This article analyzes raw driving data of passenger cars in the city of Semnan in Iran, with the objective of understanding the impact of traffic conditions at different times of day (morning, noon, evening, and night). For this study, two cars, the Toyota Prius and the Peugeot Pars (or the IKCO Persia), were used, and the data of speed, longitude, latitude, and altitude of the vehicles were acquired. This data was collected over a week (July 21–28, 2022) for a distance of 670 km (13 hr), with the help of the Global Positioning System application, and were presented for both cars. In addition to this, the data on fuel consumption and average speed, based on the Electronic Control Unit in the Prius, was also collected. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was done on the features of the raw data, based on the Principal Component Analysis method.

Ethnoveterinary use of plants dates back to ancient times. This study aimed to validate purported efficacy of Sericocomopsis hildebrandtii and a concoction of Carissa edulis and Ximenia americana in treating Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs. Twenty-four infected pigs were randomly allocated to T1, T2, and T0 groups, each with eight pigs. Each T1 pig was provided with 8 g of S. hildebrandtii root powder, whereas each T2 pig was given 8 g of the concoction. T0 was a control. The pigs were slaughtered 16 weeks post treatment and carcase dissections were performed to establish cyst numbers. T1 cyst numbers were significantly lower than those of T0 (p = .004) and T2 (p = .013). No difference was observed between T2 and T0. This study validated efficacy of S. hildebrandtii but not of X. americana and C. edulis. Further studies are necessary for validation and documentation of plants of ethnoveterinary importance.

There are numerous associations between psychological characteristics and political values, but it is unclear whether messages tailored to these psychological characteristics can influence political decisions. Two studies (N = 398, N = 395) tested whether psychological-based argument tailoring could influence participants’ decision-making. We constructed arguments based on the 2016 Brexit referendum; Remain supporters were presented with four arguments supporting the Leave campaign, tailored to reflect the participant’s strongest (/weakest) moral foundation (Loyalty or Fairness) or personality trait (Conscientiousness or Openness). We tested whether individuals scoring high on a trait would find the tailored arguments more persuasive than individuals scoring low on the same trait. We found clear evidence for targeting, particularly for Loyalty, but either no evidence or weak evidence, in the case of Conscientiousness, for tailoring. Overall, the results suggest that targeting political messages could be effective, but provide either no, or weak evidence that tailoring these messages influences political decision-making.

Potential clinically significant life-threatening drug–drug interactions (DDIs) of lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) used in the treatment of COVID-19 is not systematically reviewed. It was aimed to identify severe DDI pairs of LPV/RTV from international resources predicted to cause life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Severe DDI pairs predicted to cause life-threatening ADRs were identified from the FDA and Liverpool COVID-19 prescribing information of LPV/RTV. In total, 62 severe DDI pairs were identified from the FDA and Liverpool COVID-19 resources predicted to cause life-threatening ADRs in patients with COVID-19. Of these, seven unique DDI pairs (11.3%; 95% CI 3%–19%) were identified from the FDA only whereas 45 unique DDI pairs (72.6%; 95% CI 61%–84%) were identified from the Liverpool COVID-19 drug interactions resource. Of interest, only 10 DDI pairs (16.1%; 95% CI 7%–25%) were recognized by both of these drug interaction resources. Clinicians should not entirely rely on any individual DDI resource for checking life threatening ADRs of LPV/RTV in patients with COVID-19.

Proton electrochemical gradient-driven multidrug efflux activity of representatives of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) of secondary active transporters contributes to antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria. Integral to the mechanism of these transporters is a proposed competition between substrate and protons for the binding site of the protein. The current work investigated the competition between protons and antimicrobial substrate for binding to the Escherichia coli MFS multidrug/H+ antiporter MdtM by measuring the quench of intrinsic protein fluorescence upon titration of substrate tetraphenylphosphonium into a solution of purified MdtM over a range of pH values between pH 8.8 and 5.9. The results, which revealed that protons inhibit binding of substrate to MdtM in a competitive manner, are consistent with those reported in a study on the related MFS multidrug/H+ antiporter MdfA and provide further evidence that competition for binding between substrate and protons is a general feature of secondary multidrug efflux.

This study estimated the treatment cost of pediatric abdominal tuberculosis that potentially needs surgical treatment in India. Data were collected from 38 in-patient children at Christian Medical Hospital, Ludhiana as part of a clinical study conducted to establish the patterns of presentation and outcomes of abdominal tuberculosis in an Indian setting. A bottom-up approach was used to estimate the costs from a healthcare provider perspective, and a generalized linear model (GLM) was run to find variables that had an impact on the costs. Costs were reported in international dollars ($) and India Rupees (INR). The results show that the average direct cost was $3095.00 (standard deviation [SD]: 3480.82) or 68,065.13 INR (SD: 76,539.69). The GLM results established that duration of treatment and surgical treatment were significantly associated with higher costs. Efforts of eliminating the condition should be strengthened.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder clinically manifesting in uncontrolled motor symptoms. There are two primary hallmark features of Parkinson’s disease—an irreversible loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta and formation of intracellular insoluble aggregates called Lewy bodies mostly composed of alpha-synuclein. Using a clinical improvements-first approach, we identified several clinical trials involving consumption of a specific diet or nutritional supplementation that improved motor and nonmotor functions. Here, we aimed to investigate if and how pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) compound disrupts preformed alpha-synuclein deposits using SH-SY5Y cells, widely used Parkinson’s disease cellular model. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, incubated in presence of potassium chloride (KCl) to induce alpha-synuclein protein aggregation, were treated with PQQ for up to 48 hr. Resulting aggregates were examined and quantified using confocal microscopy. Overall, nutritional compound PQQ reduced the average number and overall size of intracellular cytoplasmic alpha-synuclein aggregates in a PD cellular model.

