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Background: Very low-energy diets (VLEDs) prescribed prior to bariatric surgery have been associated with decreased operative time, technical difficulty, and postoperative morbidity. To date, limited data are available regarding the impact of VLEDs prior to colorectal surgery. We designed this study to determine whether preoperative VLEDs benefit patients with obesity undergoing colorectal surgery. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Individuals undergoing elective colorectal surgery with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 kg/m2 from 2015 to 2022 were included. The exposure of interest was VLEDs for 2–4 weeks immediately prior to surgery. The control group consisted of patients prior to January 2018 who did not receive preoperative VLED. The primary outcome was 30 day postoperative morbidity. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine associations with 30 day postoperative morbidity. Results: Overall, 190 patients were included, 89 patients received VLEDs (median age: 66 years; median BMI: 35.9 kg/m2; 48.3% female) and 101 patients did not receive VLEDs (median age: 68 years; median BMI: 32.1 kg/m2; 44.6% female). One-hundred four (54.7%) patients experienced 30 day postoperative morbidity. Multivariable regression analysis identified three variables associated with postoperative morbidity: VLEDs [odds ratio (OR) 0.22, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.08–0.61, P < 0.01], Charlson comorbidity index (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.52, P = 0.02), and rectal dissections (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.30–5.65, P < 0.01). Conclusions: The use of a preoperative VLED was associated with a significant reduction in postoperative morbidity in patients with obesity prior to colorectal surgery. A high-quality randomized controlled trial is required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the nonlinear dynamic instability of stiffened laminated composite plates is studied in the finite element (FE) framework subjected to uniform in-plane harmonic patch loading. The harmonic load is applied to the two opposite sides of the stiffened plate. The linear and nonlinear time-history response analysis is also studied. The skin and the stiffener are modeled using an eight-node isoparametric degenerated shell element and a three-node curved beam element, respectively. A system of matrices is developed by considering the Green–Langrange strain–displacement relationship. In the linear case, the Bolotin method is used to analyze the dynamic instability region (DIR). The nonlinear instability behavior of the laminated composite stiffened plate is studied by applying the Incremental Harmonic Balance Method (IHB). The Newmark-β method is used to solve the linear and nonlinear time-history response equations to understand the instability behavior of the stiffened plates. The effect of the parameters such as the length of the in-plane loading patch, varying number of stiffeners in x -direction and the position of the patch on the nonlinear vibrations and nonlinear dynamic response is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to isolate endophytic fungi from Ocimum sanctum L. and to evaluate their biological potential, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and enzymatic activities and further characterization of the bioactive compounds. Nine endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves and stem tissues of O. sanctum collected from the botanical garden of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. All isolates were identified based on their microscopic structures and molecular sequencing of the ITS rDNA. Aspergillus clavatonanicus (SS7) and Cochliobolus hawaiiensis (SL3) showed the highest colonization frequencies in the stem and leaves (16 and 14%, respectively). All fungal isolates were tested for extracellular enzymatic activities of amylase, cellulase, and pectinase. Of the nine fungal isolates, 60% tested positive for amylase and cellulase, whereas 50% showed pectinase activity. Using a disc diffusion assay, the extracted secondary metabolites were checked for antibacterial activity against three human pathogenic bacteria. Two isolates, SL2 and SS7, exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against all pathogens, including Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Crude extracts of the six fungal isolates showed positive antioxidant activity. The crude extract of Aspergillus allahabadii (isolate SL2) showed strong antibacterial and antioxidant activities and crystallized during purification. X-ray crystallography confirmed the identity of the crystal as citrinin, which also exhibited strong anticancer activity against Dalton's lymphoma cells. The results of this study suggest that endophytic fungi isolated from the leaf and stem tissues of Ocimum sanctum are potential sources of antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear finite element dynamic instability analysis of laminated composite stiffened plates subjected to in-plane harmonic edge loading is presented in this article along with the linear and nonlinear dynamic response study. The eight-noded isoparametric degenerated shell element and a compatible three-noded curved beam element are used to model the stiffened plates. Bolotin method is applied to analyze the dynamic instability regions in linear case. Incremental Harmonic Balance (IHB) method is applied to solve