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Abstract Background One-fourth of men older than 70 years have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that impair their quality of life. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered the gold standard for surgical treatment of LUTS caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that cannot be managed conservatively or pharmacologically. However, TURP is only an option for patients fit for surgery and can result in complications. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) and prostatic artery embolisation (PAE) are alternative minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs) performed in an outpatient setting. Both treatments have shown to reduce LUTS with a similar post-procedure outcome in mean International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). It is however still unknown if TUMT and PAE perform equally well as they have never been directly compared in a randomised clinical trial. The objective of this clinical trial is to assess if PAE is non-inferior to TUMT in reducing LUTS secondary to BPH. Methods This study is designed as a multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label randomised clinical trial. Patients will be randomised with a 1:1 allocation ratio between treatments. The primary outcome is the IPSS of the two arms after 6 months. The primary outcome will be evaluated using a 95% confidence interval against the predefined non-inferiority margin of + 3 points in IPSS. Secondary objectives include the comparison of patient-reported and functional outcomes at short- and long-term follow-up. We will follow the patients for 5 years to track long-term effect. Assuming a difference in mean IPSS after treatment of 1 point with an SD of 5 and a non-inferiority margin set at the threshold for a clinically non-meaningful difference of + 3 points, the calculated sample size was 100 patients per arm. To compensate for 10% dropout, the study will include 223 patients. Discussion In this first randomised clinical trial to compare two MISTs, we expect non-inferiority of PAE to TUMT. The most prominent problems with MIST BPH treatments are the unknown long-term effect and the lack of proper selection of candidates for a specific procedure. With analysis of the secondary outcomes, we aspire to contribute to a better understanding of durability and provide knowledge to guide treatment decisions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05686525. Registered on January 17, 2023, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05686525 .

Abstract Hydroxyurea is the preferred first‐line cytoreductive treatment for high‐risk essential thrombocythaemia (ET), but many patients are intolerant or refractory to hydroxyurea. Ruxolitinib has been shown to improve symptoms in patients with ET. This post hoc analysis compared the clinical outcomes of patients with ET who received hydroxyurea only with those who switched from hydroxyurea to ruxolitinib due to intolerance/resistance to hydroxyurea. Patients with ET refractory/intolerant to hydroxyurea treated with ruxolitinib in a completed phase 2 study (HU‐RUX) were propensity score matched with patients who received hydroxyurea only in an observational study (HU). Changes in leukocyte and platelet counts were reported at 6‐month intervals during the 48‐month follow‐up. Following propensity score matching, 37 patients were included for analysis in each cohort. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) leukocyte and platelet counts at index were higher for HU‐RUX versus HU (leukocyte: 9.3 [5.1] vs. 6.8 [3.1] × 109/L; platelet: 1027.4 [497.8] vs. 513.9 [154.7] × 109/L), both of which decreased significantly from index to 6 months through to 48 months in HU‐RUX (mean [SD] change from index at 6 months—leukocyte: −1.8 [4.6] × 109/L; platelet: −391.7 [472.9] × 109/L; at 48 months—leukocyte: −3.8 [5.3] × 109/L; platelet: −539.0 [521.8] × 109/L), but remained relatively stable in HU (mean [SD] change from index at 6 months—leukocyte: 0 [1.8] × 109/L; platelet: −5.7 [175.3] × 109/L; at 48 months—leukocyte: −0.1 [2.7] × 109/L; platelet: −6.9 [105.1] × 109/L). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that switching from hydroxyurea to ruxolitinib in patients with ET who are intolerant or refractory to hydroxyurea could improve abnormal haematologic values similar to those who receive first‐line hydroxyurea.

Abstract Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common internal RNA modification and is involved in regulation of RNA and protein expression. AlkB family member 5 (ALKBH5) is a m6A demethylase. Given the important role of m6A in biological mechanisms, m6A and its regulators, have been implicated in many disease processes, including cancer. However, the contribution of ALKBH5 to invasive breast cancer (BC) remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological value of ALKBH5 in BC. Methods Publicly available data were used to investigate ALKBH5 mRNA alterations, prognostic significance, and association with clinical parameters at the genomic and transcriptomic level. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways with low or high ALKBH5 expression were investigated. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess ALKBH5 protein expression in a large well-characterised BC series (n = 1327) to determine the clinical significance and association of ALKBH5 expression. Results Reduced ALKBH5 mRNA expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis and unfavourable clinical parameters. ALKBH5 gene harboured few mutations and/or copy number alternations, but low ALKBH5 mRNA expression was seen. Patients with low ALKBH5 mRNA expression had a number of differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways, including the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. Low ALKBH5 protein expression was significantly associated with unfavourable clinical parameters associated with tumour progression including larger tumour size and worse Nottingham Prognostic Index group. Conclusion This study implicates ALKBH5 in BC and highlights the need for further functional studies to decipher the role of ALKBH5 and RNA m6A methylation in BC progression.

Abstract Heart attack is a life‐threatening condition which is mostly caused due to coronary disease resulting in death in human beings. Detecting the risk of heart diseases is one of the most important problems in medical science that can be prevented and treated with early detection and appropriate medical management; it can also help to predict a large number of medical needs and reduce expenses for treatment. Predicting the occurrence of heart diseases by machine learning (ML) algorithms has become significant work in healthcare industry. This study aims to create a such system that is used for predicting whether a patient is likely to develop heart attacks, by analysing various data sources including electronic health records and clinical diagnosis reports from hospital clinics. ML is used as a process in which computers learn from data in order to make predictions about new datasets. The algorithms created for predictive data analysis are often used for commercial purposes. This paper presents an overview to forecast the likelihood of a heart attack for which many ML methodologies and techniques are applied. In order to improve medical diagnosis, the paper compares various algorithms such as Random Forest, Regression models, K‐nearest neighbour imputation (KNN), Naïve Bayes algorithm etc. It is found that the Random Forest algorithm provides a better accuracy of 88.52% in forecasting heart attack risk, which could herald a revolution in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular illnesses.

Telle une peau de Sagrin, qui rétrécit en séchant, le contentieux susceptible de censure du juge de cassation s’est rétréci au cours du temps, comme conséquence de l’édiction de lois qui distrayaient du juge de cassation des contentieux spécifiques. Or, c’est précisément au travers de l’office du juge de Cassation que la Cour Suprême remplit traditionnellement son rôle de garante de la bonne application de la règle de droit par les Cours et Tribunaux. Cet article identifie les écueils à l’accomplissement effectif, par la susdite Cour, de sa mission de contrôle de la bonne application de la loi par les juridictions de fond et montre l’impact de la non-diffusion des décisions judiciaires, celles de la Cour suprême en particulier, sur l’unité et la prévisibilité du droit.

