Cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting undermine public health and border security. Conventional analytical methods are expensive, non-specific and often ignore multicollinearity and robust validation. No current supervised multiclass model meets forensic laboratory needs for simplicity and scalability. In this context, this study proposed a cheaper and faster novel chemometric method to confirm the origin of cigarette brands marketed in Brazil. The method employs ultrasonic extraction using dichloromethane followed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection (GC‑FID), and full chromatographic fingerprints (peak areas and retention times) aligned with the R package GCalignR. This method developed can captures and exploits a larger number of chromatographic peaks, thereby providing greater chemical information per sample than conventional targeted analytical approaches. The aligned data were used in a Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) for exploratory grouping and in a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) for supervised classification. Model validation employed train/test partitioning and a one‑vs‑one receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, yielding area under the curve (AUCs) > 0.95 for all classes and cross‑validated accuracy > 90%. The workflow requires under 15 min of sample preparation per batch and can be automated for high‑throughput screening in standard analytical laboratories. The method validation results demonstrated high sensitivity, accuracy, and AUC confirming the robustness of the model and strong potential for use as a practical, predictive, and scalable forensic screening tool in regulatory and enforcement settings. This cost‑effective, quick and predictive method fills a critical gap, providing agencies with a robust workflow that is both operationally practical and easily integrated into routine analytical environments.

A chemometric framework for forensic source apportionment of nerve agents: GC×GC-TOFMS-based signature profiling of ethyltabun (EGA) and VM.

Fate and transport of viruses in the subsurface environment: A systematic review of pollution pathways in saturated and unsaturated porous media.

Repurposing niclosamide for COVID-19: Synergistic strategies of nanotechnology and novel materials to enhance antiviral efficacy.

Resveratrol inhibits porcine deltacoronavirus infection by activating SIRT1 to promote interferon production in vitro.

Mitigation of tetracycline resistance genes in silage through targeted lactic acid bacteria inoculation.

Indigenous food and nutrition knowledge and practice (IFNKP) represent intergenerational learning, environmental stewardship, and cultural uniqueness. In Nepal, diverse ethnic groups such as the Tharu, Danuwar, Darai, Majhi, Rai, Limbu, Magar, Gurung, Chepang, Tamang, Newar, Sherpa, Thakali, and Loba possess distinct IFNKP linked to their local ecology. This narrative review aimed to explore indigenous foods as sources of nutritional requirements, traditional food and nutrition knowledge among ethnic groups, and indigenous food practices within these communities. Literature published between 2020 and 2025 was reviewed through Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 28 peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion criteria. The information was analyzed under three themes, and the major finding shows that indigenous foods such as Dhido, Gundruk, Kinema, and Bhakka provide significant dietary fiber, protein, and antioxidant benefits while remaining culturally acceptable. Traditional technologies such as fermentation, sun-drying, and steaming help sustain food value and reduce foodwaste. However, these practices are gradually diminishing due to dietary shifts, urbanization, and insufficient policy recognition. The review highlights that IFNKP is not an antiquated tradition but a living practice that shapes dietary behavior and nutritional status among Nepali tribal groups. Integrating IFNKP into Nepal’s nutrition and education policies, supporting local farming, promoting knowledge transfer, and addressing climate change can help preserve indigenous food culture and improve community health and food security.

ABSTRACT Investing in health drives individual wellbeing, productivity, educational achievements, and economic growth. Collective global efforts have historically eradicated diseases like smallpox and are making progress against others, such as polio and malaria. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), public health spending is insufficient, with per capita expenditure far below what is needed to deliver and sustain essential health services. High-income countries, such as the United States, are contributing to LMICs to bridge these gaps through bilateral and multilateral development assistance. The United States Government’s longstanding support in Nepal has helped to strengthen the health systems and resulted remarkable achievements. However, the new United States administration’s abrupt decisions to halt the development assistance and closure of most of the projects will significantly impact global health initiatives, jeopardize health gains, and pose a risk to global health security. This call-for-action urge stakeholders to evaluate the current and potential impact of these decisions and adopt a cohesive approach to maintain development cooperation. LMICs also must reassess their health investments and implement reforms to build resilient, self-sustaining health systems.

