First report of aberrant sperm in Edessinae and analysis of the male reproductive system of Edessa rufomarginata (De Geer, 1773) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Edessinae is one of the ten subfamilies of Pentatomidae, and it is further divided into seven genera. Among these, Edessa Fabricius, 1803 is the most diverse genus, boasting around 300 species recognized for their ecological and economic significance worldwide. The inclusion of various pentatomids in the Edessa genus has led to mistakes in its taxonomy due to common morphological features and misidentifications.

Evidence of antiparallel sperm bundles and limited sperm production in adult males of Phaleria testacea Say, 1824 (Tenebrionidae, Diaperinae).

In this study, we investigated the male reproductive system and sperm morphology of Phaleria testacea using both light and transmission electron microscopy. Our findings revealed important testicular features, such as the antiparallel arrangement of sperm in the testicular cysts, limited sperm prodution in adult males, defective spermatozoa, and bodies of cellular membranes in deterioration. We also observed more spermatids per cyst than in most Tenebrionoidea.

Composite Materials Used for Dental Fillings.

This article explores the properties of composite materials employed in dental fillings. A traditional nano-hybrid composite containing nanofiller particles exceeding 82% by weight served as a benchmark. The remaining samples were fabricated from ormocer resin, maintaining an identical nanofiller content of 84%.

Public Health Ambassadors: A Novel Participatory Community Health Awareness Program in Abu Dhabi.

Community-based intervention (CBI) programs promote lifestyle changes, modify risk factors, and substantially improve public health. Social mobilization and community involvement improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and improve access to care and services. Health intervention program evaluations are essential to provide evidence-based strategies that can enhance the design and implementation of successful health promotion programs.

Salt stress alters the cell wall components and structure in Miscanthus sinensis stems.

Miscanthus is a perennial grass suitable for the production of lignocellulosic biomass on marginal lands. The effects of salt stress on Miscanthus cell wall composition and its consequences on biomass quality have nonetheless received relatively little attention. In this study, we investigated how exposure to moderate (100 mM NaCl) or severe (200 mM NaCl) saline growing conditions altered the composition of both primary and secondary cell wall components in the stems of 15 Miscanthus sinensis genotypes.

Effect of VAChT reduction on lung alterations induced by exposure to iron particles in an asthma model.

Introduction: Pollution harms the health of people with asthma. The effect of the anti-inflammatory cholinergic pathway in chronic allergic inflammation associated to pollution is poorly understood.

Methods: One hundred eight animals were divided into 18 groups (6 animals).

How to help countries improve resilience during a pandemic: an example of a Rapid Exchange Forum.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic demanded quick exchanges between experts and institutions supporting governments to provide evidence-based information in response to the crisis. Initially, there was no regular cross-country forum in the field of population health. This paper describes the set-up and benefits of implementing such a forum.

European Health Information Training Programme: a sustainable strategy for strengthening capacity in health information.

Background: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a need for a uniform approach to health information (HI) knowledge in population health analysis across Europe was evident. The Population Health Information Research Infrastructure (PHIRI) emerged as a proactive initiative to strengthen European HI capacities. This article describes the achievements of PHIRI, highlighting its capacity-building activities and their contribution towards a sustainable strategy for the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

Comparison of the vertical accuracy of satellite-based correction service and the PPK GNSS method for obtaining sensor positions on a multibeam bathymetric survey.

The MarineStar Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) augmentation services are widely used in bathymetric surveys to obtain the sensor position. The postprocessed kinematic (PPK) GNSS method can be used to obtain more accurate positions. Therefore, the present work aims to verify the vertical final accuracies and uncertainties of exclusive order multibeam hydrographic surveys using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) as a horizontal positioning tool through methods such MarineStar services and PPK relative positioning, with comparisons between the two methods based on the results of the hydrographic base created.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume assessed by cardiac CT as a predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence following catheter ablation.

Introduction: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), up to one third have recurrence after a first catheter ablation (CA). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been considered to be closely related to AF, with a potential role in its recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the association between the volume of EAT measured by cardiac computed tomography (CT) and AF recurrence after CA.

School bullying prevention and intervention strategies in the United Arab Emirates: a scoping review.

