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Summary: Maintaining reliable energy supplies with resilience to extreme weather, water shortage and rising electricity and cooling demand is crucial to successfully implementing the clean energy transition. The integrated power and water systems found in several hyper-arid countries, featuring cooling-driven electrical demand and near-total dependence on seawater desalination, offer case studies illustrating energy system robustness to these conditions. We use linear optimization to minimize costs in a model system based on the resiliency-oriented energy system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while progressively decarbonizing the energy mix. We demonstrate that high levels of renewable energy adoption are economically favorable under conservative future technology cost assumptions, even including strict resiliency requirements, and draw conclusions for other energy systems making the transition to renewable energy under challenging climatic conditions, especially regarding the role of water desalination, demand flexibility, energy storage, and suitability of conventional design rules for ensuring resilience in renewable-dominated systems.

HVAC systems consume up to 50% of the total energy demanded by buildings. This paper aims to provide quantitative assessment of the HVAC solutions used on the highly efficient houses competing in the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2021. This international competition challenges university students to design, build, and operate sustainable zero-energy houses. The analysis includes the system selection, capacity, and coefficient of performance (COP), as well as the monitored indoor temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 levels. The university teams’ selection capacity (systems availability) and budget were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they designed their houses to respond appropriately to arid climates and reduce HVAC consumption. The study evaluates the HVAC solutions of all eight projects, providing more information about the four top-ranked teams. Most homes use air-to-air, decentralized, and multizone air-conditioners. The teams made the best effort to select systems that significantly exceed the COP required by the local regulations. Some also exceed the local energy codes regarding refrigerants’ global warming potential. The average COP (at T1 i.e., Moderate Climate Conditions) of air-to-air systems was 3.71 kW/kW, and the air-to-water system was 3.42 kW/kW. The lower installed cooling capacity per area of air-to-water HVAC systems was 57 W/m2 and 122 W/m2 in the air-to-air ones. In several cases, the HVAC systems’ consumption was affected by the short assembly period (15 days), nonprofessional student construction, and the lack of a testing period before starting the competition. Nevertheless, these houses exhibited excellent performance, and their analysis brought relevant lessons for buildings in arid climates.

Although hematological disorders with salient features of thrombocytopenia have been well documented in dengue patients, the role of CD61-expressing platelets and the megakaryocytic cell lineage in the pathogenesis of dengue virus (DENV) infection remains largely unexplored. A prospective observational study was performed using blood samples and PBMCs from dengue-confirmed patients, as well as from rhesus monkeys (RM) experimentally infected with DENV. Immunohistochemical staining and FACS techniques were applied to evaluate the frequencies of CD61(+) cells that contained DENV antigen. Highly enriched population of CD61(+) cells was also isolated from acute DENV-infected RM and assayed for DENV RNA by quantitative RT-PCR. Results revealed that DENV antigen was found in small vesicles of varying size, and more frequently in anucleated cells associated with platelets in dengue patients. The DENV antigen-containing cells were CD61(+) and appeared to share characteristics of megakaryocytes. Kinetic profiles of CD61(+) cells from DENV-infected RM revealed a transient increase in CD61(+)CD62P(+) cells early after DENV infection. DENV RNA in a highly enriched population of CD61(+) cells from the infected RM was observed during acute stage. Our results indicate that virus containing CD61(+) cells may be directly linked to the platelet dysfunction and low platelet count characteristics of dengue patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an evaluation of a residential short-term program (10-12 weeks) which utilizes a behavior modification program (BMP) in an inpatient unit for adolescents with mostly conduct problems. Evaluation included predictors of outcome such as age, gender, diagnosis, length of stay, father's presence, other treatments received, and presence of learning problems. The design used was a retrospective analysis of performance of patients on BMP measured by mean point earned in the first four weeks (pre-test) and the last 4 weeks of admission (post-test). Subjects were 60 adolescents aged 12-18 enrolled for at least eight weeks in the BMP. Findings showed that the BMP was generally beneficial especially for females and nonconduct-disordered patients. Factors such as father's presence, and absence of learning problems were associated with better outcome. Age and length of stay were not correlated with significant improvement. It was found that the BMP was effective in reducing frequency of undesirable behaviors for the majority of adolescents with conduct