ABSTRACT Despite the devastating impact of COVID-19 and repeated calls for political commitment to health security, our analysis of 43 manifestos from 16 countries and the European Parliamentary elections revealed that only four parties made specific policy pledges on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with six providing brief mentions. The vast majority (33 parties) did not mention pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. When referenced, the pandemic was often framed as a rare, one-off crisis or an economic shock rather than a catalyst for systemic health reform. Some parties used it for political critique or validation of past performance, while others framed preparedness in terms of national security or economic resilience rather than public health. In contrast, manifestos overwhelmingly prioritized healthcare system expansion, equity, and access, with a significant emphasis on universal health coverage, mental health, and workforce development. The findings underscore a stark misalignment between global health priorities and domestic political agenda. Political reluctance to emphasize pandemic prevention, preparedness and response appears to be influenced by pandemic fatigue, voter preferences for forward-looking narratives, and institutional incentives favouring short-term tangible outcomes. This persistent neglect of the pandemic in electoral discourse raises concerns about the global community’s ability to sustain momentum for pandemic resilience. We call for stronger engagement between the global health community and political actors to elevate pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as a strategic, cross-cutting priority for future policymaking.

Lung infections continue to represent a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality across Asian countries, reflecting persistent inequities in environmental conditions, social determinants of health, and health system capacity. The region accounts for a disproportionate share of the global burden of pneumonia and tuberculosis, while recurrent viral respiratory outbreaks continue to challenge public health preparedness, health security, and system resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the epidemiology of lung infections, resulting in long-term pulmonary sequelae, disruption of tuberculosis prevention and care services, and a marked increase in opportunistic fungal infections. This article synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiological burden of lung infections in Asia, examines key structural, environmental, and biological determinants, and critically evaluates the post-COVID-19 implications for respiratory health and health systems. In alignment with World Health Organization (WHO) strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the article emphasizes the need for integrated respiratory care, strengthened disease surveillance and control programs, and multisectoral policy action to mitigate the long-term burden of lung infections in the region.

ABSTRACTThis article describes the methodological aspects of the Study of Nutrition, Health, and Food Security of Indigenous Peoples in Alagoas (ENSSAIA), conducted between August 2022 and December 2023. The objective of ENSSAIA was to investigate the nutrition, health, and food security conditions of indigenous peoples in Alagoas. This was a cross‐sectional, population‐based household survey assessing all 11 indigenous ethnic groups in the state, with a random selection of 14 out of 29 existing villages. All individuals registered in the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem of the selected villages were eligible for the study. A total of 1400 families were assessed, with data collected on environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic conditions; access to policies and public service infrastructure; household food security; health of children (< 5 years), pregnant women, women (19–59 years), and the elderly (≥ 60 years); breastfeeding practices among children < 2 years; individuals with disabilities and genetic alterations; nutritional status through anthropometric indicators (all household members), biochemical markers: hemoglobin (children aged 6 months to < 5 years and pregnant women), lipid profile, and glycated hemoglobin (women); dietary indicators (women, pregnant women, and children < 5 years); non‐communicable diseases; and alcohol and tobacco use (women, men, and elderly). The results produced by ENSSAIA are expected to support the formulation or revision of public policies that ensure greater access to healthcare, healthy food, and improved quality of life for indigenous peoples, considering their traditions, cultures, and ways of life.

BackgroundAlthough China has made significant progress on poverty alleviation over the past decade, health-related poverty remains an urgent issue in the rural areas of less developed regions, such as central and western China. On the basis of risk theory, this study investigated the determinants of health poverty vulnerability of rural households lifted out of poverty in central China.MethodsFirst-hand survey data collected from a convenience sample of 255 previously impoverished households in rural areas of Jiangxi Province in central China in 2024 were used in this study. In this study, an expected poverty vulnerability approach was used to measure health poverty vulnerability, and a three-stage feasible generalized least squares method was adopted to construct the health poverty vulnerability index. A Tobit regression model regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of health poverty vulnerability.ResultsAmong the 255 out-of-poverty households surveyed, 21.18% were found to be vulnerable to health poverty. Our findings indicated that catastrophic health expenditures and labor loss were positively associated with increased vulnerability at the individual and household levels. In contrast, effective chronic disease management appeared to be correlated with reduced health vulnerability, possibly reflecting the supportive role of established social security mechanisms. Regarding health risk response capacity, asset accumulation and social capital may serve as important buffers, though their protective associations were context-dependent. Notably, enrollment in basic health insurance was linked to higher health-related poverty vulnerability, suggesting limited effectiveness in mitigating vulnerability among low-income groups. From a risk resilience perspective, higher educational attainment and a greater proportion of working-age family members were associated with lower vulnerability, though underlying mechanisms warranted further investigation.ConclusionsRural households in Jiangxi Province, China has remained susceptible to returning to poverty due to health shocks. These results underscore the need for more human capital investments to enhance the capacity of rural households to withstand health shocks, and a resilient health security system that accurately identifies vulnerability pathways and integrates strengthened social protection, asset-building initiatives.

