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Nandeeta Samad,1 Temitayo Eniola Sodunke,2 Hasan Al Banna,3 Ashmita Sapkota,4 Aneeka Nawar Fatema,5 Katia Iskandar,6 Dilshad Jahan,7 Timothy Craig Hardcastle,8 Tanzina Nusrat,9 Tajkera Sultana Chowdhury,10 Mainul Haque11 1Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; 2University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; 3Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; 4Department of Microbiology, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; 5Department of Microbiology, Prima Asia University, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh; 6School of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; 7Department of Hematology, Asgar Ali Hospital, Dhaka 1204, Bangladesh; 8Department of Surgery, Nelson R Mandela School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo, Berea 4001, South Africa; 9Department of Microbiology, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram 4203, Bangladesh; 10Department of Urology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; 11Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 57000, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Mainul HaqueUnit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, MalaysiaTel +60 109265543Email runurono@gmail.comAbstract: The world is striving against the severe crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare professionals are struggling to treat their patients based on nonspecific therapies. Amidst this uncertainty, convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) has appeared to be an interim adjuvant therapy for severely ill patients of COVID-19 until long-term clinical trial treatment options are available. Considering the transfusion-related hazards, especially lung injuries and microbial transmission, where sensitivity is not ensured, rigorous trials should be conducted to determine this therapy’s efficacy. Moreover, the ratio of recovered cases to plasma donors is not satisfying, which questioning this therapy’s availability and accessibility. Although some countries are making the treatment free, the attributable cost mandates a justification for its suitability and sustainability. Our article aimed to review the published facts and findings of CPT’s effectiveness in lowering the mortality rate of COVID-19. This pandemic showed that healthcare systems worldwide need core reform. A unified global collaboration must align and coordinate to face the current pandemic and enhance world readiness for future outbreaks based on health equity and equality.Keywords: convalescent plasma therapy, safety, risk, availability, accessibility, COVID-19, global pandemic

Mainul Haque,1 Judy McKimm,2 Massimo Sartelli,3 Sameer Dhingra,4 Francesco M Labricciosa,5 Salequl Islam,6 Dilshad Jahan,7 Tanzina Nusrat,8 Tajkera Sultana Chowdhury,9 Federico Coccolini,10 Katia Iskandar,11 Fausto Catena,12 Jaykaran Charan13 1Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; 2Medical Education, Swansea University School of Medicine, Grove Building, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK; 3Department of General and Emergency Surgery, Macerata Hospital, Macerata, Italy; 4School of Pharmacy, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Uriah Butler Highway, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies; 5Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal; 6Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh; 7Department of Hematology, Asgar Ali Hospital, Dhaka 1204, Bangladesh; 8Department of Microbiology, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram 4203, Bangladesh; 9Department of Urology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh; 10Department of General Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; 11School of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; 12Department of Emergency Surgery, Parma Maggiore Hospital, Parma, Italy; 13Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, IndiaCorrespondence: Mainul HaqueUnit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, MalaysiaTel +60 10 926 5543Email runurono@gmail.comAbstract: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a major source of morbidity and mortality and are the second most prevalent cause of death. Furthermore, it has been reported that for every one-hundred patients admitted to hospital, seven patients in high-income economies and ten in emerging and low-income economies acquire at least one type of HCAI. Currently, almost all pathogenic microorganisms have developed antimicrobial resistance, and few new antimicrobials are being developed and brought to market. The literature search for this narrative review was performed by searching bibliographic databases (including Google Scholar and PubMed) using the search terms: “Strategies,” “Prevention,” and “Healthcare-Associated Infections,” followed by snowballing references cited by critical articles. We found that although hand hygiene is a centuries-old concept, it is still the primary strategy used around the world to prevent HCAIs. It forms one of a bundle of approaches used to clean and maintain a safe hospital environment and to stop the transmission of contagious and infectious microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant microbes. Finally, antibiotic stewardship also has a crucial role in reducing the impact of HCAIs through conserving currently available antimicrobials.Keywords: prevention, hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, surveillance, antibiotic stewardship

