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Abstract Background Globally, the utilisation of minimally invasive techniques has become increasingly prevalent. While traditional open-heart procedures still dominate the landscape, a significant portion of cardiac surgeries are now performed minimally invasively. The aim of this study is to provide an insightful overview of the current state of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in Africa. Main body A comprehensive database search was performed on PubMed, African Journal Online, Google Scholar, and Scopus to identify published data reporting on outcomes of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in Africa, from inception till June 2024. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines to undergo this study. The primary outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality and overall mortality. Data were pooled together and analysed using a random effect model for meta-analysis with R software. Out of a total of 2309 articles identified, only fourteen papers met our inclusion criteria following deduplication and screening. The four countries with published research include Egypt, South Africa, Tanzania, and Morocco, with a total sample size of 1357 patients. The meta-analysis of the reported outcomes produced a pooled in-hospital mortality prevalence of 1.18%, while the pooled overall mortality prevalence was 2.23%. There was no statistically significant difference in outcomes between the mini sternotomy and the full sternotomy group. Conclusion The pooled outcomes of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in Africa are comparable to those in other regions. However, there are several socio-economic factors limiting its widespread practice in Africa.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is a crucial receptor tyrosine kinase involved in essential biological processes, including growth, development, and tissue repair. However, FGFR gene mutations, including amplification, fusion, and mutation, can disrupt epigenetics, transcriptional regulation, and tumor microenvironment interactions, leading to cancer development. Targeting these kinase mutations with small molecule drugs or antibodies has shown clinical benefits. For example, erdafitinib is approved for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients with FGFR2/FGFR3 mutations, and pemigatinib is approved for treating cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion/rearrangement. Effective screening of FGFR variant patients is crucial for the clinical application of FGFR inhibitors. Various detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, are available, and their selection should be based on diagnostic and treatment decision-making needs. Our developed expert consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis and treatment process for FGFR gene mutations and facilitate the practical application of FGFR inhibitors in clinical practice.

Abstract Ferroptosis is a type of regulated cell death characterized by iron accumulation and uncontrolled lipid peroxidation, leading to plasma membrane rupture and intracellular content release. Originally investigated as a targeted therapy for cancer cells carrying oncogenic RAS mutations, ferroptosis induction now exhibits potential to complement chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy in various cancer types. However, it can lead to side effects, including immune cell death, bone marrow impairment, liver and kidney damage, cachexia (severe weight loss and muscle wasting), and secondary tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the advantages and offer an overview of the diverse range of documented side effects. Furthermore, we examine the underlying mechanisms and explore potential strategies for side effect mitigation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major public health problem with high rates of morbidity, disability and mortality, especially in the elderly population. This study explored the diagnosis and treatment status of AF in adults aged ≥65 years in the community through wearable dynamic electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 4 random communities within the Qingpu district of Shanghai, China. Between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2022, the ECGs of 3852 adults aged 65 years or older were examined through wearable dynamic ECG monitoring. Data from 3839 participants were ultimately analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of AF. Results: Wearable dynamic ECG monitoring detected AF in 360 elderly people, 78 of whom were diagnosed with AF for the first time. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that snoring, renal dysfunction, coronary heart disease and high CHA2DS2-VASc score were independent risk factors for AF. Among patients with unknown AF, 68 (87.20 %) met the criteria for anticoagulant therapy based on the CHA2DS2-VASc score. Only 4 (5.88 %) patients were taking anticoagulants. Of the patients with a clear history of AF, 249 (84.98 %) needed an anticoagulant strategy, but only 18 (7.23 %) took oral anticoagulants. Conclusion: Many elderly people have silent AF, and wearable dynamic ECG monitoring can be used to screen for AF effectively.

Background: Loiasis is an endemic filarial infection in the rainforest zone of West and Central Africa. Repeated annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) delivered for several years to control onchocerciasis has been shown to reduce the prevalence and intensity of Loiasis in some Loa loa-Onchocerca volvulus co-endemic areas. However, the impact of these multiple rounds of CDTI on entomological indicators of loiasis transmission is not known, and was therefore assessed in this study in areas with contrasting histories of CDTI. Methods: The study was conducted in the East, North-west and South-west 1 CDTI project sites of Cameroon. Two communities per CDTI project were selected for fly collection and dissection. Ivermectin treatment coverage was documented in these areas, and this was correlated to Chrysops infection and infective rates. A total of 7029 female Chrysops were collected from 6 communities of the 3 CDTI projects (East, North-west, and South-west 1) and from 2 communities in a non-CDTI district (East). Results: Chrysops biting densities and parous rates were significantly reduced in the North-west and South-west sites post-CDTI, while in the East, biting densities were similar in non-CDTI and CDTI sites, with higher parous rates observed in the non-CDTI site. Infection and infective rates in the East non-CDTI site were 4.4% and 1.8% respectively, as compared to 3.3% and 1.3% in the CDTI site after 10 ivermectin rounds (there were no baseline data for the latter). In the North-west site, significant reductions in Chrysops infection and infective rates from 10.2% and 4.2% respectively, to 3.5% and 1.2 (after 9 rounds of ivermectin treatment), were recorded following CDTI. In the South-west, infection rate significantly increased from 1.74% to 2.8% and infective rate remained statistically unchanged after 14 rounds of CDTI (0.45% - 0.40%). Similar trends in Mean Head L3 were observed except in the East site where this indicator was similar in both CDTI and control sites. Only in the North-west site did monthly transmission potentials decrease significantly. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the impact of repeated annual treatment with ivermectin for the control of onchocerciasis using community directed delivery approach on the entomological indicators of loiasis varies with bioecological zones. Community directed treatment with ivermectin induced a significant reduction in the entomological indicators of loiasis in the North-West project site which lies in forest savanna area. A non-significant decrease was observed in the East project site and in contrast, a significant increase was observed in the South-West 1 project site which both lies in the rainforest zones.

