIVST distribution. For the feasibility assessment, 25 men were selected and trained as peer educators in 2019 to promote HIVST among their peers before recruiting 253 men who received instructions and an HIVST kit from a nurse at a community-based study tent site. Results Of the 236 participants who completed the 1-month follow-up survey, 98.3% reported using the kit. The majority (92.4%) of participants reported a negative HIVST result while 4.2% (n = 10) received a positive result. Most (70%, n = 7) of the participants with a positive result sought follow-up services at a healthcare facility while 40.3% (n = 95) of the participants with a negative self-test result visited the community-based project site. Most of the men (53%, n = 129) did not visit a healthcare facility or the study site. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that the combined peer-based promotion and nurse-led distribution of HIVST intervention was acceptable and feasible, though seeking follow-up services at healthcare facilities remained low. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of offering nurse-led community-based clinical follow-up services in addition to HIVST rather than referral to facilities.

Abstract Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and the essential foods for Nigerians are cereal crops, including maize, rice, sorghum, millet, and wheat. However, their productivity is significantly affected by population pressure, poor cropland utilization, and high fertilizer costs. Against this backdrop, this study examines the relationship between cereal production, cereal cropland area, fertilizer usage, and the rural population (farm labor). The study utilizes the novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulation (DYARDLS) model and analyzes annual time series data for Nigeria from 1980 to 2021. The unit root test results suggest that the chosen variables are stationary. Furthermore, the bound test affirms that all variables are cointegrated, with a significance level of 1%. The results from the DYARDLS show that in the long run, a percentage change in rural population and cereal cropland area boosts cereal food production by 0.018% and 0.51%, respectively. Meanwhile, a 1% change in the food production index exacerbates cereal output by 0.25% in the long run and 1.06% in the short run. We also find that fertilizer consumption could improve cereal production in the short and long run, but the results are insignificant. In conclusion, we demonstrate that our study variables are the decisive determining factors of cereal productivity and cannot be disregarded in the mission to attain food security.

Abstract Background Pulsed‐field ablation (PFA) has emerged as an innovative alternative to radiofrequency (RF) and cryoablation because it selectively targets myocardial tissue. Thus, we aim to estimate the efficacy and safety of PFA versus thermal ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis were retrieved from PubMed, WOS, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and CENTRAL through September 2023. We used RevMan V. 5.4 to pool dichotomous data using risk ratio (RR) and continuous data using mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). PROSPERO ID: CRD42023480321 Results We included 17 studies with a total of 2255 patients. PFA was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of AF recurrence (RR: 0.66 with 95% CI [0.51, 0.87], p = .003). However, there was no significant difference between PFA and thermal ablation in arrhythmia recurrence (RR: 0.92 with 95% CI [0.74, 1.46], p = .42). PFA was significantly associated with decreased total procedure time (MD: −15.15 with 95% CI [−20.23, −10.07], p

Understanding the interconnectedness of cryptocurrencies based on their underlying technology is crucial for effective portfolio management and risk assessment. To establish the tail dependence structure and risk spillover between cryptocurrencies, this paper used the daily closing prices of the top eight proof-of-stake-based cryptocurrencies and the top ten proof-of-work-based cryptocurrencies from September 22, 2020 to April 7, 2023. This study applied the C-vine copulas and CoVaR measures. The outcome of the copula findings for the proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies illustrates that Ethereum exhibits strong resilience during market downturns, acting as a buffer for other proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies with pairwise tail dependence coefficients ranging from 0.45 to 0.67. Bitcoin Cash emerges as a portfolio diversifier within the proof-of-work ecosystem, absorbing 45% to 75% of volatility spillovers. However, from the proof-of-stake CoVaR analysis, ETH, DOT, and MATIC rank highest in systematic importance before April 2022, signifying their significant risk transmission role, and for the proof-of-work CoVaR analysis, Bitcoin (BTC) is the primary risk transmitter in the cryptocurrency portfolio, having a positive CoVaR of 0.15. Ethereum and Bitcoin are identified as the dominant risk transmitters within their respective groups, highlighting their potential to amplify systemic risk. This study provides valuable insights for investors and policymakers navigating the increasingly complex cryptocurrency landscape.

