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Habibullah Janyaro,* Juan Wan,* Adnan H Tahir, Manoj K Shah, Xiao-Jing Li, Ming-Xing Ding College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work. Background: Visceral pain is a common symptom of several gastrointestinal disorders. Despite tremendous progress in understanding its basic mechanisms, it remains a significant health challenge for clinicians. The present study quantified the intensity of visceral pain using ileocecal ligament traction on an inflamed ileum in goats.Materials and methods: A total of 36 male goats weighing 20.05±2.1 kg were randomly allocated equally into a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) group (n=18) and a saline group (n=18). Ileitis was induced via the injection of 30 mg TNBS dissolved in 30% ethanol into the ileal wall through a laparotomy. An equal volume of normal saline was injected into the ileal wall of the saline goats. Behavioral responses to traction (2, 4, and 6 N) on the ileocecal ligament were observed on days 3, 7, and 14. Six goats from each group received a laparotomy and partial intestinal resection for ileal sample collection immediately after behavioral testing on days 3, 7, and 14. Ileal histopathological changes were assessed and concentrations of myeloperoxidase, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The TNBS-treated goats exhibited remarkably increased macroscopic scores, mast-cell counts, myeloperoxidase, and TNFα concentrations on days 3 and 7 compared to the saline group, and increased microscopic scores and IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations on days 3–14. The TNBS-treated goats exhibited behavioral changes in response to traction in the same pattern as their microscopic changes and cytokine levels. The traction force correlated positively with pain-behavior responses.Conclusion: Traction on the ileocecal ligament of goats with ileitis provoked an apparent, stable, and reproducible ileum-derived pain. The current model may be helpful in evaluating the efficacy of new drugs for the management of visceral pain and in investigating its underlying mechanisms. Keywords: goats, ileitis, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, traction, cytokines

Abstract Background Despite the progress made in improving maternal and child health in Ethiopia, it still has one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the world. This is largely due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and a lack of comprehensive evidence-based maternal and reproductive health services. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal targets related to maternal and child health, it is essential to conduct culturally sensitive and policy-relevant research to identify areas for improvement. Methods To address these issues, through The University of Newcastle’s increased global focus and investment into funding international research higher degrees, we developed a program on the Worldwide Wellness of Mothers and Babies (WWOMB) and trained Doctor of Philosophy students who conducted cross-cutting research across the reproductive life course. Importantly, the program aimed to bridge the inequality gaps in maternal and child health whilst cultivating a new generation of research leaders in low- and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia. Results The WWOMB program has successfully generated a substantial body of epidemiological research in Ethiopia, covering five major themes: family planning and contraception, maternal and child health service utilisation, maternal and child health outcomes, maternal and child nutrition, and health economics. The key findings of the studies conducted in Ethiopia have demonstrated geographical disparities in the use of modern contraception and maternal health service utilisation, high incidence of severe maternal outcomes and neonatal near misses, high prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and its significant impact on adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the presence of economic disparities in maternal and child health, particularly around service delivery and availability. Conclusions Investment in healthcare infrastructure and services, coupled with efforts to reduce economic inequalities, can contribute to improved maternal and child health in Ethiopia. The WWOMB project has focused on delivering evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice that could accelerate the country’s progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets related to maternal and child health.

Magnesium alloys are increasingly valued for biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility. This study investigates Mg-AZ31B alloy samples treated with quartz and alumina grits (

Abstract Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a medicinal herb widely used for its distinct flavor and medicinal properties. It contains various bioactive compounds, including zingerone, shogaols, gingerol saponin, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which confer anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Ginger and its derivatives such as powder, essential oil, and active ginger extracts have been used as natural functional ingredients with health‐promoting and disease‐preventing properties. In recent studies, ginger derivatives have been tested in aquafeeds for their potential as safe herbal medicines. They have shown several benefits, acting as growth promoters and modulators of physiological and biochemical functions. Ginger has been found to improve growth performance, modulate immunity, and enhance disease resistance in fish. Its organic constituents exhibit potent anti‐stress, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic activities, thereby boosting the specific and nonspecific immunity of aquaculture fish. This review provides a comphrensive summary of studies exploring the effects of dietary ginger on various aspects of fish health including growth performance, blood parameters, immunity, disease resistance, gut morphology, antioxidant status, and molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the necessity of elucidating the specific bioactive compounds in ginger responsible for its biological functions and their mechanisms of action against infectious diseases in different fish species.

Abstract Iron deficiency is a widespread micronutrient deficiency, impacting over 30% of the global population. Iron Folic Acid supplement is recommended for pregnant women to counter iron deficiency anemia and neural tube anomalies. Although Iron Folic Acid supplementation is integral to Ethiopian antenatal care, one in four women in Ethiopia experiences anemia during pregnancy suggesting poor compliance. This study aimed to investigate compliance level and associated factors of Iron Folic Acid supplementation among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Wuchale Woreda of North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 pregnant women from March 20 to April 5, 2021, who were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interview, entered epi-data, and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with compliance level. All the results were presented with 95% confidence intervals. The compliance with Iron Folic Acid supplementation was 47.0%. Residing nearest to the health facility (AOR = 2.46; 95% CI 1.32, 4.57), initiating antenatal care at health center (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI 1.17, 4.51), having a family size of 4 and above (AOR = 4.99; 95% CI 2.43, 10.24), and receiving information from health extension workers (AOR = 5.52; 95% CI 1.30, 23.54) increased compliance with Iron Folic Acid supplementation. Less than half of the pregnant women were compliant with Iron Folic Acid utilization. There is a need to prioritize promoting the importance of Iron Folic Acid supplementation through health education particularly by targeting pregnant women with identified factors.

