Transgenic tomato strategies targeting whitefly eggs from apoplastic or ovary-directed proteins.

Background: Transgenic plants expressing proteins that target the eggs of the ubiquitous plant pest Bemisia tabaci (whitefly) could be an effective insecticide strategy. Two approaches for protein delivery are assessed using the mCherry reporter gene in transgenic tomato plants, while accommodating autofluorescence in both the plant, phloem-feeding whitefly and pedicle-attached eggs.

Results: Both transgenic strategies were segregated to homozygous genotype using digital PCR.

Advancing hepatitis B elimination: A systematic review of global immunization progress and future directions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target of eliminating viral hepatitis B and C by 2030. Vaccination against hepatitis B (HepB) remains the most effective strategy for controlling and eliminating Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. The development of HepB vaccines started with plasma-derived vaccines, which have since been largely replaced by safer and more effective recombinant vaccines, now considered the gold standard for preventing HBV infections.

Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology: A Global Health Threat in Rural Agricultural Communities-Prevalence, Suspected Causes, Mechanisms, and Prevention Strategies.

Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) is a worldwide hidden health threat that is associated with progressive loss of kidney functions without showing any initial symptoms until reaching end-stage renal failure, eventually leading to death. It is a growing health problem in Asia, Central America, Africa, and the Middle East, with identified hotspots. CKDu disease mainly affects young men in rural farming communities, while its etiology is not related to hypertension, kidney stones, diabetes, or other known causes.

Effects of L. Bract Extract on Lipid Metabolism Disorders Through Modulation of HMG-CoA Reductase, Apo A-1, PCSK-9, p-AMPK, SREBP-2, and CYP2E1 Expression.

Hyperlipidemia is a major contributor to metabolic complications and tissue damage, leading to conditions such as liver steatosis, atherosclerosis, and obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous artichoke bract extract (AE) on lipid metabolism, liver antioxidative defense, and liver steatosis in mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet while elucidating the underlying mechanisms. An 8-week study used hyperlipidemic mice treated with AE at daily doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw, compared to fenofibrate.

Assessment of Chicken Fecal Contamination Using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) and Environmental DNA (eDNA) Profiling in Silway River, Philippines.

The Silway River has historically failed to meet safe fecal coliform levels due to improper waste disposal. The river mouth is located in General Santos City, the tuna capital of the Philippines and a leading producer of hogs, cattle, and poultry. The buildup of contaminants due to direct discharge of waste from chicken farms and existing water quality conditions has led to higher fecal matter in the Silway River.

Newborn Screening for Six Primary Conditions in a Clinical Setting in Morocco.

Unlabelled: Newborn screening (NBS) represents an important public health measure for the early detection of specified disorders; such screening can prevent disability and death, not only from metabolic disorders but also from endocrine, hematologic, immune, and cardiac disorders. Screening for critical congenital conditions affecting newborns' health is a great challenge, especially in developing countries such as Morocco, where NBS program infrastructure is lacking. In addition, the consanguinity rate is high in Morocco.

Enhanced YOLOv8 Ship Detection Empower Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Advanced Maritime Surveillance.

The evolution of maritime surveillance is significantly marked by the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning into Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). This paper presents an AI approach for detecting and tracking unmanned surface vehicles, specifically leveraging an enhanced version of YOLOv8, fine-tuned for maritime surveillance needs. Deployed on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 platform, the system features an innovative architecture and perception module optimized for real-time operations and energy efficiency.

Multimodal Machine Learning for Predicting Post-Surgery Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Colorectal cancer is a major public health issue, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Treatment for colorectal cancer often has a significant impact on patients' quality of life, which can vary over time and across individuals. The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques has great potential for optimizing patient outcomes by providing valuable insights.

Chemical Composition, Free Radicals and Pathogenic Microbes in the Extract Derived from : In Silico and In Vitro Approaches.

Marine algae are renowned for their health benefits due to the presence of functional bioactive compounds. In this context, this study aims to valorize the extract of a seaweed, (), through phytochemical characterization using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), as well as in vitro and in silico evaluation of its biological activities (antioxidant and antimicrobial). Phytochemical characterization revealed that the ethanolic extract of (DdEx) is rich in phenolic compounds, with a total of 22 phycocompounds identified.

HLA Class I (A and B) Allele Polymorphism in a Moroccan Population Infected with Hepatitis C Virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major health burdens worldwide. Its course depends on the virus itself and the host's immune responses. The latter are conditioned by immunogenetic factors, in particular human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), whose role in determining the outcome of infection varies according to populations and ethnic groups.

Patent Overview of Innovative Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogel Biosensors.

Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels are emerging as highly versatile materials for cost-effective biosensors, capable of sensitive chemical and biological detection. These hydrogels, functionalized with specific groups, exhibit sensitivity modulated by factors such as temperature, pH, and analyte concentration, allowing for a broad spectrum of applications. This study presents a patent-centered overview of recent advancements in hyaluronic acid hydrogel biosensors from 2003 to 2023.