With the increase of salinity, shrimp monoculture is a typical production system on many global coasts. They are thus inviting commercially valuable exotic shrimp species that threaten the population of natives and causing alteration of ecosystem function. This intentional introduction and redistribution of shrimp species is an Anthropocene feature of the global coast. Therefore, we investigated how the coastal system breaches a freshwater system leading to more saline-friendly production. Spatiotemporal mapping showed the scope of diversified coastal livelihood that illustrate the coexistence of saline and sweet water-based production system in Bangladesh with a mean accuracy of 89% (kappa statistics 0.86). In many parts, the once agriculturally dominated landscape has transformed into aquaculture to produce shrimp, crab, fish, and salt. Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithm also depicts the breakpoint in time series of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data due to coastal land-use change. This dynamism includes the strong presence of mixed rice-shrimp culture in Assasuni (west coast) and Chakaria (east coast), as well as salt panning in Chakaria and paddy rice production in Kalapara (mid-coast). Thus those areas are more resilient because many other coastal communities primarily depend on shrimp or aqua monoculture, having limited or no alternative production system. Due to semi-intensive shrimp cultivation, biotic depletion, disease, pollution like antibiotics, nutrients, and organic matter loads are also less than the global coast's intensive aquaculture area. This study revealed the need for a blended fresh and saline-based production system. The findings can be used as a reference in the formulation and implementation of sustainable coastal management policies.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICU), accounting for 25% of all ICU infections. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing and becoming a significant health problem worldwide, increasing hospital length of stay, mortality and costs. Identifying antibiotic resistance patterns in VAP is important as this can cause outbreaks in ICUs. To date, there have been limited studies assessing this in Bangladesh. Consequently, the primary objective of this research was to study the species of bacterial growth and to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of Metallo-β-Lactamase (MBL) producing gram-negative bacilli among ICU patients with VAP in a public medical school hospital, Bangladesh. In addition, identify the factors associated with a positive culture to provide future guidance., Method: Cross-sectional study performed in the Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Mueller Hinton agar plates were used for antibiotic sensitivity testing by the Kirby-Buer disc diffusion test., Results: Among 105 clinically suspected VAP cases, qualitative cultures were positive in 95 (90%) of them. The most common bacteria identified were Acinetobacter spp . (43.2%), Klebsiella spp . (20%) and Pseudomonas spp . (18.9%). A positive culture was not associated with patients' age or gender. Among 41 isolated Acinetobacter spp ., 38 (92.7%) were resistant to gentamicin followed by 36 (87.8%) to ceftriaxone. Among 24 isolated Klebsiella spp ., 22 (83.3%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. Among 18 isolated Pseudomonas spp ., 16 (88.8%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 13 (72.2%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. Among nine isolated E. coli, all were resistant to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. All four Proteus spp . (100%) isolated were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Additionally, phenotype MBL producing was 65.22% and genotype was 45.65% among imipenem resistant pathogens. Imipenem resistant pathogens were sensitive to amoxyclav, amikacin¸ azithromycin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, colistin and gentamycin., Conclusion: A positive culture was detected in 90% of VAP patients, but it was not associated with the patients' age and gender. The most common bacteria identified were Acinetobacter spp ., Klebsiella spp . and Pseudomonas spp ., where the majority of these were resistant to ceftriaxone. The results are being used to provide future guidance on the empiric management of VAP in this hospital.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICU), which accounts for 25% of all ICU infection. Documenting carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli is very important as these strains may often cause outbreaks in the ICU setting and are responsible for the increased mortality and morbidity or limiting therapeutic options. The classical phenotypic method cannot provide an efficient means of diagnosis of the metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) producer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have lessened the importance of the phenotypic approach by detecting metallo-β-lactamase resistance genes such as New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Imipenemase (IMP), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), Sao Paulo metallo-β-lactamase (SPM), Germany Imipenemase (GIM)., Objective: To compare the results of the Combined Disc Synergy Test (CDST) with that of the multiplex PCR to detect MBL-producing gram-negative bacilli., Materials and Method: A total of 105 endotracheal aspirates (ETA) samples were collected from the ICU of a public school in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Chittagong for quantitative culture, CDST test, and multiplex PCR for bla IMP , bla VIM , bla NDM genes of MBL producers., Results: Among the 105 clinically suspected VAP cases, the quantitative culture was positive in 95 (90%) and among 95 g-negative bacilli isolated from VAP patients, 46 (48.42%) were imipenem resistant, 30 (65.22%) were MBL producers by CDST, 21 (45.65%) were identified as MBL producers by multiplex PCR., Conclusion: PCR was highly sensitive and specific for the detection of MBL producers.

