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Understanding community antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A grassroots perspective from Enugu, Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis, especially in low-and middle-income countries where antibiotic access is insufficiently regulated and health systems are under-resourced. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the community is often the primary site of antibiotics decision-making, shaped by informal markets, structural barriers, and cultural norms. This study investigates antimicrobial use behaviours, perceptions of AMR, and motivations for inappropriate antibiotics use and what might motivate future change, among diverse communities in Nigeria. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from a baseline survey (n = 1,281), 20 interviews, and 4 focus group discussions (n = 24). Antibiotic use was widespread, with 57.7% of respondents reporting use within six months, often without prescriptions and for conditions like malaria (32.3%), cough (7.6%), and fever (4.5%), many of which are non-bacterial in origin. Of those who reported antibiotic use, 48% self-medicated, sourcing antibiotics primarily from chemist shops. Misconceptions were common; only 15.7% had heard of AMR, and many confuse it with fake drugs or allergic reactions. Novel trends such as the use of antibiotics for pregnancy termination and preventive “cleansing” emerged. Structural challenges such as poverty, poor healthcare access, and lack of regulation reinforced these behaviours. Qualitative findings highlighted a deep trust in antibiotics as a “cure-all”, low health literacy, and the central role of informal drug vendors in care delivery. Participants also offered culturally embedded recommendations, including using radio jingles, community education through religious leaders, and stronger enforcement of drug regulation. This study argues that antibiotic misuse in Nigerian communities is not solely a function of ignorance but a rational response to systemic healthcare limitations, cultural logics, and informal care networks. Tackling AMR in this context requires inclusive, community-informed interventions that address both behavioural and structural determinants of misuse. The study offers actionable insights for AMR policy, communication strategies, and community engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A MW/MMW shared-aperture antenna supporting two-dimension beam steering in MMW band

Long-term physical performance trends across the five confederations: Evidence from the 19th to 22nd FIFA World Cup editions (2010–2022)

Background Physical performance demands in elite international football have evolved substantially in recent decades, yet longitudinal comparisons across FIFA confederations remain limited. Objective This study examined long-term changes in physical performance demands among outfield players from five confederations (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, and AFC) using tracking data from 225 matches at the 2010–2022 FIFA World Cups. Methods Generalised mixed linear models were used to estimate changes in total distance, top speed, sprint (>25 km·h ⁻ ¹), low-intensity running distance (<15 km·h ⁻ ¹), and high-intensity running distance (≥15 km·h ⁻ ¹), with confederation as the main factor and match status, location, and team and opponent strength controlled. Results Across confederations, substantial increases were observed in top speed, sprint, and low-intensity running distance from 2010 to 2022, indicating a uniform rise in speed-related demands. In contrast, changes in total distance and high-intensity running distance were confederation-specific. Total distance increased between 2018 and 2022 in AFC, CONCACAF, and UEFA, but showed no substantial change in CONMEBOL. High-intensity running distance declined in AFC, CONMEBOL, and UEFA, while changes in CAF were trivial. Conclusion These findings indicate that speed-related demands have increased globally, whereas total and high-intensity running demands remain region-specific across FIFA World Cup editions.

Non-GMO surface display of VP28 on Pediococcus pentosaceus for oral protection against white spot syndrome virus in shrimp

The science of foresight: how to future-proof your research

Effects of urban association on the movement ecology of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) in Saudi Arabia

Human–wildlife conflict involving primates is an emerging conservation concern in rapidly urbanizing regions. The hamadryas baboon ( Papio hamadryas ), the only native non-human primate of the Arabian Peninsula, increasingly exploits anthropogenic food sources, intensifying human–baboon conflict across southwestern Saudi Arabia. To examine how human-modified environments influence baboon spatial ecology; we fitted GPS collars to ten adult males representing groups that are regarded as living in urban, natural and semi-natural environments across five regions. Over nine months, we collected 13,962 location fixes and analyzed them using empirical variograms, home range analysis, and minimum daily path length estimates. Variogram analyses indicated that baboons living in a natural environment exhibited the greatest space-use extent, semi-natural individuals showed intermediate and more variable space-use dynamics, whereas baboons living in urban areas displayed restricted movement. Hamadryas baboons living in natural environments exhibited the largest home ranges with a median of 8.79 km 2 (range: 6.19–13.86 km 2 ) and minimum daily path lengths with median 3.33 km (range 0.02–20.6 km), whereas baboons living in urban areas maintained the smallest ranges with a median of 1.31 km 2 (range: 1.24–1.79 km 2 ) and the minimum daily path lengths with a median of 2.16 km (range: 0.01–4.85 km). The proportion of daytime spent in urban areas increased along the gradient, 7.2% (natural), 40.6% (semi-natural), and 55.0% (urban). These findings support the Resource Dispersion Hypothesis, suggesting that food predictability shapes baboon space use more than resource scarcity. The study strengthens ongoing conflict-mitigation efforts by providing insights into baboon movement patterns and supporting the ecological differentiation of natural, semi-natural, and urban baboon groups, thereby informing category-specific management interventions.

