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Time series studies of microbiome interventions provide valuable data about microbial ecosystem structure. Unfortunately, existing models of microbial community dynamics have limited temporal memory and expressivity, relying on Markov or linearity assumptions. To address this, we introduce a new class of models based on transfer functions. These models learn impulse responses, capturing the potentially delayed effects of environmental changes on the microbial community. This allows us to simulate trajectories under hypothetical interventions and select significantly perturbed taxa with False Discovery Rate guarantees. Through simulations, we show that our approach effectively reduces forecasting errors compared to strong baselines and accurately pinpoints taxa of interest. Our case studies highlight the interpretability of the resulting differential response trajectories. An R package, mbtransfer, and notebooks to replicate the simulation and case studies are provided. Author summary: Effectively controlling dynamic microbiomes has remained a major research challenge, primarily due to the interdependence between microbes and their sensitivity to environmental change. Tackling this challenge would advance microbiome engineering, with significant implications for healthcare, agriculture, and conservation. We introduce a flexible and statistically-principled approach to modeling microbe-microbe and microbe-environment relationships. We illustrate the methodology on case studies using microbiome time series datasets related to precision nutrition and women's health. We have released a software package, mbtransfer, to allow easy implementation of the methodology in other contexts where it is important to quantify intervention effects in temporally sampled data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The health of women is of particular concern because they often have greater health needs than men and many women still lack access to quality healthcare services, preventing their ability to attain the best possible level of health. Hence, this study aimed to assess the accessibility and availability of health services among rural women. Methods: A household survey was conducted by using a multi-stage sample with 407 married women aged 18–45 years, having at least one child and living in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu were recruited for this study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data about the demographic status, and accessibility and availability of health services. Results: Of the 407 respondents, 70% were aged between 26 and 40 years, 73% were working as farmers and labourers and 77% were living in nuclear families. 71% of them had enjoyed hospital facilities near their residence and 83% of the hospitals were run by the government. In village health nurse service (VHN), 34% of the respondents had received all services from VHN and 86% did not face any kind of gender inequality and almost all of them were satisfied with the service provided by the VHN. Almost all the respondents (98%) were satisfied with the availability of health services and 92% of them benefited from the government scheme related to childbirth. Conclusion: This study showed that overall, the women were satisfied with the availability of healthcare services and reproductive health services. Moreover, almost all of them benefited from the government scheme related to childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a trend for specialist care in breast surgery resulting in fewer primary operative cases for general surgery trainees; and subsequently that trainees performing advanced oncoplastic techniques in breast surgery may negatively impact patient morbidity. We have reviewed the complication rates between Australian general surgery trainees and Breast Consultants. A retrospective analysis was performed over a 5-year period (January 2016–December 2021). The key endpoints measured were relative complication rates for consultants compared to trainees, subdivided by surgery type. Surgeries were categorised as either benign, primary breast cancer surgery or re-excision. A total of 2646 operative cases were performed with the primary operator rate for consultants 58.35 % (n = 1544) and for trainees 41.65 %% (n = 1102). The overall complication rate was 2.83 % (n = 75); the overall rate for the consultants was 2.65 % and 3.08 % for the trainees. The complication rates were not statistically significant (p = 0.59) between the two groups. The mastectomy only complication rate was higher in the consultant group with a result of 7.3 % compared to 2.8 % for the trainees however was not statistically significant (p = 0.18). The most common complication was haematoma formation for both groups. This study has demonstrated that trainees can safely perform advanced oncoplastic techniques without statistically elevated morbidity. In an era where breast surgery caseloads are increasing, but the exposure to breast surgery during training are decreasing, it is necessary to implement a practice where trainees can perform breast operations under supervision at a specialized unit. • The overall complication rate for the study was low at 2.83 %. • No significant difference between the complication rates of consultants and trainees. • The trainees had more complications when axillary surgery was undertaken. • The main complication following breast surgery was haematoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating global threat of forest fires, driven by global warming, requires the development of effective prediction systems to mitigate damages. This research focuses on Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh (CG) states in central India, where forest fire risk has become particularly pronounced. The primary objectives of the study are to quantify and map the spatial and temporal dynamics of forest fires over the period 2001 to 2020, and to predict future fire risks using satellite derived datasets and machine learning techniques. Through a long-term analysis, the study revealed an alarming increase in the number of forest fire incidents in MP and CG. From an average of 1200 and 1000 during 2001 to 2005, the incidents increased to 2800 and 2100 during 2016 to 2020, in MP and CG respectively. To predict forest fire risk, Random Forest machine learning algorithm was adopted utilizing various satellite derived climatic, topographical, and ecological parameters such as temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, NDVI, soil moisture, litter availability, evapotranspiration and terrain parameters (at monthly scale for 20 years). While forecasting fire probability for 2018–2020, the model achieves high accuracy rate of 86.46 % in MP and 93.78 % in CG. The results highlight significant forest fire likelihood regions in the central MP and the Southern CG, identifying areas requiring enhanced fire management strategies. This study has revealed that NDVI and rainfall have played a positive role in restricting the forest fire, and their negative anomaly amplified the fire risk. The study would help forest planners and administrators to characterise vulnerable areas and prioritise their conservation provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored the dependence of the spatio-temporal pattern of rainfall and its variability on the spatial distribution of forests in the central Indian landscape, which covers ~1 million km2, includes five states, and supports a population of 329 million people. The monsoon rainfall is, thus, a crucial source of freshwater for these population. We analyzed the relationship between rainfall and satellite-derived vegetation vigor, vegetation fraction, and elevation across 22 experimental zones across central India (i.e., forested, non-forested, and agricultural regions; buffer zones within and outside forests). Around 87% of annual rainfall is received during the monsoon, with maximum rainfall (~1600 mm) in Odisha and minimum (~900 mm) in Maharashtra. The average rainfall was greater (~1500 mm) inside forests than in non-forested regions (~1000 mm). Moreover, 245 mm km−2 year−1 of rainfall was observed over forests during monsoon, but only 215 mm km−2 year−1 in non-forested areas. Overall, rainfall increases from the forest edge towards the forest core logarithmically at