The present study, in line with a plant-food-based approach to address vitamin A deficiency, reports the analysis of total carotenoids, and trans- and cis-β-carotenes, in different varieties of raw and boiled orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP). Carotenoids were isolated using acetone-petroleum ether extraction followed by spectrophotometric determination. trans- and cis-β-Carotenes were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC method using a mobile phase containing acetonitrile:methanol:2-propanol in the ratio of 85:15:33 with 0.01% ammonium acetate. Intra-varietal difference in carotenoids as well as trans- and cis-β-carotenes were noted in both the raw and boiled potatoes. Carotenoid content was found to be higher in the raw potatoes compared to the boiled samples from the same variety. Amongst the OFSP varieties, Kamalasundari (BARI SP-2) was found to contain the most carotenoids in both the raw and boiled samples. β-Carotene was significantly higher in the Kamalsundari and BARI SP-5 varieties. trans-β-Carotene was found to be the major carotenoid in all of the raw potatoes, but boiling was associated with an increase in cis-β-carotene and a decrease in the trans isomer. Kamalsundari and BARI SP-5 orange-fleshed sweet potatoes have the potential to be used as food-based supplements to reduce vitamin A deficiency., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background/Objectives: Medical devices are susceptible to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which can result in severe infections, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased burden on society. Antibacterial films have the potential to assist in preventing biofilm formation, thereby reducing administration of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. In a previous study, a chitosan-based matrix crosslinked with tannic acid and loaded with gentamicin was reported. In this study, five different antibiotics (moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole or linezolid) were loaded into these chitosan-based films, and their impact on the release behavior carefully assessed. Methods: The samples were characterized according to their thickness, swelling, and mass loss in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), as well as by morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical phase contrast microscopy. Antibiotic release over time was quantified in PBS by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antibacterial activity was investigated by disk diffusion test and antibiotic release over time. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the samples was assessed with human dermal fibroblasts. Results: The obtained results differed significantly, especially regarding the antibiotic release time and antibacterial activity, which varied from one day to six months, enabling classification of the films from burst/transient to prolonged release. The films also showed antibacterial features against bacteria mostly present in medical devices and displayed to be non-cytotoxic. Conclusions: In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the antibiotics structure significantly alters the release kinetics, and that by carefully selecting the antibiotic, the consequent release can be tuned. This approach yielded films that could be used for potentially-scalable release in antimicrobial coatings specific to medical devices, aiming to reduce biomaterial associated infections (BAIs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the efficiency is an essential target of the wireless power transfer (WPT) technology. Enabling the WPT systems requires careful control to prevent power from being transferred to unintended areas. This is essential in improving the efficiency and minimizing the flux leakage that might otherwise occur. Selective field localization can effectively reduce the flux leakage from the WPT systems. In this work, we propose a method using a digital honeycomb metamaterial structure that has a property operation as a function of switching between 0 and 1 states. These cavities were created by strongly confining the field by using a hybridization bandgap that arose from wave interaction with a two-dimensional array of local resonators on the metasurface. A WPT efficiency of 64% at 13.56 MHz was achieved by using the metamaterial and improved to 60% compared to the system without the metamaterial with an area ratio of Rx:Tx~1:28. Rx is the receiver coil, and Tx is the transmitter one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disinfection has a fundamental role in the control of pathogens in the hospital environment. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and functional impact of disinfectants in reducing pathogens related to healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals. Methods: This observation study was conducted at three university hospitals in Gorgan, Iran, from May to Oct 2023. The data including used disinfectants and microbiological examination were obtained from the infection control unit of each hospital. Results: The results showed that a variety of disinfectants from intermediate to high levels were employed in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) protocols. The microbial result revealed that 31.6% (286 out of 906) of the sample had at least one microorganism. Among identified organisms, Bacillus spp. were the predominant species followed by Staphylococcus epidermis, fungus genera, Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, Alcaligenes spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter spp., Corynebacterium spp., Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Serratias spp. The highest prevalence rates of microorganisms were observed in the wards of ICU, emergency, internal medicine, and women's ward. The chi-square test revealed a significant relationship between the presence of organisms and hospital wards (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The presence of pathogens indicates a defect in the disinfection process, probably due to both little attention to disinfection protocols and multidrug resistance. It is not yet possible to eliminate pathogens from the hospital environment, but it can be minimized by education intervention, standardizing disinfecting processes, and monitoring by the infection control committee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses the identification and prediction of research topics in human–robot interaction (HRI), fundamental in Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and future Industry 5.0 (I5.0). In the absence of research agendas in the scientific literature, the study proposes a multilayered model to create a precise agenda to guide the scientific community in new developments in collaborative robotics and HRI technologies. The methodology is divided into four stages, which make up the three layers of the model. In the first two stages, scientific articles on HRI for the period 2020–2021 were collected and analyzed using data mining techniques together with VantagePoint and Gephi software to identify keywords and their relationships. These initial stages form layer 1 of the model, where the main scientific themes are recognized. In the third stage, article titles and abstracts are cleaned and processed using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, generating word embeddings models that highlight relevant HRI-related terms, forming layer 2. The fourth and final stage uses Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) with long short-term memory (LSTM) architecture to predict future topics, consolidating the previously identified terms and forming layer 3 of the model. The results show that in layer 1 HRI has intensive application in various sectors through advanced computational algorithms, with trust as a key feature. In layer 2, terms such as vision, sensors, communication, collaboration and anthropomorphic aspects are fundamental, while layer 3 anticipates future topics such as design, performance, method and controllers, essential to improve robot interaction. The study concludes that the methodology is effective in defining a robust and relevant research agenda. By identifying future trends and needs, this work fills a gap in the scientific literature, providing a valuable tool for the research community in the field of HRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four known and a new species of nematodes belonging to the Order Mononchida Jairajpuri, 1969 are described and illustrated from Silent Valley National Park, India. Cobbonchus vulvastriatus n. sp. has 0.92-0.11 mm long body; buccal cavity 25-27 x 12-13 μm, dorsal tooth comparatively large with its apex at 72-81% from base of stoma; subventral teeth slightly smaller with their apices at 40-41% from the base of stoma; female genital system amphidelphic, 1-3 pre-vulval and 2-4 post-vulval cuticular infoldings present; spicules 1.2-1.4 times the cloacal body diameter long; gubernaculum trough-shaped with distal thickening; lateral guiding pieces small; ventromedian supplements six, spaced; tail conoid, curved ventrad with a strong angular bending, slender portion of tail about twice the anterior part; caudal glands well developed, arranged in tandem, spinneret terminal. Clarkus sheri (Mulvey, 1967) Jairajpuri, 1970; Mylonchulus amurus Khan & Jairajpuri, 1979; Mylonchulus mulveyi Jairajpuri, 1970 and Mylonchulus paraindex Ahmad, Baniyamuddin & Jairajpuri, 2005 are recorded for the first time from this park.

The paper deals with description of three new and two known species of Tripylidae Örley, 1880. Two new and a known species of the genus TripylinaBrzeski, 1963 while one new and one known species of Trischistoma are described. Tripylina ymyensis n. sp. is characterised by robust body; long, slender outer labial setae; stoma with thick cuticularised wall bearing a prominent dorsal tooth and two equal-sized posteriorly-placed subventral teeth; large ovoid coelomocytes with conspicuous, globular inclusions; simple vagina without cuticularised pieces and a long, curved tail with a U- or S-shaped turn, uniformly tapering into a narrow terminus. Tripylina valiathani n. sp. is characterised by moderately large body; plump, leaf-shaped outer labial setae; stoma with thick cuticularised dorsal wall bearing a prominent dorsal tooth and two small anteriorly-placed subventral denticles; large fusiform coelomocytes with tapering ends having fine granular inclusions; cuticularised vagina, a distinct prerectum and a stumpy, laterally curved tail with a blunt terminus. T. stramenti (Yeates, 1972) Tsalolikhin, 1983 has been reported for the first time from India. Trischistoma minor n. sp. is characterised by medium-sized body; with dense crystalloids and granular aggregates; low, flattened lip region; plump outer labial setae; slenderer post-labial cephalic setae lying closely posterior to outer labials; a post-uterine sac of one body diameter and a dorsally curved tail with ventral terminal turn. T. pellucidumCobb, 1913 forms the first report from India. The relationships of Tripylina and Trischistoma have been discussed.

