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Background: The continuum of maternal health care ensures consistency in the delivery of care from pregnancy to the postnatal period. It recommends a minimum of 4 antenatal visits, skilled birth attendance, and 42 days of postnatal care. This approach helps reduce maternal deaths. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of women who had completed the different stages of the continuum of maternal health care (four antenatal visits, given birth under the care of qualified personnel, and received postnatal care within 42 days of delivery). Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in the five communes of Conakry, using a two-stage cluster sampling for data collection. Results were described using medians and percentages. The proportions of women in the continuum of care, and at the different stages of this continuum, have been weighted. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with non-completion of the different stages of the maternal health care continuum among the women included in this study. Results: We found that 26.9% of women had completed all stages of the maternal health care continuum, while 73.1% had not. While 56.7% received four antenatal visits, only 29.5% delivered under the care of a qualified healthcare professional. Key factors associated with discontinuity were not attending school (AOR 1.825: 1.594-2.089), unemployment (AOR 4.588: 3.983-5.285), having two or more living children (AOR 1.890: 1.016-1.296), and not receiving a free Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net at the first Antenatal Care. Conclusion: Maternal care discontinuity is a major issue in Guinea. The country's Health Development Plan had set an expected level for maternal care which has not been met as of 2022. The completeness of care is influenced by various factors, including individual socio-demographic characteristics and factors related to the organization, availability, and quality of health services. To reduce maternal and child mortality rates, it is essential to improve interpersonal communication during antenatal care, ensure the availability of quality health services, and conduct a national study on maternal health service quality and maternal satisfaction. This will help establish a proper continuum of care for mothers and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria is a global disease burden, especially in Africa, with Nigeria having the highest prevalence of malaria, with approximately 50% affecting children. Children under five years of age are vulnerable to the risk of malaria spread. This research aimed to identify the determinants of malaria spread among children under the age of 5 in Nigeria. Methods: This study used national malaria indicator survey data from 2021 (2021NMIS). The NMIS was implemented by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), and data were collected between 12 October and 4 December 2021. This study included 3678 children, and data cleaning and analysis were performed via STATA version 17 software. Results: There was a positive association between Child's age in months of 13–23 (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI = 1.62–5.45), 24–35 months (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI = 1.43–4.88),36–47 months (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.17–4.08) and months of 48–59(AOR = 2.82; 95% CI = 1.53–5.23), households headed by females (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.54–0.95),households with all children slept in mosquito nets last night (AOR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.39–4.21), some children slept in the mosquito bed net (AOR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.50–5.35) and households with no mosquito bed nets (AOR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.22–3.88),mothers who agreed to have heard or seen malaria messages in the last 6 months (AOR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.62–1.74),respondents with medium level of awareness of malaria prevention messages had (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.62–3.4), Children from North East (AOR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.54–0.9), South-South (AOR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.5–0.85) and South West (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.37–0.73) and malaria status of children under five years of age in Nigeria. Conclusion: The government and other concerned malaria prevention organizations should emphasize maternal education programs that are vital for malaria prevention, early symptom recognition, and timely treatment, empowering families to take proactive measures. Collaboration among health, education, and community organizations is also crucial for integrated malaria control and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the incidence of bovine teat papillomatosis and the activity of haematophagous flies was investigated in Japan. A total of 15,737 flies consisting of 33 species were collected by dry ice‐baited mosquito net (DMN) trap and a sweep net from udders of cattle. Simulium aokii (Takahasi) of Simuliidae (black flies) was the predominant species, followed by S. tobetsuense Ono and S. iwatense (Shiraki). Simulium aokii had the highest peak in October, followed by September. Numbers of blood spots from the bites per teat in nulliparous cattle were significantly correlated with numbers of S. aokii collected by DMN trap. Numbers of teats with warts and spots of blood from the bites per teat were significantly more abundant in anterior teats than posterior teats. The average incidence of teat papillomatosis in nulliparous cattle was significantly higher than that in parous cattle, and the highest incidence by month was in May, followed by April. Although bovine papillomavirus (BPV) DNA was not detected in flies examined, the presence of black flies and blood spots from their bites were associated with subsequent high incidence of growing warts. In particular, it would pay to give attention to species such as S. aokii that severely attack udders in the present locality. Further investigations for the detection of BPV DNA from flies parasitizing on teats are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African continent carries the greatest malaria burden in the world. Falciparum malaria especially has long been the leading cause of death in Africa. Climate, economic factors, geographical location, human intervention and unstable security are factors influencing malaria transmission. Due to repeated infections and early interventions, the proportion of clinically atypical malaria or asymptomatic plasmodium carriers has increased significantly, which easily lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. African countries have made certain progress in malaria control and elimination, including rapid diagnosis of malaria, promotion of mosquito nets and insecticides, intermittent prophylactic treatment in high-risk groups, artemisinin based combination therapies, and the development of vaccines. Between 2000 and 2022, there has been a 40% decrease in malaria incidence and a 60% reduction in mortality rate in the WHO African Region. However, many challenges are emerging in the fight against malaria in Africa, such as climate change, poverty, substandard health services and coverage, increased outdoor transmission and the emergence of new vectors, and the growing threat of resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides. Joint prevention and treatment, identifying molecular determinants of resistance, new drug development, expanding seasonal malaria chemo-prevention intervention population, and promoting the vaccination of RTS, S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M may help to solve the dilemma. China's experience in eliminating malaria is conducive to Africa's malaria prevention and control, and China-Africa cooperation needs to be constantly deepened and advanced. Our review aims to help the global public develop a comprehensive understanding of malaria in Africa, thereby contributing to malaria control and elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uganda grapples with a considerable malaria burden, reporting prevalence rates of over 33% in some regions. To address this, the Uganda Ministry of Health employs audiovisual platforms for disseminating malaria prevention messages. However, the impact of these messages on pregnant women's knowledge of malaria prevention remains insufficiently explored. This paper therefore emphasizes the influence of audiovisual messages on the knowledge of malaria prevention measures among pregnant women in Uganda. Methods: Secondary data obtained from the Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) 2018–2019 was used for this analysis. Women aged 15–49 were included in the study. A total of 8868 women were selected using a two-stage sample design. The two stages of selection included clusters and households. Women who were currently pregnant were included in the study, resulting in a weighted sample of 721 women. Propensity score-matched analysis was used to evaluate the impact of access to malaria messages on knowledge of prevention measures. Results: The study revealed that 39% [95% CI 34.0–44.2] of pregnant women were exposed to malaria messages before the survey. Those exposed had a 17.2% higher knowledge [ATT = 0.172; 95% CI 0.035–0.310] of using mosquito nets for prevention compared to those unexposed. Among women