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Growth, instability and future outlook of livestock population and products in Bangladesh
In the changing agri-food system, livestock play an important role, providing not only protein and micronutrients but also organic fertilizers, employment, and women’s empowerment in many developing countries including Bangladesh. Reliable forecasting of livestock populations and products is necessary to inform policy decisions related to food security, supply, demand, and imports and exports, as well as self-sufficiency goals and associated inter- and intra-regional trade opportunities. However, robust long-term projections for livestock systems remain limited in the literature. Therefore, this study employs growth modeling and time series forecasting techniques to analyze historical trends (1961–2020) in livestock populations and products, assess their instability using the Cuddy Della instability index, and generate forecasts up to 2041 using the Box-Jenkins Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) framework. Model selection was based on standard statistical criteria, including goodness of fit measures and diagnostic checks of residual behaviour. The forecasting framework assumes that historical patterns and structural relations observed in the data remain stable over the projection period and that no major structural breaks or unforeseen external shocks significantly alter underlying dynamics. The results reveal that the cubic growth model best captures long-term trends in livestock populations and products, with generally low growth rates and low instability across categories. The highest annual growth rate was observed for chicken (3.71%) among the livestock population and eggs (7.40%) among the livestock products. The analysis further indicates a persistent deficit in milk and meat production, while egg production shows comparatively stronger performance. Forecasts generated using the selected ARIMA models were ARIMA (1,2,1), ARIMA (0,2,1), and ARIMA (1,2,5), for milk, meat, and egg, respectively, suggest a continuing upward trend in production up to 2041, consistent with historical patterns and growth model estimates. Under model assumptions, milk, meat, and egg projected production levels in 2041 are estimated at yearly 4,449,394, 9,77,042, and 1,289,863 metric tons (MT), respectively, reflecting substantial increases of around 24.34%, 35.24%, and 61.51% over 2020. Although these estimates represent point forecasts and are subject to various assumptions, findings of this study will serve as invaluable evidence-based insights for livestock sector stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, academia, livestock producers, and the feed industry.
Aspirin ligands as a novel approach to synthesis Fe3+-metal complexes to modify the structural and optical characterization of PVA matrix
Abstract In this work, a novel methodology has been used to synthesis Fe 3+ - metal complexes using aspirin as a precursor for salicylic acid ligands formed in situ. The synthesis and thorough characterization of ferric chloride-aspirin (FeCl 3 -acetylsalicylic acid) complex inserted into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix have been reported. PVA based composites have been prepared with various amounts of Fe 3+ -metal complex utilizing casting approach. The creation of a new metal-drug complex was established by a change in the visible colour and confirmed by FTIR, which revealed the coordination of Fe3 + ions to the oxygen containing groups of the drug, and an increase in the intermolecular hydrogen bonding of the polymer matrix. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated an enhanced absorption and a large red shift with the inclusion of the complex. The wide optical band gap of pure PVA (5.6 eV) was successfully reduced to 1.5 eV in the PVA-2 composite. This confirms that metal complexes play a crucial role in optical band gap tuning. The gradual increase in refractive index and dielectric constant (PVA-0 to PVA-2) is a confirmation for enhanced electronic polarizability and charge transfer. Dielectric loss also revealed interband electronic transitions and structural changes upon the formation of complex. These findings suggest a collaborative interaction of the metal, drug and polymer, which suggests that the composite has a huge potential in optoelectronic, smart sensors and UV protective applications.
Transcranial direct current stimulation in affecting neuropsychiatric symptoms of post-COVID syndrome: No change in microstates and functional connectivity
Introduction Neuropsychiatric symptoms of post-covid syndrome (PCS) involve fatigue, brain fog, cognitive impairment, or symptoms of depression and anxiety. These symptoms are in other diagnoses associated with electroencephalography (EEG) changes in microstates and functional connectivity. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is effective in alleviating certain abovementioned symptoms in other diagnoses. The main objective was to evaluate EEG changes in PCS patients after tDCS intervention. Methods A randomised control trial (registered in ISRCTN database, No.: ISRCTN10942585) with 35 participants (n = 33 received the intervention) involved 20 applications (over four weeks) of tDCS (anode over F3, cathode over F4, duration 30 min, intensity 2mA). Participants were divided into active (n = 16) and sham (n = 17) groups. Resting-state EEG was measured at baseline, after two weeks (T1), and after the intervention (four weeks, T2) as an exploratory endpoint. Microstates and functional connectivity between F3 and F4 were analysed; differences between active and sham groups in change from baseline to T1 and from baseline to T2 were evaluated. Results EEG measurements from 26 participants (n = 13 for active and n = 13 for sham group) were included into the statistical analysis. No significant results were found. No serious adverse events were noted. Conclusions We did not find a significant difference in selected EEG parameters between active and sham groups. The possible reasons include choice of tDCS parameters (electrode montage or stimulation duration), and EEG variables selected for evaluation (microstates and functional connectivity). These results are in line with the results of cognitive and clinical assessment. However, the EEG endpoints were exploratory and the study was primarily powered for clinical results, therefore small effects cannot be excluded due to limited statistical power.
