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Artificial rain, a technology primarily used for drought relief, has recently been used for combating regional air pollution. However, there are limited available measurement data to confirm the effectiveness of this control practice. In this study, we summarize control theories and indirect but relevant observations/findings, including air pollutant reduction after natural rain events and roadside sprinkling. A brief review of artificial rain basics is also provided. Our work shows that artificial rain appears to be a promising management strategy for air pollution control. However, field measurements are needed to further assess the cost-effectiveness of the practice, as well as the other benefits or challenges it may create.

Abstract The heavy metals, such as Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II), in aqueous solutions are toxic even at trace levels and have caused adverse health impacts on human beings. Hence the removal of these heavy metals from the aqueous environment is important to protect biodiversity, hydrosphere ecosystems, and human beings. In this study, magnetic Nickel-Ferrite Nanoparticles (NFNs) were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Field Emission Scanning Electronic Microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques in order to confirm the crystalline structure, composition and morphology of the NFN’s, these were then used as adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) from wastewater. The adsorption parameters under study were pH, dose and contact time. The values for optimum removal through batch-adsorption were investigated at different parameters (pH 3–7, dose: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg and contact time: 30, 60, 90, and 120 min). Removal efficiencies of Cr(VI), Pb(II) and Cd(II) were obtained 89%, 79% and 87% respectively under optimal conditions. It was found that the kinetics followed the pseudo second order model for the removal of heavy metals using Nickel ferrite nanoparticles.

This study reports the identification of a phosphatase-producing psychrotolerant bacterium, Bacillus cereus KR_O9, isolated from Arctic Krossfjorden sediments. The extracellular KR_O9 phosphatase was purified to homogeneity through acetone precipitation and ion exchange chromatography, achieving a specific activity of 12.51 U mg⁻ 1  min⁻ 1 , a 17.3-fold purification, and a 64.94% yield. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated as 37 kDa by SDS-PAGE. K m , and V max for KR_O9 phosphatase towards substrate p-NPP were determined as 0.033 M L -1 , 1.67 mg -1  min -1 . The enzyme exhibited optimal activity at 40 °C and pH 6.0, with stability up to ≤ 40 °C and at pH levels ≤ 7.0, highlighting its thermolability and sensitivity to alkaline pH. At 10 mM level, Cu 2+ , Hg 2+ , Co 2+ , Pb 2+ , urea, EDTA, and GSH significantly stimulated the enzyme, and Ca 2+ , Zn 2+ , Mn 2+ , SDS, and CTAB were, strong inhibitors. The kinetic efficiency, resilience to low to neutral pH, and tolerance to various metal ions, including heavy metals, underscore the potential of B. cereus KR_O9 phosphatase for bioremediation and biofertilizer applications, paving the way for industrial exploration., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Neural crest progenitor cells give rise to neuroblasts, the growing nerve cells of the sympathetic nervous system. These cells can undergo changes leading to neuroblastoma, a malignancy responsible for 15% of all pediatric cancer-related deaths. The molecular pathogenesis of this pediatric cancer involves complex genetic alterations, such as MYCN amplification, chromosomal abnormalities, and gene expression changes. Despite aggressive therapies, survival rates for children with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) have not improved significantly compared to those with less severe forms of the disease. This highlights the challenge of managing HRNB and underscores the need for new, effective treatments. A comprehensive treatment regimen, including immunotherapy, radiation therapy, myeloablative chemotherapy, and surgical removal, has been employed to achieve remission in HRNB patients. While dinutuximab beta immunotherapy is an effective and widely used treatment, it has several potential side effects that must be carefully monitored. New drugs are being developed to reduce these side effects without compromising efficacy. One such drug is DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), approved by the FDA under the brand name Iwilfin. Numerous clinical trials have shown that DFMO, when used as maintenance therapy, significantly improves event-free survival and overall survival in neuroblastoma patients. However, DFMO has adverse effects that require continuous monitoring. Further research is needed to minimize these side effects and improve its efficacy, particularly in addressing resistance caused by long-term use., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose: Propofol has become the sedative of choice for endoscopy and colonoscopy. However, it has shown associations with various adverse effects, specifically in the geriatric population. In contrast, remimazolam is a novel benzodiazepine, demonstrating a superior clinical safety profile. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to clarify the efficacy and safety of remimazolam versus propofol in elderly patients (≥ 60 years) undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopic and colonoscopy procedures., Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were explored from inception till January 7, 2024. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials (RoB-2) was utilized to evaluate the quality of each included study reported in this meta-analysis., Results: Seven randomized control trials were included, resulting in the pooling of 1,466 patients (remimazolam: 731 patients; propofol: 735 patients). Propofol demonstrated a significantly lower time to loss of consciousness (P < 0.00001, 4 studies, 784 patients) and a greater sedation success after first dose (P = 0.05, 5 studies, 1,271 patients). Remimazolam reported a significantly lower risk of bradycardia (P = 0.02, 5 studies, 1,323 patients), hypoxemia (P < 0.00001, 6 studies, 1,389 patients), and pain on injection site (P < 0.00001, 5 studies, 1,184 patients). No statistically significant differences in sedation time, number of supplemental doses, procedural parameters, and other adverse outcomes were reported., Conclusion: As per the results of our analyses, propofol demonstrated comparatively superior efficacy, however, remimazolam demonstrated comparatively superior safety. The debatable evidence generated from this meta-analysis may not currently be powerful enough to advocate for the use of remimazolam in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal procedures; hence, further comprehensive studies are necessary in order to arrive at a robust conclusion., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

