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Larvisiding is one common way used to reduce mosquito density in breeding areas before metamorphosizing into adults. Despite numerous eradication efforts, the outcomes have not met expectations, leading to additional issues such as environmental pollution in urban areas. In the context of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), addressing the challenge of mitigating the endemic outbreak entails formulating an effective strategy through a vector eradication approach. Therefore, this study explored the spatial pattern of DHF and estimated the potential spread of outbreaks. A geographic information system approach, with nearest neighbor analysis and kernel density estimation (KDE), was used to generate information regarding the pattern and potential for transmission of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The results showed that in 2019, a random pattern was observed, while in 2020, a clustered pattern of virus spread occurred. Furthermore, in terms of the potential transmission, an exposed zone of 9.73 km² was identified in 2019, and this increased to 15.72 km² in 2020. In this study, several important actions were implemented with a spatial approach, enabling the detection and polarization of events. However, the limitations included not being comprehensive in addressing the hygiene, sanitation, drainage, and population density aspects.

After haematology, urinalysis is the most common biological test performed in clinical settings. Hence, simplified workflow and automated analysis of urine elements are of absolute necessities. In the present work, a novel lab-on-chip cartridge (Gravity Sedimentation Cartridge) for the auto analysis of urine elements is developed. The GSC consists of a capillary chamber that uptakes a raw urine sample by capillary force and performs particles and cells enrichment within 5 min through a gravity sedimentation process for the microscopic examination. Centrifugation, which is necessary for enrichment in the conventional method, was circumvented in this approach. The AI100 device (Image based autoanalyzer) captures microscopic images from the cartridge at 40x magnification and uploads them into the cloud. Further, these images were auto-analyzed using an AI-based object detection model, which delivers the reports. These reports were available for expert review on a web-based platform that enables evidence-based tele reporting. A comparative analysis was carried out for various analytical parameters of the data generated through GSC (manual microscopy, tele reporting, and AI model) with the gold standard method. The presented approach makes it a viable product for automated urinalysis in point-of-care and large-scale settings.

Background and aim: The complex dynamic interplay between different biological pathways involved in atherosclerosis development has rendered the identification of specific therapeutic targets a challenging quest. We aimed to identify specific genes and mechanistic pathways associated with the early development of fibro-atheromas in a swine model of atherosclerosis. Methods: The Wisconsin Miniature Swine™ model of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (WMS-FH, n = 11) and genetically related WMS controls (WMS-N, n = 11) were used. The infrarenal aorta was harvested from both groups for histopathologic and transcriptomic profiling at 12 months. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify hub genes and pathways central to disease pathophysiology. The expression of ITGB2, the top ranked hub gene, was manipulated in cell culture and the expression of interconnected genes was tested. Results: Fibro-atheromatous lesions were documented in all WMS-FH aortic tissues and displayed internal elastic lamina (IEL) disruption, significant reduction of myofibroblast presence and disorganized collagen deposition. No fibro-atheromas were observed in the control group. A total of 266 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated in WMS-FH aortic tissues, while 29 genes were downregulated. Top identified hub genes included ITGB2, C1QA, LCP2, SPI1, CSF1R, C5AR1, CTSS, MPEG1, C1QC, and CSF2RB. Overexpression of ITGB2 resulted in elevated expression of other interconnected genes expressed in porcine endothelial cells. Conclusion: In a swine translational model of atherosclerosis, transcriptomic analysis identified ITGB2 as a central hub gene associated inflammation and early fibroatheroma development making it a potential therapeutic target at this stage of disease.