exposed, radios accounted for most form of access to mass media campaigns [64.8, 95% CI 57.0–71.8] followed by interpersonal communication [45.0, 95% CI 37.6–52.6], community health workers [38.8, 95% CI 29.6–48.8], community events [21.4, 95% CI 15.8–28.3], and social mobilization [18.3, 95% CI 12.7–25.8]. Conclusion: Results highlight the importance of radios in spreading important malaria prevention messages to pregnant women. Being exposed to these messages is linked to increased awareness and knowledge about the proper use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) for preventing malaria. This finding underscores the importance of evaluating different channels for mass media campaigns to ensure the effective delivery of information about malaria prevention to the intended audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asia-Pacific region faces significant challenges in eliminating malaria. More than 2 billion people are at risk of malaria, with multiple species of the parasite and various vectors transmitting the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) are working towards malaria elimination by 2030, with Australia providing financial and technical support. However, progress has been variable, and recent factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and armed conflict have hindered efforts. Challenges include the need for more sensitive tools to detect malaria, the inadequacy of current prevention methods, drug resistance, and the complexity of treating P. vivax infections. To achieve malaria elimination, innovative tools and strategies must be developed and implemented, with collaboration, community engagement, and political commitment. [Extracted from the article]

Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a dominant infectious disease that affects Africa than the rest of the world, considering its associated cases and death rates. It's a febrile illness that produces several reliable biomarkers, for example, P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH), P. falciparum Plasmodium glutamate dehydrogenase (PfGDH), and P. falciparum histidine‐rich proteins (HRP‐II) in blood circulatory system that can easily be employed as targets in rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). In recent times, several DNA aptamers have been developed via SELEX technology to detect some specific malaria biomarkers (PfLDH, PvLDH, HRP‐II, PfGDH) in a biosensor mode with good binding affinity properties to overcome the trend of cross‐reactivity, limited sensitivity and stability problems that have been observed with immunodiagnostics. In this review, we summarized existing diagnostic methods and relevant biomarkers to suggest promising approaches to develop sensitive and species‐specific multiplexed diagnostic devices enabling effective detection of malaria in complex biological matrices and surveillance in the endemic region. Significance statement: The focus of this review was to summarize research findings on the existing diagnostics approaches for malaria infection and the necessity for multiplex malaria detection using aptamer agents, biomarkers, and microfluidic technology. The World Health Organization had shown that malaria infection does not only lead to death, there are other complications such as low birthweight, growth retardation, poor cognitive function, and malnutrition in underage children (0−5 years). However, due to the lack of adequate medical facilities in the low‐middle income countries (LMIC) and low analytical performance of the existing biomedical devices, there is a need for medium to high throughput point‐of‐care devices to conduct routine surveillance by testing. Microfluidic technology is a facile and versatile approach to diagnostics that can be trialed to multiplex assay for malaria in the LMIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Front cover: Female mosquitoes suck blood to mature their eggs. It has been reported that fi brinopeptide A (FPA), which is cleaved from fi brinogen α chain during blood coagulation, makes mosquitoes feel "full" and stop sucking blood (Sakuma et al. (2024) Cell Reports 43: 114354, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114354). The mother in this painting is trying to use a mosquito net imbued with the ability of FPA to override the child's nightmare of a bloodsucking mosquito with the image of a satiated mosquito. In addition to fi brinogen and FPA, the mother's kimono shows schematic images of fi brin that has just begun to coagulate. Designed by TRAIS Co., Ltd. (Kobe, Japan). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, malaria continues to pose a major health challenge, with approximately 247 million cases of the illness and 627,000 deaths reported in 2021. However, the threat is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan African countries, where pregnant women and children under the age of five face heightened vulnerability to the disease. As a result, the imperative to develop malaria vaccines especially for these vulnerable populations, remains crucial in the pursuit of malaria eradication. However, despite decades of research, effective vaccine development faces technical challenges, including the rapid spread of drug-resistant parasite strains, the complex parasite lifecycle, the development of liver hypnozoites with potential for relapse, and evasion of the host immune system. This review aims to discuss the different malaria vaccine candidates in the pipeline, highlighting different approaches used for adjuvating these candidates, their benefits, and outcomes, and summarizing the progress of these vaccine candidates under development. Method: A comprehensive web-based search for peer-reviewed journal articles published in SCOPUS, MEDLINE (via PubMed), Science Direct, WHO, and Advanced Google Scholar databases was conducted from 1990 to May 2022. Context-specific keywords such as "Malaria", "Malaria Vaccine", "Malaria Vaccine Candidates", "Vaccine Development", "Vaccine Safety", "Clinical Trials", "mRNA Vaccines", "Viral Vector Vaccines", "Protein-based Vaccines", "Subunit Vaccines", "Vaccine Adjuvants", "Vaccine-induced Immune Responses", and "Immunogenicity" were emphatically considered. Articles not directly related to malaria vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical stages of development were excluded. Results: Various approaches have been studied for malaria vaccine development, targeting different parasite lifecycle stages, including the pre-erythrocytic, erythrocytic, and sexual stages. The RTS, S/AS01 vaccine, the first human parasite vaccine reaching WHO-listed authority maturity level 4, has demonstrated efficacy in preventing clinical malaria in African children. However, progress was slow in introducing other safe, and feasible malaria vaccines through clinical trials. Recent studies highlight the potential effectiveness of combining pre-erythrocytic and blood-stage vaccines, along with the advantages of mRNA vaccines for prophylaxis and treatment, and nonstructural vaccines for large-scale production. Conclusion: Malaria vaccine candidates targeting different lifecycle stages of the parasite range from chemoprophylaxis vaccination to cross-species immune protection. The use of a multi-antigen, multi-stage combinational vaccine is therefore essential in the context of global health. This demands careful understanding and critical consideration of the long-term multi-faceted interplay of immune interference, co-dominance, complementary immune response, molecular targets, and adjuvants affecting the overall vaccine-induced immune response. Despite challenges, advancements in clinical trials and vaccination technology offer promising possibilities for novel approaches in malaria vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous advancement of sensing technology, applying large amounts of sensor data to practical prediction processes using artificial intelligence methods has become a developmental direction. In sensing images and remote sensing meteorological data, the dynamic changes in the prediction targets relative to their background information often exhibit more significant dynamic characteristics. Previous prediction methods did not specifically analyze and study the dynamic change information of prediction targets at spatiotemporal multi-scale. Therefore, this paper proposes a neural prediction network based on perceptual multi-scale spatiotemporal dynamic changes (PMSTD-Net). By designing Multi-Scale Space Motion Change Attention Unit (MCAU) to perceive the local situation and spatial displacement dynamic features of prediction targets at different scales, attention is ensured on capturing the dynamic information in their spatial dimensions adequately. On this basis, this paper proposes Multi-Scale Spatiotemporal Evolution Attention (MSEA) unit, which further integrates the spatial change features perceived by MCAU units in higher channel dimensions, and learns the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics at different scales, effectively predicting the dynamic characteristics and regularities of targets in sensor information.Through experiments on spatiotemporal prediction standard datasets such as Moving MNIST, video prediction dataset KTH, and Human3.6m, PMSTD-Net demonstrates prediction performance surpassing previous methods. We construct the GPM satellite remote sensing precipitation dataset, demonstrating the network's advantages in perceiving multi-scale spatiotemporal dynamic changes in remote sensing meteorological data. Finally, through extensive ablation experiments, the performance of each module in PMSTD-Net is thoroughly validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito nets, particularly insecticide‐treated nets, are the most recommended method of malaria control in endemic countries. However, individuals do not always have access to insecticide‐treated nets or use them as recommended. The current paper expands on a previous review published in 2011 which highlighted a need for more qualitative research on the reasons for mosquito net non‐use. We present a systematic review of qualitative research published in the past decade to assess the growth and quality of qualitative papers about net non‐use and examine and update the current understanding. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Global Health, in addition to a citation search of the initial review. Relevant papers were screened and discussed. The critical appraisal assessment tool was used to ensure quality. Thematic synthesis was used to extract, synthesise, and analyse study findings. Compared with the initial review, the results showed a 10‐fold increase in qualitative research on the reasons for mosquito net non‐use between 2011 and 2021. In addition, the quality of the research has improved, with more than 90% of the papers receiving high scores, using the critical appraisal assessment tool. The reported reasons for non‐use were categorised into four themes: human factors, net factors, housing structure, and net access. More than two thirds of the studies (25/39) were led by authors affiliated with institutions in malaria‐endemic countries. Despite the distribution of free mosquito nets in malaria‐endemic countries, earlier reported challenges remain pertinent. The most common reasons for net non‐use across all regions of Malaria endemic countries pertained to human‐ and net‐related factors. The research focus should shift towards intervention studies to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease for which no disease-modifying therapies exist. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggest that repeated exposure to intermittent hypoxia might have short- and long-term benefits in PD. In a previous exploratory phase I trial, we demonstrated that in-clinic intermittent hypoxia exposure is safe and feasible with short-term symptomatic effects on PD symptoms. The current study aims to explore the safety, tolerability, feasibility, and net symptomatic effects of a four-week intermittent hypoxia protocol, administered at home, in individuals with PD. Methods/Design: : This is a two-armed double-blinded randomized controlled trial involving 40 individuals with mild to moderate PD. Participants will receive 45 min of normobaric intermittent hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen 0.16 for 5 min interspersed with 5 min normoxia), 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Co-primary endpoints include nature and total number of adverse events, and a feasibility-tolerability questionnaire. Secondary endpoints include Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part II and III scores, gait tests and biomarkers indicative of hypoxic dose and neuroprotective pathway induction. Discussion: This trial builds on the previous phase I trial and aims to investigate the safety, tolerability, feasibility, and net symptomatic effects of intermittent hypoxia in individuals with PD. Additionally, the study aims to explore induction of relevant neuroprotective pathways as measured in plasma. The results of this trial could provide further insight into the potential of hypoxia-based therapy as a novel treatment approach for PD. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05948761 (registered June 20th, 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Results of spatial and temporal comparison of malaria hotspots and coldspots could improve the health measures of malaria control and eradication strategies. The study aimed to reveal the spatially and temporally independent correlations between the potentially most effective background variables and the number of autochthonous malaria cases. Methods: Relationships between malaria cases and background variables were studied in 2 km × 2 km sized quadrates (10 Central European and 10 African). In addition to the current habitat structure of the African sites, annual precipitation, and annual mean temperature, data of the above parameters detected in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and currently in the Central European sites were included in the analyses (n = 40). Mann–Whitney tests, Principal Component Analysis, and Generalized Linear Models were used for the examinations. Results: In addition to the apparent significant positive correlation of malaria cases with annual rainfall and mean temperature, several correlations were found for habitat parameters. The cover of marshlands in the 19th-century habitat structure of Central European quadrates was considerably the same as in the recent African ones. The extent of rural residential areas was significantly smaller in the 19th-century habitat structure of Central European quadrats than in present-day African ones. According to the revealed correlations, the surface cover of rural residential areas is the main driver of the number of autochthonous malaria cases that we can directly impact. Conclusions: The study confirmed with historical comparison that not only the annual rainfall and mean temperature, the cover of marshlands and other habitats with breeding sites, but also the elements of the rural human environment play a significant role in the high number of autochthonous malaria cases, probably through the concentration and enhancing sites for vector mosquitoes. The latter confirms that a rapid urbanization process could reduce malaria cases in the most infected areas of Africa. Until the latter happens, extensive biological control of Anopheles larvae and chemical control (both outdoor and indoor) of their imagoes, further mosquito nets, repellents, and carbon dioxide traps will need to be applied more widely in the most heavily infested areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria poses a global threat to human health, with millions of cases and thousands of deaths each year, mainly affecting developing countries in tropical and subtropical regions. Malaria's causative agent is Plasmodium species, generally transmitted in the hematophagous act of female Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. The main approaches to fighting malaria are eliminating the parasite through drug treatments and preventing transmission with vector control. However, vector and parasite resistance to current strategies set a challenge. In response to the loss of drug efficacy and the environmental impact of pesticides, the focus shifted to the search for biocompatible products that could be antimalarial. Plant derivatives have a millennial application in traditional medicine, including the treatment of malaria, and show toxic effects towards the parasite and the mosquito, aside from being accessible and affordable. Its disadvantage lies in the type of administration because green chemical compounds rapidly degrade. The nanoformulation of these compounds can improve bioavailability, solubility, and efficacy. Thus, the nanotechnology-based development of plant products represents a relevant tool in the fight against malaria. We aim to review the effects of nanoparticles synthesized with plant extracts on Anopheles and Plasmodium while outlining the nanotechnology green synthesis and current malaria prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the determinants and prospects of household lighting choices in rural Tanzania using a Multinomial Logit Regression Model. The analysis is based on data from 4671 households, focusing on three lighting options: electricity, solar energy, and candle lighting. The results reveal significant factors influencing these choices, including household head characteristics, household size, marital status, education, employment status, number of rooms, and income. Key findings indicate that the age of the household head negatively influences the likelihood of choosing grid-electricity, while having a male head of household significantly reduces the probability of opting for any lighting option. Larger household size is negatively associated with choosing electricity and candle lighting. Marital status shows that married households are more likely to use candle lighting. Employment status positively impacts the likelihood of adopting all three lighting options, with employed household heads being more likely to choose modern lighting solutions. Income levels are crucial, as higher income significantly increases the probability of selecting electricity and candle lighting, but not solar energy. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to enhance sustainable energy access in rural Tanzania. It highlights the importance of addressing socio-economic factors to promote the adoption of modern and sustainable lighting technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes are hematophagous carriers for hundreds of pathogenic viruses that are the etiological agents of human diseases. Malaria, Zika fever, chikungunya and dengue fever, etc., are among the diseases that mosquitoes are involved in transmitting. In nature, mosquito-borne viruses maintain a life cycle between mosquitoes and vertebrates. Malaria, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding mosquito ecology is crucial for malaria control efforts. Zika fever, associated with severe neurological complications, has emerged as a global concern, primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Urbanization facilitates the proliferation of Aedes populations, exacerbating viral transmission. Chikungunya, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has expanded beyond endemic regions due to international travel, causing fever, rash, and joint pain. Dengue fever, caused by dengue viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, witnesses a global resurgence, with climate factors influencing disease transmission dynamics. Effective mosquito control strategies are essential for mitigating the impact of these vector-borne diseases on global health. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of mosquito-borne diseases on human health and explore strategies for prevention and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating environmental and climate change concerns, the imperative to transition towards a zero-carbon economy has become a focal discussion for government, policy-makers and businesses. Accordingly, this research examines the influence of economic development, green finance, urbanization, technological innovation and renewable energy consumption on transitioning to a net-zero economy among seven emerging nations from 1990 to 2020. The study applied various econometric procedures to establish the dynamics among the variables. The novel Cross-Sectional Augmented autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) was applied to estimate the long-run interaction among the series. The empirical outcome confirmed the prevalence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) among the E7 countries. In addition, this research finding revealed that technological innovation, renewable energy and green finance help in the transition to net-zero emissions. The conclusions of the study also highlighted urbanization positively influences carbon emissions. Moreover, results from this analysis proved that there exists a bidirectional connection between economic growth, technological innovation and carbon emission. Lastly, the paper found a unidirectional association between green finance, renewable energy sources, urbanization and carbon emission. This study thus contributes to the theoretical discussion on EKC and environmental sustainability. This study also offers several essential conclusions for decision-makers and other pertinent parties. Thus, the research suggests that by fostering a conducive environment for green financing projects, policy-makers can stimulate the deployment of innovative technologies and widespread renewable energy adoption solutions to promote the transition towards a zero-carbon environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria has been, and still is, a major cause of not only human suffering and death and infant mortality, but also an economic burden on the society. According to the WHO Report of 2022, in 2021 alone 247 m people were affected by malaria. Apart from the use of antimalaria drugs, the importance of different preventive measures including the use of mosquito nets and insect repellents in managing malaria cannot be gainsaid. It should be underscored that the determined research efforts by medical personnel such as Ronald Ross, Patrick Manson, Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran, Giovanni Battista Grassi, and a few others, despite several hardships they faced in pinning the mosquito as the transmitter of malaria was epoch-making. Obviously, this finding has played a key role in reducing the global impact of malaria. In this communication, I outline the efforts of Ronald Ross and the travails he went through while pursuing it, as well as his attitude in denying his co-workers their due credit, and the extroversion rooted in him which eventually made him turn hostile to his collaborators and to his mentor, Patrick Manson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite extensive efforts and achievements made in prevention and control, malaria is still a public health problem in Ethiopia. Currently, the case number has been climbing, even changing the epidemiology to the previously low-burden reporting locations. Therefore, our study is aimed at assessing malaria prevalence and associated risk factors in outpatients, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 318 malaria-suspected outpatients from October 22 to December 15, 2022, at Teda Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Sociodemographic characteristics and malaria risk factors were assessed by a face-to-face interview using a pretested questionnaire. Plasmodium parasites were detected by using microscopy on a blood film stained with 10% and 3% Giemsa stain. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25, and statistical significance was reported at a p value < 0.05. Results. Of the 318 study participants, 124 (39.0%; 95 % CI = 33.6 % − 44.6 %) tested positive for Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, and mixed infections were identified in 71 (57.3%), 47 (37.9%), and 6 (4.8%), respectively, among positive study participants. Individuals above the age of 15 (AOR = 2.704 , 95% CI 1.370-5.336) were more likely to be infected with Plasmodium than under-five-year-old individuals. Rural residents (AOR = 2.56 , 95% CI 1.281-5.098), those who sleep or work outside at night (AOR = 1.99 , 95% CI 1.020-3.875), and individuals who did not use long-lasting insecticide-treated net (AOR = 3.26 , 95% CI 1.633-6.499) and had a family member with a history of malaria (AOR = 2.902 , 95 % CI = 1.671 − 5.041) had higher odds of acquiring Plasmodium infection than their counterparts. Conclusion. In our study area, malaria was a major health problem, with P. vivax being the dominant species. Multiple environmental and behavioural factors were associated with the infection acquisition. Therefore, urgent holistic intervention is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological and molecular comparisons of clupeoid fishes in lakes Tumba and Mai-Ndombe in the Congo Basin revealed that a large-sized form of a common species in Lake Mai-Ndombe had not been distinguished from the small-sized endemic Mai-Ndombe dwarf sprat Nannothrissa stewarti Poll & Roberts, 1976 in ecological studies. The large-sized form differs from the Mai-Ndombe dwarf sprat in several morphological characters and resembles the smalltoothed pellonula Pellonula leonensis Boulenger, 1916, but in barcoding analysis appears more closely related to the bluntnosed sawtooth pellonuline Potamothrissa obtusirostris (Boulenger, 1909). This large-sized form is probably a species new to science but will remain undescribed for now, and is here referred to as Pellonulinae sp. BIG. A slender clupeoid, also from Lake Mai-Ndombe, has recently been referred to as the Lake Tumba dwarf sprat Nannothrissa parva (Regan, 1917), which would be the first record of this species from that lake. Specimens of a slender clupeoid collected from Lake Mai-Ndombe for this study were identified as the losera fangtooth pellonuline Odaxothrissa losera Boulenger, 1899. This is the first confirmed occurrence of this species in Lake Mai-Ndombe, whereas the presence of N. parva could not be confirmed. The phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the genus Nannothrissa as currently delimited, here barcoded for the first time, but also confirms the previously reported mismatch between morphological classification and molecular data in this group. We further note that the Mai-Ndombe dwarf sprat attains a larger size than the maximum size noted in the original description in 1976, and it is suggested that an intense beach-seine fishery that utilises mosquito nets might have led to a population decline followed by decreased intraspecific competition, enhancing individual growth. For the same reason, Pellonulinae sp. BIG might have been less common previously and so remained undetected until now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world grapples with the relentless challenges posed by diseases like malaria, the advent of sophisticated computational tools has emerged as a beacon of hope in the quest for effective treatments. In this study we delve into the strategies behind computational tools encompassing virtual screening, molecular docking, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). We assess their effectiveness and contribution to the progress of malaria treatment. The convergence of these computational strategies, coupled with the ever-increasing power of computing systems, has ushered in a new era of drug discovery, holding immense promise for the eradication of malaria. Scientific contribution: Computational tools remain pivotal in drug design and development. They provide a platform for researchers to explore various treatment options and save both time and money in the drug development pipeline. It is imperative to assess computational techniques and monitor their effectiveness in disease control. In this study we examine renown computational tools that have been employed in the battle against malaria, the benefits and challenges these tools have presented, and the potential they hold in the future eradication of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavior Change Communication (BCC) is evidence-based, theoretically supported and utilizes all opportunities for communication. Evidence reports BCC as a relevant tool for