Exogenously applied nano-zinc oxide mitigates cadmium stress in Zea mays L. through modulation of physiochemical activities and nutrients homeostasis.

The increasing levels of cadmium (Cd) pollution in agricultural soil reduces plant growth and yield. This study aims to determine the impact of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the physiochemical activities, nutrition, growth, and yield of Zea mays L. under Cd stress conditions. For this purpose, ZnO-NPs (450 ppm and 600 ppm) synthesized from Syzygium aromaticum were applied through foliar spray to Z. mays and also used as seed priming agents. A significant decline in plant height (35.24%), biomass production (43.86%), mineral content, gas exchange attributes, and yield (37.62%) was observed in Cd-spiked plants compared to the control. While, 450 ppm ZnO-NPs primed seed increased plant height (18.46%), total chlorophyll (80.07%), improved ascorbic acid (25.10%), DPPH activity (26.66%), and soil mineral uptake (Mg+2 (38.86%), K+ (27.83%), and Zn+2 (43.68%) as compared to plants only spiked with Cd. On the contrary, the foliar-applied 450 ppm ZnO-NPs increased plant height (8.22%), total chlorophyll content (73.59%), ascorbic acid (21.39%), and DPPH activity (17.61%) and yield parameters; cob diameter (19.45%), and kernels numbers 6.35% enhanced compared to plants that were spiked only with Cd. The findings of the current study pave the way for safer and more cost-effective crop production in Cd-stressed soils by using green synthesized NPs and provide deep insights into the underlying mechanisms of NPs treatment at the molecular level to provide compelling evidence for the use of NPs in improving plant growth and yield.

Novelty statement: Phyto zinc nanoparticles improve stress tolerance and growth of Zea mays under cadmium stress.

Immobilization of collagenase in inorganic hybrid nanoflowers with enhanced stability, proteolytic activity, and their anti-amyloid potential.

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials are considered as promising immobilization matrix for enzymes owing to their markedly enhanced stability and reusability. Herein, collagenase was chosen as a model enzyme to synthesize collagenase hybrid nanoflowers (Col-hNFs). Maximum collagenase activity (155.58 µmol min-1 L-1) and encapsulation yield (90 %) were observed in presence of Zn(II) ions at 0.05 mg/mL collagenase, 120 mM zinc chloride and PBS (pH 7.5). Synthesized Col-Zn-hNFs were extensively characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements. SEM images showed flower-like morphology with average size of 5.1 µm and zeta potential of -14.3 mV. Col-Zn-hNFs demonstrated superior relative activity across wide pH and temperature ranges, presence of organic solvents and surfactants as compared to its free form. Moreover, Col-Zn-hNFs exhibited excellent shelf life stability and favorable reusability. Col-Zn-hNFs showed the ability to suppress and eradicate fully developed insulin fibrils in vitro (IC50 = 2.8 and 6.2 µg/mL, respectively). This indicates a promising inhibitory potential of Col-Zn-hNFs against insulin amyloid fibrillation. The findings suggest that the utilization of Col-Zn-hNFs as a carrier matrix holds immense potential for immobilizing collagenase with improved catalytic properties and biomedical applications.

Prevalence of canine impaction in different cities of Saudi Arabia: A systematic review.

Background: To our knowledge, no systematic review assessed and gathered information about the prevalence of impacted canines among the Saudi population. The purpose of this study was to critically assess the previously published studies about the prevalence of canine impaction according to impaction type (buccal/ palatal), gender (male/female), and location (maxillary/mandibular, right/left), are among the Saudi population. Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, the Web of Science, Dimensions, and Semantic Scholar databases were searched systemically for articles related to the topic of the study published between 1987 and 2022. The PRISMA statements were used to conduct a systematic review with the help of the Best Practice for Survey and the Public Opinion Research scales by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) to assess and evaluate the selected studies' quality. Results: The initial search of the databases yielded 221 articles. After discarding duplicates, 161 were selected for further evaluation. Eventually, 16 articles were selected for inclusion in this study. Regarding the quality of the selected articles, all articles, except one, were of high quality. Only one was of medium quality. Conclusion: It was found that the incidence of palatal canine impactions was higher than buccal impactions. Females had a higher prevalence of canine impactions as compared to males. There were more canine impactions in the maxilla than the mandible and more on the left side than the right one.