a rate of ~10 mm km−1 year−1, and it decreases exponentially when moving away from the forest edge at an average rate of −20 mm km−1 year−1 over 0-to-50 km range, and at a rate of −7.5 mm km−1 year−1 over the 50-to-100 km range. This rate of decrease was maximum in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand and minimum in Chhattisgarh. The results confirmed the crucial role of forests in the distribution of monsoon rainfall, but in the elevated and Western Ghats regions, the orographic effect is dominant. These findings are of great concern to forest policymakers to conserve and protect the central Indian forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that provide feeding and nesting grounds for diverse species of waterbirds. The quality of wetland habitat may have an impact on the density, diversity, and species richness of waterbirds. Toxic metal contamination is one of the most significant threats to wetland habitats. Feathers are a key indicator of heavy metal contamination in avian communities as a non-invasive method. We examined the levels of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) using ICP-AAS and standards of digestion procedure from the primary feathers of 10 distinct species of waterbirds. The study was conducted at four wetlands, viz., Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar site); Pallikaranai Marshland (Ramsar site); Perunthottam freshwater lake (unprotected wetland), Tamil Nadu and the Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, (Ramsar site), India. The Large crested tern had higher concentrations of As, Co, Cr, and Ni. Cu was greater in the Indian pond heron, and Zn was higher in the Grey heron. The accumulation of metals differed among the waterbirds (p < 0.05), and the inter-correlation of metals found positive influences between the tested metals, i.e., Co was positively associated with As, Cr had a positive correlation with As and Co, and Ni was positively correlated with As, Co, Cr, and Cu. In contrast, Pb had a positive association with Cu and Ni. The Zn was associated with Co, Cr and Cu. The level of metals in waterbirds was Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > As. The results showed that metal levels in the primary feathers of waterbirds were greater than the other species of waterbirds examined across the world. Thus, the study emphasizes that managing wetlands and controlling pollution is crucial to saving waterbirds; otherwise, the population and diversity of waterbirds will decline and become a significant threat to waterbird communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet‐of‐things is an enabling technology in the fourth‐generation industrial revolution. The freshness of the data sent by a sensor node (SN) is an important parameter in the Internet‐of‐things, unlike the throughput in cellular communications. A relatively new performance metric named age of information (AoI) is used in this paper to quantify the freshness of the data. The SN, located in the transport infrastructure, harvests energy from radio frequency signals transmitted by the FD‐UAV. This is used to transmit real‐time sensor observations to the data sink via FD‐UAV. The SN generates an update after replenishing the battery and transmits it by using the harvested energy. A closed‐form expression for average AoI is derived as a function of time allocated for energy harvesting. The optimal time allocation for energy harvesting that maximizes the freshness of data update is identified. A deep learning technique namely long‐short term memory is used to predict the average AoI. Simulation results demonstrate the usefulness of the performance bounds in terms of the freshness of data updates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse and non-Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbial communities are associated with adverse health outcomes such as preterm birth and the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Despite the importance of recognizing and understanding the key risk-associated features of these communities, their heterogeneous structure and properties remain ill-defined. Clustering approaches are commonly used to characterize vaginal communities, but they lack sensitivity and robustness in resolving substructures and revealing transitions between potential sub-communities. Here, we address this need with an approach based on mixed membership topic models. Using longitudinal data from cohorts of pregnant and non-pregnant study participants, we show that topic models more accurately describe sample composition, longitudinal changes, and better predict the loss of Lactobacillus dominance. We identify several non-Lactobacillus-dominated sub-communities common to both cohorts and independent of reproductive status. In non-pregnant individuals, we find that the menstrual cycle modulates transitions between and within sub-communities, as well as the concentrations of half of the cytokines and 18% of metabolites. Overall, our analyses based on mixed membership models reveal substructures of vaginal ecosystems which may have important clinical and biological associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the queuing-inventory system, composed of c junior servers, a senior server, two finite waiting halls, and an infinite orbit. On occasion, junior servers encounter challenges during customer service. In these instances, they approach the senior server for guidance in resolving the issue. Suppose the senior server is engaged with another junior server. The approaching junior servers await their turn in a finite waiting area with a capacity of c for consultation. Concerning this, we study the performance of junior servers approaching the senior server in the retrial queuing-inventory model with the two finite waiting halls dedicated to the primary customers and the junior servers for consultation. We formulate a level-dependent QBD process and solve its steady-state probability vector using Neuts and Rao's truncation method. The stability condition of the system is derived and the R matrix is computed. The optimum total cost has been obtained, and the sensitivity analyses, which include the expected total cost, the waiting time of customers in the waiting hall and orbit, the number of busy servers, and a fraction of the successful retrial rate of the model, are computed numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most recently, Human fall detection systems using deep learning models find major applications in all fields, especially in the held of healthcare. Even without doctor analysis, most Neurological and musculoskeletal diseases such as oncoming strokes and gait problems can be identified using these models and computer vision. In this article, automatic human fall detection is proposed using a convolutional neural network by applying real-time videos. In general, most of the research has been carried out using standard videos which will not apply to real-time applications. Hence this work concentrates about using convolutional neural networks as a system has real-time videos for the Human Fall Detection and monitoring system using three pre-trained models: (i) TinyYOLOv3-ones, (ii) AlphaPose and (iii) ST-GCN. The proposed Spatial temporal graph convolutional networks produce better accuracy with captured real-time video for human fall detection. The same method was also utilized for classification with different epochs. The results were compared and maximum accuracy of 100% is obtained for 500 epochs. Hence it is proved that the existing method can be utilized for human fall detection with greater accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents and discusses the home delivery services in stochastic queuing-inventory modeling (SQIM). This system consists of two servers: one server manages the inventory sales processes, and the other server provides home delivery services at the doorstep of customers. Based on the Bernoulli schedule, a customer served by the first server may opt for a home delivery service. If any customer chooses the home delivery option, he hands over the purchased item for home delivery and leaves the system immediately. Otherwise, he carries the purchased item and leaves the system. When the delivery server returns to the system after the last home delivery service and finds that there are no items available for