Regional and institutional trends in assessment for academic promotion.

The assessment of research performance is widely seen as a vital tool in upholding the highest standards of quality, with selection and competition believed to drive progress. Academic institutions need to take critical decisions on hiring and promotion, while facing external pressure by also being subject to research assessment. Here we present an outlook on research assessment for career progression with specific focus on promotion to full professorship, based on 314 policies from 190 academic institutions and 218 policies from 58 government agencies, covering 32 countries in the Global North and 89 countries in the Global South.

In-vitro cytotoxicity of biosynthesized nanoceria using Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves extract against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles possess unique properties that make them promising candidates in various fields, including cancer treatment. Among the proposed synthesis methods for CNPs, biosynthesis using natural extracts, offers an eco-friendly and convenient approach for producing CNPs, particularly for biomedical applications. In this study, a novel method of biosynthesis using the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves was used to synthesize CNPs.

COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Effectiveness by Time since Vaccination in the Western Cape Province, South Africa: An Observational Cohort Study during 2020-2022.

There are few data on the real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and boosting in Africa, which experienced widespread SARS-CoV-2 infection before vaccine availability. We assessed the association between vaccination and severe COVID-19 in the Western Cape, South Africa, in an observational cohort study of >2 million adults during 2020-2022. We described SARS-CoV-2 testing, COVID-19 outcomes, and vaccine uptake over time.

Neurotoxicity and Developmental Neurotoxicity of Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles on a Human Neuronal In-Vitro Test System.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are becoming increasingly important novel materials for many purposes, including basic research, medicine, agriculture, and engineering. Increasing human and environmental exposure to these promising compounds requires assessment of their potential health risks. While the general direct cytotoxicity of NPs is often routinely measured, more indirect possible long-term effects, such as reproductive or developmental neurotoxicity (DNT), have been studied only occasionally and, if so, mostly on non-human animal models, such as zebrafish embryos.

COVID-19 vaccine uptake and effectiveness by time since vaccination in the Western Cape province, South Africa: An observational cohort study during 2020-2022.

Background: There are few data on the real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and boosting in Africa, which experienced high levels of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a mostly vaccine-naïve population, and has limited vaccine coverage and competing health service priorities. We assessed the association between vaccination and severe COVID-19 in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Methods: We performed an observational cohort study of >2 million adults during 2020-2022.