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الملخص: أهداف البحث: سبق وأن تم الإبلاغ عن مضاعفات رئوية مثل الانخماص، والوذمة الرئوية، والانصباب الجنبي، والتشنج القصبي والالتهاب الرئوي خلال الفترة التي تتلو عمليات جراحة القلب. يُعتبر التنفس الضحل المؤدي إلى ضعف وظائف الرئة السبب الرئيس لمضاعفات الجهاز التنفسي. ويمكن قياس انخفاض قوة العضلات التنفسية عن طريق الضغط الشهيقي الأقصى والضغط الزفيري الأقصى الناتج في تجويف الفم. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تحديد انخفاض قوة العضلات التنفسية بعد ثمانية أسابيع من جراحة القلب. علاوة على ذلك، تمت دراسة العلاقة بين وظيفة الرئة وقوة العضلات التنفسية. طرق البحث: في هذه الدراسة المبنية على الملاحظة، تمت دراسة ٤٢ مريضا من مرضى جراحة القلب البالغين (أعمارهم ٦٥ ± ٧ سنوات). كان هناك ١٠ نساء و٣٢ رجلا. تم قياس وظيفة الرئة وقوة العضلات التنفسية قبل العملية وشهرين بعد العملية. النتائج: كانت قوة عضلات الجهاز التنفسي قبل وبعد العملية الجراحية وفقا للقيم المتوقعة؛ حيث كان الضغط الشهيقي الأقصى قبل العملية ٨١.٧٥+/- ٢٢.٠٤سم ماء، وبعد العملية بشهرين ٧٤.٥٦+/- ١٨.٨٦سم ماء. وكان الضغط الزفيري الأقصى قبل العملية ٩٨.٥٥+/- ٢٢.٢٤ سم ماء، وبعد العملية بشهرين ٨٨.٨٦+/- ١٨.١٤سم ماء. وكانت وظيفة الرئة قبل العملية وفقا للقيم المتوقعة، إلا أنه انخفضت بشكل ملحوظ بعد العملية. في زيارة المتابعة بعد العملية بشهرين، وكانت هناك علاقة معتدلة بين الضغط الشهيقي الأقصى وحجم الزفير القسري. الاستنتاجات: أظهرت هذه الدراسة أن قوة عضلات الجهاز التنفسي لم تعرقل، لا سابقا ولا شهرين بعد جراحة القلب. ولكن الآلية المحددة لهذا التعديل في وظائف الرئة ليست مفهومة بشكل واضح. يجب أن تركز التدابير الرامية إلى إعادة تحديد القدرة المثالية للرئة بعد العملية الجراحية على تمارين رئوية مختلفة قبل وبعد العملية. Abstract: Objectives: Pulmonary complications, such as atelectasis, pulmonary oedema, pleural effusion, bronchospasm, and pneumonia, have been reported following cardiac surgery. Shallow breathing leading to impaired lung function is the major cause of respiratory complications. Decreases in respiratory muscle strength can be measured using the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) produced in the oral cavity. This study aimed to determine the decrease in respiratory muscle strength 8 weeks following cardiac surgery. Moreover, the relationship between lung function and respiratory muscle strength was studied. Methods: In this observational study, 42 adult cardiac surgery patients (10 women, 32 men; mean age 65 ± 7 years) were investigated. Lung function and respiratory muscle strength were measured preoperatively and at 2 months postoperatively. Results: The pre- and postoperative respiratory muscle strengths were in accordance with the predicted values. The MIP was 81.75 ± 22.04 cmH2O preoperatively and 74.56 ± 18.86 cmH2O at the 2-month follow-up (p = 0.146). The MEP was 98.55 ± 22.24 cmH2O preoperatively and 88.86 ± 18.14 cmH2O at the 2-month follow-up (p = 0.19). The preoperative lung function was in accordance with the predicted values; however, lung function significantly decreased postoperatively. At the 2-month follow-up, there was a moderate correlation between the MIP and forced expiratory volume (r = 0.59, p = 0 .0078). Conclusions: The respiratory muscle strength was not impeded either before or 2 months after cardiac surgery. However, the exact mechanism for the alteration in lung function remains unclear. Measures to re-establish the ideal postoperative lung capacity should concentrate on different perioperative pulmonary exercises. الكلمات المفتاحية: جراحة القلب, وظيفة الرئة, قوة العضلات التنفسية, الضغط الشهيقي الأقصى, الضغط الزفيري الأقصى, Keywords: Cardiac surgery, Lung function, Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), Respiratory muscle strength