This paper examines the practice of written error correction from different perspectives in real classroom contexts. Although a plethora of research has been done in different contexts, the subject is least exploited in Ghana, especially in senior High school contexts. This paper reports on a qualitative study of written corrective feedback practices in three Senior High schools in Ghana. Drawing on Schmidt’s noticing hypothesis and Swain’s comprehensive output hypothesis models, the study aims to determine whether teachers’ written error corrections effectively direct students towards ‘noticing’ the gaps in their written ‘output’, thereby resulting in higher degrees of learnability. A sample size of 824 students was selected from five common course areas using a systematic random sampling strategy, while a purposive sampling strategy was used to select nine English language teachers who had at least three years of continuous experience from the three schools. The findings of the study indicate that teachers have positive beliefs about the potency of written error corrections in the development of language. However, variances in the choice of strategies, practices of teachers, and preferences of students result in the provision of non-targeted feedback which affects revision and learnability. This study recommends that teachers should collaborate with learners to provide more targeted corrections which would result in enhanced ‘noticing’ and improved learnability of the English language among Ghanaian students.

This research investigates the intricate connection between indigenous knowledge and sustainable forest management, with two main objectives. It seeks to explore and outline indigenous knowledge, elements, and practices that support sustainable forest management (SFM). It aims to uncover the invaluable traditional insights and practices that have helped preserve and ensure the responsible use of forest ecosystems. Also, it investigated global environmental policies that support indigenous knowledge since the inception of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A narrative review method was employed to review and analyse peer-reviewed contents and reports to deduce ancestral or traditional wisdom, knowledge, practices, and beliefs from existing studies. The paper extracted data from existing literature from scholarly peer-reviewed journals. It aims to provide useful information for policy-makers, forest managers, and indigenous communities, to promote SFM and the sustainable development goals related to a sustainable environment. The study found that indigenous knowledge (IK) which includes ethnobotanical knowledge and plant selection, mixed land use, seed banks, and cultural beliefs such as sacred groves and taboos are some traditional practices, beliefs, and cultural knowledge that support SFM and can be integrated into international and national environmental management policies which the two-eyed seeing framework (TESF) seeks to promote. The framework highlights the potential of implementing IK into SFM. Also, the Akwé: Kon Guidelines, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), are some global environment policies that recognise traditional people and indigenous knowledge since the commencement of the CBD in the nineties. The paper recommends, for a future study, investigating the applicability of the Akwé: Kon Guidelines in international and national projects and programs that impact traditional sacred lands, forests and rivers, and indigenous people. Also, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement need to fully acknowledge the supporting role of indigenous knowledge and people in climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, especially in Africa, since the majority of the world's population constitutes indigenous people who inhabit healthy standing forests and ecosystems.

Introduction. In the context of the global fight against climate change, the reduction of CO2 emissions and its utilization is a topical theme. One of the promising directions is the utilization of CO2 in construction, in particular, in concrete production. The present research investigates the effect of carbon dioxide on the formation of nanoscale structure and physical and mechanical properties of concrete mixtures. Methods and Materials. A special unit for mixing cement, sand, water and CO2 under pressure was developed for the research. The obtained concrete specimen were subjected to compressive and flexural strength tests using MATEST E161-03N automatic dual range testing press. The microstructure of the specimen was also analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Discussion. The experimental results showed that the introduction of CO2 into the concrete mixture promotes the formation of nanoscale structure, which improves its strength properties up to a certain pressure. With further increase in pressure, deterioration of these characteristics is being observed. Additional mixing time and increase in water volume also affect the strength of concrete and its microstructure. Conclusion. The use of CO2 in concrete production can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials and improve their physical and mechanical properties due to the formation of nanoscale structure. Further research and optimization of mixing parameters are necessary to create stronger and more stable concrete mixtures.

This study investigates the impact of emotionalizing sound design on driving behaviour, focusing on the effect of an acoustic stimulus that varies from positive to negative/threatening based on the vehicle’s time headway (THW). Our primary goal was to explore how this sound influences driving durations within specific THW ranges and the mean THW itself. The experiment utilized a control group and a within-participant setting across simulated driving scenarios. The statistical analysis showed mixed results. While participants in the control group setup did not demonstrate significant reductions in the durations of driving in lower THW ranges, a modest but significant increase in mean THW was observed when the emotionalizing sound was active. However, within-participant comparisons showed both a significant decrease in the duration of driving at lower THWs and an increase in mean THW when the negative stimulus was active, suggesting the stimulus’ effectiveness in promoting safer driving habits. These findings highlight the potential of emotionalizing sound design to influence driver behaviour towards maintaining safer distances, although the impact appears to diminish at higher THW ranges. Future research should further investigate the characteristics of sounds that effectively modify driving behaviour, aiming for broader applications in traffic safety.

Introduction The number of surgical interventions on the cervical spine for stenosis has been constantly increasing. This fact proves that there is a need for careful preoperative preparation that would consider the complexity of the intervention and the age of the patients. Purpose To substantiate the need to include the MSCT data processing algorithm of bone tissue density of vertebral bodies and arches to assess their quality for planning osteoplastic decompressive laminoplasty in patients with cervical spine stenosis due to degenerative changes. Material and methods This single-center retrospective study investigated qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the spine with radiography and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in 82 patients with degenerative diseases of the cervical spine and associated spinal canal stenosis (CSS). Results and discussion The data obtained indicate a tendency for the total density of the cervical vertebrae to increase from C3 to C5 and to decrease caudally, with minimal density in C7 without signs of osteoporosis. A similar trend is characteristic of trabecular bone. The density of the osteon layer of the vertebral arch cortex differs significantly from the density of the outer and inner plates. The total density of the compact layer of the vertebral arch cortex exceeds 785.15 ± 38.4 HU. Conclusion The data obtained justify the need to include the study of the density of vertebral bodies, vertebral arches, and its thickness in the MSCT data processing algorithm to develop a plan for surgical intervention in patients with cervical spine stenosis in order to obtain objective data on the quality of the bone.

Passaged cell lines represent currently an integral component in various studies of malignant neoplasms. These cell lines are utilized for drug screening both in monolayer cultures or as part of three-dimensional (3D) tumor models. They can also be used to model the tumor microenvironment in vitro and in vivo through xenotransplantation into immunocompromised animals. However, immortalized cell lines have some limitations of their own. The homogeneity of cell line populations and the extensive passaging in monolayer systems make these models distant from the original disease. Recently, there has been a growing interest among scientists in the use of primary cell lines, as these are passaged directly from human tumor tissues. In this case, cells retain the morphological and functional characteristics of the tissue from which they were derived, an advantage often not observed in passaged cultures. This review highlights the advantages and limitations of passaged and primary cell cultures, their similarities and differences, as well as existing test systems that are based on primary and passaged cell cultures for drug screening purposes.

