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Litsea glutinosa (LG) leaves have been traditionally used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various ailments, including pain, fever, and microbial infections. This study aims to scientifically evaluate the therapeutic potential of cold methanol extracts of LG leaves, specifically focusing on their analgesic, antipyretic, and antibacterial activities. In addition, the research includes preliminary phytochemical screening to identify key bioactive compounds and an acute toxicity test to assess the safety profile of the extract. In this study, we conducted an initial investigation of the major phytochemical groups present in L. glutinosa leaves using both modern chromatographic techniques, specifically High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and conventional phytochemical screening methods applied to cold methanol extracts. Both approaches consistently identified phenols and flavonoids as the predominant bioactive compounds. Following this phytochemical characterization, we assessed the analgesic efficacy of the extracts using acetic acid-induced writhing and electrical heat-induced nociceptive pain stimuli, evaluated antipyretic effects through Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia, and determined antibacterial activity via the disc diffusion method. Additionally, the toxicity of the extracts was evaluated through preclinical testing. In hot plate method, the highest pain inhibitory activity was found at a dose of 500 mg/kg of crude extract (3.37 ± 0.31 sec) which differed significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001) with that of the standard drug morphine (6.47 ± 0.23 sec). The extract significantly prolonged reaction latency to thermal-induced pain in hotplate model. Analgesic activity at 500 mg/kg, LG extract produced a 70% suppression of writhing in mice, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001) compared to standard morphine's (77.5%) inhibition. In antipyretic activity assay, the crude extract showed notable reduction in body temperature (36.17 ±  0.32 °C) at dose of 300 mg/kg-body weight, when the standard (at dose 100 mg/kg-body weight) exerted (36.32 ±  0.67 °C) after 3 h of administration. In antibacterial studies, results showed that inhibition of bacterial growth at 400 μg dose of each extract clearly inhibited growth of bacteria from 11 to 22 mm. The extractives carbon tetrachloride fraction, chloroform soluble fraction, ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated notably greater inhibitory zone widths (p < 0.05) against tested strains. Overall, the cold methanol extract of LG leaves demonstrates the therapeutic potential in preclinical settings. Future research is warranted to isolate the specific bioactive compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action to further support the development of new treatments and contributing to modern medicinal practices based on this plant leaves.

Monotonous and sedentary work is significantly associated with the worst health of workers. There is a scarcity of data investigating the musculoskeletal health of sedentary workers working in low-income and middle-income settings. This study aimed to measure the prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal health complaints (MHC) among Bangladeshi shopkeepers. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data from 1553 Bangladeshi shopkeepers aged 18 years and above were analyzed. MHC was measured using the musculoskeletal subscale of the subjective health complaints scale. The descriptive analysis helped to compute MHC prevalence and compare the prevalence across groups. Regression analysis revealed the predictors of MHC for the shopkeepers. The prevalence of MHC among shopkeepers was 58.0%. The prevalence of low back pain was the highest (55.5%), followed by neck pain (48.0%) and upper back pain (43.5%). Regression analysis identified sex (aOR 1.301, CI 0.996 to 1.700), age (aOR 1.405, CI 1.047 to 1.886), body mass index (aOR 0.495, CI 0.397 to 0.617), and substance abuse (aOR 1.998, CI 1.136 to 3.514) as independent predictors of MHC among the shopkeepers. Furthermore, significantly higher odds of MHC have been found among tobacco users (OR 1.234, CI 1.009 to 1.510). This study revealed a high prevalence of MHC and unhealthy lifestyles among shopkeepers in Bangladesh. Shopkeepers should be provided with better health literacy to follow healthy lifestyles and prevent MHC among this cohort.