Objectives: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been shown to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of a short-term pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) on exercise capacity, pulmonary function and quality of life in patients with COPD. Methods: A pre-test and post-test experimental design was conducted on patients from the outpatient physical therapy department. Thirty stable COPD patients with mild to severe airflow obstruction, (mean age 54.1 ± 5.22, FEV1, between 0.80 and 0.30 predicted; FEV1/FVCÂ

Abstract Background There is no known effective pharmacological therapy for long COVID, which is characterized by wide-ranging, multisystemic, fluctuating, or relapsing symptoms in a large proportion of survivors of acute COVID. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the safety and efficacy of an anti-inflammatory agent colchicine, to reduce symptoms among those at high risk of developing long COVID. Methods This multi-centre, parallel arm, 1:1 individual randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind superiority trial will enrol 350 individuals with persistent post-COVID symptoms. Participants will be randomized to either colchicine 0.5 mg once daily (

Bacillus pseudomycoides, Paenibacillus polymyxa, and B. velezensis are potent bacterial endophytes, which typically exhibit host-specific interactions. However, comparative studies of these endophytes in vitro and in planta in non-host crops are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the potential of endophytes B. pseudomycoides strain HP3d, P. polymyxa strain PGSS1, B. velezensis strain A6, and P42, isolated from various crop ecosystems in promoting plant growth and inducing systemic resistance against early blight disease in tomato. In vitro, endophytes exhibited 44.44–55.56% and 37.50–87.50% inhibition of Alternaria solani in dual culture and volatilome bioassay, respectively. In the glasshouse, individual and combined applications via seed treatment (ST), seedling dip (SD), and foliar spray (FS) significantly enhanced shoot growth (23.63–57.61%), root growth (43.27–118.23%), number of leaves (77.52–93.58%), number of shoots (33.42–45.28%) and root dry matter (42.17–43.86%), reducing early blight (PDI) by 70.95–76.12% compared to uninoculated control. Enzymatic activities, including such as polyphenol oxidase (30–40 fold), peroxidase (65.00–75.00 fold), superoxide dismutase (34.20–37.20 fold) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (44.44–45.56 fold) were elevated post-inoculation in endophytes treated tomato plants challenged with A. solani compared to control treated only with A. solani and declined after the fifth day. The total chlorophyll content declined from the 0th to the 10th day, but endophyte treated plants exhibited lesser reductions (2.03–2.09) than uninoculated control. Field trials confirmed the glasshouse findings, showing reduced early blight and improved growth parameters in tomato where the ST + SD + FS combination emerged as the most effective treatment for all endophytes showing 1.06–1.88 fold increase in fruit yield per plant and 28.92–32.52% decrease in PDI compared to untreated control. Thus, the study highlights the broad-spectrum potential of these strains in promoting plant growth and controlling early blight in tomato, demonstrating non-host specificity. These endophytes offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, supporting sustainable agriculture. Their success in field trials suggests the potential for commercialization and large-scale use across diverse crops and pave the way for further interdisciplinary research to optimize their application in integrated pest management strategies.