averting and controlling many forms of public health challenges. Through schools, many countries have shown health improvements via students and the community's exposure to behavior change messages. The study was planned with an aim of evaluating the effectiveness of mosquito-borne disease control measures implementation through BCC to adolescent school students in a Cantonment area, in North India. The present study was undertaken as a quasi-experimental study from April 2019 to March 2020. Of the 334 students enrolled in the school as per eligibility criteria, 315 were available during the initial assessment, and 288 were available throughout the study. For the evaluation of effectiveness of the BCC at household level, 200 households (100 intervention and 100 control) were selected. Students' knowledge about mosquito-borne diseases was the primary outcome measure. The difference in proportions was tested using the chi-square test. The difference in proportions for paired samples was tested using Mc Nemar's test. Proportion of students who gave correct responses significantly increased after intervention in post-test as compared to pre-test for most of the knowledge-related questions. The proportion of households with the availability of mosquito nets and self-reported use of mosquito nets was significantly high in intervention group as compared to control group post-intervention. BCC in the form of different intervention programs to adolescent school children was effective in improving the knowledge and attitude toward mosquito-borne diseases and also ensured less mosquito-genic environment in households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pile foundations of offshore wind turbines face serious problems from scour damage. This study takes offshore wind turbine monopile foundations as the research object and proposes an innovative anti-scour device for the protection net. A numerical simulation research method based on CFD-DEM was used to model the local scour of the pile foundation and protection net. The validity of the numerical model was verified by comparing the simulation results of the local scour of the pile foundation under the condition of clear water scour and the results of the flume test. The permeability rate was defined to characterize the overwatering of the protection net, and numerical simulations were performed for protection nets with permeability in the range of 0.681 to 0.802. The flow field perturbations, changes in washout pit morphology, and changes in washout depth development due to the protective netting were also analyzed. It was found that the protection net can effectively reduce the flow velocity around the pile, cut down the intensity of the submerged water in front of the pile, and provide scouring protection. Finally, the analysis and summary of the protection efficiency of the different protection nets revealed that the protection efficiency within the nets was consistently the highest. On the outside of the net, the protection efficiency is poor at a small permeability rate but increases with an increasing permeability rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigates the effectiveness of new-generation mosquito nets, like Olyset® Plus and PermaNet® 3.0, and dual-action nets such as Interceptor® G2, against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes following the 2023 mass distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Benin. Methods: We tested wild mosquito populations from six communes in Benin against various pyrethroid (permethrin 0.75%, alphacypermethrin 0.05%, and deltamethrin 0.05%) using WHO tube tests. Additionally, we exposed mosquitoes to chlorfenapyr 100 µg/ml using the CDC bottle bioassay method. A subset of mosquitoes underwent biochemical and PCR tests to check the overexpression of metabolic enzymes and the Kdr L1014F mutation. We evaluated the effectiveness of Olyset® Plus, PermaNet® 3.0, and Interceptor® G2 nets using cone and tunnel tests on both laboratory and field populations of An. gambiae. Results: Overall, the highest mortality rate was 60% with pyrethroid and 98 to100% with chlorfenapyr. In cone tests, all three types of nets induced mortality rates above 80% in the susceptible laboratory strain of An. gambiae. Notably, Olyset® Plus showed the highest mortality rates for pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes in cone tests, ranging from 81.03% (95% CI: 68.59–90.13) in Djougou to 96.08% (95% CI: 86.54–99.52) in Akpro-Missérété. PermaNet® 3.0 had variable rates, from 42.5% (95% CI: 27.04–59.11) in Djougou to 58.54% (95% CI: 42.11–73.68) in Porto-Novo. However, revealed good results for Interceptor® G2, with 94% (95% CI: 87.40–97.77) mortality and 89.09% blood sampling inhibition in local populations of An. gambiae. In comparison, Interceptor® had lower rates of 17% (95% CI: 10.23–25.82) and 60%, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that tunnel tests are effective for evaluating dual-active ingredient nets. Additionally, Interceptor® G2 and PBO nets like Olyset® Plus could be considered as alternatives against pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a stochastic model of malaria spread. We first calculated the basic reproduction number R 0 of the models S h I h R h S h ‐ S v I v and S h L h I h R h S h ‐ S v L v I v in order to show that the malaria-free equilibrium is asymptotically stable; then, we used a finite Markov chain model to describe the interactions between the different compartments of the model S e L e I e R e S e ‐ S a L a I a R a S a ‐ S v I v . We carried out numerical simulations of our results for two types of transmission zones: a zone with low malaria transmission and an endemic zone. Through these simulations, we first determined the invariant stationary distribution π ∗ of the model, and then, we found that the use of the indoor residual spraying (IRS) method by regular application of insecticides is more effective for the elimination of malaria than the use of long-acting impregnated mosquito nets (LLINs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is still a significant problem in Indonesia due to its contagious nature, as it causes death, especially in children under the age of five. Based on 2019 data, there have been 409,000 deaths from malaria out of 229 million recorded malaria cases worldwide. WHO launched that in Indonesia there were 1,412 deaths from malaria from 811,636 new cases of malaria in 2021 in Indonesia. 89% of malaria cases in Indonesia occur in Papua Province. Fakfak Regency in 2023 will experience an increase in cases to 180 cases with API 2.2 per 1,000 population and still 50 Indigenous cases. This study aims to analyze the environmental factors that are most at risk for malaria incidence in Fakfak Regency, West Papua. Method: The study is observational with a Case-control research design. The 100 respondents used a total sampling consisting of 50 positive malaria cases with indigenous classification and 50 controls. Results: The most potential environmental risk factors for malaria incidence were the presence of breeding places with p-values of 0.000 and OR 13,903 (95%CI: 3,374- 57,287), and night exit habits (p-value 0.045; OR 1,678). One important step is to break the chain of transmission by controlling environmental factors, namely the eradication of vector breeding sites, larvicide in puddles, cleaning of anopheles vector rest areas, the use of mosquito nets, Insect Residual Spraying (IRS), and other activities that can encourage the breaking of the chain of malaria transmission, which is carried out in an integrated manner by the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-surgical clinical assessment of an adnexal mass is a complex process, and ideally requires accurate and rapid identification of disease status. Gold standard biomarker CA125 is extensively used off-label for this purpose; however its performance is typically inadequate, particularly for the detection of early stage disease and discrimination between benign versus malignant status. We recently described a multi-marker panel (MMP) and associated risk index for the differentiation of benign from malignant ovarian disease. In this study we applied a net reclassification approach to assess the use of MMP index to rescue those cases where low CA125 incorrectly excludes cancer diagnoses, or where benign disease is incorrectly assessed as "high risk" due to elevated CA125. Reclassification of such patients is of significant value to assist in the timely and accurate referral for patients where CA125 titer is uninformative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin infection caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania and it transmitted by female phlebotomus mosquitoes. Military forces staff are part of vulnerable groups with high probability of contracting disease for reasons such as participating in military maneuver, deployment in border areas, outskirts of cities in endemic areas. Some studies show that the incidence rate of cutaneous leishmaniasis among military forces is higher than its incidence rate in the civilian population. The purpose of this study is to acquaint military forces with the epidemiology of the disease, clinical symptoms, vectors, reservoirs, and prevention and treatment methods that can prevent the disease. Methods and Materials: This review article has been performed through searching in national and international reliable databases using cutaneous leishmaniasis, military forces, prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis, uniforms