CleaveSmart: deciphering the puzzle of rational 10–23 DNAzyme selection through interpretable AI insights

White matter micro- and macrostructure brain charts for the human lifespan

Abstract The human brain relies on a complex network of connections to function, with white matter acting as the primary communication highway between different brain regions 1,2 . Disruptions in these critical communication pathways are linked to several neurological, psychiatric and developmental disorders 3,4 . Although clinicians have long used standard growth charts to track physical development 5 , with more recent work translating these to whole-brain and grey matter measurements 6–9 , there has been no equivalent reference standard for white matter. Establishing a readily available normative reference is an imperative first step if we hope to utilize these white matter structural biomarkers clinically. Here we present lifespan reference charts for human brain white matter. By processing and standardizing 35,120 brain scans from diverse global studies, we mapped the typical growth, maturation and age-related decline of specific brain pathways from birth to 100 years of age. These reference charts establish a fundamental benchmark for healthy brain development and ageing, allowing researchers and clinicians to quantify how an individual’s brain deviates from typical patterns and highlighting disorder-related alterations. Furthermore, the accompanying open access charts enable the scientific and clinical communities to evaluate new patient and research data against these normative baselines, facilitating future clinical and neuroscience studies.

Vibration response of blue honeysuckle branches based on mathematical model

For vibratory harvesting of blue honeysuckle, excitation must generate sufficient inertial force to detach the fruit, but the vibration energy is always absorbed by the trunk and root system, which decreases the inertial force. This study investigated the vibration response of fruit branches under excitation to achieve efficient harvesting. A simplified Y‑shaped branch model was established, and then dynamic equations of this branch system were derived. Based on branch angle characteristics, the dynamic equations were simplified. When the angle between a branch axis direction and the excitation direction is small, a specific excitation frequency induces parametric resonance in the branch system, leading to unstable vibration of the branch system. Under weak coupling conditions, the relationship among excitation amplitude, frequency, and geometric parameters of the branch that produce unstable vibration was derived, and the influence of variations in branch geometric parameters on the instability region was found. By establishing a finite element model of the branch system, the natural frequencies were calculated, and vibration amplitudes under different excitation frequencies were obtained through numerical simulation, which clarified the response characteristics of the branch during parametric resonance. To verify the theoretical and finite element analyses, branch vibration experiments were conducted. The maximum vibration amplitude of the branch under different excitation frequencies was measured, and the parametric resonance behavior was analyzed accordingly. The finite element calculations and experimental results agreed well with the theoretical model predictions, indicating that the theoretical model can provide a reliable basis for the design of vibratory harvesting machinery for blue honeysuckle.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and improved prognosis in critically Ill patients: insights from a retrospective cohort study

Platelet membrane biomimetic nanoparticle-based targeted delivery system of simvastatin for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and excessive neuroinflammation are pivotal drivers of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Although simvastatin (SV) possesses potent pleiotropic effects in promoting BBB repair and attenuating inflammation, its clinical translation for ischemic stroke is severely hampered by poor BBB penetration, low lesion accumulation, and the need for high systemic doses that increase the risk of off-target toxicity (e.g., myopathy). To address these barriers, herein, we developed a platelet membrane–biomimetic nanoparticle system (pmPLGA@SV) designed to leverage the innate affinity of platelets for injured vasculature for lesion-targeted SV delivery at a lower effective dose. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful cloaking of platelet membranes onto SV-loaded PLGA cores. In vitro, pmPLGA@SV demonstrated superior therapeutic versatility: it effectively scavenged reactive oxygen species in oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-treated PC12 cells and orchestrated microglial repolarization from a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype toward an anti-inflammatory M2 state in BV2 cells, significantly modulating the secretion of IL-1β and IL-10. In vivo, pmPLGA@SV treatment dramatically reduced the cerebral infarct volume, exhibiting significant superiority over free SV. Furthermore, longitudinal behavioral assessments over 21 days demonstrated that pmPLGA@SV markedly accelerated motor and sensory-motor functional recovery, accompanied by consistent body weight regain and improved neurological scores. Mechanistically, pmPLGA@SV facilitates a synergistic therapeutic approach by mitigating neuronal oxidative stress and remodeling the inflammatory microenvironment. This study demonstrates that pmPLGA@SV serves as a robust biomimetic platform for the integrated treatment of neurovascular unit damage, offering a promising strategy for long-term neuroprotection and functional rehabilitation following ischemic stroke.