Silicene, a two-dimensional hexagonal silicon layer, exhibits exceptional electronic and thermoelectric properties. However, its application in semiconductors is hindered by its zeroband gap, which could be overcome by modifying its electronic properties through doping. In this paper, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the band gap opening in silicene by studying the effect of magnesium and sulphur doping on its electronic, structural and thermal properties. Pristine silicene has a lattice constant of 3.86 Å and a zero-band gap. Upon doping with 12.5% S and Mg atoms, the lattice constant modifies to 3.45 Å and 3.93 Å, respectively, resulting in a direct band gap opening. For 25% Mg and S doping, the result shows that Mg and S effectively alter the band structure and the band gap of silicene monolayer at various configurations. The maximum band gap was 0.98 eV and 1.22 eV for Mg and S doping into the meta position to the reference point R, respectively. The power factor significantly increases with doping, reaching 1.20 x 1011 WK-2m-1 and 1.40 x 1011 WK- 2 m-1 for 12.5% Mg and S doping compared to 7.4 x 1010 WK-2m-1 for pristine silicene. This substantial enhancement indicates improved thermoelectric performance, making silicene a promising candidate for thermoelectric applications. Results demonstrate that tuning the band gap through doping can simultaneously enhance the power factor, highlighting the potential of Mg/S-doped silicene for efficient energy harvesting and conversion.

Purpose – Material selection, driven by wide and often conflicting objectives, is an important, sometimes difficult problem in material engineering. In this context, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodologies are effective. An approach of MCDM is needed to cater to criteria of material assortment simultaneously. More firms are now concerned about increasing their productivity using mathematical tools. To occupy a gap in the previous literature this research recommends an integrated MCDM and mathematical Bi-objective model for the selection of material. In addition, by using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), the inherent ambiguities of decision-makers in paired evaluations are considered in this research. It goes on to construct a mathematical bi-objective model for determining the best item to purchase. Design/methodology/approach – The entropy perspective is implemented in this paper to evaluate the weight parameters, while the TOPSIS technique is used to determine the best and worst intermediate pipe materials for automotive exhaust system. The intermediate pipes are used to join the components of the exhaust systems. The materials usually used to manufacture intermediate pipe are SUS 436LM, SUS 430, SUS 304, SUS 436L, SUH 409 L, SUS 441 L and SUS 439L. These seven materials are evaluated based on tensile strength (TS), hardness (H), elongation (E), yield strength (YS) and cost (C). A hybrid methodology combining entropy-based criteria weighting, with the TOPSIS for alternative ranking, is pursued to identify the optimal design material for an engineered application in this paper. This study aims to help while filling the information gap in selecting the most suitable material for use in the exhaust intermediate pipes. After that, the authors searched for and considered eight materials and evaluated them on the following five criteria: (1) TS, (2) YS, (3) H, (4) E and (5) C. The first two criteria have been chosen because they can have a lot of influence on the behavior of the exhaust intermediate pipes, on their performance and on the cost. In this structure, the weights of the criteria are calculated objectively through the entropy method in order to have an unbiased assessment. This essentially measures the quantity of information each criterion contribution, indicating the relative importance of these criteria better. Subsequently, the materials were ranked using the TOPSIS method in terms of their relative performance by measuring each material from an ideal solution to determine the best alternative. The results show that SUS 309, SUS 432L and SUS 436 LM are the first three materials that the exhaust intermediate pipe optimal design should consider. Findings – The material matrix of the decision presented in Table 3 was normalized through Equation 5, as shown in Table 5, and the matrix was multiplied with weighting criteria ß_j. The obtained weighted normalized matrix V_ij is presented in Table 6. However, the ideal, worst and best value was ascertained by employing Equation 7. This study is based on the selection of material for the development of intermediate pipe using MCDM, and it involves four basic stages, i.e. method of translation criteria, screening process, method of ranking and search for methods. The selection was done through the TOPSIS method, and the criteria weight was obtained by the entropy method. The result showed that the top three materials are SUS 309, SUS 432L and SUS 436 LM, respectively. For the future work, it is suggested to select more alternatives and criteria. The comparison can also be done by using different MCDM techniques like and Choice Expressing Reality (ELECTRE), Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE). Originality/value – The results provide important conclusions for material selection in this targeted application, verifying the employment of mutual entropy-TOPSIS methodology for a series of difficult engineering decisions in material engineering concepts that combine superior capacity with better performance as well as cost-efficiency in various engineering design.