delivery, he goes on vacation. Such a vacation of a delivery server is to be interrupted compulsorily or voluntarily, according to the prefixed threshold level. The replenishment process is executed due to the ( s , Q ) reordering policy. The unique solution of the stationary probability vector to the finite generator matrix is found using recursive substitution and the normalizing condition. The necessary and sufficient system performance measures and the expected total cost of the system are computed. The optimal expected total cost is obtained numerically for all the parameters and shown graphically. The influence of parameters on the expected number of items that need to be delivered, the probability that the delivery server is busy, and the expected rate at which the delivery server's self and compulsory vacation interruptions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Taylor's seminal paper, the existence of largescale quasi-axisymmetric structures has been a matter of interest when studying Taylor-Couette flow. In this article, we probe their formation in the highly turbulent regime by conducting a series of numerical simulations at a fixed Reynolds number Res =3.6 × 104 while varying the Coriolis parameter to analyse the flow characteristics as the structures arise and dissipate. We show how the Coriolis force induces a one-way coupling between the radial and azimuthal velocity fields inside the boundary layer, but in the bulk, there is a two-way coupling that causes competing effects. We discuss how this complicates the analogy of narrow-gap Taylor-Couette to other convective flows. We then compare these statistics with a similar shear flow without no-slip boundary layers, showing how this double coupling causes very different effects. We finish by reflecting on the possible origins of turbulent Taylor rolls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a response to queries about a case series of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in COVID-19-associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. The authors confirm that CRAO in these patients is due to mucormycosis, which occurs in the advanced stage of the disease with orbital involvement. The poor prognosis and mortality of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis cases with CRAO on presentation are highlighted. The article emphasizes the need for early surgical intervention and the use of Amphotericin B for irrigation in the management of these cases. [Extracted from the article]

To identify the optimal gestational age of planned delivery in pregnancies complicated by chronic hypertension requiring antihypertensive medications that minimizes the risk of adverse perinatal events and maternal morbidity. Retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies after 37 weeks of gestation complicated by chronic hypertension on antihypertensive medication, delivered at 7 hospitals within an academic health system in New York from 12/1/2015 to 9/3/2020. Two comparisons were made (1) planned deliveries at 37–376/7 weeks versus expectant management, (2) planned deliveries at 38–386/7 weeks versus expectant management. Patients with other maternal or fetal conditions were excluded. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse perinatal outcomes including stillbirth, neonatal death, assisted ventilation, cord pH < 7.0, 5-minute Apgar ≤5, diagnosis of respiratory disorder, and neonatal seizures. The secondary outcomes included preeclampsia, eclampsia, primary cesarean delivery, postpartum readmission, and infant stay greater than 5 days. Odds ratios were estimated with multiple logistic regression and adjusted for confounding effects. A total of 555 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients who underwent planned delivery at 37 weeks compared to expectant management did not appear to be at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes (14.9% vs 10.4%, aOR 1.49, 95% CI: 0.77–2.88). Similarly, we did not find a difference in the primary outcome in patients who underwent planned delivery at 38 weeks versus those expectantly managed (9.7% vs 10.1%, (aOR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.39–1.76). There were no differences in the rates of primary cesarean or preeclampsia at 37 and 38 weeks. Our findings suggest that there is no difference in neonatal or maternal outcomes for chronic hypertensive patients on medication if delivery is planned or expectantly managed at 37 or 38 weeks' gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean acidification is one of the parameters that affect underwater wireless sensor network routing protocols. The underlying network-level metrics of sensor nodes correspond to depth-dependent interactions. The spatial relevancy of sensor nodes varies drastically due to the mobility of the ocean column. In this work, complexity of the underwater environment and its characteristics are fed along with the sensor node capabilities of internetworking and its communication void. The wireless sensor node embeds medium access control layer timing of sensor packet transmission associated with its communication range and underwater characteristics of transmission and absorption losses. Underwater routing protocol for void avoidance transmission probability (UWRPVA-TP) is proposed, and sensors are deployed across diverse depths. Multi-hop communications as a function of depth-dependent attenuation across the ocean columns and their transmission probabilities have been calculated under mobility scenarios. The simulation result of UWRPVA-TP has been validated for the protocol using different attenuation models for energy consumption and number of alive nodes. Finally, the packet reliability ratio and deadline miss ratio has been calculated to understand the application of the time complexity associated with packet transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With COVID‐19 compelling some countries to close their schools, e‐learning has now become the primary mode of learning. Researchers have renewed their interest in users' acceptance of e‐learning via different platforms, given the possibility of different results relative to what was known pre‐pandemic. However, e‐learning still poses issues such as isolation, demotivation and learning attrition, which may be counterbalanced by peer‐to‐peer (P2P) learning. On this basis, this study surveyed 417 Indian students on their acceptance of P2P e‐learning with the extended Technology Acceptance Model. The data analysis confirmed that perceived ease of use was positively associated with the perceived usefulness of and students' attitude towards P2P e‐learning. Credibility was also found to be positively associated with perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and attitude towards P2P e‐learning. However, the study could not confirm the association between perceived usefulness and attitude towards P2P e‐learning. Additionally, self‐efficacy displayed a weak, but significant association with perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of P2P e‐learning. Internet self‐efficacy was found to have a positive association on the intention to use P2P e‐learning, but not its perceived ease of use. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic E‐learning which poses issues such as isolation, demotivation and learning attrition became the primary means of education due to the COVID‐19 pandemic.Issues with e‐learning can be counterbalanced by peer‐to‐peer (P2P) learning.There is a renewed interest in user acceptance of e‐learning via different platforms, as the sudden and prolonged shift to e‐learning is revealing different results relative to what was known pre‐pandemic.What this article adds Usage of the extended TAM model to predict users' acceptance of P2P e‐learning platforms during a pandemic.Extending the TAM model with a renewed focus on the importance of self‐efficacy and Internet self‐efficacy in accepting P2P e‐learning during a period of complete remote learning.Extending the TAM model with credibility as a factor: because P2P platforms allow any user to provide answers, students may struggle with choosing which answer to accept.Credibility was discovered to have a positive association with perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and attitude towards P2P platforms.A positive association between perceived usefulness and attitude could not be confirmed—a discovery we consider related to the supplementary way the P2P platform was utilised.Perceived ease of use had a larger association with the intention to use P2P e‐learning than perceived usefulness, thus suggesting that students are more concerned with the ease of finding an answer than the usefulness obtained from it.Implications for practice and/or policy P2P e‐learning platforms should consider means through which an answer's credibility can be increased in order to bolster the ATT towards them.At a macro level, schools should consider the self‐efficacy and Internet self‐efficacy of students to ensure they are able to partake in e‐learning and provide training and resources to those who are lacking.P2P e‐learning platforms need to improve their user interface design and user experience to increase the Perceived ease of use for their users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falls are common in the elderly and frequently have serious consequences, which lead to physical and psychological complications. Assessment of fall risk in the elderly is performed by using functional assessment tools that assess the muscle strength, balance, functional mobility, and gait. Timed Up and Go test (TUG) assesses functional mobility and the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment test (POMA) assesses balance, postural control, and gait. Aim: This study compares the TUG test and POMA test in fall prediction among elderly patients. Materials and Methods: Patients with acute illness, acute painful lower limb conditions, dementia, severe depression, and those who are not willing were excluded from the study. Patient demographic data, co-morbidities, habits, and risk factors such as a previous history of falls, arthritis, depression, and vision impairment were noted. Gait and balance were assessed by the TUG and POMA tests. TUG and POMA were compared with the patients with a history of falls. Results: The mean age of participants was 70.79 ± 5.38 years. The females (57.6%) were more than the males. Hypertension was the commonest co-morbidity (54.4%). Out of 340 subjects, 105 subjects had a history of falls. The sensitivity of the TUG and POMA tests was 76.2 and 69.5%, respectively, and the specificity was 91.1 and 89.8%, respectively. The Kappa values were 0.680 and 0.606, respectively. POMA (r = –0.372) was negatively correlated to falls and TUG (r = 0.642) was positively correlated to falls. Conclusion: TUG is a useful measure for determining the risk of falling in older persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhino orbital Mucormycosis caused by filamentous fungus of mucoraceae family was considered a rare disease affecting immunocompromised and diabetics with ketoacidosis until the recent COVID 19 pandemic. We are presenting a series of six cases of Rhino orbital cerebral Mucormycosis with central retinal artery occlusion. All six cases had common history of COVID 19 infection in recent past with sinusitis, proptosis and total ophthalmoplegia with central retinal artery occlusion on presentation. MR imaging showed invasive pan sinusitis with orbital and cerebral involvement. Urgent debridement was done and histopathological examination showed broad, filamentous aseptate fungi suggestive of Mucormycosis. All patients inspite of intravenous Amphotericin B with local debridement did not show any improvement and expired within a week of presentation. Hence our study shows poor prognosis of post covid 19 associated Mucormycosis with central retinal artery occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial affect is expressed dynamically -- a giggle, grimace, or an agitated frown. However, the characterisation of human affect has relied almost exclusively on static images. This approach cannot capture the nuances of human communication or support the naturalistic assessment of affective disorders. Using the latest in machine vision and systems modelling, we studied dynamic facial expressions of people viewing emotionally salient film clips. We found that the apparent complexity of dynamic facial expressions can be captured by a small number of simple spatiotemporal states -- composites of distinct facial actions, each expressed with a unique spectral fingerprint. Sequential expression of these states is common across individuals viewing the same film stimuli but varies in those with the melancholic subtype of major depressive disorder. This approach provides a platform for translational research, capturing dynamic facial expressions under naturalistic conditions and enabling new quantitative tools for the study of affective disorders and related mental illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to characterize functional impairments and human factor considerations that affect perceptions and preferences for head-mounted display (HMD) technology for adults with low vision and chronic eye disease. Methods: Through a convergent mixed-methods design, participants with visual impairments (age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or retinitis pigmentosa) were recruited. Participants completed the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire, used commercially available HMDs (eSight, NuEyes, and Epson Moverio), and were interviewed. The IVI was used to identify groups with low, moderate, and high vision–related quality of life (VRQOL). Transcribed interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach. The survey and qualitative findings were integrated using mixed-methods joint display analysis. Results: Twenty-one participants were enrolled (mean age of 58.2 years, 57% male, median Snellen acuity of 20/40 [range: 20/20–hand movement]). An equal number (n = 9) expressed a preference for eSight and NuEyes, while (n = 3) preferred the Moverio. Participants emphasized ease of use, including HMD controls and screen, as common reasons for preference. Those with lower IVI well-being scores preferred eSight due to vision improvement. Those with moderate IVI well-being scores preferred NuEyes due to comfort and size. Those with high IVI well-being scores cited usability as the most important feature. Discussion: User preferences for HMD features were associated with VRQOL. A mixed-methods approach explained how varying degrees of visual impairment and HMD preferences were qualitatively related to usability at the individual level. Implications for Practitioners: To increase acceptance, new HMD development for low vision should focus on performance, usability, and human factors engineering. Although HMD technology can benefit individuals with low vision, device features and functions vary in meaningful ways based on vision parameters. Practitioners should be aware of how patient and device variations influence preferences when they recommend wearable systems and optimize training to harness these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to examine the server activation policy (SAP) in a multi-server queuing-inventory system (MQIS). The queue has a total of c number of multi-threshold stages as well as c-homogeneous servers. The activation of each server begins one by one if there is an adequate queue length and inventory in the system; otherwise, they remain idle. The server deactivation process continues until the queue length exceeds the manageable level (predetermined stages) or there is insufficient stock. In addition, when we assume the length of the two successive threshold levels is one, the server activation policy model becomes a regular multi-server model. The Neuts matrix geometric approach is used to discuss the stability condition, stationary probability vector. The Laplace–Stieltjes transform (LST) is used to analyse the waiting time distributions of the queue and orbital customers. Additionally, significant system performance metrics and sensitivity analysis are used to investigate the effects of various parameters and cost values. In the comparative result between the server activation model (SAM) and without the server activation model (WSAM) on the expected total cost, we obtain the minimised cost in the SAM. Moreover, the results are obtained by assuming that the length of the intervals between the two successive threshold levels is to be taken into account as the non-uniform length. The expected inventory level, reorder rate, and waiting time of a customer