Prevalence and Patterns of Social Media Use in Early Adolescents.

Objective: To describe patterns of social media use, including underage (under 13 years) use and sex differences, in a diverse, national sample of early adolescents in the U.S.

Methods: We analyzed the social media use data in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (2019-2021, Year 3), which includes a national sample of early adolescents in the U.

Whole genome sequencing, assembly and annotation of the Southern Ground Hornbill - Bucorvus leadbeateri.

The Southern Ground Hornbill (SGH - Bucorvus leadbeateri) is one of the largest hornbill species worldwide, known for its complex social structures and breeding behaviours. This bird has been of great interest due to its declining population and disappearance from historic ranges in southern Africa. Despite being the focus of numerous conservation efforts, with research forming an integral part of these initiatives, there is still a substantial lack of knowledge regarding the molecular biology aspects of this bird species.

Evaluating the physiological benefits of behavioral flexibility in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) using a biophysical model.

As opportunistic generalists occupying a range of ecological niches, chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) are considered a highly flexible species of relatively low conservation priority. Underlying their ecological flexibility is a repertoire of behavioral strategies observed in response to ecological stressors. Although these strategies are relatively well-documented, we know very little about how they impact upon an individual's thermal and energetic physiology, which can influence population-level reproductive potential in the face of climatic warming.

The Regulatory Role of Pancreatic Enzymes in the Maintenance of Small Intestinal Structure and Enterocyte Turnover with Special Reference to Alpha Amylase.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of porcine pancreatic enzymes (Creon pancrelipase) in comparison to microbial-derived alpha amylase (MD amylase) on the small intestine wall structure, mucosal glycogen accumulation, and enterocyte turnover. The impact of enzyme supplementation on the small intestine was explored in 18 pigs with surgically induced exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Four healthy pigs served as the control group.

Microbiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile in Patients with Diabetic Foot Sepsis at a Central Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

: Diabetic foot sepsis (DFS) is the leading cause of lower extremity amputations and timely initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy is paramount during its management. This study investigated causative microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile in patients with DFS. : A retrospective review was conducted on patients who were 18-years and older admitted with DFS.

Sustainable Conversion of Corncob Biomass Waste into High Performance Carbon Materials for Detection of VOCs at Room Temperature.

The demand for reliable, cost-effective, room temperature gas sensors with high sensitivity, selectivity, and short response times is rising, particularly for environmental monitoring, biomedicine, and agriculture. In this study, corncob waste-derived activated carbon (ACC) was combined with CuO nanoparticles and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate ACC/PVA/CuO composites with CuO loadings of 5, 10, and 15 wt.%.

Assessing the physical activity training needs and preferences of community health workers in South Africa.

Background: Emerging work highlights the potential of community health workers (CHWs) to promote physical activity (PA) as a part of their role in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases. However, little is known about CHW preferences and desires towards receiving PA training.

Methods: Community health promoters (CHPs), a type of CHWs in South Africa, from seven health districts in Johannesburg participated in a day-long in-service training on PA and healthy eating.

A comparative study of menstrual poverty among urban and rural female learners in government schools of Zambia.

Background: Menstrual poverty remains a significant health problem among female learners in Zambia, particularly due to the lack of access to menstrual products, leading to the use of unsafe alternatives and potential health risks such as reproductive tract infections. To address this pressing issue, this study examined the disparities in knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning menstrual poverty among female learners in both urban and rural government schools within Zambia.

Methods: The study utilized a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Impact of capacity building through learning, training, and coaching on agricultural innovation.

Successful innovation requires employees to have intellectual and technical capacity. This study explored the effects of capacity building through educational learning, organizational training, and coaching on agricultural innovation. A sample of 142 operational-level agriculture scientists working within a public sector agricultural research organisation in Zimbabwe.

Costs of Influenza Illness and Acute Respiratory Infections by Household Income Level: Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Implications for Health Equity.

Background: Seasonal influenza illness and acute respiratory infections can impose a substantial economic burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We assessed the cost of influenza illness and acute respiratory infections across household income strata.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a prior systematic review of costs of influenza and other respiratory illnesses in LMICs and contacted authors to obtain data on cost of illness (COI) for laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection.

Batch and semi-continuous fermentation with Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius DSM 6285 for H production.

Background: Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius is a facultatively anaerobic thermophile that is able to produce hydrogen (H) gas from the oxidation of carbon monoxide through the water-gas shift reaction when grown under anaerobic conditions. The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction is driven by a carbon monoxide dehydrogenase-hydrogenase enzyme complex. Previous experiments exploring hydrogenogenesis with P.

Raising awareness and addressing inequities for people with Down syndrome in South Africa.

Globally, individuals with Down syndrome (DS) face profound inequities in social and health care access. These challenges are further compounded by racial disparities as well as a lack of awareness, research, and support, particularly in the Global South. This commentary discusses the multifaceted challenges and disparities encountered by people with DS in South Africa, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Predictive Methods and Probabilistic Mapping of Subcortical Brain Components in Fossil Carnivora.