Agricultural intensification within forage systems has reduced grassland floral diversity by promoting ryegrass (Lolium spp.), damaging soil functionality which underpins critical ecosystem services. Diverse forage mixtures may enhance environmental benefits of pastures by decreasing nutrient leaching, increasing soil carbon storage, and with legume inclusion, reduce nitrogen fertilizer input. This UK study reports on how species-rich forage mixtures affect soil carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen at dry, medium and wet soil moisture sites, compared to ryegrass monoculture. Increasing forage mixture diversity (from 1 to 17 species) affected soil carbon at the dry site. No effect of forage mixture on soil phosphorus was found, while forage mixture and site did interact to affect soil nitrate/nitrite availability. Results suggest that forage mixtures could be used to improve soil function, but longer-term studies are needed to conclusively demonstrate environmental and production benefits of high-diversity forages.

Leishmania species are the causative agents for Leishmaniasis which is one of the neglected tropical diseases causing 70,000 deaths worldwide each year. Squalene synthase enzyme plays a vital role in sterol metabolism which is essential for Leishmania parasite viability. Therefore squalene synthase of Leishmania donovani is a therapeutic target to inhibit growth of parasite. The 3D model of Leishmania donovani Squalene Synthase (LdSQS) was generated by homology modeling and validated through PROCHECK, ERRAT, VERIFY3D and PROSA tools. Virtual screening of the protein was performed by AutoDock with reported inhibitor, E5700 and two natural alkaloids. Molecular interactions were explored to understand the nature of intermolecular bonds between active ligand and the protein binding site residues using UCSF Chimera and PLIP server. The reported inhibitor showed the best binding affinity (-9.75 kcal/mol) closely followed by Ancistrotanzanine B (-9.55 kcal/mol) and Holamine (-8.79 kcal/mol). Ancistrotanzanine B showed low binding energy and permissible ADMET properties. Based on the present study, homology model of LdSQS and Ancistrotanzanine B can be used to design inhibitors with antileishmanial activity.

The use of a Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival time approach is generally considered appropriate to report antimalarial efficacy trials. However, when a treatment arm has 100% efficacy, confidence intervals may not be computed. Furthermore, methods that use probability rules to handle missing data for instance by multiple imputation, encounter perfect prediction problem when a treatment arm has full efficacy, in which case all imputed values are either treatment success or all imputed values are failures. The use of a survival K–M method addresses this imputation problem in estimating the efficacy estimates also referred to as cure rates. We discuss the statistical challenges and propose a potential way forward.

The proposed approach includes the use of K–M estimates as the main measure of efficacy. Confidence intervals could be computed using the binomial exact method. p-Values for comparison of difference in efficacy between treatments can be estimated using Fisher’s exact test. We emphasize that when efficacy rates are not 100% in both groups, the K–M approach remains the main strategy of analysis considering its statistical robustness in handling missing data and confidence intervals can be computed under such scenarios.

In recent years the availability of geolocation data has increased considerably and can be found in various portable devices such as smartphones. These devices are intended for navigation in general, but can be used to carry out topographical surveys that do not require high accuracy of the surveyed data. To verify the applicability and accuracy of these devices we conducted the topographic survey in an area of approximately 5 ha using a GPS with RTK technology as reference, a Commercial Navigation Receiver (RNC) and a popular brand smartphone with the mobile applications C7 GPS Data and GPS Essentials previously installed. The GPS RNC showed the best planimetric results and the Smartphone with C7 GPS Data obtained the best result altimetric. None of the receivers analyzed showed high accuracy in results obtained. However, they can be used for tasks where high precision is not required.

This article presents cyclic hardening/softening behaviors (experimental data) of the heat-treated aluminum-matrix nano-clay-composite (AlSi_N_HT6), compared to those of the piston aluminum alloy (AlSi) under strain-controlled loading. For such an objective, standard samples were fabricated by gravity and stir-casting methods. Low-cycle fatigue experiments were carried out under different strain amplitudes (0.20–0.45%) and at various temperatures (25–300°C). Obtained results implied that no obvious change was observed on material properties of aluminum alloy by reinforcements, but a decrement was observed due to increasing the temperature. Results also indicated that the increase of the temperature from 25°C to 200°C has changed the cyclic behavior of both materials (AlSi_N_HT6 and AlSi) from hardening to softening. Moreover, the temperature effect was more significant than the total strain amplitude influences in cyclic behaviors.

The phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance represents a major public health risk. The activity of integral membrane transporter proteins contributes to antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria and proton gradient-driven multidrug efflux representatives of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) of secondary transporters are the dominant antimicrobial efflux proteins in Escherichia coli. In many, but not all, of the characterized MFS multidrug transporters, an aspartic acid residue at position D+5 of the conserved signature Motif A is essential for transport activity. The present work extends those studies to the E. coli MFS multidrug/H+ antiporter MdtM and used a combination of mutagenesis, expression studies, antimicrobial resistance assays, and transport activity measurements to reveal that a negatively charged residue at position D+5 is critical for MdtM transport function.