Age- and sex-specific care cascades to detect gaps in the care of children with tuberculosis in Bangladesh: a cohort study.

Background: Programmatic interventions to increase the detection of children with tuberculosis (TB) are rarely evaluated to understand age- and sex-specific completion rates. We applied modified TB screening and treatment cascade frameworks to assess indicators of effective implementation by age and sex of a TB screening program for children (zero to 14 years) in Bangladesh.

Methods: We implemented an intensified screening program for paediatric TB detection in 119 health care facilities (2018-21).

Designing a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against human rhinovirus C utilizing immunoinformatics approach.

Human rhinovirus C (HRV-C) is a significant contributor to respiratory tract infections in children and is implicated in asthma exacerbations across all age groups. Despite its impact, there is currently no licensed vaccine available for HRV-C. Here, we present a novel approach to address this gap by employing immunoinformatics techniques for the design of a multi-epitope-based vaccine against HRV-C.

Genomics-assisted stacking of waxy1, opaque2, and crtRB1 genes for enhancing amylopectin in biofortified maize for industrial utilization and nutritional security.

Waxy maize is highly preferred diet in developing countries due to its high amylopectin content. Enriching amylopectin in biofortified maize meets food security and fulfils the demand of rising industrial applications, especially bioethanol. The mutant waxy1 (wx1) gene is responsible for increased amylopectin in maize starch, with a wide range of food and industrial applications.

Exploring Peripartum Cannabis Use Among Young Sexual Minority People: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Young childbearing sexual minority (SM) people are more likely to use cannabis and to have an unintended pregnancy than their heterosexual peers; however, little is known about their perceptions and experiences of peripartum cannabis use. This qualitative study explores the relationships young pregnant and parenting SM people have with cannabis, as well as their feelings and opinions about prenatal cannabis use.

Method: Participants who identified as SM from baseline surveys of the YoungMoms study were recruited for semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 13).

Prevalence and Zoonotic Risk of Multidrug-Resistant in Bovine Subclinical Mastitis Milk: Insights Into the Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has made antimicrobial resistance a global issue, and milk is a potential source for the propagation of resistant bacteria causing zoonotic diseases. Subclinical mastitis (SCM) cases, often overlooked and mixed with normal milk in dairy farms, frequently involve , which can spread through contaminated milk. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of virulence genes, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), antimicrobial susceptibility, and the genetic relatedness of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) isolated from SCM milk.

Development and Validation of Multiplex-PCR Assay for and Genes Governing Enhanced Multivitamins in Maize for Its Application in Genomics-Assisted Breeding.

Traditional maize possesses low concentrations of provitamin-A and vitamin-E, leading to various health concerns. Mutant alleles of and that enhance β-carotene (provitamin-A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin-E), respectively, in maize kernels have been explored in several biofortification programs. For genetic improvement of these target nutrients, uniplex-PCR assays are routinely used in marker-assisted selection.

The Glycopeptide PV-PS A1 Immunogen Elicits Both CD4+ and CD8+ Responses.

Background/objectives: The MHCII-dependent, CD4+ T-cell zwitterionic polysaccharide PS A1 has been investigated as a promising carrier for vaccine development because it can induce an MHCII-dependent CD4+ response towards a variety of tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs). However, PS A1 cannot elicit cytotoxic T lymphocytes through MHCI, which may or may not hamper its potential clinical use in cancer, infectious and viral vaccine development. This paper addresses PS A1 MHCI independence through the introduction of an MHCI epitope, the poliovirus (PV) peptide, to establish an MHCI- and MHCII-dependent vaccine.

Lipoxygenases (LOXs): Will turning off this genetic switch help safeguard the flavor and nutritional quality of stored lipid-rich staple foods?

Beyond storage capacity, long-term grain storage faces significant challenges due to the activity of lipoxygenases (LOXs). These enzymes catalyze the production of volatiles from free fatty acids, leading to stale odors and off-flavors. These changes degrade the quality of stored grains, even under regulated conditions, affecting the profitability of stored products to the farmers and the assurance of high-quality food for consumers.

Competitive Langmuir Model for Dye Mixture Adsorption: Disagreement between Theoretical Ground and Application Condition.

Precise prediction of adsorption in a multicomponent system is vital for successful design of dye-contaminated industrial wastewater treatment processes. The present work looks for the reason behind the failure of the competitive Langmuir model (CLM) to describe adsorption in such systems, while the Langmuir model (LM) successfully describes the process for a single dye solution. With that end, derivations of LM and CLM have been revisited, and a criterion for the universality of active sites has been defined.

Silkless1 gene in maize: development and validation of the gene-based markers for breeding silkless baby corn.

Background: The role of the silkless1 (sk1) gene in developing silkless baby corn, a distinctive trait in maize has been investigated. So far, no sk1 gene-specific marker has been available for accelerated development of silkless baby corn hybrids.