problems. However, males with a diagnosis of conduct disorder might require a longer stay for the program to be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of sustainable bioinspired materials for regenerative medicine demands a nuanced balance between scientific advancement, ethical considerations, and environmental consciousness. This abstract encapsulates a comprehensive perspective paper exploring the intricate dynamics of toxicology, environmental impact, and ethical concerns within the realm of bioinspired materials. As the landscape of regenerative medicine evolves, ensuring the biocompatibility and safety of these materials emerges as a pivotal challenge. Our paper delves into the multidimensional aspects of toxicity assessment, encompassing cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and immunotoxicity analyses. Additionally, we shed light on the complexities of evaluating the environmental impact of bioinspired materials, discussing methodologies such as life cycle assessment, biodegradability testing, and sustainable design approaches. Amid these scientific endeavors, we emphasize the paramount importance of ethical considerations in bioinspired material development, navigating the intricate web of international regulations and ethical frameworks guiding medical materials. Furthermore, our abstract underscores the envisioned future directions and challenges in toxicology techniques, computational modeling, and holistic evaluation, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of the synergistic interplay between sustainable bioinspired materials, toxicity assessment, environmental stewardship, and ethical deliberation., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Brownmillerite KBiFe 2 O 5 (KBFO) and KbiFe 1.95 Ti 0.05 O 5+ (KBFTO) ceramics were synthesized using the prereacted nanopowders of KFeO 2 (KFO) and BiFeO 3 (BFO), and KFO and BiFe 0.95 Ti 0.05 O 3+ (BFTO), respectively, via the reactive templated method. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the monoclinic phase of the KBFO and KBFTO samples. The incorporation of Ti 4+ at Fe 3+ site prevented the formation of a secondary phase (Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 ) in the KBFTO sample. Our experimentally determined lattice parameters for the orthorhombic P 2/ c KBFO and KBFTO are consistent with our density functional theory (DFT) computed lattice parameters (within a 5% error). Scanning electron microscopy images revealed an average grain size of ∼1.38 and 0.85 μm for KBFO and KBFTO, respectively. The calculated optical band gaps of the KBFO and KBFTO using the Kubelka-Munk function from their UV data were found to be 1.69 and 1.71 eV, respectively. The measured surface area of KBFTO (1.339 m 2 g -1 ) obtained from BET analysis was double that of KBFO (0.698 m 2 g -1 ). KBFTO's room-temperature magnetization was 0.986 emu g -1 , which was twice that of the KBFO, while its room-temperature conductivity measured using impedance spectroscopy was 5.69 × 10 -3 S m -1 which was 10 times that of KBFO. Notably, our DFT calculations showed that the small Ti dopant concentration enhanced the partial density of states (PDOS) above the Fermi level. It shifted the Fermi level toward higher energy, and the oxygen PDOS for KBFTO was significantly enhanced relative to KBFO, which ultimately helped improve the conductivity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Kalyanaka Ghrita (KG) is polyherbal oleaginous medicament consisting of extracts from twenty-eight different plants, indicated for management of psychosomatic disorders like Unmada (Schizophrenia), Apasmara (Epilepsy) and numerous other ailments., Objective: To develop and validate standard manufacturing procedure of KG by following Ayurvedic principles in three batches to ensure process uniformity and standards., Materials and Methods: Three batches of KG were prepared by adopting principles of Ashtanga Hrudya and Ayurvedic Formulary of India to ensure consistency in manufacturing process. Observations during process such as temperature, duration were recorded. KG was subjected to chief desired characteristics, organoleptic (color, odour, taste, texture, touch), physicochemical (acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, saponification value, loss on drying, refractive index, specific gravity, mineral oil, rancidity test, viscosity) as per pharmacopeial standard. Chromatographic screening and fingerprinting of KG were conducted through GCMS whereas quantification of curcumin and chebulagic acid biomarkers were assessed through HPLC., Results: Average yield of KG was 83.41%, with average intermittent heating duration of 20.35 h subsequently divided into three days. Temperature throughout preparation ranged from 66 °C to 101 °C. KG was pale olive in colour, exhibiting pleasant taste, characteristic smell, and soft texture. Organoleptic and physicochemical characters were comparable for three batches of KG while safety parameters were found within permissible limits., Conclusion: Pharmaceutical standardization of Kalyanaka Ghrita is necessary for establishing biological and chemical profile of formulations. Present study recommends use of coarse powdered ingredients for optimal yield during pharmaceutical process, and heating up to Madhyama Paka stage calibrated over three days with average temperature of 85 °C. The data obtained from this study may contribute to future research and development activities, serving as a basis for manufacturing standards of