To understand potential sources and losses of nitrogen from farming systems in Darusa, Bangladesh, a detailed survey of farming practices was conducted. A total of 100 households were randomly selected using demographic and agricultural information about the farmers in the study area. Data were used to stratify the farmers according to their operational land holding, livestock numbers (tropical livestock unit), use of irrigation, age, and educational level. Four clusters of farm households were identified, and nine households were randomly selected from each cluster for a total of 36 households. These 36 households completed more detailed surveys about their cropping and livestock. The surveys identified local practices of nitrogen management in different crops and types of livestock. Further information on traditional practices for soil fertility management was obtained by interviewing selected farmers. The results show that the major use for organic residues from crops and livestock is to provide fuel. Crop residues were used as fuel by 84% of farmers, with 23% using all of their crop residues as fuel. Some manure was used as fuel by all farmers, with 56% of farmers using most of their manure as fuel. As a result, 23% used no crop residues and 56% used less than half of their manure to improve soil fertility. This suggests that recycling of nitrogen in the study area is low. Soil analysis indicates that the organic matter and nitrogen contents of the soil in the study area were only 1.43% and 0.08%, respectively. Therefore, further recycling of organic residues should be practiced in order to reduce losses of available nitrogen from the system. More research is needed to quantify nitrogen lost by these practices and to draw up a full nitrogen budget for the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers new approaches to studying wave phenomena in objects and the processes of cyberphysical system devices in relation to their indirect attributes. The concept of indirect indicators is defined from the standpoint of studying the information state of systems. Examples of using indirect attributes in the theory of systems are disclosed. The classification of indirect attributes and models of their study is proposed for solving problems of information security of systems by controlling their indirect attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitalized patients on mechanical ventilation are at high-risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), making early and accurate diagnosis essential for the best possible treatment outcomes. This review examined various laboratory techniques, such as aerobic cultures, Gram's stain, and molecular techniques, to assess how well they diagnose VAP. We have done search strategies using Google Scholar, Medline Complete, and PubMed. Extensive statistical tools were utilized to examine studies and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory results. Multiplex PCR was superior to Gram's stain and culture methods in terms of sensitivity (92%) and specificity (86%). On the other hand, Gram's stain showed the highest specificity (78.9%) and the lowest sensitivity (74.6%). The results of semiquantitative, quantitative, enrichment culture showed a lower specificity (75.97%) but a moderate sensitivity (78.5%). The most accurate diagnostic approach for VAP, according to a meta-analysis, was multiplex PCR-based testing, closely followed by culture methods. Beyond separate tests, multiplex PCR, culture, and Gram's stain combination increased sensitivity. Prompt and precise VAP diagnosis is essential for efficient treatment. With possible improvements through combination diagnostic techniques, multiplex PCR remains the most accurate diagnostic tool. However, more investigation is necessary to improve and certify VAP diagnostic instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lungs play a vital role in supplying oxygen to every cell, filtering air to prevent harmful substances, and supporting defense mechanisms. However, they remain susceptible to the risk of diseases such as infections, inflammation, and cancer that affect the lungs. Meta-ensemble techniques are prominent methods used in machine learning to enhance the accuracy of classifier learning systems in making predictions. This work proposes a robust predictive model using a meta-ensemble method to identify high-risk individuals with lung cancer, thereby taking early action to prevent longterm problems benchmarked upon the Kaggle Machine Learning practitioners' Lung Cancer Dataset. Three machine learning ensemble modelsdRandom Forest, Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), and Gradient Boostingdwere used to develop the meta-ensemble models proposed in this paper, whereby the three ensemble models were adopted as base classifiers while one of them was adopted as the meta-classifier. In addition, two of the ensemble models were used as base classifiers, while the third was used as a meta-classifier to evaluate lung cancer risk prediction. Different graphs were evaluated to show that people with these features are liable to develop lung cancer. The proposed model has immensely improved prediction performance. The meta-ensemble models were simulated using the Python simulation environment, and the 5-fold cross-validation technique was used. The model validation was carried out using several known performance evaluation methodologies. The results of the experiments showed that gradient boosting achieved a maximum accuracy of 100%, an area under the curve (AUC), and a precision of 100%. The proposed model was compared with novel machine learning methods and popular state-of-the-art (SOTA) deep learning techniques. It was confirmed from the results that the model in this study had the best accuracy at lung cancer risk prediction. This study's results can be utilized to enhance the performance of actual patient risk prediction systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient management of hospital resources is essential for providing high-quality healthcare while ensuring sustainability. Length of stay (LOS), measuring the duration from admission to discharge, directly impacts patient outcomes and resource utilization. Accurate LOS prediction offers numerous benefits, including reducing re-admissions, ensuring appropriate staffing, and facilitating informed discharge planning. While conventional methods rely on statistical models and clinical expertise, recent advances in machine learning (ML) present promising avenues for enhancing LOS prediction. This research focuses on developing an ML-based LOS prediction model trained on a comprehensive real-world dataset and discussing the important factors towards practical deployment of trained ML models in clinical settings. This research involves the development of a comprehensive adult cardiac