The gut–brain axis (GBA) represents a complex, bidirectional communication network that intricately connects the gastrointestinal tract with the central nervous system (CNS). Understanding and intervening in this axis opens a pathway for therapeutic advancements for neurological and gastrointestinal diseases where the GBA has been proposed to play a role in the pathophysiology. In light of this, the current review assesses the effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques in treating neurological and gastrointestinal disorders by modulating the GBA, involving key elements such as gut microbiota, neurotrophic factors, and proinflammatory cytokines. Through a comprehensive literature review encompassing PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, this research highlights the role played by the GBA in neurological and gastrointestinal diseases, in addition to the impact of neuromodulation on the management of these conditions which include both gastrointestinal (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)) and neurological disorders (Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and neuropsychiatric disorders). Despite existing challenges, the ability of neuromodulation to adjust disrupted neural pathways, alleviate pain, and mitigate inflammation is significant in improving the quality of life for patients, thereby offering exciting prospects for future advancements in patient care.

Water has prominence over all the usable natural resources to humankind due to its very significance to human life. Approximately, 70% of Ghana's populace relies on groundwater exploitation for freshwater consumption. Managed aquifer recharge is capable of sustaining water resources for all livelihood activities. Underperformance of MAR systems is often due to site-specific hydrogeological conditions turning out to be less favorable than anticipated. This study evaluates the site-specific conditions for MAR sites identification in granitic aquifers, integrating in situ hydrogeological factors and GIS-MCDA. One hundred and twenty-one datasets from different boreholes comprising hydro geophysics, borehole drilling and pump test reports were used. The constraint mapping results indicate 92% suitable for MAR application within the study area, implying available enormous bare lands for flooding recharge technique. The suitability analysis discloses that 48 and 51% of the studied area fall within very high and high suitable zones, respectively, showing convincing and great potential to support infiltration ponds for MAR technology application. The valuable information provided through this study can serve as a guide for MAR implementation and for sustainable groundwater resources management within the Upper East region of Ghana. HIGHLIGHTS The most important need and issue for a MAR scheme is the proper site evaluation.; Availability of enormous bare lands for flooding recharge technique.; The area has very large suitable areas for MAR due to its rural scattered settlements.; The in situ hydrogeological information is comparatively very comprehensive and highly reliable.; Guide for MAR implementation and sustainable groundwater resources management.;

Abstract Our limited understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that operate during sepsis is an obstacle to rational treatment and clinical trial design. There is a critical lack of data from low- and middle-income countries where the sepsis burden is increased which inhibits generalized strategies for therapeutic intervention. Here we perform RNA sequencing of whole blood to investigate longitudinal host response to sepsis in a Ghanaian cohort. Data dimensional reduction reveals dynamic gene expression patterns that describe cell type-specific molecular phenotypes including a dysregulated myeloid compartment shared between sepsis and COVID-19. The gene expression signatures reported here define a landscape of host response to sepsis that supports interventions via targeting immunophenotypes to improve outcomes.

Abstract Lynch syndrome (LS) and constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) are distinct cancer syndromes caused, respectively, by mono- and bi-allelic germline mismatch repair (MMR) variants. LS predisposes to mainly gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers in adulthood. CMMRD predisposes to brain, haematological, and LS-spectrum cancers from childhood. Two suspected LS patients with first cancer diagnosis aged 27 or 38 years were found to be homozygous for an MMR (likely) pathogenic variant, MSH6 c.3226C>T (p.(Arg1076Cys)), or variant of uncertain significance (VUS), MLH1 c.306G>A (p.(Glu102=)). MLH1 c.306G>A was shown to cause leaky exon 3 skipping. The apparent genotype-phenotype conflict was resolved by detection of constitutional microsatellite instability in both patients, a hallmark feature of CMMRD. A hypomorphic effect of these and other variants found in additional late onset CMMRD cases, identified by literature review, likely explains a LS-like phenotype. CMMRD testing in carriers of compound heterozygous or homozygous MMR VUS may find similar cases and novel hypomorphic variants. Individualised management of mono- and bi-allelic carriers of hypomorphic MMR variants is needed until we better characterise the associated phenotypes.

Abstract Background Intervertebral disc herniation is widely recognized as the most common cause of myelopathy in dogs older than 2 years; however, the prevalence of various causes of myelopathy in younger dogs has not been reported. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe the prevalence, clinical presentation, and etiology of myelopathy in dogs aged 18 months or less. Secondarily, to investigate which clinical features were associated with each of the most common etiologies. Animals Two hundred twenty‐four dogs aged 18 months or less with myelopathy were included in the study. Methods Retrospective review of clinical records from 4 referral institutions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed which clinical features were associated with each diagnosis. Results French bulldogs (n = 51, 22.8%), pugs (n = 18, 8.0%), crossbreeds (n = 12, 5.4%), and English bulldogs (n = 11, 4.9%) were the most frequently affected breeds. Overall, 31 diagnoses were reached. The 5 most frequent diagnoses were vertebral malformation (VM; n = 42, 18.8%), spinal arachnoid diverticulum (SAD; n = 28, 12.5%), traumatic fracture of the vertebral column (n = 22, 9.8%), atlantoaxial instability (n = 18, 8.0%), and osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (n = 17, 7.6%). Intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) accounted for 4.5% of cases (n = 10). A final diagnosis of VM was associated with younger, screw‐tailed, and pug breeds with chronic signs of T3‐L3 myelopathy. SAD was associated with screw‐tailed and pug breeds with nonpainful clinical signs. Intervertebral disc extrusion was associated with older, screw‐tailed, and pug breeds with shorter duration of clinical signs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Prioritization of differential diagnoses for dogs presenting with signs of myelopathy when aged 18 months or less should differ to those for older dogs, with IVDE not the most common cause in the former.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) (MDR-TB), or TB that is simultaneously resistant to both isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), is a barrier to successful TB control and treatment. Stratified data on MDR-TB, particularly in the high-burden western Kenya region, remain unknown. This data is important to monitor the efficacy of TB control and treatment efforts. Herein, we determined the molecular epidemiology of drug-resistant TB and associated risk factors in western Kenya. This was a non-experimental, population-based, cross-sectional study conducted between January and August 2018. Morning sputum samples of individuals suspected of pulmonary TB were collected, processed, and screened for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and drug resistance using line probe assay (LPA) and Mycobacterium growth indicator tubes (MGIT) culture. MGIT-positive samples were cultured on brain heart infusion (BHII) agar media, and the presence of Mtb was validated using Immunochromatographic assay (ICA). Drug sensitivity was performed on MGIT and ICA-positive but BHI-negative samples. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Of the 622 Mtb isolates, 536 (86.2%) were susceptible to RIF and INH. The rest, 86 (13.83%), were resistant to either drugs or both. A two-sample proportional equality test revealed that the MDR-TB prevalence in western Kenya (5%) did not vary significantly from the global MDR-TB estimate (3.9%) (P = 0.196). Men comprised the majority of susceptible and resistant TB (75.9% and 77.4%%, respectively). Also, compared with healthy individuals, the prevalence of HIV was significantly higher in MDR-TB patients (35.9% vs 5.6%). Finally, TB prevalence was highest in individuals aged 25–44 years, who accounted for 58.4% of the total TB cases. Evidently, the prevalence of MDRTB in western Kenya is high. Particular attention should be paid to men, young adults, and those with HIV, who bear the greatest burden of resistant TB. Overall, there is a need to refine TB control and treatment programs in the region to yield better outcomes.