Polysaccharide-Based Drug Carriers-A Patent Analysis.

Polysaccharide-based carriers as biomaterials for drug delivery have been inspiring scientists for years due to their exceptional characteristics, such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and degradability, as they are able to protect pharmaceutically active molecules and provide their controlled/modified release. This review focuses on selected drug delivery systems based on natural polymers, namely fucoidan, pullulan, dextran, and pectin, with the aim of highlighting published patent documents. The information contained in patents is very important because it is usually not published in any other document and is much less discussed as the state of the art in the scientific literature.

The Interplay Between Vitamin D Deficiency, Iron Status, and Anemia Risk in Moroccan Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Vitamin D and iron deficiencies are prevalent among Moroccan women of reproductive age (WRA). Research suggests that Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) may impair iron bioavailability, potentially leading to iron deficiency (ID) and anemia. Objectives: This study investigates associations between vitamin D status, iron levels, and anemia risk in WRA, aged 18-49, from Meknes, Morocco.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.

FISPGHAN statement on the global public health impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

As rates of obesity rise worldwide, incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is increasing, worsening the burden of healthcare systems. The council of the Federation of International Societies for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (FISPGHAN) identified the topic of MASLD epidemiology, treatment, and prevention as a global priority issue to be addressed by an expert team, with the goal to describe feasible and evidence-based actions that may contribute to reducing MASLD risk. The FISPGHAN member societies nominated experts in the field.

Embolic popliteal venous aneurysm revealing a congenital venous anatomical variation: A case report and literature review.

Venous aneurysms of the lower limbs are rare, and those located in the popliteal area are the most described. Congenital anatomical variations have been reported but are also exceptional. They can affect both superficial and deep veins.

Love as a Commitment Device : Evidence from a Cross-Cultural Study across 90 Countries.

Given the ubiquitous nature of love, numerous theories have been proposed to explain its existence. One such theory refers to love as a commitment device, suggesting that romantic love evolved to foster commitment between partners and enhance their reproductive success. In the present study, we investigated this hypothesis using a large-scale sample of 86,310 individual responses collected across 90 countries.

Vasorelaxant effect of fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) extracts on rat mesenteric arteries: Assessment of phytochemical profiling and antioxidant potential.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hypertension is a serious health problems and a leading cause of adult mortality worldwide. Foeniculum. vulgare Mill, a plant traditionally used for various ailments, including cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension.

Cross-sectional analysis of soft drinks consumption patterns post-taxation in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Sweetened soft drinks consumption contributes to the increasing prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Saudi Arabia began imposing tax on sugar-sweetened drinks to combat obesity.

Aim: To investigate the determinants of soft drinks consumption patterns among adults in Saudi Arabia 5 years after consumer tax implementation.

Situation analysis of sugar‑sweetened beverages taxation in Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Background: Significant attention is being given to the role of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the increasing rates of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Aim: To document the different approaches being used by EMR countries in implementing the sugar-sweetened beverages taxation.

Methods: This study used data on indirect taxes levied on SSBs by the 22 EMR countries and territories collected by WHO between July 2022 and June 2023.

Insights into the emerging immune checkpoint NR2F6 in cancer immunity.

NR2F6 has emerged as a key player in immune regulation, especially in cancer immunity. It has indeed been reported that NR2F6 could suppress the anti-tumor immune response, and has therefore been suggested as possible target in cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will start by describing the complex structure of the NR2F6 gene and its multifaceted biological functions.

The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Emerging countries face specific challenges in mobilizing the transformative potential of digital technology to achieve financial inclusion. While previous studies emphasize the role of digital infrastructure and technology adoption in financial inclusion, gaps remain in understanding how digital literacy and specific technologies, like blockchain, influence financial inclusion across diverse emerging regions. This study investigates the joint effect of digital literacy and blockchain adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America from 2011 to 2021.

Advances in structural modification of fucoidans, ulvans, and carrageenans to improve their biological functions for potential therapeutic application.

Marine sulfated polysaccharides constitute a class of bioactive polymers commonly found in cell walls of macroalgae. Among these macromolecular substances, fucoidans, ulvans, and carrageenans have attracted considerable attention providing interesting therapeutic properties affected by a combination of various structural factors, such as sulfation pattern, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and glycosidic linkages. Remarkably, chemical modification, enzymatic hydrolysis and crosslinking are promising approaches for developing the application of these polysaccharides through enhancement and/or addition of new biological properties.

Exploring the role of leaves distillation waste as a green inhibitor for carbon steel in acidic environment: an integrated study.

In this study, the assessment of the leaves' co-product resulting from the hydrodistillation process was conducted to evaluate its anticorrosive potential for carbon steel in the hydrochloric acid medium. Phytochemical analysis of this biomass revealed its abundance in terms of polyphenols and flavonoids; hence the determination of total polyphenol content recorded a value of 75.4 mg GAE per g extract.