Abstract Our current study reports the successful synthesis of thiolated chitosan-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery of 5-Fluorouracil. This process was achieved through the ionic gelation technique, aiming to improve the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic moiety by modifying the surface of the nanoparticles (NPs) with a ligand. We coated these NPs with hyaluronic acid (HA) to actively target the CD44 receptor, which is frequently overexpressed in various solid malignancies, including breast cancer. XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM were used for the physicochemical analysis of the NPs. These 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded NPs were evaluated on MDA-MB-231 (a triple-negative breast cell line) and MCF-10A (normal epithelial breast cells) to determine their in vitro efficacy. The developed 5-FU-loaded NPs exhibited a particle size within a favorable range (

Abstract Severe malaria is not routinely considered when evaluating a febrile patient in the postoperative setting. Common bacterial infections, along with adverse drug reactions, are the usual differential concerns. We present a case of severe malaria emerging unexpectedly eight days after routine craniotomy.

Abstract This study aimed at encapsulation of commonly administered, highly cytotoxic anticancer drug Docetaxel (DTX) in camel milk fat globule-derived liposomes for delivery in triple negative breast cancer cells. Prior to liposomal encapsulation of drug, in silico analysis of Docetaxel was done to predict off target binding associated toxicities in different organs. For this purpose, the ADMET Predictor (TM) Cloud version 10.4.0.5, 64-bit, was utilized to simulate Docetaxel’s pharmacokinetic and physicochemical parameters. Freshly milked camel milk was bought from local market, from two breeds Brella and Marecha, in suburbs of Islamabad. After extraction of MFGM-derived liposomes from camel milk, docetaxel was loaded into liposomes by thin film hydration method. The physiochemical properties of liposomes were analyzed by SEM, FTIR and Zeta analysis. The results from SEM showed that empty liposomes (Lp-CM-ChT80) had spherical morphology while DTX loaded liposomes (Lp-CM-ChT80-DTX) exhibited rectangular shape, FTIR revealed the presence of characteristic functional groups which confirmed the successful encapsulation of DTX. Zeta analysis showed that Lp-CM-ChT80-DTX had size of 836.6 nm with PDI of 0.088 and zeta potential of − 18.7 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of Lp-CM-ChT80 turned out to be 25% while in vitro release assay showed slow release of DTX from liposomes as compared to pure DTX using dialysis membrane. The in vitro anticancer activity was analyzed by cell morphology analysis and MTT cytotoxicity assay using different concentrations 80 µg/ml, 120 µg/ml and 180 µg/ml of Lp-CM-ChT80-DTX on MDA-MB-231 cells. The results showed cytotoxic effects increased in time and dose dependent manner, marked by rounding, shrinkage and aggregation of cells. MTT cytotoxicity assay showed that empty liposomes Lp-CM-ChT80 did not have cytotoxic effect while Lp-CM-ChT80-DTX showed highest cytotoxic potential of 60.2% at 180 µg/ml. Stability analysis showed that liposomes were stable till 24 h in solution form at 4 °C.

Purpose This article evaluates the feasibility, safety, and technical success of robot-assisted computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous lung biopsy.

HEV is a single-stranded, positive RNA virus. The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causing agent of hepatitis, with a high prevalence rate in low-income countries due to poor sanitary conditions. It can exhibit acute, continuous, or extrahepatic consequences in immunocompromised individuals such as those undergoing organ transplantation and having HIV infection. HEV infection is either self limiting (silent), meaning the patient will possibly recover on his own, or symptomatic, causing acute liver injury or fulminant hepatitis and may eventually cause death. It can also cause chronic hepatitis that can progress to cirrhosis or recovery. Pregnancy-related HEV infection has an incidence rate of 30%. HEV escape from innate immunity, hormonal imbalances, defective monocyte–macrophage function, downregulation of the T-cell-mediated immune system, high cytokine production, nutritional factors, and socioeconomic conditions may play fundamental roles in the prevalence of HEV infection. It is necessary to take particular measures to reduce the incidence burden of HEV infection in high endemic locations as the incidence data, not the prevalence data, is more accurate at estimating disease dynamics. The purpose of this study is to throw light on several aspects of the hepatitis E virus and to discuss the incidence of HEV infection concerning other diseases. HEV molecular features, clinical features, epidemiology, extrahepatic manifestations, and multiple available diagnostics and treatment strategies for HEV are debated in the current review.

Abstract Background Newcastle disease virus (NDV) Lasota strain has proven oncolytic activity. One shortcoming associated with this treatment modality is the immune neutralization of the virus in body, mediated by natural killer cells and macrophages. This study aims at encapsulating the oncolytic virus in thiolated chitosan nanoparticles, surface functionalized with hyaluronic acid for CD44 targeted delivery and sustained release of NDV in cervical cancer tumors. These nanoparticles were tested for oncolytic potential in HeLa cells and cervical cancer xenograft model. Results NDV-loaded nanoparticles were prepared using TCs concentration of 1.0 mg/mL, HA at 0.5 mg/mL, with a half dose (not less than 500 TCID units) of NDV by using green synthesis approach through ionic gelation method. Viral quantification in nanoparticles was done by TCID50 (50% tissue culture infectious dose) and MOI (multiplicity of infection) determination. Ex vivo NK cell activity was analyzed by quantifying levels of IFN-γ. In vivo analysis was performed on wistar rats, immunocompromised by using ketoconazole (10 mg/kg) and cyclosporin (30 mg/kg) along with 0.1 μg/mL of amoxicillin. WBC profiling on day 7 confirmed immunosuppression, which was followed by tumor implantation. Zeta analysis of NDV nanoparticles showed that nanoparticles are 286.9 nm in size with a zeta potential of 18.1 mV and PDI of 0.241. For estimation of anticancer potential, MTT and trypan blue exclusion assay revealed a higher cytotoxic potential of the encapsulated virus, while TCID50 of HA-TC-NDV was 4.1 as compared to naked NDV virus which had TCID50 of 6.0 on HeLa cells. Histopathology of organs from NDV nanoparticle-treated rats showed syncytia formation in tumors, immunohistochemical analysis showed decrease in expression of TNF-α, COX-II and NF-ƙB which was also confirmed by ELISA. RT-PCR showed high viral copy number in tumor tissue and viral accumulation in lungs and liver. Lower IFN-γ in nanoparticles treated rats showed suppression in immunoreactivity of virus-loaded nanoparticles. Conclusion Our findings suggest that encapsulation of the virus in thiolated chitosan and CD44 targeting enhanced retention and sustained release of the virus in tumors as compared to pure NDV, with increased oncolytic effect both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious brain and spine birth defects. Although NTDs are primarily pregnancy complications, such as abortion and stillbirth, they also contribute to under-five morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term disability and psychological impact. Despite these negative outcomes, the determinants of NTDs are not widely studied in Ethiopia, particularly in the country’s east. As a result, we sought to identify the risk factors for NTDs in neonates born in public referral hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based unmatched case-control study was carried out at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Sheik Hassen Yabare Jigjiga University Referral Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia. We included 59 cases identified in the selected facilities between September 10, 2021, and February 5, 2022, and 118 control neonates, with a case-to-control ratio of 1:2. Data were gathered through the use of interviewer-administered questionnaires and medical record review. To identify determinant factors of NTDs, a multivariable logistic regression model was used, which included all predictor variables from the bivariable analysis. The results were reported using an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval. A p-value of