Background: Recent studies increasingly show the implication of medicinal plants in cancer management. Acmella caulirhiza, a plant belonging to the Asteraceae is traditionally used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent to fight against diseases like cancer. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the antitumoral properties of the aqueous extract of leaves and flowers of A. caulirhiza (AE-Ac). Methods: After phytochemical characterization, the cytotoxic activity of AE-Ac on MCF-7 breast cancer lines was carried out using the MTT method. For in vivo study, 36 female Wistar rats (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6 each) as follows: normal control receiving distilled water (NC), positive control receiving distilled water (DMBA), 3 test groups (receiving either 75, 150 or 300 mg/kg.Bw of AE-Ac (AE-Ac 75, AE-Ac 150 and AE-Ac 300 respectively)) and a reference group (Tam) receiving Tamoxifen at 3.3 mg/kg.Bw. They were fed with a high-fat diet daily. After 2 weeks all groups except the NC group were treated with a single dose of DMBA (7,12-Dimethylbenz (a) anthracene) (50 mg/kg. Bw) by intraperitoneal injection. Daily treatments were administered by intragastric intubation for 12 weeks. At the end, animals were sacrificed after 12 h of fasting and blood was collected for biochemical analysis. The mammary glands were isolated for histological analysis. Results: AE-Ac contains bioactive compounds amongst which stigmasterol, phytol, ellagic acid, phenol, sterols, alkaloids, flavonoids. AE-Ac was more active at 72 h (IC50 = 114.86 µg/mL) on MCF-7 cells. The cancer-treated groups exhibited the lowest percentage of weight gain variation, particularly the group receiving the reference molecule (Tamoxifen) (68.12 %) followed by the AE-Ac 150 group (92.45 %). AE-Ac at 150 and 300 mg/kg-Bw significantly reduced tumor volume and CA 15-3 levels (p = 0.004). Histological analysis of the mammary gland revealed more extensive ascini destruction in the AE-Ac 75 group followed by the DMBA group. Treatment with the 150 mg/kg.Bw ameliorated antioxidant enzyme (SOD and Catalase (p < 0.001)) activities, pro-oxidant levels (NO● and HO●), as well as inflammatory parameters (TNF-α and EGF; RBC, Hb, PLT) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that AE-Ac can be a good candidate as a complementary agent in breast cancer management.

Infrared object detection holds significant importance in automatic target search and tracking system under complex background. The conventional structural tensor models have not harnessed the full potential of spatio-temporal domain information in sequence scenes, and the strong edge contours in the image often lead to false alarms. In order to tackle this problem, we propose an improved twist tensor model based on the optimization of background constraints. Firstly, we propose a diffusion function according to the gradient difference between the target and backgrounds, which preserves the target signal to a great extent. Secondly, the spatio-temporal information of the sequence images is used to construct the twist tensor objective constraint optimization function, and the improved twist tensor effectively distinguishes the sparse components of the target and the low-rank components of the background. Finally, the optimized model is solved using ADMM to obtain the final target signal. Eight sequence images and nine comparison methods are performed for experimental validation, after improvement, the mean SSIM value reaches 0.9921, the mean BSF value attains 126.1710, and the detection rate also surpasses 85%, experiment results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively suppress the complex background while retaining the target well.

The fusion genes NRG1 and NRG2, members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family, have emerged as key drivers in cancer. Upon fusion, NRG1 retains its EGF-like active domain, binds to the ERBB ligand family, and triggers intracellular signaling cascades, promoting uncontrolled cell proliferation. The incidence of NRG1 gene fusion varies across cancer types, with lung cancer being the most prevalent at 0.19 to 0.27%. CD74 and SLC3A2 are the most frequently observed fusion partners. RNA-based next-generation sequencing is the primary method for detecting NRG1 and NRG2 gene fusions, whereas pERBB3 immunohistochemistry can serve as a rapid prescreening tool for identifying NRG1-positive patients. Currently, there are no approved targeted drugs for NRG1 and NRG2. Common treatment approaches involve pan-ERBB inhibitors, small molecule inhibitors targeting ERBB2 or ERBB3, and monoclonal antibodies. Given the current landscape of NRG1 and NRG2 in solid tumors, a consensus among diagnostic and treatment experts is proposed, and clinical trials hold promise for benefiting more patients with NRG1 and NRG2 gene fusion solid tumors.

In response to the issue that the fusion process of infrared and visible images is easily affected by lighting factors, in this paper, we propose an adaptive illumination perception fusion mechanism, which was integrated into an infrared and visible image fusion network. Spatial attention mechanisms were applied to both infrared images and visible images for feature extraction. Deep convolutional neural networks were utilized for further feature information extraction. The adaptive illumination perception fusion mechanism is then integrated into the image reconstruction process to reduce the impact of lighting variations in the fused images. A Median Strengthening Channel and Spatial Attention Module (MSCS) was designed to be integrated into the backbone of YOLOv8. In this paper, we used the fusion network to create a dataset named ivifdata for training the target recognition network. The experimental results indicated that the improved YOLOv8 network saw further enhancements of 2.3%, 1.4%, and 8.2% in the Recall, mAP50, and mAP50-95 metrics, respectively. The experiments revealed that the improved YOLOv8 network has advantages in terms of recognition rate and completeness, while also reducing the rates of false negatives and false positives.