Decision-making process in seeking antenatal care: A cohort study in a poor urban and a typical rural area in Bangladesh.

Background: Decision-making in choosing and using maternal health care among different care-seeking options is a complex process influenced by multilevel factors. Existing evidence on maternal health care-seeking behaviour stems primarily from cross-sectional studies with limited information. Therefore, we designed a cohort study to better understand the decision-making process in antenatal care (ANC) seeking. Methods: We conducted this mixed-methods study among pregnant women at <27 weeks of gestation in a poor urban area (n = 1320) and a typical rural area of Bangladesh (n = 1239) whom we followed up till eight weeks after delivery. In view of quantitative methods, we interviewed all enrolled women 5-6 times four weeks apart. For the qualitative approach, we conducted 70 case studies in the urban area and 46 in the rural area by interviewing the participants and their close family members. Results: In the urban area, about one-third of the pregnant women (38.4%) sought ANC at non-governmental organisations, and nearly an equal proportion went to public facilities (36.6%). In both the situations, women preferred facilities with one-stop services at a reasonable cost. In contrast, the lack of readiness in public facilities of the rural area pushed women (77.8%) toward private facilities for ANC. The reputation of the facilities, availability of skilled care providers, diagnostic tests, and ultrasonography services therein were the key influencing factors in the participants' decisions to seek ANC services from specific facilities. Conclusions: The availability of one-stop services was a key factor for participants' choosing of a facility for ANC. For the urban setting, there is a need to establish large public facilities with one-stop service provision in different zones, along with supporting non-governmental organisations in poor areas. For the rural setting, there is an urgent need to strengthen ANC service provision in public facilities at the community- and the sub-district level to redirect women from the private to the public sector to ensure low cost, quality services.

Substratifying the risk of covert malignancy in significant rectal polyps: Outcomes from a specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT).

AIM: A treatment strategy for patients with a significant polyp or early colon cancer (SPECC) of the rectum presents a challenge due to the significant rate of covert malignancy and lack of standardized assessment. For this reason, NICE recommends multidisciplinary meetings to improve outcomes. The primary aim of the present study was to report the performance of our specialist early rectal cancer (SERC) multidisciplinary team (MDT) in correctly substratifying the risk of cancer and to discuss the limitations of staging investigations in those patients with "poor outcomes". METHOD: This was a retrospective review of patients referred to our SERC MDT from 2014 to 2019. Lesions were assigned by the MDT to three pre-resection categories (low, intermediate, high) according to the risk of covert malignancy. Resection method and final histology were compared to the pre-resection categories. RESULTS: Of 350 SPECC lesions, 174 were assessed as low-risk, 108 intermediate-risk and 68 high-risk. The cancer incidence was 4.8%, 8.3% and 53%, respectively (15.5% overall). Eight lesions were categorized as low-risk but following piecemeal resection were found to be malignant. Five lesions, three of which were categorized as high-risk, were ultimately benign following conventional surgery. One pT1sm1 cancer, removed by anterior resection, may have been treated by local excision. CONCLUSION: A total of 83% of malignant polyps were triaged to an en bloc resection technique and surgical resection avoided for nearly all benign lesions. However, 12 patients from this cohort were deemed to have a poor outcome because of miscategorization. Further comparative research is needed to establish the optimum strategy for rectal SPECC lesion assessment. ORIGINALITY STATEMENT: There is currently no consensus for staging significant polyps of the rectum. This paper reports the effectiveness of a specialist early rectal cancer MDT to correctly risk-stratify significant rectal polyps. It underscores the importance of accurate categorization for treatment decision-making, while acknowledging the limitations of current staging modalities.