Abstract Background It is well known that the magnitude of undernutrition in Ethiopia is unacceptably high. The burden of co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency, on the other hand, has received less attention. Thus, in this study, we looked at the prevalence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 397 pregnant women in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. An interview-assisted questionnaire and blood serum were collected from pregnant women using standard techniques and shipped to an EPHI for micronutrient analysis. Factors associated with the co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency were identified using binary and multiple logistic regressions. Results According to this study, 81.6% of the participants were deficient in at least one micronutrient, and 53.53.2% were deficient in two or more. Women who did not receive iron-folic acid supplementation (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.52–3.92), did not attend Antenatal care (ANC) follow up (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.81–4.61), and reported low consumption of diversified diet (AOR = 2.18 (95% CI = 1.35–3.51) had a higher risk of co-occurrence of iron, folate, and vitamin A deficiency. Conclusion This study found that more than half of pregnant women were in multiple micronutrients, indicating a major public health issue. In addition to the IFA supplementation programs that are already in place, there is a need for multiple micronutrient supplementation.

Abstract The in vivo anticancer potential of vincristine (VC) loaded, thiolated chitosan-based nanoformulation (NFs) with an outer hyaluronic acid (VC-loaded in TCs-HA) coating was studied in prostate cancer (PC) xenograft in the immunosuppressed rat model induced by PC3 cell lines. Our previous study has already reported the in vitro efficacy of the said NFs. The ADMET Predictor (TM) Cloud version 10.4.0.5, 64-bit, was used to simulate VC's physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters. The percentage of encapsulation efficiency of VC by direct and indirect methods was 81.5 and 90%, respectively. Plasma samples from healthy rats showed improved pharmacokinetic and bioavailability profiles of NFs compared to VC injection via HPLC. The haemolytic analysis of NFs showed two times lesser toxicity to red blood cells. Xenograft rats showed maximum tumour volume up to 235 ± 0.02 mm3 with increased body weight, and it was reduced by 56 ± 0.01 to 107.3 ± 0.03 mm3 during the whole treatment by NFs compared to pure VC. The histopathology of the NFs group showed less malignancy with angiogenesis and significantly less metastasis to the liver and kidney. ELISA showed high expression of apoptotic biomarkers, including Bax, cleaved Caspase 3, and cleaved PARP, while the expression of BCL2, Caspase 3, COX-II, NFκB, and TNF-α was reduced. Immunohistochemical analysis also revealed that post-NF administration, cytoplasmic expressions of TNF-α and COX-II were reduced, as were nuclear expressions of NFκB. Thus, the prepared chemotherapeutic NFs were a comparatively potent oncolytic agent, safe with lesser off-target toxicity, and had an improved pharmacokinetic and bioavailability profile.

BackgroundAlthough Ethiopia has substantial improvements in various health indicators such as maternal and child mortality, the burden of neonatal mortality remains high. Between 2016 and 2019, neonatal mortality increased from 29 deaths per 1,000 live births to 33 deaths per 1,000 live births. This study aimed to explore the spatial patterns and factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Ethiopia.MethodsData from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) for the years 2000, 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2019 were analyzed. The EDHS sampling design uses a two-stage cluster sampling technique, considering census enumeration areas as primary sampling units and households as secondary sampling units. We used the Spatial Scan analysis in SaTScan and Getis-Ord Gi* statistic in Geographic Information System (GIS), to analyse the spatiotemporal patterns of neonatal mortality. Maternal, newborn and health service-related factors contributing to neonatal mortality were also analyzed using a multilevel logistic regression model. Adjusted Odds Rios (AOR) with corresponding 95% CI were presented as a measure of association and a P-value of 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.ResultsDuring the initial three consecutive surveys, there was a consistent pattern of hot spot clusters in the Amhara and Benshangul Gumuz regions, along with certain parts of the Oromia region. However, in later surveys, these clusters shifted to the eastern parts of the country, notably including the Somali region. Early initiation of breast feeding was associated with reduced chances of neonatal death (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]) = 0.27; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.23, 0.32). Neonates born at home (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.82) and male babies had a higher likelihood of mortality during the neonatal period compared to their counterparts (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.51). The odds of neonatal mortality increased with the number of children a mother had ever given birth to (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.51). In contrast, longer birth intervals were associated with a reduced risk of neonatal mortality (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83).ConclusionThe central southern, central-western, north-western, and northern parts of Ethiopia had most of the neonatal death clusters in the first three rounds of DHS while eastern Ethiopia had the highest neonatal mortality clusters in the latest two surveys. Our results underscore the importance for policymakers and health administrators to reassess intervention approaches and reallocate resources to regions identified as hot spots for neonatal mortality. Enhancing the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth would improve newborn survival rates. Special attention and care need to be given to babies born of smaller sizes.

