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Introduction: The incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the young population has begun to rise. There is not enough data regarding the characteristics of young patients with ACS. Aim: To evaluate risk factors, clinical and angiographic profile of young patients with ACS. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from December 2017 to December 2020 at SSWH, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, Kolkata, India among 100 patients. Patients with ACS and aged =45 years were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with and without obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Clinical parameters and coronary angiography data were collected and analysed. The p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 37.42±5.18 years, and 82 (82%) participants were male. Smoking was the most common risk factor observed in 71 (71%) of the study population, and the majority of these patients had obstructive CAD. The young population suffered more with a high incidence of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), with 37 (56.06%) had Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction (AWMI). When analysed angiographically, Obstructive CAD was most commonly found 82 (82%); among those with obstructive CAD, Single-vessel diseases were predominant in 47 (47%) individuals. The percentage of stable angina was significantly higher among patients with obstructive CAD (53.6%) compared to non obstructive CAD (11.1%), (p=0.001). Conclusion: Two leading risk factors, smoking, and tobacco, were significantly associated with the onset of young ACS. The prevalence of single-vessel disease was higher in young patients with ACS compared to double and triple-vessel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the deficiency of vitamin B12 in the patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy and its correlation. Methods: The participants for the present study were recruited from patients with T2DM seen in the South Eastern Railway Central Hospital, Kolkata. The study was conducted for two years. Results: Patients with diabetic neuropathy were older as majority had age between 61-70 years (55.40%) compared to those without neuropathy (majority had age between 51-60 years; 39.80%). The sex distribution between group was significantly different as revealed by the highly significant p value of <0.001. 9.60% of the patients with diabetes neuropathy had vitamin B 12 deficiency compared to control group (1.20%). Diabetes neuropathy patients had mean Vitamin B12 (471.33±168.992), diabetes with no neuropathy patients (479.11±208.121). Subjects in control group had higher Vitamin B12 level compared to remaining two groups. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent, especially in patients with diabetic neuropathy. In this study an inverse correlation was found between diabetic neuropathy and the plasma level of vitamin B12. The association between diabetic neuropathy and Vitamin B12 deficiency is of great importance, since diabetic or prediabetic patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy may have neuropathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiovascular disorders have long been considered as one of the leading causes of mortality in India, which when presented with concurrent Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) infection becomes even more fatal. Evidence suggests that COVID-19 affects the cardiovascular system by causing exuberant cytokinaemia, which results in endothelial inflammation and microvascular thrombosis, leading to multiorgan failure. Aim: To analyse the outcome of the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients presenting with cardiac angina during the second wave of COVID-19 in India. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective data analysis of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients hospitalised with angina was conducted between April 2021 to June 2021 at Bardhhaman Medical College and Hospital located at Bardhdhaman district of West Bengal, India. A total of 1235 patients underwent all regular biochemical, haematological and cardiac investigations after undergoing test for COVID-19 test. Data was retrospectively collected. The outcome of these patients was analysed. Estimation of mean, standard deviation, percentage, p-value (from Pearson's correlation) was performed to establish the aim of the study. Results: Seventy six out of 1235 patients tested positive for asymptomatic COVID-19. The mean age of this study population was 55.075±10.95 years, of which were 55 male and 21 female. Hypertension was the most prevalent co-morbidity followed by diabetes, 73 (96%) presented with chest pain. A total of 47(62%) of these 76 patients had ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Eleven (14.4%) underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) whereas 36 (47.3%) underwent fibrinolytic therapy with tenecteplase, followed by secondary PCI in 27 (75%) of them. Rest 29 (38%) were medically managed for unstable angina. Mortality rate was as low as 6.5%. Age and comorbidity were the contributing factors for STEMI among asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: The results indicate that age and comorbidity are the factors, which lead to death or increases the life risk among patients with asymptomatic COVID-19. In this study, we have established that for the current patient population STEMI and age are negatively corelated. Medical management with thrombolytic agent became a lot more accepted in this scenario. PCI still remains the gold standard to treat myocardial infarction. It is recommended that there should be an ICMR guided protocol for the management of such cases with the concurrent COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We assessed whether women were more affected by the dramatic drop in hospital admissions for ACS during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This evaluation is an Institutional Review Board (IRB) exempt retrospective, observational study performed inBurdwan Medical College, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. We performed chart review of 1000 patients who presented to Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, West Bengal, India Catheterization