the nonlinear frequency response equations and Newmark-β method is used to solve the linear and nonlinear time history response equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses the semi-analytical approach to study the combined nonlinear vibration and nonlinear response of a damped porous microplate under nonuniform periodic parametric excitation to understand the complete nonlinear dynamic behavior of the plate. The plate is supported by a Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation and modeled using modified strain gradient and third-order shear deformation theories to simulate the small-scale effects and shear deformation, respectively. Using Hamilton's principle, the governing partial differential equations of motion are derived and solved using Galerkin's method to convert them into ordinary differential equations (ODEs). These ODEs are solved using a combined incremental harmonic balance (IHB) and arc-length continuation approaches to get the nonlinear vibration (frequency–amplitude curves). The same ODEs are solved using the Newmark-β technique to obtain the nonlinear response (time–amplitude curves). The effect of elastic foundation parameters and aspect ratio on mode shape is presented. The effect of parameters such as the porosity coefficient, type of porosity, Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation parameters, different size-dependent theories, plate thickness, size of plate, damping coefficient, different loading profiles, and loading concentrations on the nonlinear vibration and nonlinear response is examined. Also, the dependence of initial displacements on the frequency–amplitude curves with respect to the excitation frequency is demonstrated with the help of time-amplitude curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted during the month of February and March, 2023 at Livestock Research Station, Kamdhenu University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed on growth performance, haemato-biochemical profile and faecal microbiota of Kankrej calves. Eighteen Kankrej calves were randomly divided into three treatment groups, viz. Basal diet (control), Basal diet+5 g animal-1 day-1 of fennel seed powder supplementation and Basal diet+10 g animal-1 day-1 of fennel seed powder supplementation for a period of 60 days. Results revealed that there was numerically higher body weight gains were observed in groups fed 5 and 10 g of fennel seed daily than the control, the difference was statistically not significant (p>0.05) among the treatment groups. The mean faecal counts (log10 cfu g-1 in fresh faeces) of lactobacillus were increased, while coliform were reduced in groups fed 5 and 10 g of fennel seed daily as compared to control group. There was no effect (p>0.05) on the haemoglobin, haematocrit, total erythrocytes count and total leucocytes count among the treatment groups. No difference (p>0.05) was found in serum levels of total proteins, albumin, globulin, urea, triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT and AST concentrations among the treatment groups. It may be concluded that dietary fennel seed powder supplementation in calves improved growth performance and had beneficial effect on faecal microbiota with higher faecal lactobacillus count and lower faecal coliform count. Fennel seed supplementation did not affect haemato-biochemical profile of calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present evidence for strong radiative cooling in a pulsed-power-driven magnetic reconnection experiment. Two aluminum exploding wire arrays, driven by a 20 MA peak current, 300 ns rise time pulse from the Z machine (Sandia National Laboratories), generate strongly driven plasma flows ( M A ≈ 7) with anti-parallel magnetic fields, which form a reconnection layer ( S L ≈ 120) at the mid-plane. The net cooling rate far exceeds the Alfvénic transit rate ( τ cool − 1 / τ A − 1 ≫ 1), leading to strong cooling of the reconnection layer. We determine the advected magnetic field and flow velocity using inductive probes positioned in the inflow to the layer, and inflow ion density and temperature from analysis of visible emission spectroscopy. A sharp decrease in x-ray emission from the reconnection layer, measured using filtered diodes and time-gated x-ray imaging, provides evidence for strong cooling of the reconnection layer after its initial formation. X-ray images also show localized hotspots, regions of strong x-ray emission, with velocities comparable to the expected outflow velocity from the reconnection layer. These hotspots are consistent with plasmoids observed in 3D radiative resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the experiment. X-ray spectroscopy further indicates that the hotspots have a temperature (170 eV) much higher than the bulk layer (≤ 75 eV) and inflow temperatures (about 2 eV) and that these hotspots generate the majority of the high-energy (> 1 keV) emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) a widespread aromatic herb, holds an important place in Indian traditional medicine system. A fenugreek or methi seed commonly used to flavour food contains various alkaloids, different saponins and fixed oil content. The steroidal nature of natural saponins has high market potential as alternative to Dioscore species, the current declining resource of commercial saponins. The current experiment designed to induce and identify somaclone variants of fenugreek resistant to powdery mildew, rich in saponins and fixed oil content with