BackgroundShort inter-pregnancy or birth interval is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, some emerging evidence questions this association and there are also inconsistencies among the existing findings. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence regarding the effect of short inter-pregnancy or birth intervals on adverse perinatal outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region.MethodsA comprehensive search of five databases was conducted targeting studies published between 2000 to 2023. Studies that reported on short inter-pregnancy or birth interval and examined adverse perinatal outcomes, such as low birthweight (LBW) preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and neonatal mortality were included and appraised for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Three reviewers independently screened the studies and performed data extraction. Narrative synthesis and meta-analyses were conducted to summarise the key findings.ResultsA total of 41 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. A short-interpregnancy interval was associated with an increased risk of low birthweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95%CI:1.39, 1.95), preterm birth (OR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.35, 1.66), and small for gestational age (OR = 1.24; 95%CI:1.09, 1.41). We also found elevated odds of early neonatal mortality (OR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.11, 3.29) and neonatal mortality (OR = 1.78; 95%CI: 1.25, 2.55) among women with short birth intervals.ConclusionThis review indicates that both short inter-pregnancy and birth interval increased the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. This underscores the importance of advocating for and implementing strategies to promote optimal pregnancy and birth spacing to reduce the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes. Reproductive health policies and programs need to be further strengthened and promote access to comprehensive family planning services and increase awareness about the importance of optimal pregnancy and birth spacing.

Background Short birth interval (SBI) has been linked to an increased risk of adverse maternal, perinatal, infant and child health outcomes. However, the prevalence and maternal and child health impacts of SBI in the Asia-Pacific region have not been well understood. This study aims to identify and summarise the existing evidence on SBI including its definition, measurement prevalence, determinants and association with adverse maternal and child health outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region.Methods Five databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Maternity and Infant Care, and Web of Science (WoS)) will be systematically searched from September 2000 up to May 2023. Data will be extracted, charted, synthesised and summarised based on the outcomes measured, and where appropriate, meta-analysis will be performed. The risk of bias will be assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute quality appraisal. Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework will be used to evaluate the quality of cumulative evidence from the included studies.Ethics and dissemination This review does not require ethics approval. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs and conference presentations.PROSPERO registration number A protocol will be registered on PROSPERO for each separate outcome before performing the review.Cite Now

In SDN-based networks, contextual understanding of network behaviour and safe execution of operational decisions are important as part of the network management process. Digital Twin Network (DTN) is a promising concept which creates a virtual twin of a live SDN-based network to monitor the network from different angles with various granularities and enables it to verify an operational change without disturbing the live one. However, modelling the arbitrary decisions by an SDN Controller to form a DTN and managing the contextual information in a DTN are challenging tasks in various aspects. This paper proposes a data representation based DTN architecture integrating Knowledge Graph (KG) for data modelling and storage and Template as the context description approach. The combination of KG and Template can make the DTN management scalable with the flexibility of defining the contextual information with the relationships between network entities. It also enables efficient querying of the data storage and provides the reusability of functions and data storage for the DTN applications development. The proposed DTN architecture was implemented using an ONOS-based SDN Controller and Neo4j-based KG with built-in DTN applications for practical use. The PoC implementation exhibited short query response time and high query throughput in reading from and updating a KG, though the initial creation of a KG incurs a considerable delay which increases with its size.

Abstract Background Antenatal care (ANC) is the care given to pregnant women to prevent poor feto-maternal outcomes during pregnancy. The World Health Organization recommends first ANC visit be started as early as possible within in 12 weeks of gestation. Although there is improvement in overall ANC coverage, a sizable proportion of pregnant women in Ethiopia delay the time to initiate their first ANC visit. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors associated with late ANC initiation among pregnant women attending public health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 randomly selected pregnant women who attended ANC at selected public health centers in Addis Ababa from December 2020 to January 2021. Data were collected using pretested and structured questionnaires through a face-to-face interview and reviewing medical records. Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted sequentially to identify predictors for late ANC initiation. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% CI were computed to measure the strength of associations and statistical significance was declared at a p-value

Background: The demographic profile and fatality varied across different waves with the appearance of new variants. Further the trends varied from country to country and within the country. We have analyzed the trends from a selected geographic area. Aims and Objectives: To assess the trends in COVID-19 cases and deaths and to compare the characteristics of three different COVID-19 waves in Kashmir Division. Materials and Methods: It is a cross sectional study based on secondary data. Results: The mean age of deaths increased from 64.53 years in first wave to 65.02 years in the second wave and further to 69.23 years in the third wave (p-value = 0.006). An overall CFR of 0.85% was observed in our population with a maximum case fatality of 1.67% in first wave followed by 0.79% in second wave and only 0.13% in third wave (p < 0.0001). Lowest CFR of 0.04% was observed in the age group of

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the prevalent cause of pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. It is known that whenever the median nerve, a major peripheral nerve of the upper limb, originating from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, it leads to a condition commonly known as CTS. Aims and Objectives: The present study has been objectively conducted to assess the role of grey scale and power Doppler ultrasound of the median nerve at the wrist in evaluating CTS. The comparative analysis between USG findings and surgical findings of median nerve in CTS will also be made. Materials and Methods: The present prospective study has been conducted at the SKIMS-MC, Srinagar for a period of 6 months from January 2022 to June 2022 in the Department of Radio diagnosis and Imaging in association with the Department of Orthopedics. A total of 30 patients have been included in the study. The cases were referred from Department of Orthopedics with clinically characterized CTS. Results: Out of total 30 patients; 03 (10%) were males and 27 (90%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1:9. We observe that vascularity of median nerve was present in (56.7%) and absent in (43.3%) patients. The median nerve thinning and indentation were reflected by (80%) patients and the same was absent among (20%) patients, we did not find any agreement between surgical and sonographic parameters with the mean difference of 2.527 mm between sonographic and intraoperative perimeters, the difference was statistically significant (P

The Hoffa fracture is an uncommon fracture. There is a lot of confusion about its diagnosis and management with several conflicting reports in literature. We reported a 25-year-old patient with non-union of Hoffa fracture, and meanwhile tried to develop an algorithm-based treatment for Hoffa fractures. A systematic review of the available literature was performed. Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and PubMed were searched for relevant articles. Fifty-five articles were reviewed, and the clinical knowledge base was summarized. The understanding of the mechanism of trauma has become more nuanced. The literature has also evolved to classify the fracture with the purpose of surgical management in mind. This can be used to plan approach and fixation with preservation of blood supply. Classification can also prognosticate the outcomes in Hoffa fracture.