KG., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: NONE., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: There is increased interest in utilizing dietary interventions to alter the progression of autoimmune diseases. These efforts are driven by associations of gut microbiota/metabolites with levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Propionate is a key SCFA that is commonly used as a food preservative and is endogenously generated by bacterial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates in the gut. A thesis has suggested that a diet rich in propionate and other SCFAs can successfully modulate autoimmunity. Herein, we investigated the effect of long-term administration of propionylated high-amylose resistant starches (HAMSP) on the course of murine primary biliary cholangitis., Materials and Methods: Groups of female ARE-Del mice were fed an HAMSP diet either before or after disease onset. A detailed immunobiological analysis was performed involving autoantibodies and rigorous T-cell phenotyping, including enumeration of T-cell subsets in the spleen, liver, intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and lamina propria by flow cytometry. Histopathological scores were used to assess the frequency and severity of liver inflammation and damage to hepatocytes and bile ducts., Results: Our results demonstrate that a long-term propionate-yielding diet re-populated the T-cell pool with decreased naïve and central memory T-cell subsets and an increase in the effector memory T cells in mice. Similarly, long-term HAMSP intake reduced CD4 + CD8 + double-positive T cells in intraepithelial lymphocytes and the intestinal lamina propria. Critically, HAMSP consumption led to moderate-to-severe hepatocellular steatosis in ARE-Del mice, independent of the stage of autoimmune cholangitis., Conclusions: Our data suggest that administration of HAMSP induces both regulatory and effector T cells. Furthermore, HAMSP administration resulted in hepatocellular steatosis. Given the interest in dietary modulation of autoimmunity and because propionate is widely used as a food preservative, these data have significant implications. This study also provides new insights into the immunological and pathological effects of chronic propionate exposure., (© 2024 The Author(s). Liver International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Understanding the stability of photosynthetic pigments is crucial for developing crop cultivars with high productivity and resilience to the environmental stresses. This study leveraged GGE biplot, WAASB, and MTSI indices to assess the stability of content and composition of photosynthetic pigments in leaves and siliques of 286 Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. genotypes across three environments. The GGE biplot analysis identified NRCQR-9901 as the best genotype in terms of chlorophyll 'a' under conditions of high irradiance and long days (E1). For chlorophyll 'b' and total chlorophyll, NC-533728 performed the best. AJ-2 and NPJ-208 had the maximum total carotenoids levels in leaves. RLC-2 was characterized by maximum values for chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll in the siliques. The low irradiance, short days, and moderate to high temperatures (E2) seemed perfect for the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. NPJ-182 shows the maximum concentrations of chlorophyll 'a', total chlorophyll, and total carotenoids in leaves. Conversely, IC-597869, RE-389, and IC-597894 exhibited the highest concentrations of chlorophyll 'b' under an environment characterized by low light intensity, shorter daylights, and low temperatures (E3) during flowering and siliqua formation stages. The combined analysis found NPJ-182, NC-533728, CN-105233, RLC-2, CN-101846, JA-96, PBR-357, JM-3, and DTM-34 as top performers with high stability. Comparative transcriptome analysis with two stable and high-performing genotypes (PBR-357 and DTM-34) and two average performers revealed upregulation of critical photosynthesis-related genes (ELIP1, CAB3.1, ELIP1.5, and LHCB5) in top performers. This study identified promising trait donors for use in breeding programs aimed at improving the mustard crop's photosynthetic efficiency, productivity, and stability., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Diabetic foot is one of the complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Adequate knowledge and practice are an important aspect to control further deteriorating conditions such as ulcers and amputations. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the impact of the education levels of diabetic patients on diabetic foot care knowledge and practice. This cross-sectional study with a convenient sampling technique was conducted on 534 patients with diabetes mellitus from public and private care hospitals. The data was collected using a validated, pretested and structured bilingual (Arabic, English) questionnaire. There were 534 patients interviewed, 39.1% of whom were males and 60.9% of whom were females and 61.4% of the patients had had T2DM for over 10 years. There was a significant difference in education levels between the male and female patients (53.8% and 46.2%, P = .001). Furthermore, 83.9% patients were married. The difference in education between the married and the single, divorced, and widowed patients was significant (P = .007). Patients with uncontrolled HbA1c were 2.43 times more likely to have hypertension (RR = 2.43, P = .03), while patients with