Since energy consumption in developing countries has increased significantly, motivating energy-saving habits among citizens is an important issue both from the academic and industrial perspectives. Thus, this study aims to predict consumer purchase intention for energy-efficient household appliances based on an extended model of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This study incorporated two additional constructs of moral norms and environmental concern in the model of the TPB. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 1155 Bangladeshi consumers, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) regression was used to test the hypotheses. Results show that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control significantly influence consumer purchase intention of energy-efficient appliances (EEAs). This study also proved that the extension of moral norms is a significant predictor of consumers’ purchase intention in the classic theory of planned behavior (TPB). However, environmental concerns had no significant influence in the Bangladesh context. As far as the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical survey in Bangladesh to predict energy-efficient household appliance (EEHA) purchasing intentions using an extended model of the TPB. Marketers and policymakers can use the findings of this study to design strategies for generating more value for green consumers. The study also provides insights into environmental marketing and sustainable energy consumption in developing countries from theoretical and practical perspectives.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health crisis and around the last decade, newspapers were one of the main sources of public dissemination of information for so. This study highlights how Bangladeshi mainstream newspapers represented AMR-related news and how they created the narrative of AMR in Bangladesh. We conducted both quantitative and qualitative content analysis on 275 AMR-related news articles published in the twelve highest circulated dailies (January 2010 to September 2021). We divided the articles into report, opinion, and editorials and analyzed how their contents built the narrative of AMR in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi newspapers reported misuse of antibiotics by the consumers the most (32.2%), followed by selling without prescriptions (29%), and over-prescription by the health providers (26.1%). There were hardly any news reports describing the impact of pharmaceutical companies in prescribing and selling antibiotics. Around 45% of the news articles were event-oriented. Moreover, they suggested inadequate recommendations to battle AMR. Valid, consistent, and reliable AMR news coverage can play a crucial role in creating mass awareness, making providers accountable, and supporting national action plan in mitigating AMR threat. The Bangladeshi journalists interested in reporting AMR-issues should focus on disseminating more Bangla articles with scientific information, and reporting causes and recommendations responsibly.

Animals must set behavioural priority in a context-dependent manner and switch from one behaviour to another at the appropriate moment 1 – 3 . Here we probe the molecular and neuronal mechanisms that orchestrate the transition from feeding to courtship in Drosophila melanogaster . We find that feeding is prioritized over courtship in starved males, and the consumption of protein-rich food rapidly reverses this order within a few minutes. At the molecular level, a gut-derived, nutrient-specific neuropeptide hormone—Diuretic hormone 31 (Dh31)—propels a switch from feeding to courtship. We further address the underlying kinetics with calcium imaging experiments. Amino acids from food acutely activate Dh31 + enteroendocrine cells in the gut, increasing Dh31 levels in the circulation. In addition, three-photon functional imaging of intact flies shows that optogenetic stimulation of Dh31 + enteroendocrine cells rapidly excites a subset of brain neurons that express Dh31 receptor (Dh31R). Gut-derived Dh31 excites the brain neurons through the circulatory system within a few minutes, in line with the speed of the feeding–courtship behavioural switch. At the circuit level, there are two distinct populations of Dh31R + neurons in the brain, with one population inhibiting feeding through allatostatin-C and the other promoting courtship through corazonin. Together, our findings illustrate a mechanism by which the consumption of protein-rich food triggers the release of a gut hormone, which in turn prioritizes courtship over feeding through two parallel pathways. Diuretic hormone 31 secreted by the gut in response to feeding on protein-rich food excites brain neurons that promote switching from feeding to mating behaviour in Drosophila .

Broadband absorbers are required for solar energy harvesting because they efficiently absorb the incident photon in the wide-ranging solar spectrum. To ensure high absorption of photons, metamaterial absorbers (MMAs) have been a growing area of interest in recent years. In this article, an MMA is proposed using a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structure (Ni–SiO 2 –Ni) that shows a near-unity broadband absorption of wavelengths from 300 to 1600 nm, with a 95.77% average absorption and a peak absorption of 99.999% at 772.82 nm. The MMA is polarization insensitive as well as wide incident angle stable. Analysis of the effects of mechanical bending on the absorption of the proposed structure shows that absorption holds satisfactory values at different degrees of mechanical loading. The suggested MMA unit cell structure was computationally simulated using the Finite Integration Technique (FIT) and verified using the Finite Element Method (FEM). To analyze the feasibility of the proposed MMA as a solar cell, it is investigated with the universal AM 1.5 solar spectrum characteristics. Besides solar energy harvesting, the proposed MMA unit cell may be employed in a variety of diverse optical applications, including sensors, detectors, and imaging.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) offer tremendous potentialities in biomedical applications for a long while. Since these materials' interactions in biological media largely rely on their crystal structures, sizes, and shapes, detailed studies on their synthesis mechanism for medicinal aspects are crucial. Despite many review reports that have already been published on MNPs, they mainly have focused either on their perspective in biomedical applications or their synthesis and characterization along with functionalization mechanisms as individual entities. For this reason, this review uncovers a comprehensive insight into the ongoing improvement of fabrication processes, surface functionalization of MNPs for biomedical applications together. Besides, various magnetic nanocomposite (MNCs) for smart drug delivery, recent hyperthermia treatment, lab‐on‐a‐chip, and magnetic bio‐separation, and some of the recent emerging imaging techniques using MNPs are discussed. A detailed analysis of toxicity, challenges, and recent progress of clinical trials of MNPs is sketched out to open numerous entryways for advanced research on MNPs for biomedical applications. This study sheds light on the recent developments of the fabrication process and surface functionalization of the magnetic nanoparticles for therapeutic applications. Recent developments in hybrid magnetic nanocarrier assisted drug and gene delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, magnetic bioseparation, and imaging modalities are discussed. Toxicity challenges and recent developments of clinical translation as well as future perspective of magnetic nanoparticles are outlined.