lab for elective and emergency catheterization for non ACS and ACS [NSTEMI, Unstable angina (UA), STEMI] during a 4-week period from February 26 to March 10 and from March 25 to April 8 and compared with the equivalent weeks in the last year. Results: Out of 1000, only 450 patients underwent cardiac catheterization for acute coronary syndrome. Remaining patients underwent cardiac catheterization for causes other than acute coronary syndrome, such as atrial septal defect closure, pulmonary arterial hypertension to assess hemodynamics in the heart chambers, cardiac myxoma, treatment of valvular heart disease (e.g., transcatheter mitral valve repair), assessment of the congenital heart diseases like cor triatriatum. Conclusion: In conclusion, the pandemic period reduced the gap between men and women in ACS: the extraordinary reduction in admission rates observed during the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have strongly affected women as men, with similar rates of reduction of hospitalized STEMI and NSTEMI and a trend toward greater reduction in UA admission among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate ST elevation myocardial infarction of inferior wall and right ventricle in rheumatic mitral stenosis due to thrombus at right coronary sinus. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of cardiology, Burdwan medical college and hospital, West Bengal, India. Acute MI was diagnosed by the presence of at least 2 of the following criteria: electrocardiographic changes, significant rises in myocardial bound creatine kinase fraction, and typical chest pain. Inferior wall MI was diagnosed by electrocardiography, echocardiography and coronary angiography. In patients with non-ST elevation MI, echocardiography and coronary angiographic findings were used for determination of the diagnosis of inferior wall MI. There was total 100 patients included in the present study. Results: Echocardiography was performed within 1.7±1.4 days (range 0-5) after acute MI. There were no differences in age, sex and other frequencies of underlying diseases among the 3 groups. There were no differences in the modality of intervention, severity of coronary artery disease. Fifty-five (73.34%) patients had the culprit lesion in the right coronary artery and 20 (26.6%) patients had the culprit lesion in the left circumflex artery. Patients whose culprit lesion in the left circumflex artery had an increased frequency of more severe MR than those with the culprit lesion in the right coronary artery, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.420). Conclusion: In the acute phase of inferior wall MI, MR was associated with LV systolic dysfunction with tethering. Therefore, it can be suggested that reduced closing force as a consequence of LV systolic dysfunction in the presence of leaflet tethering would play a more pivotal role in the development of MR in the acute phase of inferior MI, whereas increased tethering forces through a combination of annular dilation and geometric remodeling of the LV would be more important contributor in the chronic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to first examine whether intellectual capital (IC) information is considered in firm valuation. Next, to examine two issues: financial analysts'' investment recommendations when faced with different combinations of performance levels (i.e. above or below industry average) of financial and IC measures, and the role of financial and IC measures with different performance levels and holding periods (i.e. short-term vs long-term) for the investment on analysts'' recommendations. Design/methodology/approach - The first part of the paper used secondary (both archival and survey) data. The second part was an experiment. Findings - The findings in the first part show that, after controlling for the effect of financial performances on firm value, measures of IC are still significant explanatory variables (of firm value). The second part shows that the financial and IC measures affect financial analysts'' investment recommendations differently depending on the measures'' levels of performance and the time horizon for holding the investments. Research limitations/implications - The limitations of the paper are as follows: the use of secondary data from a single country limits its generalizability; and the results of the experiment are parameterized by the research design such as the amount of information provided to the financial analysts. Extending the analyses to other settings and using time-series data represent future research opportunities. Originality/value - The research makes three contributions to the IC literature. First, it extends the studies on the relevance of IC in capital market research by broadening its scope to include measures of IC other than R&D intensity. Next, it provides evidence of the informativeness of IC measures in market valuation of firms and analysts'' recommendations, thus lending credence to the arguments of reports and researchers for more external communication of IC information. Finally, this study is one of the first to examine a broader scope of IC in the capital market context and the use of IC by sophisticated market participants. With policy-makers and standard-setting bodies considering proposals to enhance information on IC in financial reports, it is important to broaden the scope of IC metrics and understand their role in enhancing firm value to develop a framework for reporting IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rugged and specific method based on tandem solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of anti-infectives in raw sewage and wastewater plant effluents was developed. Analyte recoveries from spiked effluents ranged from 68 to 104%. Two specific selected reaction monitoring transitions and their peak area ratios were used to avoid false positives and confirm the presence of the targeted substances. Detection limits allowed low nanogram per litre detection (0.3–22 ng L−1). The method was successfully applied to real samples from the Montréal wastewater treatment plant. All the studied anti-infectives were found in the wastewater samples in concentrations ranging from 39 to 276 ng L−1. Mean flows of anti-infectives were estimated from effluent concentrations and it was found that large amounts (>118 g