acceptable yield. Methods: Seeds of fenugreek var. Gujarat Methi-2 (GM-2) were used for in vitro regeneration during 2019 laboratory experiment. Explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-D and NAA. The induced calluses were further transferred in to the regenerated semi solid MS medium with various levels of BAP for the development of calliclones. For root induction, shoots were transferred in White's rooting media with different concentrations of Indole Acetic Acid. Result: Our experimental findings shows induction and detection of somaclonal variants, as a possible source of genetic improvement in fenugreek with limited information on genetic diversity. This approach could generate new genotypes useful to pharmaceutical industries with competitive yield and resistance to powdery mildew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report the absolute production cross-section of 6.13, 6.92 and 7.12 MeV γ -rays from the 16O(p,p ′ γ )16O reaction for incident proton energy range of 8-16 MeV. Angular distributions of the three γ -rays have been measured for seven angles at 9 MeV proton energy. A detailed phenomenological optical model potential (OMP) was set up to analyse the cross-section data. The OMP parameters were optimised using elastic, polarization and total reaction data available in the literature for protons and neutrons. Low-lying states of 16O were coupled, the optical potential was deformed using deformation parameters, and several resonances were included in the calculations to account for the nuclear structure effects. The potentials so generated have been used to calculate the differential and total cross sections for both 16O(p,p ′ )16O and 16O(p,p ′ γ )16O reactions. Our calculated cross-sections are in fairly good agreement with our measured data for 6.13, 6.92 and 7.12 MeV γ -rays. However, there still exist discrepancies in reproduction of the finer details of the cross sections. The comparisons of the calculations with the data bring forth the rather complex roles of channel couplings, resonances in the p+16O system and target deformation in the variation of the cross sections with projectile energy. The increased contribution of nuclear structure effects in light mass nuclei, leads to an apparent loss of predictive power of the theoretical calculation, as we approach the low-energy region of less than 10 MeV projectile energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for aggregates for civil engineering construction is high in the market. The broad adoption of fly ash for producing fly ash aggregate is the best sustainable solution to fulfill aggregate demand and utilization of unused fly ash. Crushing is an essential step for producing angular-shaped aggregate. In this paper, an experimental study using a laboratory-scaled impact crusher was carried out to investigate the effect of crushing process parameters (feed block size, crusher speed and outlet sieve size) on the quality (particle size distribution, flakiness-elongation index and mechanical properties) of angular-shaped fly ash aggregates produced after crushing high-strength fly ash blocks. Particle size distribution and flakiness-elongation index were found to be changed with crushing parameters. Higher crushing speed resulted in small-size fly ash aggregates. Better particle size distribution of crushed fly ash aggregate was produced using a 60 mm outlet sieve compared to a 30 mm one. Well-graded fly ash aggregates with good particle shape (less flaky and less elongated) for the subbase layer of the road were obtained after crushing fly ash blocks of one-third feed size in a laboratory-scaled impact crusher at a crushing speed of 527 rpm and an outlet sieve of 60 mm. Mechanical properties (impact, crushing and abrasion values) of the fly ash aggregate were not much affected by crushing process parameters. The findings of this study will help in optimizing the crushing operation of the industrial impact crusher to produce high-quality angular-shaped fly ash aggregate on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for aggregates for civil engineering construction is high in the market. The broad adoption of fly ash for producing fly ash aggregate is the best sustainable solution to fulfill aggregate demand and utilization of unused fly ash. Crushing is an essential step for producing angular-shaped aggregate. In this paper, an experimental study using a laboratory-scaled impact crusher was carried out to investigate the effect of crushing process parameters (feed block size, crusher speed and outlet sieve size) on the quality (particle size distribution, flakiness-elongation index and mechanical properties) of angularshaped fly ash aggregates produced after crushing high-strength fly ash blocks. Particle size distribution and flakiness-elongation index were found to be changed with crushing parameters. Higher crushing speed resulted in small-size fly ash aggregates. Better particle size distribution of crushed fly ash aggregate was produced using a 60 mm outlet sieve compared to a 30 mm one. Well-graded fly ash aggregates with good particle shape (less flaky and less elongated) for the subbase layer of the road were obtained after crushing fly ash blocks of one-third feed size in a laboratory-scaled impact crusher at a crushing speed of 527 rpm and an outlet sieve of 60 mm. Mechanical properties (impact, crushing and abrasion values) of the fly ash aggregate were not much affected by crushing process parameters. The findings of this study will help in optimizing the crushing operation of the industrial impact crusher to produce high-quality angular-shaped fly ash aggregate on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New 2-oxochroman derivatives have been synthesized via a one-pot multicomponent reaction of resorcinol, ethyl cyanoacetate, and aromatic or heteroaromatic aldehydes in water as a green solvent under ultrasonic irradiation. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectra and elemental analyses. Many of them showed significant antimicrobial activity against some bacterial and fungal strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of a study on the resistance of different genotypes/varieties of greengram to the spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata. The study categorized the genotypes/varieties based on larval population and pod damage, and found that four of them were resistant to M. vitrata. The study also measured grain yield and found that one genotype, VSGG 9, had the highest yield. The authors suggest that screening for resistance is an effective way to identify resistant genotypes/varieties. The article provides valuable information on the challenges posed by insect pests to greengram cultivation in India. [Extracted from the article]

The current study was conducted to screen 63 cherry tomato genotypes, including three checks with the goal of identifying the genotypes with superior yield and better quality at Vegetable Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The research concluded that the genotypes varied significantly for all the traits. This variability can be later exploited in the future for trait-specific breeding programs. The genotype PCT-40 demonstrated the highest yield at 2.88 kg. Genotype PCT-13 stood out for bearing the highest number of fruits per plant (215), while PCT-36 exhibited the highest average fruit weight at 20.23 g. PCT-33 displayed the maximum pericarp thickness (5.58 mm). Best best-performing genotypes for fruit diameter and fruit length were PCT-36 (32.91 mm) and PCT-43 (67.77 mm), respectively. In terms of quality traits, noteworthy performances were observed among specific genotypes. PCT-44 emerged as the superior performer for total soluble solids (TSS) with a measurement of 9.7 °Brix. PCT-2 demonstrated excellence in both titrable acidity (1 g/100 mL) and ascorbic acid content (63.82 mg/100 g). PCT-41 showcased the highest lycopene content at 4.59 mg/100 g, while PCT-44 exhibited the highest beta-carotene content at 14.89 mg/100g. Additionally, substantial variations in both fruit color and fruit shape were evident among the genotypes, underscoring the diverse characteristics within the cherry tomato population. Eleven components were found by principal component analysis of genotype characteristics, the first five accounted for 80.81% of the variation. Trait patterns were shown by factor loadings and PCT-40, PCT-13 and PCT-41 genotypes performed well in PC1 and PC2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chili leaf curl is a viral disease that has a negative impact on both the quality and quantity of bell pepper and is transmitted by the vector silverleaf whitefly (Bemesia tabaci). Natural screening alone is insufficient for determining the extent of resistance to specific diseases. As a result, natural and artificial screening has been identified as a more precise method for evaluating germplasm, facilitating the identification of resistant genotypes. To determine resistance to chili leaf curl disease, fifty bell pepper genotypes were subjected to both natural and artificial screening at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2022-23. Two genotypes were found resistant (PAU SM-27, PAU SM-45), seven were moderately resistant (PAU SM-5, PAU SM-16, PAU SM-28, PAU SM-32, PAU SM-43, PAU SM-56 PAU SM-86), eight were susceptible, twenty-five were moderately susceptible, and eight were highly susceptible under natural screening. In contrast, artificial screening identified two moderately resistant (PAU SM-16 and PAU SM-28), twenty-nine susceptible, fourteen moderately susceptible, and five highly susceptible genotypes. Under both natural and artificial screening conditions, the genotypes PAU SM-16 and PAU SM-28 were determined to be moderately resistant. Therefore, these genotypes can be utilized in breeding programs to develop genotypes resistant to chili leaf curl disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give an elementary method for constructing commutative Fréchet algebras with non- unique Fréchet algebra topology. The result is applied to show that the action of any non-algebraic analytic function may fail to be uniquely defined among other useful applications. We give an affirmative answer to a question of Loy (1974) for Fréchet algebras. We also obtain the uniqueness of the Fréchet algebra topology of certain Fréchet algebras with finite dimensional radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of potent antimicrobial agents is a relentless topic of interest in therapeutic field and the medicinal field is always on the lookout for more advanced and effective antimicrobial agents. This research investigates the antimicrobial potential of a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives synthesized through a systematic approach. The compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry, to confirm their structures. We develop into its pharmacological activities, including antibacterial and