highly uncontrolled diabetes had 3.1 times more chances of hypertension (RR = 3.1, P = .009). Heart disease prevalence was 3.27 times higher in diabetes patients with uncontrolled HbA1c and 3.37 times higher in patients with highly uncontrolled HbA1c. Patients with diabetes who have been diabetic for more than 10 years have a greater risk of heart disease (RR = 2.1; P = .03). Patients with lower education levels exhibited more diabetic complications compared to patients with higher education levels (P < .05). The present study highlights the importance of education and awareness campaigns targeting diabetic patients, especially those with lower education levels, to improve diabetes control and prevent, or manage, comorbidities. Healthcare providers should also prioritize patient education and medication adherence to improve diabetes management and reduce the risk of complications., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Dengue fever (DF) is one of the most prevalent arboviral infections worldwide. In Iran, the dengue-positive serological cases as well as the presence of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti have raised health concerns, highlighting the need to enhance the dengue surveillance system. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding dengue fever in a large and high-risk region of southeastern Iran., Methods: A total of 492 HCPs were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method from May 2022 to July 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), one-factor and multi-factor general linear models, and simple and multiple regression models., Results: About two-thirds (71%) of the participants did not receive any training on DF. A small percentage of participants were familiar with ovitrap (32.6%) and only 21.7% knew that destroying larval breeding sites could not eliminate the dengue vector. The knowledge of disease symptoms among HCPs was found to be lower in border areas compared to non-border areas (P = 0.018). However, the practice situation in HCPs working in border areas was better than in non-borders (P = 0.003). According to the multiple regression model, the most influential factors associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice were the type of healthcare facility and passing the DF training course. Additionally, education level, work experience, and gender were identified as other factors associated with it, respectively. Significant correlations were found between knowledge and practice (P < 0.001), indicating that higher knowledge led to better practice. Similarly, a positive attitude was significantly linked to better practice (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Regular, targeted, and continuous training courses are necessary to improve the knowledge level of HCPs, particularly those with lower education levels working in low-level health centers. Utilizing comprehensive dengue KAP studies to evaluate the status and impact of health education programs and identify gaps between knowledge and practice should be a research priority., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and aim Pancreatic endotherapy has been established as a viable and effective modality for the management of pain in chronic pancreatitis (CP). However, its impact on endocrine insufficiency has been rarely reported. In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess the impact of endotherapy on glycemic status and the management of diabetes in these patients. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients with CP with pain presenting to the King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Mumbai, India, from December 2021 to May 2023 was done. Detailed clinical, laboratory, imaging, and treatment data were recorded. Endocrine dysfunction was defined as glycosylated hemoglobin (Hba1C) ≥6.5 g/dl. The status of endocrine function (Hba1C values) before and after endotherapy, as well as the requirement of oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) and/or insulin, was recorded. Results One hundred forty-one patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for the management of pain (mean age: 35 years, 74.5% males). Prior to endotherapy, pathological endocrine dysfunction was seen in 60 patients (42.5%). The mean HbA1c value was 8.46 g/dl (4.5-16.1g/dl). OHAs alone were used in 13/60 (21.6%), and 34/60 (56.6%) required insulin. A combination of OHA and insulin was required in 13/60 (21.6%) of patients. Post-endotherapy, none of the patients were on a combination of OHAs and insulin; 5/13 (38.4%) patients were on OHAs alone, while 8/13 (61.5%) patients were shifted to insulin. Out of the total 47 patients who required insulin, insulin could be stopped in 15/47 (31.9%) of patients. Patients who demonstrated improvement in endocrine dysfunction had significantly lower HbA1c values (6.38 vs. 8.07 g/dl, p < 0.001), a higher proportion of patients with idiopathic pancreatitis (73.3% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.004), and a lower proportion of patients with concomitant exocrine insufficiency (13.3% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.007). Conclusions One-third of the patients had improvements in endocrine dysfunction. Early ductal intervention in a selected subset of patients with CP may have the potential to improve glycemic status., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College issued approval EC-22/2/2023. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Harindranath et al.)