Rational antibiotic use among university students a study on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP)
Downregulation of SLC44A4 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with malignant progression, B-cell/TLS-related immune features, and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by aggressive progression, frequent metastasis, and heterogeneous therapeutic responses. Through integrated bulk transcriptomic datasets, single-cell analysis, clinical specimens, and NPC cell lines, we identified SLC44A4, a member of the choline transporter-like family, as a significantly downregulated gene in NPC. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that SLC44A4 expression was negatively associated with oxidative phosphorylation–related genes, DNA damage repair pathways, and malignant transcriptional programs related to proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, SLC44A4-high tumors exhibited increased B-cell infiltration and enrichment of TLS-related transcriptional signatures. In vitro, SLC44A4 overexpression in NPC cells suppressed proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion, induced G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, reduced expression of oxidative phosphorylation–related proteins, and selectively upregulated CXCL10. SLC44A4 overexpression also increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, including temozolomide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, olaparib, and etoposide, while decreasing sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil. Together, these findings identify SLC44A4 as a potential tumor-suppressive factor in NPC and suggest that SLC44A4 may serve as a biomarker for metabolic state, B-cell/TLS-associated immune features, and vulnerability to DNA damage–based therapies.
Maternal nonylphenol exposure induces offspring intestinal injury and enteric neuronal defects involving proinflammatory macrophage polarization
Further evidence for embodied cognition: The link between spontaneous respiratory oscillations and number processing
Embodied accounts of cognition propose that bodily states shape mental representations. We test this proposal in numerical cognition by asking whether spontaneous respiration biases random number generation (RNG). Building on prior work by Belli and collaborators (2021), we adopt a self-paced handwriting RNG paradigm that preserves the continuous, cyclic nature of breathing. Healthy adults will write digits 1–9 on a tablet while abdominal respiration is recorded via a piezoelectric belt. For each trial, we will extract the breathing phase (inhalation/exhalation) and the abdominal expansion at that moment. We preregister three hypotheses: (Hp1) inhalation will bias production toward larger numbers relative to exhalation; (Hp2) greater abdominal expansion will predict larger numbers independent of phase; and (Hp3) inhalation and larger expansion will be associated with increased written-digit size. The predefined sample size (N = 30) will provide 99.9% power to detect effects on the order reported by prior work. By coupling fine-grained respiratory dynamics with self-paced behavior, the study offers a stringent test of whether interoceptive and somatosensory signals couple with abstract magnitude processing. Confirmatory evidence would provide convergent, method-robust support for embodied influences on numerical cognition and will reveal a parallel impact on action, strengthening brain–body accounts of magnitude representation.
Hybrid siamese architecture for detecting genuine training data fingerprints in medical generative adversarial networks
Seed disperser connectivity in a heterogeneous landscape of the Colombian Coffee Region
Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to biodiversity in tropical montane ecosystems, where limited forest cover and steep elevational gradients can strongly constrain species movement and connectivity between habitat fragments. We assessed landscape fragmentation, functional connectivity of habitat patches for four seed-dispersing mammals (i.e., the capacity of species to move among habitat patches), and conservation priorities in the Colombian Coffee Region, a highly transformed Andean landscape. Using resistance-based distance matrices, graph-based landscape connectivity indices (PC, dPC, and ECA) and sensitivity analyses across resistance and dispersal scenarios we quantified species-specific connectivity, identified key habitat nodes, and evaluated their representation within the current protected area network. We also incorporated uncertainty into a multi-species prioritization framework to improve conservation decision-making. Forest cover is highly reduced (remains 18.9% of its original extent) and severely fragmented, resulting in low functional connectivity to all species. Connectivity patterns were primarily associated with species’ elevational range rather than home range size, with generalist species maintaining higher connectivity than species restricted to narrower elevations. Connectivity was highly uneven, with a small number of habitat patches acting as critical network hubs whose loss could substantially reduce overall connectivity. Despite their importance, more than half of the total habitat and many high-priority connectivity areas remain outside protected areas, revealing a strong mismatch between conservation priorities and current protection coverage. Incorporating uncertainty further refines prioritization by distinguishing robust conservation targets from areas requiring additional empirical validation. Our results demonstrate that integrating multi-species connectivity modeling with uncertainty analysis provides a robust framework for identifying conservation priorities. These findings are particularly relevant for vulnerable and range-restricted species such as Cebus versicolor and emphasize the need for restoration and connectivity-oriented conservation strategies in human-modified tropical landscapes.
