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Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.), a Himalayan bioresource, has garnered considerable scientific and industrial interest due to the presence of numerous bioactive metabolites and extensive biological activities. However, O. sinensis demand and supply are extremely dependent on natural populations, raising conservation concerns. In the preceding years, numerous biotechnological interventions have been adopted for the artificial cultivation of O. sinensis to develop alternative and sustainable methods for reducing the stress on its natural populations; however, the cultivation of O. sinensis is limited. Literature exploration revealed that H. sinensis and other associated fungi have been utilized to cope with the increased O. sinensis demand. Additionally, O. sinensis culture-based products are being extensively used in various therapeutics and dietary supplements. Thus, the present article offers comprehensive insights into the current literature, research gaps, and future prospects on cultivation techniques with enriched bioactive metabolites for developing potential quality products of O. sinensis. In addition, a catalog of commercially available O. sinensis mycelial products is provided. Besides, we are highlighting the nutritional potential of O. sinensis with emphasis on patent search, available market products, and their labeling for end users. During the product assessment, a non-uniformity of the product labeling is observed as far as the bioactive components are concerned. Thus, it emerged as a major challenge and responsibility for manufacturers to produce high-quality products to meet the expectations of consumers. Keeping in view the demand, the nutraceutical industry must implement policies, regulations, and proper tactics of promotion and production for delivering apt nutrition and health benefits. [Display omitted] • Heavy metals accumulation in wild OS encourages cultured market products. • Non-invasive production methods can be employed for metabolite enhancement. • Majority of market products are devoid of active ingredients. • Bioactive metabolites, bioavailability, and authenticity must be prime requisites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 28‑year‑old male arrived in our Ophthalmology Out patient department (OPD) with a chief complaint of bilateral sudden loss of vision in both his eyes of three days’ duration and a history of consumption of 90 mL of alcohol five days prior to the onset of symptoms. An ophthalmic examination revealed no perception of light in both eyes. Both pupils were dilated and sluggishly reacting to light. His fundus examination showed bilateral, hyperemic, and edematous discs. The veins around the disc were mildly dilated and tortuous. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain showed symmetrical hyperintensities and hemorrhages in bilateral gangliocapsular regions and signal abnormalities areas in bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, posterior part of cerebellar vermis, bilateral cingulate gyrus showing diffusion restriction which was suggestive of toxic encephalopathy and toxic neuropathy. Fundus fluorescein angiography was also done for the patient, which showed optic disc staining in the late phase suggestive of optic neuropathy. His vision improved to 20/200 in both eyes with treatment after two months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Duplication of the penis or Diphallia is a rare abnormality of the urogenital tract present once in every 5–6 million live births with varied presentations and associated systemic anomalies. Case presentation: We present the anesthetic management of a neonate presenting with duplication of penis, urethra, and anorectal malformation. Conclusions: With this rare case, we aim to shed light on the various perioperative anesthetic concerns of such neonates presenting with surgical emergencies and their successful management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sjogren syndrome is a slowly progressive autoimmune disease with lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, peri-epithelial and extra-epithelial tissues. In light of better diagnostic modalities and improved treatment options, patients with Sjogren syndrome are now commonly encountered by anaesthetist for various surgeries. Here, we would like to describe an anaesthetic management of a parturient with bad obstetric history who was diagnosed with Sjogren syndrome and was planned for caesarean delivery. This article also reviewed anaesthetic problems faced due to inherent disease pathology and concurrent alterations in treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work investigates the extraction of solute from the contaminated micro-droplet suspended in non-Newtonain viscoplastic fluids (Herschel Bulkley). The fluid flow dynamics and interfacial mass transfer phenomena near a contaminated micro-droplet have been investigated prior to the estimation of