Integrated machine learning-based virtual screening and biological evaluation for identification of potential inhibitors against cathepsin K.

Cathepsin K is a type of cysteine proteinase that is primarily expressed in osteoclasts and has a key role in the breakdown of bone matrix protein during bone resorption. Many studies suggest that the deficiency of cathepsin K is concomitant with a suppression of osteoclast functioning, therefore rendering the resorptive properties of cathepsin K the most prominent target for osteoporosis. This innovative work has identified a novel anti-osteoporotic agent against Cathepsin K by using a comparison of machine learning and deep learning-based virtual screening followed by their biological evaluation. Out of ten shortlisted compounds, five of the compounds (JFD02945, JFD02944, RJC01981, KM08968 and SB01934) exhibit more than 50% inhibition of the Cathepsin K activity at 0.1 µM concentration and are considered to have a promising inhibitory effect against Cathepsin K. The comprehensive docking, MD simulation, and MM/PBSA investigations affirm the stable and effective interaction of these compounds with Cathepsin K to inhibit its function. Furthermore, the compounds RJC01981, KM08968 and SB01934 are represented to have promising anti-osteoporotic properties for the management of osteoporosis owing to their significantly well predicted ADMET properties.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in the project lifecycle of the construction industry: A comprehensive review.

The construction industry faces many challenges, including schedule and cost overruns, productivity constraints, and workforce shortages. Compared to other sectors, it lags in digitalization in every project phase. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have emerged as transformative technologies revolutionizing the construction sector. However, a discernible gap persists in systematically categorizing the applications of these technologies throughout the various phases of the construction project life cycle. In response to this gap, this research aims to present a thorough assessment of the deployment of AI and ML across diverse phases in construction projects, with the ultimate goal of furnishing valuable insights for the effective integration of these intelligent systems within the construction sector. A thorough literature review was performed to identify AI and ML applications in the building sector. After scrutinizing the literature, the applications of AI and ML were presented based on a construction project life cycle. A critical review of existing literature on AI and ML applications in the building industry showed that AI and ML applications are more frequent in the planning and construction stages. Moreover, the opportunities for AI and ML applications in other stages were discussed based on the life cycle categorization and presented in this study. The practical contribution of the study lies in providing valuable insights for the effective integration of intelligent systems within the construction sector. Academically, the research contributes by conducting a thorough literature review, categorizing AI and ML applications based on the construction project life cycle, and identifying opportunities for their deployment in different stages.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety among COVID-19 survivors in Dhaka city.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health concern. Evidence shows that depression and anxiety are common among patients with COVID-19 after recovery. About one-third of the total COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh have been reported in Dhaka city. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among COVID-19 survivors in Dhaka city as well as to identify the factors associated with these mental health conditions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among a total of 384 COVID-19 survivors aged 18 years or older. Data collection was done through face-to-face and telephone interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scales were used to assess depression and anxiety, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of depression and anxiety among patients recovered from COVID-19. Results: The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety was 26.0% and 23.2%, respectively among COVID-19 survivors. The respondents who were ≥60 years were 2.62 and 3.02 times more likely to report depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively than those aged 18 to 39 years. Hospitalised patients recovered from COVID-19 had a 2.18 times higher chance of developing anxiety than their non-hospitalised counterparts. COVID-19 recovered patients with comorbidities were at 3.35 and 2.97 times higher risk of depression and anxiety, respectively compared to those without comorbidities. Similarly, the respondents who had already passed a period of 15 days to 3 months after recovery showed 3.06 and 1.85 times higher odds of depression and anxiety, respectively than those who had already passed a period of above 3 to 6 months after recovery. Conclusion: The study reported a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among COVID-19 survivors living in Dhaka city. The findings suggest the need for appropriate interventions to reduce mental health complications in COVID-19 survivors.

