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The performance of Level-3 gridded Global Precipitation Mission (GPM)-based precipitation products (IMERG, Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM) is assessed against two references over oceans: the OceanRAIN dataset, derived from oceanic shipboard disdrometers, and a satellite-based radar product (the Level-3 Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar, 3DPRD). Daily IMERG products (early, late, final) and microwave-only (MW) and Infrared-only (IR) precipitation components are evaluated at four different spatial resolutions (0.5°, 1°, 2°, and 3°) during a 3-year study period (March 2014–February 2017). Their performance is assessed based on both categorical and continuous performance metrics, including correlation coefficient, probability of detection, success ratio, bias, and root mean square error (RMSE). A triple collocation analysis (TCA) is also presented to further investigate the performance of these satellite-based products. Overall, the IMERG products show an underestimation with respect to OceanRAIN. Rain events in OceanRAIN are correctly detected by all IMERG products ~80% of the times. IR estimates show relatively large errors and low correlations with OceanRAIN compared to the other products. On the other hand, the MW component performs better than other products in terms of both categorical and continuous statistics. TCA reveals that 3DPRD performs consistently better than OceanRAIN in terms of RMSE and coefficient of determination at all spatial resolutions. This work is part of a larger effort to validate GPM products over nontraditional regions such as oceans.

Plants experience diverse abiotic stresses, encompassing low or high temperature, drought, water logging and salinity. The challenge of maintaining worldwide crop cultivation and food sustenance becomes particularly serious due to drought and salinity stress. Sustainable agriculture has significant promise with the use of nano-biotechnology. Nanoparticles (NPs) have evolved into remarkable assets to improve agricultural productivity under the robust climate alteration and increasing drought and salinity stress severity. Drought and salinity stress adversely impact plant development, and physiological and metabolic pathways, leading to disturbances in cell membranes, antioxidant activities, photosynthetic system, and nutrient uptake. NPs protect the membrane and photosynthetic apparatus, enhance photosynthetic efficiency, optimize hormone and phenolic levels, boost nutrient intake and antioxidant activities, and regulate gene expression, thereby strengthening plant’s resilience to drought and salinity stress. In this paper, we explored the classification of NPs and their biological effects, nanoparticle absorption, plant toxicity, the relationship between NPs and genetic engineering, their molecular pathways, impact of NPs in salinity and drought stress tolerance because the effects of NPs vary with size, shape, structure, and concentration. We emphasized several areas of research that need to be addressed in future investigations. This comprehensive review will be a valuable resource for upcoming researchers who wish to embrace nanotechnology as an environmentally friendly approach for enhancing drought and salinity tolerance.

Magnetotactic bacteria are microscale complex natural systems that synthesize magnetic nanoparticles through biologically controlled mineralization. Nanoparticles produced by this process are biocompatible due to the presence of surrounding membranes. The mechanism controlling synthesis is cost-effective and is executed by complex genomes (operons). The results are monodispersed magnetic nanoparticles displaying advantages over polydispersed ones synthesized by physical and chemical methods. In this work, we isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical samples and demonstrated its ability to biosynthesize magnetic nanoparticles. P. aeruginosa was thrived in a carbon-minimal medium supplemented with iron at low pH. The cells aligned parallel to a magnetic field, confirming their magnetic properties. The magnetic nanoparticles were extracted, purified, and characterized using electron microscopy, magnetometry, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction. This work represents the first isolation of a magnetotactic bacterium from clinical samples. The aerobic nature of these bacteria allows them to be easily cultured under laboratory conditions, unlike their well-known microaerophilic counterparts. The biosynthesized magnetic nanoparticles can be used in many applications, including magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostics, and therapeutics (i.e., magnetic hyperthermia).