Objective To determine whether a chemokine receptor type 2 antagonist, DMX-200 (repagermanium), in combination with an angiotensin receptor blocker, candesartan, improves clinical outcomes in people with COVID-19.Design Prospective, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Setting Ten acute care hospitals in India.Participants Adults

Sarawak, Borneo, harbours 16 unique Durio species, half of which are edible, with only Durio zibethinus widely cultivated. Despite their nutritional and economic significance to the rural communities in Sarawak, the lesser-known indigenous durians remain underrepresented in the scientific literature while facing the risk of extinction in the wild. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct comprehensive chemical analyses of these wild edible durians, offering insights into their nutritional and sensory taste attributes. The edible part was separated at optimal ripeness, and the samples were subjected to further analysis. Wild edible durian genotypes exhibit varied characteristics, even within the same species. The majority of wild durians are characterized by a sugar composition consisting predominantly of sucrose, constituting 67.38–96.96%, except for the red-fleshed Durio graveolens renowned for its low total sugar content (0.49 ± 0.17 g per 100 g). Despite its bland taste, this species possessed significantly greater fat (14.50 ± 0.16%) and fibre (12.30 ± 0.14%) content. Durio dulcis exhibited a significantly greater carbohydrate content (29.37–30.60%), and its intense smell was attributed to its low protein content (2.03–2.04%). Indigenous durians offer substantial percentages of daily mineral intake, with 100 g servings providing approximately 15.71–26.80% of potassium, 71.72–86.52% of phosphorus, 9.33–27.31% of magnesium, and sufficient trace minerals. The vibrant flesh colours of yellow-, orange- and red-fleshed Durio graveolens and Durio kutejensis show high levels of ascorbic acid (31.41–61.56 mg 100 g−1), carotenoids (976.36–2627.18 µg 100 g−1) and antioxidant properties, while Durio dulcis and Durio oxleyanus, despite their dull flesh, contained high phenolic (67.95–74.77 mg GAE 100 g−1) and flavonoid (8.71–13.81 QE mg 100 g−1) levels. These endeavours provide a deeper understanding of the nutritional richness of wild edible durians, thereby supporting commercialization and conservation efforts.

Endophytes stimulate plant growth and inhibit phytopathogens. Most of the known endophytes are host-specific and only a few strains are effective for practical field use. Thus, this study focuses on the evaluation of endophytes viz., Bacillus pseudomycoides strain HP3d, Paenibacillus polymyxa strain PGSS1, B. velezensis strain A6 and P42 isolated from diverse crop ecosystems for their potential to promote plant growth and induce systemic resistance against sheath blight disease in rice. The endophytes were studied for plant growth promoting traits in vivo conditions and were found to exhibit ammonia (light to strong), siderophore (yellow zone on the CAS agar plate), indole-3-acetic acid (15.20–22.19 μg mL−1) production and phosphorus solubilization (1.2–1.5 cm). In the glasshouse, when applied individually and in combinations through various methods like seed treatment, seedling dip, and foliar spray these endophytes significantly reduced lesion size (2.06–2.37 fold) and ShB severity (2.60–2.58 fold), enhancing growth parameters viz., shoot (1.09–1.11 fold), root (1.02–1.20 fold), number of tillers (1.2–1.6 fold), shoot (80.58–82.64 %) and root (62.01–66.66 %) dry matter over untreated control. Consequently, enzyme activity viz., polyphenol oxidase (2.20–3.00 U−1min−1g−1), peroxidase (0.31–0.35 min−1g−1), superoxide dismutase (118.50–123.00 Ug−1 FW), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (0.84–0.90 min⁻1g⁻1FW) was found to increase up to the fourth day after the pathogen challenge and subsequently decrease thereafter. Chlorophyll content post inoculation of ShB declined over time but endophyte treated plants exhibited lesser reductions over uninoculated control. Field trials corroborated the in vitro findings, demonstrating reduced ShB (1.71–1.88 fold decrease in PDI) and enhanced growth (1.1–1.2 fold increase in shoot length) over untreated controls. The combined application of seedling dip, seed treatment, and foliar spray proved to be the most optimum treatment. The findings highlight the potential of diverse crop-derived endophytes, emphasizing their non-host specificity and effectiveness as broad-spectrum bioagents in actual field conditions.