extraction efficiency. The stagnant-cap model is employed to depict the droplet that has been contaminated. Dispersed droplet systems are commonly observed in diverse facets of our everyday encounters. These systems are found in various industries, encompassing flotation, energy storage, biofuels, printing, airlift reactors, and foam manufacture, among others. The study has focused on a linear thermodynamic equilibrium relationship that exists at the interface between two fluid phases. The momentum and species transport have been solved for a range of dimensionless parameters. These parameters include θ c a p , which varies between 120∘ and 150∘, the Reynolds number (1 ≤ R e ≤ 100), the Bingham number (0 ≤ B n ≤ 5), the dispersed to continuous fluid viscosity ratio (0.5 ≤ μ r a t i o ≤ 4), and the shear-thinning index (0.4 ≤ n ≤ 1). The results have been conveyed in the form of streamlines, contours, and by delineating the regions of deformation and non-deformation. The size of the zone that undergoes yielding tends to diminish as a result of the impact of the yield stress, while the presence of inertia promotes the enlargement of the zone that remains unyielded. The extraction efficiency and Sherwood number were estimated to be a function of θ c a p , Bingham number, Reynolds number, and shear-thinning index. • Surfactant contaminations are responsible for the dampening of internal motion, thereby making the droplet surface rigid. • Shear-thinning behaviour and fluid-yield stress promote the extension efficiency of the solute. • The static polar caps-like structure has been observed in the contaminated droplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recreational nitrous oxide (N2O) use is widespread, and complications associated with its use are increasingly common. We sought to identify risk factors, clinical features and outcomes in individuals presenting with effects of chronic N2O abuse to develop an approach to clinical assessment and management. A systemic literature review was completed with searches conducted across EMBASE, MEDLINE, PSYCINFO and Cochrane databases. Our search strategy identified 612 studies, 105 met inclusion criteria, and 10 were added via hand search. Subjects from 24 case series and 91 case reports were typically in their 20s, using over 100 bulbs daily for several months. Neurological presentations, including sensory change, gait disturbance or weakness, were characteristic. Serum Vitamin B12 was normal or raised in 133 out of 243 case series subjects and 37 out of 84 reports. Serum homocysteine and methylmalonic acid were usually raised. Macrocytosis and anaemia were not commonly seen. MRI findings were abnormal with dorsal column change where specified, typically involving the cervical spine. Nerve conduction studies mostly reported a sensorimotor polyneuropathy. B12 replacement was the treatment of choice and partial recovery was most reported. This review highlights the dose‐dependent nature of chronic N2O toxicity and recognises functional B12 deficiency as the cause. As B12 is often normal, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid are important biomarkers of disease. An approach to diagnosis is offered but requires validation in prospective studies. Research exploring B12 and methionine therapy is required to refine management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airway foreign bodies are common in children, and usually present as emergencies. However, they may sometimes present late, due to a number of reasons. Chronic lodgement of foreign bodies in trachea is rarer than that in bronchial tree. Flexible and rigid bronchoscopies have revolutionized the management of foreign bodies at large. Here, we report a successful bronchoscopic management of an unusual foreign body residing in the trachea of a patient for 15 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The objective of the study was to compare duration of analgesia of fentanyl versus butorphanol as adjuvants to bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia. Material and Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded study conducted in 80 patients of 18–75 years age group and American Society of Anesthesiologists Grades I and II undergoing joint replacement surgeries. A total of 40 patients in each Group A and Group B received 0.5% bupivacaine 3 ml with 25 mcg fentanyl and 25 mcg butorphanol respectively, in a total volume of 3.5 ml made with saline. Duration of analgesia, number of rescue analgesia, sensory, and motor block characteristics were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was done using t test and Chi-square test with SPSS 19.0 software. Results: Mean duration of analgesia was found more in Group B in comparison to Group A (P < 0.05). A number of doses of analgesic required postoperatively were more in Group A compared to Group B (P < 0.001). Time required for onset of sensory and motor block was comparable in both the groups. However, two segment regression of sensory block was