AbstractIn 2018, WHO with the support of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India and partner organisations launched a Learning Districts Initiative to strengthen the district-level application of the National Adolescent Health Programme and to draw out lessons. An assessment of this initiative from 2019 to 2023 using qualitative and quantitative programme monitoring data from interviews, discussions, observations and data from multiple secondary sources explored the evolution of the concept, the process of securing government agreement, operationalising the initiative and the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness and the potential of sustainability and replicability within the government health system. As part of the process, WHO developed the concept with partners to address the challenges identified in a Rapid Programme Review requested by the Ministry. The Ministry concurred with the proposed participatory problem identification and problem-solving approach. A review-based process guided the implementation. Local non-government organisations supported District Health Management Units to strengthen planning, implementation and monitoring. An expert in adolescent health provided technical oversight. Three years later in 2022, adolescent health is on district agendas, staff capacity has been built, and clinic and community-based activities are carried out in a structured manner. The Initiative is feasible as it leverages local expertise. Its core interventions are acceptable to government officials. While there are improvements in inputs, processes and outputs, these need to be independently validated. Challenges such as unfilled vacancies, problems in supply procurement, inability of staff to discuss sensitive issues, weak intersectoral convergence and low engagement of adolescents in programme management remain to be addressed. Nevertheless, the overall experience augurs well for the future of the programme.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are gaining ground as next-generation drug delivery modalities. Genetic fusion of the protein of interest to a scaffold protein with high EV-sorting ability represents a robust cargo loading strategy. To address the paucity of such scaffold proteins, we leverage a simple and reliable assay that can distinguish intravesicular cargo proteins from surface- as well as non-vesicular proteins and compare the EV-sorting potential of 244 candidate proteins. We identify 24 proteins with conserved EV-sorting abilities across five types of producer cells. TSPAN2 and TSPAN3 emerge as lead candidates and outperform the well-studied CD63 scaffold. Importantly, these engineered EVs show promise as delivery vehicles in cell cultures and mice as demonstrated by efficient transfer of luminal cargo proteins as well as surface display of different functional entities. The discovery of these scaffolds provides a platform for EV-based engineering.

For high-power, high-voltage applications, multilevel inverters have gained widespread acceptance. Due to its rising advantages. In this paper a new circuit multilevel inverter, comparatively speaking to traditional inverters, this design requires less components as well as fewer gate drives and carrier signals. Because of this, both the total expense and complexity are drastically decreased, especially for higher output voltage levels. This circuit consists by two components one is level generation part contain by four switches and other one is polarity generation part comprise by H-bridge inverter that make up output voltage as a seven level. The portion that generates levels employs high frequency switches to produce various levels, and the part that generates the polarity of the output voltage is at line frequency. Additionally, it is more effective due to an inverter component that uses line frequency to operate switching power devices. As a result, there is no requirement for all switches to operate at high frequency, resulting in easier and more dependable management of the inverter. Here multicarrier Phase Disposition Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (PDSPWM) technique regulates the operation of the inverter.It consists by three carrier signals instead of six carrier signal and it provide less THD of output voltage and current compare to other multicarrier sinusoidal pulse width modulation techniques. The design, analysis and control of the seven level inverter is demonstrated with the help of MATLAB/Simulink tool.