Fermented seaweed extract (FSE) was used as fertilizer in peanut production at MSU Sulu –BARMM, Philippines. The experiment was set up in a 3 x 5 factorial in split-plot randomized complete block design (RCBD), with the main plot (A) as the frequency of the fertilizer applied - once a week, twice a week, and once a month while, the sub-plot (B) as the concentration at 5, 10, 15, and 20%. The application of fermented seaweed extract significantly influenced the growth parameters and yield responses in peanut production. The treatment combinations of once- and twice-a-week application of 5-10% fermented seaweed extract provided the best results in peanut growth and yield. FSE applied twice a week at 5% concentration gave the highest yield of 2.49 tons per hectare. Peanut applied with FSE once a week at a 5% concentration gave the lowest cost of expenses and the highest return on investment of 179%.

Summary: Most epithelial tissues are maintained by stem cells that produce the different cell lineages required for proper tissue function. Constant communication between different cell types ensures precise regulation of stem cell behavior and cell fate decisions. These cell-cell interactions are often disrupted during tumorigenesis, but mechanisms by which they are co-opted to support tumor growth in different genetic contexts are poorly understood. Here, we introduce PromoterSwitch, a genetic platform we established to generate large, transformed clones derived from individual adult Drosophila intestinal stem/progenitor cells. We show that cancer-driving genetic alterations representing common colon tumor genome landscapes disrupt cell fate decisions within transformed tissue and result in the emergence of abnormal cell fates. We also show that transformed enteroendocrine cells, a differentiated, hormone-secreting cell lineage, support tumor growth by regulating intestinal stem cell proliferation through multiple genotype-dependent mechanisms, which represent potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited for therapy.

Background: Mobile multimedia platforms (MMPs) are prolific tools that can be used by individuals and corporations to share content. However, few studies have shown the effectiveness of MMPs as educational tools. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of MMPs in improving basic dental diagnostic skills. Materials and Methods: In this voluntary interventional study on 70 dental students, we created pilot learning modules through an MMP called Instagram Stories to teach dental diagnosis. We evaluated the efficacy of the modules through diagnostic tests that were given to dental students. Results: The students showed a significant increase in diagnostic test scores after the use of an MMP. Furthermore, the students' feedback on the MMP indicated that most students found it easy and enjoyable to use. Conclusion: Our study data show that MMPs may be used to improve training in basic dental diagnostic skills and can serve as an adjunct teaching tool. Moreover, MMP modules can potentially enrich professional education in developing countries where access to educational resources is limited.

Background: From the early days of the HIV epidemic to the current COVID-19 crisis, a major challenge around infectious diseases has been dealing with the deep-seated stigma around affected populations. There is a paucity of literature on the prevalence of social stigma among patients who survived after COVID-19 infection in India. Objective: The objective is to estimate the prevalence of social stigma and its associated factors among COVID-19 survivors. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 150 COVID-19 survivors with predesigned questionnaire using a simple random sampling technique in a tertiary care center from October to November 2020. Social stigma was measured for different socio-demographic parameters and compared. Results: Of 150 study subjects, 29.3% of them faced social discrimination. Majority of them were discriminated by neighbors (75%) and even by their family members and 11.4% not allowed them into community/village. 50% had fear of infecting others and 55.3% of them blamed themselves for getting COVID-19 infection. 18% had faced social devaluation by others. 23.3% lost their job due to COVID-19 and 40.7% had economic loss. Conclusion: COVID-19-related stigma was widespread among participants. Social discrimination was more with increased age, female gender, among educated people, in joint families, among married individuals, in upper social class and those who had a long hospital stay; however, it was not significantly associated statistically.