We used the Markov switching regression model to establish a relationship between the conditional stock market returns and macroeconomic volatilities. Monthly data from thirteen (13) African stock markets and macroeconomic variables (exchange rate, inflation, interest rate, money supply, and crude oil price) from 2003 to 2022 were employed. We confirmed the existence of two distinct regimes: An economic expansion or a "tranquil" state with less volatility and an economic decline or a "crisis" state with high volatility. Our findings indicated that macroeconomic variables significantly affect both expansion and crisis periods. However, the estimated coefficients were more significant in a tranquil than in a crisis state. The findings of the study were consistent with macroeconomic theory and pointed out policy implications.

Musicological and traffic psychology research shows that emotions can be changed by certain tone combinations or sound characteristics and that emotions, in turn, influence our driving behavior. Nevertheless, there are no studies on how a dynamic active sound design could influence driving behavior via changing the emotional state of drivers in certain driving situations. Based on a previous study, emotionalizing sounds, characterized by their capacity to evoke specific emotional responses in individuals, were created and used to investigate their effect on the perception of safety distances in an online study. To test this, participants made statements on the safety distance shown in videos of cars following scenarios combined with emotionalizing sounds. The results show a significant difference in the estimated safety distance for videos combined with sounds invoking positive emotions like light-heartedness vs. sounds invoking negative emotions like feeling threatened. The odds of the safety distance being evaluated as too small compared with appropriate were two to three times higher for some threatening sounds vs. the positive sounds. The results further suggest that threatening sounds influenced participants’ wishes to increase the depicted safety distances. The results show that emotionalizing sounds had effects on the participants, though not all were statistically significant.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic condition that is typically caused by a blood vessel exerting pressure on the V cranial nerve at the root entry zone. The gold standard for TN treatment is microvascular decompression (MVD). This illustrative case shows an advanced surgical technique that combines the use of an exoscope and endoscope to treat TN with an innovative addition of intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) control that can improve arterial and venous compression identification. The use of exoscopes and endoscopes, offering 360° root assessment, represents a significant evolution in surgical approaches. Enhanced visualization with ICG aided in identifying complex neurovascular conflicts, improving decompression accuracy. The use of both exoscope and endoscope, offering a 360° root assessment, represents a significant evolution in the microsurgical approach of TN. The additional use of ICG monitoring in a dynamic mode may be useful in identifying the complex arteriovenous form of neurovascular conflict. The endoscopically assisted exoscopic surgery with the intraoperative use of ICG for MVD of the trigeminal nerve can improve the identification of complex impingements underlining its effectiveness and potential in neurosurgical practice.

Abstract The study presents the economic feasibility assessment of converting the produced biogas from water hyacinth biomass into electricity. Approximately, 0.3793 m3CH4/kgVS was generated from the water hyacinth biomass. The research indicated that the available water hyacinth population on the Lower Volta River in the year 2020 could potentially generate a methane yield of 53.676 × 106m3. The volume of methane gas generated had the potential to produce an annual electricity output of 110.792 × 106 kWh, which could be integrated into the national grid. The economic analysis indicated positive results with an initial total investment cost of $67,273,700. The project showed a positive net present value (NPV) of $8,923,769 and a levelized cost of 0.172 $/kWh. The simple payback and equity payback periods were determined to be 5.5 and 11.3 years, respectively. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis conducted showed that the project’s NPV remained positive when variations in input parameters such as initial cost, operations, and maintenance cost were less than 15% sensitive range. However, a 30% reduction in the feed-in tariff cost resulted in a negative NPV. In conclusion, biogas production from water hyacinth biomass in Ghana can make a significant contribution to the country’s energy mix and help alleviate the energy shortfall in rural areas.

Introduction As reported, brachioplexopathy is a relevant polyetiological disease with an annual incidence from 0.17 to 1.6 per 100,000. There are two basic endoscopic methods of brachial plexus decompression: an endoscopically-assisted mini-invasive transaxillary approach and fully endoscopic decompression in association with shoulder arthroscopy. Purpose Compare the two main endoscopic methods of brachial plexus decompression. Material and methods Twenty-two patients diagnosed with post-traumatic brachioplexopathy were included in the study. There were 8 patients in group 1 and 14 patients in group 2. All patients passed clinical and instrumental examination. Statistical analysis was performed with non-parametric U-criteria of Mann – Whitney. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Patients of group 1 underwent shoulder joint arthroscopy and fully endoscopic brachial plexus decompression. Patients of group 2 had revision and transaxillary mini-invasive decompression of brachial plexus with video endoscopic assistance. Results In the first group, upper limb dysfunction according to DASH scale decreased from 52.3 ± 2.2 to 28.8 ± 3.8 points (p < 0.05). In the second group, upper limb dysfunction according to DASH scale decreased from 47.9 ± 4.4 to 26.6 ± 4.3 points (p < 0.05). Discrepancy according to DASH scale before and after surgery in the first group was 23.5 ± 3.6 points and in the second group it was 19.4 ± 5.4 points; the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Discussion The results of our study are similar to the results of endoscopic brachial plexus decompression in the previously published studies. Conclusion The methods of endoscopic brachial plexus decompression in association with shoulder joint arthroscopy and isoolated mini-invasive neurolysis and decompression of brachial plexus under videoendoscopic assistance are equally effective in the treatment of brachialplexopathy.

We describe all-endoscopic deep gluteal syndrome treatment and sciatic nerve decompression at the infrapiriformis space. Surgery is performed with the patient in the prone position with the usual arthroscopic instruments and pump. The first step includes performing placement of 2 initial portals (medial and median) without fluoroscopy in the area of the ischial tuberosity and conjoint tendon, as well as release in this area with a subsequent shift in the lateral direction. The second step includes performing placement of an additional lateral portal for instruments, switching the camera into the median portal, and visualizing the sciatic nerve and its decompression at the infrapiriformis space and upper part of the thigh area. The postoperative period includes early activation, immediate passive and active motion after surgery, and full weight bearing the day after surgery.