Firefly algorithm-based optimization of a high-efficiency DC–DC converter for hybrid energy-powered electric vehicles

Engineering of episomal plasmid structure to enhance non-viral Poly(beta-amino ester) nanoparticle gene delivery to liver and brain cancer cells

The objective of this study was to create and evaluate episomal plasmids for use in non-viral polymeric gene delivery to cancer cells. A comparative analysis was conducted utilizing poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs) as the nanocarrier vector and various hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and brain cancer cell lines. A total of fourteen reporter plasmids that varied in promoter (CMV, CAG, EF1α), backbone (Z1, pUNO1, Nanoplasmid [NanoP]), length (~2000 to ~7000 base-pairs), and antibiotic selection marker (Kanamycin, Zeocin, Blasticidin, or none) were constructed, characterized, and evaluated for gene delivery performance. GFP and mCherry plasmids were evaluated in six HCC lines: human (Hep3B), murine (Hepa1–6, Hepa1c1c7), and porcine (A92, A272, B239). Luciferase plasmid constructs were evaluated in three brain cancer lines: murine glioma (CT-2A), human astrocytoma (CCF-STTG1), and human meningioma (IOMM-Lee). When comparing promoters within the same backbone (Z1), the GFP nanoparticles (NPs) under control of a CMV promoter demonstrated consistently higher expression than those with a CAG or EF1α promoter. As EF1α promoters are often used for in vivo applications due to their resistance to gene silencing, four GFP plasmids under control of the EF1α promoter were also compared: Z1-EF1α-GFP, pUNO1-GFP, pUNO1-GFP-SV40, and NanoP-GFP. Of these, the NPs delivering NanoP-GFP, a minimal plasmid, resulted in the highest %GFP+ cells in five HCC cell lines, the highest GFP geometric mean fluorescence intensity (gMFI) in all six HCC cell lines, and the highest luciferase signal in two out of three brain cancer cell lines. NanoP was also the only plasmid evaluated without an antibiotic resistance gene, which may be advantageous when selecting a plasmid best able to meet regulatory guidance for clinical translation. Finally, a modest negative correlation between plasmid size and either transfection efficacy or GFP gMFI was observed. Overall, this work helps to inform episomal plasmid design strategy for use with non-viral gene therapies.

Evaluation of the synergistic and antagonistic antibacterial effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields combined with ciprofloxacin and nanochitosan

Abstract This study introduces an innovative electromagnetic nano-approach to combat high-severity bacterial infections without relying solely on high-dose antibiotics. We investigate the synergistic potential of extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic wave (ELF PEMW) exposure (< 20 Hz) as a physical catalyst to enhance the bio-activity of ciprofloxacin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Cipro-C-NPs). This method provides a pivotal alternative for managing Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus aureus in an era of escalating multi-drug resistance. Cipro-C-NPs were synthesized with high encapsulation efficiency. Bacteria were subjected to a multi-factorial screening involving three antibacterial agents, two physical fields (pulsed magnetic and electric), and varying frequencies (0.7, 6, and 20 Hz) for durations of 20 and 60 min. As a high-throughput preliminary screen, this work aimed to map the qualitative landscape of bio-electromagnetic interactions. Contrary to the hypothesis of enhanced membrane permeability, ELF PEMW functioned as a biophysical antagonist. The electromagnetic field appeared to trigger membrane hyperpolarization, increasing transmembrane potential and restricting porin-mediated transport of the antibiotic. Simultaneously, the field reduced the zeta-potential of the chitosan nanoparticles, leading to significant colloidal aggregation. These large aggregates were physically excluded from bacterial entry routes, resulting in increased Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs). Notably, the degree of antagonism was species-specific, suggesting that membrane capacitance and porin density dictate electromagnetic susceptibility. This study reveals a critical bio-electromagnetic trade-off: while physical fields can modulate cellular behavior, poorly tuned parameters can inadvertently fortify bacterial defenses and reduce drug bioavailability. These findings provide a vital “negative roadmap” for future research, highlighting the need for direct electrophysiological mapping of efflux pumps and membrane potentials. This work serves as a foundational step toward precision-targeted, physics-assisted antimicrobial therapies.