Daisy Asiimwe,1 Isaac Bangi,1 Jospeh Esanyu,1 Daniel Ojok,1 Benedict Okot,1 Clinton Olong,1 Robert Wagubi,1 Godfrey Kisembo,2 Fred Sempijja,3 Enoch Muwanguzi,1 Benson Okongo1 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara City, Uganda; 2Department of Hospital Administration, Kiryandongo General Hospital, Kiryandongo, Uganda; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences - Mulago, Kampala City, UgandaCorrespondence: Benson Okongo, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX 1410, Mbarara City, Uganda, Tel +256 778 557 867, Fax +256-485-20782, Email bokongo@must.ac.ugPurpose: To determine the prevalence of anemia and its association with Helicobacter pylori infection among adult dyspeptic patients.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 283 dyspeptic patients at Kiryandongo General Hospital, in Uganda. A structured questionnaire was administered to capture demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants. Four milliliters of blood were then collected into an EDTA vacutainer for Complete Blood Count (CBC) and analyzed using HUMA COUNT 30TS, and peripheral blood smears were made and stained using Giemsa stain. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels < 12g/dl in females and < 13g/dl in men according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stool antigen test was performed using Whole power H. pylori Ag rapid test device, and saline stool preparation was examined for intestinal parasites. Chi-squared test and Logistic regression were performed to determine association, and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The overall prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 42.4% (120/283). The prevalence of anemia among H. pylori-infected patients was 25.8% (31/120) and 15.3% (25/163) among H. pylori-negative counterparts. H. pylori infection was significantly associated with anemia (p-value 0.042), age (p-value 0.02, 0.009), water sources (p-value 0.0049,) and intestinal parasitic infestation (p-value 0.02), respectively.Conclusion: This study has shown that the prevalence of H. pylori infection and anemia is high among dyspeptic patients at Kiryandongo General Hospital. H. pylori infection was found associated with anemia, age, water sources, and intestinal parasitic infestation. Routine screening of anemia in H. pylori-infected individuals and further studies to explore the relationship between anemia and H. pylori disease is highly recommended.Keywords: anemia, prevalence, Helicobacter pylori infection

Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan,1 Aqeela Zahra,2 Nuzhat Parveen,3 Fahmida Khatoon,2 Naseer Ahmad Bangi,4 Hassan Hosseinzadeh5 1Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia; 5School of Haelth and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, AustraliaCorrespondence: Aqeela Zahra, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, 81451, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966583675414, Email a.zahra@uoh.edu.saPurpose: To determine the relationship of various domains of quality of life (QoL) with healthcare adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.Methods: The study sample comprised 795 participants among which 203 had a current diagnosis of any major NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, asthma, chronic pulmonary diseases, and chronic psychiatric illnesses and a control group of 592 participants who had no NCD. Participants completed an online survey questionnaire which obtained data on socio-demographic variables, types of NCDs, and healthcare adherence during the year 2020, the period during which Saudi Arabia underwent the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) assessed the QoL in four domains physical, psychological, social and environmental and used standard scores in the analysis. GraphPad Prism 5 and SPSS 25V were employed for the statistical analysis. Bar graphs and frequency distribution tables present descriptive data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were computed to determine the significance of the relationship between QoL and healthcare adherence.Results: Almost equal proportions of participants with NCDs (n=109/203; 54%) and without NCDs (n=327/592; 55%) demonstrated nonadherence to their regular healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic (χ 2=0.14; p=0.71). Patients with NCDs experienced lower quality of life in the psychological, social and environmental domains of QoL (p< 0.05). Results from the multivariate regression analysis showed that female gender (AOR=1.52; p< 0.05) psychological QoL (AOR=1.99; p< 0.05), social QoL (AOR=1.98; p< 0.05) and environmental QoL (AOR=1.95; p< 0.05) significantly relate with adherence to healthcare.Conclusion: Psychological, social and environmental may influence healthcare adherence among patients with NCDs during pandemics and should be focused on while devising future healthcare policy and interventions.Keywords: quality of life, COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare, adherence, non-communicable diseases, behaviors