Abstract Background Most children with developmental disabilities (DD) live in low- and middle-income countries, but access to services is limited, impacting their ability to thrive. Pilot study findings of the World Health Organization’s Caregiver Skills Training (WHO CST) intervention, which equips caregivers with strategies to facilitate learning and adaptive behaviours in children with DD, are promising but evidence from an appropriately powered trial delivered by non-specialist facilitators is lacking. This study will investigate the effectiveness and the resource impacts and costs and consequences of the WHO CST intervention in four sites in rural and urban Kenya and Ethiopia. Methods This is a 2-arm multi-site hybrid type-1 effectiveness implementation cluster randomised controlled superiority trial. After baseline assessments (T0) are completed by participants in clusters comprising 7 to 10 caregiver-child dyads, the clusters will be randomised to either the WHO CST intervention arm or a waitlist enhanced care as usual control arm. Further assessments will be completed at endpoint (T1, 18 ± 2 weeks after randomisation) and follow-up (T2, 44 ± 2 weeks after randomisation). The intervention comprises three individualised home visits and nine group sessions with trained non-specialist facilitators. Participants in the control arm will receive the intervention after completing follow-up assessments. We aim to recruit 544 child-caregiver dyads, evenly distributed across the two arms and countries. The co-primary outcomes are the child-focused Child Behavior Checklist (assessing emotional and behavioural problems) and the caregiver-focused Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (assessing caregiver quality of life), both assessed at endpoint. Secondary outcome measures comprise the two co-primary outcomes at follow-up and ten additional outcome measures at endpoint, assessing stigma-based experiences, depressive symptoms, household food insecurity, child disciplinary strategies and beliefs, CST knowledge and skill competencies, caregiver and child quality of life, social support, and children’s communication modes and functions. After quantitative follow-up assessments are completed, a mixed-methods evaluation approach will be used to investigate implementation processes and acceptability, feasibility, and potential sustainability of the intervention. Discussion The study’s findings will provide evidence of the effectiveness and resource impacts and costs and consequences of a non-specialist-delivered intervention in under-resourced contexts in one low-income and one middle-income country in East Africa. Findings will inform future research, intervention, and policy efforts to support children with DD and their families in under-resourced majority world contexts. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR202310908063134. Registered on October 16, 2023.

Biotechnology is a dynamic and revolutionary force in the modern objective of global sustainability, delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges across various industries. Biotechnology is an important instrument for achieving sustainable development goals because it combines applied research, technology, and biology. The aim of this review article is to analyze the various ways in which biotechnology contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Biotechnology is critical for achieving sustainable development because it promotes positive social, economic, and environmental developments. Biotechnological advancements have the potential to radically change how we think about development, boosting resilience, adaptability, and long-term well-being. These might range from improving healthcare and protecting the environment to revolutionizing farming methods and increasing resource efficiency. This varied discipline not only addresses critical concerns like as food security, environmental degradation, and healthcare disparities, but it also sets the framework for a more harmonious and sustainable coexistence between humans and nature. Biotechnology is an important aspect of this intricate web of development, promoting innovation, encouraging wise resource management, and charting a course for a more just and sustainable future for future generations. Biotechnology has the potential to play a significant role in developing more productive and nutritious crops, production of biofuels and contributes in the healthcare development.