antifungal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based mungbean SSR markers have a high rate of cross-species transferability and are very useful in mungbean improvement programs. The genus Vigna is pan-tropical, having more than 200 species with many desirable economically important traits. This study aimed to validate the in silico polymorphism of whole-genome-sequence-developed mungbean-specific SSR markers and their transferability among different Vigna species. The present study utilized a set of 200 SSR markers developed from the whole-genome sequence of mungbean and validated them using a diversity panel of 25 accessions that belong to 13 Vigna species. Out of 200 SSR markers, 130 markers (65%) were polymorphic across the various Vigna species, and the number of alleles amplified varied from 7 to 24. The SSR markers showed more than 90 percent transferability across the different Vigna species accessions. Utilizing allelic data, the 25 Vigna accessions were clustered into three groups using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The two integral coalitions explained 50.79 and 15.42% of the total variance. The principal coordinate analysis (PCA) biplot graph and UPGMA-based neighbor-joining clustering diagram showed a similar pattern of Vigna accession distribution. A population structure assessment grouped the cultivated and wild species accessions into two sub-populations based upon a maximum delta K value of 144.79, which drew a sharp peak at K = 2. The estimated marker parameters, such as the polymorphic information content (0.09–0.84), marker index (0.091–3.342), and effective multiplex ratio (1.0–4.0), suggested their adequacy for several genetic studies, such as parental selection, hybrid testing, genetic mapping, and marker-aided breeding programs, for the genetic enhancement of species belonging to the Vigna genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Iron, an essential micronutrient, significantly contributes to growth, immune health, and cognitive development in human health. Inadequate dietary iron intake leads to iron deficiency anemia, affecting nearly 1.6 billion people, especially pregnant women and preschool children. Biofortification and fortification of iron in wheat is an acceptable and cost-effective strategy to alleviate iron deficiencies. This study aims to address iron deficiencies through the strategy of fortification and biofortification of wheat varieties. The study places specific emphasis on the proximate composition and iron/mineral content of different wheat varieties. To achieve these objectives, different spectrometric methods were employed to analyze the wheat samples. METHODS: Proximate and mineral quantification were carried out following standard Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, inductive coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, and prediction was carried out using near-infrared spectra combined with chemometrics. FINDINGS: The samples had moisture content (1.1 - 4.5 percent), protein (18.0 - 22.6 percent), fat (0.3 - 0.6 percent), gluten (6.3 - 10.3 percent), fiber (0.3 - 1.4 percent), alcoholic acidity (0.04 - 0.08 percent), ash (0.9 - 1.7 percent), and carbohydrate (71.1 - 75.2 percent). Iron was determined and compared by spectrophotometric methods. Iron concentration ranged from (0.7 to 6.3 milligrams/100 grams) in ultraviolet-visible analysis, (0.7 to 6.74 milligrams/100 grams) in atomic absorption spectrometry, and (0.81 to 6.8 milligrams/100 grams) in inductive coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. The obtained results were compared with the standard "Food Composition and Food Safety Standard Authority of India" and predicted using nearinfrared spectra combined with chemometrics. CONCLUSION: The work aims to investigate the nutritional content of various wheat varieties, particularly focusing on iron content, which could potentially have implications for improving dietary strategies and addressing nutritional deficiencies. The biofortified varieties (HI-8663 and HI-1605) were found to have high iron content when compared to normal wheat. The acquired results bridge the intricate relationship between plant-based diets, micronutrient deficiencies, providing valuable insights into combating iron deficiencies in public health with the potential achievement of improved nutritional understanding, optimized wheat selection, advanced analytical techniques, education, awareness, and iron deficiency mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the future, intelligent machines will replace or enhance human capabilities in many areas. Artificial intelligence is the intelligence exhibited by machines or software. It is the subfield of computer science. Artificial intelligence is becoming a popular field in computer science as it has enhanced the human life in many areas. Artificial intelligence in the last two decades has greatly improved performance of the manufacturing, service sector and so in the field of education. Study in the field of artificial intelligence has given rise to the rapidly growing technology known as expert system. Application areas of artificial intelligence is heaving a huge impact on various fields of life as expert system is widely used in these days to solve the complex problems in various areas as education, engineering, business, medicine, weather forecasting etc. The areas employing the technology of artificial intelligence have seen an increase in the quality and efficiency. This paper gives an overview of this