Antimicrobial resistance in infected chronic wounds present significant risk of complications (e.g., amputations, fatalities). This research aimed to formulate honey-loaded hydrocolloid film comprising gelatin and HPMC, for potential treatment of infected chronic wounds. Honeys from different sources (Cameroonian and Manuka) were used as the bioactive ingredients and their functional characteristics evaluated and compared. The formulated solvent cast films were functionally characterized for tensile, mucoadhesion and moisture handling properties. The morphology and physical characteristics of the films were also analyzed using FTIR, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Antibacterial susceptibility testing was performed to study the inhibition of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus by honey components released from the films. The % elongation values (8.42–40.47%) increased, elastic modulus (30.74–0.62 Nmm) decreased, the stickiness (mucoadhesion) (0.9–1.9 N) increased, equilibrium water content (32.9–72.0%) and water vapor transmission rate (900–298 gm2 day−1) generally decreased, while zones of inhibition (2.4–6.5 mm) increased with increasing honey concentration for 1 and 5% w/v, respectively. The results generally showed similar performance for the different honeys and demonstrate the efficacy of honey-loaded hydrocolloid films as potential wound dressing against bacterial growth and potential treatment of infected chronic wounds.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an abundant heme-containing enzyme present in neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages, is produced in high levels during inflammation, and associated with poor reproductive outcomes. MPO is known to generate hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS) utilizing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chloride (Cl-). Here we investigate the effect of activated immune cells and MPO on oocyte quality. Mouse metaphase II oocytes were divided into the following groups: 1) Incubation with a catalytic amount of MPO (40 nM) for different incubation periods in the presence of 100 mM Cl- with and without H2O2 and with and without melatonin (100 μM), at 37°C (n = 648/648 total number of oocytes in each group for oocytes with and without cumulus cells); 2) Co-cultured with activated mouse peritoneal macrophage and neutrophils cells (1.0 x 106 cells/ml) in the absence and presence of melatonin (200 μM), an MPO inhibitor/ROS scavenger, for different incubation periods in HTF media, at 37°C (n = 200/200); 3) Untreated oocytes incubated for 4 hrs as controls (n = 73/64). Oocytes were then fixed, stained and scored based on the microtubule morphology and chromosomal alignment. All treatments were found to negatively affect oocyte quality in a time dependent fashion as compared to controls. In all cases the presence of cumulus cells offered no protection; however significant protection was offered by melatonin. Similar results were obtained with oocytes treated with neutrophils. This work provides a direct link between MPO and decreased oocyte quality. Therefore, strategies to decrease MPO mediated inflammation may influence reproductive outcomes.

We report the detection of a Shigella sonnei outbreak from a small investigation in the San Francisco Bay area, California, USA, in 2024. By combining outbreak investigation with genomic sequencing, we show the utility of phylodynamics to aid outbreak investigations of bacterial pathogens by state or local public health departments.

There is growing evidence that chronic hyperglycemia leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which exerts its effect via interaction with the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). AGE-RAGE activation results in oxidative stress and inflammation. It is well known that this mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in diabetes. Kaempferol, a dietary flavonoid, is known to possess antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about the effect of kaempferol on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male albino Wistar rats using streptozotocin (70 mg/kg; i.p.), and rats with glucose level >250 mg/dL were considered as diabetic. Diabetic rats were treated with vehicle (2 mL/kg; i.p.) and kaempferol (20 mg/kg; i.p.) daily for a period of 28 days and on the 28th day, ischemia was produced by one-stage ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 60 min. After completion of surgery, rats were sacrificed and the heart tissue was processed for biochemical, morphological, and molecular studies. Kaempferol pretreatment significantly reduced hyperglycemia, maintained hemodynamic function, suppressed AGE-RAGE axis activation, normalized oxidative stress, and preserved morphological alterations. In addition, there was decreased level of inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and NF-κB), inhibition of active c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 proteins, and activation of Extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) a prosurvival kinase. Furthermore, it also attenuated apoptosis by reducing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and Caspase-3), Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells, and increasing the level of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2). In conclusion, kaempferol attenuated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic rats by reducing AGE-RAGE/ mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

