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Investigating air temperature changes in Bhubaneswar city over 123 years from 1901 to 2023

Addressing food insecurity in early childhood programs through a health equity lens: A qualitative case study of Brazil’s Criança Feliz program

Background Food insecurity negatively impacts early childhood health and development. Recommendations for establishing equitable actions to address food insecurity in early childhood programming have not been developed globally. The Brazilian Criança Feliz Program (PCF), one of the largest early childhood programs worldwide, has faced implementation challenges while addressing food insecurity. We aimed to (i) understand how food insecurity affects the PCF’s internal (i.e., organizational-level factors) and external (i.e., family-level and system-level factors) implementation contexts, and (ii) develop equity-focused recommendations for early childhood programs to mitigate food insecurity. Methods Qualitative case study analyses of in-depth interviews with PCF implementation teams and families in five Brazilian municipalities. Participants shared their experience with PCF implementation quality, including questions related to food insecurity. A three-stage rapid qualitative approach was used: (a) inductive thematic analysis identified central codes related to food insecurity, (b) deductive approach to organize central codes within themes related to internal and external contexts of PCF operations, and (c) integration of findings into a set of equity-focused recommendations based on the four categories of the Getting to Equity (GTE) framework. Results 240 interviews were conducted. Internal programmatic barriers included lack of protocols for screening, referring, and following up with families struggling to access food as well as challenges to engage them in early learning activities. External programmatic barriers included family-level factors (e.g., unrealistic support expected from PCF) and system-level factors (e.g., bureaucracy in accessing safety nets). Ten equity-focused recommendations across GTE framework focused on improving program curriculum and protocols to mitigate food insecurity and increasing individual and community capacity. Conclusions We documented barriers at the family, program, and system levels to address food insecurity in the Brazilian PCF home visiting program. Barriers informed the generation of equity-focused programming recommendations to improve practices to address food insecurity, not only for the PCF, but also for the global community implementing home visiting programs.

Facile strategy toward the development of novel binder and thickening agent from apple rock bael for textile printing

Abstract This study focuses on isolating a natural binder and thickening agent derived from the Aegle marmelous fruit. The isolated natural gum can be effectively employed as a binder and thickening agent in fabric printing applications. The findings indicate that this natural gum has remarkable rheological characteristics, essential for achieving optimal printing results. Microwave irradiation techniques and thermal bonding, varying in duration, power, and temperature, were employed to fix the printed samples that utilized the isolated natural gum. The results demonstrated that printed textiles exhibited excellent color fastness, with samples treated via microwave fixation showing enhanced color saturation, as evidenced by higher K/S values. A thorough evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties was conducted, including assessments of color yield, uniformity, absorption, and fixing efficiency. The results indicate that both weight loss and water absorption tend to increase over time. The natural gum isolated from Aegle marmelous shows minimal loss and absorption, in contrast to commercial gum (Sodium alginate), which exhibits significantly higher levels. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) highlights distinct differences in particle morphology between the two types of gum; the commercial variety presents spherical aggregates, while the isolated natural gum features elongated thread-like particles. Extended microwave exposure leads to enhanced color intensity, which is influenced by the fabric structure and type of gum used. The K/S value peaks at 70 watts and subsequently decreases at 90 watts for printed cotton and cotton/polyester blends, while printed wool achieves the best results at 50 watts for 60 s. Closed samples consistently show enhanced K/S values, irrespective of the microwave settings. Regarding thermo fixation, as fixation temperatures and duration increase, K/S values typically rise, except for printed cotton. The K/S values reached their maximum at 160 °C for 6 min for wool and polyester/cotton blends, whereas cotton peaked at 140 °C under the same conditions. The observed variations in color yield, penetration, and fixation percentages among the different fabrics are attributed to their unique chemical compositions and characteristics, as well as the effects of microwave irradiation. Furthermore, employing pulsed microwave irradiation helps regulate temperature and mitigate exothermic reactions, resulting in improved dye-fabric interactions and overall stability of the dyeing process. This thorough analysis highlights the potential of utilizing natural agents derived from Aegle marmelous in contemporary textile printing, supporting sustainable practices while upholding performance standards.