slower in Group B compared to Group A (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that addition of butorphanol 25 μg as an adjuvant to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine provided prolonged duration of analgesia compared to 25 μg fentanyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Containers have replaced virtual machines because of their superior performance and lower resource use. The largest problems they face arise when security issues, such as establishing an appropriate level of isolation, are neglected. Namespaces and groups are tools offered by the Linux kernel, present limitations in its implementation. The solution to mitigate them, on the other hand, involves the use of a heterogeneous and complex set of additional measures: control MAC access, privilege segregation using capabilities and call filtering to the core with scomp. These mechanisms, however, are complex and require detailed knowledge of the technology on which it is based. The suppliers of platform as a service (PaaS) have the advantage the economy of scale to meet these challenges. In this work we deal with security in different contexts, and try to determine if running containers in operation in an infrastructure of reduced size can maintain an acceptable level of security. We've done this by looking at container technology and excellent security procedures from a guidebook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined application of geotechnical and geophysical methods provides an effective means of subsurface exploration. The insufficient correlation between geotechnical and geophysical methods prevents the conversion of geophysical data to geotechnical information and vice versa. In the present study, a correlation has been proposed between the geotechnical and geoelectrical properties of two soil deposits in India. Eleven boreholes along with a Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and different laboratory tests have been conducted to obtain the different engineering and physical properties of the soil layers. Twelve Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) profiles have also been conducted to obtain the resistivity profile of the subsurface layers. The variation of the resistivity of the soil layers is analyzed and explained. Results show a strong linear correlation between resistivity and SPT blow counts (N′) of the soil layer for one site while a weak correlation for another site. A strong linear correlation between transverse resistivity (T) and N′ values has been observed for both sites. A comparison with the other existing correlation between resistivity/transverse resistivity and N′-values has also been presented. The range of resistivity values and engineering properties of soil layers are mentioned. The study is useful for the development of similar correlations and provides an approximate estimation of different geotechnical parameters for infrastructure design. • The study investigates the site-specific correlation between geotechnical and geoelectrical properties of two sites in India. • The subsurface exploration of the site has been conducted through SPT N and resistivity measurement. • Correlation between N and resistivity has been developed and presented. • Correlation between N and transverse resistivity has been developed and presented. • A comparison between the previous and present study has been made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gummy smile can occur due to: a short upper lip, excessive wear of the teeth due to grinding, vertical maxillary excess or altered passive eruption. Altered passive eruption results in a large portion of the anatomic crown remains covered by the gingiva resulting in a squarish tooth shape. Aim & Objectives: The case report aims to demonstrate the use of perioplastic surgical modalities like lip repositioning along with gingivectomy to treat gummy smile due to altered passive eruption. Inference: These perioplastic procedures lead to predictable outcomes in the treatment of altered passive eruption/gummy smile. Clinical Significance: A careful preoperative planning is required for the postsurgical stability of gingival margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthocyanins are antioxidant compounds which reduces lipid peroxidation and deleterious effects of ROS in vitro. The anthocyanins of bilberry can help reduce the risk of unwanted inflammation of gums. Thus, study was done to compare clinical soft tissue parameters around periodontal pockets treated with & without bilberry extracts as an adjunct to scaling & root planing. Materials & Method: 10 patients having bilateral localized periodontal pockets of 4-6 mm were chosen. Each site was randomly allocated to either group 1(test)or group 2(control), where in group 1, scaling & root planing was done while in group 2, bilberry extracts in situ gel was delivered as an adjunct to SRP .Following parameters were recorded at baseline & after six weeks : PD,RAL, PI & GBI in both the groups. These parameters were subjected to statistical analysis to evaluate the effect of bilberry extracts, paired t test was done. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in PD & gain in RAL at sites treated with bilberry extracts in situ gel delivered as adjunct to SRP. Conclusion: The treatment was effective in the treated patients & it was concluded that bilberry is a valuable drug clinically applicable in improving the periodontal health condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils regulate the environmental impacts of trace elements, but direct measurements of reaction mechanisms in these complex, multi‐component systems can be challenging. The objective of this work was to develop approaches for assessing effects of co‐localized geochemical matrix elements on the accumulation and chemical speciation of arsenate applied to a soil matrix. Synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence microprobe (µ‐XRF) images collected across 100 µm × 100 µm and 10 µm × 10 µm regions of a naturally weathered soil sand‐grain coating before and after treatment with As(V) solution showed strong positive partial correlations (r′ = 0.77 and 0.64, respectively) between accumulated As and soil Fe, with weaker partial correlations (r′ > 0.1) between As and Ca, and As and Zn in the larger image. Spatial and non‐spatial regression models revealed a dominant contribution of Fe and minor contributions of Ca and Ti in predicting accumulated As, depending on the size of the sample area analyzed. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis of an area of the sand grain showed a significant correlation (r = 0.51) between Fe and Al, so effects of Fe versus Al (hydr)oxides on accumulated As could not be separated. Fitting results from 25 As K‐edge microscale X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (µ‐XANES) spectra collected across a separate 10 µm × 10 µm region showed ∼60% variation in proportions of Fe(III) and Al(III)‐bound As(V) standards, and fits to µ‐XANES spectra collected across the 100 µm × 100 µm region were more variable. Consistent with insights from studies on model systems, the results obtained here indicate a dominance of Fe and possibly Al (hydr)oxides in controlling As(V) accumulation within microsites of the soil matrix analyzed, but the analyses inferred minor augmentation from co‐localized Ti, Ca and possibly Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast, reliable and reproducible UHPLC-IMS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of eight nucleosides (adenine, adenosine, cordycepin, guanosine, inosine, thymidine, thymine and uracil) in natural Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Present study was conducted to determine the marker nucleoside contents in low quantities using the developed method. Methanol and water in combination were used as extraction solvents due to hydrophilic nature of nucleosides. These nucleosides showed good linearity (r2>0.99), LOD (0.28-0.97ng/mL), LOQ (0.79-3.20 ng/mL), recoveries (88.3 and 103.2%), reproducibility, stability and intra- and inter-day precision (<2.87%). Method was validated using three samples of natural Ophiocordyceps collected from different geographical region. PCA analysis depicted that adenine, adenosine, guanine, guanosine, uracil and uridine were major components contributing to total variance. Highest nucleosides content (5124 µg/g) was detected in STD-1. The presence of cordycepin, an important marker compound was identified for first time using ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMMS) technique. Metabolomics approach resulted 18, 12 and 9 metabolites in three samples (STD-1, STD-II and STD-III, respectively) using METLIN database which opened the new avenues to identify and explore more novel biomarkers in Ophiocordyceps. We anticipate that these methods may be applied to verify/certification of Ophiocordyceps containing marker nucleosides for their dietary intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Shear thinning behavior facilitates the augmentation in the extraction efficiency, thereby leading to the process intensification in chemical & environmental engineering. • The thermodynamic equilibrium of the dispersed droplet system reaches faster in the shear-thinning environment. • The present findings on the interfacial mass transfer agree well with prior experimental and numerical results. [Display omitted] The physio-chemical hydrodynamics and the solute transport around a translating dispersed drop are often multicomponent and multiphase systems. When such a dispersed droplet system is out of the thermodynamic equilibrium, steep momentum and concentration gradients are developed around the interface leading to rapid flow and solute transport. In broader perspectives, the dispersed droplet system has direct/indirect relevance to addressing the technological challenges in the 21 st century, namely, energy storage, hydrogen production, C O 2 capture, biofuel production, chemical