As a major concern in the healthcare sector, polypharmacy is correlated with an increased risk of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs), treatment costs and adverse drug reactions (ADR). To assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors among postoperative cardiac patients admitted to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and April 2022. Medication charts of postoperative patients were reviewed for medication utilization and polypharmacy. Data was collected using a form approved by the Ethical Review Committee (ERC) regarding patient's clinical and demographic characteristics and medications administered. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 25.0. Patients were taking an average of 10.3±1.7 medications. The minimum number of drugs taken per patient was 5, while the maximum was 15 drugs. Only 114 (29.7%) received polypharmacy (5-9 drugs) and hyper-polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) was 270 (70.3%). The mean±SD cardiovascular drugs used were 5.45±1.18 and the mean±SD non-cardiovascular drugs were 4.83±1.18. The prevalence of hyper-polypharmacy suggests a critical need for optimized medication management strategies in this population. Incorporating clinical pharmacists within public healthcare institutions can address polypharmacy-related challenges and enhance medication safety, adherence and patient outcomes.

Lentil belonging to the fabaceae family is a proteinaceous cool-season legume consumed across the world. However, lentil is low yielding with a narrow genetic base compared to other grain legumes such as chickpea, faba bean, and cowpea. In the present study, we intended to investigate the effect of two different mutagens viz., caffeine and lead nitrate on the bio-physiological and agronomical traits of lentil. Unlike other mutagens like ethyl methanesulphonate, sodium azide, and hydrazine hydrates very little is known about the mutagenic potency of caffeine and lead nitrate. The results revealed contrasting effects as lower doses of caffeine-induced a substantial increase in mean values of physiological and agronomical traits whereas both lower and higher doses of lead nitrate negatively impacted the agronomical traits of lentil. Among the mutagen doses, 0.1% caffeine was most efficient in inducing a substantial increase in mean values of bio-physiological and quantitative traits. The present study also revealed the successful conduct of induced mutagenesis in lentil and present a protocol that could be followed in future breeding programs aimed at increasing the yielding potential of legumes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Over the years, worsening climate change has led to multiple spells of heavy rain and floods in Pakistan, with the 2022 floods ranked as the deadliest in world history. To top it off, decades of political instability, mental health stigma, and lack of psychological support have tipped the after-effects over the edge. These floods have taken a toll on more than 13 000 people, with inaccessibility to vital necessities leading to further deaths every week. Local and international support is imminent for better handling of the crisis and reducing the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorders and other mental health-related issues., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

With over seven pandemics and four million reported cases, Cholera remains of the most prevalent acute watery diarrheal diseases in the world to date. As in other developing countries, Iraq once again combats Cholera - and its past encounter in 2015, where the death toll reached 1500, highlights the importance of quickly addressing the current outbreak. The war-torn state of the nation, malnourished public, lack of sanitation and hygiene, mass displacement and global warming all contribute to the prevalence of Cholera in Iraq. Along with the current efforts, additional strategies are recommended for managing cholera cases, such as awareness campaigns, monitoring the safety of water bodies, and food inspection., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of IJS Publishing Group Ltd.)