patient dataset (SaudiCardioStay (SCS)) from the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) hospital in Saudi Arabia, comprising 4930 patient encounters for 3611 unique patients collected from 2019 to 2022 (excluding 2020). A diverse range of classical ML models (i.e., Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), artificial neural networks (ANNs), Average Voting Regression (AvgVotReg)) are implemented for the SCS dataset to explore the potential of existing ML models in LOS prediction. In addition, this study introduces a novel approach for LOS prediction by incorporating a dedicated LOS classifier within a sophisticated ensemble methodology (i.e., Two-Level Sequential Cascade Generalization (2LSCG), Three-Level Sequential Cascade Generalization (3LSCG), Parallel Cascade Generalization (PCG)), aiming to enhance prediction accuracy and capture nuanced patterns in healthcare data. The experimental results indicate the best mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.1700 for the 3LSCG model. Relatively comparable performance was observed for the AvgVotReg model, with a MAE of 0.1703. In the end, a detailed analysis of the practical implications, limitations, and recommendations concerning the deployment of ML approaches in actual clinical settings is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant global threat, particularly in developing regions such as Southeast Asia. International bodies emphasize the role of formal undergraduate training in the prevention and control of HAIs. To address this, we aimed to explore the perceptions of Southeast Asian nursing students regarding a novel educational approach developed by a European–Southeast Asian project consortium. Methods: A pilot study was conducted in four nursing higher education institutions from Cambodia and Vietnam. First, local nursing educators conducted a 2 h classroom-based training session. Then, students were invited to participate for the first time in one of twelve evidence-based simulation scenarios developed by the research team, covering a range of nursing care situations related to the prevention and control of HAIs. After attending both components, students were asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire and rate their agreement with a set of statements on the appropriateness and meaningfulness of both components. Results: A total of 430 nursing students enrolled in the pilot study; 77.4% were female, with an average age of 19.8 years. The PrevInf educational intervention received positive feedback from participating students across settings, with strong agreement on the importance of proactiveness in competency development (M = 5.9, SD = 1.4). Notable differences between Cambodian and Vietnamese students were observed in terms of their receptiveness to the pre-selected teaching materials (p = 0.001) and strategies (p = 0.01) used by the nursing educators during their experience with the simulation scenarios. Conclusions: The PrevInf educational intervention shows promise in engaging Southeast Asian nursing students and fostering a deeper understanding of the prevention and control of HAIs. Further studies are warranted to refine the learning content and standardize the pedagogical strategies used by nursing educators across settings. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the quantitative and qualitative situation of the current fixed and mobile Internet and its expected future. It provides a detailed insight into the past, present, and future of the Internet along with the development of technology and the problems that have arisen in accessing and using broadband Internet. First, the number of users and penetration rate of the Internet, the various types of services in different countries, the ranking of countries in terms of the mean and median download and upload Internet data speeds, Internet data volume, and number and location of data centers in the world are presented. The second task introduces and details twelve performance evaluation metrics for broadband Internet access. Third, different wired and wireless Internet technologies are introduced and compared based on data rate, coverage, type of infrastructure, and their advantages and disadvantages. Based on the technical and functional criteria, in the fourth work, two popular wired and wireless Internet platforms, one based on optical fiber and the other based on the 5G cellular network, are compared in the world in general and Australia in particular. Moreover, this paper has a look at Starlink as the latest satellite Internet candidate, especially for rural and remote areas. The fifth task outlines the latest technologies and emerging broadband Internet-based services and applications in the spotlight. Sixthly, it focuses on three problems in the future Internet in the world, namely the digital divide due to the different qualities of available Internet and new Internet-based services and applications of emerging technologies, the impact of the Internet on social interactions, and hacking and insecurity on the Internet. Finally, some solutions to these problems are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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An advanced electronic information equipment interface control and status monitoring system is proposed to ensure the fairness, objectivity, and security of information while identifying responsibility for traffic accidents. Through an in-depth analysis of the system's security requirements and the current landscape of information security technology, a robust security strategy is developed for each crucial system stage. A PC-based platform is developed for efficient data acquisition, secure processing, reliable transmission, and fortified storage, focusing on implementing nonlinear data encryption methods. Performance evaluation of the system involved rigorous testing using files ranging from 3MB to 10MB. The results of the proposed system revealed a significant improvement in the system's overall speed and efficiency, showcasing an average performance enhancement of one quarter compared to the original platform. The proposed system demonstrated an impressive 15% to 30% increase in processing speed, establishing its capability to ensure data integrity protection during information transmission, facilitate accurate identification of data recording equipment post-accident, and safeguard the security of stored data. The developed electronic information equipment interface control and status monitoring system effectively addresses critical challenges associated with ensuring data integrity and security in traffic accident investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being preventable, healthcare-associated infections are known primary causes of patient mortality and morbidity, threatening global public health. Though