analysis, diagnosis extraction, and drug delivery. Environmental engineering challenges include flotation and separation technology, inkjet printing, coatings, and paints. The most challenging issue in such applications is enhancing the transport rate from the droplet to the bulk of the fluid. In this work, we have proposed a novel method to foster the transport of solute from the drop to the bulk fluid by altering the viscosity of the bulk fluid. We have exploited the shear-thinning behavior of the fluid in bulk to reduce the viscous losses and resistances to the mass transfer. A linear thermodynamic equilibrium relation at the fluid-fluid interface is considered. The scant prior experimental results were observed to agree with the present findings. Therefore, the extensive numerical findings are presented for the ranges of pertinent parameters such as Reynolds number, (1 ≤ R e ≤ 75) Peclet number, (10 ≤ P e ≤ 10 3), internal to external fluid diffusivity ratio, (0.5 ≤ d r a t i o ≤ 4), dispersed to continuous fluid viscosity ratio, (0.25 ≤ μ r a t i o ≤ 4) and power-law index, (0.4 ≤ n ≤ 1). The drag coefficient exhibits an increase of 180 % with the increase in the μ r a t i o as well as with the n at the maximum convective regime. The Sherwood number exhibits a positive dependence on the Reynolds number, Peclet number, and the diffusivity ratio. On the contrary, the viscosity ratio lowers the transport of species from the droplet to the fluid due to the reduced internal circulations inside the droplet. Shear-thinning fluid behavior offers a higher extraction efficiency than the Newtonian fluid (upto 30 % increase in at low P e). Finally, simple predictive correlative equations have been proposed for the drag coefficient and the average Sherwood number over the conditions considered here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) is an important measure of soil fertility, owing to the large number of plant essential nutrients which are taken up by plants as cations. However, current methods for evaluating soil CEC are arduous and require analysis in a laboratory. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry is a proximal sensing technique which provides elemental data in-situ, in seconds. This study examined the potential of using PXRF for soil CEC prediction by evaluating 450 soil samples from California and Nebraska, USA representing a wide variety of soil textures found in active farm fields. Multiple linear regression was applied to a modeling dataset to establish the relationship between lab-determined CEC and PXRF elemental data. A second model also included auxiliary input data (soil clay, pH, organic matter) as potential modeling variables. Both models were shown to perform similarly, with the auxiliary input model providing slightly higher R 2 (0.926 vs. 0.908) and slightly lower RMSEs (2.236 vs. 2.498) compared to pure elemental data models. Independent validation datasets were compelling for both pure elemental models (0.904) and auxiliary input models (0.953). Summarily, PXRF was able to predict soil CEC accurately, thereby minimizing the need for lab-based CEC data for many applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil reaction (pH) is one of the most commonly measured soil characteristics. Traditionally, soil pH measurements have been made either colorimetrically or electrometrically. These approaches, while accurate, are destructive in nature and require sample modification to form soil pastes or extracts. The use of portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry for pH determination was investigated using elemental data as a proxy for soil pH. Two datasets representing a wide variety of soil pH (4.17-8.70) were first evaluated via PXRF followed by standard laboratory techniques. Datasets were divided into modeling and validation datasets. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to develop models associating both pure elemental data from PXRF as well as PXRF elemental data with auxiliary input data (clay content, sand content, organic matter content). Multiple linear regression with auxiliary input data provided the best predictive model (R²: 0.825; RMSE: 0.541); multiple linear regression with pure PXRF elemental data provided a quality model (R²: 0.772; RMSE: 0.685); simple linear regression was ineffective as producing significant model predictions. Validation via correlation analysis confirmed the significance of the developed models. Summarily, PXRF shows considerable promise in providing rapid pH predictions in soils with reasonable accuracy, especially for unusual circumstances where non-destructive sampling is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Short-term reactivity of arsenate [As(V)] in different soil microsites was assessed. • Arsenate binding did not solely depend on Fe and Al (hydr)oxides. • Solids containing Mn, Zn, Ti, and Cu can potentially enhance As(V) retention. • Variations in As(V) retention across soils could not be ascribed to pedogenic