IntroductionCervical cancer accounts for one of most common cancers among women of reproductive age. Oncolytic virotherapy has emerged as a promising immunotherapy modality but it comes with several drawbacks that include rapid clearance of virus from body due to immune-neutralization of virus in host. To overcome this, we encapsulated oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in polymeric thiolated chitosan nanoparticles. For active targeting of virus loaded nanoformulation against CD44 (cluster of differentiation 44) receptors which are overly expressed on cancer cells, these nanoparticles were surface functionalized with hyaluronic acid (HA).MethodsUsing half dose of NDV (TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) single dose 3 × 105), virus loaded nanoparticles were prepared by green synthesis approach through ionotropic gelation method. Zeta analysis was performed to analyse size and charge on nanoparticles. Nanoparticles (NPs) shape and size were analysed by SEM (scanning electron microscope) and TEM (transmission electron microscope) while functional group identification was done by FTIR (fourier transform infrared) and XRD (X-ray diffraction). Viral quantification was done by TCID50 and Multiplicity of infection (MOI) determination while oncolytic potential of NPs encapsulated virus was analysed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and cell morphology analysis.ResultsZeta analysis showed that average size of NDV loaded thiolated chitosan nanoparticles surface functionalized with HA (HA-ThCs-NDV) was 290.4nm with zeta potential of 22.3 mV and 0.265 PDI (polydispersity index). SEM and TEM analysis showed smooth surface and spherical features of nanoparticles. FTIR and XRD confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups and successful encapsulation of the virus. In vitro release showed continuous but sustained release of NDV for up to 48 hours. TCID50 for HA-ThCs-NDV nanoparticles was 2.63x 106/mL titter and the nanoformulation exhibited high oncolytic potential in cell morphology analysis and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay as compared to naked virus, in dose dependent manner.DiscussionThese findings suggest that virus encapsulation in thiolated chitosan nanoparticles and surface functionalization with HA is not only helpful in achieving active targeting while masking virus from immune system but, it also gives sustained release of virus in tumor microenvironment for longer period of time that increases bioavailability of virus.

The circular economy is emerging as green technology solution for polymer and composite industries. However, the use of circular economy as an industrial practice is still a global challenge. In this article, polypropylene-cotton hybrid composite was developed using different amounts of cotton fibre waste (0, 10, 30, 40 wt%). Scanning electron microscope (SEM), tribometer, Rockwell hardness tester and binocular microscope were used for investigations of composite surface, hardness and coefficient of friction (COF). The mean coefficient of friction values was 0.64, 0.75, 0.88 and 0.94 for pure propylene, 10, 30 and 40% of cotton reinforced composites, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy characterization of hybrid composite revealed the voids, porosity and asperities due to random fibres orientation. The Rockwell hardness value of composites was increased due to rise of fibre fraction. Based on the COF values, hardness and surface characterization, polypropylene-cotton reinforced hybrid composite could be used functionally for thermal and sound applications.

Abstract Counterfeiting, in particular, the forgery of banknotes is a serious crime problem and has become a great challenge to the global economies. The forensic science experts have been utilizing chemical technique such as infrared spectroscopy to analyze genuine and counterfeit banknotes. Nevertheless, chemometrics techniques are required to further discriminate the banknotes. In this paper, an advanced fuzzy graph chemometrics method is used to discriminate genuine and counterfeit fifty Ringgit Malaysian (RM50) banknotes. The development of the technique, namely chemometrics fuzzy autocatalytic set (c-FACS) is presented in this paper, together with the results and its comparison to principal component analysis (PCA) method. The results from the c-FACS analysis showed distinct patterns and features of the counterfeit banknotes in the c-FACS plot. Furthermore, the new method is faster than PCA in authentication analysis of counterfeit banknotes. Hence, the c-FACS provides better performance in terms of computing time as compared to PCA, and has the potential in assisting the investigation involving counterfeit banknotes.

The utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education has been a contemporary issue attracting varied perspectives. However, the nuances among the antecedents of AI usage among postgraduate students and the acquisition of 21st-century employability skills are under-researched. This study sought to fill the chasm by adopting a concurrent integrated mixed method to collect data using a questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended items from 294 postgraduate students in Ghana. Descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) techniques were employed for the quantitative data analyses while thematic pattern matching was used to analyse the qualitative data gathered. Results from the descriptive analysis revealed that the most prevalent AI platforms used by postgraduate students were ChartGPT and Quillbot. The two most important uses of such AI tools were just used for learning in general; and searching for literature. The PLS-SEM paths modelling showed that antecedents of postgraduate students' AI usage were benefits, challenges and platform availability. Finally, both AI usage and AI challenges were significant predictors of postgraduate students’ acquisition of 21stcentury employability skills. However, the relationship between AI challenges and the acquisition of 21st-century employability skills was fully mediated by AI usage. Based on the results, recommendations were made for policy and practice of AI usage in higher education.

