Unraveling salinity stress tolerance: Contrasting morpho-physiological, biochemical, and ionic responses in diverse brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) genotypes.

Salinity stress poses a significant threat to crop production due to rapid soil salinization as a consequence of climate change. Brinjal, a vital and resilient vegetable crop with extensive genetic variation, exhibits a diverse range of salt tolerance responses. Salt-tolerant and susceptible brinjal genotypes were assessed for their differential tolerance mechanisms under 8 dS m salinity.

Activity-based contracting for optimization of the mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets in the Democratic Republic of Congo: pilot implementation in Kwilu province.

Background: Promoting the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) is one of the main strategies for reducing malaria-related morbidity. An innovative activity-based contracting (ABC) approach has been implemented in Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo to optimize ITN mass distribution campaigns, with payments based on contractually defined programmatic outcomes for key campaign activities following independent verification of results.

Methods: This internal evaluation was carried out using a mixed methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative document and content analysis from a series of three workshops: validation workshops for campaign results at provincial level for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns; internal evaluation workshop for the Kwilu campaign as part of the ABC approach organized by "Santé pour tous en milieu rural" (SANRU) with its sub-contractors; and national campaign evaluation workshop organized by the National Malaria Control Program.

Perceptions and Satisfaction of E-Health Applications: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Health Center at Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

Introduction E-health, defined as the utilization of information and communication technologies for health services, has become integral in enhancing healthcare delivery and accessibility. This study focuses on user satisfaction and perceptions of e-health applications in rural health centers, with special focus on Tamil Nadu, India. E-health technologies have proven to be effective in addressing challenges to healthcare accessibility and improving patient outcomes, at reduced costs.

Assessment of Quality of Life Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in an Urban Health Center of Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading causes of death and disability, in addition to its rapidly increasing prevalence in developing countries. The key element of managing diabetes is quality of life (QoL). It is a factor that is positively related to treatment adherence, and QoL motivates the patient to manage their disease and achieve health and happiness in the long term.

Assessment of the Anterior Loop and Pattern of Entry of Mental Nerve Into the Mental Foramen: A Radiographic Study of Panoramic Images.

Introduction: The precise location of the mental foramina is an essential landmark in planning the position of dental implants in the anterior mandible. Injury to inferior alveolar nerve during anterior mandibular implant surgery causes altered sensation which greatly affects patient satisfaction.

Methods: In this study, we assessed the prevalence of anterior loop of mental nerve and the pattern of entry of mental nerve into the mental foramen.

Multiprocessing Substrates Enhanced TaO/NiCoO Spinel Nanocomposites for Effective Electro-/Photocatalytic and Toxicological Effects via the Model.

NiCoO spinel composites decorated with metal oxides (TaO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), polyaminoanthraquinone (PAAQ), and layered double hydroxide hydrotalcite (HTs) were synthesized by the hydrothermal route. The synthesized composites were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses for structural parameters such as surface area, morphology, chemical composition, etc. The production of oxygen by the water oxidation technique is the most suitable eco-friendly method, where rGO@TaO/NiCoO (RTNCO) showed an efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance under 1 M KOH electrolyte.

Functional genomics and gene-environment interaction highlight the complexity of congenital heart disease caused by Notch pathway variants.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and brings with it significant mortality and morbidity. The application of exome and genome sequencing has greatly improved the rate of genetic diagnosis for CHD but the cause in the majority of cases remains uncertain. It is clear that genetics, as well as environmental influences, play roles in the aetiology of CHD.

A semi-automated Raman micro-spectroscopy method for morphological and chemical characterizations of microplastic litter.

Every step of microplastic analysis (collection, extraction and characterization) is time-consuming, representing an obstacle to the implementation of large scale monitoring. This study proposes a semi-automated Raman micro-spectroscopy method coupled to static image analysis that allows the screening of a large quantity of microplastic in a time-effective way with minimal machine operator intervention. The method was validated using 103 particles collected at the sea surface spiked with 7 standard plastics: morphological and chemical characterization of particles was performed in <3h.

Pediatric hospitalization of acute respiratory tract infections with Human Bocavirus in Hong Kong.

Background: Respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Human Bocavirus (HBoV) has recently been identified and implicated as an aetiologic agent of lower respiratory tract infection in children.

Objectives: The prevalence of HBoV and clinical manifestations of children hospitalized for acute respiratory illness in Hong Kong were determined.