effects. • Microscale heterogeneity affects As retention regardless of the pedogenic environment. Determining reaction mechanisms that control the mobility of nutrients and toxic elements in soil matrices is confounded by complex assemblages of minerals, non-crystalline solids, organic matter, and biota. Our objective was to infer the chemical elements and solids that contribute to As binding in matrices of soil samples from different pedogenic environments at the micrometer spatial scale. Arsenic was reacted with and imaged in thin weathering coatings on eight quartz sand grains separated from soils of different drainage classes to vary contents of Fe and Al (hydr)oxides, organic carbon (OC), and other elements. The grains were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence microprobe (µ-XRF) imaging and microscale X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES) spectroscopy before and after treatment with 0.1 mM As(V) solution. Partial correlation analyses and regression models developed from multi-element µ-XRF signals collected across 100 × 100 µm2 areas of sand-grain coatings inferred augmenting effects of Fe, Zn, Ti, Mn, or Cu on As retention. Significant partial correlations (r′ > 0.11) between Fe and Al from time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis of most samples suggested that Fe and Al (hydr)oxides were partially co-localized at the microscale. Linear combination fitting (LCF) results for As K-edge μ-XANES spectra collected across grain coatings typically included >80% of As(V) adsorbed on goethite, along with varying proportions of standards of As(V) adsorbed on boehmite, As(V) or As(III) bound to Fe(III)-treated peat, and dimethylarsinic acid. Complementary fits for Fe K-edge μ-XANES spectra included ≥50% of the Fe(III)-treated peat standard for all samples, along with goethite. Our collective results inferred a dominance of Fe and possibly Al (hydr)oxides in controlling As immobilization, with variable contributions from Zn, Ti, Cu, or Mn, both across the coating of a single sand grain and between grains from soils developed under different pedogenic environments. Overall, these results highlight the extreme heterogeneity of soils on the microscale and have implications on soil management for mitigating the adverse environmental impacts of As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Melt fraction strongly depends on Rayleigh number and aspect ratio. • High Stefan number and shorter confinement leads to maximum thermal energy storage. • Slow kinetics of melting is observed at low Rayleigh number and high Stefan number. [Display omitted] Thermal energy storage in the phase change materials (PCMs) around a confined heated cylindrical heat source has been investigated numerically. This work aims to explore three major objectives namely; evolution of melting front around the cylindrical heat source, quantification of overall rate of heat transfer and identifying the factors to maximize the energy storage. The enthalpy-porosity formulation is utilized to model melting of PCMs. The flow and energy equations with relevant boundary conditions have been solved using finite element method for range of parameters as Rayleigh number (10 2 ≤ R a ≤ 10 6) , Prandtl number (10 2 ≤ P r ≤ 10 3) , Stefan number (0.01 ≤ S t e ≤ 0.5) and aspect ratio (0.1 ≤ A R ≤ 0.5). The evolution of melting front and melt fraction, streamlines, isotherms, Nusselt number and thermal energy storage are reported as a function of Rayleigh number (R a), Prandtl number (P r), Stefan number (S t e), and aspect ratio (A R). Stefan number and the aspect ratio have shown to be a positive influence on the amount of thermal energy absorbed during the melting of PCMs. At low Rayleigh and Stefan number, melting kinetics is shown to be sluggish. All else being equal, the energy storage exhibits three distinct regimes depending upon the Fourier number namely, the lag phase, the exponential phase and stationary phase. For process design calculations, the gross engineering parameters like Nusselt number and steady-state melt fraction are often required, and therefore a predictive correlation for the value of the average Nusselt number is proposed to facilitate the estimation of average Nusselt number at intermediate values of dimensionless numbers for a given practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation communication technologies, the demand for Internet-based applications and intelligent digital services is increasing, leading to a significant rise in cyber-attacks such as Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS). AI-based DoS detection systems promise adequate identification accuracy with lower false alarms, significantly associated with the data quality used to train the model. Several works have been proposed earlier to select optimum feature subsets for better model generalization and faster learning. However, there is a lack of investigation in the existing literature to identify a common optimum feature set for