Experimental models that capture the genetic complexity of human disease and allow mechanistic explorations of the underlying cell, tissue, and organ interactions are crucial to furthering our understanding of disease biology. Such models require combinatorial manipulations of multiple genes, often in more than one tissue at once. The ability to perform complex genetic manipulations in vivo is a key strength of Drosophila, where many tools for sophisticated and orthogonal genetic perturbations exist. However, combining the large number of transgenes required to establish more representative disease models and conducting mechanistic studies in these already complex genetic backgrounds is challenging. Here we present a design that pushes the limits of Drosophila genetics by allowing targeted combinatorial ectopic expression and knockdown of multiple genes from a single inducible transgene. The polycistronic transcript encoded by this transgene includes a synthetic short hairpin cluster cloned within an intron placed at the 5' end of the transcript, followed by two protein-coding sequences separated by the T2A sequence that mediates ribosome skipping. This technology is particularly useful for modeling genetically complex diseases like cancer, which typically involve concurrent activation of multiple oncogenes and loss of multiple tumor suppressors. Furthermore, consolidating multiple genetic perturbations into a single transgene further streamlines the ability to perform combinatorial genetic manipulations and makes it readily adaptable to a broad palette of transgenic systems. This flexible design for combinatorial genetic perturbations will also be a valuable tool for functionally exploring multigenic gene signatures identified from omics studies of human disease and creating humanized Drosophila models to characterize disease-associated variants in human genes. It can also be adapted for studying biological processes underlying normal tissue homeostasis and development that require simultaneous manipulation of many genes.

AbstractReceived on 16 January 2023; accepted on 21 February 2023Kinases are key regulators of cellular signal transduction pathways. Many diseases, including cancer, are associated with global alterations in protein phosphorylation networks. As a result, kinases are frequent targets of drug discovery efforts. However, target identification and assessment, a critical step in targeted drug discovery that involves identifying essential genetic mediators of disease phenotypes, can be challenging in complex, heterogeneous diseases like cancer, where multiple concurrent genomic alterations are common. DrosophilaDrosophila