Women make up 50% of American medical school graduates, yet are not equally represented in the vast spectrum of medical specialties. Many fields within medicine remain male dominated. This systematic review will explore social factors that affect female medical students’ specialty choice. Gendered experiences influence the specialty choice of female medical students, resulting in their concentration in a specific cohort of specialties. Studies were gathered by searching MEDLINE/Pubmed and EBSCOhost for sociological factors that impact female medical students’ specialty choice. 34 articles were selected for this systematic review. Factors that contribute to gender segregation within medical specialties include gender discrimination, socialization, lifestyle considerations, negative perceptions of male-dominated medical specialties and lack of female role models. This systematic review supported the hypothesis that gendered experiences impact women's medical specialty choice, and thus result in their concentration in specialties such as family medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology. •Female-dominated specialties include family medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.•Male-dominated medical specialties maintain higher salaries, prestige, and power in comparison to female-dominated specialties.•The gendered division of specialties holds the societal association of women with family and men with the workforce.•Female medical student specialty choice is perpetuated by, and contributes to gender inequality in the medical field.

It is reported that coconut ( Cocos nucifera Linn.) water possesses properties such as being refreshing, cardioprotective, digestive stimulant, and having therapeutic and nutritional benefits. In this study, an attempt has been made to make a therapeutic and nutritional beverage consisting of coconut water and orange ( Citrus sinensis Linn.) juice. Different ratios of the blended beverage were tested, and the final composition with 80% coconut water and 20% orange juice was chosen. Proximate analysis, sensory evaluation, phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity were determined. Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) identified and quantified the beverage’s metabolites. Shelf‐life evaluation was performed by assessing bacterial count and phenolic and flavonoid contents for up to 1 month. Further, network pharmacology analysis was performed to find out the tentative bimolecular relationship of identified metabolites in antioxidant potential. The results demonstrated that the blended beverage remained stable, including pH, °Brix, ash content, titratable acidity, total sugars, protein, and fat. The blended beverage exhibited strong antioxidant activity with significant contents of ascorbic acid, phenolic, and flavonoid levels. The content of gallic acid, hesperidin, and cinnamic acid in blended beverages was found to be 0.46%, 0.23%, and 0.31%, respectively. TLC–bioautography revealed that gallic acid is a predominant antioxidant compound in blended beverages. The network pharmacology analysis of identified metabolites with target proteins and genes plays a multimechanistic role in antioxidant potential. The study revealed that the beverage’s quality was maintained for the first month. The formulated beverage is rich in antioxidants and beneficial for human health.

Chronic cough (persisting for ≥8 weeks) is a common disorder affecting approximately 5 to 10% of adults worldwide that is sometimes refractory to treatment (refractory chronic cough [RCC]) or has no identifiable cause (unexplained chronic cough [UCC]). There is minimal information on the patient's experience of RCC/UCC in Canada. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patient journey and perceptions related to RCC/UCC management in Canada. Our exploratory study included Canadians in the Leger Opinion Panel and focused on individuals with RCC or UCC. Key entry criteria were: age ≥18 years, cough on most days for ≥8 weeks, no smoking within 1 year, no serious respiratory disease or lung cancer, and not taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Individuals who met entry criteria were invited to complete an approximately 30-minute online survey with questions on demographic characteristics, healthcare professional (HCP) interactions, diagnosis of underlying conditions, current treatments, and satisfaction with HCPs and chronic cough therapies. A total of 49,076 individuals completed the chronic cough screening questionnaire (July 30, 2021 to September 1, 2021): 1,620 (3.3%) met entry criteria for RCC or UCC, and 1,046 (2.1%) completed the online survey (mean age of 45 years, 61% female). Most respondents (58%) reported their chronic cough was managed by a general practitioner (GP). Forty-four percent of respondents did not have a diagnosis of an underlying condition for their cough. Breathing tests (39%) and chest imaging (34%) were the most common diagnostic tests. Cough suppressants (18%) were the most frequent current treatment. Respondents were moderately satisfied with their HCPs, but more than half considered their treatment ineffective and 34% had considered no longer seeking medical attention because of a lack of treatment success. Individuals with RCC/UCC in Canada are largely unsatisfied with the effectiveness of treatment. Additional HCP education and new treatment options are needed to improve patient satisfaction.