Violent conflicts precipitated by allegations of blasphemy have resulted in loss of many lives and property in Nigeria. Worse still is the effects on peaceful coexistence among the different ethno-religious groups in the country. In all this, the media is a stakeholder, whether as a promoter of peace or exacerbater of tension and division. 306 editions of Daily Trust and The Punch newspapers were explored to ascertain how these national dailies are responding to the tenets of peace journalism enunciated by Johan Galtung, especially in their choice of words, to what extent do they specifically avoid war language in the coverage of sensitive incidents as blasphemy. Using quantitative content-analysis and framing as methodological and theoretical frameworks respectively, this study found that 71 of such (war) lexical indicators were used in covering the incidents of blasphemy investigated, with The Punch having the highest frequency (63). Out of the three war language categories coded (demonizing, victimizing, and emotive), first one is the most prevalent (90%) with individual words like ‘barbaric’ (25.3%), ‘fanatic’ (23.9%) and ‘extremist’ (18.3%) preponderating. All these are arguably a corollary of political, professional and economic factors. The research finally recommends that for blasphemy conflict with its attendant violence to be pre-empted, Nigerian journalists covering ethno-religious crises need to be conscientized on the tenets of peace journalism, whilst national cohesion and peaceful coexistence need to be prioritized by media industry over and above profiteering.

Abstract Pullorum disease and fowl typhoid are caused by the Salmonella serovars Gallinarum biovars Pullorum and Gallinarum, respectively. The prevalence of these diseases varies across regions and is affected by different risk factors that remain insufficiently documented. To fill this knowledge gap, we have compiled a global dataset for its prevalence, drawing upon a collection of literature from the last seven decades obtained from bilingual databases. However, a more interactive and dynamic platform is still needed for both academics and policymakers to improve biosecurity measures, limit disease transmission, and prevent future outbreaks at the global and local levels. Here, we developed an advanced visualization platform to depict the prevalence of Salmonella Pullorum and Gallinarum, especially in China, which is categorized by geographical region and temporal span. The platform offers a user-friendly, efficient, and visually engaging tool to explore the prevalence of pullorum disease and fowl typhoid between 1945 and 2021 in different regions. Additionally, this platform allows users to understand the influence of various factors, such as breed, farm mode, economic usage and even the sex of the primary host, chickens, on the prevalence of this disease. We further provided a detailed overview of individual province within China. In particular, by selecting two different provinces on the interface, users can quickly visualize and grasp the disparities in disease prevalence between the chosen regions. This interactive toolkit enables a dynamic exploration of the patterns and factors contributing to the prevalence of Salmonella Pullorum and Gallinarum. This interactive platform is freely available open source at http://139.9.85.208/ .

Background: The effectiveness of reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) depends on increasing healthcare providers’ awareness, skills, and adherence to standard practices. Mhealth applications provide an innovative approach to enhancing access to information and resources while reducing time and expenses. Objective: The study aimed to develop and evaluate a mhealth application for healthcare providers that offers quick access to updated recommendations, evidence-based guidelines, and protocols for managing patients with HCAIs. Method: The study included the development of the app, followed by a pilot test of its usability among physicians and nursing staff by using the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). Results: The mhealth application, named HCAI Shield, was developed with four main menus. The menu includes HCAI’s care bundle: hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and standard precautions. The information has been gathered following standards established by both national and international organizations. Twenty-one participants took part in the evaluation, and the mean score for the application’s usability was 5.28 ± 0.38. The areas of “ease of use,” “interface and satisfaction” received high mean scores. Conculsion: The HCAI Shield app provides convenient access to evidence-based guidelines and standards for HCAI management. Further evaluation is recommended.