IntroductionMouse models of human filarial infections are not only urgently needed to investigate the biology of the nematodes and their modulation of the host’s immunity, but will also provide a platform to screen and test novel anti-filarial drugs. Recently, murine Loa loa infection models have been stablished using immunocompromised mouse strains, whereas murine Mansonella perstans infections have not been implemented until now.MethodsTherefore, we aim to establish experimental M. perstans infections using the immunocompromised mouse strains RAG2IL-2Rγ-/- (lack B, T and natural killer cells), IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- (impaired IL-4/5 signalling and eosinophil activation) and NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wj l/SzJ (NOD scid gamma, NSG) BALB/c mice (lack mature lymphocytes) through subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation of infective stage 3 larvae (L3) isolated from engorged vectors.ResultsIn total, 145 immunocompromised mice have been inoculated with 3,250 M. perstans, 3,337 O. volvulus, and 2,720 Loa loa L3 to comparatively analyse which immunocompromised mouse strain is susceptible to human filarial infections. Whereas, no M. perstans and O. volvulus L3 could be recovered upon 2-63 days post-inoculation, a 62-66% Loa loa L3 recovery rate could be achieved in the different mouse strains. Gender of mice, type of inoculation (s.c. or i.p.) or time point of analysis (2-63 days post inoculation) did not interfere with the success of L3 recovery. In addition, administration of the immune suppressants hydrocortisone, prednisolone and cyclophosphamide did not restore M. perstans L3 recovery rates.DiscussionThese findings show that RAG2IL-2Rg-/-BALB/c and C57BL/6, IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- BALB/c and NSG mice were not susceptible to M. perstans and O. volvulus L3 inoculation using the applied methods, whereas Loa loa infection could be maintained. Further studies should investigate if humanized immunocompromised mice might be susceptible to M. perstans. and O. volvulus.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of rapid initial screening using HBsAg and syphilis reagents of immunochromatography technology before blood donation, and explore the influencing factors. Methods The pre-donation screening of HBsAg and anti-TP and post-donation blood test results of blood donors in Yangzhou region from January 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The HBsAg and anti-TP reactive samples by ELISA from January to June 2023 were, retested using colloidal gold immunochromatographic reagents, and the results were compared and analyzed. Results A total of 200 414 blood donors were screened, among which 781 were HBsAg and anti-TP positive, accounting for 0.39%. A total of 191 717 blood donors successfully donated blood, and 986 were HBsAg and anti-TP positive by ELISA, accounting for 0.51%. 62 HBsAg and 61 anti-TP reactive samples were retested using the initial screening reagent, with 24 HBsAg reactive samples and 26 anti-TP reactive samples, accounting for 38.71% and 42.62% respectively. 14 HBsAg and 6 anti-TP gray area samples were retested, but no reactivity was found.The reactivity rates of 9 samples with HBsAg detection S/CO values greater than 25.0 and 10 samples with anti-TP detection S/CO values greater than 15.0 were all 100%.There was a negative correlation between the reaction intensity (S/CO value) of reactive samples and interpretation time of initial screening reaction. Conclusion The rapid primary screening of hepatitis B and syphilis with immunochromatography technology among blood donors can effectively improve the quality of blood and the qualification rate of blood after collection. Through targeted training of primary screening staff, the quality of primary screening can be further improved, the rate of missed detection can be reduced, and costs can be saved, thus reducing the risk of transfusion transmitted infection and ensuring the health of blood donors.

Background: The nutritional transition observed worldwilde is linked to cardiovascular diseases. This study assessed the level of nutritional transition and its implications in the occurrence of cardiometabolic risk factors among populations living in the Far North Region of Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted during November 2020 recruiting 350 Cameroonians of both genders aged 18 years and above in urban (Maroua), semi-urban (Kaélé) and rural (Midjivin) areas. Demographic, socioeconomic status and food habits were assessed through an interview. Anthropometric (weight, height, body mass index: BMI) and blood pressure were measured. A fasting blood sample was collected for lipid profile. Results: Mean age was higher in Kaele (44.99±16.55 years) and Midjivin (47.23±18.21 years). Urban residents of Maroua (23.38±4.80 kg/m2) and Kaele (23.13±5.01 kg/m2) had the highest BMI. Rural dwellers exhibited elevated cholesterol (220.30±70.40 mg/dL) and triglycerides (120.52±62.64 mg/dL). Diastolic blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly with urbanization. Low fruit and vegetable consumption, high alcohol intake, and low physical activity were observed in all three areas. An increased frequency of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were noticed in all participants. Midjivin inhabitants showed behavioral changes closer to those in Maroua, while those of Kaele had a slower rate of nutritional transition. Conclusion: People living in rural, semi-urban, and urban areas have stated the nutrition transition process in this part of the country. Thus nutritional education needs to be reinforced for a better prevention of nutritional-related morbitidies and mortalities drived by urbanization.

The constitutive model and modulus parameter equivalence of shape memory alloy composites (SMAC) serve as the foundation for the structural dynamic modeling of composite materials, which has a direct impact on the dynamic characteristics and modeling accuracy of SMAC. This article proposes a homogenization method for SMA composites considering interfacial phases, models the interface stress transfer of three-phase cylinders physically, and derives the axial and shear stresses of SMA fiber phase, interfacial phase, and matrix phase mathematically. The homogenization method and stress expression were then used to determine the macroscopic effective modulus of SMAC as well as the stress characteristics of the fiber phase and interface phase of SMA. The findings demonstrate the significance of volume fraction and tensile pre-strain in stress transfer between the fiber phase and interface phase at high temperatures. The maximum axial stress in the fiber phase is 705.05 MPa when the SMA is fully austenitic and the pre-strain increases to 5%. At 10% volume fraction of SMA, the fiber phase's maximum axial stress can reach 1000 MPa. Ultimately, an experimental verification of the theoretical calculation method's accuracy for the effective modulus of SMAC lays the groundwork for the dynamic modeling of SMAC structures.

