Perspectives of nature-based tourism-dependent communities on climate change in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

The intensity and frequency of climate extremes such as heat waves, droughts and extreme rainfall events are projected to rise. This will increase the severity of their impacts across socio-ecological systems. Economic sectors such as nature-based tourism become more vulnerable because of their reliance on climate and natural capital as key resources.

Metabolomics of male infertility.

This review explores the use of metabolomics in male infertility. Metabolomics, an evolving omics technology that targets the products of cellular metabolism, is valuable for elucidating underlying pathophysiology of many disorders including male infertility. The identification of reliable biomarkers is essential for accurate diagnosis and for developing precision therapeutics for those afflicted by reproductive dysfunction.

Histomorphometric features of placentae from women having malaria and HIV coinfection with preterm births.

Background: Malaria and HIV are associated with preterm births possibly due to partial maternal vascular malperfusion resulting from altered placental angiogenesis. There is a paucity of data describing structural changes associated with malaria and HIV coinfection in the placentae of preterm births thus limiting the understanding of biological mechanisms by which preterm birth occurs.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the differences in clinical characteristics, placental parenchymal histological, and morphometric features of the terminal villous tree among women with malaria and HIV coinfection having preterm births.

Addition of Resolvins D1 or E1 to Collagen Membranes Mitigates Their Resorption in Diabetic Rats.

Uncontrolled diabetes is characterized by aberrant inflammatory reactions and increased collagenolysis. We have reported that it accelerates the degradation of implanted collagen membranes (CM), thus compromising their function in regenerative procedures. In recent years, a group of physiological anti-inflammatory agents called specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) have been tested as a treatment for various inflammatory conditions, either systemically or locally, via medical devices.

Visualizing Catalytic Dynamics Processes via Synchrotron Radiation Multitechniques.

The importance of catalysts today as workhorses in most modern industrial fields cannot be downplayed. As a result, rational design and engineering of targeted catalysts have emerged as key objectives and are dependent on in-depth understanding of complex catalytic dynamics. Synchrotron radiation (SR) light sources with rich advanced experimental methods are being recognized as a comprehensive characterization platform, which can draw a full picture on such multiparameter-involved catalysis under actual working conditions.

Bioactivated Implant Surfaces Placed in Healed Sites or Extraction Sockets: A Preliminary Experimental Study in Dogs.

Purpose: To monitor the early bone reaction in a canine model to a conventional sandblasted and dual acid-etched implant surface (ABT), a nanostructured hydrophilic surface (Nano), a dry salt-bioactivated ultra-hydrophilic surface (Hydro), and a bioactivated nanosurface obtained from the addition of dry salts to the Nano surface (Nano-Active).

Materials And Methods: ABT, Nano, Hydro, and Nano-Active implants were placed in 12 dogs. A randomized split-mouth design was adopted.

Spatial Distribution of Tsetse Flies and Trypanosome Infection Status in a Vector Genetic Transition Zone in Northern Uganda.

Background: Tsetse flies are vectors of the genus Trypanosoma that cause African trypanosomiasis, a serious parasitic disease of people and animals. Reliable data on the vector distribution and the trypanosome species they carry is pertinent for planning sustainable control strategies. This study was carried out to estimate the spatial distribution, apparent density, and trypanosome infection rates of tsetse flies in two districts that fall within a vector genetic transition zone in northern Uganda.

Cohort profile for the Loma Linda University Health BREATHE programme: a model to study continuously incentivised employee smoking cessation.

Purpose: The purpose of the Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) BREATHE cohort is to test the efficacy of a novel method of continuously incentivising participation in workplace smoking cessation on participation, long-term abstinence, health outcomes, healthcare costs and healthcare utilisation.

Participants: In 2014, LLUH-a US academic medical centre and university-incentivised participation in a workplace smoking cessation programme (LLUH BREATHE) by lowering health plan costs. Specifically, LLUH introduced a Wholeness Health Plan (WHP) option that, for the smokers, continuously incentivises participation in nicotine screening and the LLUH BREATHE smoking cessation programme by offering an 'opt-in wellness discount' that consisted of 50%-53% lower out of pocket health plan costs (ie, monthly employee premiums, copayments).

Cross-linked hyaluronic acid slows down collagen membrane resorption in diabetic rats through reducing the number of macrophages.

Objectives: We previously showed that accelerated degradation of collagen membranes (CMs) in diabetic rats is associated with increased infiltration of macrophages and blood vessels. Since pre-implantation immersion of CMs in cross-linked high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (CLHA) delays membrane degradation, we evaluated here its effect on the number of macrophages and endothelial cells (ECs) within the CM as a possible mechanism for inhibition of CM resorption.

Materials And Methods: Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in 16 rats, while 16 healthy rats served as control.

The impact and recovery of asteroid 2018 LA.

The June 2, 2018, impact of asteroid 2018 LA over Botswana is only the second asteroid detected in space prior to impacting over land. Here, we report on the successful recovery of meteorites. Additional astrometric data refine the approach orbit and define the spin period and shape of the asteroid.

Maxillary Sinus Augmentation Using Ceramic Alloplastic Granules or Paste: An Experimental Study in Rabbits.

Background: Due to the lack of data comparing the biological behavior of two formulations, granules and paste, of alloplastic graft from microtomographic and histomorphometric points of view, the aim of the present experiment was to compare the histomorphometric and microtomographic healing of two formulations, i.e., granules (MR sites) or paste (MR-inject sites) of an alloplastic graft composed of a combination of beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite used for maxillary sinus lifting.