Cervical carcinoma is one of the most prevalent gynecological cancers throughout the world. Cisplatin is used as first line chemotherapy for treatment of cervical cancer, but it comes with plethora of side effects. The aim of this study was to develop hyaluronic acid coated, thiolated chitosan nanocarriers using green synthesis approach, for CD44 targeted delivery and sustained release of Cisplatin in cervical cancer cells. After synthesis through ionic gelation method, Zeta analysis showed that the nanoparticle size was 265.9 nm with a zeta potential of +22.3 mV and .226 PDI. SEM and TEM analysis confirmed the spherical shape and smooth surface of nanoparticles. FTIR and XRD showed the presence of characteristic functional groups, successful encapsulation of drug, and crystalline nature of nanoparticles respectively. Drug loading and entrapment efficiency were calculated to be 70.1% ± 1.2% and 45% ± .28% respectively. Analysis of in vitro drug release kinetics showed that drug release followed the Higuchi model at pH 6.8 and 7.4 and Cisplatin release for up to 72 h confirmed sustained release. In vitro analysis on cervical cancer cells HeLa and normal cervical epithelial cells HCK1T was done through cell morphology analysis, trypan blue assay (concentration range of 10–80 μg/ml), and MTT cytotoxic assay (concentration range of 10–90 μg/ml). The results showed a higher cytotoxic potential of HA coated, thiolated chitosan encapsulated Cisplatin (HA-ThCs-Cis NP) nanoformulation as compared to pure Cisplatin in HeLa while in HCK1T, pure Cisplatin showed much higher toxicity as compared to HA-ThCs-Cis nanoformulation. These findings suggest that CD44 targeted delivery system can be a useful approach to minimize offtarget toxicities, give sustained release and better cellular uptake in cancer cells.

Objectives: The evidence on utilization of immediate postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices (IPPIUCDs) and its associated factors are limited in Ethiopia. Hence, this study intended to assess IPPIUCD utilization and related factors among women who gave birth in Adama town public hospitals, Ethiopia. Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was done among 493 postpartum mothers at selected government health facilities in Adama town from January 20 to February 20, 2021. All women who gave birth in selected government health facilities and within 48 h of postpartum were included in the study. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to identify the factors associated with IPPIUCD utilization. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to measure the strength of association and statistical significance was declared at p

IntroductionInfertility is one of the public health problems affecting a significant number of women in the reproductive age group. Although female fertility is predominantly affected by gynecological and systemic diseases, lifestyle and nutritional factors also play an important role in secondary female infertility. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of secondary female infertility and its association with undernutrition using nationwide data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of eastern African countries.MethodsThe data of ten East African countries that comprise a weighted sample of 38,020 women data were accessed from measure DHS. Data processing and analysis were performed using STATA 15 software. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model was fitted to examine the association between undernutrition and secondary infertility. Variables with a p-value 35 years (AOR = 3.47; 95%CI: 2.66–4.55), and rural residents (AOR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.02–1.37) are other factors that are positively associated with secondary infertility. However, primary education (AOR = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.77–0.97) and richer wealth index (AOR = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.73–0.97) are protective factors for secondary infertility.ConclusionThis study indicated that there is a strong association between secondary infertility and undernutrition growing in Eastern Africa. Therefore, Health information dissemination and awareness creation on the impact of malnutrition on infertility should be given to the community and health care providers. Given this, it may lead to integrating nutrition counseling into both clinical settings for infertility management as well as national dietary guidelines for individuals of reproductive age.

In smart home environments, the interaction between a remote user and devices commonly occurs through a gateway, necessitating the need for robust user authentication. Despite numerous state-of-the-art user-authentication schemes proposed over the years, these schemes still suffer from security vulnerabilities exploited by the attackers. One severe physical attack is the node capture attack, which allows adversaries to compromise the security of the entire scheme. This research paper advances the state of the art by conducting a security analysis of user-authentication approaches regarding their vulnerability to node capture attacks resulting in revelations of several security weaknesses. To this end, we propose a secure user-authentication scheme to counter node capture attacks in smart home environments. To validate the effectiveness of our proposed scheme, we employ the BAN logic and ProVerif tool for verification. Lastly, we conduct performance analysis to validate the lightweight nature of our user-authentication scheme, making it suitable for IoT-based smart home environments.

Abstract Background Birth weight has a substantial effect on children’s cognitive development, physical capability, and emotional development, which in turn impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Generally, evidence indicates that children born with low birth weight tend to have poorer proxy-reported HRQoL, particularly at school age. However, there is limited evidence on whether variation in HRQoL exists across the entire range of possible birth weights. This study aimed to examine the association between birth weight and proxy-reported HRQoL among children aged 5–10 years old. Methods Data from the 1973–78 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health were linked with state-based Perinatal Data Collections and the Mothers and their Children’s Health study for 1,589 mothers and 2,092 children aged 5 − 10 years old. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the association between birth weight and proxy-reported HRQoL measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0. Results are presented as odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals. Results In this study, 15.61 % of children were at risk of impaired proxy-reported HRQoL. Each 100-gram increase in birth weight was associated with a 3 % reduction in the odds of impaired HRQoL (AOR = 0.97; 95 % CI: 0.94, 0.99). However, there was only limited evidence of an effect within the normal birth weight range (AOR = 0.97; 95 % CI: 0.94, 1.01). Conclusions The findings indicate that increased birth weight was protective against impaired HRQoL, although there was limited evidence of variability within the normal birth weight range. This study contributes to the existing literature by not only emphasizing the impact of low birth weight on children’s health and health-related outcomes but also by focusing on the variability within the normal birth weight range, particularly in a setting where low birth weight is less prevalent.

Abstract Gelatin is a protein substance that is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Gelatin is mainly derived from bovine and porcine sources. Fish gelatin is becoming alternative source of gelatin due to concern on health issue and religious constraints. Numerous studies for identification of gelatin sources have been reported. In this study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used in combination with chemometrics fuzzy autocatalytic set (c-FACS) to distinguish between bovine, porcine and fish gelatins. The gelatin spectra at Amide and 1600–1000 cm−1 regions were analyzed using c-FACS and the results were compared to principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The results obtained from c-FACS method showed that each bovine, porcine and fish gelatin possessed dominant wavenumbers at 1470–1475 cm−1, 1444–1450 cm−1 and 1496–1500 cm−1 respectively, which represent their unique signatures. Furthermore, a clear distinction for porcine gelatin was observed in coordinated FACS. The c-FACS method is rigor and faster than PCA and LDA in differentiating the gelatin sources. The novel method promises at least another chemometrics method for FTIR related analysis and the possibilities for other applications are endless.