Evaluation of antibiotic prescribing for the treatment of male community-acquired urinary tract infections using reimbursement data

Introduction Urinary tract infection (UTI) in men, although less common than in women, present specific diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study aims to evaluate the prescribing practices of general practitioners (GPs) for male UTI in France, focusing on adherence to guidelines. Materials and methods We used an anonymous reimbursement database of antibiotics prescribed 15 days around an urine culture between September 2019 and August 2022 in a French region. Antibiotic prescriptions for male UTI were analysed according to adherence to national guidelines. Cluster analysis was used to identify different GP prescribing profiles. Prescription duration was assessed according to the number of antibiotic boxes delivered in the community pharmacy. Results We included 7,816 urine culture prescriptions from 940 GPs for 6,457 male patients. We estimated compliance with French recommendations to be 55.7% for empirical treatment and 68.1% for documented treatment. GPs were divided into three clusters with different adherence to recommendations of 22%, 44% and 77%. Treatment duration for fluoroquinolones and cotrimoxazole was heterogeneous between GPs, but mainly too short. Conclusions Our results suggest that our method could identify GPs who do not prescribe in accordance with recommendations and enable health insurance systems to target educational interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing practices.

Epidemiology and prognostic factors of necrotizing fasciitis in resource-limited regions based on 119 cases

Primary prevention cardiovascular disease risk prediction model for contemporary Chinese (1°P-CARDIAC): Model derivation and validation using a hybrid statistical and machine-learning approach

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in China and worldwide while we are lacking in validated primary prevention model specifically for Chinese. To identify CVD high-risk individuals for early intervention, we created and validated a primary prevention risk prediction model, Personalized CARdiovascular DIsease risk Assessment for Chinese (1°P-CARDIAC), in contemporary Chinese cohorts in Hong Kong. Methods Patients without any history of CVD was categorized as derivation and validation cohorts based on their different geographical location of residence in Hong Kong. The outcome was the first diagnosis of a composite of coronary heart disease, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, peripheral artery disease, and revascularization. The full model incorporated all available variables in the dataset as clinical laboratory tests, disease and medication history, family history of disease, demographic factors, and healthcare utilization. We employed XGBoost Cox model and multivariate imputation with chained equation (MICE) for derivation and missing data replacement. A basic model was developed with the integration of statistically significant and important subset of risk variables by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Validation was performed by 1000 bootstrap replicates and compared to four existing models: PREDICT, pooled cohort equation (PCE), China-PAR, and Framingham (Asian). Results The study included 179,953 patients in the derivation cohort and 1,083,924 patients across two independent validation cohorts. A total of 103 covariates were included in the full model whilst 8 covariates were included the basic model. It demonstrated good performance with C-statistic of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.87), calibration slope of 0.94 in the full model. The C-statistic in the basic model was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.75) with calibration slope of 0.91. Other comparison risk models have lower C statistic ranging from 0.68 to 0.72. Conclusion We developed and validated 1°P-CARDIAC, a CVD risk prediction model for primary prevention applying a novel hybrid statistical and machine-learning approach. Validation results suggest that it may offer improved performance compared to commonly used risk models. The 1°P-CARDIAC yields the similar level of accuracy and performance between basic and full model. It demonstrated both effectiveness and versatility in harnessing the power of big data and which has the potential to serve as a promising method for CVD primary prevention and improving public health outcome.

Array inspired wideband and high gain antenna with enhanced pattern diversity for 5G mm wave networks

Oropouche fever outbreak in Brazil: Key factors behind the largest epidemic in history

Oropouche virus (OROV) is an arthropod-borne virus responsible for outbreaks of Oropouche fever (ORO) in Central and South America since the 1950s. Herein, we investigated the climatic and socioenvironmental factors contributing to the reemergence of ORO in Brazil in 2024, culminating in the largest epidemic in the country’s history. Accordingly, we conducted a modeling study to identify areas with the highest incidence of OROV in Brazil based on confirmed human cases between the 2020 and 2024 outbreaks and socioenvironmental variables. Our analysis utilized Maxent software, a machine learning algorithm for species distribution modeling, along with SatScan software to identify high- and low-risk spatial clusters. A total of 8,258 ORO cases were serologically confirmed in Brazil in 2024 and 108 in 2020/2021. The distribution of OROV differed markedly in 2020 and 2024: in 2020, cases were primarily confined to the Amazon region, while in 2024, cases expanded across nearly the entire country. High-risk areas showed higher temperatures and precipitation, and land-cover and land-use change (LCLUC) appeared to be key factors in ORO distribution. Upon comparing deforestation rates between 2020 and 2023, we noted a sharper increase in the expansion of pasture cover and soybean plantations in high-risk regions. Moreover, municipalities in high-risk clusters tended to face greater socioeconomic challenges, including poverty and restricted access to healthcare. Our study identified areas vulnerable to OROV circulation, providing valuable insights to support the establishment of robust public health policies that must be prioritized and strengthened in the context of climate change.