The increasing prevalence of cancers and the multiple side effects of cancer treatments have led researchers to constantly search for plants containing bioactive compounds with cell death properties. This work aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative effect of an Acmella caulirhiza extract. After evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant potential of the three extracts of Acmella caulirhiza (aqueous (AE-Ac), hydroethanolic (HEE-Ac), and ethanolic (EE-Ac)) through the scavenging of DPPH● and NO● radicals, the extract with the best antioxidant activity was selected for bioactive compound assessment and antiproliferative tests. Subsequently, the cytotoxic activity was evaluated on the viability of breast (MCF-7), brain (CT2A, SB-28, and GL-261), colon (MC-38), and skin (YUMM 1.7 and B16-F1) cancer lines using the MTT method. Then, the line where the extract was the most active was selected to evaluate the expression of certain genes involved in cancerogenesis by RT-PCR and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 involved in cell death mechanism by western blot. The AE-Ac showed the best scavenging activity with IC50s of 0.52 and 0.02 for DPPH● and NO●, respectively. This AE-Ac was found to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins and was more active on YUMM 1.7 cells (IC50 = 149.42 and 31.99 μg/mL for 24 and 48 h, respectively). Results also showed that AE-Ac downregulated the expression of inflammation (IL-1b p=0.017 and IL-6 p=0.028), growth factors (PDGF p=0.039, IGF p=0.034, E2F1p=0.038, and E2F2p=0.016), and antiapoptotic protein genes (Bcl-2 p=0.028 and Bcl-6 p=0.039). The cleaved caspase-3 was positively modulated by the AE-Ac inducing thus cell death by apoptosis. AE-Ac showed inhibitory effects on the expression of genes involved in cancer progression making it a potential health intervention agent that can be exploited in cancer therapy protocols.

Biting midges belonging to the genus Culicoides are tiny stout-shaped hematophagous insects and are thought to transmit the filarial nematode Mansonella perstans. Little is known about the Culicoides fauna in the rain forest belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. This study was designed to investigate the diversity, abundance and distribution of Culicoides spp. and their role as the purported vector(s) of M. perstans. Overnight light trap collections and human landing catches (HLCs) revealed eight species of Culicoides with C. grahamii being the most abundant species followed by C. milnei. Four anthropophilic species (C. inornatipennis, C. grahamii, C. fulvithorax and C. milnei) were determined by the HLCs with a higher abundance in the 4–6 p.m. collections. The drop trap technique and Mp419 LAMP assay confirmed C. milnei to be the most efficient vector in enabling the development of the microfilarial stage to the infective larval form of M. perstans. The LAMP assay also revealed that natural transmission of this nematode is fostered by C. milnei and C. grahamii in the wild. In conclusion, C. milnei was shown to be the main vector of M. perstans in the rain forest belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Abstract Background Despite decades of community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), onchocerciasis transmission persists in Cameroon and has been associated with increased risk for epilepsy in endemic communities. We investigated the onchocerciasis situation in the Ntui Health District (a known onchocerciasis focus in Cameroon where the Sanaga River constitutes the main source of black fly vectors) using parasitological, entomological and serological parameters. Methods In July 2021, community-based surveys were conducted in four villages (Essougli, Nachtigal, Ndjame and Ndowe). Onchocerciasis was diagnosed via microscopic examination of skin snips. Using rapid diagnostic tests, we screened children aged 3–6 years for Ov16 antibodies as a proxy for recent onchocerciasis transmission. Monthly black fly biting rates were obtained from the two riverside villages (Nachtigal and Essougli) for 12 consecutive months (July 2021 to June 2022) using the human landing catch technique. Some black flies were dissected each month to check for infection. Results Overall, 460 participants were recruited; mean age was 32.1 (range: 3–85) years with 248 (53.9%) being males. Among skin snipped participants (n = 425), onchocerciasis prevalence was 14.6%. Participants with epilepsy (n = 25) were more often skin snip positive (45.8% vs 12.7%; P

Abstract Gene fusions can drive tumor development for multiple types of cancer. Currently, many drugs targeting gene fusions are being approved for clinical application. At present, tyrosine receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors targeting neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are among the first “tumor agnostic” drugs approved for pan‐cancer use. Representative TRK inhibitors, including larotrectinib and entrectinib, have shown high efficacy for many types of cancer. At the same time, several second‐generation drugs designed to overcome first‐generation drug resistance are undergoing clinical development. Due to the rarity of NTRK gene fusions in common cancer types and technical issues regarding the complexity of fusion patterns, effectively screening patients for TRK inhibitor treatment in routine clinical practice is challenging. Different detection methods including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, and (DNA and/or RNA‐based) next‐generation sequencing have pros and cons. As such, recommending suitable tests for individual patients and ensuring the quality of tests is essential. Moreover, at present, there is a lack of systematic review for the clinical efficacy and development status of first‐ and second‐generation TRK inhibitors. To resolve the above issues, our expert group has reached a consensus regarding the diagnosis and treatment of NTRK gene fusion solid tumors, aiming to standardize clinical practice with the goal of benefiting patients with NTRK gene fusions treated with TRK inhibitors.