Fuzzy Topological Topographic Mapping (FTTM) is a mathematical model that consists of a set of homeomorphic topological spaces designed to solve the neuro magnetic inverse problem. A sequence of FTTM, denoted as FTTMn, is an extension of FTTM that is arranged in a symmetrical form. The special characteristic of FTTM, namely the homeomorphisms between its components, allows the generation of new FTTM. Later, the FTTMn can also be viewed as a graph. Previously, a group of researchers defined an assembly graph and utilized it to model a DNA recombination process. Some researchers then used this to introduce the concept of tangled cords for assembly graphs. In this paper, the tangled cord for FTTM4 is used to calculate the Eulerian paths. Furthermore, it is utilized to determine the least upper bound of the Hamiltonian paths of its assembly graph. Hence, this study verifies the conjecture made by Burns et al.

Exploiting Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in healthcare systems has become a common practice, as it ensures better patient care and safety. However, these systems are prone to security vulnerabilities that can jeopardize patient privacy and the secure management of patient credentials. This paper aims to advance state-of-the-art approaches by developing more secure and private RFID-based healthcare systems. More specifically, we propose a lightweight RFID protocol that safeguards patients’ privacy in the Internet of Healthcare Things (IoHT) domain by utilizing pseudonyms instead of real IDs, thereby ensuring secure communication between tags and readers. The proposed protocol has undergone rigorous testing and has been proven to be secure against various security attacks. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how RFID technology is used in healthcare systems and benchmarks the challenges faced by these systems. Then, it reviews the existing RFID authentication protocols proposed for IoT-based healthcare systems in terms of their strengths, challenges, and limitations. To overcome the limitations of existing approaches, we proposed a protocol that addresses the anonymity and traceability issues in existing schemes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that our proposed protocol had a lower computational cost than existing protocols and ensured better security. Finally, our proposed lightweight RFID protocol ensured strong security against known attacks and protected patient privacy using pseudonyms instead of real IDs.

The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the rapid expansion of interconnected systems, which has also increased the vulnerability of IoT devices to security threats such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. In this paper, we propose a machine learning pipeline that specifically addresses the issue of DDoS attack detection in IoT networks. Our approach comprises of (i) a processing module to prepare the data for further analysis, (ii) a dynamic attribute selection module that selects the most adaptive and productive features and reduces the training time, and (iii) a classification module to detect DDoS attacks. We evaluate the effectiveness of our approach using the CICI-IDS-2018 dataset and five powerful yet simple machine learning classifiers—Decision Tree (DT), Gaussian Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression (LR), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Random Forest (RF). Our results demonstrate that DT outperforms its counterparts and achieves up to 99.98% accuracy in just 0.18 s of CPU time. Our approach is simple, lightweight, and accurate for detecting DDoS attacks in IoT networks.

Background: The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that began in Wuhan, China rapidly became a public health concern and a challenge for healthcare systems globally. In the wake of the first confirmed case in The Gambia, concerns were raised in some quarters about the health system's preparedness to handle the outbreak. Therefore, we aimed to assess health personnel's knowledge and preparedness in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak in The Gambia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires distributed online through social media. Descriptive, bivariate, and binary logistic analyses were done using SPSS Version 22. Results: We obtained 333 valid responses. Most participants reported that their health facility has some form of preparedness; however, only a small proportion reported enough PPEs in the health facility. About half (50.5%) showed good knowledge of COVID-19. There was a statistically significant difference among the professions regarding their reaction if they were found positive of COVID-19 (p=0.006). There was a significant association between health professions [other professions (Odds ratio [OR]=0.2, 95% Confidence interval [CI]:0.04–0 .9; p=0.038)] and overall knowledge of COVID-19. Conclusion: Our findings showed some form of preparedness towards COVID-19 among healthcare workers. However, many aspects, such as the availability of PPEs and their proper use and knowledge, need improvement. Thus, training and an adequate supply of equipment are required to better respond to upcoming COVID-19 waves and future outbreaks. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-03-SI-5 Full Text: PDF

Aim and Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate hemorrhage immediately after extraction and postextraction in patients on oral anticoagulant therapy for the past 5 years. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients, equally divided into study group and control group of 50 patients each, who were on anticoagulant therapy for the past 5 years were included in the study and were assessed for general medical status, drug dosage, indication for anticoagulant therapy, and duration of treatment before being included in the study. Before undertaking any procedure, the international normalized ratio (INR) for each of the patient under study was requested and the study was only performed if INR was within the therapeutic range of 2.0–4.0 for each patient. Any patients with INR outside the therapeutic range, patients with liver disease, patients on other drugs that affect the hemostasis (long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressant drugs), and patients who refused to sign the consent for the study were excluded from the study. Results: None of the patients, in study group, had any immediate postoperative bleeding during the 30 min that they were observed after the extractions, and no patient in study group had any bleeding during the first 24 h. One patient from the study group (50-year-old female, INR 3.2) had intermittent oozing on the 3rd day postoperatively, after extractions of lower right 2nd molar. Conclusion: We conclude that hemorrhagic episodes postextraction in patients on anti-coagulant therapy is manageable following atraumatic extraction, hemostatic agents and sutures. Its also concluded that patients on anticoagulant are at high risk of thromboembolic events than postextraction hemorrhage so anticoagulant therapy should be continued without any alteration.