Background: According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre report on global human displacement, Ethiopia has the highest number of newly displaced people forced to flee their homes. Displaced people have arrived in other regions, sometimes leading to conflict. Several regions in Ethiopia experience on-going ethnic tensions and violence between tribes, which leaves smallholder farmers suspicious of any outside activities in their locale, assuming other ethnic groups may harm them. Changes in the central Ethiopian government have also led to suspicion of non-local agencies. The Campylobacter Genomics and Enteric Dysfunction (CAGED) research project's objective is to improve the incomes, livelihoods and nutrition of smallholder farmers and was conducted during this period of increasing violence. The project aims to assess the impact of reducing exposure to chicken excreta on young children's gut health and growth. This paper does not report empirical findings from CAGED, but is part of a series that aims to identify challenges in humanitarian research and reports on mitigation strategies during this research., Discussion: This research is important to determine whether Campylobacter infection in chicken's contributes to illness and stunting in children. However, violence against other researchers in different parts of Ethiopia led to mistrust and lack of engagement by the community with the researchers. Some reactions were so hostile that the team was fearful about returning to some households. As a result, the team designed strategies to respond, including establishing two types of community advisory boards. One used pre-existing village elder structures and another was composed of village youth. Data collection team members received training in principles of ethics, consent, and crisis management, and were provided on-going support from local and international principal investigators and the study's ethics advisor., Conclusion: The hostility and mistrust led to fear among the data collectors. These and the resulting strategies to address them resulted in delays for the research. However, the interventions taken resulted in successful completion of the field activities. Moreover, the lessons learned from this project are already being implemented with other projects being conducted in various parts of Ethiopia., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

In the present study, we report the nitrogen fixing potential of heterotrophic diazotrophs isolated from a tropical estuary and adjacent coastal sea. Results of the study revealed that most of the species that are capable of fixing nitrogen in the study area belongs to the genus Bacillus. The isolates from the estuary showed maximum homology with Bacillus megaterium, B. cereus, B. safencis, B. licheniformis, B. aerophilus, B. oceanisediminis, B. flexus, B. aquimaris, B. vietnamensis, and B. subterraneaus, whereas the diazotrophic isolates from coastal samples were closely related to B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. circulans, B. aerophilus, B. flexus, and B. oceanisediminis. Experimental studies to determine the nitrogen fixation potential of isolates revealed considerable variation among different strains and the highest nitrogen fixing potential was recorded in B. megaterium (210.05 ± 7.0 nmol C 2 H 4 /mg protein/day) followed by B. flexus (108.76 ± 3.66 nmol C 2 H 4 /mg protein/day) and B. circulans (98.28 ± 4.32 nmol C 2 H 4 /mg protein/day). Molecular basis of nitrogen fixation by these heterotrophic Bacillus strains has been explored in terms of the presence of nifH gene in them. We observed that heterotrophic Bacillus sp. have potential ability to fix nitrogen., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Microorganisms play a significant role in biogeochemical cycles, especially in the benthic and pelagic ecosystems. Role of environmental parameters in regulating the diversity, distribution and physiology of these microorganisms in tropical marine environment is not well understood. In this study, we have identified dinitrogen (N 2 ) fixing bacterial communities in the sediments by constructing clone libraries of nitrogenase (nifH) gene from four different stations in the Cochin estuary, along the southeastern Arabian Sea. N 2 fixing bacterial clones revealed that over 20 putative diazotrophs belong to alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and epsilon- proteobacteria and firmicutes. Predominant genera among these were Bradyrhizobium sp. (α-proteobacteria), Dechloromonas sp. (β-proteobacteria); Azotobactor sp., Teredinibacter sp., Methylobacter sp., Rheinheimera sp. and Marinobacterium sp. (γ-proteobacteria); Desulfobacter sp., Desulfobulbus sp. and Desulfovibrio sp. (δ -proteobacteria); Arcobacter sp. and Sulfurospirillum sp. (ε-proteobacteria). Nostoc sp. was solely identified among the cyanobacterial phylotype. Nitrogen fixing Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRBs) such as Desulfobulbus sp., Desulfovibrio sp., Desulfuromonas sp., Desulfosporosinus sp., Desulfobacter sp., were also observed in the study. Most of the bacterial nifH sequences revealed that the identities of N 2 fixing bacteria were less than 95% similar to that available in the GenBank database, which suggested that the sequences were of novel N 2 fixing microorganisms. Shannon-Weiner diversity index of nifH gene ranged from 2.95 to 3.61, indicating an inflated diversity of N 2 fixing bacteria. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) implied positive correlation among nifH diversity, N 2 fixation rate and other environmental variables.