Energy management strategies with prediction message show great potential in optimizing control objectives for fuel cell hybrid vehicles. This paper presents a novelty model-predictive-control based energy management framework for fuel cell commercial vehicle, in which the vehicle mass is firstly introduced as a variable parameter for controller. A vehicle mass identification model is established and embed in the framework based on recursive least square algorithm, and the influence of variable algorithm parameters on estimator is evaluated. Then the effects of mass varying on vehicle performance is talked about in detail. In addition, the performance for different drive cycles on different loaded is also given. The simulation results show that the fuel consumption is positively correlated with the mass identification error, and the designed controller can reduce the additional fuel consumption to around 0.1%, which is much batter to the deterministic parameters scheme. Finally, the shortcomings of the designed controller are given. This paper provides a reliable theoretical basis to address varying-mass vehicle energy management problems.

The subgenus Tatsipolia Benedek, Behounek, Floriani & Saldaitis, 2011 of the genus Dasypolia Guenée, 1852 is reviewed. Two new species, D. (T.) sejilaensis sp. nov. and D. (T.) cerritula sp. nov. are described from the Linzhi (Nyingchi) Prefecture in southern Xizang, China. The adults and the male and female genitalia of all species in the subgenus are illustrated. Additionally, Dasypolia (Auropolia) carlotta Floriani, Benedek, Behounek & Saldaitis, 2011 is reported from Xizang for the first time.

Abstract Aims Right ventricular pacing (RVP) dependence could impair left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study aimed to illuminate the relationship between RVP proportion and LVEF, as well as disclosing independent predictors of RVP dependence. Methods and results Patients indicated for permanent pacemaker implantation were included (2016–2020). The ventricular pacing lead was placed in right ventricular apex or septum. Pacing mode programming followed universal standard. Electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and serological parameters were collected. RVP dependence was defined according to its influence on LVEF. This study was of case–control design. Included patients were matched by potentially confounding factors through propensity score matching. A total of 1183 patients were included, and the mean duration of follow‐up was 24 months. Percentage of RVP 120 ms (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.42–4.27), QTc interval > 470 ms (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.33–3.05), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) > 40 mmHg (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.46–2.56) were proved to predict RVP dependence. Conclusions High RVP percentage (>80%) indicating RVP dependence significantly correlates with poor prognosis of cardiac function. High degree/complete AVB, AF, ischaemic aetiology, PCI history, HRmax 120 ms, QTc interval > 470 ms, and PASP > 40 mmHg were verified as independent risk factors of RVP dependence.

Forward collision warning (FCW) is a critical technology to improve road safety and reduce traffic accidents. However, the existing multi-sensor fusion methods for FCW suffer from a high false alarm rate and missed alarm rate in complex weather and road environments. For these issues, this paper proposes a decision-level fusion collision warning strategy. The vision algorithm and radar tracking algorithm are improved in order to reduce the false alarm rate and omission rate of forward collision warning. Firstly, this paper proposes an information entropy-based memory index for an adaptive Kalman filter for radar target tracking that can adaptively adjust the noise model in a variety of complex environments. Then, for visual detection, the YOLOv5s model is enhanced in conjunction with the SKBAM (Selective Kernel and Bottleneck Attention Mechanism) designed in this paper to improve the accuracy of vehicle target detection. Finally, a decision-level fusion warning fusion strategy for millimeter-wave radar and vision fusion is proposed. The strategy effectively fuses the detection results of radar and vision and employs a minimum safe distance model to determine the potential danger ahead. Experiments are conducted under various weather and road conditions, and the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm reduces the false alarm rate by 11.619% and the missed alarm rate by 15.672% compared with the traditional algorithm.

Abstract Background Onchocerciasis control using ivermectin alone has been achieved in some endemic savannah zones of Africa. In the forest regions, the co-endemicity with Loa loa has led to severe adverse events (SAEs) resulting in poor adherence of community members to ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA). This may jeopardize achieving the interruption of transmission of onchocerciasis. Therefore, to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis in L. loa co-endemic zones, alternative treatment strategies (ATS) including ground larviciding may be necessary. This study aimed at identifying Simulium breeding sites, cytospecies, transmission profile, susceptibility of Simulium larvae to insecticide (temephos) and identification of some non-target aquatic fauna prior to the implementation of the COUNTDOWN consortium ground larviciding alternative strategy in the Meme River Basin in South West Cameroon. Methods A topographic map and entomological survey were used to determine breeding sites. Larvae and adults were identified using standard identification keys. Susceptibility tests were carried out on collected larvae by exposing them to decreasing concentrations of temephos and assessing survival rates while the cytospecies were identified using cytotaxonomy. Various entomological indicators were assessed from dissected flies. Fishing was used as proxy to traps to assess some aquatic fauna at different sites. Results Twenty-two breeding sites were prospected in the Meme River Basin with eight productive for larvae. A concentration of 0.5–0.1 mg/l temephos induced 100% larval mortality. As the concentration of temephos decreased from 0.05 to 0.0025 mg/l, mortality of larvae also decreased from 98.7 to 12%. Nine cytospecies were observed in the Meme River Basin; 13,633 flies were collected and 4033 dissected. A total of 1455 flies were parous (36.1%), 224 flies were infected (5.5%), and 64 were infective (1.6%). Aquatic fauna observed included Cyprinus spp., Clarias spp., crabs, tadpoles, beetles and larvae of damsel fly. Conclusions Onchocerciasis is being actively transmitted within the Meme River Basin. Simulium larvae are susceptible to temephos, and nine cytospecies are present. Non-target fauna observed included fishes, frogs, crabs and insects. Besides treatment with ivermectin, vector control through ground larviciding may be a complementary strategy to accelerate onchocerciasis elimination in the study area. Graphical Abstract