Mechanoluminescent materials are characterized by high luminescence intensity, high repeatability, no external voltage activation, and a good linear relationship between stress and mechanoluminescence intensity within a certain range. Therefore, mechanoluminescent materials have attracted increasing attention from researchers in the fields of stress sensing, encryption and anti-counterfeiting, structural health monitoring, energy-saving lighting, intelligent wearable devices, and other fields. In this study, ZnS:Mn powders with different Mn 2+ ratios and different ion doping were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-phase reaction, and the synthesis of various materials was characterized. Then, the optimal mechanoluminescence effect of the ZnS:1%Mn,1%Li material was obtained. The photoluminescence intensity of ZnS:1%Mn,1%Li was 16.7 times higher than that of the sample without doping with Li + , and the mechanoluminescence intensity was 1.64 times higher. Finally, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film was combined with ZnS:Mn,Li mechanoluminescent powders to prepare flexible three-layer composite film. Based on this, a feasible strategy for the detection of temporomandibular disorders was proposed. The composite film is easy to use, economical, and safe, and has good mechanoluminescent performance, which has potential application value in the field of occlusal force detection and visualization., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Paediatric rotary file systems have recently been developed for primary teeth use., Aim: To study the cleaning efficacies of two paediatric rotary endodontic files, the Prime Pedo TM , and the Kedo-SG Blue TM against the standard H files., Design: This in vitro study included 54 freshly extracted primary molars, which were randomised into three groups (n = 18 each) and were prepared using either Kedo-SG Blue TM , Prime Pedo TM or hand H files after injecting methylene blue dye into the canals. Pre- and post-operative cone beam computerised tomography (CBCT) was performed to assess change in root canal volumes. Methylene blue dye removal from canals was assessed using stereomicroscopy, and canal cleanliness was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)., Results: Both Prime Pedo TM and Kedo-SG Blue TM files reduced significantly less dentine when compared with conventional hand filing with Prime Pedo TM removing the least amount of dentine. No significant difference was found in median SEM scores among the groups in the cervical, middle and apical thirds of the roots. Stereomicroscopic assessment of root canal cleanliness using dye removal technique shows a statistically significant difference existing between Kedo-SG Blue TM and hand H files groups., Conclusion: Prime Pedo TM removed the least amount of dentine. Kedo-SG Blue TM performed significantly better than conventional hand filing with H files when the root canal cleanliness was assessed., (© 2023 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a key marker for a prostate cancer diagnosis. The low sensitivity of traditional lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) methods makes them unsuitable for point-of-care testing. Herein, we designed a nanozyme by in situ growth of Prussian blue (PB) within the pores of dendritic mesoporous silica (DMSN). The PB was forcibly dispersed into the pores of DMSN, leading to an increase in exposed active sites. Consequently, the atom utilization is enhanced, resulting in superior peroxidase (POD)-like activity compared to that of cubic PB. Antibody-modified DMSN@PB nanozymes serve as immunological probes in an enzymatic-enhanced colorimetric and photothermal dual-signal LFIA for PSA detection. After systematic optimization, the LFIA based on DMSN@PB successfully achieves a 4-fold amplification of the colorimetric signal within 7 min through catalytic oxidation of the chromogenic substrate by POD-like activity. Moreover, DMSN@PB exhibits an excellent photothermal conversion ability under 808 nm laser irradiation. Accordingly, photothermal signals are introduced to improve the anti-interference ability and sensitivity of LFIA, exhibiting a wide linear range (1-40 ng mL -1 ) and a low PSA detection limit (0.202 ng mL -1 ), which satisfies the early detection level of prostate cancer. This research provides a more accurate and reliable visualization analysis methodology for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Rapid nucleation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate is essential for developing a THF hydrate-based cold storage technology. Earlier works have hypothesized the role of aluminum complexes in initiating the nucleation of clathrate hydrates using aluminum metal electrodes and substrates. This study investigates if the nucleation promotional effect of hydrate can be achieved using the aluminum salt, AlCl 3 , due to the formation of aluminum aqua complexes in water. Metal chlorides NaCl and MgCl 2 are also utilized to evaluate the effect of cation type in initiating nucleation, i.e., the effect of charge/radius ratio. The induction time is measured in a stirred reactor at various subcoolings and concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt %. The nucleation time is studied in two reactor configurations based on the nature of salt introduction in the THF solution, i.e., salt premixed in solution and salt injected inside the solution. The sudden rise in the reactor temperature due to hydrate formation is used as an indicator of hydrate formation. Results indicate that AlCl 3 promotes hydrate nucleation as AlCl 3 reduces induction time by 92.2% at 0.05 wt % concentration compared with water. Nearly instantaneous nucleation is also achieved by directly injecting AlCl 3 . MgCl 2 and NaCl do not show a similar effect on induction time as AlCl 3 . The pH and Raman spectra measurements with and without salts are carried out to explain the effect of cations on the THF-water solution.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition that may develop in certain individuals following exposure to life-threatening or traumatic events. Distressing symptoms, including flashbacks, are characterized by disrupted stress responses, fear, anxiety, avoidance tendencies, and disturbances in sleep patterns. The enduring effects of PTSD can profoundly impact personal and familial relationships, as well as social, medical, and financial stability. The prevalence of PTSD varies among different populations and is influenced by the nature of the traumatic event. Recently, zebrafish have emerged as a valuable model organism in studying various conditions and disorders. Zebrafish display robust behavioral patterns that can be effectively quantified using advanced video-tracking tools. Due to their relatively simple nervous system compared to humans, zebrafish are particularly well suited for behavioral investigations. These unique characteristics make zebrafish an appealing model for exploring the underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms that govern behavior, thus offering a powerful comparative platform for gaining deeper insights into PTSD. This review article aims to provide updates on the pathophysiology of PTSD and the genetic responses associated with psychological stress. Additionally, it highlights the significance of zebrafish behavior as a valuable tool for comprehending PTSD better. By leveraging zebrafish as a model organism, researchers can potentially uncover novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of PTSD and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of this complex condition.