Bacillus pseudomycoides , Paenibacillus polymyxa , and B. velezensis are potent bacterial endophytes, which typically exhibit host-specific interactions. However, comparative studies of these endophytes in vitro and in planta in non-host crops are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the potential of endophytes B. pseudomycoides strain HP3d, P. polymyxa strain PGSS1, B. velezensis strain A6, and P42, isolated from various crop ecosystems in promoting plant growth and inducing systemic resistance against early blight disease in tomato. In vitro , endophytes exhibited 44.44–55.56% and 37.50–87.50% inhibition of Alternaria solani in dual culture and volatilome bioassay, respectively. In the glasshouse, individual and combined applications via seed treatment (ST), seedling dip (SD), and foliar spray (FS) significantly enhanced shoot growth (23.63–57.61%), root growth (43.27–118.23%), number of leaves (77.52–93.58%), number of shoots (33.42–45.28%) and root dry matter (42.17–43.86%), reducing early blight (PDI) by 70.95–76.12% compared to uninoculated control. Enzymatic activities, including such as polyphenol oxidase (30–40 fold), peroxidase (65.00–75.00 fold), superoxide dismutase (34.20–37.20 fold) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (44.44–45.56 fold) were elevated post-inoculation in endophytes treated tomato plants challenged with A. solani compared to control treated only with A. solani and declined after the fifth day. The total chlorophyll content declined from the 0th to the 10th day, but endophyte treated plants exhibited lesser reductions (2.03–2.09) than uninoculated control. Field trials confirmed the glasshouse findings, showing reduced early blight and improved growth parameters in tomato where the ST + SD + FS combination emerged as the most effective treatment for all endophytes showing 1.06–1.88 fold increase in fruit yield per plant and 28.92–32.52% decrease in PDI compared to untreated control. Thus, the study highlights the broad-spectrum potential of these strains in promoting plant growth and controlling early blight in tomato, demonstrating non-host specificity. These endophytes offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, supporting sustainable agriculture. Their success in field trials suggests the potential for commercialization and large-scale use across diverse crops and pave the way for further interdisciplinary research to optimize their application in integrated pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the oral health factors affecting preschoolers and the role of parents in prevention. Particularly, it focused to all the 23 Child Care Development Centers in San Manuel, Pangasinan. The study used descriptive method of research and included 230 parents from 23 centers as respondents. It used percentage, frequency counts, weighted mean, and Pearson r product moment coefficient of correlation through SPSS 26 in its statistical treatment. Further, the study found out that respondent-parents are predominantly females, 185 or 80.4 percent, 106 or 46.1 percent belong to ages 20-21, 183 or 79.6 percent are Roman Catholic. They are mostly married, 169 or 73.5 percent, high school graduate with 155 of them or 67.4 percent, and 205 of them or 89.1 percent are housewife or househusband. Majority of the respondents have 5,000 and below income, there are 166 of them or 72.2 percent. They belong to a nuclear type of family, 184 of them or 80 percent, and have 4-5 members in the family. The respondents agree that the dental health, oral hygiene, dietary habits, education and awareness, and collaboration with healthcare providers are oral health factors highly affecting preschoolers. Further, respondents neither agree nor disagree that the parental attitudes and beliefs, and cultural influences are oral health factors affecting preschoolers. There is a significant relationship between the factors affecting the oral health practices among parents of preschool children and the respondents' profile variables. Particularly between the factors on dental health, oral hygiene, dietary habits, parental attitudes and beliefs, cultural influences, and education and awareness, and the profile variables, sex, age, highest educational attainment, income, and number of family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica aerogels and their derivatives have outstanding thermal properties with exceptional values in the thermal insulation industry. However, their brittle nature restricts their large-scale commercialization. Thus, enhancing their mechanical strength without affecting their thermal insulating properties is essential. Therefore, for the first time, highly thermally stable poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) partial sodium salt is used as a reinforcing polymer to synthesize hybrid P(AAm-CO-AAc)-silica aerogels via epoxy ring-opening polymerization in the present study. Functional groups in P(AAm-CO-AAc) partial sodium salts, such as CONH2 and COOH, acted as nucleophiles for the epoxy ring-opening reaction with (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, which resulted in a seven-fold enhancement in mechanical strength compared to that of pristine silica aerogel while maintaining thermal conductivity at less than 30.6 mW/mK and porosity of more than 93.68%. Moreover, the hybrid P(AAm-CO-AAc)-silica aerogel demonstrated improved thermal stability up to 343 °C, owing to the synergetic effect between the P(AAm-CO-AAc) and the silica aerogel, corresponding to the thermal stability and strong covalent bonding among them. These excellent results illustrate that this new synthetic approach for producing hybrid P(AAm-CO-AAc)-silica aerogels is useful for enhancing the mechanical strength of pristine silica aerogel without impairing its thermal insulating property and shows potential as an industrial heat insulation material.

The sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla is a major grazer and is, hence, an excellent key model organism to study to gain a better understanding of responses to changes in its habitat. We investigated whether there are significant variations in the feeding and reproductive phenotypic traits of populations from three seagrass bed sites, with respect to their proximity to fish farms in Bolinao, northwestern Philippines. We established three stations in each of the three sites: the far, the intermediate, and those near the fish farms, and compared the sea urchins’ phenotypic traits and determined whether these were related to seagrass productivity and water parameters. Regardless of the sampling period, adult sea urchins (66.92 ± 0.27 mm test diameter, TD, n = 157) from the areas intermediate and near to the fish farms had significantly lower indices of Aristotle’s lantern, gut contents, gut and gonads, and lower gonad quality (high percentage of unusual black gonads), compared to those from the far stations. Multivariate analysis showed that the smaller feeding structures and gut, lower consumption rates and lower gonad indices and quality of sea urchins in the intermediate and near fish farms were positively related to lower shoot density, leaf production and species diversity, as well as lower water movement in those stations. The larger size of the Aristotle’s lantern in the far stations was not related to food limitations. More importantly, the phenotypic variability in the feeding structures and gonads of sea urchins in the same seagrass bed provides new evidence regarding the sensitivity of this species to environmental factors that may affect variability in food quality.