Objective To investigate the immune status of blood donors in Yangzhou area after SARS-COV-2 vaccinating. Methods Among 112 voluntary blood donors from August 29 to September 22, 2021, 111 were vaccinated with SARS-COV-2 vaccine.IgM antibody(by enzyme-linked immunocapture method), IgG antibody(by indirect method of combined immunoassay)and IgG antibody titer were detected. Results A total of 99.11% (111/112 ) voluntary blood donors were vaccinated, two-shot(n=103), one-shot(n=1) and three-shot (n=7) accounting for 91.96%, 0.89% and 6.25%, respectively.Eighty-eight (78.57%) were positive for IgG antibodies, and 14 (12.5%) were positive for IgM antibodies.No statistically significant difference was found in IgG and IgM positive yielding between males and females (P>0.05). The proportion (0.89%, 1/112) of positive IgM in blood donors with blood type A was significantly lower than that of other blood types (P

Abstract Uncertain characteristics along with unknown exterior disturbances are fundamental issues in the path‐following control of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs). Here, a novel robust non‐singular terminal sliding mode (NTSM) control method based on a recurrent neural network (RNN) structure is proposed to enhance the path‐following performance of AGVs. First, based on the dynamic model and path‐following model of AGVs, the robust NTSM steering controller is proposed to ensure that the lateral offset converges to zero within a limited time, and concurrently suppresses the chattering phenomenon that occurs in the regular sliding mode control (SMC) strategy. Then, the RNN is applied to approximate the unknown dynamics section of the system online. With an implied feedback loop, its study ability precedes the regular neural network to catch up with the dynamic response. In addition, the adaptive learning algorithms of the parameters in the RNN are derived using the Lyapunov stability theorem and Taylor linearisation technique to ensure the stability of the closed‐loop system. Finally, the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed control approach against parametric uncertainties and unknown external disturbances are verified in the Simulink‐CarSim simulation platform by comparison with selected reported control methods.

Abstract Background Nucleolin (NCL, C23) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein that plays a vital role in modulating the survival, proliferationand apoptosis of cancer cells. However, the effects of NCL on cervical cancer and the underlying mechanisms behind this are poorly understood. Methods Lentiviral transfection technology was used to construct NCL knockdown cell lines. MTT, colony formation assays, and tumorigenic assays in vivo were performed to observe cell proliferation. HOECHST 33342 staining, flow cytometry, and caspase activity assay were used to test cell apoptosis. RNA‐Seq, Western blotting, and RT‐PCR were conducted to investigate the specific molecular mechanism. Results NCL knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistic studies revealed that NCL knockdown inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating FGF, ITGA, TNXB, VEGF, Caspase 3, and Bax, as well as by downregulating AKT, GNB4, CDK6, IL6R, LAMA, PDGFD, PPP2RSA and BCL‐2. In addition, the expression levels of apoptosis‐related genes after using a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 were consistent with shRNA studies, while treatment with a 740Y‐P agonist showed the opposite effect. Conclusions Our findings indicate that downregulation of NCL may be a novel treatment strategy forcervical cancer.

The initiation of atherosclerotic plaque is characterized by endothelial cell inflammation. In light of gasdermin E’s (GSDME) role in pyroptosis and inflammation, this study elucidates its function in atherosclerosis onset. Employing Gsdme- and apolipoprotein E-deficient (Gsdme−/−/ApoE−/−) and ApoE−/− mice, an atherosclerosis model was created on a Western diet (WD). In vitro examinations with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) included oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) exposure. To explore the downstream mechanisms linked to GSDME, we utilized an agonist targeting the stimulator of the interferon genes (STING) pathway. The results showed significant GSDME activation in ApoE−/− mice arterial tissues, corresponding with atherogenesis. Gsdme−/−/ApoE−/− mice displayed fewer plaques and decreased vascular inflammation. Meanwhile, GSDME’s presence was confirmed in endothelial cells. GSDME inhibition reduced the endothelial inflammation induced by ox-LDL. GSDME was linked to mitochondrial damage in endothelial cells, leading to an increase in cytoplasmic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Notably, STING activation partially offset the effects of GSDME inhibition in both in vivo and in vitro settings. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of GSDME in endothelial cells during atherogenesis and vascular inflammation, highlighting its influence on mitochondrial damage and the STING pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for vascular pathologies.

Abstract Epigenetic mechanisms play vital roles not only in cancer initiation and progression, but also in the activation, differentiation and effector function(s) of immune cells. In this review, we summarize current literature related to epigenomic dynamics in immune cells impacting immune cell fate and functionality, and the immunogenicity of cancer cells. Some important immune-associated genes, such as granzyme B, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, FoxP3 and STING, are regulated via epigenetic mechanisms in immune or/and cancer cells, as are immune checkpoint molecules (PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, LAG-3, TIGIT) expressed by immune cells and tumor-associated stromal cells. Thus, therapeutic strategies implementing epigenetic modulating drugs are expected to significantly impact the tumor microenvironment (TME) by promoting transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming in local immune cell populations, resulting in inhibition of immunosuppressive cells (MDSCs and Treg) and the activation of anti-tumor T effector cells, professional antigen presenting cells (APC), as well as cancer cells which can serve as non-professional APC. In the latter instance, epigenetic modulating agents may coordinately promote tumor immunogenicity by inducing de novo expression of transcriptionally repressed tumor-associated antigens, increasing expression of neoantigens and MHC processing/presentation machinery, and activating tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD). ICD provides a rich source of immunogens for anti-tumor T cell cross-priming and sensitizing cancer cells to interventional immunotherapy. In this way, epigenetic modulators may be envisioned as effective components in combination immunotherapy approaches capable of mediating superior therapeutic efficacy.