Introduction: Schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed an increase of 7% in bullying prevalence since 2005. This review aimed to map antibullying interventions in the UAE.

Methods: A systematic search was performed in five electronic databases (EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Eric) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review.

Morphology of the male reproductive system and sperm of Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas, 1852) (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

Taxonomic data on Coreidae have been fragmented over time and need to be revised. Likewise, data related to the development of germ cells and the features of the male reproductive system, including sperm, will contribute to understanding the biological mechanisms of reproduction and the systematics of its representatives. Aiming to provide these data, we describe the morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Leptoglossus zonatus using light and transmission electron microscopies, respectively.

A simplified single transseptal puncture approach using high-density 3D voltage mapping for atrial fibrillation ablation: acute complications and long-term results.

Background: An ablation catheter and a circular mapping catheter requiring a double transeptal puncture (TSP) for left atrial access have been conventionally used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Recently, different operators have combined a single transseptal puncture technique with 3D high-density mapping catheters for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Objective: This study aims to compare two strategies, single vs.

Protocol for a cluster randomised trial of a goal-oriented care approach for multimorbidity patients supported by a digital platform.

Introduction: Health information systems represent an opportunity to improve the care provided to people with multimorbidity. There is a pressing need to assess their impact on clinical outcomes to validate this intervention. Our study will determine whether using a digital platform (Multimorbidity Management Health Information System, METHIS) to manage multimorbidity improves health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).

Impacts of public health and social measures on COVID-19 in Europe: a review and modified Delphi technique.

Introduction: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 led countries to implement a set of public health and social measures (PHSMs) attempting to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study aims to review the existing literature regarding key results of the PHSMs that were implemented, and to identify the PHSMs considered to have most impacted the epidemiological curve of COVID-19 over the last years during different stages of the pandemic.

Methods: The PHSM under study were selected from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT), supplemented by topics presented during the Rapid Exchange Forum (REF) meetings in the scope of the Population Health Information Research Infrastructure (PHIRI) project (H2020).

Genotoxicity of Occupational Pesticide Exposures among Agricultural Workers in Arab Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Exposure to pesticides in Arab countries is a significant public health concern due to extensive agricultural activity and pesticide use. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effects of agricultural pesticide exposure in the region, identify research gaps, and assess methodological limitations. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search yielded five relevant studies conducted in Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.

Evaluation of left atrial strain imaging and integrated backscatter as predictors of recurrence in patients with paroxysmal, persistent, and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation.

Background: Impaired left atrial (LA) strain predicts atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA), but currently there is no cut-off to guide patient selection for CA. Integrated backscatter (IBS) is a promising tool for noninvasive quantification of myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this study was to compare LA strain and IBS between paroxysmal, persistent, and long-standing persistent AF and evaluate their association with AF recurrence after CA.

GWAS in tetraploid potato: identification and validation of SNP markers associated with glycoalkaloid content.

Unlabelled: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a useful tool to unravel the genetic architecture of complex traits, but the results can be difficult to interpret. Population structure, genetic heterogeneity, and rare alleles easily result in false positive or false negative associations. This paper describes the analysis of a GWAS panel combined with three bi-parental mapping populations to validate GWAS results, using phenotypic data for steroidal glycoalkaloid (SGA) accumulation and the ratio (SGR) between the two major glycoalkaloids α-solanine and α-chaconine in potato tubers.

Determinants of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in Indonesia: Analysis of the 2018 National Basic Health Survey Data.

Common Mental Disorders (CMD) are distress conditions which manifest themselves with anxiety, somatic, and depressive symptoms. CMD are highly prevalent in Indonesia especially among adolescents. Adolescent girls have a higher risk to develop CMD than boys.

Syntenic Cell Wall QTLs as Versatile Breeding Tools: Intraspecific Allelic Variability and Predictability of Biomass Quality Loci in Target Plant Species.

Syntenic cell wall QTLs (SQTLs) can identify genetic determinants of biomass traits in understudied species based on results from model crops. However, their effective use in plant breeding requires SQTLs to display intraspecific allelic variability and to predict causative loci in other populations/species than the ones used for SQTLs identification. In this study, genome assemblies from different accessions of Arabidopsis, rapeseed, tomato, rice, Brachypodium and maize were used to evaluate the intraspecific variability of SQTLs.