The strong coupling of atoms to optical cavities can improve optical lattice clocks as the cavity enables metrologically useful collective atomic entanglement and high-fidelity measurement. To this end, it is necessary to cool the ensemble to suppress motional broadening, and advantageous to maximize and homogenize the atom-cavity coupling. We demonstrate resolved Raman sideband cooling via the cavity as a method that can simultaneously achieve both goals. In 200 ms of Raman sideband cooling, we cool ^{171}Yb atoms to an average vibration number 〈n_{x}〉=0.23(7) in the tightly binding direction, resulting in 93% optical π-pulse fidelity on the clock transition ^{1}S_{0}→^{3}P_{0}. During cooling, the atoms self-organize into locations with maximal atom-cavity coupling, which will improve quantum metrology applications.

Letter to the editor with an opinion in favour of COVID 19 vaccination policy.

Background: This retrospective cohort study compared short-term complication rates following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), alone or with concomitant procedures. Secondary independent risk factors were also examined as they related to postoperative outcomes. Methods: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried using Current Procedural Terminology ( CPT ) codes to identify patients who underwent TAA (27702) between 2010 to 2021. Patients were divided into cohorts based on the presence or absence of ancillary procedures. Propensity score matching was employed to account for demographic differences, and statistical analyses were performed to compare short-term complication rates between matched cohorts. Results: A total of 2225 patients were identified, with 1432 (64.4%) receiving TAA alone and 793 (35.6%) with ancillary procedure(s). After matching, 793 patients were included in each cohort. The ancillary cohort had longer operative times ( P

Background Aficamten, a novel cardiac myosin inhibitor, reversibly reduces cardiac hypercontractility in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We present a prespecified analysis of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of aficamten in SEQUOIA‐HCM (Safety, Efficacy, and Quantitative Understanding of Obstruction Impact of Aficamten in HCM). Methods and Results A total of 282 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were randomized 1:1 to daily aficamten (5–20 mg) or placebo between February 1, 2022, and May 15, 2023. Aficamten dosing targeted the lowest effective dose for achieving site‐interpreted Valsalva left ventricular outflow tract gradient

Summary: Background: Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is the main treatments for upper urinary tract stones. The Ureteral Access Sheath (UAS) serves as a supplementary tool, facilitating direct kidney access during RIRS. High quality of evidence comparing tip bendable suction ureteral access sheath (S-UAS) with traditional UAS in RIRS for the treatment of renal and ureteral stones is lacking. The purpose of the study is to compare the efficacy and safety of S-UAS with traditional UAS in RIRS for the treatment of renal or ureteral stones ≤30 mm. Methods: An international, multicenter, and superiority randomized controlled trial included 320 intention-to-treat patients across 8 medical centers in China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Turkey from August 2023 to February 2024. The inclusion criteria were patients ≥18 years old with renal or ureteral stones ≤30 mm. RIRS was performed using either S-UAS or traditional UAS. The primary outcome was the immediately stone-free rate (SFR). Secondary outcomes included SFR 3 months after operation, operating time, hospital stay, auxiliary procedures, complications (using the Clavien–Dindo grading system), and improvement in the Quality of Life (QoL) score. Differences between proportions [risk difference (RD)]/means [mean difference (MD)] and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were presented. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05952635. Findings: The S-UAS group demonstrated a significantly higher immediately SFR (81.3% versus 49.4%; RD 31.9%; 95% CI 22.5%–41.7%; p = 0.004) compared to the traditional UAS group, as determined by the one-side superiority test. Additionally, the S-UAS group exhibited a higher SFR at 3 months post-operation (87.5% versus 70.0%; RD 17.5%; 95% CI 8.7%–26.3%; p

Приводится 66 видов пядениц (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), собранных на территории Лазовского государственного заповедника (Россия, Приморский край) и в его ближайших окрестностях. Из них 9 видов для данной территории приведены впервые: Cystidia couaggaria (Guenée, 1858); Ascotis selenaria ([Denis et Schiffermüller], 1775); Eucyclodes difficta (Walker, 1861); Thalera chlorosaria Graeser, 1890; Leptostegna tenerata Christoph, 1881; Odezia atrata (Linnaeus, 1758); Gandaritis whitelyi (Butler, 1878); Pasiphila obscura (West, 1929); Idaea biselata (Hufnagel, 1767). В результате общий список видов Geometridae заповедника, ранее насчитывавший 308 видов, достиг 317. Кратко обсуждены фенологические группы собранных бабочек.

Background: The underrepresentation of the Black community in neurosurgery is concerning, especially given projections that racial minorities will become the majority in the U.S. by 2044. Yet, despite these forecasts, Black candidates make up less than 4% of those in neurosurgical training programs. The recent Supreme Court decision to end Affirmative Action underscores the urgency of addressing this disparity. This research delves into the implications of eliminating Affirmative Action on neurosurgery admissions and residencies. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, OVID Embase, and OVID Medline, employing the keywords “Black”, “Neurosurgery”, and “Residency”. The Maslow Adversity Index (MAI) was created to integrate adversity as a factor in neurosurgery residency evaluation. Results: After Affirmative Action, Black college enrollment increased, peaking at 36% by 2020. However, Black medical students remain underrepresented in neurosurgery residencies. ALDC (Athletes, Legacies, Dean’s List, Children of faculty/staff) admissions criteria favor White students. Furthermore, studies have highlighted the beneficial impacts of racial concordance on patient outcomes. The end of Affirmative Action necessitates new diversity strategies in admissions. A points-based assessment, inspired by Maslow's hierarchy, recognizes adversities faced by underrepresented applicants which could help residency programs enhance diversity, inclusivity, and equity in selection. Conclusion: Despite the growth in Black college attendance, disparities persist in specialized medical fields like neurosurgery. The end to Affirmative Action policies might exacerbate these disparities. Embracing holistic admission approaches, rooted in Maslow's hierarchy. This consideration is key for inclusive representation, impacting education, professions, and health outcomes.

Gliosarcoma (GS) is a rare variant of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. It is classified as grade 4 in the latest WHO CNS classification of both glial and mesenchymal components. Gliosarcoma may arise de novo or secondary from glioblastoma. It occurs in up to 2% of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. We present a case report of a 51-year-old patient who was initially diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, which transformed into secondary gliosarcoma with an osteosarcoma component 16 months after the initial diagnosis. We believe that increasing reporting of secondary gliosarcoma (sGS) will be helpful in understanding, diagnosing and providing more effective treatment for this cancer.

The paper presents the results of experimental evaluation of oil displacement efficiency by flue gas of a thermal power plant, compared to water, for a carbonate reservoir in the Ural-Volga region. The experiments were performed under two different injection schemes using an original laboratory complex for coreflood studies, with recombined reservoir oil, model of formation water, reservoir core material, and under reservoir thermobaric conditions. It has been confirmed that due to the prevailing nitrogen content and low values of reservoir pressure and temperature, flue gas is ineffective as an independent displacement agent either for injection from the beginning of reservoir development or as a tertiary method after waterflooding. Taking into account the relevance of synergy between increasing oil recovery and sequestration of industrial emissions, evaluation of flue gas injection as part of water-gas mixtures (SWAG) is recommended.