Introduction: Gastroepiploic artery aneurysms are extremely rare, with few reported cases in the literature. The risk of rupture however, is high and thus warrants attention., Presentation of Case: Here we present a rare case of a women who presented to the emergency department in shock and was found to have a ruptured gastroepiploic artery aneurysm during surgical exploration. Suture ligation of the aneurysm was completed., Discussion: Although rare, gastroepiploic artery aneurysms have up to a 90% rate of rupture and therefore require intervention. A laparoscopic approach has been described however, in cases where rupture has occurred, urgent laparotomy and control of hemorrhage is needed., Conclusion: We describe a rare case of a ruptured gastroepiploic aneurysm that was successfully managed with urgent laparotomy and aneurysmal resection., (Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa with a total fertility rate (TFR) of 4.8 children per a woman and contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 29 %. The overall prevalence of modern family planning in a pastoralist community, like Afar region, is low (9.1 %). This study aimed to assess family planning utilization and associated factors among married women of Afar region, Eastern Ethiopia., Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 10-28, 2013 among 602 women. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Descriptive and multiple variable logistic regression analyses were done to isolate independent predictors on utilization of family planning using SPSS 20., Results: The overall prevalence of family planning utilization in Afar region was 8.5 % (6.2-10.7). Majority of the women (92.2 %) had used injectable. The most common reasons mentioned in the non-use of family planning methods were religion-related (85.3 %), desire to have more children (75.3 %), and husband's objection (70.1 %). Women who had a positive attitude towards family planning utilization (AOR = 4.7, 95 % CI: 2.1, 10.3), owning radio (AOR = 1.8, 95 % CI: 1.02, 4.18), and literate (AOR = 4.4, 95 % CI: 1.80, 11.08) were more likely to use family planning methods as compared to their counterparts. The increase of monthly income was also associated with the likelihood of family planning methods utilization. The odds of using family planning methods were higher among those with monthly income of $27-$55.5 (AOR = 2. 0, 95 % CI: 1.9, 4.7) and > $55 (AOR = 4. 6, 95 % CI: 1.23-17.19) as compared to women with the lowest category of monthly income ($27 and less)., Conclusion: The low coverage of family planning in the region could be due to the influence of husband, religious and clan leader. Attitude of women towards family planning methods, possession of radio, monthly income, and educational status could influence family planning utilization.

Arsenic contamination in drinking-water in Bangladesh is a major catastrophe, the consequences of which exceed most other man-made disasters. The national policy encourages the use of surface water as much as possible without encountering the problems of sanitation that led to the use of groundwater in the first place. This paper describes the success of the Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH) team and the procedure in implementing sanitary, arsenic-free, dugwells. The capital cost for running water is US$ 5-6 per person. Sixty-six sanitary dugwells were installed in phases between 2000 and 2004 in Pabna district of Bangladesh where there was a great need of safe water because, in some villages, 90% of tubewells were highly contaminated with arsenic. In total, 1,549 families now have access to safe arsenic-free dugwell water. Some of them have a water-pipe up to their kitchen. All of these were implemented with active participation of community members. They also pay for water-use and are themselves responsible for the maintenance and water quality. The DCH helped the community with installation and maintenance protocol and also with monitoring water quality. The bacteria levels are low but not always zero, and studies are in progress to reduce bacteria by chlorination.

Corticosteroid therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is effective but associated with long-term side effects. To determine the potential therapeutic benefit from four nutritional compounds (creatine monohydrate, conjugated linoleic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) alone, in combination, and with corticosteroids (prednisolone), we evaluated the effects on several variables in exercising mdx mice. Outcome measures included grip strength, rotarod performance, serum creatine kinase levels, muscle metabolites, internalized myonuclei, and retroperitoneal fat pad weight. In isolation, each nutritional treatment showed some benefit, with the combination therapy showing the most consistent benefits. Prednisolone and the combination therapy together provided the most consistent evidence of efficacy; increased peak grip strength (P < 0.05), decreased grip strength fatigue (P < 0.05), decreased number of internalized myonuclei (P < 0.01), and smaller retroperitoneal fat pad stores (P < 0.001). This study provided evidence for therapeutic benefit from a four-compound combination therapy alone, and in conjunction with corticosteroids in the mdx model of DMD.