three main AI methods: machine learning, deep learning, and unsupervised learning. The current works are compromised either with the variation of the feature selection (FS) method or limited to one type of AI model for performance evaluation. Therefore, in this study, we extensively investigated and evaluated the performance of 15 individual FS methods from three major categories: filter-based, wrapper-based, and embedded, and one ensemble feature selection (EnFS) technique. Furthermore, the individual feature subset's quality is evaluated using supervised and unsupervised learning methods for extracting a common best-performing feature subset. According to our experiment, the EnFS method outperforms individual FS and provides a universal best feature set for all kinds of AI models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voluntary computing initiatives aim to engage with the public and educate them about scientific and technological advancements. The goal and the science underpinning these initiatives may be learned a great deal by a volunteer who is involved with any of these volunteer computing programs. It is necessary to maintain a trust factor in order for volunteers in computing projects to not feel threatened by the usage of their sensitive data within the projects' scope. Using the findings of this study, we have elevated volunteer cloud computing to a new level by enabling more effective and secure communication between clients, allowing them to freely consume and provide resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Ingestion of sharp foreign bodies is uncommon and often underreported. It can present with esophageal perforation which is a life-threatening complication requiring prompt diagnosis and management. Case Presentation. We report a case of accidental ingestion of a razor blade in a chronic alcoholic who presented with hematemesis after an esophageal perforation, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by radiology. Conclusion. Early recognition of esophageal perforation is crucial for early intervention. Proper history taking and radiological investigations are a key to reaching a diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Design and synthesis of Coumarin-triazole and Isatin-triazole hybrids. • Biological evaluation of synthesized hybrids against AChE by using Ellman's method. • Kinetic studies of potent compounds revealed the type of inhibition. • Determine the molecular properties of the potent compounds. • Binding modes of potent compounds within the active site of AChE enzyme using molecular modelling studies. • The stability studies of potent compound within the active pocket of the enzyme by using molecular dynamic simulations with Desmond software. Novel series of coumarin-triazole and isatin-triazole hybrids were rationally designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated to check their inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase enzyme by using in vitro Ellman's method. Most of the hybrid compounds showed significant inhibition against the enzyme. Biological assay revealed that compound B-1 (among 4-hydroxycoumarin-triazole series) and compound AS-8 (from isatin-triazole series) possessed potent inhibitory activity against the AChE with the IC 50 values of 110 ± 1.11 nM and 155 ± 1.65 nM, respectively. These active compounds (B-1 and AS-8) exhibited mixed mode of enzyme's inhibition which was confirmed through enzyme kinetic studies. Molecular docking studies were performed to understand the binding modes of these potent compounds within the active pocket of AChE enzyme by using Discovery studio. Furthermore, to predict the stability of the most prominent compound B-1 within the catalytic cavity of AChE, molecular dynamic simulations were performed for 5 ns and was found that ligand and protein complex is stable within their dynamic system. Therefore, these hybrids could be taken as effective lead candidates for further designing, development and optimization of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithologic discontinuity identification can be arduous and erroneous in instances where distinct morphological differences between parent materials are absent. Often, investigators must wait for laboratory data to help differentiate parent materials via physicochemical properties. This study used visible near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR DRs) and portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry for establishing parent material differentia more quickly. Ten pedons containing 135 samples were scanned in situ in the united states, Italy, and Hungary, morphologically described by trained pedologists, then sampled for standard laboratory characterization. Compared with laboratory data and/or morphologically described discontinuities, PXRF data were associated with large, abrupt changes in standardized PXRF differences of elements (DEs), noted in data plots as DE maxima and minima-areas of likely discontinuity. standardized