The article presents the results of a sociological empirical study that was conducted from May to August in 2023. Its purpose was to study the attitudes of labor migrants in Russia towards various international integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The objects of the study were workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, working in Moscow and the Moscow region. The choice of these countries is not accidental, as they are the main migration donors to the Russian Federation in Central Asia. The uniqueness of the research results lies in the fact that despite the certain “popularity” of such an empirical object as “labor migrants.” The analyzed subject has not yet been sufficiently developed theoretically and empirically. Particular attention is paid to the political preferences and migration attitudes of labor migrants. The issue of awareness of foreign workers of the activities of international integration and military-political associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), European Union (EU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is examined. The paper also presents the respondents’ assessment of the role of these associations in the development of international processes. Separately, the article examines the relationship between Russia and migrant-sending countries. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that respondents have a positive attitude towards integration associations in which Russia plays a key role. Moreover, the socio-political attitudes of foreign workers are characterized by a high degree of loyalty to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Migrants overwhelmingly support international cooperation between their countries and Russia and share the foreign policy position of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, labor migrants from Central Asia can be considered as a resource and capital of the influence of Russian “soft power.”

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is closely linked to α-synuclein (α-syn) misfolding and accumulation in Lewy bodies. The PDZ serine protease HTRA1 degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and inactivating mutations to mitochondrial HTRA2 are implicated in PD. Here, we report that HTRA1 inhibits aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. The protease domain of HTRA1 is necessary and sufficient for inhibiting aggregation, yet this activity is proteolytically-independent. Further, HTRA1 disaggregates preformed α-syn fibrils, rendering them incapable of seeding aggregation of endogenous α-syn, while reducing HTRA1 expression promotes α-syn seeding. HTRA1 remodels α-syn fibrils by targeting the NAC domain, the key domain catalyzing α-syn amyloidogenesis. Finally, HTRA1 detoxifies α-syn fibrils and prevents formation of hyperphosphorylated α-syn accumulations in primary neurons. Our findings suggest that HTRA1 may be a therapeutic target for a range of neurodegenerative disorders.

This paper adapted the framework of rhetorical devices developed by Michalik-Suchanek to examine the language used in social media posts of Ghanaian celebrities, focusing specifically on the use of rhetorical elements. Instagram and Twitter were chosen as the primary platforms for analysis due to their popularity among Ghanaians. The dataset consisted of posts from 15 Ghanaian celebrities, sourced from either one or both platforms. The study adopted the embedded mixed-methods approach. A total of 130 celebrity posts from Instagram and 70 from Twitter, all from April 2022, were collected using mobile phones and laptops through an observational guide. Through a critical analysis of the sampled data, 22 rhetorical devices were identified, with syntactic devices being the most commonly used. The study revealed that most Ghanaian celebrities prefer to use Standard English in their posts. It was also revealed that these rhetorical devices were employed by celebrities to establish unique relationships with their followers, persuade them to take action, express intentions, caption videos and pictures, and enhance the overall meaning of their posts. The research showed that the use of rhetorical devices was effective in enriching the language of the posts. Based on these findings, it was recommended that further studies be conducted to explore the use of rhetorical elements in social media posts of politicians, businesspeople, entertainers, and other public figures in Ghana. Such studies would contribute to a deeper understanding of how rhetorical strategies are employed in the digital communication landscape. This study contributes to existing knowledge on social media research conducted in Ghana.

Abstract Background African ancestry populations have the highest burden of stroke worldwide, yet the genetic basis of stroke in these populations is obscure. The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicenter study involving 16 sites in West Africa. We conducted the first-ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of stroke in indigenous Africans. Methods Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged > 18 years) with neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. DNA genotyping with the H3Africa array was performed, and following initial quality control, GWAS datasets were imputed into the NIH Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) release2 from BioData Catalyst. Furthermore, we performed fine-mapping, trans-ethnic meta-analysis, and in silico functional characterization to identify likely causal variants with a functional interpretation. Results We observed genome-wide significant (P-value < 5.0E−8) SNPs associations near AADACL2 and miRNA (MIR5186) genes in chromosome 3 after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiac status in the base model as covariates. SNPs near the miRNA (MIR4458) gene in chromosome 5 were also associated with stroke (P-value < 1.0E−6). The putative genes near AADACL2, MIR5186, and MIR4458 genes were protective and novel. SNPs associations with stroke in chromosome 2 were more than 77 kb from the closest gene LINC01854 and SNPs in chromosome 7 were more than 116 kb to the closest gene LINC01446 (P-value < 1.0E−6). In addition, we observed SNPs in genes STXBP5-AS1 (chromosome 6), GALTN9 (chromosome 12), FANCA (chromosome 16), and DLGAP1 (chromosome 18) (P-value < 1.0E−6). Both genomic regions near genes AADACL2 and MIR4458 remained significant following fine mapping. Conclusions Our findings identify potential roles of regulatory miRNA, intergenic non-coding DNA, and intronic non-coding RNA in the biology of ischemic stroke. These findings reveal new molecular targets that promise to help close the current gaps in accurate African ancestry-based genetic stroke’s risk prediction and development of new targeted interventions to prevent or treat stroke.

The regioselective functionalization of fullerenes holds significant promise for applications in the fields of medicinal chemistry, materials science, and photovoltaics. In this study, we investigate the regioselectivity of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between diynes and C70 as a novel procedure for generating C70 bis(fulleroid) derivatives. The aim is to shed light on the regioselectivity of the process through both experimental and computational approaches. In addition, the photooxidation of one of the C–C double bonds in the synthesized bis(fulleroids) affords open-cage C70 derivatives having a 12-membered ring opening.

This study examines the maturity and state of open-source 5G Core (5GC) networks, with a focus on their support of 5G procedures and Network Function (NF) operations. The research emphasises the importance of optimising the virtualised resource usage of 5GC control plane functions. Given the large set of NF operations and procedures defined for 5GC networks, the study presents a framework that correlates NF operations with 5G procedures, thus facilitating the assessment of 5GC implementations. Furthermore, the study introduces macro-benchmarking and micro-benchmarking approaches to assess the performance of 5GC control plane functions. Our 5G traffic generator is used to generate User Equipment (UE) registration traffic for benchmarking. Macro-benchmarking measures the time taken for a specific number of UEs to complete UE procedures. In contrast, micro-benchmarking analyses the system calls made by the 5GC, presenting their latency and frequency and the processes responsible for generating them. Our findings revealed a direct correlation between macro-level performance and micro-benchmarking results. This suggests that optimising micro-level implementations is crucial for enhancing overall system performance. Moreover, examining micro-benchmarking data can provide valuable insights into how the system’s performance will scale under varying workloads. We use the correlation of benchmarking results to identify performance improvement points in each 5GC and to provide recommendations for software architectural changes that can optimise the usage of virtualised resources. The study includes artefacts and source code to enable replication of the work and results.

