Disease burden attributable to intimate partner violence against females and sexual violence against children in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

Background Violence against women and against children are human rights violations with lasting harms to survivors and societies at large. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence against children (SVAC) are two major forms of such abuse. Despite their wide-reaching effects on individual and community health, these risk factors have not been adequately prioritised as key drivers of global health burden. Comprehensive x§and reliable estimates of the comparative health burden of IPV and SVAC are urgently needed to inform investments in prevention and support for survivors at both national and global levels. Methods We estimated the prevalence and attributable burden of IPV among females and SVAC among males and females for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2023, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023. We searched several global databases for data on self-reported exposure to IPV and SVAC and undertook a systematic review to identify the health outcomes associated with each of these risk factors. We modelled IPV and SVAC prevalence using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, applying data adjustments to account for measurement heterogeneity. We employed burden-of-proof methodology to estimate relative risks for outcomes associated with IPV and SVAC. These estimates informed the calculation of population attributable fractions, which were then used to quantify disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to each risk factor. Findings Globally, in 2023, we estimated that 608 million (95% uncertainty interval 518–724) females aged 15 years and older had ever been exposed to IPV, and 1·01 billion (0·764–1·48) individuals aged 15 years and older had experienced sexual violence during childhood. 18·5 million (8·74–30·0) DALYs were attributed to IPV among females and 32·2 million (16·4–52·5) DALYs were attributed to SVAC among males and females in 2023. IPV and SVAC were among the top contributors to the global disease burden in 2023, particularly among females aged 15–49 years, ranking as the fourth and fifth leading risk factors, respectively, for DALYs in this group. Among the eight health outcomes found to be associated with IPV, anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder were the leading causes of IPV-attributed DALYs, accounting for 5·43 million (–1·25 to 14·6) and 3·96 million (1·71 to 6·92) DALYs in 2023, respectively. SVAC was associated with 14 health outcomes, including mental health disorder, substance use disorder, and chronic and infectious disease outcomes. Self-harm and schizophrenia were the leading causes of SVAC-attributed burden, with SVAC accounting for 6·71 million (2·00 to 12·7) DALYs due to self-harm and 4·15 million (–1·92 to 13·1) DALYs due to schizophrenia in 2023. Interpretation IPV and SVAC are substantial contributors to global health burden, and their health consequences span a variety of individual health outcomes. Importantly, mental health disorders account for the greatest share of disease burden among survivors. Investing in prevention of these avoidable risk factors has the potential to avert millions of DALYs and considerable premature mortality each year. Our findings represent strong evidence for global and national leaders to elevate IPV and SVAC among public health priorities. Sustained investments are needed to prevent IPV and SVAC and to implement interventions focused on supporting the complex social and health needs of survivors

Global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Overweight and obesity is a global epidemic. Forecasting future trajectories of the epidemic is crucial for providing an evidence base for policy change. In this study, we examine the historical trends of the global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity from 1990 to 2021 and forecast the future trajectories to 2050. Methods: Leveraging established methodology from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, we estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among individuals aged 25 years and older by age and sex for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2050. Retrospective and current prevalence trends were derived based on both self-reported and measured anthropometric data extracted from 1350 unique sources, which include survey microdata and reports, as well as published literature. Specific adjustment was applied to correct for self-report bias. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression models were used to synthesise data, leveraging both spatial and temporal correlation in epidemiological trends, to optimise the comparability of results across time and geographies. To generate forecast estimates, we used forecasts of the Socio-demographic Index and temporal correlation patterns presented as annualised rate of change to inform future trajectories. We considered a reference scenario assuming the continuation of historical trends. Findings: Rates of overweight and obesity increased at the global and regional levels, and in all nations, between 1990 and 2021. In 2021, an estimated 1·00 billion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 0·989–1·01) adult males and 1·11 billion (1·10–1·12) adult females had overweight and obesity. China had the largest population of adults with overweight and obesity (402 million [397–407] individuals), followed by India (180 million [167–194]) and the USA (172 million [169–174]). The highest age-standardised prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in countries in Oceania and north Africa and the Middle East, with many of these countries reporting prevalence of more than 80% in adults. Compared with 1990, the global prevalence of obesity had increased by 155·1% (149·8–160·3) in males and 104·9% (95% UI 100·9–108·8) in females. The most rapid rise in obesity prevalence was observed in the north Africa and the Middle East super-region, where age-standardised prevalence rates in males more than tripled and in females more than doubled. Assuming the continuation of historical trends, by 2050, we forecast that the total number of adults living with overweight and obesity will reach 3·80 billion (95% UI 3·39–4·04), over half of the likely global adult population at that time. While China, India, and the USA will continue to constitute a large proportion of the global population with overweight and obesity, the number in the sub-Saharan Africa super-region is forecasted to increase by 254·8% (234·4–269·5). In Nigeria specifically, the number of adults with overweight and obesity is forecasted to rise to 141 million (121–162) by 2050, making it the country with the fourth-largest population with overweight and obesity. Interpretation: No country to date has successfully curbed the rising rates of adult overweight and obesity. Without immediate and effective intervention, overweight and obesity will continue to increase globally. Particularly in Asia and Africa, driven by growing populations, the number of individuals with overweight and obesity is forecast to rise substantially. These regions will face a considerable increase in obesity-related disease burden. Merely acknowledging obesity as a global health issue would be negligent on the part of global health and public health practitioners; more aggressive and targeted measures are required to address this crisis, as obesity is one of the foremost avertible risks to health now and in the future and poses an unparalleled threat of premature disease and death at local, national, and global levels. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