day−1 up to 830 g day−1) are discharged in the receiving waters of the St Lawrence River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of the phytoecdysteroids family is rapidly growing. Recent data shows over 250 ecdysteroid analogs have been identified so far in plants. It is theorized that there are over 1000 possible structures, which might occur in nature, but it is a fact that ecdysteroids usually occur in plants as a complex cocktail of structurally different compounds. Among these compounds, the major component is usually the common ecdysteroid-like 20-hydroxyecdysone. Ecdysteroids are polar steroids, almost sugar-like in their solubility properties. Extraction and purification of ecdysteroids (polyhydroxy steroids) is complicated by their polar nature and poor crystallizing properties. These properties make them difficult to separate from other polar plant constituents. Besides, this plant extract is very often processed by multistep procedures to isolate the major and minor ecdysteroids from the new or existing sources. A simplified scheme consisting of a few extraction steps for the purification of ecdysteroid from plants is in great demand. A quantitative approach through high-performance liquid chromatography has been initiated for developing an easy method for the extraction of ecdysteroids from Ipomoea hederacea (kaladana) seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recent research has identified attitudes towards ambiguity and risk to be important determinants of choice behavior, no prior work jointly assessed the roles of both attitudes. We conducted a laboratory experiment using a real decision scenario and conducted exploratory analyses of the relationship between attitudes towards risk and ambiguity and the decision taken by the subjects. The results support the prediction that attitudes towards both risk and ambiguity affect choice behavior. Our exploratory analyses indicate interesting avenues for future research, including an examination of the decision process itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of nonlinearity-induced virtual gain in parabolic pulse (PP) formation by dispersion varying fibers and utilizing this gain over that of dispersion. As chalcogenides show high values of nonlinear coefficient, a dispersion decreasing fiber, named as nonlinearly tapered chalcogenide fiber (NLTCF), is designed here by optimizing different combinations of chalcogenide materials and core radius profiles such that efficient PP can be generated at considerably shorter optimum lengths with respect to the corresponding constant dispersion fiber. With suitable manoeuvring of the nonlinearity-induced virtual gain, a fiber combination consisting of a dispersion increasing fiber and the NLTCF shows enough efficiency to reduce the optimum length significantly. Although the virtual gain due to dispersion dominates over that due to nonlinearity in silica fibers, the situation is completely reversed in the case of specially designed highly nonlinear fibers. When compared to silica-based fibers, these types of fibers perform remarkably better in PP formation at shorter values of optimum fiber length with a higher amount percentage reduction of length making the higher order dispersive terms ineffective as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal dispersion decreasing fibers (NDDFs) employed for parabolic pulse (PP) generation are limited by the presence of inherent third-order dispersion (TOD), which leads to distortion in pulse shape from its parabolic nature. This necessitates a compensation method for TOD for such fibers. Dispersion-compensating fiber (DCF) amplifiers with relatively smaller values of dispersion can also be largely affected by this harmful effect of TOD when used for the same purpose. As a solution, a time-reversal system (TRS) based on a time-conjugating technique is employed with the aim of minimizing the deleterious effects of TOD. A detailed study on the estimation of the critical length where the time lens system needs to be implemented within the fiber link is crucial for reshaping the pulse into parabolic form. An NDDF is designed and optimized to possess a relatively higher value of TOD and a cascaded fiber optic system comprising the first stage of the proposed NDDF, the TRS and the second stage of the NDDF is suggested here to obtain linearly chirped PP at the output end even in the presence of a high value of TOD. The proposed scheme has also proved to be efficient for better pulse reshaping through DCFs possessing a high amount of TOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes experimental data on a polycrystalline nickel subjected to compressive loads induced in a split Hopkinson pressure bar test. A perpendicular bias magnetic field with respect to the loading direction is used to orient the domains and a pick-up coil measures the magnetic response of the sample during loading. Utilizing this experimental configuration, this study investigated the coupled effects of the magnetic and mechanical fields on domain wall motion in a polycrystalline magnetostrictive material (Ni) during the high-rate elastic loading. The experimental measurements reveal that the magnitude of the stress-induced magnetization change is dependent upon bias magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports on the significance of reducing channel doping and optimizing the spacer width to enhance analog/RF metrics of junctionless (JL) MOSFETs for operation at low current levels (∼30 μA μm−1). It is shown that optimally designed junctionless devices achieve 40–50% higher cut-off frequency (fT) and maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX), along with a 15% enhancement in intrinsic voltage gain (AVO) as compared to conventional junctionless (JL) transistors designed with a channel doping (Nd) of 1019 cm−3. The parasitic fringing capacitances are significantly reduced in optimized JL devices. The gain-bandwidth trade-off can be considerably improved around the analog ‘sweet spot’ as performance metrics are enhanced by 70–90%. Apart from the above benefits, the optimal JL design results in reduced sensitivity to variation in device parameters. Results will be useful for design and optimization of low power junctionless MOSFETs for analog/RF applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]