Aurodox inhibits type III secretion in multiple Gram-negative pathogens.

Gram-negative pathogens pose a significant threat due to their propensity for causing various infections, often coupled with formidable resistance to conventional antibiotic treatments. The development of antivirulence (AV) compounds emerges as a promising alternative strategy by disrupting virulence mechanisms rather than targeting bacterial viability. Aurodox has exhibited promising AV properties in previous studies by blocking the expression and function of the LEE-encoded type 3 secretion system (T3SS) in enterohaemorrhagic , an injectosome that translocates effector proteins directly into host target cells.

Correlates of adverse childhood experiences among admitted patients with schizophrenia in a referral psychiatric hospital in Botswana.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is becoming more prevalent globally, particularly in lower and middle-income countries. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significant risk factors for developing and worsening the disorder. This study aimed to determine the pattern and correlates of ACE among inpatients with Schizophrenia at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital in Botswana.

Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: To achieve universal health coverage consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, monitoring financial protection is vital, even in the context of free medical care. Toward this end, this study investigated out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and their determinants among adults in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This analysis was based on cross-sectional data derived from the Family Health Survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics in 2018.

Barriers to accessing appendectomy in the public sector health system in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Background: Appendectomy is the surgical treatment for acute appendicitis and barriers to timely care can lead to morbidity and mortality. In South Africa, patients experience delays during the stages of seeking, reaching, and receiving care. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of barriers to accessing appendectomy among patients, caregivers, and surgeons employed at selected public hospitals in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Assessing alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards: the International Alcohol Control Study.

Background: The alcohol industry uses many of the tobacco industry's strategies to influence policy-making, yet unlike the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there is no intergovernmental guidance on protecting policies from alcohol industry influence. Systematic assessment of alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards is also lacking. Here, we aimed to identify the nature and extent of industry penetration in a cross-section of jurisdictions.

Fluoride contamination in African groundwater: Predictive modeling using stacking ensemble techniques.

Fluoride contamination of groundwater is a severe public health problem in Africa due to natural factors that include geological weathering of fluoride-bearing minerals and climatic conditions characterized by high evaporation rates that highly elevate fluoride levels. Anthropogenic activities further aggravate the problem and have affected millions of people in countries such as; South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Botswana, and Egypt. High fluoride levels of up to 10 mg/L have been encountered in parts of the East African Rift Valley, above the WHO's recommended limit of 1.

Lower limb interosseous membrane in foetuses.

Background: The leg interosseous membrane (LIM) stabilises the tibia and the fibula. These two bones articulate at the proximal and distal tibiofibular joints. In addition, the LIM is the place of attachment of tibialis anterior muscle, extensor digitorum longus muscle, fibularis tertius muscle (anatomical variant), tibialis posterior muscle and flexor hallucis longus muscle.

Removing institutional barriers to long-term fieldwork is critical for advancing ecology.

Long-term fieldwork is essential for ecology and conservation, but is hindered by institutional barriers, such as the publish-or-perish culture of academia, and funding limitations. Here, we discuss these challenges and propose strategies to overcome them, such as broadening evaluation metrics and supporting inclusivity, to advance scientific insight and societal equity.

Remote sensing and spatial analysis reveal unprecedented cyanobacteria bloom dynamics associated with elephant mass mortality.

The 2020 mass mortality of 350 African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Botswana sparked global concern, with cyanotoxins in watering holes (pans) being a suspected cause, though evidence remains inconclusive. Combining remote sensing and spatial analysis, we examined the relationship between the ecohydrology of ∼3000 pans and the locations of deceased elephants. Our analysis revealed a significant difference in the spatial distribution of fresh versus decayed carcasses (p < 0.

A Test for Discriminating Between Members of the Odd Weibull-G Family of Distributions.

The Odd Weibull-G (OWG) family of distributions has been discussed earlier in the literature. This family of distributions provides a "better fit" in certain practical situations. In a similar fashion, the OWG family of distributions is defined in this article.

Microbial diversity in the arid and semi-arid soils of Botswana.