Observational pilot study of intra-abdominal pressure in different head of bed positions
Long-term effects following prenatal cocaine exposure: A systematic review
Cocaine use represents a global public-health concern, and children’s exposure to this substance is receiving growing attention. Despite the importance of this phenomenon, efforts to isolate cocaine-specific long-term effects are affected by the limited availability of human cohorts followed into adulthood and by the influence of environmental factors and co-exposures. Addressing ongoing debates in the literature, this systematic review synthesizes human evidence on long-term outcomes following prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE), from infancy to early adulthood. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus from inception to August 2025 identified 26 eligible studies. Results suggest that across maturational stages, PCE is consistently associated with early developmental effects (including smaller head circumference and motor delays), deficits in visuospatial, language and executive functions, focal neuroimaging alterations (white-matter microstructure and task-related functional recruitment), growth deficits, and elevated externalizing behaviours. However, evidence is characterised by heterogeneity in exposure assessment, frequent prenatal polysubstance exposure, socioeconomic confounding, caregiving instability and small neuroimaging samples. Overall, this review suggests that PCE is linked to a broad spectrum of detrimental effects and that some biological vulnerabilities associated with PCE may persist. Nonetheless, supportive postnatal environments may mitigate developmental disadvantages and promote better trajectories for affected children. These findings underscore the need for integrated public-health and clinical strategies that combine prevention of prenatal substance use with family-focused postnatal supports.
Prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection among women aged over 45 years in Xinjiang, China
A collaborative cervical precancer screening strategy with concurrent HPV genotyping and visual inspection using alumni of a training centre across Ghana: The Rotary ‘Protect Your Pearl’ initiative
Background Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality among Ghanaian women, yet screening uptake is under 5%. The Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC) partnered with Rotary Clubs across the country to implement the first-ever nationally representative cervical precancer screening project and to demonstrate the feasibility of an integrated nationwide screening program. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,636 asymptomatic women aged 25 years and above screened at 29 government and private facilities across all 16 regions of Ghana (January–February 2025). Eligible women underwent concurrent hr-HPV genotyping (Sansure MA-6000 platform) and VIA by CCPTC-trained alumni, with immediate thermal ablation for eligible VIA-positive lesions (TZ type 1 or 2). Multivariable logistic regression (backward stepwise elimination, P < 0.25 retention threshold) identified factors associated with hr-HPV positivity and VIA positivity. Analyses were performed in Stata v17.0. Results Among 1,636 women, the overall hr-HPV prevalence was 26·6% (95% CI, 24·5–28·8) and the VIA ‘positivity’ was 4·0% (95% CI, 3·1–5·0). Predominant genotypes were HPV52 (5·3%), HPV58 (4·4%), and HPV51 (3·6%); HPV16 and HPV18 together accounted for <5% of infections. Independent factors associated with hr-HPV infection were HIV infection (aOR=5·77; 95% CI, 2·07–16·13, P = 0.001) and having a steady partner (aOR=2·02; 95% CI, 1·22–3·36, P = 0.006); being married/cohabiting (aOR=0·51; 95% CI, 0·38–0·69, P < 0.001) or widowed (aOR=0·43; 95% CI, 0·23–0·82, P = 0.011), and prior screening (aOR=0·67; 95% CI, 0·48–0·92, P = 0.014) were protective. VIA ‘positivity’ was independently associated with HIV infection (aOR 7.49, 95% CI 1.99–28.19, P = 0.003). Regional hr-HPV prevalence varied from 10·0% to 39·2%. Thirty-five percent of VIA-positive women received same-visit thermal ablation. Conclusion This decentralized alumni-driven model integrating off-site HPV testing, task-shifted VIA, and immediate thermal ablation proved operationally feasible across Ghana’s diverse health system and revealed a substantial hr-HPV burden. The approach offers a scalable blueprint for national cervical cancer control and informs Ghana’s transition toward HPV-based screening.
