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Prevalence and associated factors of delay in seeking malaria treatment among under five children in the Horn of Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Malaria is a global public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. It is responsible for 90% of all deaths worldwide. To reduce the impact and complications associated with delayed treatment of malaria among children under five, comprehensive evidence about the magnitude and determinants of delayed treatment for malaria could be the solution. But there are no national-level studies in the Horn of Africa for decision-makers. Objective To assess the prevalence and associated factors of delay in seeking malaria treatment among under-five children in the Horn of Africa. Method Published and unpublished papers were searched on Google, Google Scholar, PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and the published articles’ reference list. The search mechanism was established using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms by combining the key terms of the title. Joana Brigg’s Institute critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of articles. A sensitivity test was conducted to evaluate the heterogeneity of the studies. The visual funnel plot test and Egger’s and Begg’s statistics in the random effect model were done to evaluate the publication bias and small study effect. The I2 statistics were also used to quantify the amount of heterogeneity between the included studies. Results The pooled prevalence of delayed treatment for malaria among under-five children in the Horn of Africa was 48% (95% CI: 34%–63%). History of child death (OR =2.5, 95% CI: 1.73–3.59), distance >3000 meters (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 2.03–3.3), drug side effect (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.86–4.67), formal education (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49–0.96), middle income (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28–0.63), expensiveness (OR = 4.39, 95% CI: 2.49–7.76), and affordable cost (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.41–3.2) for transport were factors associated with malaria treatment delay among children. Conclusion and recommendations About one out of two parents in the Horn of Africa put off getting their kids treated for malaria. High transportation expenses, long travel times (greater than 3,000 meters) to medical facilities, and anxiety about drug side effects were major risk factors that contributed to this delay. On the other hand, a middle-class income was found to be protective of treatment delays. These results highlight how crucial it is to improve access to healthcare services, both financially and physically, to minimize delays in treating malaria in the area’s children.

Daily briefing: Universities made the modern world — now they must survive it

Uncovering morphometric, germination, and genetic divergence patterns in Euterpe edulis for breeding and conservation applications

Abstract Euterpe edulis exhibits significant ecological, social, and economic potential, comparable to E. oleracea, for both the fresh fruit pulp market and industrial applications as a natural pigment. The commercial management of E. edulis fruits is economically promising; however, further studies are required to support improvement, conservation, and propagation programs. In this study, we aimed to assess the genetic control of key traits by estimating variance components, genetic parameters, and the associative relationships between fruit morphometric traits, seed characteristics, and seedling emergence using Pearson correlation and path analysis. Additionally, we quantified the genetic divergence among E. edulis accessions. Thirteen phenotypic traits and eight microsatellite markers were analyzed in 72 genotypes from different origins. High heritability values (ranging from 0.75 to 0.99) were observed for fruit, seed, and emergence traits, whereas morphophysiological growth traits exhibited lower heritability estimates. Genetic correlations of up to 0.88 were detected among fruit morphometric traits. Seedling basal diameter and leaf area had direct positive effects on the seedling quality index, while seedling height exerted a direct negative effect. Genetic divergence analysis demonstrated the efficiency of sampling genotypes from different origins to preserve the species’ genetic variability. These findings provide insights to guide the establishment of germplasm collections in the field, maximizing the potential for genetic recombination among divergent genotypes and offering a solid foundation for future studies employing expanded molecular resources to explore trait architecture more deeply.

Effects of school-based concurrent training on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in obese children in a randomized controlled trial

Validation and potential refinement of the Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT) among patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease

Background Medication adherence is essential for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and preventing its progression. In Malaysia, adherence is commonly assessed using the 12-item Likert scale Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT-12), but it has not been validated for CKD patients. Thus, this study aimed to validate and explore its potential for item reduction among non-dialysis CKD patients. Methods and findings A cross-sectional, multi-center study was conducted across eight health facilities in Pahang state from December 2023 to August 2024. Non-dialysis CKD patients aged 18 years and above, with or without diabetes, attending outpatient clinics, were given the 12-item self-administered MyMAAT-12 and items from the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ). Patient demographics, HbA1c levels, and serum phosphate changes within three months preceding MyMAAT-12 completion were collected. The dimensionality of the scale was explored through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and its reliability and criterion validity were evaluated to ensure robust measurement properties. A simulation test was conducted to explore the feasibility of reducing MyMAAT-12 to a shorter version. A total of 246 respondents participated, predominantly female (54.5%) and Malay (91.5%), with a mean age of 59.5 ± 12.5 years and an average CKD duration of 5.0 ± 5.4 years. The average medication adherence score was poor to moderate (<54/60). MyMAAT-12 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90) and significant association with BMQ categories (χ²(2) = 16.8, p < 0.01). EFA identified a two-factor structure. MyMAAT-12 adherence categorization was significantly associated with HbA1c% (<8% vs. ≥ 8%) (χ2(2) = 4.7, p = 0.03) and phosphate level changes (χ2(2) = 5.48, p = 0.02). Results indicated that reducing MyMAAT-12 to a 7-item scale was feasible, while maintaining strong psychometric properties (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.87) and a significant association with HbA1c% (ρ = −0.22, p = 0.01). Conclusion MyMAAT-12 demonstrated strong reliability and validity, making it a valuable tool for clinicians to accurately assess medication adherence in non-dialysis CKD patients. The shortened MyMAAT-7 offers a streamlined alternative with strong psychometric properties, enhancing clinical practicality.

Mitochondria expel tainted DNA — spurring age-related inflammation

Intelligent unequal clustering in wireless sensor networks using a game theoretic and evolutionary strategy

Medicinal potential of Morchella esculenta oil inhibits cancer cell proliferation, metabolite characterization through GCMS, GC×GC–TOF–MS and UHPLC–QTOF–MS

Water use efficiency of Cupressus gigantea is higher in mountain slope habitats compared to riverside habitats

Cupressus gigantea is an endemic species of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, China, and is designated as a national key protected wild plant species. It is uniquely distributed in the specific sections from Jiacha County to Danniang village Milin City along Yarlung Zangbo River in various habitats such as the waterline along the Yarlung Zangbo River, terraces, and mountain slopes. In this study, we utilized stable isotope technology(δD, δ18O, and δ13C), combined with the IsoSource model, to quantitatively determined the sources of water absorption and the water use efficiency of C. gigantea in various habitats, including riverside area, terraces and mountain slopes. The results showed that the content of soil total nitrogen, soil nitrate nitrogen, soil ammonium nitrogen, and soil organic carbon are significantly higher on mountain slope than in the other two habitats, while the total carbon content, water content, and total nitrogen content of C. gigantea leaves are significantly lower on mountain slope than in the other two habitats (P < 0.05). The water use efficiency (WUE) of C. gigantea in the mountain slope habitats is 107.8 μmol mol-1, which is significantly higher than that of other habitats (P < 0.05), with the WUE of C. gigantea in the riverside habitat being the lowest at 35.7 μmol mol-1. C. gigantea distributed on the mountain slope and terrace uses soil water as the main water source. During the normal rainy season, the proportion of soil water utilization is the highest, accounting for more than 60%; in the dry season, the utilization of river water and groundwater increases, while soil water utilization decreases. C. gigantea distributed along the riverside mainly absorbs water from the Yarlung Zangbo River, about 63%. In August when the rainfall increases in the rainy season, the use of soil moisture increases, and in the dry season, river water becomes the main water source. This indicates that with the alternation of rainy and dry seasons, the water absorption sources and strategies of C.gigantea adjusted accordingly. The research results provide an important scientific basis for the protection and management measures of the C. gigantea population.

Audio long read: Autism is on the rise — what’s really behind the increase?

Cross cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Persian version of the integral nursing leadership scale

BMI mediates the association of CALLY index with liver steatosis and fibrosis

Determinants of sustainable solid waste management in Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia

Background Exponential urban growth has led to a significant increase in solid waste production, making solid waste one of the most significant issues faced by urban spaces in developing countries. This rising volume of solid waste has led to pressing public health and environmental concerns, such as water, soil, and air pollution, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and the spread of diseases. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the sustainable solid waste management practices and challenges in Jimma City, southwestern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed in this study. Quantitative data and solid waste samples were collected between 01/01/2024 and 01/03/2024 via stratified random sampling from 820 participants in Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia. The data was analyzed using STATA 18, and a p-value <0.05 was used to determine the level of statistical significance. Results This study revealed a solid waste generation rate of 0.66 Kg/capita/day and the majority of households (84.63%) do not segregate their solid waste at a point of generation; only 38.66% of Households had access to door-to-door solid waste collection services even though about 81.71% of households are willing to pay for solid waste collection services and 69.76% of Households dump waste along rivers or roadsides. Household income, geographic location, level of education, and attitude are the major determinants of sustainable solid waste management, with Average Marginal Effects of (0.0411, 0.1098, 0.0621, 0.0495), respectively. Conclusion There is a higher rate of solid waste generation and a lack of integrated solid waste management services like door-to-door collection, temporary public solid waste collection containers, and disposal systems. This study indicated that about 2/3 of total solid waste generation is attributed to organic waste, and limited waste-to-resource recovery practices are observed. Thus, systematic provisions of integrated solid waste management services, implementation of solid waste reduction, and waste-to-resource recovery strategies focusing on composting are recommended.

US autism research gets $50-million funding boost — amid row over Tylenol

Attention-augmented hybrid CNN-LSTM model for social media sentiment analysis in cryptocurrency investment decision-making

Association of H2RAs exposure with 30-day mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction in MIMIC-IV: a retrospective cohort study

Dichotic turncoats: Lateralization of auditory processing in two dichotic listening tasks using melodies and syllables

When confronted with dichotically presented syllables, right-handed healthy individuals tend to consciously perceive syllables presented to the right ear more often. This phenomenon, known as the right-ear advantage, is driven by delayed processing of information from the left ear in left temporal auditory cortex due to its indirect relay through the corpus callosum. In contrast, less is known about about the corresponding mechanisms for stimuli processed in the right temporal hemisphere. In this study, we developed a melody-based dichotic listening paradigm designed to induce a left-ear advantage. This novel paradigm, alongside a classical syllable-based paradigm was tested in 40 healthy right-handed participants. We also examined the influence of musical education on lateralization of auditory processing. Our results revealed a significant left-ear advantage for the perception of dichotically presented melodies and replicated established findings of a right-ear advantage for syllables. No group differences emerged between participants with or without current or past musical practice. However, among those with musical training, a greater number of years of practice was associated with a reduced right-ear advantage for syllables and an increased report of melodies presented to the left-ear. These findings suggest that the left-ear advantage in dichotic perception of melodies reflects right hemispheric processing of musical stimuli. Moreover, monitoring of the left ear seems to be altered by musical practice. Future research using neuroimaging techniques will be necessary to confirm this finding.

Simultaneous quantification of five bioactive markers for standardization of ayurvedic polyherbal formulation Jwarahara Kwatha Choornam using HPTLC

An intelligent protection scheme for DC networks using a machine learning-based multi-agent platform

The development of the “Laab Nuer Model” for food safety management in handling traditional Lanna cuisine in Thailand

Food contaminants in traditional Lanna cuisine persist as a public health issue since there is no readily apparent method to prevent this contamination. Hence, this study was conducted to develop a practical strategy for reducing food hazards in traditional Lanna cuisine, according to the farm-to-fork framework across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. In the upstream operation, 80 sample analyses in a fresh market using the chemical test-kits were conducted, and 31 samples of produce were collected to analyze them for Paraquat contamination. In the midstream operation, a biological contamination analysis was conducted on 25 of the food handlers. In the downstream operation, which refers to the consumers, this study included a questionnaire to measure the level of agreement for the different factors by using the One Way ANOVA at the 0.05 level of significance. According to the “Laab Nuer Model” for traditional Lanna cuisine, one needs to consider the following at every stage:1) Uncontaminated market produce, including monitoring the raw material in the market, providing the activities linked to appropriate agricultural practices, and supporting the higher price if farmers adhere to good agricultural practices; 2) Good Restaurants including the monitoring of their raw materials, participating in food safety practices, and providing food safety training; 3) Paying Attention to the Consumer including training in food safety in the younger generation and promoting food safety. To significantly decrease the impact of foodborne illness in this and other locations, this model should be implemented widely, for example, in supermarkets and flea markets.