This research presents an innovative design for a switched capacitor inverter, integrating two capacitors, Eleven switches, with one input supply. The proposed configuration successfully attains nine unique voltage states, achieving a voltage gain of two. A separate control unit for capacitor management is no longer necessary with the introduction of the improved SC nine-level inverter (ESC9LI). The management of capacitor charging and discharging is exclusively governed by the activation and deactivation states of the switches. Additionally, the proposed design utilizes fewer components and DC voltage sources, resulting in a higher resultant voltage. The suggested inverter design significantly reduces the necessity of capacitors, switches, and diodes. Power devices’ voltage stress is precisely minimized even with the enhanced output voltage. Moreover, only four active devices are conducting per voltage level. Overall, minimizing the number of active devices conducting per voltage level in multilevel inverter circuits offers several benefits including improved efficiency, reduced losses, lower harmonic distortion, enhanced reliability, and simplified control. Consequently, lower-voltage power devices can be employed, leading to a reduction in overall power loss. The control technique employed in the ESC9LI is the level shifted Pulse Width Modulation (LSPWM). The paper presents a detailed comparative study, examining multiple similar topologies. Simulation findings under various operating settings are presented and evaluated against real-time data acquired from an experimental working model.

Current climate and weather changes urged the scientific community to find ways to observe and understand the relatively rapid land-atmosphere processes related to the water cycle. The HydroSoil project, funded by the European Space Agency, was proposed to experimentally assess the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar in future short revisit time missions based on Geosynchronous Orbital platforms. This article describes the HydroSoil facility providing continuous monitoring of an agricultural field with a 10-min temporal resolution and a spatial resolution in the order of 1 m2. Gathered data from the full Pol Ground-Based SAR are being used to investigate the capability of Geosynchronous SAR missions to retrieve soil moisture and to measure vegetation parameters. To achieve the project's objectives, intensive procurement of ground truth data encompassing continuous acquisition of relevant meteorological parameters such as air humidity, temperature, precipitation wind speed and direction, pressure, and solar irradiation together with other vegetation characteristics under study has been mandatory. The different densities, sizes, and water content of two different crops, barley and corn, together with the data generated, will enable the assessment of the missions’ ability to extract essential scene characteristics, such as soil moisture and crop water content, for use in future geostationary missions.

Abstract Background Decreased efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for Plasmodium falciparum malaria has been previously reported in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The main purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro susceptibility of isolates to dihydro-artemisinin (DHA) to provide a hypothesis to explain this treatment failure. Methods Isolates were collected from patients attending health centres in Abidjan with uncomplicated P . falciparum malaria. The haemoglobin type has been identified and in vitro drug sensitivity tests were conducted with the ring stage assay and maturation inhibition assay. Results 134 isolates were obtained. Parasitaemia and haemoglobin levels at inclusion were lower in patients with haemoglobin HbSS and HbSC than in patients with normal HbAA. After ex vivo RSA and drug inhibition assays, the lowest rate of parasitic growth was found with isolates from HbAS red cells. Conversely, a significantly higher survival rate of parasites ranging from 15 to 34% were observed in isolates from HbSS. Isolates with in vitro reduced DHA sensitivity correlate with lower RBC count and haematocrit and higher parasitaemia at inclusion compared to those with isolates with normal DHA sensitivity. However, this decrease of in vitro sensitivity to DHA was not associated with Kelch 13-Propeller gene polymorphism. Conclusion This study highlights an in vitro decreased sensitivity to DHA, for isolates collected from HbSS patients, not related to the Pfkelch13 gene mutations. These results are in line with recent studies pointing out the role of the redox context in the efficacy of the drug. Indeed, SCD red cells harbour a highly different ionic and redox context in comparison with normal red cells. This study offers new insights into the understanding of artemisinin selective pressure on the malaria parasite in the context of haemoglobinopathies in Africa.

Abstract Background This study was performed to test the hypothesis that systemic leukocyte gene expression has prognostic value differentiating low from high seizure frequency refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods A consecutive series of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy was studied. Based on a median baseline seizure frequency of 2.0 seizures per month, low versus high seizure frequency was defined as ≤ 2 seizures/month and > 2 seizures/month, respectively. Systemic leukocyte gene expression was analyzed for prognostic value for TLE seizure frequency. All differentially expressed genes were analyzed, with Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA®) and Reactome, to identify leukocyte gene expression and biological pathways with prognostic value for seizure frequency. Results There were ten males and six females with a mean age of 39.4 years (range: 16 to 62 years, standard error of mean: 3.6 years). There were five patients in the high and eleven patients in the low seizure frequency cohorts, respectively. Based on a threshold of twofold change (p 2.0, FDR

Background: Several studies have linked coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk to age and ABO blood groups. Variations in plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels and blood counts have been reported, suggesting an association between disease severity and low lymphocyte levels. Aim: this study aimed to understand how these factors relate to COVID-19 in Ghanaian patients, considering geographical and demographic differences. Methods: Participants were recruited from six hospitals in Kumasi, Ghana, between June 2020 and July 2021. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and blood samples were collected for complete blood count testing, ABO/Rhesus typing, and assessment of plasma ACE2 levels. Demographic and COVID-19 severity data were gathered, and IBM SPSS version 25.0 was used for analysis. Results: Overall, 515 patients were enrolled, out of which 55.9% (n = 288/515) were males and 50.3% (n = 259/515) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The median age was 37 years (IQR = 26–53). Age was significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.002). The severe COVID-19 group was the oldest (70 years, IQR = 35–80) and presented with anaemia (haemoglobin, g/dL: 9.55, IQR = 7.85–11.93), leukocytosis (WBC × 103/μL: 15.87, IQR = 6.68–19.80), neutrophilia (NEUT × 106/μL: 14.69, IQR = 5.70–18.96) and lymphocytopenia (LYMPH × 106/μL: 0.47, IQR = 0.22–0.66). No association was found between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and ABO (p = 0.711) or Rh (p = 0.805) blood groups; no association was also found between plasma ACE2 levels and SARS-CoV-2 status (p = 0.079). However, among COVID-19 participants, plasma ACE2 levels were significantly reduced in the moderate illness group (40.68 ng/mL, IQR = 34.09–48.10) compared with the asymptomatic group (50.61 ng/mL, IQR = 43.90–58.61, p = 0.015). Conclusions: While there may be no real association between the ABO blood group, as well as plasma ACE2 levels, and SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ghanaian patients, older individuals are at a higher risk of severe disease. Anaemia, and leukocytosis with lymphocytopenia may be indicators of poor disease progression.