From the start of 2020, the world has witnessed the biggest health and humanitarian crisis in the modern century named coronavirus disease 2019. The rapid spread of infection created chaos and confusion across the globe. Like all other health professions, a timely and major reorganization of orthodontic services is challenging. Unlike other medical emergencies, an orthodontic emergency does not require immediate attention in most cases. With advances in the modern web-based communication systems, minor problems can be managed online in orthodontic practice. During an emergency, however, orthodontists have a moral obligation to treat and manage patients under the World Health Organization guidelines and protocol.

Sarawak, Borneo, harbours 16 unique Durio species, half of which are edible, with only Durio zibethinus widely cultivated. Despite their nutritional and economic significance to the rural communities in Sarawak, the lesser-known indigenous durians remain underrepresented in the scientific literature while facing the risk of extinction in the wild. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct comprehensive chemical analyses of these wild edible durians, offering insights into their nutritional and sensory taste attributes. The edible part was separated at optimal ripeness, and the samples were subjected to further analysis. Wild edible durian genotypes exhibit varied characteristics, even within the same species. The majority of wild durians are characterized by a sugar composition consisting predominantly of sucrose, constituting 67.38–96.96%, except for the red-fleshed Durio graveolens renowned for its low total sugar content (0.49 ± 0.17 g per 100 g). Despite its bland taste, this species possessed significantly greater fat (14.50 ± 0.16%) and fibre (12.30 ± 0.14%) content. Durio dulcis exhibited a significantly greater carbohydrate content (29.37–30.60%), and its intense smell was attributed to its low protein content (2.03–2.04%). Indigenous durians offer substantial percentages of daily mineral intake, with 100 g servings providing approximately 15.71–26.80% of potassium, 71.72–86.52% of phosphorus, 9.33–27.31% of magnesium, and sufficient trace minerals. The vibrant flesh colours of yellow-, orange- and red-fleshed Durio graveolens and Durio kutejensis show high levels of ascorbic acid (31.41–61.56 mg 100 g−1), carotenoids (976.36–2627.18 µg 100 g−1) and antioxidant properties, while Durio dulcis and Durio oxleyanus, despite their dull flesh, contained high phenolic (67.95–74.77 mg GAE 100 g−1) and flavonoid (8.71–13.81 QE mg 100 g−1) levels. These endeavours provide a deeper understanding of the nutritional richness of wild edible durians, thereby supporting commercialization and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The covid pandemic in India had put health-care workers (HCW) working in the frontline on the challenging end as they were facing the COVID-19 crisis diligently from the beginning of the pandemic in different positions and calibre. The present study was carried out to evaluate the mental health status of health care workers (HCWs) involved in the management of COVID-19 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the mental health status of the health care workers (HCWs) and quantify the magnitude of Insomnia, anxiety, depression and stress. Methodology: An online cross-sectional study using google forms was conducted among 166 health care workers including doctors and nurses involved in the management of COVID-19 patients at four different covid care centres out of 13 covid care centres in Visakhapatnamselected by random sampling method. Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) were used to assess the mental health disorders. Results: Prevalence of Insomnia was noted among 24.10% of the study and anxiety was estimated to be 19.3%. Mild depression was noted in 17.5%, while moderate, moderately severe and severe depression was noted in 11.4%, 6.6% and 2.4% of the study participants respectively. High perceived stress was noted in 3.6%, while 70.5% had moderate stress and 25.9% had low stress among the study participants. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need to identify health-care workers who were at risk in order to provide them with comprehensive support and coping strategies to deal with them at an early stage during the pandemic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]