Strengthening health service delivery and governance through institutionalizing 'Urban Health Atlas'-A geo-referenced Information Communication and Technology tool: Lessons learned from an implementation research in three cities in Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION: Urban health governance in Bangladesh is complex as multiple actors are involved and no comprehensive data are currently available on infrastructure, services, or performance either in public and private sectors of the healthcare system. The Urban Health Atlas (UHA)-a novel and interactive geo-referenced, web-based visualization tool was developed in Bangladesh to provide geospatial and service information to decision makers involved in urban health service planning and governance. Our objective was to study the opportunities for institutionalization of the UHA into government health systems responsible for urban healthcare delivery and document the facilitators and barriers to its uptake. METHODS: This implementation research was carried out during 2017-2019 in three cities in Bangladesh: Dhaka, Dinajpur and Jashore. During the intervention period, six hands-on trainings on UHA were provided to 67 urban health managers across three study sites. Thirty in-depth and twelve key informant interviews were conducted to understand user experience and document stakeholder perceptions of institutionalizing UHA. RESULTS: Capacity building on UHA enhanced understanding of health managers around its utility for service delivery planning, decision making and oversight. Findings from the IDIs and KIIs suggest that UHA uptake was challenged by inadequate ICT infrastructure, shortage of human resources and lack of ICT skill among managers. Motivating key decision makers and stakeholders about the potential of UHA and engaging them from its inception helped the institutionalization process. CONCLUSION: While uptake of UHA by government health managers appears possible with dedicated capacity building initiatives, its use and regular update are challenged by multiple factors at the implementation level. A clear understanding of context, actors and system readiness is foundational in determining whether the institutionalization of health ICTs is timely, realistic or relevant.

Enhancing Fluorescence in Both Solution and Solid States Induced by Imine Cage Formation.

Developing luminescent materials that exhibit strong emissions in both solution and solid phases is highly desirable and challenging. Herein, we report imine-bond directed formation of a rigid organic cage (TPE-cage) that was synthesized by [2+4] imine condensation of a TPE-cored tetra-aldehyde (TPE-TA) with a clip-like diamine (XA) to illustrate confinement-induced fluorescence enhancement. Compared to the non-emissive TPE-TA (ϕF =0.26 %) in the dichloromethane (DCM) solution, the TPE-cage achieved a remarkable (~520-fold) emission enhancement (ϕF =70.38 %). In contrast, a monomeric tetra-imine model compound (TPE-model) showed only a minor enhancement (ϕF =0.56 %) in emission compared to the parent tetra-aldehyde TPE-TA. The emission of TPE-cage was further enhanced by ~1.5-fold (ϕF =80.96 %) in the aggregated state owing to aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE). This approach establishes the potential for synthesizing luminescent materials with high emission in both solution and solid-state by employing a single-step imine condensation reaction.

Combination Therapy of Clinically Approved Antifungal Drugs Is Enhanced by Conjugation with Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (SN) have been recently developed as a new class of antimicrobial agents against numerous pathogenic microorganisms. SN have also been used as efficient drug delivery systems and have been linked with increasing drug potency. Here, we demonstrated the enhanced antifungal efficacy of nystatin (NYT) and fluconazole (FLU) after conjugation with SN. The antifungal bioactivity of NYT- and FLU-coated SN was evaluated against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 by the agar tube dilution method. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the antifungal efficacy of NYT and FLU with their SN and, finally, the combination of both nanoparticles as NYT-SN + FLU-SN against pathogenic fungi. The results indicated that all test samples showed a dose-dependent response against tested fungi. SN significantly enhanced the antifungal effects of NYT and FLU as compared to drugs alone. We observed a remarkable increase in the percent inhibition of both fungi (90-100%) when treated with a combination of both nanoparticles NYT-SN + FLU-SN at 200 μg/mL only. Furthermore, the morphological modifications occurred at the surface of fungal species were also analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). While tested against primary human cell line, all SN showed negligible cytotoxicity. Hence, these results suggest that the combination of SN with NYT and FLU may have clinical implications in the treatment of fungal infections. However, in vivo studies are needed before recommending the use of these nanoparticles safely in clinical situations

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