In the future, when fossil fuels are exhausted, alternative energy sources will be essential for everyday needs. Hydrogen-based energy can play a vital role in this aspect. This energy is green, clean, and renewable. Electrochemical hydrogen devices have been used extensively in nuclear power plants to manage hydrogen-based renewable fuel. Doped zirconate materials are commonly used as an electrolyte in these electrochemical devices. These materials have excellent physical stability and high proton transport numbers, which make them suitable for multiple applications. Doping enhances the physical and electronic properties of zirconate materials and makes them ideal for practical applications. This review highlights the applications of zirconate-based proton-conducting materials in electrochemical cells, particularly in tritium monitors, tritium recovery, hydrogen sensors, and hydrogen pump systems. The central section of this review summarizes recent investigations and provides a comprehensive insight into the various doping schemes, experimental setup, instrumentation, optimum operating conditions, morphology, composition, and performance of zirconate electrolyte materials. In addition, different challenges that are hindering zirconate materials from achieving their full potential in electrochemical hydrogen devices are discussed. Finally, this paper lays out a few pathways for aspirants who wish to undertake research in this field.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) represent major global health challenges, with their increasing coexistence forming a growing syndemic in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is reaching epidemic levels, exacerbating the burden of infectious diseases like TB—a leading global infectious disease—by increasing susceptibility and complicating management in resource-constrained settings. The interaction between TB and DM is bidirectional, with significant pathophysiological and clinical implications. Methods This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of TB-DM co-infection in LMICs. It examines the bidirectional relationship where DM (hyperglycemia) impairs immunity (macrophages/neutrophils), while TB-induced inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6) leads to insulin resistance and worsened glycemic control, creating a feedback loop that complicates patient outcomes. Results The rising prevalence of DM, coupled with persistent TB epidemics in regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, places substantial strain on overburdened healthcare systems in LMICs. Globally, India (27% of global TB cases, 75 million DM cases), China (10% of global TB cases, 98 million DM cases), and South Africa (TB incidence: 513 per 100,000, 11% DM prevalence) are among the top 3 high TB burden countries, collectively accounting for 87% of the world’s TB cases (WHO, 2023; IDF Diabetes Atlas, 2021). DM increases the risk of developing TB (relative risk [RR] 3.11, 95% CI 2.27–4.26, p<0.00001), with poorly controlled blood glucose further heightening susceptibility, while TB exacerbates glycemic control, necessitating complex clinical management. Diagnostic challenges, insufficient resources, workforce shortages, inadequate training, and a lack of integrated care models contribute to delays in diagnosis and treatment of co-infected patients. Conclusion Addressing the TB-DM syndemic in LMICs requires a multifaceted approach, integrating expertise in infectious and chronic disease management. Task-shifting, digital health tools, and coordinated multidisciplinary care offer promising solutions to mitigate the dual burden. This review underscores the urgent need for tailored interventions and policies to improve patient care and public health outcomes in the context of TB-DM co-infection.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a rare, genetically predisposed arrhythmic disorder associated with an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to ventricular arrhythmias. Fever is a recognized trigger that can unmask the Type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern and precipitate life‐threatening arrhythmias, even in individuals without prior cardiac symptoms. A 38‐year‐old male with no known cardiac history presented with fever, palpitations, and dizziness. His temperature was recorded at 39°C, and a 12‐lead ECG revealed a Type 1 Brugada pattern, confirming a fever‐triggered BrS diagnosis. The patient was promptly treated with antipyretics to reduce fever, followed by isoproterenol infusion to manage recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT). Initially, amiodarone was administered provisionally due to uncertainty in diagnosing VT as BrS‐related, but it was discontinued upon confirmation of the diagnosis. Despite initial stabilization, he developed episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF), requiring emergency defibrillation. After fever resolution, an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) was implanted for secondary prevention of SCD. This case highlights the critical role of fever as a precipitating factor in BrS, particularly in young, previously asymptomatic individuals. Febrile states exacerbate sodium channel dysfunction, increasing the likelihood of ventricular arrhythmias and SCD. Early recognition, aggressive fever control, beta‐agonist therapy, and ICD implantation after fever resolution are vital in mitigating risks. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for BrS in cases of arrhythmias triggered by fever, especially in young and otherwise healthy patients, to prevent fatal outcomes.