Paleoneurology reconstructs the evolutionary history of nervous systems through direct observations from the fossil record and comparative data from extant species. Although this approach can provide direct evidence of phylogenetic links among species, it is constrained by the availability and quality of data that can be gleaned from the fossil record. Here, we sought to translate brain component relationships in a sample of extant Carnivora to make inferences about brain structure in fossil species.

Pulmonary Function Testing in Healthy Infants in Rural Bangladesh: Feasibility Study.

Background: Infant pulmonary function testing (iPFT) in low- and middle-income countries is limited. We evaluated the early feasibility of iPFT in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: Experts established an iPFT laboratory at Zakiganj Upazila Health Complex in Sylhet, Bangladesh and trained staff.

Comprehensive Approach for Sequential MALDI-MSI Analysis of Lipids, -Glycans, and Peptides in Fresh-Frozen Rodent Brain Tissues.

Multiomics analysis of single tissue sections using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) provides comprehensive molecular insights. However, optimizing tissue sample preparation for MALDI-MSI to achieve high sensitivity and reproducibility for various biomolecules, such as lipids, -glycans, and tryptic peptides, presents a significant challenge. This study introduces a robust and reproducible protocol for the comprehensive sequential analysis of the latter molecules using MALDI-MSI in fresh-frozen rodent brain tissue samples.

Effect of a Culturally Adapted Exercise Program on the Anthropometrics and Body Composition of Postmenopausal Women With Excess Weight Gain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is recommended as a component of weight management for the prevention of weight gain and weight regain after weight loss. Yet, no study has adapted culturally appropriate PA for postmenopausal women's health.

Aims: The study aimed to investigate the effect of a developed culturally appropriate exercise program for Ghanaian postmenopausal women with excess weight gain on the anthropometrics and body composition.

Cranial osteology and neuroanatomy of the late Permian reptile and implications for early reptile evolution.

Millerettidae are a group of superficially lizard-like Permian stem reptiles originally hypothesized as relevant to the ancestry of the reptile crown group, and particularly to lepidosaurs and archosaurs. Since the advent of cladistics, millerettids have typically been considered to be more distant relatives of crown reptiles as the earliest-diverging parareptiles and therefore outside of 'Eureptilia'. Despite this cladistic consensus, some conspicuous features of millerettid anatomy invite reconsideration of their relationships.

The paradigm of stem cell secretome in tissue repair and regeneration: Present and future perspectives.

As the number of patients requiring organ transplants continues to rise exponentially, there is a dire need for therapeutics, with repair and regenerative properties, to assist in alleviating this medical crisis. Over the past decade, there has been a shift from conventional stem cell treatments towards the use of the secretome, the protein and factor secretions from cells. These components may possess novel druggable targets and hold the key to profoundly altering the field of regenerative medicine.

Experiences with Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Service Delivery and Use Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Routine Primary Care Settings, South Africa.

In South Africa, oral PrEP was included in national guidelines as part of a combination HIV prevention package for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in 2017. Understanding their experiences of accessing and using PrEP is necessary to evaluate and improve PrEP service delivery approaches. This descriptive study explored AGYW's knowledge and understanding of PrEP, their experiences and influences on PrEP access and use in real world settings in South Africa.

Effectiveness of bi-monthly long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine as maintenance treatment for HIV-1 in the Netherlands: results from the Dutch ATHENA national observational cohort.

Background: Real-world data showing the long-term effectiveness of long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine are scarce. We assessed the effectiveness of cabotegravir and rilpivirine in all individuals who switched to cabotegravir and rilpivirine in the Netherlands.

Methods: We used data from the ATHENA cohort, an ongoing observational nationwide HIV cohort in the Netherlands.

Decoding fertility behaviour of married women in Zambia: A multipronged analysis of bio-demographic, socio-economic and intermediate factors.

Despite national efforts and a decrease in total fertility rate, Zambia's fertility remains high compared to global and regional averages. While previous research has examined the influence of bio-demographic and socio-economic factors, it has neglected the role of overlooked intermediate variables such as age at first marriage, contraception use, and abortion. This study investigated the influence of these variables, while controlling for bio-demographic and socio-economic factors, on women's fertility behaviour in Zambia.

The effect of prenatal fumonisin B exposure on bone innervation in newborn Wistar rats.

Introduction: This study explored the effects of prenatal exposure to fumonisins B (FB) on bone innervation in newborn Wistar rats.

Material And Methods: Pregnant dams (n = 6 per group) were assigned to either the control or one of two FB-exposed groups (60 mg or 90 mg/kg body weight) from the 7 day of gestation until parturition. On the day of parturition, one male pup from each litter (n = 6 per group) was randomly selected and euthanised, and their femurs were dissected for analysis.