Education plays an essential role in improving the welfare of society. Governments, therefore, invest huge sums of money in education. However, there is a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the impact of public education funding on educational outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study analyses the short-run and long-run effects of public education financing on the quality of education in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper applies the autoregressive distributed lag model on annual time series data from the World Bank from 1970 to 2021. The results show that public education financing significantly affects the pupil-teacher ratio in the short run at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. In the long run, however, public education financing significantly affects the pupil-teacher ratio only at the secondary and tertiary levels. The study's findings imply that increased public education spending effectively improves education quality in sub-Saharan Africa in the short and long run. Therefore, sub-Saharan Africa must make sufficient budgetary allocations to education to enhance educational quality in the sub-region.

Blended teaching (BT) in pre-service teacher (PST) education has significantly increased, particularly owing to the impact of COVID-19. However, there is limited literature on how pre-service teachers (PSTs) adjust to this mode of teaching. This study provides new longitudinal evidence on the adaptability of PSTs (n = 1285) and its predictors, including perceived social support, blended teaching behaviors, and demographics, over the course of one semester of multiple transitions in teaching format. The findings indicated a decrease in both behavioral cognition and affective adaptability, with the latter significantly decreasing. Perceived support and teacher educators' blended teaching behaviors significantly predicted initial levels and changing rates in both adaptability domains. Female PSTs reported higher initial adaptability and a less pronounced decrease than male PSTs. Implications are drawn regarding the need for specific interventions to promote PSTs' adaptability to uncertainties and improve teacher educators' pedagogical techniques in blended teaching contexts.

The integrated ECM and the TAM were being used to identify the determining factors predicting students' intention to use the Learning Management System. The independent study was conducted solely focused at Gombe State University's Faculty of Art and Management Science in Nigeria. This was a quantitative research design wherein the online questionnaires were distributed to 500 selected post-graduate students through convenient sampling with the additional support of the snowballing sampling technique. The data collected was analysed using SPSS Version 22 and Amos Version 21. This study reveals that the broadly defined integrated model variables can influence a large percentage of high school students using LMS. However, one of the integral factors in the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM), "Confirmation," is discovered to be completely unimportant in the comprehensive integrated model. This research study outlines the various important benchmarks throughout the LMS design phase as well as a strongly proposed optimum approach to a fully utilised LMS process at universities as well as higher education institutions. The study suggested that students and teachers are essential participants for whom the continued involvement tends to increase the interactions and exchange of knowledge of teaching and learning information within and between teaching staff and students.

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) enrollment in Ghana has been impeded by various challenges. One of the significant obstacles throughout the years has been public perception. As a result, many people prefer grammar-based schools over TVET. This study aims to investigate the operations of TVET in the Ayawaso-West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region in Ghana to determine the level of public perception and its impact on enrollment. The study employs the impression formation theory as a framework. An exploratory research design and a qualitative research approach were used to conduct the study. Thirty-six participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The findings revealed that the negative perception affecting the progress of the TVET subsector included lower societal recognition, lower job prestige and public ignorance of TVET. The study recommends continuous advocacy for TVET to correct public perception.