To date, little research has been conducted on the landscape-scale distribution of soil microbial communities and the factors driving their community structures in the drylands of Africa. We investigated the influence of landscape-scale variables on microbial community structure and diversity across different ecological zones in Botswana. We used amplicon sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and a suite of environmental parameters to determine drivers of microbial community structure.

Tranexamic acid for preventing postpartum haemorrhage after caesarean section.

Rationale: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is common and potentially life-threatening. The antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid (TXA) is recommended for treating PPH; it reduces the risk of death from haemorrhage by one-third when given soon after bleeding onset, but not overall risk of death. Interest in whether TXA may be effective in preventing PPH is growing.

Thibang Diphatlha: a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial designed to increase timely adoption of cervical cancer treatment in Botswana.

Background: Delays and missed opportunities for timely treatment contribute significantly to stark inequities in cervical cancer mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries. The vast majority (approximately 90%) of new cases and deaths occur in LMICs, particularly those with high rates of HIV such as Botswana. To date, most of the implementation and cancer control research in Botswana and other LMICs has focused on cancer prevention and screening, with limited focus on cancer treatment.

CENTRAL BLOOD PRESSURE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONVENTIONAL BLOOD PRESSURE MAY EXPLAIN TARGET ORGAN CHANGES BETTER THAN CONVENTIONAL PRESSURE ALONE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.

Background: Although, it is well-recognized that conventional BP alone may not be enough to determine target organ changes associated with hypertension and in cardiovascular events risk assessment, there is scarcity of data on this topic.

Objectives: To determine how central BP compares with conventional BP in their association with left ventricular mass index (LVMI), among hypertensive patients.

Methods: Ninety-five participants were evaluated.

AORTIC REFLECTION MAGNITUDE SUGGESTS A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY MASS INDEX THAN OBTAINED IN OTHER CONVENTIONAL BLOOD PRESSURE PARAMETERS, IN A GROUP OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS.

Background: Although body mass index (BMI) is an important confounder of hypertension and a relationship has been postulated between BMI and blood pressure (BP) in the hypertensive range, the relationship between BMI and central BP remains poorly studied.

Objectives: To determine how central BP parameters relate to BMI, in a group of hypertensive patients.

Methods: In ongoing data, 55 hypertensive patients (average age =52.

Advances in lightweight composite structures and manufacturing technologies: A comprehensive review.

The field of lightweight composite structures has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, revolutionizing numerous industries through their exceptional combination of strength, weight reduction and versatility. This review paper provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of these ground breaking materials. It elucidates fundamental concepts of lightweight composite structures, exploring their composition, classification, physical and mechanical properties as well as recent strides in their engineering applications.

A qualitative exploration of nursing master's research supervision in a private higher education institution.

Background: Completing a Master's thesis is crucial for earning a master's degree and showcasing students' academic and professional skills. However, the process is often challenging owing to its solitary nature and the complexity of its supervisory relationships.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experience of Nursing Master's Research Supervision and its impact on their thesis journey.

Triterpenoid saponins from the fruit pulp of (Fabaceae).

fruit, used as spice in West Africa was studied chemically; five previously undescribed triterpenoid saponins - and four known compounds - were isolated from the -Butanol fraction. The chemical structures of all nine isolates were determined by comprehensive analysis of HRMS, 1D & 2D NMR experiments and by comparison with data in the literature. All nine compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activity by the broth microdilution through the rapid -iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) colorimetric technique.

Improvement of the Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Mean Field Games.

The Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is a widely used method for managing energy consumption in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, it has limitations that affect network longevity and performance. This paper presents an improved version of the LEACH protocol, termed MFG-LEACH, which incorporates the Mean Field Game (MFG) theory to optimize energy efficiency and network lifetime.

Disaster risk from diarrhoeal diseases and WASH in South Africa and Botswana in MDG time.

Unlabelled: South Africa and Botswana are middle-income countries in the southern part of the African continent. They are also the two of the most developed countries in the region, where socio-economic situation is better than in many other parts of the African continent. The progression of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in these two countries can be seen as the setting stage for the disaster risk management understanding in the African region in the 21st century.

Africa's breaking heart.

In Botswana, a geologist hunts for signs of the rifting that is tearing the continent apart.