in the waiting hall and orbit were explored numerically by the parameter analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Elderly patients are susceptible to COVID-19 infection. They usually present with atypical symptoms and multiple organ dysfunction. The poor outcome in elderly patients is due to multiple comorbidities, declining functional status, and frailty. This study aimed to assess the risk profile of COVID-19 infection in the elderly population. Materials and methods: Patients aged 60 years and above with COVID-19 positive by RT-PCR were included in the study. Patients' demographic data, co-morbidities and severity of illness, complete hemogram, blood sugar, renal, liver function test, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-6, ferritin, D-dimer were noted. Patients' outcome in terms of survival was observed. Results: The total count, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, ESR, urea, creatinine, interleukin 6, D-dimer, and blood sugar value were significantly associated with non-survival even after adjustment for age and gender. Complications such as acute kidney injury (AKI), renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and World Health Organization (WHO) severity were also associated with non-survival before and after adjustment for age and gender. On Cox regression survival analysis, ≥ three co-morbidities had hazard ratio (HR) of 54.36 [95% CI 3.66 to 807.01], WHO severity had HR of 31.09 [95% CI 1.31 to 738.22], MODS had HR of 16.97 [95% CI 2.86 to 100.39], creatinine had HR of 8.44 [95% CI 1.99 to 35.77], AKI had HR of 6.71 [95% CI 1.11 to 40.56]. Conclusion: In elderly patients with COVID-19 infection, the presence of at least three co-morbidities, severity of infection by WHO criteria and presence of complications such as MODS, elevated creatinine and AKI were predictors of the survival rate and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a Markovian inventory system is a critical part of inventory management. The purpose of this study is to examine the demand for two commodities in a Markovian inventory system, one of which is designated as a major item (Commodity-I) and the other as a complimentary item (Commodity-II). Demand arrives according to a Poisson process, and service time is exponential at a queue-dependent rate. We investigate a strategy of (s , Q) type control for commodity-I with a random lead time but instantaneous replenishment for commodity-II. If the waiting hall reaches its maximum capacity of N, any arriving primary client may enter an infinite capacity orbit with a specified ratio. For orbiting consumers, the classical retrial policy is used. In a steady-state setting, the joint probability distributions for commodities and the number of demands in the queue and the orbit, are derived. From this, we derive a waiting time analysis and a variety of system performance metrics in the steady-state. Additionally, the physical properties of various performance measures are evaluated using various numerical assumptions associated with diverse stochastic behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Ready‐to‐eat fruit and vegetable products have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. The main challenges associated with these minimally processed products are their short shelf life and high food safety concerns. In this study, our goal was to develop an integrated process to both reduce the Salmonella population by >5 log CFU g−1) and to reduce polyphenol oxidase activity, followed by quickly cooling the product. We compared the effect of a sequential treatment of dipping in citric acid (CA) followed by cold plasma (CP) treatment on the inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, browning, total phenolic content and the moisture loss of cut apples during the plasma‐integrated low‐pressure cooling (PiLPC) process. RESULTS: The greatest inactivation of Salmonella (5.68 log CFU g−1) and the highest PPO inactivation (78%) were observed after dipping cut apples in 5% CA, followed by 3 min of CP treatment. The color of cut apples remained relatively unchanged, with a fresh‐like appearance during 7 days of storage at 4 °C after this combined treatment. Although the low‐pressure cooling time was increased when samples were pre‐dipped in CA, related to those undipped, the moisture loss was reduced by more than 50% during the PiLPC process. No significant reduction in phenolic content was observed during the PiLPC when the samples were pre‐dipped in 5% CA. CONCLUSION: These results indicate the potential of this integrated process for the inactivation of endogenous food enzymes and bacterial pathogens in fresh‐cut apples. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we discuss vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and assess various maternal and neonatal outcomes based on the current evidence available. This systematic review using PRISMA guidelines revealed a total of 47 eligible studies describing 1188 SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women and 985 neonates for review. Utilizing the 'Shah's Classification System for Maternal-Fetal-Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Intrauterine Infections' by Shah et al., we found vertical transmission confirmed in 0.3% (n = 3), probable in 0.5% (n = 5), possible in 1.8% (n = 17), unlikely in 80.3% (724) and not infected in 17% (n = 153). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetuin-A (Fet-A) is a liver-secreted phosphorylated protein, known to impair insulin signaling, which has been shown to be associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and incident diabetes. Fet-A interacts with the insulin-stimulated insulin receptor (IR) and inhibits IR tyrosine kinase activity and glucose uptake. It has been shown that high glucose increases Fet-A expression through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. However, factors that downregulate Fet-A expression and their potential mechanisms are unclear. We examined the effect of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on high-glucose induced Fet-A expression in HepG2 cells, Hep3B cells and primary rat hepatocytes. High glucose increased Fet-A and phosphorylated (Ser312) fetuin-A (pFet-A) expression, which are known to impair insulin signaling. AICAR-induced AMPK activation significantly down-regulated high glucose-induced Fet-A expression and secretion of pFet-A while treatment with Compound C (AMPK inhibitor), SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) or p38 MAPK siRNA transfection prevented AICAR-induced downregulation of Fet-A expression. In addition, activation of p38 MAPK, by anisomycin, decreased the hepatic expression of Fet-A. Further, we our studies have shown that short-term effect of AICAR-treatment on Fet-A expression was mediated by proteosomal degradation, and long-term treatment of AICAR was associated with decrease in hepatic expression of C/EBP beta, an important transcription factor involved in the regulation of Fet-A. Taken together, our studies implicate a critical role for AMPK-p38 MAPK-C/EBPb-ubiquitin-proteosomal axis in the regulation of the expression of hepatic Fet-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is linked with higher inflammatory markers and is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation. Neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF), in addition to their neuronal functions, act on several immune cells and have been recently designated as metabokines due to their regulatory role in energy homeostasis and food intake. The current study evaluates the salivary BDNF and β-NGF and their association with anthropometric measurement, blood pressure, and salivary insulin in children. Anthropometric measurements and saliva samples were obtained from 76 children, aged 6–10 years. Multiplex analysis was carried out for the salivary analysis of BDNF, NGF, and insulin by human magnetic Luminex performance assay. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze the best fit diagnostic value for biomarkers and the relationship of the neurotrophic levels of BDNF and NGF with obesity measures and blood pressure. Salivary BDNF and β-NGF showed a significantly higher concentration in obese children than normal-weight children. Both neurotrophins are positively associated with obesity anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and salivary insulin. Multinominal regression analysis reported a significant association between salivary BDNF, β-NGF, insulin, and systolic pressure adjusted for age, gender, income, and maternal education. The salivary concentration of BDNF and NGF was higher in obese children, and it is positively associated with anthropometric measures, suggesting that neurotrophins can be used as a non-invasive predictor of obesity-related complications in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean (high- and low-tannin) protein isolates were water extracted followed by dialysis or micellization in comparison to concentrates from conventional alkali extraction + acid precipitation, and salt-based extraction (1% NaCl) + dialysis. Protein fractions were characterised for secondary structure conformational changes, crystalline structure, particle size distribution in aqueous suspension and thermal properties. Mild water or salt extraction did not influence particle size distribution. Based on XRD, FTIR and CD, β-sheet structures were the most abundant secondary structures and water extraction + dialysis had minimal impact on their native conformation. DSC results showed an association between protein purity, glass transition temperature and endothermic enthalpy. High melting temperature above glass transition confirms the suitability of faba bean proteins for thermal/extrusion processing. Fractionation method was a more significant determinant of physicochemical characteristics compared to the cultivar. Further exploration of the techno-functional characteristics of faba bean proteins is essential for value-added food applications. [Display omitted] • Faba bean proteins were concentrated/isolated from water and NaCl extracts. • Water based extraction had minimal impact on faba bean protein secondary structure. • β-Sheet structures were the most abundant secondary structures of faba bean proteins. • Faba bean protein purity was positively correlated to the enthalpy of denaturation. • Faba bean proteins from mild extraction have the potential for extrusion processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with an integrated and interconnected stochastic queuing-inventory system with a fresh item, a returned item, and a refurbished item. This system provides a multi-type service facility to an arriving multi-class customer through a dedicated channel. It sells fresh and refurbished items, buys used items from customers, refurbishes the used items for resale, and provides a repair service for defective items. The assumption of purchasing a used item from the customer and allowing them to buy a fresh item is a new idea in stochastic queuing-inventory modeling. To do so, this system has four parallel queues to receive four classes of customers and five dedicated servers to provide a multi-type service facility. Customers are classified according to the type of service they require. Each class of arrival follows an independent Poisson process. The service time of each dedicated server is assumed to be exponentially distributed and independent. This system assumes an instantaneous ordering policy for the replenishment of a fresh item. In the long run of this considered system, the joint probability distribution of the seven-dimensional stochastic process, significant system performance measures, and the optimum total cost are to be derived using the Neuts matrix geometric technique. The main objective of the system was to increase the occurrence of all kinds of customers by providing a multi-type service facility in one place. Buying a used item is unavoidable in an emerging society because it helps form a green society. Furthermore, the numerical result shows that the assumption of a system that allows a customer to sell their used item and purchase a new item will increase the number of customers approaching the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with an increased risk of post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) following lung cancer resection. It remains unclear whether smoking cessation reduces this risk. Methods: Retrospective review of a large, prospectively collected database of over 1000 consecutive resections for lung cancer in a quaternary lung cancer centre over a 23-year period. Results: One thousand and thirteen patients underwent curative-intent lobectomy or pneumonectomy between 1995 and 2018. Three hundred and sixty-two patients (36%) were ex-smokers, 314 (31%) were current smokers and 111 (11%) were never smokers. A pre-operative diagnosis of COPD was present in 57% of current smokers, 57% of ex-smokers and 20% of never smokers. Just over 25% of patients experienced a PPC. PPCs were more frequent in current smokers compared to never smokers (27% vs 17%, p = 0.036), however, no difference was seen between current and ex-smokers (p = 0.412) or between never and ex-smokers (p = 0.113). Those with a diagnosis of COPD, independent of smoking status, had a higher frequency of both PPCs (65% vs 35%, p<0.01) and overall complications (60% vs 40%, p<0.01) as well as a longer length of hospital stay (10 vs 9 days, p<0.01). Conclusion: Smoking and COPD are both associated with a higher rate of PPCs post lung cancer resection. COPD, independent of smoking status, is also associated with an increased overall post-operative complication rate and length of hospital stay. An emphasis on COPD treatment optimisation, rather than smoking cessation in isolation, may help improve post-operative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sentinel-1 and 2 satellite images were integrated for cropland mapping. • 80 different textural measures and 9 different spectral measures were evaluated. • Statistical and accuracy analyses revealed efficiencies of different combination. • Integrated SAR-optical-textural-spectral indices data achieved higher accuracy. Regional as well as global cropland database at a high spatial resolution like 10 m is not available. This study aims to integrate the Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and Sentinel-2 optical data in a more robust way to map the croplands at 10 m spatial resolution. It also examines the effectiveness of different derived products from the SAR and multispectral data. The VH and VV polarizations of the SAR data were used to generate the 80 textural parameters at four different kernel sizes. The multispectral bands of the optical data were used to create nine different spectral indices. The SAR and optical data were classified separately and integrated with the other derived products, using the random forest classifier, to identify the most potential way to use the two datasets for LULC classification. The classification accuracy was the least when only the Sentinel 1 data was used, with an overall accuracy of 59.48% and a kappa value of 0.51. The best accuracy (97.94% overall accuracy and 0.98 kappa value) was achieved by combining the Sentinel 1 and 2 data and their optimal textures and spectral indices. Overall, this study suggests the suitability of the SAR data along with optical data to map the croplands with higher accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fall risk assessment is an essential component of a comprehensive fall reduction and prevention program. Fall risk assessment is done to identify patients’ risk for falls and ultimately prevent falls from occurring. The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors for fall in the elderly population. Methods: This study included 250 elderly patients > 60 years (105 males, 145 females) attending Medicine OPD in a tertiary care hospital. Detailed history including the previous h/o falls, medication history elicited and divided study subjects into two groups: fallers and non-fallers. Cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal system examinations were done. Handgrip, 30 seconds chair standing test (CST), “timed up and go” test (TUG), and performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) were performed. Results: The prevalence of falls in our study was 27.6%. The mean age of fallers was 72.22±6.219 years (P 0.002). Females had significant falls compared to males (p < 0.001). In binary logistic regression, age >80 [OR-3.8, CI (1.8-8.1); p 0.016], female gender [OR-19.2, CI (3.03-122.2); p 0.002], visual impairment [OR-8.9, CI (1.4-55.4); p 0.019], postural hypotension [OR-59.8, CI (3.3-1.07); p 0.006] and presence of more than three risk factors [OR-9.6, CI (4.6-2.01); p 0.000] were significantly associated with fall in our study. Conclusion: Falls among older people were common, especially among individuals aged over 80. Females were more prone to fall. The number of risk factors, visual impairment, and postural hypotension increased the fall risk. Simple clinical assessment can identify high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern wireless-powered communication networks (WPCNs) like Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a cooperative relay node is seen as a promising technique. In this paper we analyse the performance of a dual-hop decode and forward (DF) UAV-assisted system, which consists of a set of energy-constrained IoT sensor nodes (SNs), a UAV working as a relay between SNs and the desired destination user (D). For the considered system set-up, SNs first harvest the energy using the wireless power transfer (WPT) link from UAV and then transmit back the information signal to UAV and to the desired user using wireless information transfer (WIT) link. Here, we consider a non-linear energy harvesting mechanism that is more practical compared with the conventional linear energy harvesting system. Closed-form expressions for the outage probability and average throughput of the system are derived, by considering the key parameters such as transmit power, time switching factor, UAVs height and different fading environments. A suboptimal value of time switching factor between WPT and WIT is studied using a numerical search algorithm. Finally, the numerical simulation results demonstrate the average system throughput and exhibit how the proposed non-linear energy harvesting system is quite different from conventional linear energy harvesting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of CuSCN/CuI nanocomposite by single-step electrodeposition is developed. The surface morphology and film thickness are controlled by changing the electrochemical potential and deposition time. The mixed-phase formation of CuSCN/CuI is confirmed through x-ray diffraction and Raman spectral analysis. Nanopetal (NP) like morphology of CuSCN/CuI is observed in FESEM micrographs. Interestingly, the NPs density and thickness are increased with increasing the deposition potential and time. The device fabricated using CuSCN/CuI nanocomposite as a hole transport layer (HTL) which is grown for 2 min delivers the best photovoltaic performance. The maximum power conversion efficiency of 18.82% is observed for CuSCN/CuI NP with a density of 1153 μm−2 and thickness of 142 nm. The charge transfer ability of the CuSCN/CuI NP HTL is analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Based on the observation, moderate charge transport resistance and optimum film thickness are required for achieving maximum photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Thus, the developed CuSCN/CuI NP HTL is a potential candidate for PVSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate risks, emerging threats to humanity, increase the level of disaster in many ways. A comprehensive understanding of climate risks and their impacts is a pre-requisite for developing suitable adaptation strategies toward sustainable development. This paper assessed the socio-economic vulnerability based on sustainable development goals (SDG) in the state of Tamil Nadu in the context of climate risks to comprehend the links between climate risks and the physical setting of Tamil Nadu, along with its capability to adapt. An indicator-based methodology of vulnerability assessment as per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was adopted to understand the links between the sensitivity of the state and its ability to cope and adapt. The climate extremities, which cause risks, were determined based on India Meteorological Department (IMD) norms. The indicators which directly or indirectly label specific/integrated goals of SDG were used as sensitivity and adaptive capacity indicators. Data from each district for all identified indicators were collected from authentic sources and categorized into four components: natural, social, economic, and infrastructure. The indicators were analyzed and weights were assigned to the indicators using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The district-wise vulnerability indices were calculated and categorized as natural vulnerability index (NVI), social vulnerability index (SVI), economic vulnerability index (EVI), infrastructure vulnerability index (IVI), and overall cumulative vulnerability index (CVI). The study revealed the significant contributing indicators of risk and the vulnerable districts of Tamil Nadu. Ariyalur was identified as the most vulnerable district due to its high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity to climate risks. The other top vulnerable districts were Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvarur, Thiruvallur, Thanjavur, Perambalur, Pudukottai, and Thiruvannamalai. The outcome of the study may be deliberated as an indicator of alarming socio-economic and infrastructural conditions of the districts and may help planners to prioritize their actions toward climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the development of bilayer CuSCN@CuI inorganic hole transport material by a simple electrochemical approach is demonstrated. The thickness and the morphology of the bilayer thin films are controlled by electrochemical potential and deposition time. Uniformly distributed triangle-shaped CuI nanosheets formation is observed at 2 min deposition time. Inverted perovskite solar cells are fabricated using electrochemically grown CuSCN@CuI bilayer and tested its photovoltaic performance. The maximum short circuit current density of 18.24 mA/cm2 and open-circuit voltage of 1080 mV is achieved for uniformly distributed triangle-shaped CuI nanosheets grown at 2 min deposition time. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.58% is achieved with 1400 h of stability. The moderate thickness (~180–230 nm) of bilayer CuSCN@CuI nanostructures showed better charge transport and photovoltaic performance. The favourable band alignment of the designed CuSCN@CuI/perovskite/PC 61 BM/Carbon delivers stable open-circuit voltage than the earlier reports. The optimized bilayer CuSCN@CuI nanostructure with carbon back contact showed improved device stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High throughput sequencing (HTS)-based technology enables identifying and quantifying non-culturable microbial organisms in all environments. Microbial sequences have enhanced our understanding of the human microbiome, the soil and plant environment, and the marine environment. All molecular microbial data pose statistical challenges due to contamination sequences from reagents, batch effects, unequal sampling, and undetected taxa. Technical biases and heteroscedasticity have the strongest effects, but different strains across subjects and environments also make direct differential abundance testing unwieldy. We provide an introduction to a few statistical tools that can overcome some of these difficulties and demonstrate those tools on an example. We show how standard statistical methods, such as simple hierarchical mixture and topic models, can facilitate inferences on latent microbial communities. We also review some nonparametric Bayesian approaches that combine visualization and uncertainty quantification. The intersection of molecular microbial biology and statistics is an exciting new venue. Finally, we list some of the important open problems that would benefit from more careful statistical method development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study mainly focuses on the different combinations of significant operating parameters like inlet relative humidity of anode gas and cathode gas, operating pressure, and nature of cathode gas on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using validated 3-D, single-phase, and non-isothermal model with the help of ANSYS FLUENT 18.1 package. The results of different combinations on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell are compared with independent effects of the operating parameters. Results revealed that the combined operating parameters' effect on the performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell is deviated significantly (up to 5%) compared to the expected summation of individual parameters effect which is considerable in fuel cell scaling and stack applications. Nature of gas, operating pressure, and inlet cathode gas relative humidity are the most significant parameters in the automobile applications which have to be dealt with care where the combination of changes in operating parameters is quite phenomenal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DDX41, a member of the DEAD-box helicase family, serves as a vital cytosolic DNA sensor and plays a pivotal role in controlling the activation of type I interferon responses in mammals. However, the functional aspects of fish DDX41 remain relatively unexplored. In this study, we identified and characterized the DDX41 gene in Amphiprion clarkii transcriptomes and designated the gene as AcDDX41. The complete open reading frame of AcDDX41 encoded a putative protein comprising 617 amino acids. Notably, the predicted AcDDX41 protein shared several structural features that are conserved in DDX41, including DEXDc, HELICc, and zinc finger domains, as well as conserved sequence "Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (D-E-A-D)." AcDDX41 exhibited the highest sequence homology (99.68 % similarity) with DDX41 from Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that DDX41s from fish formed a branch distinct from that in other animals. All investigated tissues were shown to express AcDDX41 constitutively, with blood showing the highest expression levels, followed by the brain. Furthermore, AcDDX41 expression was significantly induced upon stimulation with poly I:C, lipopolysaccharide, and Vibrio harveyi, indicating its responsiveness to immune stimuli. We confirmed the antiviral function of AcDDX41 by analyzing gene expression and viral replication during viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus infection. Additionally, using a luciferase reporter assay, we validated the ability of AcDDX41 to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway upon stimulation with poly I:C. Finally, AcDDX41 influenced cytokine gene expression and played a regulatory role in macrophage M1 polarization in RAW 264.7 cells. Collectively, these results highlight the significance of AcDDX41 as an immune-related gene that contributes substantially to antiviral defense and regulation of NF-κB activity. • AcDDX41 shares structural elements with DDX41, including the signature "D-E-A-D″ sequence. • AcDDX41 is constitutively expressed in all investigated tissues, with the highest expression levels observed in the blood. • AcDDX41 responds to immune triggers like poly I:C, lipopolysaccharide, and Vibrio harveyi , contributing to immune defense. • AcDDX41 acts against viruses, activates NF-κB signaling with poly I:C. • AcDDX41 influenced cytokine gene expression and played a regulatory role in macrophage M1 polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of circulating concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTn) in the various trimesters of pregnancy in patients with and without hypertension.Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of pregnant and postnatal women aged between 18-35 years with no coexisting diseases. Serum samples were analysed for hs-TnI.Results: A total of 880 women (mean age = 29.1 years [standard deviation = 5.1 years]) were recruited with 129 (14%), 207 (24%), and 416 (47%) patients in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Ninety (10%) participants were recruited in the postnatal period. During pregnancy 28 (3%) patients were classified as having pregnancy-induced hypertension and 10 (1%) as preeclampsia. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I was measurable in 546 (62%) participants with a median of 1 ng/L (range 0 to 783 ng/L). Troponin concentrations were above the 99th percentile in 19 (2%) individuals. Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia had higher concentrations of hs-TnI (median 11 ng/L [interquartile range (IQR) 6 to 22 ng/L] vs 12ng/L [IQR 3 to 98 ng/L] vs 1 ng/L [IQR 0 to 1 ng/L]). In logistic regression modeling hs-cTnI concentration remained an independent predictor of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia in both unadjusted and adjusted models (odds ratio 9.3 [95% confidence interval 5.8 to 16.3] and 11.5 [95% confidence interval 6.3 to 24.1], respectively, per doubling of hs-TnI concentrations).Conclusions: Cardiac troponin measured using a high-sensitivity assay is quantifiable in the majority of young pregnant women with 2% of individuals having concentration above the 99th percentile sex-specific threshold. Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia had higher cardiac troponin concentrations. Cardiac troponin was a strong independent predictor of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia in pregnant and postnatal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burden of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)-related mortality in the United States in recent years is not well characterized.Research Question: What are the trends in IPF-related mortality rates in the United States from 2004 through 2017?Study Design and Methods: We used the Multiple Cause of Death Database available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which contains data from all deceased US residents. IPF-related deaths were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, codes. We examined annual trends in age-adjusted mortality rates stratified by age, sex, race, and state of residence. We also evaluated trends in place of death and underlying cause of death.Results: From 2004 through 2017, the age-adjusted mortality decreased by 4.1% in men (from 75.5 deaths/1,000,000 in 2004 to 72.4 deaths/1,000,000 in 2017) and by 13.4% in women (from 46.3 deaths/1,000,000 in 2004 to 40.1 deaths/1,000,000 in 2017). This overall decrease was driven mainly by a decline in IPF-related mortality in patients younger than 85 years. The decreasing trend also was noted in all races except White men, in whom the rate remained stable. The most common cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis. The percentage of deaths occurring in the inpatient setting and nursing homes decreased, whereas the percentage of deaths occurring at home and hospice increased.Interpretation: From 2004 through 2017, the IPF age-adjusted mortality rates decreased. This may be explained partly by a decline in smoking in the United States, but further research is needed to evaluate other environmental and genetic contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is intended to deliver the incidence of heavy metals in the feathers of shorebirds from two important Central Asian Flyway (CAF) migratory shorebirds wintering sites such as the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PWLS) and Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (PMF), India. Feathers of fifteen species of shorebirds and seven different metals viz., Cu, Cr, Co, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn were analyzed. Zn was highest in Dunlin, Little-ringed Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, and Common sandpiper, Ni showed highest in Little ringed plover, and Common sandpiper, Co, Cr, and Cu were maximum in Little stint, Marsh sandpiper, and Dunlin, respectively. The Hg was higher in Black-winged stilt, Common redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian curlew, Lesser Sand-plover, Temminck's stint, Kentish plover, Spotted redshank, and Wood sandpiper, the Pb found highest in Kentish plover, Painted stork, Spotted redshank, Wood sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, and Lesser sand-plover. The concentration of metals showed significant variations among the species of shorebirds studied (P < 0.001). The mercury negatively correlated with the other metals than the other six metals studied in both the wetlands. The order of metal concentration in the feathers of shorebirds was Zn > Ni > Co > Cr > Cu > Pb > Hg. Nevertheless, the current study revealed that the level of metals in the shorebirds is alarming; since the PWLS and PMF are located along the CAF routes, it needs intensive studies on various pollutions to manage both the resident as well as migratory shorebirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]