Acceptability of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine in Papua New Guinea: a qualitative study.

Background: In moderate-to-high malaria transmission regions, the World Health Organization recommends intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) alongside insecticide-treated bed nets to reduce the adverse consequences of pregnancy-associated malaria. Due to high-grade Plasmodium falciparum resistance to SP, novel treatment regimens need to be evaluated for IPTp, but these increase pill burden and treatment days. The present qualitative study assessed the acceptability of IPTp-SP plus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) in Papua New Guinea, where IPTp-SP was implemented in 2009.

The urgency of now to end HIV vertical transmission for pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children in Asia and the Pacific.

The global strategy to #EndAIDS is underpinned by a call to end all inequities and to ensure no-one is left behind; but inequities continue, and people are still being left behind. Despite the advances seen in some populations and in some geographical areas, with ongoing high rates of HIV vertical transmission, ending HIV for pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children must be prioritised urgently. Focused on Asia and the Pacific, the region with the second largest number of people with HIV, in this viewpoint we highlight the heterogenous nature of global and regional success in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV.

Solution Casting Effect of PMMA-Based Polymer Electrolyte on the Performances of Solid-State Electrochromic Devices.

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) are devices that change their optical properties in response to a low applied voltage. These devices typically consist of an electrochromic layer, a transparent conducting substrate, and an electrolyte. The advancement in solid-state ECDs has been driven by the need for improved durability, optical performance, and energy efficiency.

A combined school survey and reactive case detection reveals minimal local transmission of malaria in the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea.

Background: The Highlands of Papua New Guinea are non-endemic for malaria compared to the rest of the country. This study aimed to explore the local transmission of malaria in the Highlands through a cross-sectional school survey coupled with reactive case detection.

Methods: Between July and November 2019, 5575 schoolchildren and 1048 household members were screened for malaria using Rapid Diagnostic Tests, subsequently validated by light microscopy.

Stroke Epidemiology in Asia.

Background Stroke is a major cause of death and disability globally, with different stroke burdens in different regions. This paper reviews the epidemiology of stroke in Asia. Summary There is a wide range in age and sex-standardised stroke incidence, highest in China, lowest in Bhutan.

Factors influencing women's and men's place of birth decisions in rural Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background: Evidence shows that birthing with a skilled birth provider improves maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, whilst most women in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea seek skilled health care during pregnancy in a health facility, more than half give birth at home or in the village without a skilled birth provider.

Aim: To explore the factors influencing women's and men's decisions about place of birth in rural Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

Investigation of electrochromic performances of multicolor VO devices fabricated at low processing temperature.

In recent decades, poorly insulated windows have increased the energy consumption of heating and cooling systems, thus contributing to excessive carbon dioxide emissions and other related pollution issues. From this perspective, the electrochromic (EC) windows could be a tangible solution as the indoor conditions are highly controllable by these smart devices even at a low applied voltage. Literally, vanadium pentoxide (VO) is a renowned candidate for the EC application due to its multicolor appearance and substantial lithium insertion capacity.

A new genus and species of isosporoid coccidium from captive green tree frogs, (Anura: Hylidae).

A new genus and a new species of isosporoid coccidium (Apicomplexa: Conoidasida: Eimeriorina) are described and illustrated from green tree frogs () (Anura: Hylidae) imported from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The described species has disporocystic and tetrasporozoic oocysts without a Stieda body. Nine species originally belonging to the genus Schneider, 1881 in the family Eimeriidae Minchin, 1903 described from Anura are recognized as members of the new genus and new combinations of the species names are proposed.

Human and entomological determinants of malaria transmission in the Lihir Islands of Papua New Guinea: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The Lihir Islands of Papua New Guinea, located in an area with high burden of malaria and hosting a large mining operation, offer a unique opportunity to study transmission. There, we investigated human and vector factors influencing malaria transmission.

Methods: In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,914 individuals assessing malaria prevalence through rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), microscopy, and quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Modeling saturation exponent of underground hydrocarbon reservoirs using robust machine learning methods.

Precise estimation of rock petrophysical parameters are seriously important for the reliable computation of hydrocarbon in place in the underground formations. Therefore, accurately estimation rock saturation exponent is necessary in this regard. In this communication, we aim to develop intelligent data-driven models of decision tree, random forest, ensemble learning, adaptive boosting, support vector machine and multilayer perceptron artificial neural network to predict rock saturation exponent parameter in terms of rock absolute permeability, porosity, resistivity index, true resistivity, and water saturation based on acquired 1041 field data.