The Effect of Coronal Implant Design and Drilling Protocol on Bone-to-Implant Contact: A 3-Month Study in the Minipig Calvarium.

Stress concentrated at an implant's neck may affect bone-to-implant contact (BIC). The objective of this study was to evaluate four different implant neck designs using two different drilling protocols on the BIC. Ninety-six implants were inserted in 12 minipigs calvarium.

Pilot Feasibility Study of Incorporating Whole Person Care Health Coaching Into an Employee Wellness Program.

Prior research supports positive health coaching outcomes, but there is limited literature on the integration of employer-sponsored health coaching into employee wellness strategy. The aim of our mixed methods study was to assess feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of incorporating a whole-person care model of health coaching into an employee wellness program (i.e.

Anomalous self-optimization of sulfate ions for boosted oxygen evolution reaction.

Broadly, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been deeply understood as a significant part of energy conversion and storage. Nevertheless, the anions in the OER catalysts have been neglected for various reasons such as inactive sites, dissolution, and oxidation, amongst others. Herein, we applied a model catalyst s-Ni(OH) to track the anionic behavior in the catalyst during the electrochemical process to fill this gap.

Synergistic Ice Inhibition Effect Enhances Rapid Freezing Cryopreservation with Low Concentration of Cryoprotectants.

Despite recent advances in controlling ice formation and growth, it remains a challenge to design anti-icing materials in various fields from atmospheric to biological cryopreservation. Herein, tungsten diselenide (WSe)-polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized through one-step solvothermal route. The WSe-PVP NPs show synergetic ice regulation ability both in the freezing and thawing processes.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of implants with two different connection configurations: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Peri-implant marginal bone loss is influenced by the interaction between tissues and the implant–abutment complex. The implant–abutment connection geometry is considered to be one of the factors that most affects peri-implant bone remodelling. Purpose: The primary purpose was to compare the clinical and radiographical differences between implants sharing the same macrogeometry but with two different connections.

Effects of selenium supplementation on pregnancy outcomes and disease progression in HIV-infected pregnant women in Lagos: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the effects of selenium supplementation on pregnancy outcomes and disease progression among HIV-infected pregnant women in Lagos.

Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted among HIV-positive pregnant women between September 2018 and August 2019. At enrollment, 90 women were randomly assigned into each treatment arm to receive either a daily tablet of 200 μg elemental selenium or a placebo.

Ridge Augmentation Using Customized Allogeneic Bone Block: A 3-Year Follow-up of Two Case Reports.

A variety of surgical techniques and grafting materials for the purpose of ridge augmentation have been developed during the last three decades. Recently, the use of customized allogeneic bone blocks, prepared by CAD/CAM techniques, has been introduced. This new augmentation technology may significantly reduce surgical time and improve donor-recipient fit and adaptation.

Participation in a workplace smoking cessation program incentivized by lowering the cost of health care coverage: Findings from the LLUH BREATHE cohort.

Introduction: Systematic analyses of workplace smoking cessation programs indicate that efficacy can be enhanced by using incentives. There is variation in the type of incentives used and their effect on participation and efficacy. The aim of our study was to examine whether lowering employee health plan costs (employee contributions, co-pays) encourage employee smokers to participate in workplace smoking cessation.

Impact of mobile technologies on cervical cancer screening practices in Lagos, Nigeria (mHealth-Cervix): Protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Incidence and mortality from cervical cancer have remained high due to many obstacles facing the implementation of organized screening programs in resource-constrained countries such as Nigeria. The application of mobile technologies (mHealth) to health services delivery has the potential to reduce inequalities, empower patients to control their health, and improve the cost-effectiveness of health care delivery. To assess the efficacy of mobile technology intervention on Pap test screening adherence compared to a control condition and also determine the factors affecting the uptake of Pap smear screening practices among women in Lagos.

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide and glycated serum albumin increase the production of several pro-inflammatory molecules in human gingival fibroblasts via NFκB.

Objective: Diabetes increases the incidence/severity of periodontal diseases by inducing a chronic inflammation, driven by accumulation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products). We tested whether glycated human serum albumin (G-HSA, a form of AGE), representing a diabetic state, augments the pro-inflammatory response of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) to a bacterial challenge (Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)).

Methods: Primary hGFs were incubated with LPS (0.

Accelerated degradation of collagen membranes in type 1 diabetic rats is associated with increased expression and production of several inflammatory molecules.

Background: Membrane durability is critical for regenerative procedures. We reported previously that type 1-like diabetes in rats accelerates the degradation of collagen membranes and we tested here whether this is associated with increased local production of inflammatory molecules as part of a diabetes-induced chronic inflammation around and within the membranes.

Methods: Collagen membrane discs were implanted under the scalp in diabetic (streptozotocin-induced) and control rats, which were sacrificed after 2 or 3 weeks.

Engineering the In-Plane Structure of Metallic Phase Molybdenum Disulfide Co and O Dopants toward Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) has attracted much attention as a promising alternative to Pt-based catalysts for highly efficient hydrogen generation. However, it suffers sluggish kinetics for driving the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process because of inert basal planes, especially in alkaline solution. Here, we show a combination of heteroatom doping and phase transformation strategies to engineer the in-plane structure of MoS, that trigger their catalytic activities.