Geosynchronous synthetic aperture radar (GeoSAR) missions offer the advantage of near-continuous monitoring of specific regions on Earth, making them essential for applications that require continuous information. However, wind-induced motion along the inherent long integration time can result in image defocusing, with potential degradation of retrieved information. This article aims to investigate the impact of GeoSAR long integration time in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging and derived products (time series of backscatter and coherence) required to extract agriculture-relevant soil or crop parameters of interest. The study is based on the extensive HydroSoil data acquisition campaign carried out over barley and corn crops, funded by the European Space Agency. The collected raw data are used to synthesize equivalent apertures with integration times of up to 4 h, similar to those acquired with a GeoSAR. These ultraslow apertures facilitate the assessment of the impact of agricultural scene decorrelation on the generation of images with extended integration times.

Abstract The balance of processes affecting electron density drives the dynamics of upper‐atmospheric electrical events, such as sprites. We examine the detachment of electrons from negatively charged atomic oxygen (O−) via collisions with neutral molecular nitrogen (N2) leading to the formation of nitrous oxide (N2O). Past research posited that this process, even without significant vibrational excitation of N2, strongly impacts the dynamics of sprites. We introduce updated rate coefficients derived from recent experimental measurements which suggest a negligible influence of this reaction on sprite dynamics. Given that previous rates were incompatible with the observed decay of the light emissions from sprite glows, our findings support that glows actually result from electron depletion in sprite columns.

In order to gain understanding on the utilization of biogas fuel derived from water hyacinth (WH) biomass and render it appealing as a sustainable gaseous fuel, the study reports on its various thermophysical, combustion and thermodynamic parameters. The parameters include, specific enthalpy, internal energy, low heating value, Wobbe number index, changes in Enthalpy, Entropy and Gibbs free energy. The experimental procedure was performed at temperature range of 29±3 °C for 61 days in a BlueSens laboratory-scale anaerobic digestion equipment. It comprised of three fermenter bottles designated as F1, F2 and F3. F1 served as the control and the rest served as the test fermenter bottles. The digestion of water hyacinth and fruit waste sludge (WH+FWS) recorded the highest biogas volumes of 19,798.79 ml in fermenter F2 and 19,168.55 ml in fermenter F3 with methane contents of 53.46 % and 51.85 %, respectively. In comparison, the biogas produced exclusively from the water hyacinth (WH) biomass yielded 12,014.49 ml in F2 and 11,384.25 ml in F3, with methane contents of 46.41 % and 43.31 %, respectively. The best biogas fuel was produced from the digestion of (WH+FWS) in fermenter F2 with an internal energy and enthalpy values of 258.6 KJ/kg. K and 344.9 KJ/kg. K, respectively. A low heating value and Wobbe number of 17.51 MJ/m³ and 17.78 MJ/m³ were determined respectively. The biogas production was simulated using the Gompertz modified kinetic equation in MATLAB and an average specific rate (Kexp) of 371.49 ml/gVS.day was obtained. The rate constant (Kexp) was applied in the linearized form of the Erying-Polanyi equation to determine the changes in Enthalpy Entropy, and Gibbs free energy as -2510.66 J, -304.78 J and 94,219 J, respectively which indicated that, the anaerobic digestion process in this study was only thermodynamically feasible at low temperatures.

Tumor employs non-cancerous cells to gain beneficial features that promote growth and survival of cancer cells. Despite intensive research in the area of tumor microenvironment, there is still a lack of reliable and reproducible in vitro model for tumor and tumor-microenvironment cell interaction studies. Herein we report the successful development of a heterogeneous cancer-stroma sphere (CSS) model composed of prostate adenocarcinoma PC3 cells and immortalized mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The CSS model demonstrated a structured spatial layout of the cells, with stromal cells concentrated at the center of the spheres and tumor cells located on the periphery. Significant increase in the levels of VEGFA, IL-10, and IL1a has been detected in the conditioned media of CSS as compared to PC3 spheres. Single cell RNA sequencing data revealed that VEGFA was secreted by MSC cells within heterogeneous spheroids. Enhanced expression of extracellular membrane (ECM) proteins was also shown for CSS-derived MSCs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the multicellular architecture altered cancer cell response to chemotherapeutic agents: the inhibition of sphere formation by topotecan was 74.92 ± 4.56 % for PC3 spheres and 45.95 ± 7.84 % for CSS spheres (p < 0.01), docetaxel showed 37,51± 20,88 % and 15,67± 14,08 % inhibition, respectively (p < 0.05). Thus, CSS present an effective in vitro model for examining the extracellular matrix composition and cell-to-cell interactions within the tumor, as well as for evaluating the antitumor activity of drugs.

Filopodia are thin synaptic protrusions that have been long known to play an important role in early development. Recently, they have been found to be more abundant in the adult cortex than previously thought, and more plastic than spines (button-shaped mature synapses). Inspired by these findings, we introduce a new model of synaptic plasticity that jointly describes learning of filopodia and spines. The model assumes that filopodia exhibit strongly competitive learning dynamics -similarly to additive spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). At the same time it proposes that, if filopodia undergo sufficient potentiation, they consolidate into spines. Spines follow weakly competitive learning, classically associated with multiplicative, soft-bounded models of STDP. This makes spines more stable and sensitive to the fine structure of input correlations. We show that our learning rule has a selectivity comparable to additive STDP and captures input correlations as well as multiplicative models of STDP. We also show how it can protect previously formed memories and perform synaptic consolidation. Overall, our results can be seen as a phenomenological description of how filopodia and spines could cooperate to overcome the individual difficulties faced by strong and weak competition mechanisms.

Abstract Background and Aims The environment within prisons, such as overcrowding, lack of access to portable water, poor sanitation, and hygiene predisposes inmates to infections, including intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). This study therefore determined the prevalence and associated factors of IPIs among prison inmates in Southern Ghana. Methods A cross‐sectional study using the stratified sampling technique was employed. The study recruited 461 prison inmates across three notable prisons, with 50 inmates from Ho Central, 357 inmates from Nsawam Medium Security, and 54 inmates from Sekondi Central Prisons all in Southern Ghana. A structured closed‐ended questionnaire was administered to collect data on sociodemographics, lifestyle/behavioral characteristics, and signs and symptoms of IPIs. In addition, stool samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of various stages of intestinal parasites (trophozoites, cysts, ova, and larva) using formol‐ether concentration, and the modified Ziehl–Neelsen techniques. Results The prevalence of IPIs among inmates of the three selected prisons was 38.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.72%–42.79%). The prevalence of IPIs among inmates of the three prisons, the Ho Central, Nsawam Medium Security, and Sekondi Central were 46% (95% CI: 31.82%–60.68%), 37.5% (95% CI: 32.49%–42.79%), and 35.2% (95% CI: 22.68%–49.38%), respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the following factors; handwashing after defecation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.05 [0.00–0.67]; p = 0.024), trimmed fingernails (AOR: 0.32 [0.13–0.76]; p = 0.011), itchy skin (AOR [95% CI]: 5.99 [3.43–10.43]; p