The elderly in long-term care facilities were hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. The elderly in long-term care facilities were hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Korea, outbreaks continuously occurred in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) despite intense control measures, resulting in a surge in deaths. We aim to estimate excess mortality in LTCHs during the pandemic and explore contributing factors. We extracted weekly death counts from 2015 to 2022 among patients over 65 years who died during LTCH hospitalizations from National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data. Based on the SARIMA model fitted with 2015–2019 data, we forecasted death counts from 2020 to 2022. We compared observed and predicted death counts from 2020 to 2022. Subgroup analysis was conducted by age, gender, and health security type. We found notable excess deaths among elderly hospitalized at LTCHs during COVID-19 (2020–2022; 5260.1, 95% CI = 5244.9–5275.3). Men had higher excess mortality than women, and elderly ≥85 and 65–74 years had more observed deaths than predicted. Excess mortality was higher in Medical Aid beneficiaries than those with National Health Insurance. To ensure LTCHs can successfully respond to future public health emergencies, their general medical capacity should be strengthened.

This article analyzes the relationship between climate change, human rights, and the effectiveness of environmental legislation in the State of Tocantins, Brazil, based on the construction of legally oriented social and socio-environmental indicators. The objective was to assess the extent to which state environmental and budgetary public policies incorporate the protection of fundamental rights in addressing climate change. This is an applied study with a qualitative and quantitative approach, based on bibliographic, documentary, and indicator analysis, using the methodology proposed by Prieur and Bastin (2021), which classifies indicators as structural, process, and outcome indicators. State planning and budgetary instruments were examined, as well as deforestation and wildfire data from MapBiomas. The results show that, despite the existence of a normative and institutional framework, significant weaknesses persist in the implementation of public policies, reflected in the advance of deforestation and wildfires and their impacts on human rights such as health, housing, and food security. The study concludes that the lack of clear monitoring indicators compromises policy effectiveness, highlighting the need for greater integration between environmental policy, public planning, and fundamental rights.

Groundwater in arid regions such as Northwestern Rajasthan of India is under increasing pressure due to climatic extremes, excessive extraction, and contamination from both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. This study assesses the seasonal dynamics of groundwater quality in Bikaner, focusing on fluoride and nitrate contamination and their implications for drinking suitability and public health. Twenty samples were collected from tube wells during the monsoon (2019) and pre-monsoon (2020) periods and analysed for a suite of physicochemical parameters following standard protocols. Water usability was gauged using several parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, total dissolved solids, and ions such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, carbonate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate and sulphate, while overall quality was synthesized using the Water Quality Index (WQI). Spatial patterns of contamination were visualized through geostatistical mapping, and hydrochemical facies were interpreted via Piper diagrams. Results revealed that over 65% of pre-monsoon samples surpassed WQI thresholds for safe use, signalling deteriorating groundwater quality. Elevated concentrations of fluoride (up to 5 mg/L) and nitrate (up to 320 mg/L) were commonly detected, with several areas falling into unsuitable categories for drinking. A health risk assessment using the Hazard Index framework found that all demographic groups especially infants were exposed to non-carcinogenic risk, with HI values reaching beyond 12 in critical zones. These findings underscore the urgent need for localized groundwater management strategies in the arid regions where seasonal fluctuations and geogenic factors are intensifying fluoride and nitrate contamination. The spatial clustering of high-risk zones especially in central and southeastern areas suggests persistent vulnerability requiring targeted mitigation. Prioritizing seasonal monitoring, fluoride and nitrate treatment technologies, and community-level interventions to mitigate health hazards and secure water resilience in ecologically fragile region of northwestern Rajasthan.