The aberrant glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer progression and chemoresistance. It is also an immune therapeutic target for various cancers. Tunicamycin (TM) is one of the potent nucleoside antibiotics and an inhibitor of aberrant glycosylation in various cancer cells, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and pancreatic cancer, parallel with the inhibition of cancer cell growth and progression of tumors. Like chemotherapies such as doxorubicin (DOX), 5'fluorouracil, etoposide, and cisplatin, TM induces the unfolded protein response (UPR) by blocking aberrant glycosylation. Consequently, stress is induced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that promotes apoptosis. TM can thus be considered a potent antitumor drug in various cancers and may promote chemosensitivity. However, its lack of cell-type-specific cytotoxicity impedes its anticancer efficacy. In this review, we focus on recent advances in our understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of TM therapies in various cancers, including breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers, and discuss the mechanisms identified by which TM functions. Finally, we discuss the potential use of nano-based drug delivery systems to overcome non-specific toxicity and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TM as a targeted therapy.

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is the first dominant ubiquitous bacterial species identified from the genus Stenotrophomonas in 1943 from a human source. S. maltophilia clinical strains are resistance to several therapies, this study is designed to investigate the whole genome sequence and antimicrobial resistance genes prediction in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) SARC-5 and SARC-6 strains, isolated from the nasopharyngeal samples of an immunocompromised patient., Methods: These bacterial strains were obtained from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, Pakistan. The bacterial genome was sequenced using a whole-genome shotgun via a commercial service that used an NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) technology called as Illumina Hiseq 2000 system for genomic sequencing. Moreover, detailed in-silico analyses were done to predict the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in S. maltophilia., Results: Results showed that S. maltophilia is a rare gram negative, rod-shaped, non sporulating bacteria. The genome assembly results in 24 contigs (>500 bp) having a size of 4668,850 bp with 65.8% GC contents. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SARC-5 and SARC-6 were closely related to S. maltophilia B111, S. maltophilia BAB-5317, S. maltophilia AHL, S. maltophilia BAB-5307, S. maltophilia RD-AZPVI&#95;04, S. maltophilia JFZ2, S. maltophilia RD&#95;MAAMIB&#95;06 and lastly with S. maltophilia sp ROi7. Moreover, the whole genome sequence analysis of both SARC-5 and SARC-6 revealed the presence of four resistance genes adeF, qacG, adeF, and smeR., Conclusion: Our study confirmed that S. maltophilia SARC-5 and SARC-6 are one of the leading causes of nosocomial infection which carry multiple antibiotic resistance genes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The advent of nanotechnology has been instrumental in the development of new drugs with novel targets. Recently, metallic nanoparticles have emerged as potential candidates to combat the threat of drug-resistant infections. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the dreadful complications of diabetes mellitus due to the colonization of numerous drug-resistant pathogenic microbes leading to biofilm formation. Biofilms are difficult to treat due to limited penetration and non-specificity of drugs. Therefore, in the current investigation, SnO 2 nanoparticles were biosynthesized using Artemisia vulgaris (AvTO-NPs) as a stabilizing agent and were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, the efficacy of AvTO-NPs against biofilms and virulence factors of drug-resistant Candida albicans strains isolated from DFUs was assessed. AvTO-NPs displayed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1 mg/mL to 2 mg/mL against four strains of C. albicans. AvTO-NPs significantly inhibited biofilm formation by 54.8%-87%, germ tube formation by 72%-90%, cell surface hydrophobicity by 68.2%-82.8%, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by 69%-86.3% in the test strains at respective 1/2xMIC. Biosynthesized NPs were effective in disrupting established mature biofilms of test strains significantly. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the AvTO-NPs-treated C. albicans could be the possible cause of cell death leading to biofilm inhibition. The useful insights of the present study could be exploited in the current line of treatment to mitigate the threat of biofilm-related persistent DFUs and expedite wound healing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Zubair, Husain, Al-Amri, Hasan, Hassan, Albalawi, Fatima, Khan, Arshad, Alam, Ahmad, Alatawy, Begum, Mir, Alshadfan, Ansari and Al-Anazi.)