it is believed that one competent and dedicated cleaning staff member given the right tools and enough time can prevent more health-care-associated infectious diseases than a room full of doctors and nurses can cure, it was discovered in Letaba Hospital of the Limpopo Province, South Africa, that knowledge and practices of infection control among cleaning staff were not optimal. The proposed study aims to evaluate the impact of training interventions on cleaners' knowledge levels and practices. In Phase 1, cleaners' pre-training knowledge level, practices, and perceptions regarding correct cleaning techniques will be assessed through qualitative, individual, in-depth interviews. The initial question will read, "Describe the steps you follow when cleaning at this health facility and why?" In Phase 2a, a cleaning training program will be developed based on the South African Qualification Authority ID 118730 Healthcare Cleaner: Occupational Certificate Curriculum and the Center for Diseases Control and ICAN's Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities in Resource-Limited Settings. In Phase 2b, a cleaning training intervention will be implemented. In Phase 3, cleaners' post-training knowledge level, practices, and perceptions will be reassessed and compared to pre-training findings. The Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for an Interventional Trial, commonly known as SPIRIT, guided the development of this protocol. This protocol received ethical clearance number FHS/22/PH/04/3005 in August 2023 from the University of Venda Human and Clinical Trials Research Ethics Committee. The protocol approval was granted by the Limpopo Provincial Department of Health (LP_2022-05-028) in October 2023. This protocol is registered with the South African National Clinical Trial Registry. The findings of this study may provide baseline data upon which healthcare facilities' cleaner training qualification curriculum may be developed. In addition, this protocol contributes to the application of qualitative methodology in an intervention trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato is a crop that is widely consumed all over the world and is thought to contribute to health maintenance due to its abundant nutrients and phytochemicals. Previous studies on the functionality of sweet potatoes have focused on varieties that have colored pulp, such as purple and orange, which contain high levels of specific phytochemicals. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of light-yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes, which have received little attention. After freeze-drying sweet potatoes harvested in 2020, extracts were prepared from the leaves, stems, roots, and tubers in 100% ethanol. Mouse macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 cells were cultured with 10 µg/mL of the extracts and induced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation. Of the extracts, the tuber extracts showed the highest suppression of LPS-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression and production in RAW264.7, which was attributed to the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) oxidative stress response pathway. In addition, preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) experiments suggested that hydrophobic components specific to the tuber were the main body of activity. In previous studies, it has been shown that the tubers and leaves of sweet potatoes with colored pulp exhibit anti-inflammatory effects due to their rich phytochemicals, and our results show that the tubers with light-yellow pulp also exhibit the effects. Furthermore, we were able to show a part of the mechanism, which may contribute to the fundamental understanding of the treatment and prevention of inflammation by food-derived components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital environmental surfaces are potential reservoirs for transmitting hospital-associated pathogens. This study aimed to profile microbiomes and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from hospital environmental surfaces using 16S rRNA amplicon and metagenomic sequencing at a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia. Samples were collected from patient sinks and healthcare staff counters at surgery and orthopaedic wards. The samples' DNA were subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon and shotgun sequencing to identify bacterial taxonomic profiles, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factor pathways. The bacterial richness was more diverse in the samples collected from patient sinks than those collected from staff counters. Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia dominated at the phylum level, while Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter dominated at the genus level. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus were prevalent on sinks while Bacillus cereus dominated the counter samples. The highest counts of ARGs to beta-lactam were detected, followed by ARGs against fosfomycin and cephalosporin. We report the detection of mcr-10.1 that confers resistance to colistin at a hospital setting in Malaysia. The virulence gene pathways that aid in antibiotic resistance gene transfer between bacteria were identified. Environmental surfaces serve as potential reservoirs for nosocomial infections and require mitigation strategies to control the spread of antibiotic resistance bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the challenge of automating skin disease diagnosis using dermatoscopic images. The primary issue lies in accurately classifying pigmented skin lesions, which traditionally rely on manual assessment by dermatologists and are prone to subjectivity and time consumption. By integrating a hybrid CNN-DenseNet model, this study aimed to overcome the complexities of differentiating various skin diseases and automating the diagnostic process effectively. Our methodology involved rigorous data preprocessing, exploratory data analysis, normalization, and label encoding. Techniques such as model hybridization, batch normalization and data fitting were employed to optimize the model architecture and data fitting. Initial iterations of our convolutional neural network (CNN) model achieved an accuracy of 76.22% on the test data and 75.69% on the validation data. Recognizing the need for improvement, the model was hybridized with DenseNet architecture and ResNet architecture was implemented for feature extraction and then further trained on the HAM10000 and PAD-UFES-20 datasets. Overall, our efforts resulted in a hybrid model that demonstrated an impressive accuracy of 95.7% on the HAM10000 dataset and 91.07% on the PAD-UFES-20 dataset. In comparison to recently published works, our model stands out because of its potential to effectively diagnose skin diseases