stained with poison, and skin diseases keywords. Moreover, this research has been done by selecting 76 related articles until April 2024. Results: The most important axis in the control of cutaneous leishmaniasis is camps and maneuver along with other disease control and prevention programs including vaccine and drug production, improving the environment, fighting the vector, exterminating rats, improving awareness about the disease, particularly the ways of transmission and prevention methods such as the importance of using clothes or uniforms impregnated with insect repellants, repellants ointment, insecticides, mosquito nets impregnated with poison and the methods of using them, especially in endemic areas. Having the necessary and correct information is the first and most basic step to take any appropriate behavior to prevent contracting this disease. Teaching preventive behaviors of biting the cutaneous leishmaniasis vector can not only protect people from contracting this disease, but also protect the military in the battle scene against other diseases that the enemy may use insects as biological weapons and disease transmission. Discussion and Conclusion: In order to prevent contracting this disease for the military forces stationed in the barracks of endemic areas or the forces sent to these areas, providing the necessary equipment and health education classes on the topics of enhancing awareness of the methods of disease transmission, the importance of using uniforms impregnated with poisons, using mosquito nets impregnated with poison, using appropriate insect repellants on the skin of the hands, face and uncovered parts of body, particularly during rest and dressing the affected area should be planned and implemented for prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional treatment of Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon (KMP) consists of corticosteroids with vincristine/vinblastine or others. The aim of the study is to compare the first-year direct costs and effectiveness between sirolimus and conventional treatment. A retrospective case-control study of KMP patients was conducted at a mean age of 9 months (1 day to 12 years) between 2000 and 2022 from four tertiary centers in Thailand. The direct costs, hematologic and clinical complete response (HCR, CCR), hospitalization, length of stay, and complications were compared. Of 29 patients, 13 underwent sirolimus (four upfront and nine were refractory to the conventional). The first-year total cost had no statistically significant difference between sirolimus VS conventional treatment (8,852.63 VS 9,083.56 USD: p value: 0.94). The therapeutics achievement was the same in both HCR (244.75 VS 168.94 days; p value: 0.60) and CCR (419.77 VS 399.87 days; p value: 0.90). The subgroup analysis of the first-line sirolimus (n = 4) compared with the conventional (n = 25) showed a more reduced total cost (4,907.84 VS 9,664.05 USD; p value: 0.26) rendered net total cost of −4,756.21 USD per patient (cost saving). A more significant contrast of therapeutic achievement by reduction of both HCR (11.67 VS 224.20 days; p value: 0.36) and CCR (38.50 VS 470.88 days; p value: 0.04) was shown. The sirolimus had no difference in hospitalization, length of stay, and complications. Even though, it was unable to identify significant differences in cost-effectiveness. Sirolimus is suitable for all patients who have diagnosis of KMP either for rescue therapy or first-line treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting and identifying small infrared targets has always been a crucial technology for many applications. To address the low accuracy, high false-alarm rate, and poor environmental adaptability that commonly exist in infrared target detection methods, this paper proposes a composite infrared dim and small target detection model called USES-Net, which combines the target prior knowledge and conventional data-driven deep learning networks to make use of both labeled data and the domain knowledge. Based on the typical encoder–decoder structure, USES-Net firstly introduces the self-attention mechanism of Swin Transformer to replace the universal convolution kernel at the encoder end. This helps to extract potential features related to dim, small targets in a larger receptive field. In addition, USES-Net includes an embedded patch-based contrast learning module (EPCLM) to integrate the spatial distribution of the target as a knowledge prior in the training network model. This guides the training process of the constrained network model with clear physical interpretability. Finally, USES-Net also designs a bottom-up cross-layer feature fusion module (AFM) as the decoder of the network, and a data-slicing-aided enhancement and inference method based on Slicing Aided Hyper Inference (SAHI) is utilized to further improve the model's detection accuracy. An experimental comparative analysis shows that USES-Net achieves the best results on three typical infrared weak-target datasets: NUAA-SIRST, NUDT-SIRST, and IRSTD-1K. The results of the target segmentation are complete and sufficient, which demonstrates the validity and practicality of the proposed method in comparison to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are an essential diagnostic tool in low-resource settings; however, administration and interpretation errors reduce their effectiveness. HealthPulse, a smartphone mRDT reader application, was developed by Audere to aid health workers in mRDT administration and interpretation, with an aim to improve the mRDT testing process and facilitate timely decision making through access to digitized results. Audere partnered with PSI and PS Kenya to conduct a pilot study in Busia County, Kenya between March and September 2021 to assess the feasibility and acceptability of HealthPulse to support malaria parasitological diagnosis by community health volunteers (CHVs) and private clinic health workers (private clinic HWs). Metadata was interpreted to assess adherence to correct use protocols and health worker perceptions of the app. Changes to mRDT implementation knowledge were measured through baseline and endline surveys. The baseline survey identified clear mRDT implementation gaps, such as few health workers correctly knowing the number of diluent drops and minimum and maximum wait times for mRDT interpretation, although health worker knowledge improved after using the app. Endline survey results showed that 99.6% of health workers found the app useful and 90.1% found the app easy to use. Process control data showed that most mRDTs (89.2%) were photographed within the recommended 30-minute time frame and that 91.4% of uploaded photos passed the app filter quality check on the first submission. During 154 encounters (3.5% of all encounters) a health worker dispensed an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to their patient even with a negative mRDT readout. Overall, study results indicated that HealthPulse holds potential as a mobile tool for use in low-resource settings, with future supportive supervision, diagnostic, and surveillance benefits. Follow-up studies will aim to more deeply understand the utility and acceptance of the HealthPulse app. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of non–vitamin-K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) across the spectrum of body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BW) remain uncertain. METHODS: We analyzed data from COMBINE AF (A Collaboration Between Multiple Institutions to Better Investigate Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Use in Atrial Fibrillation), which pooled patient-level data from the 4 pivotal randomized trials of NOAC versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes were stroke or systemic embolic events (stroke/SEE) and major bleeding, respectively; secondary outcomes were ischemic stroke/SEE, intracranial hemorrhage, death, and the net clinical outcome (stroke/SEE, major bleeding, or death). Each outcome was examined across BMI and BW. Because few patients had a BMI <18.5 kg/m² (n=598), the primary analyses were restricted to those with a BMI ≥18.5 kg/m². RESULTS: Among 58464 patients, the median BMI was 28.3 (interquartile range, 25.2–32.2) kg/m², and the median BW was 81.0 (interquartile range, 70.0–94.3) kg. The event probability of stroke/SEE was lower at a higher BMI irrespective of treatment, whereas the probability of major bleeding was lower at a higher BMI with warfarin but relatively unchanged across BMI with NOACs. NOACs reduced stroke/SEE overall (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.73–0.88]; P<0.001), with a generally consistent effect across BMI (Ptrend across HRs, 0.48). NOACs also reduced major bleeding overall (HRadj, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.82–0.94]; P<0.001), but with attenuation of the benefit at a higher BMI (trend test across BMI [Ptrend], 0.003). The overall treatment effects of NOACs versus warfarin for secondary outcomes were consistent across BMI, with the exception of the net clinical outcome and death. While these outcomes were overall reduced with NOACs (net clinical outcome, HRadj, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.87–0.95]; P<0.001; death, HRadj, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.86–0.97]; P=0.003), these benefits were attenuated at higher BMI (Ptrend, 0.001 and 0.08, respectively). All findings were qualitatively similar when analyzed across BW. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment effect of NOACs versus warfarin in atrial fibrillation is generally consistent for stroke/SEE across the spectrum of BMI and BW, whereas the reduction in major bleeding is attenuated in those with higher BMI or BW. Death and the net clinical outcome are overall reduced with NOACs over warfarin, although there remain uncertainties for these outcomes at a very high BMI and BW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following WHO guidelines, microscopy is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis in endemic countries. The Parasitology-Mycology laboratory (LPM) is the National Reference Laboratory and is currently undergoing ISO 15189 accreditation. In this context, we assessed the performance of the laboratory by confirming the reliability and the accuracy of results obtained in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 15189 standards. This study aimed to verify the method of microscopic diagnosis of malaria at the LPM, in the Aristide Le Dantec hospital (HALD) in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: This is a validation/verification study conducted from June to August 2020. Twenty (20) microscopic slides of thick/thin blood smear with known parasite densities (PD) selected from the Cheick Anta Diop University malaria slide bank in Dakar were used for this assessment. Six (6) were used to assess microscopists' ability to determine PD and fourteen (14) slides were used for detection (positive vs negative) and identification of parasites. Four (4) LPM-HALD microscopists read and recorded their results on prepared sheets. Data analysis was done with Microsoft Excel 2010 software. Results: A minimum threshold of 50% concordance was used for comparison. Of the twenty (20) slides read, 100% concordance was obtained on eight (8) detection (positive vs negative) slides. Four (4) out of the six (6) parasite density evaluation slides obtained a concordance of less than 50%. Thirteen (13) out of the fourteen (14) identification slides obtained a concordance greater than 50%. Only one (1) identification slide obtained zero agreement from the microscopists. For species identification a concordance greater than 80% was noted and the microscopists obtained scores between 0.20 and 0.4 on a scale of 0 to 1 for parasite density reading. The microscopists obtained 100% precision, sensitivity, specificity and both negative and positive predictive values. Conclusion: This work demonstrated that the microscopic method of malaria diagnosis used in the LPM/HALD is in accordance with the requirements of WHO and ISO 15189. Further training of microscopists may be needed to maintain competency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Russia-Ukraine war and other similar conflicts across the globe have heightened risks to the United States of America's (USA's) energy security. However, little is known about the severity of the effect of energy security risks on the USA's quest to attain net-zero emissions targets by 2050. To this end, we examine the effect of energy security risks on the load capacity factor (LCF) in the USA. Employing a time series dataset spinning from 1970 to 2018, the results of the Dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) simulations model suggest that energy security-related risk hampers the long-term net-zero emissions targets with its effect decreasing over time until it varnishes in about 5 years time. The results also show that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, renewable energy consumption, and green technology have long- and short-run positive effects on the LCF. Conversely, economic expansion and urbanization impede environmental quality by lowering the LCF both in the long run and short run. These findings are upheld by the outcomes of the multivariate quantile-on-quantile regression. Therefore, the study advocates for the consumption of renewable energy, investment in green technologies, and FDI inflows to mitigate energy security-related risks and attain the net-zero emissions targets by 2050 in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) as a powerful tool for reaction discovery and optimization is changing the way organic chemists are designing their experiments. It is a fantastic way to largely investigate a reaction, in a minimum of time and reagent consumption. However, HTE needs to be accessible to a wide audience for a full implementation in academic and industrial sectors. In that context, developing accessible solid dosing methodologies for submilligram dispensing is necessary. This paper aims at proposing robust mass enhancers solutions for nanomole scale dosing applicable to HTE campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue is a wide spectrum of diseases creating menace in the community. This vector-born disease alone has a significant impact on global public health and the economy. Resources need to be mobilized to tackle the situation. The present article focused on the novice concept of "Seven-Plus-One models" as an approach to dengue prevention with vector management through community participation. A multidisciplinary approach along with exemplifying effective methods of inspectorial coordination and community participation is much required. The implementation of the Seven-Plus-One model has a positive impact on reducing dengue cases, indicating acceptance and effectiveness of the concept among the public. Dengue morbidity rate can be reduced through early detection and mobilizing the community for active participation in dengue prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) provides updated recommendations for the prevention and treatment of PPH, emphasizing the importance of training and access to essential medicines and equipment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The article also discusses the use of uterotonics for PPH prevention, as well as various treatment options for PPH, including uterine massage, uterotonics, tranexamic acid, non-pneumatic anti-shock garments, and surgical interventions. Additionally, the article briefly mentions the prevention and treatment of malaria in pregnancy, highlighting the use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA/PQP) as potential options. However, the study mentioned in the article found that DHA/PQP was associated with higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to SP, suggesting that countries should consider these results before changing their approach to intermittent prophylactic treatment in pregnancy (IPTp). [Extracted from the article]

Load scheduling is an effective way of utilizing loads of smart residential buildings according to the preferences of the inhabitants or grid demands, while reducing the cost of energy. This work proposes objective functions for load scheduling to confine the cost of energy within the consumers' preference range while keeping the load consumption closer to the load demand as possible, to minimize system loss during normal and pandemic condition such as COVID-19 periods, fulfilling the unique features of a net-zero energy building. The proposed objective function is implemented by considering the realistic grid power cost, levelized cost of renewable sources, battery, and incentives offered by the utility system existing in California, USA. In addition to three different types of days such as normal working days, weekends and pandemic situations, brown out power outages are considered as operating conditions. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is utilized in all considered operating conditions. Two terms that account for the total energy cost savings and the total delayed/scheduled load over a fixed time horizon are formulated as performance indices to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed objective functions for load scheduling. All of the cases are optimized by the Paticle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and non-optimized systems are simulated in the MATLAB environment. It is evident from the simulation results that the proposed objective function is very efficient in tackling the energy resources, loads and grid power to maximize cost savings and minimize shifting of loads for later hours for normal and pandemic situations in net-zero energy buildings. Moreover, it is equally effective in responding to any emergency situations such as brown out energy crisis situations, which are not considered in the literature so far. In all cases, the performance index also validates the effectiveness of the proposed objective function-based scheduling system for net-zero energy buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, acute malnutrition threatens the lives of several million children under 5 years of age. Malnutrition affects the social, economic, and medical aspects of all countries. In Ethiopia, acute malnutrition is not decreasing at the intended rate for unclear reasons. Objective: This study aimed to assess the burden of acute malnutrition and its associated factors among children under 5 years of age in a rural setting of southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2022. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 421 children. Mothers/caretakers were interviewed using interviewer-administered questionnaire, while their children's height/length and weight were measured. Logistic regression analyses were used and presented as the crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The burden of acute malnutrition among children under 5 years of age in the study area was 22.6% (95% CI = 18.5-26.8). Fathers with primary education (AOR = 4.48; 95% CI = 1.93-10.39), households with improper solid waste disposal (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.11-5.82), not usually sleeping under insecticide-treated bed net (ITN) (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.01-3.19), unacceptable children dietary diversity score (DDS) (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.28-5.14), and unacceptable household DDS (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.02-5.00) were factors associated with acute malnutrition. Conclusions: The prevalence of acute malnutrition among children was critically high. Upgrading paternal educational status, encouraging safe solid waste disposal, ensuring consistent use of ITN, and improving both child and household DDS should be stressed. Plain language title: Very High Level of Acute Malnutrition and Related Factors Among Children Under 5 Years in the Rural Parts of Southern Ethiopia Plain language summary: Why was the study done?: Acute malnutrition is a cause of death for several million children under 5 years of age in the world. It affects the social, economic, and medical features of all countries. In Ethiopia, acute malnutrition is not decreasing at the intended rate for unclear reasons. Numerous studies in the country reported varying level on acute malnutrition in spite of similarities in the study area and time. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the level of acute malnutrition and related factors among children under 5 years of age in rural parts of southern Ethiopia. What did the researchers do?: The research team selected 421 representative children and collected information by asking their mothers/caretakers some relevant questions, and by weighing and measuring their height. Then, the collected information was computed by a computer software. What did the researchers find?: One out of 5 children in the rural parts of southern Ethiopia had acute malnutrition. Educational status of fathers, households with inappropriate solid waste, not usually sleeping under mosquito bed net, low level of children and household food variety were factors related to acute malnutrition. What do the findings mean?: The level of acute malnutrition among children in the study area was very high. Educating fathers, encouraging safe solid waste disposal, ensuring consistent use of mosquito bed net, and improving both the level of children and household food variety should be underlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak occurred in at least five regions of Madagascar in 2021. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the richness, abundance, ecology, and trophic preferences of mosquitoes in the Mananjary district and to investigate the distribution of mosquitoes that were RT-PCR-positive for RVFV. Three localities were prospected from 26 April to 4 May 2021, using light traps, BG-Sentinel traps baited with an artificial human odor, Muirhead-Thomson pit traps, and indoor pyrethroid spray catches. A total of 2806 mosquitoes belonging to at least 26 species were collected. Of 512 monospecific pools of mosquitoes tested with real-time RT-PCR, RVFV was detected in 37 pools representing 10 mosquito species. The RVFV-positive species were as follows: Aedes albopictus, Ae. argenteopunctatus, Anopheles coustani, An. gambiae s.l., An. mascarensis, An. squamosus/cydippis, Culex antennatus, Cx. decens, Cx. Tritaeniorhynchus, and Uranotaenia spp. Of the 450 tested engorged females, 78.7% had taken a blood meal on humans, 92.9% on cattle, and 71.6% had taken mixed (human–cattle) blood meals. This investigation suggests the potential role of mosquitoes in RVFV transmission within this epizootic/epidemic context and that the human populations at the three study sites were highly exposed to mosquitoes. Therefore, the use of impregnated mosquito nets as an appropriate prevention method is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia has considerable freshwater potential. Currently, the recognized fish diversity in the country's freshwater ecosystem is more than 200. Despite the presence of such high fish diversity with considerable economic returns, ichthyofaunal studies on Ethiopian rivers are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to identify and compare ichthyofaunal diversity and distribution in floodplain rivers of the Abbay and Tekeze Basins, Ethiopia. Fish were collected using gillnets, cast nets, hooks, electrofishing, and mosquito nets and identified to the species level. Gillnets had stretched mesh sizes of 4–14 cm with a panel length of 25–75 m and a width of 1.5–2 m per mesh size. They were set in the afternoon (5:00 p.m.) and lifted the following morning (7:30 a.m.). Immediately after capture, fish were preliminary identified in the field and tagged with proper information (e.g., sampling locality and date of collection). Similar fishing efforts were applied at all sampling sites for two dry and two wet months over a period of two years (2018-2019). In the present study, both alpha and beta diversity indices were also examined. Identification keys and an annotated checklist of species were generated for easy naming of the entire fish species in the basins. In the ichthyological collection, 43 fish species with 11 new records from the Ayima, Gelegu, and Shinfa Rivers were identified. The first two rivers in the Abbay Basin were the richest in species and number of individuals. Gelegu River had the highest abundance as well. Generally, this study was conducted in areas where no fish biodiversity studies have been undertaken, and the results obtained from this study could be important for fish biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults are generally amongst the most vulnerable to heat and cold. While temperature-related health impacts are projected to increase with global warming, the influence of population aging on these trends remains unclear. Here we show that at 1.5 °C, 2 °C, and 3 °C of global warming, heat-related mortality in 800 locations across 50 countries/areas will increase by 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5%, respectively; among which 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 heat-related deaths can be attributed to population aging. Despite a projected decrease in cold-related mortality due to progressive warming alone, population aging will mostly counteract this trend, leading to a net increase in cold-related mortality by 0.1%–0.4% at 1.5–3 °C global warming. Our findings indicate that population aging constitutes a crucial driver for future heat- and cold-related deaths, with increasing mortality burden for both heat and cold due to the aging population. This study reveals that population aging intensifies heat- and cold-related deaths, more so than climate change, in 50 countries. At 1.53 °C global warming, aging contributes to rising heat-related deaths, offsetting declines in cold related death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria remains an enduring public health concern in Indonesia, exacerbated by its equatorial climate that fosters the proliferation of Anopheles mosquitoes. This study seeks to assess the performance of the malaria elimination programme comprehensively. Methods: Between May and August 2022, a qualitative study was conducted in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra Province, involving 22 healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds. These informants were strategically chosen for their pivotal roles in providing profound insights into various facets of the malaria elimination programme. This encompasses inputs such as human resources, budgetary allocation, and infrastructural support; processes like case identification and management, capacity enhancement, epidemiological surveillance, prevention measures, outbreak control, and enhanced communication and educational initiatives; and, notably, the programme's outcomes. Data were collected through 3-h Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) divided into two groups, each with 12 participants: healthcare professionals and programme managers. Additionally, in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with ten informants. Employing the Input-Process-Output (IPO) model, this study meticulously analysed the healthcare system dynamics and the interventions' efficacy. Results: The study unveiled many challenges during the input phase, including the absence of entomologists and a shortage of diagnostic tools. Despite these obstacles, it documented remarkable accomplishments in the output domain, marked by significant advancements in the distribution of mosquito nets and the successful implementation of the Early Warning System (EWS). Despite the adversities, the programme has made substantial strides towards malaria elimination. Conclusions: Urgent action is imperative to bolster the effectiveness of the malaria elimination programme. Key measures encompass augmenting the entomologist workforce, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring stringent adherence to regional regulations. Addressing these concerns will enhance programme efficacy, yielding enduring public health benefits. This research substantially contributes to Indonesia's ongoing malaria elimination endeavours, furnishing actionable insights for programme enhancement. Consequently, this research holds significant importance for the malaria elimination drive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]