Abstract Background It is well established that body mass index (BMI) and troponins are independently associated. However, whether the obesity could cause myocardial injury independent of coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unclear. This study focuses on the relationship between BMI and troponins, and whether this relationship is being attenuated when CHD is accounted for. Methods In populations without acute ischemic events, 383 patients with coronary artery stenosis less than 75% were included, that is, people who have not yet reached the indications for coronary intervention, and of them 70 patients being obese according to BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2. Continuous variables were represented as mean ± SD or median(inter quartile range[IQR]). Chi-square test was adopted for categorical data. Correlations between variables were evaluated by Spearman analysis, multiple regression or logistic regression. Results The circulating hs-cTnT level was higher in the obese group [8(6,11) ng/L vs. 6(4,9) ng/L; p

Abstract Background The onchocerciasis focus surrounding the lower Mbam and Sanaga rivers, where Onchocerca volvulus is transmitted by Simulium damnosum s.l. (Diptera: Simuliidae), was historically the largest in the southern regions of Cameroon. Annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) has been taking place since 2000, but recent studies have shown that new infections are occurring in children. We aimed to investigate blackfly biting and O. volvulus transmission rates along the lower Mbam river 16 years after the formal onset of annual CDTI. Methods Black flies were collected for three consecutive days each month between July 2016 and June 2017 at two riverside villages and two inland sites situated 4.9 km and 7.9 km from the riverside. Specimens collected at each site were dissected on one of the three collection days each month to estimate parity rates and O. volvulus infection rates, while the remaining samples were preserved for pool screening. Results In total, 93,573 S. damnosum s.l. black flies were recorded biting humans and 9281 were dissected. Annual biting rates of up to 606,370 were estimated at the riverside, decreasing to 20,540 at 7.9 km, while, based on dissections, annual transmission potentials of up to 4488 were estimated at the riverside, decreasing to 102 and 0 at 4.9 km and 7.9 km, respectively. However, pool screening showed evidence of infection in black flies at the furthest distance from the river. Results of both methods demonstrated the percentage of infective flies to be relatively low (0.10–0.36%), but above the WHO threshold for interruption of transmission. In addition, a small number of larvae collected during the dry season revealed the presence of Simulium squamosum E. This is the first time S. squamosum E has been found east of Lake Volta in Ghana, but our material was chromosomally distinctive, and we call it S. squamosum E2. Conclusions Relatively low O. volvulus infection rates appear to be offset by extremely high densities of biting black flies which are sustaining transmission along the banks of the lower Mbam river. Graphical Abstract

The objective of this study was to classify and suggest an adequate definition of the metabolically normal phenotype among Cameroonians with obesity in the western Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the West Cameroon Region from August 2016 to August 2017. A total of 324 subjects with BMI >27 kg/m2, aged of 20 years and older, and not treated for cardiometabolic diseases were included in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical parameters of the subjects were collected. Four definitions of metabolic status were tested to suggest the definition that best identifies the subjects with obesity but metabolically normal phenotype (MNO) in the study. The prevalence of the MNO phenotype varied from 2.50% to 29.60% according to the definitions used. According to the individual definitions, the prevalence of the MNO phenotype was 29.60% according to Hinnouho, 16.00% according to Mbanya, 7.40% according to Meigs and 2.50% according to Widman. Markers of inflammatory profile (high sensitivity C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), carbohydrate homeostasis (fasting glucose and homeostasis model assessment), markers of lipid profile (total cholesterol and triglyceride), systolic blood pressure, nitric oxide, adiposity indices (Waist circumference and waist to hip ratio) were significantly lower in MNO subjects for the majority of definitions (p < 0.05). The modified Hinnouho definition showed better specificity (60.90%) and sensitivity (12.10%) for an area under the ROC curve of 0.98. The degree of agreement was low between the different pairs of definition of the MNO phenotype (Kappa< 0.61). There is poor agreement between the different definitions of the MNO phenotype among Cameroonians with obesity. Therefore, the adoption of a universal definition of MNO phenotype should be proposed to facilitate the management of metabolic health in people with obesity.

A new species of the genus Bombyciella Draudt, 1950, Bombyciella linzhiensis sp. nov., is described from the Linzhi (Nyingchi) Prefecture in southern Xizang (China), following a diagnostic comparison with B. talpa Draudt, 1950 and B. antra Saldaitis, Benedek, Behounek & Stüning, 2014. The adults and the male genitalia of the new and related species are illustrated.

Objective: This work evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of pulp extracts of B. toxisperma fruits in rats. Methods: The regulatory ability of the extract on the secretory capacity of pancreatic beta cells (oral glucose tolerance test), and digestion and/or absorption of carbohydrates (starch and sucrose) were evaluated on normal Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by intravenous administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), and the animals were treated by the administration of a single daily dose of 400 mg/kg BW of extract. The effect of the extract on blood glucose levels of diabetic rats was monitored 30 min, 2 h, and 5 h after administration, and on the 7th and 14th days of treatment. After 2 weeks of treatment, the rats were sacrificed, liver was preserved for the determination of glycogen content. The serum was prepared and markers for nephro and hepatotoxicity were assessed, as well as cardiovascular risk. Results: The hydroethanolic extract of B. toxisperma fruits significantly reduced glucose concentrations after administration of starch and sucrose in normoglycemic rats by limiting the glycemic peak (increasing of 19.67% vs 27.88% for positive control and 35.96% vs 43.97% for positive control, for starch and sucrose respectively). No effect was observed after glucose administration. B. toxisperma fruits significantly decreased glucose levels by 14.5% and 54.23% respectively 30 min after administration and 7th days of treatment respectively. The extract decreased plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats; it also decreased the cardiovascular risk through the reduction of Cardiac Risk Ratio, Atherogenic Coefficient, and non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol. The extract also promoted renal function but not structural integrity of the liver. Conclusions: This study suggests that the hydroethanolic pulp extracts of B. toxisperma fruits are good antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties agents and could be a potential source of compounds for diabetes management.

