Exploring Imaging Techniques for Detecting Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) Infection in Pepper ( spp.) Germplasms.

Due to the vulnerability of pepper ( spp.) and the virulence of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), seasonal shortages and surges of prices are a challenge and thus threaten household income. Traditional bioassays for detecting TSWV, such as observation for symptoms and reverse transcription-PCR, are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and sometimes lack precision, highlighting the need for a faster and more reliable approach to plant disease assessment.

Combining NIR spectroscopy with chemometrics for discriminating naturally ripened banana and calcium carbide ripened banana.

Calcium carbide is prohibited as a fruit ripening agent in many countries due to its harmful effects. Current methods for detecting calcium carbide in fruit involve time-consuming and destructive chemical analysis techniques, necessitating the need for non-destructive and rapid detection techniques. This study combined near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with chemometrics to detect two banana varieties ripened with calcium carbide in different forms when they are peeled or unpeeled.

Non-invasive prediction of maca powder adulteration using a pocket-sized spectrophotometer and machine learning techniques.

Discriminating different cultivars of maca powder (MP) and detecting their authenticity after adulteration with potent adulterants such as maize and soy flour is a challenge that has not been studied with non-invasive techniques such as near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This study developed models to rapidly classify and predict 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% w/w of soybean and maize flour in red, black and yellow maca cultivars using a handheld spectrophotometer and chemometrics. Soy and maize adulteration of yellow MP was classified with better accuracy than in red MP, suggesting that red MP may be a more susceptible target for adulteration.

Effects of vasoactive substances on biomechanics of small resistance arteries of male and female Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Changes in vascular biomechanics leading to increase in arterial stiffness play a pivotal role in circulatory dysfunction. Our objectives were to examine sex-specific pharmacological changes related to the biomechanics and any structural modifications in small resistance arteries of Dahl salt-sensitive male and female rats. The composite Young modulus (CYM) was determined using pressure myograph recordings, and immunohistochemistry was used for the evaluation of any structural changes in the third-order mesenteric arteries (n = 6).

Antimicrobial effects of Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box compounds on strains of .

Therapeutic options for are limited due to emerging global resistance. New agents and treatment options to treat patients with susceptible and multi-extensively drug-resistant is a high priority. This study used an approach to explore the antimicrobial potential, as well as synergistic effects of Medicine for Malaria Venture (MMV) Pathogen Box compounds against ATCC and clinical strains.

Combined effects of shade and drought on physiology, growth, and yield of mature cocoa trees.

Climate models predict decreasing precipitation and increasing air temperature, causing concern for the future of cocoa in the major producing regions worldwide. It has been suggested that shade could alleviate stress by reducing radiation intensity and conserving soil moisture, but few on-farm cocoa studies are testing this hypothesis. Here, for 33 months, we subjected twelve-year cocoa plants in Ghana to three levels of rainwater suppression (full rainwater, 1/3 rainwater suppression and 2/3 rainwater suppression) under full sun or 40 % uniform shade in a split plot design, monitoring soil moisture, physiological parameters, growth, and yield.

Examining the level of public awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: An empirical evidence from Ghana.

Nations which are part of the United Nations are required to institute appropriate measures to fulfil the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, for this to be possible, all stakeholders including the general public need to be fully aware of the SDGs. This research examined the level of public awareness about the SDGs among Ghanaians based on the views of 431 respondents.

Pharmacognosy and Effects of Cannabinoids in the Vascular System.

Understanding the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids is an essential subject due to the recent increasing global acceptance of cannabis and its derivation for recreational and therapeutic purposes. Elucidating the interaction between cannabinoids and the vascular system is critical to exploring cannabinoids as a prospective therapeutic agent for treating vascular-associated clinical conditions. This review aims to examine the effect of cannabinoids on the vascular system and further discuss the fundamental pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action of cannabinoids in the vascular system.

Drug Resistance in Ethiopia: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global public health issue, despite advances in diagnostic technologies, substantial global efforts, and the availability of effective chemotherapies. , a species of pathogenic bacteria resistant to currently available anti-TB drugs, is on the rise, threatening national and international TB-control efforts. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in Ethiopia.

Differential biomechanics in resistance arteries of male compared with female Dahl hypertensive rats.

Background: Increase in vascular stiffness is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is likely sex-specific.

Method: Our objectives were to compare structural and functional alterations in small resistance arteries as related to vascular stiffness from Dahl salt-sensitive male and female rats (n = 8, mean ± s.e.

Association between Antiretroviral Treatment and Markers of Systemic Inflammation among HIV Patients in Ghana.

Background: Studies from high-income countries have reported that even after receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV-infected adults may not achieve normal levels of certain inflammatory markers that are known to be associated with the onset and development of non-communicable diseases.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between ART and markers of systemic inflammation in HIV/AIDS patients at an urban antiretroviral clinic in Ghana.

Methods: We examined serum levels of high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin- 18(IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor-α (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) from 40 HIV infected patients.

Molecular epidemiology and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. in Africa: a systematic review from a One Health perspective.

A systematic review of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria in Africa from a One Health perspective is lacking. Here, we report result from a search for English-language articles on the resistance mechanisms and clonality of Gram-positive bacteria in Africa between 2007 and 2019 reported in PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and African Journals OnLine; 172 studies from 22 different African countries were identified. Resistance genes, such as mecA, erm(B), erm(C), tet(M), tet(K), tet(L), vanB, vanA, vanC, and tet(O), were found to be common.

Symptoms of Toxicity and Plasma Cytochrome c Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Patients Receiving Anti-retroviral Therapy in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Side effects and toxicity have posed a threat to the positive contribution of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Symptoms of mitochondrial toxicity including myopathy, pancreatitis, hyperlipidaemia and lactic acidosis are found among HIVinfected patients on ART. To date, there is not a reliable biomarker for monitoring ART-related mitochondrial toxicity.

Significant Induction of Soluble TNFR2 Compared with TNFR1 in Serum Samples of HIV Patients with or without Antiretroviral Medication.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor and its receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) have been implicated in many infectious diseases. Identification of the key receptor (sTNFR1 or sTNFR2) which drives the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection is crucial in developing adjunctive therapy for HIV.

Objective: This study determined the expression levels of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 in antiretroviral therapy (ART) - experienced and naïve HIV patients.

The safety of influenza vaccines in children: An Institute for Vaccine Safety white paper.

Most influenza vaccines are generally safe, but influenza vaccines can cause rare serious adverse events. Some adverse events, such as fever and febrile seizures, are more common in children than adults. There can be differences in the safety of vaccines in different populations due to underlying differences in genetic predisposition to the adverse event.