Regulatory B cells drive immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment and are involved peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer

The MOGBA randomized controlled trial: Evaluation of a complex movement skill intervention for 8–12 year old children in primary school Physical Education

A global decline in levels of movement competence and physical activity in children presents the urgent need to look at how to reverse this trend. The Movement Oriented Games Based Assessment (MOGBA) is an intervention designed to improve children’s complex movement skills, based on principles of motor development and assessment theories. There is a positive relationship between children’s movement competence and physical activity (PA), with a further relationship established between PA and childhood obesity. This study aimed to assess how using MOGBA in PE lessons might impact primary children’s movement competence, PA, muscular fitness and self-perceptions of game and physical competence. A cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted involving 229 children (51% girls) from nine different schools located in the north of England. The average age of participants was 9.1 years (SD = 0.21). Participants were randomized at the school level into either the MOGBA intervention group (n = 128 students) or a wait-list control group (n = 101). The MOGBA intervention was delivered over nine weeks during PE lessons by trained deliverers. The main components of the intervention included the implementation of 14 games-based activities, which were designed to support assessment within PE lessons and enhance children’s movement competence. The game-based cards also provided guidance on how to tailor activities to meet the children’s individual needs by manipulating space, effort and relationships. Pre-Post test design was employed, with participants being assessed at baseline and within 7 days post intervention. The assessment included measures of movement competence (Dragon Challenge), in-class PA (accelerometer), muscular fitness (standing long jump and plank), and perceived game and self competence (Game Play Perception Profile and Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children). Findings show that MOGBA had a positive effect on the primary outcome of movement competence (ES: 0.18; 95%CI: −0.02, 0.38; p = 0.071) and a significant positive outcome (ES: 0.30; 95%CI: 0.04, 0.56; p = 0.025) on the way that students perceived their ability in game play. An impact was not observed on in-class PA and muscular fitness. These findings are significant as we know that increased movement competence and game self-perceptions mean children are more likely to engage with future movement, sport and physical activity opportunities. This could positively influence lifelong PA levels and promote better health. Further work should involve teachers and coaches using MOGBA to support children’s movement competence in the hopes of supporting their involvement in sport and PA. The trial is registered at the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12619001320145p, 27 Sep 2019).

Synergistic effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone and graphene oxide in thin film nanocomposite membranes for oily wastewater treatment via forward osmosis process

Analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics data to assess interactions in microalgal co-culture of Skeletonema marinoi and Prymnesium parvum

In marine ecosystems, microbial communities often interact using specialised metabolites, which play a central role in shaping the dynamics of the ecological networks and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. With metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, this study explores the interactions between two marine microalgae, Skeletonema marinoi and Prymnesium parvum, grown in mono-cultures and non-contact co-cultures. As a growth indicator, the photosynthetic potential, measured via fluorescence, suggested chemical interaction between S. marinoi and P. parvum. Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) data, we identified 346 and 521 differentially produced features in the endo- and exometabolome of S. marinoi and P. parvum, respectively. Despite limited tandem mass spectrometry data (MS2) for these features, we structurally annotated 14 compounds, most of which were previously under-studied specialised metabolites. Differential gene expression analysis was then performed on the transcriptomes of the microalgae, which uncovered differentially expressed genes involved in energy metabolism and cellular repair for both species. These metabolic changes depict the adaptation of both species in the co-culture. However, further data acquisition and investigation will be necessary to confirm the type of interaction and the underlying mechanisms.