The terrestrial components of the hydrological cycle include rainwater, surface water, and groundwater. Carbon (C) isotopes allow hydrologists to pinpoint the age of groundwater, track its flow rate, and identify the sources and processes. This research summarizes previous investigations conducted on the isotopes of groundwater and precipitation. The Scopus database contains works from authors from fifty nations, who have conducted research integrating C isotopes in groundwater and precipitation. The review shows that there have been few C isotope investigations on carbon storage and sequestration, as well as on δ13C of precipitation in arid regions. An integrated e-DNA investigation on the process of C isotope fractionation in diverse environments, as well as research on 13C of precipitation in arid regions before and after dust storms, is required to elucidate the relative contributions of biogenic, geogenic, and anthropogenic sources. However, carbon isotope fingerprints that are unique to individual compounds, such as those of fugitive gases, need sophisticated analytical equipment in order to be investigated, limiting this type of study to nations with robust scientific infrastructures and well-trained manpower. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been instrumental in this effort by providing collaborative research and analytical support, resulting in the development of a network for isotope data generation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a crucial role in maintaining normal homeostatic processes under the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This context-dependent effect from a cytokine is due to two distinctive forms of signaling: cis-signaling and trans-signaling. IL-6 cis-signaling involves binding IL-6 to the membrane-bound IL-6 receptor and Glycoprotein 130 (GP130) signal-transducing subunit. By contrast, in IL-6 trans-signaling, complexes of IL-6 and the soluble form of the IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) signal via membrane-bound GP130. Various strategies have been employed in the past decade to target the pro-inflammatory effect of IL-6 in numerous inflammatory disorders. However, their development has been hindered since these approaches generally target global IL-6 signaling, also affecting the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-6 signaling too. Therefore, novel strategies explicitly targeting the pro-inflammatory IL-6 trans-signaling without affecting the IL-6 cis-signaling are required and carry immense therapeutic potential. Here, we have developed a novel approach to specifically decoy IL-6-mediated trans-signaling by modulating alternative splicing in GP130, an IL-6 signal transducer, by employing splice switching oligonucleotides (SSO), to induce the expression of truncated soluble isoforms of the protein GP130. This isoform is devoid of signaling domains but allows for specifically sequestering the IL-6/sIL-6R receptor complex with high affinity in serum and thereby suppressing inflammation. Using the state-of-the-art Pip6a cell-penetrating peptide conjugated to PMO-based SSO targeting GP130 for efficient in vivo delivery, reduced disease phenotypes in two different inflammatory mouse models of systemic and intestinal inflammation were observed. Overall, this novel gene therapy platform holds great potential as a refined therapeutic intervention for chronic inflammatory diseases.

Two new endosomolytic small compounds increase delivery of splice-switching oligonucleotides by interfering with their trafficking to the LAMP1-positive endosomal compartments, inducing endosomal membrane rupture and concurrent oligonucleotide escape into the cytosol.

The world is facing major issues related to antibiotic resistance, specific drugs targeting and its side effects. Such obstacles can be rectified by nanotechnology as they have essential characteristics with smaller size, target specificity, easy deliverable with lesser side effects. The prime nature of the nanoparticles are, it can probe into the cell wall of the pathogenic microbes and even have the capacity to intrude into cellular pathways. Nanoparticles themselves are capable of destroying unwanted foreign particles or toxic cells, which enter into our bodies. Nanoparticles can be treated as carriers, in which they combine with specific drugs and deliver to target specific cells with lesser side effects. Nanoparticles are used as a drug delivery agent for various kinds of diseases related to cancer. Nanoparticles with drugs increase the antibiotic release at the different target sites and these nanoparticles have a great tendency to deliver a large number of drugs to a cell. In this current review, we discuss the bright future of NPs as drug delivery agents as it can overcome all conventional problems.

In this work, calcium silicate nanophosphors (CaSiO3) doped with Sm 3 + ions were prepared at 9 0 0 ∘ C by a simple solution combustion synthesis technique. The particle size, functional groups and morphology of the prepared phosphors were identified by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The monoclinic phase of the nanophosphors was confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The effective excitation of the nanophosphors near the UV region and their yellow emission were confirmed by photoluminescence studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine groundwater’s suitability for irrigation and cattle rearing in Kuwait. In this regard, groundwater samples were collected from Umm Al Aish (UA) and adjoining Rawdhatain (RA) water wellfields to develop groundwater suitability maps for irrigation purposes using the fuzzy logic technique in ArcGIS. RA was dominated by Na-Cl, Na-Ca, and Ca-SO4 water types, whereas UA was dominated by the Ca-Mg water type. Due to the influence of the temperature and pCO2, the carbonates were inferred to be more susceptible to precipitation in the soil than the sulfates. The ternary plots for both regions revealed that the samples’ suitability ranged from good to unsuitable. Spatial maps of nine significant parameters governing the irrigation suitability of water were mapped and integrated using the fuzzy membership values for both regions. The final suitability map derived by overlaying all the considered parameters indicated that 8% of the RA region was categorized as excellent, while UA showed only 5%. Samples situated in the study areas showed an excellent to very satisfactory range for livestock consumption. Developing a monitoring system along with innovative water resource management systems is essential in maintaining the fertility of the soil and existing groundwater reserves.