Background: The world has witnessed one of the largest pandemics, dubbed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of December 2020, the USA alone reported 98,948 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during pregnancy, with 109 related maternal deaths. Current evidence suggests that unvaccinated pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at a higher risk of experiencing complications related to COVID-19 compared to nonpregnant women. This review aimed to provide healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers with a comprehensive overview of the available information regarding the efficacy of vaccines in pregnant women., Summary: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. The search through the database for articles published between December 2019 and October 2021 was performed. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases for research publications published between December 2019 and October 2021. We focused on original research, case reports, case series, and vaccination side effect by authoritative health institutions. Phrases used for the Medical Subject Heading [MeSH] search included ("COVID-19" [MeSH]) or ("Vaccine" [MeSH]) and ("mRNA" [MeSH]) and ("Pregnant" [MeSH]). Eleven studies were selected and included, with a total of 46,264 pregnancies that were vaccinated with mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticle vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna during pregnancy. There were no randomized trials, and all studies were observational (prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional). The mean maternal age was 32.2 years, and 98.7% of pregnant women received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. The local and systemic adverse effects of the vaccination in pregnant women were analyzed and reported. The local adverse effects of the vaccination (at least 1 dose) such as local pain, swelling, and redness were reported in 32%, 5%, and 1%, respectively. The systemic adverse effects such as fatigue, headaches, new onset or worsening of muscle pain, chills, fever, and joint pains were also reported in 25%, 19%, 18%, 12%, 11%, and 8%, respectively. The average birthweight was 3,452 g. Among these pregnancies, 0.03% were stillbirth and 3.68% preterm (&lt;37 weeks) births., Key Messages: The systemic side effect profile after administering the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to pregnant women was similar to that in nonpregnant women. Maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality were lowered with the administration of either one or both the doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Some of the most difficult consultations for an ethics consultant to resolve are those in which the patient is ready to leave the acute-care setting, but the patient or family refuses the plan, or the plan is impeded by deficiencies in the healthcare system. Either way, the patient is "stuck" in the hospital and the ethics consultant is called to help get the patient "unstuck." These encounters, which we call "complex discharges," are beset with tensions between the interests of the institution and the interests of the patient as well as tensions within the ethics consultant whose commitments are shaped both by the values of the organization and the values of their own profession. The clinical ethics literature on this topic is limited and provides little guidance. What is needed is guidance for consultants operating at the bedside and for those participating at a higher organizational level. To fill this gap, we offer guidance for facilitating a fair process designed to resolve the conflict without resorting to coercive legal measures. We reflect on three cases to argue that the approach of the consultant is generally one of mediation in these types of disputes. For patients who lack decision making capacity and lack a surrogate decision maker, we recommend the creation of a complex discharge committee within the organization so that ethics consultants can properly discharge their duties to assist patients who are unable to advocate for themselves through a fair and transparent process., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background and study aims The utility of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in the left lateral semi-recumbent position in the setting of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) with a persistent fundal pool of blood for adequate visualization and effective endotherapy has not been studied. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of this position in such settings. Patients and methods A prospective study of patients presenting with acute UGIB with an uncleared fundal pool of blood was conducted. All underwent EGD in the left lateral decubitus and secondary left lateral semi-recumbent positions. Outcomes in secondary position in terms of adequate visualization of the fundus, identification of new or additional sources of bleeding, and effectiveness of endotherapy were studied. Results We screened 860 patients and included 44 patients (5.11%) with a persistent fundal pool of blood. Endoscopy in the primary position revealed the source of bleeding in 37 of 44 patients (84%). The source of the bleeding was not identified in seven of 44 patients (16%). Endoscopy in the secondary position showed clearance of fundal pool in all 44 patients (100%). A new source of bleeding was identified in all seven patients (100%) and an additional source could be identified in another five patients (13.6%). Endotherapy was performed in the secondary position for all 44 patients with 100% technical success and 94% clinical success. Conclusions These data show that endotherapy in the left lateral semi-recumbent position is feasible, safe, and effective. It should be done when endoscopy in the left lateral decubitus position reveals a pool of blood in the fundus and there is inadequate visualization of the fundus., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

The gastrointestinal tract is home to the largest microbial population in the human body. The gut microbiota plays significant roles in the development of the gut immune system and has a substantial impact on the maintenance of immune tolerance beginning in early life. These microbes interact with the immune system in a dynamic and interdependent manner. They generate immune signals by presenting a vast repertoire of antigenic determinants and microbial metabolites that influence the development, maturation and maintenance of immunological function and homeostasis. At the same time, both the innate and adaptive immune systems are involved in modulating a stable microbial ecosystem between the commensal and pathogenic microorganisms. Hence, the gut microbial population and the host immune system work together to maintain immune homeostasis synergistically. In susceptible hosts, disruption of such a harmonious state can greatly affect human health and lead to various auto-inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the interactions between the gut microbiota and immunity with an emphasis on: a) important players of gut innate and adaptive immunity; b) the contribution of gut microbial metabolites; and c) the effect of disruption of innate and adaptive immunity as well as alteration of gut microbiome on the molecular mechanisms driving autoimmunity in various autoimmune diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Boronic acids/esters have recently emerged in the field of medicinal and pharmaceutical research due to their exceptional oxophilicity, low toxicity, and unique structure. They are known as potent enzyme inhibitors, cancer therapy capture agents, and can mimic certain types of antibodies to fight infections. They have been designed and developed into drugs, and this approach has emerged in the last 20 years. Five boronic acid drugs have been approved by the FDA and Health Canada, two of which are used to treat cancer, specifically multiple myeloma. The purpose of this review is to investigate boronic acid/ester derivatives as potential pharmaceutical agents as well as the mechanism of action. It will concentrate on six types of cancer: multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer. Some newly developed boron-containing compounds have already demonstrated highly promising activities, but further investigation is required before final conclusions can be drawn.