VisNIR DRs calculated differences (CDs) in reflectance spectra (350-2500 nm) were also associated with discontinuities based on CD reflectance maxima and minima. Notably within both types of data plots, lithologic discontinuities were not well captured by the proximal sensors when CD or DE values fell in the data plot midsection (i.e., not at maxima or minima within the data plots). Across the pedons evaluated, PXRF was more useful for detecting discontinuities than VisNIR DRs. summarily, PXRF showed good alignment with morphologically established discontinuities in eight out of 10 pedons, while VisNIR DRs showed good alignment in only five pedons. Both PXRF and VisNIR DRs provided useful information for lithologic discontinuity recognition, especially in soils with nondescript morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) both play critical roles in soil health and ecosystem dynamics. The former is involved in soil structural formation, atmospheric carbon sequestration, and improved soil tilth while the latter is a plant essential element which is often deficient in agronomic production systems. Traditionally, both TC and TN were limited to laboratory determination using techniques such as wet or dry combustion, ion sensing electrodes, loss on ignition, or via chemical assays. These techniques, while generally accurate, require extensive soil sampling, laboratory analysis, and are inherently destructive to the sample analyzed. An approach which could quantify both TC and TN in situ would result in considerable time and cost savings and provide the analyst with the ability to capture more data for a given field of interest. Portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) and visible near infrared (VisNIR) diffuse reflectance spectrometry were used to scan 675 soil samples in a laboratory with diverse physicochemical properties from three states of the USA, then compared via random forest (RF) regression and penalized spline regression (PSR) to TC and TN data obtained through traditional laboratory analysis (Dumas method high temperature combustion). Results clearly demonstrated that merging the PXRF and VisNIR datasets improved the power of predictive models by improving the residual prediction deviation (RPD) and R 2 statistics. Using synthesized (PXRF + VisNIR) models, independent validation data produced quality predictive statistics for soil TC (RPD = 2.90; R 2 = 0.88 via PSR) and TN (RPD = 2.99; R 2 = 0.89 via RF). Both proximal sensing techniques were also used to independently predict TC and TN, with results less robust than the synthesized approach. The general order of optimal prediction can be summarized as PXRF + VisNIR > VisNIR > PXRF. In conclusion, the use of synthesized proximal data from PXRF and VisNIR was shown to be a solid, stable predictor of soil TC and TN with widespread agronomic and environmental science applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt affected soils are pervasive in semiarid and arid regions worldwide. Traditionally, soil salinity has been measured via electrical conductivity (EC). This study evaluated the feasibility of using three different methods for prediction of surface soil salinity, namely visible near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR DRS), portable x-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry, and remote sensing (RS). Two saline playas were evaluated in West Texas, USA featuring 91 and 74 soils collected via random stratified sampling at 0–5 cm and representing a wide variety of soil salinity from high levels inside the playa bottoms to lower levels on the annulus and surrounding uplands. Samples were subjected to PXRF and VisNIR DRS scanning under laboratory conditions, and compared to Landsat spectral data and traditional laboratory analyses of salinity (e.g., 1:5 v/v suspensions). Results showed a broad range of EC (1:5) (0.028 to 43.41 dS m − 1 ). Derived from PXRF, both Cl and S were significantly and positively correlated with log 10 transformed EC (1:5). VisNIR partial least squares prediction models produced strong residual prediction deviations (RPDs) of 2.49–2.91. Validation statistics of Savitzky–Golay support vector regression outperformed all other VisNIR models tested with an RPD of 3.1. The model using Landsat band reflectance alone produced lowest prediction accuracy (RPD = 1.27). While the performance of each technique produced variable success independently, combining the three techniques produced the highest predictability (RPD = 3.35). Given that, laboratory determination of EC (1:5) is time consuming and all three types of data (VisNIR DRS, PXRF, and RS) are being quick and easy to collect, their synthesis in predictive models offers excellent potential for providing soil salinity measurements comparable to standard, laboratory derived data. Furthermore, remotely sensed data can potentially be used to map topsoil salinity across large areas with suitable calibrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]