Association between visceral adiposity index and oral health status in a National survey

Retraction: Chemopreventive efficacy of Andrographis paniculata on Azoxymethane-induced aberrant colon crypt foci In Vivo

Sex differences in inflammation and markers of gut integrity in long COVID

Assessing the satisfaction of health professionals towards the introduction of Maathru Samman pants for normal delivery in the labour room: A multi-site mixed method study from India

Introduction Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in the entire childbirth process. In this study, we studied healthcare workers’ response, satisfaction, and demand to use of Maathru Samaan Pants by pregnant women during normal labour. Methodology A cross-sectional, mixed-method study was carried in the year of 2023–2024. The study was carried out in four different regions of India. The health care professionals involved in normal delivery where pregnant women used Maathru Samman Pants, were enrolled in the study total of 20 doctors and 39 nurses were studied using a quantitative questionnaire. For the qualitative component, a total of 14 doctors and 16 nurses’ in-depth interviews were conducted. Six FDGs with 29 supporting staff was conducted. Results Of the total of 59 healthcare professionals majority of respondents were female, 51 (86.4), and the age range was evenly distributed, with 22(37.3), 21–30 years, 20(33.9), 31–40 years, and 15 (25.4) over 40 years. The majority, 49(83.1), felt that respectful maternity care was extremely important. Most health care staff agreed or strongly agreed that the MSP helped cover their body 58(98.3). A majority found the MSP saved time by preventing dressing/undressing hassle 53(90), and helped with movement before delivery 48 (81.4). A majority, 57 (96.61), agree that the introduction of MSP is a beneficial step towards respectful maternity care. Privacy in both examination and labour rooms is rated highly, with 100% satisfaction across all regions. Most staff support continuing MSP use, 56 (94.91). Some hospitals require additional laundry services or equipment 10 (16.95) or manpower for washing 5 (8.45). Key Themes identified during in-depth interviews and FDGs were comfort, design, acceptability, demand, past experiences, challenges, advantages, funds, reuse, and additional requirements for implementing MSP. Conclusion The successful integration of MSPs into healthcare settings can drive innovation and improvements, highlighting India’s leadership in advancing maternal health initiatives.

Seed cleaning behaviour and their antimicrobial effect on seed germination by seed harvester ant, Trichomyrmex scabriceps

Effect of foot reflexology on chronic pain in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives Effectiveness of Foot Reflexology (FR) on the pain intensity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared with Sham Massage (SM). Design Monocentric, longitudinal, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Randomization with a random number generator in the R software. Fixed-sized block randomization of 3 implemented into Clinsight. Participants Idiopathic PD patients with chronic pain (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)≥4) were recruited from the Toulouse University Hospital between the 14th of April 2021 and the 25th of May 2025. Intervention Four one-hour long FR or SM sessions three weeks apart with the same specialized FR researcher. Main outcome measure Pain intensity change measured by the mean VAS before and after full completed interventions. The difference was compared between group using a Wilcoxon Mann Witney test. Exploratory outcome: brain functional connectivity Results 30 PD patients were randomized and analyzed. Interventions were delivered as planned for all patients. Clinical variables did not significantly differed between FR and SM groups. Mean VAS decreased by −12.3 mm ± 15.2 in FR group (n = 15) and −17.9 mm ± 29.4 in SM group (n = 15). Analyses did not reveal any significant difference between the FR and SM groups (p-value = 0.88). There are different patterns in connectivity changes in the medial pain system between responders (at least 30% pain reduction) and non-responders to both therapies. There were no adverse events. Conclusion FR is not more effective than SM in relieving chronic pain in PD. The differences in connectivity patterns within the medial pain pathway may underlie the response to tactile stimulation (FR and SM). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04705207.

Association of pulse pressure with presynaptic dysfunction in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease: a cohort study

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students

Background Psychometric validity of the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) has not been studied among Ethiopians. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 using Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical theory among Ethiopian university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 364 Ethiopian university students. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the DASS-21. Results Factor analysis and measures of quality of factor estimates, construct stability, and robustness of unidimensionality supported a one-factor structure. Item parameters were satisfactory for all but three items using both CTT and IRT. Some CTT parameters indicated deviation from unidimensionality for three items. Two items had poor communality, and IRT infit/outfit values above 1.4. The findings indicated adequate divergent validity (weak-moderate correlation) for the general distress measure of DASS-21 with respect to HAM-A, excellent reliability (McDonald’s ω and Cronbach’s α both 0.93), and item-level measurement invariance across sexes. Conclusion The psychometric validity of the DASS-21 among Ethiopian university students was robust, as shown by analysis using classical and item response theory measures. However, some item-level psychometric characteristics for two items were sub-optimal in both CTT and IRT.