Methods & Results: We developed sk1 gene-based markers and validated them in backcross (BC) and F segregating generations, revealing a polymorphic marker corresponding to a silkless phenotype.

Enrichment of Vitamin A and Vitamin E in Sweet Corn Kernels Through Genomics-Assisted Introgression of Mutant Version of crtRB1 and vte4 Genes.

Recessive shrunken2 (sh2)-based sweet corn is preferred worldwide as it possesses higher sugar and extended shelf life. However, traditional sh2-based sweet corn is poor in vitamin A and vitamin E. Here, parental lines of two sh2-based sweet corn hybrids, viz.

Clinical Ethics and the Observant Jewish and Muslim Patient: Shared Theocentric Perspectives in Practice.

Patients from religious minorities can face unique challenges reconciling their beliefs with the values that undergird Western Medical Ethics. This paper explores homologies between approaches of Orthodox Judaism and Islam to medical ethics, and how these religions' moral codes differ from the prevailing ethos in medicine. Through analysis of religious and biomedical literature, this work examines how Jewish and Muslim religious observances affect decisions about genetic counseling, reproductive health, pediatric medicine, mental health, and end-of-life decisions.

Evaluating a rapid molecular assay in a mobile laboratory for improved diagnosis of dengue in Bangladesh.

Objectives: Dengue emerged as a significant health threat in endemic regions in recent years. However, inconsistent diagnostic accuracy in sequential dengue infections necessitate improved testing methods to ensure effective management of dengue cases. Here, we evaluated a portable, rapid, and sensitive molecular assay-reverse transcriptase recombinase polymerase amplification assay (RT-RAA)-utilizing a mobile suitcase laboratory to detect infections in suspected dengue cases in Bangladesh.

Trends in Hospitalisations for Vaccine Preventable Respiratory Infections Following Emergency Department Presentations in New South Wales, Australia, 2012-2022.

Background: Vaccine-preventable respiratory infections impact on healthcare systems globally. Despite availability of vaccines, fluctuations in vaccination rates, pathogen virulence and community transmission dynamics mean that these respiratory infections continue to pose substantial public health risks. To understand trends in vaccine-preventable respiratory infections, we analysed linked data from emergency department (ED), hospitalisations and deaths in New South Wales, Australia, from 2012 to 2022.

The impact of limited access to digital health records on doctors and their willingness to adopt electronic health record systems.

Objective: Research over the past decade has extensively covered the benefits of electronic health records in developing countries. Yet, the specific impact of their limited access on doctors' workload and clinical decision-making, particularly in Bangladesh, remains underexplored. This study investigates current patients' medical history storage mechanisms and associated challenges.

Molecular characterization, haplotype analysis and development of markers specific to gene regulating methionine accumulation in kernels of subtropical maize.

Unlabelled: Maize kernel protein is deficient in sulfur-containing essential amino acid such as methionine. The gene encodes methionine-rich 18-kDa δ-zein in maize kernels. In this study, we sequenced full-length of gene (820 bp) among 10 maize inbreds, revealing 43 SNPs and 22 (average length-7.

Comparison between Phosphonium Docusate Ionic Liquids and Their Equimolar Mixtures with Alkanes: Temperature-Dependent Viscosity, Glass Transition, and Fragility.

In this study, we determined the temperature-dependent viscosities, glass transition temperatures, and fragilities of tetraalkylphosphonium docusate ionic liquids (ILs) and their equimolar mixtures with alkanes to elucidate the effects of the alkyl groups on the phosphonium cation. The target ILs were the docusate salts with tributylheptylphosphonium ([P][doc]), tributyltetradecylphosphonium ([P][doc]), butyltrihexylphosphonium ([P][doc]), trihexylheptylphosphonium ([P][doc]), and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium cations ([P][doc]). The comparable IL/alkane mixtures were equimolar mixtures of IL and alkane with the same carbon numbers of the target ILs: [P][doc]/hexane to [P][doc]; [P][doc]/heptane to [P][doc]; [P][doc]/hexane to [P][doc]; [P][doc]/decane to [P][doc]; and [P][doc]/heptane to [P][doc].

Effects of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) stem residue supplementation on growth performance, meat quality and health status of broilers.

Oyster mushroom stem residue, a by-product with medicinal and nutritive values, might be a prospective feed supplement in poultry nutrition. The study focused on evaluating the impact of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) stem residue (OMSR) powder supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, blood characteristics, and the cecal bacterial count in Arbor Acres broilers raised 35 d. A total of 144 day-old chicks, with an average weight of 40.

Unraveling popping quality through insights on kernel physical, agro-morphological, and quality traits of diverse popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) inbreds from indigenous and exotic germplasm.

Popcorn is a specialty corn with worldwide popularity as a snack. Despite having great market demand, genetic improvement in popping quality is limited, which is caused by the limited germplasm utilization and narrow genetic base. An assortment of diverse germplasm, their effective characterization, and integration into popcorn breeding pipeline is the foundation for an efficient breeding program.