Background: Healthcare systems face increasing threats from natural and man-made disasters, requiring robust emergency preparedness frameworks to ensure continuity of operations and protect public health. Aim: This study aims to develop a comprehensive health security framework for risk assessment, resilience, and continuity of operations, with a focus on pediatric emergency readiness and interprofessional interventions. Methods: A narrative review approach was employed, synthesizing disaster management literature, international guidelines, and evidence-based frameworks such as SMAUG for risk prioritization. The analysis included disaster typologies, operational classifications, and preparedness strategies across healthcare systems. Results: Findings highlight that preparedness is a dynamic, systems-based process requiring clear terminology, hazard classification, and adaptive planning. Pediatric emergency readiness emerged as a critical determinant of clinical outcomes, with significant gaps identified in general emergency departments. Interprofessional collaboration, technology integration, and continuous training were found essential for operational resilience. Frameworks like SMAUG support transparent prioritization, while drills and exercises ensure practical capability. Conclusion: Emergency preparedness in healthcare must integrate risk assessment, pediatric readiness, and interprofessional coordination into continuous planning cycles. Leadership commitment, interoperability, and sustained training are vital for resilience. Benchmarking against international standards can transform preparedness from aspirational to operational, reducing morbidity and mortality during crises.

Anticoccidial drug resistance in Eimeria spp. presents a growing threat to global poultry health and food security, necessitating robust molecular tools for resistance surveillance. In this study, we report the identification and functional validation of a single nucleotide mutation (c.1255 C > T) in the ETH2_0402100 gene of Eimeria tenella that confers resistance to maduramicin, a widely used ionophore anticoccidial drug. Using genetic crossing, backcrossing, and QTL-seq, we narrowed the resistance locus to a 76 kb region on chromosome HG994964.1. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated site-directed mutagenesis and gene overexpression confirmed that the leucine-to-phenylalanine substitution in ETH2_0402100 confers maduramicin resistance. To translate this discovery into a practical tool, we developed a PCR-based amplification sequencing assay that enables rapid, quantitative detection of maduramicin-resistant alleles from field samples. Together, these findings establish the molecular basis and monitoring strategy for maduramicin resistance in Eimeria spp., and provide a field-deployable molecular diagnostic tool for detecting ionophore resistance.

Beyond the Usual Targets: Pesticide and Biopesticide Interactions with Natural Enemies in Ecological Networks.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly applied to public health and urban security challenges, yet current evidence remains fragmented across methods, disciplines, and regions. This study integrates Systematic Mapping (SM) and Systematic Review (SR) within a unified PICOS–SPICE framework to consolidate existing GIS-based research. From an initial corpus of 7106 records, 65 studies met all methodological and reproducibility criteria. Scientific production shows consistent growth, peaking in 2023, with research concentrated in Asia and North America and limited representation from Africa and South America. Methodologically, the literature is dominated by accessibility assessments and spatial autocorrelation, while advanced analytical models—such as Bayesian inference and machine learning—remain scarce. GIS workflows rely mainly on ArcGIS and QGIS, complemented by open-source tools, including R, Python, and SaTScan. The fused SM + SR pipeline provides a transparent and replicable structure that highlights current strengths in spatial resolution and analytical versatility while revealing persistent gaps in data openness, reproducibility, and global equity. These findings offer a consolidated evidence base to guide future GIS research and support informed decision-making in public health and urban security.

Vaccines constitute a vital bulwark of global public health. From eradicating smallpox to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advances have profoundly reshaped immunisation strategies. Over the past two decades, novel platforms such as mRNA and adenovirus vectors have dramatically shortened development cycles. Accelerated approval processes have not only fuelled ethical debates but also revealed deeper tensions in how societies balance urgency with accountability. Questions surrounding long-term safety, the adequacy of informed consent, and the transparency of regulatory decisions have persisted, often resurfacing in public discussions and scholarly critiques. These issues became especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that laid bare severe inequities in global vaccine distribution and made visible the uneven capacity of health systems to respond to crisis. High-income nations were able to secure, stockpile, and administer doses rapidly, while many lowincome countries endured chronic shortages and delayed coverage, resulting in disproportionately high mortality rates and heightened risks of viral mutations that ultimately threatened the health security of all populations.