such as melanocytic nevi, melanoma, benign keratosis-like lesions, basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratoses, vascular lesions, and dermatofibroma, all of which rival the diagnostic accuracy of real-world clinical specialists but also offer customization potential for more nuanced clinical uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) hospital-acquired pathogens is a serious problem for healthcare units. The challenge of the spreading of nosocomial infections, also known as hospital-acquired pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, must be addressed not only by developing effective drugs, but also by improving preventive measures in hospitals, such as passive bactericidal coatings deposited onto the touch surfaces. In this paper, we studied the antibacterial activity of superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic copper surfaces against the P. aeruginosa strain PA103 and its four different polyresistant clinical isolates with MDR. To fabricate superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic coatings, we subjected the copper surfaces to laser processing with further chemosorption of fluorooxysilane to get a superhydrophobic substrate. The antibacterial activity of superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic copper surfaces was shown, with respect to both the collection strain PA103 and polyresistant clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, and the evolution of the decontamination of a bacterial suspension is presented and discussed. The presented results indicate the promising potential of the exploitation of superhydrophilic coatings in the manufacture of contact surfaces for healthcare units, where the risk of infection spread and contamination by hospital-acquired pathogens is extremely high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several settings, the COVID-19 pandemic determined a negative impact on the occurrence of healthcare-associated infection, particularly for on central lines associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). In our setting, we observed a significant increase in CLABSI in our intensive care unit (ICU) during 2020 and 2021 vs. 2018 to 2019. A refresher training activity on central venous catheter (CVC) management bundles was carried out in September–October 2021 for the ICU health staff. We assessed the impact of bundle implementation by means of standardized indicators, such as the Device Utilization Ratio (DUR), in this case, the Central Line Utilization Ratio, the Standardized Utilization Ratio (SUR), and the device Standardized Infection Ratio (dSIR). Standardized ratios for device use and infection ratio were computed using data from 2018 and 2019 as expectation data. After bundle implementation, we observed a significant reduction of dSIR (p < 0.001), which dropped from 3.23 and 2.99 in the 2020–2021 biennium to 1.11 in 2022 (CLABSI in the first quarter only); no more CLABSI were observed afterwards. Standardized ratios proved helpful in identify increasing trends of CLABSI in the ICU and monitoring the impact of a simple effective tool, i.e., training on and implementation of a bundle for CVC management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop diagnostic imaging approaches, this paper emphasizes the transformational potential of merging geophysics with health sciences. Diagnostic imaging technology improvements have transformed the health sciences by enabling earlier and more precise disease identification, individualized therapy, and improved patient care. This review article examines the connection between geophysics and diagnostic imaging in the field of health sciences. Geophysics, which is typically used to explore Earth's subsurface, has provided new uses of its methodology in the medical field, providing innovative solutions to pressing medical problems. The article examines the different geophysical techniques like electrical imaging, seismic imaging, and geophysics and their corresponding imaging techniques used in health sciences like tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, etc. The examination includes the description, similarities, differences, and challenges associated with these techniques and how modified geophysical techniques can be used in imaging methods in health sciences. Examining the progression of each method from geophysics to medical imaging and its contributions to illness diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring are highlighted. Also, the utilization of geophysical data analysis techniques like signal processing and inversion techniques in image processing in health sciences has been briefly explained, along with different mathematical and computational tools in geophysics and how they can be implemented for image processing in health sciences. The key findings include the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence in geophysics-driven medical imaging, demonstrating the revolutionary effects of data-driven methods on precision, speed, and predictive modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic, chronic condition characterized by episodes of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) system describes a family of dimeric transcription factors. Canonical NF-κB signaling is stimulated by and enhances inflammation, whereas noncanonical NF-κB signaling contributes to immune organogenesis. Dysregulation of NF-κB factors drives various inflammatory pathologies, including IBD. Signals from many immune sensors activate NF-κB subunits in the intestine, which maintain an equilibrium between local microbiota and host responses. Genetic association studies of patients with IBD and preclinical mouse models confirm the importance of the NF-κB system in host defense in the gut. Other studies have investigated the roles of these factors in intestinal barrier function and in inflammatory gut pathologies associated with IBD. NF-κB signaling modulates innate and adaptive immune responses and the production of immunoregulatory proteins, anti-inflammatory cytokines, antimicrobial peptides, and other tolerogenic factors in the intestine. Furthermore, genetic studies have revealed critical cell type–specific roles for NF-κB proteins in intestinal immune homeostasis, inflammation, and restitution that contribute to the etiopathology of IBD-associated manifestations. Here, we summarize our knowledge of the roles of these NF-κB pathways, which are activated in different intestinal cell types by specific ligands, and their cross-talk, in fueling aberrant intestinal inflammation. We argue that an in-depth understanding of aberrant immune signaling mechanisms may hold the key to identifying predictive or prognostic biomarkers and developing better therapeutics against inflammatory gut pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]