Mentorship advances antimicrobial use surveillance systems in low- and middle-income countries.

A shortage of trained personnel poses significant challenges to implementing antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Traditional training models, such as workshops, seminars and online courses, often lack the sustained engagement and support necessary for deep learning and skill mastery. This article advocates for mentorship as an effective training method for AMU professionals in LMICs.

Eradication of commercial tobacco related disease and death.

The eradication of the commercial tobacco industry is a crucial goal for health and well-being, particularly from a public health and health justice perspective. The term 'eradication' is applied in epidemiology to mean the process and outcome of elimination of the-commercial tobacco industry as a human-made-agent of disease and death. In this commentary, we outline why the eradication of the tobacco industry is necessary, urgent and realistic.

Exploring the factors associated with prelacteal feeds in Papua New Guinea: a population-based survey.

Background: Prelacteal feeding disrupts early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, and increases the risk of childhood illnesses and under-five mortality. Despite its negative health outcomes, newborns are given prelacteal feeds in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This study investigated the factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices among women in PNG.

Geocultural differences in pre-schooler sleep profiles and family practices: an analysis of pooled data from 37 countries.

Study Objectives: To examine 1) multidimensional sleep profiles in pre-schoolers (3-6 years) across geocultural regions and 2) differences in sleep characteristics and family practices between Majority World regions (Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America) and the Minority World (the Western world).

Methods: Participants were 3507 pre-schoolers from 37 countries. Nighttime sleep characteristics and nap duration (accelerometer: n=1950) and family practices (parental questionnaire) were measured.

Tuberculosis treatment and undernutrition on Daru Island, Papua New Guinea: A qualitative exploration of a local foodscape.

A substantial proportion of people with tuberculosis (TB)-one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases-live in resource-poor, food insecure settings. It is widely recognised that undernutrition significantly heightens vulnerability to TB, as well as contributes to poor treatment adherence and outcomes. However, more attention is needed to understand what shapes food insecurity and undernutrition in a particular setting.

Impact of COVID-19 on Pneumococcal Acute Otitis Media, Antibiotic Resistance, and Vaccination in Children.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main pathogen that plays a dual role, on the one hand as an asymptomatic carrier in the nasopharyngeal mucosa and on the other hand directly responsible for triggering invasive pneumococcal infections with various important localizations, especially in the pediatric population. Thus, invasive pneumococcal infections represent one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in children under 5 years of age. Immunization is a key preventive measure against these infections.

A new species of Nactus gecko from boulder-pile habitat on Dauan Island, Torres Strait, Australia.

The Torres Strait Islands lie between Cape York Peninsula, north-east Australia, and the southern coast of Papua New Guinea. The vertebrate fauna of these islands is a relatively depauperate mix of Australian and New Guinean species, with only two endemic species described to date. Here we describe a new species of Nactus gecko discovered during a targeted survey of Dauan Island in the northern Torres Strait.

New species of Gehyra (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea.

I describe four new species of Gehyra from New Guinea and immediately adjacent islands. Two of these are giant species that have long been misassigned to either G. vorax or G.

A new species of treefrog (Litoria: Pelodryadidae) from the karstic South-fold Mountains of New Guinea.

The frog fauna of New Guinea is exceptionally diverse but very poorly known. Here we describe a new species of pelodryadid treefrog that is currently known only from two specimens from a single site in Hela Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Genetic data show that the new species is closely related to the torrent-breeding species Litoria angiana (Boulenger, 1915) from which it can be readily distinguished by its more slender body and limbs, relatively long forelimbs, and aspects of body colouration and tuberculation.

New species and records of Paraphloeostiba Steel, 1960 and Xanthonomus Bernhauer, 1926 from the eastern Palaearctic, Oriental and Papuan regions (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae).

New taxonomic and faunistic data for nine species of Paraphloeostiba Steel, 1960 and one species of Xanthonomus Bernhauer, 1926 (X. guineensis Shavrin, 2024) from the eastern Palaearctic, Oriental and Papuan regions are provided. Three new species of Paraphloeostiba are described and illustrated: P.