Wearable sensors on the face are invisible to the eye

Functional-level analysis of post-stroke social participation: A nationwide cohort study using the ICF framework

Background Social participation is a key goal in stroke rehabilitation, but its influencing factors vary by functional status. Few large-scale studies have categorized patients by functional level and analyzed associated factors using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Objective To identify determinants of social participation 12 months after stroke, stratified by functional level. Design and participants A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 2,695 stroke survivors from a nationwide cohort in Korea. Participants were stratified into five groups based on Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores: Severe, Marked, Moderate, Slight, and Unimpaired. Methods Social participation was measured using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index. Independent variables were categorized into four ICF domains: personal factors, body functions and structures, activities and participation, and environmental factors. Multivariate regression analyses were performed by functional group. Results Predictors varied significantly across functional levels. In the Severe group (FMA < 50), environmental factors (home accessibility and caregiver-related variables such as age and relationship) were the primary determinants. Conversely, in higher-functioning groups (FMA ≥ 85), social participation was more strongly influenced by body functions and structures (cognitive, language, and psychosocial functions) and activities and participation factors (vocational status). Across all groups, activities and participation (functional independence and health-related quality of life) remained consistent positive predictors, while environmental barriers (caregiver burden) were universal constraints. Conclusion Determinants of social participation differ by functional status: individuals with lower functional levels are more significantly affected by environmental factors, whereas those with higher function face greater barriers related to body functions and structures. These findings suggest that stroke rehabilitation must provide functional-level-specific interventions, moving beyond physical recovery to address these distinct multidimensional barriers.

Study on underwater explosion bubble dynamics in a finite open domain

Acquired genetic and cell-state changes in IDH-mutant glioma progression

Abstract Gliomas with mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) are malignant brain tumours that typically arise in early to mid-adulthood and nearly always recur following treatment 1,2 . However, the genetic and cellular-state changes that drive IDH-mutant glioma progression under treatment remain incompletely understood. Here we integrated single-nucleus transcriptomic profiles, chromatin accessibility profiles and bulk DNA and RNA sequencing from 75 temporally separated gliomas across 35 patients comprising both the oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma IDH-mutant glioma tumour types. We show that malignant cell states transcriptionally resemble stages of normal glial–neuronal lineage development or a reactive mesenchymal-like state, mirroring states previously described in IDH wild-type glioblastoma 3,4 . Malignant cell states displayed distinct chromatin accessibility profiles that were comparable between both IDH-mutant glioma types. The abundance of less differentiated malignant cells increased with grade and with genetic alterations such as PDGFRA amplification. Longitudinal analysis highlighted two major malignant cell-state transition patterns. First, reduced lineage differentiation and increased proliferative malignant cells at recurrence were enriched in gliomas that acquired recurrence-associated genetic events. These included treatment-associated hypermutation, increased copy number changes and cell cycle alterations. Second, increased mesenchymal-like-state abundance occurred independently of acquired genetic alterations and instead coincided with elevated macrophage expression. Overall, our findings provide an integrative model that traces the cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that shape cellular states during IDH-mutant glioma disease progression.

Chinese small and medium-sized city image communication on Douyin: Algorithmic heuristics and cultural resilience in short-video ecologies

This study examines how Chinese small and medium-sized cities gain visibility and sustain place-based meaning within Douyin’s platformized short-video ecology. Focusing on Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, it analyzes 30 high-interaction Douyin videos published between May 2023 and May 2025 and applies crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (csQCA) to identify configurations associated with high dissemination performance. The findings suggest that city-related hashtags function as a necessary platform-indexing condition in the sampled archive, while emotional resonance and narrative structure strengthen specific high-impact configurations. Two communicative logics are particularly salient: non-local creators can generate rapid visibility through immersive, fragmented, and affective presentations, whereas locally embedded storytelling can reinforce cultural resilience and place identity. The study contributes to digital urban communication by integrating the Heuristic-Systematic Model with debates on platformization, algorithmic visibility, and digital place branding.

Molecular Engineering Boosts Photon‐Activated Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer Through Concurrent Pyroptosis and cGAS‐STING Pathway Activation

ABSTRACT Prostate cancer therapy is often limited by metastasis, drug resistance, and systemic toxicity. Photodynamic immunotherapy (PDIT) offers a promising alternative, yet its efficacy depends on photosensitizers that can simultaneously generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activate antitumor immunity. Herein, three thiophene (T) dyes based on triphenylamine (D) and N ‐ethyl‐benzoselenazolium iodide (Se) (DTSe)‐based photosensitizers were molecularly engineered by modulating the π‐conjugated structure. Incorporation of a carbazole unit affords DZTSe with suppressed fluorescence, enlarged Huang–Rhys factor, reduced singlet‐triplet energy gap, and prolonged triplet‐state lifetime, resulting in enhanced ROS generation. Notably, DZTSe exhibits multi‐organelle localization in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, concurrently inducing pyroptosis and activating the cGAS‐STING pathway. This dual stress‐immune activation reprograms the tumor microenvironment and enables effective eradication of primary tumors and suppression of distant lesions in vivo, providing a molecular blueprint for immune‐activating photosensitizers.