Typha domingensis , a medicinal plant with significant traditional importance for curing various human diseases, has potentially bioactive compounds but was less explored previously. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of T. domingensis by evaluating the phytochemical profile through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques and its biological activities ( in vitro and in vivo ) from the methanolic extract derived from the entire plant (TDME). The secondary metabolite profile of TDME regulated by reverse phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (RP-UHPLC-MS) revealed some bioactive compounds by -ve and +ve modes of ionization. The HPLC quantification study showed the precise quantity of polyphenols ( p -coumaric acid, 207.47; gallic acid, 96.25; and kaempferol, 95.78 μg/g extract). The enzyme inhibition assays revealed the IC 50 of TDME as 44.75 ± 0.51, 52.71 ± 0.01, and 67.19 ± 0.68 µgmL -1 , which were significant compared to their respective standards (indomethacin, 18.03 ± 0.12; quercetin, 4.11 ± 0.01; and thiourea, 8.97 ± 0.11) for lipoxygenase, α-glucosidase, and urease, respectively. Safety was assessed by in vitro hemolysis (4.25% ± 0.16% compared to triton × 100, 93.51% ± 0.36%), which was further confirmed (up to 10 g/kg) by an in vivo model of rats. TDME demonstrated significant ( p < 0.05) potential in analgesic activity by hot plate and tail immersion tests and anti-inflammatory activity by the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model. Pain latency decreased significantly, and the anti-inflammatory effect increased in a dose-dependent way. Additionally, in silico molecular docking revealed that 1,3,4,5-tetracaffeoylquinic acid and formononetin 7-O-glucoside-6″-O-malonate possibly contribute to enzyme inhibitory activities due to their higher binding affinities compared to standard inhibitors. An in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicological study also predicted the pharmacokinetics and safety of the chosen compounds identified from TDME. To sum up, it was shown that TDME contains bioactive chemicals and has strong biological activities. The current investigations on T. domingensis could be extended to explore its potential applications in nutraceutical industries and encourage the isolation of novel molecules with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Dilshad, Khan, Ahmad, Shaik Mohammad, Sherif, Rao, Ahmad, Ghalloo and Begum.)

Mangrove leaves have unique features that enable them to cope with shifting environmental conditions while preserving their general functionality and efficiency. We examined the morphological characteristics and chlorophyll content (spectroscopically) of 600 mature Avicennia germinans leaves selected from 30 trees located in one degraded, one restored, and one natural mangrove ecosystem along Guyana's coastline. Systematic sampling was carried out using the closest individual sampling method in the wet and dry seasons. We hypothesized that both habitat type and seasonality influence the leaf traits and chlorophyll content of A. germinans. Our findings showed that A. germinans leaves are mesophyllous, and traits such as leaf perimeter, area, length, width, dry mass, wet mass, turgid mass, leaf-specific area, and relative water content showed fluctuations in ecosystems (one-way ANOVA, p  < .05) as well as seasonally (paired t -test, p  < .05). Substantial, positive correlations ( p  < .05, R  > .75) were also established for over 10 leaf parameters in both seasons while PCA and multiple regression analyses further confirmed the strong relationships between leaf morphological features and their respective locations. Changes in chlorophyll concentration were most noticeable in the degraded ecosystem while variations in leaf traits were more pronounced in the restored mangrove area. This may be due to the various disturbances found in each ecosystem coupled with fluctuations in the seasons. Our results demonstrate that mangroves, to some extent, alter their plant structures to cope with environmental stressors present in the various ecosystems they thrive in to maintain their survival., Competing Interests: The authors certify that this submission is original work and is not under review at any other publication. The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2023 The Authors. Plant‐Environment Interactions published by New Phytologist Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)