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of soft (220 Hv) and hard (750 Hv) steel projectiles on an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy processed by hot extrusion followed by heat treatment (solid solution treatment at 743 K/1.5 h + ageing treatment at 388 K/24 h). The results show that the hardness of the projectile material can influence on the shape and size of the perforation channel formed after the penetration. The hard steel projectile has longer depth of penetration and the crater front diameter is narrower comparing with the Al alloy after penetration by the soft steel projectile. Adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) are formed in the perforation channel after penetration with presence of recrystallized grains within these bands. The ASBs are wider after the hard steel projectile penetration with presence of cracks comparing with the ASBs formed after the soft steel projectile penetration. Precipitates are increased in size and overlapped in the perforation channel which are mainly of G.P. zone and η' precipitates. Hardness values of the Al alloy after penetration increase in the upper side of the perforation channel over the middle and end regions of the channel.

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of high strain rate compression on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a spray deposited and hot formed by forging and extrusion followed by T74 (393 K/8h + 433 K/24 h) heat treatment Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy. The results show that the strength of the Al alloy is increased with increasing strain rate from 1.0 × 10−3 s−1 to 5.0 × 103 s−1 assisted by the strain hardening rate effect. Typical adiabatic shear bands area is found in the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy after compression at high strain rate. Grains are significantly refined within the shear bands areas to ∼180 nm assisted by the dislocation accumulation combined with the temperature rise during the high strain rate compression. Precipitates are observed within the shear bands mainly of fine η' precipitates. These precipitates are close to Mg (Zn, Cu, Al)2 assisted by diffusion provided by dislocations.

Objective: To access the knowledge, attitude and practices towards exclusive breast feeding among postnatal mothers. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Mohi-ud-din tertiary-care hospital Mirpur, Azad-Kashmir, from Mar 2017 to Feb 2018. Methodology: Study was conducted among 200 postnatal mothers at tertiary care hospital, using a structured questionnaire by ‘recall since birth’ method. Analysis was done using SPSS version 17. Results: Majority of the mothers were breast feeders, 27% were exclusive breastfeeding and 73% initiated breast feeding within 24 hours. The multivariate logistic regression showed that females who know exclusive breast feeding duration (95%CI-014, 1.381), breastfeeding better than artificial feed (95% CI-075, 1.182), mothers with hepatitis B, exclusive breastfeeding prevents pregnancy (95% CI-134, 1.220) and colostrum helps in immunity (95% CI-233, 1.436) were more educated and favored exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: The majority mothers having good exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, initiated breastfeeding within 24 hours, had more positive attitude and practice towards exclusive breastfeeding than non-breastfeeding mothers.

Background: Chronic stress decreases resilience of the body mainly due to hormonal imbalance. Neuropeptide Y-ergic system is abnormally regulated in chronic stress due to reduction-oxidation imbalance. The antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid reduce this imbalance with positive effect on neuropeptide Y synthesis and release. This study was aimed to compare the protective effects of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on plasma neuropeptide Y levels in chronic stress. Material and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done at Al-Nafees Medical College in collaboration with National Institute of Health Islamabad from January 2015 to January 2016 after taking institutional approval. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were obtained and divided equally into four groups; group I (control), group II (restraint stress group - chronic restraint stress six hours daily for 28 days), group III (restraint stress + alpha-tocopherol 50mg/kg body weight /day), and group IV (restraint stress + ascorbic acid 100mg /kg body weight /day). Cardiac puncture was done to obtain blood for biochemical analysis. Results: A significant decrease in plasma neuropeptide Y levels was seen in group II compared to group I, group III and group IV. However, alpha-tocopherol administration in group III showed positive effects on maintenance of plasma neuropeptide Y concentration with better p trend than that of ascorbic acid supplementation in group IV. Conclusion(s): Alpha-tocopherol supplementation has more potent effect than that of ascorbic acid on chronic restraint stress induced derangements in neuropeptide Y levels. It leads to less imbalance in neuropeptide Y levels during chronic stress.

Human mpox is an emerging epidemic in the world. The monkey pox virus (MPXV) belongs to the same family of zoonotic Orthopoxviridae as that of the smallpox virus and exhibits similar clinical symptomology. Information regarding its diagnostics, disease epidemiology, surveillance, preventive methods, and treatment strategies are being collated with time. The purpose of this review is to trace the recent events in the scientific platform that have defined new preventive and treatment strategies against mpox. A methodological approach has been used to gather data from the latest literature to comprehensively overview the emerging treatment options. The results portion will cover details regarding the prevention of mpox. It will also shed light on a brief description of contemporary vaccines and antiviral agents that have been evaluated for their treatment potential since the emergence of the mpox threat. These treatment options are setting the pace for controlling the widespread monkeypox infection. However, the limitations attached to these treatment strategies need to be tackled quickly to increase their efficacy so that they can be deployed on a large scale for the prevention of this epidemic becoming another pandemic in this decade.

The motion of solid objects or even fluids can be described using mathematics. Wind movements, turbulence in the oceans, migration of birds, pandemic of diseases and all other phenomena or systems can be understood using mathematics, i.e., mathematical modelling. Some of the most common techniques used for mathematical modelling are Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE), Partial Differential Equation (PDE), Statistical Methods and Neural Network (NN). However, most of them require substantial amounts of data or an initial governing equation. Furthermore, if a system increases its complexity, namely, if the number and relation between its components increase, then the amount of data required and governing equations increase too. A graph is another well-established concept that is widely used in numerous applications in modelling some phenomena. It seldom requires data and closed form of relations. The advancement in the theory has led to the development of a new concept called autocatalytic set (ACS). In this paper, a new form of ACS, namely, multidigraph autocatalytic set (MACS) is introduced. It offers the freedom to model multi relations between components of a system once needed. The concept has produced some results in the form of theorems and in particular, its relation to the Perron–Frobenius theorem. The MACS Graph Algorithm (MACSGA) is then coded for dynamic modelling purposes. Finally, the MACSGA is implemented on the vector borne disease network system to exhibit MACS’s effectiveness and reliability. It successfully identified the two districts that were the main sources of the outbreak based on their reproduction number, R0.