How to raise <i>H.illucens</i> in captivity: a protocol

This is a study to assess the near perfect conditions in order to raise the greatest amount of Black Soldier Flies into adulthood. This is so that the amount of uses as Black Soldier flies as model organism increases. All genres of Black Soldier Flies were looked at in this study to develop the protocol. The flies that were chosen were best represented to reflect the abilities and gender of the natural amount of Black Soldier flies in the wild. Potential subjects were then tested with the different types of p variables such as food and sunlight. At this time all the Black Soldier flies were kept in specific conditions and tested with different types of habitats. These habitats reflected the living conditions of the flies in the natural plain. After all the data was compiled, it was aggregated and used to find the best living conditions for the Black Soldier fly as a model organism.</jats:p

The genetic and morphological evolution of fish through Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit 1 (COX1)

Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit 1 (COX1) is a protein that helps to catalyze the reduction of water into oxygen in Eukaryotes. Through the analyzation of COX1 from online public genetic databases in 16 species of fish, an evolutionary phylogeny of fish was derived from the data. This paper considered three hypotheses: Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) and Tiktaalik (Tiktaalik roseae) share a common ancestor was determined; that A.gueldenstaedtii and P.spathula both share a common ancestor; and that P.marinus and S.acanthias are the outliers of the phylogeny. The evolutionary phylogeny used the percent ID between the two species of fish. From these differences, analysis is done to 2016. the data and the data is used to make phylogenies based on the morphological and genetic evolution of these fish. From the data derived from the phylogenies, the results demonstrates the claims that Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) and Tiktaalik (Tiktaalik roseae) share a common ancestor was determined, A.gueldenstaedtii and P.spathula both share a common ancestor, and P.marinus and S.acanthias are the outliers of the phylogeny. The data gathered can be used to connect tetrapods to fish, and contribute to the theory that tetrapods came from fish. The information presented in this paper can be used to make a complete phylogeny of all organisms in the biosphere.</jats:p

Physical features of eight different species with shells

In this study, eight different shells from different species were examined by looking at the physical features of the shells. The purpose of the study was to identify evolutionary links between species with shells. From these physical features, a morphological phylogeny was compiled. And from the morphological phylogeny, it was shown that their the family of the shells was the first trait defined specific clades and that each synapomorphic trait after this was a physical feature of the shells. From the experiment, the following conclusions were discovered: 1) That Scallops and Cockles are the most morphologic clay similar. 2) For taxa A, trait III is an apomorphy because this trait is a single trait that defines this taxa separately from the other taxa. 3) For taxa A, trait I is a plesiomorphy because it is a trait that is ancestral to trait III which defines taxa A (Fig. 2). From the data, these conclusions could introduce a new topic, new ideas, and new information to existing researches.The influx of new ideas would either become helpful, or build off the research of other researchers. This would help the scientific community in increasing its knowledge of the evolutionary background of more species.</jats:p

Physiological, ethological and ecological features of <i>Hermetia illucen</i>

The Black Soldier Fly [Hermetia illucens] is a true fly in the family Stratiomyidae and subclass Pterygota. H.illucens has been a topic of interest in the ecological research world for many years. H.illucens possesses special physiological, ethological and ecological features that may allow H.illucens to become a model organism. This literature review looks at the physiological, ethological and ecological features of H.illucens. Existing literature about H.illucens has been searched and analyzed for this paper. From the literature search it was discovered that H.illucens is not known to have valuable impacts to the world at large.The purpose of doing this review is so that all information available on H.illucens can be chronicled and so the information can be used in real world applications. It provides a use of H.illucens as a model organism and aims to demonstrate a framework for real-world applications of H.illucens, such as H.illucens becoming a model organism for mosquitoes, Tsetse flies, and houseflies.</jats:p

Amylase Duplicate Genes Sequences

This is a dataset that has DNA sequences of many flies within the D. melanogaster. In this dataset, there are eight species of flies. From each fly, there is a copy of the proximal and distal gene sequence. There is one specie of fly that is included in order to be an outgroup. <div>The fly species are:<br><div><ol><li><p>Drosophila Orena</p></li><li><p>Drosophila Teisseire </p></li><li><p>Drosophila Yakuba</p></li><li><p>Drosophila Erecta </p></li><li><p>Drosophila Melanogaster</p></li><li><p>Drosophila Simulans</p></li><li><p>Drosophila Mauritania </p></li><li><p>Drosophila Sechellia</p></li><li><p>Drosophila Ananassae (Outlier)</p></li></ol></div></div

Bisphenol and Animals

This is a commentary on the effect of Bisphenol on animals. In this case, we looked at the effect of Bisphenol on snails. Throughout the commentary, it was shown that caused an increase in the growth of snails