Introduction: Noma is a gangrenous infection that destroys the orofacial structures and leaves the survivors with severe functional, psychosocial, and esthetic impairments. Malocclusion is one of the central sequelae that current Noma care often neglects. Aims: This study aimed to present the pattern of malocclusion in Noma survivors and highlight the role of orthodontic and orthognathic therapy in the management. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over 6 months. After obtaining institutional ethical approval, all noma survivors with permanent teeth, including complete upper and lower molars at least on one side, who presented for review were included in the study. Patients’ demographics, Angle class of malocclusion, and various malocclusions were recorded. Data obtained were analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (IBM SPSS) version 25. Results: There were 35 (54.7%) males and 29 (45.3%) females in the age range of 12–36 years and a mean ± standard deviation of 22.52 ± 6.01 years. Most patients, 52 (81.3%), have Angle class 1 molar relation. Protrusion of anterior teeth was present in 34 (53.1%), posterior crossbite in 8 (12.5%), upper and lower teeth crowding in 11 (17.2%), isolated upper anterior crowding in 9 (16.7%), isolated lower anterior crowding in 4 (6.3%), and open bite in 5 (7.8%). Other dental malalignments, such as rotations and tooth displacement, were invariably present in 34 (53.1%). Conclusion: Malocclusion in noma survivors constitutes one of the most observable problems of noma sequelae. Orthodontic and orthognathic therapy could promote these patients’ surgical, esthetic, and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Objective: The objective is to evaluate dental auxiliaries’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices for the prevention of noma disease. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over 6 months. After obtaining ethical clearance from the Sokoto and Zamfara State Ministries of Health, all consenting dental assistant staff who met the selection criteria were administered a validated questionnaire containing 17 questions assessing the respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices. They were recruited using a self-administered questionnaire. The overall score was classified as “low” if the average score was 50% or less (50% or less), satisfactory (51%–69%), or good (70% or more). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20 software. Results: A total of 149 respondents returned the questionnaire, of which 80 (53.7%) were men and 69 (46.3%) were women. The mean ± standard deviation age of respondents was 27.37 ± 7.00 years, with a range of 20–58 years. The age of respondents was divided into four groups, and the majority of 112 respondents (75.2%) were in their 30s. The majority of respondents, 141 (94.6%), know about the prevention of noma disease. The total respondent score was 1827 points (72.1%), which was evaluated as “good.” Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental auxiliaries in the field of noma prevention are good. Dental auxiliaries, if supervised and appropriately trained, can play a role in noma prevention by actively participating in and disseminating information on specific preventive measures such as scaling and polishing.

Background: Noma is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries with dire far-reaching consequences on the precarious health system and socioeconomic situation of the vulnerable population of the region. Aim: This study aimed to describe the demographic and socioeconomic determinants of noma patients and proffer workable strategies to check the trend. Materials and Methods: Relevant clinical data of the subjects such as demographics, socioeconomic factors, clinical outcome, and length of hospital stay were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: A total of 178 case records of patients managed with noma were included and there were 76 (42.7%) males and 102 (57.3%) females. The age range of the study subjects was 1-33 years with mean±SD of 6.23±4.63. The majority of the subjects 172 (96.6%) were from rural communities, farming 126 (70.8%) was the main source of income of the study subjects. All the subjects were from poor households with low socioeconomic status and most of the subjects 175 (8.3%) were not enrolled in formal education. Measles 81 (45.5%) and malnutrition 78 (43.8%) were the most common risk factors identified. Good clinical outcome was recorded with 23 days average length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Demographic and socioeconomic determinants play a crucial role in the occurrence of noma and attention to vulnerable age groups by removing health inequities, fair distribution of resources, and poverty alleviation and improving the living conditions of the affected people would lead to the eradication of the scourge.

Background The opioid crisis is a public health challenge in the United States, significantly impacting mortality rates. This has been further exacerbated by COVID-19, contributing to a surge in substance use and overdose deaths. Methods Data from the CDC Wonder Database was used to identify opioid use-related deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2023. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated across different geographic and demographic groups. Temporal trends in mortality were analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) in mortality rates were calculated. Results Opioid-related mortality surged during the COVID-19 period, with significant regional, racial, and state-level disparities. The Midwest region exhibited the highest AAPC from 1999 to 2023. State-specific analyses showed that West Virginia experienced the highest increase in AAMR from 1999 to 2023. Among racial groups, non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives had the highest AAPC from 1999 to 2023. Gender-specific analyses revealed that males had a higher AAPC from 1999 to 2023 than females. Conclusion The United States opioid crisis continued to escalate during the COVID-19 period, with significant increases in mortality across the regions. The highest AAPCs were seen in the Midwest and among non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to account for trends in racial and regional disparities in opioid-related mortality that have increased during and post-COVID-19.