Background: Podoconiosis and leprosy are Neglected Tropical Diseases associated with low quality of life, social stigma and isolation of affected people and families. Despite the substantial social burden it imposes, podoconiosis has largely been ignored in the global health literature until recently unlike leprosy. This study assessed and compared the quality of life and social impact of podoconiosis with that of leprosy among affected households and neighborhoods in North West Cameroon. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional design was used. Eighty-six households: 43 podoconiosis and 43 leprosy, plus household neighbours were enrolled from July and August 2015 from three health districts. Podoconiosis patients living in households within Batibo and Ndop health districts were sequentially sampled using a list of confirmed podoconioisis cases from previous studies. Leprosy patients living within communities in Mejang Health Area were sequentially sampled using the Mbingo treatment center register. WHO BREF tool was used to assess quality of life. Franklin Stigma Scale was adapted to assess felt and enacted stigma. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences in stigma and QoL. Results: Physical domain showed a significant difference in the distribution in quality of life between groups (p

Active control of structural modal vibration is an effective strategy to enhance the sound quality of cabs in commercial vehicles. However, accurate determination of the positioning and quantity of modal active control sensors and actuators is crucial for cabs with intricate structures, owing to the presence of multiorder modes and their coupling. The study presented herein focuses on the cab of a commercial vehicle and contemplates the features of the irregular large-space structure of the cab. By capitalizing on the modal frequency and mode shape of the cab, utilizing the piezoelectric control principle and modal vibration energy as the assessment index, an advanced multimode composite control criterion is postulated to ascertain the configuration of primary sensors and actuators. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) objective function is constructed to accomplish the optimal position matching of the actuator/sensor, using the multimodal surface velocity vector of the vibration sensor as the core parameter. Furthermore, an improved linear adaptive particle swarm optimization (LA-PSO) technique is advanced to satisfy the requirements of optimal convergence performance and accuracy of the complex cab structure. The optimization culminates in a 9 × 9 multichannel active control scheme for determining the optimal position of the actuators/sensors. This investigation provides a technical foundation for the active control of sound quality in automotive cabs and presents an innovative method for implementing effective noise control systems in large-scale machinery and equipment.

Orthogonal antisymmetric composite laminates embedded with shape memory alloys (SMAs) wires have the potential to improve the sound quality of vibro-acoustics by taking advantage of the special superelasticity, temperature phase transition, and pre-strain characteristics of SMAs. In this research, space discretion and mode decoupling were employed to establish a vibro-acoustic sound quality model of SMA composite laminates. The association between the structural material parameters of SMA composite laminates and the sound quality index is then approached through methodologies. Numerical analysis was implemented to discuss the effects of SMA tensile pre-strain, SMA volume fraction, and the ratio of resin-to-graphite in the matrix on the vibro-acoustic sound quality of SMA composite laminates within a temperature environment. Subsequently, the sound quality test for SMA composite laminates is thus completed. The theoretically predicted value appears to agree well with the experimental outcomes, which validates the accuracy and applicability of the dynamic modeling theory and method for the sound quality of SMA composite laminates. The results indicate that attempting to alter the SMA tensile pre-strain, SMA volume fraction, and matrix material ratio can be used to modify loudness, sharpness, and roughness, which provides new ideas and a theoretical foundation for the design of composite laminates with decent sound quality.

The speed of a hybrid electric vehicle is a critical factor that affects its energy management performance. In this study, we focus on the importance of solving the problem of inaccurate speed prediction in the energy management strategy (EMS) and application of dynamic programming (DP) needs to know the entire driving cycle. A gated recurrent unit neural network (GRU-NN) speed predictive model based on machine learning is developed by using the model predictive control (MPC) framework and solved in the prediction domain by employing DP. The neural network is trained on the training set, which is a collection of standard driving cycles. The results are compared with other two types of speed predictive models to verify the effects of different parameters of different speed predictive models on the state of charge and fuel consumption under Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule driving cycle. Simulation shows that MPC based on the GRU-NN speed predictive model can effectively improve the fuel economy of hybrid electric vehicles, with a 94.14% fuel economy, which proves its application potential. Finally, the GRU-NN speed predictive model is applied under the Real-World Driving Cycle, whose fuel consumption has a fuel economy of 91.95% compared with that of the original rule-based EMS.

Negative ions powders (NIP) have been widely applied in many fields because of their natural electric field and far infrared radiation, especially in wastewater treatment. In this study, the NIP was first introduced into Fe3O4/H2O2 system to degrade methylene blue (MB). The MB removal was completely achieved at 5 h via a non-photochemical pathway and the degradation rate constant of this system is about 0.565 h−1, which is about 16 times higher than in Fe3O4/H2O2 Fenton-like system (0.035 h−1). In addition, the results of quenching experiments indicate that the electron (e−) and negative oxygen ion (•O2−) are the main reactive species. It was determined that Fe3O4@NIP is the effective component that leads to the activation of H2O2 to produce •OH, which derive from the pathway: NIP acts as an electron donor to reduce Fe(III) into Fe(II). Moreover, NIP can produce negative ions, which is also conductive to degradation. This study suggests a promising direction for the practical application of NIP based catalysis by integrating it with the Fe(III)/Fe(II) transformation process. HIGHLIGHTS The FTIR, XRD, and XPS spectra indicate that the chemical properties of NIP change after the precipitation-hydrothermal process.; The SEM revealed that Fe3O4 was uniformly dispersed in the composite.; The catalytic activity performance of the Fenton-like system was investigated to remove MB.;