Helmet detection in traffic scenarios: enhanced performance for complex environments
Identifying gene regulation modules associated with tumor metastasis using a network decomposition approach and combinatorial fusion analysis
We systematically evaluated whether modular decomposition of molecular networks into gene regulatory modules (GRMs) enables the identification of metastasis‑associated genes. We developed an efficient bioinformatics framework that integrates subgraph extraction with combinatorial fusion analysis (CFA) to identify and prioritize metastasis‑associated GRMs in cancer networks. We validated top‑ranked GRMs using cancer hallmark annotations, enrichment analysis, drug–target associations, and survival data, and assessed GRM cooperativity through comparisons with prior metastasis studies. The proposed approach consistently outperformed existing methods in identifying metastasis‑associated GRMs. Robustness analyses across ten feature combinations and comparisons between three‑node and four‑node GRMs confirmed stable performance under diverse settings. Application to three independent KIRC metastasis cohorts further demonstrated improved identification of metastasis‑related GRMs. Overall, this integrated GRM‑based framework reliably captures coordinated regulatory patterns linked to metastasis and shows potential for identifying clinically relevant target genes and therapeutic drug candidates.
AeroSec: a vertical domain large language model for air traffic management cybersecurity
Multisystem frailty phenotypes and associated factors among older adults in Türkiye: A nationally representative study
Multisystem frailty, characterised by concurrent decline across motor, sensory, cognitive, and functional domains, remains a relatively understudied phenotype within ageing research. Evidence on its population-level distribution and associated factors, particularly in middle-income countries, is scarce. This study aimed to identify distinct multisystem frailty profiles among adults aged 50 years and older in Türkiye using nationally representative data. We analysed data from 26,905 adults aged 50 years and older drawn from the 2023 Turkish Statistical Institute Elderly Statistics Survey. Latent profile analysis was employed using eight indicators capturing motor, sensory, cognitive, and functional domains. Survey-weighted multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with frailty profile membership. Three multisystem frailty profiles were identified: robust (weighted prevalence 51.4%), intermediate frailty (33.7%), and severe multisystem frailty (14.8%). Severe frailty was substantially more common among women than men (20.0% vs 9.1%) and among adults aged 65 years and older compared with those aged 50–64 years (24.7% vs 8.9%). Health- and lifestyle-related factors accounted for the largest share of explained variance in profile membership (51.9%). Poor or very poor self-rated health exhibited exceptionally strong associations with severe frailty (odds ratio range 47.89–95.78), with corresponding E-values exceeding 90. Multisystem frailty affects nearly half of adults aged 50 years and older in Türkiye and displays pronounced inequalities by age, sex, and perceived health status. These findings underscore the importance of multidomain assessment approaches and highlight potentially modifiable social and health-related factors associated with frailty vulnerability in ageing populations.
Ensemble machine learning for predicting flexural capacity of FRCM-strengthened RC beams
Standalone bio-interventional uveoscleral outflow enhancement for intraocular pressure reduction in open-angle glaucoma: One-year results from a prospective multicenter real-world evidence study (NCT05506423)
This prospective, multicenter, real-world evidence study evaluates the 12-month safety and effectiveness of standalone cyclodialysis with AlloFlo™ cleft reinforcement for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in open-angle glaucoma (OAG). AlloFlo represents the world’s first acellular, allogenic scleral tissue implant, and data from this CREST Study cohort (NCT05506423) contribute critical 12 month safety and effectiveness knowledge to the field of extracellular matrix biomaterials research, in addition to describing a novel procedure for surgical management of OAG. Eyes with investigator-confirmed inadequately controlled OAG were treated with standalone cyclodialysis using a microsurgical cannula (CycloPen™), followed by uveoscleral cleft reinforcement with AlloFlo. Eyes were followed prospectively for 12 months. Key outcomes included changes in medicated IOP, number of glaucoma medications, adverse events, and progression to subsequent glaucoma procedures. Forty-one eyes of 38 patients were included. Most eyes (66%) were considered treatment-refractory, defined as having any of: failed ≥ 1 incisional surgery or cilioablative procedure; condition in which incisional surgery would be more likely to fail than in eyes with uncomplicated OAG. At 12 months, mean IOP decreased 31% to 14.7 ± 6.9 mmHg (within the normal IOP range of 10–20 mmHg, p < 0.001); mean number of glaucoma medications decreased 32% to 1.9 ± 1.6 (p < 0.001). Seventy-one percent of eyes achieved ≥ 20% IOP reduction (a clinically meaningful benchmark set by the FDA). More than half of eyes (53%) achieved ≥ 20% IOP reduction without increasing medication. Three eyes (7.2%) progressed to incisional glaucoma surgery. Postoperative IOP elevations ≥ 10 mmHg occurred in 17% of eyes, most of which resolved within 30 days of the procedure. No persistent inflammation, implant rejection, clinically significant hyphema, or scaffold migration occurred. These findings suggest that uveoscleral outflow enhancement with AlloFlo provides a safe, conjunctiva-sparing option for IOP reduction in OAG, including eyes with prior surgical interventions.