technology and the scope of artificial intelligence in different areas with special reference to the use of this technology in the field of education along with its meaning, searching techniques, inventions and future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive survey was conducted to find out the distribution of different fruit fly species in the Navsari district of Gujarat from January to December, 2022. Among different fruit fly species, Bactrocera spp., are widely distributed and caused significant damage to horticultural crops. Four fruit fly species viz., Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), zonata (Saunders), B. correcta (Bezzi), and B. cucurbitae (Coquillett), were recorded from six talukas, namely Navsari, Jalalpore, Gandevi, Chikhli, Khergam and Vansda. Among all species, B. dorsalis (53.87%) was the most abundant followed by B. zonata (19.92%) and B. correcta (2.91%). Whereas, B. cucurbitae was the most common in cucurbits with relative abundance of 23.30 per cent. The activity of fruit flies was observed throughout the year. However, the peak fruit fly population was observed between April to July and gradually decreased from September to December. Higher diversity index was recorded in Gandevi, followed by Navsari and Jalalpore. Bactrocera dorsalis was larger than B. zonata and B. correcta. However, female flies were bigger than their male counterparts among all fruit fly species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors for undergoing inguinal hernia repair within a large and ethnically diverse cohort. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case–control study from 2007 to 2020 on 302,532 US individuals from a large, integrated healthcare delivery system with electronic health records, who participated in a survey of determinants of health. Participants without diagnosis or procedure record of an inguinal hernia at enrollment were included. We then assessed whether demographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity), clinical, and behavioral factors (obesity status, alcohol use, cigarette smoking and physical activity) were predictors of undergoing inguinal hernia repair using survival analyses. Risk factors showing statistical significance (P < 0.05) in the univariate models were added to a multivariate model. Results: We identified 7314 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair over the study period, with a higher incidence in men (6.31%) compared to women (0.53%). In a multivariate model, a higher incidence of inguinal hernia repair was associated with non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, older age, male sex (aHR = 13.55 [95% confidence interval 12.70–14.50]), and more vigorous physical activity (aHR = 1.24 [0.045]), and alcohol drinker status (aHR = 1.05 [1.00–1.11]); while African-American (aHR = 0.69 [0.59–0.79]), Hispanic/Latino (aHR = 0.84 [0.75–0.91]), and Asian (aHR = 0.35 [0.31–0.39]) race/ethnicity, obesity (aHR = 0.33 [0.31–0.36]) and overweight (aHR = 0.71 [0.67–0.75]) were associated with a lower incidence. The use of cigarette was significantly associated with a higher incidence of inguinal hernia repair in women (aHR 1.23 [1.09–1.40]), but not in men (aHR 0.96 [0.91–1.02]). Conclusion: Inguinal hernia repair is positively associated with non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, older age, male sex, increased physical activity, alcohol consumption and tobacco use (only in women); while negatively associated with obesity and overweight status. Findings from this large and ethnically diverse study may support future prediction tools to identify patients at high risk of this surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ADITYA tokamak, the plasma discharge is initiated through filament pre-ionization assisted breakdown, using the conventional inductively driven electric field. Following the breakdown of the neutral gas, the discharge is sustained by a successful burnthrough phase. The nature of the breakdown and burnthrough phase is studied by varying the parameters influencing it, such as the toroidal electric field, operating pressure, and lithium wall conditioning. The plasma initiation failures in the breakdown and burnthrough phase are identified, and optimized conditions of operating parameters are derived. The value of the Lloyd parameter E ϕ × B T / B z in the ADITYA for plasma breakdown is found to be in the range of 1200–2100 V/m, which is consistent with other conventional tokamaks. The applied Ohmic input power must overcome the power losses due to fuel ionization and fuel and impurity radiation to achieve the complete burnthrough. The power requirement for the burnthrough phase is obtained experimentally and compared with the estimated values. The required Ohmic input power is found to be ∼60 kW for the successful burnthrough. Furthermore, it has been observed that the vessel wall coating with lithium reduces the impurities influx in the burnthrough phase and, thus, reduces the Ohmic input power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental results of the trace argon impurity puffing in the ohmic plasmas of Aditya-U tokamak performed to study the argon transport behaviour. Argon line emissions in visible and Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) spectral ranges arising from the plasma edge and core respectively are measured simultaneously. During the experiments, space resolved brightness profile of Ar1+ line emissions at 472.69 nm (3p44s 2P3/2–3p44p 2D3/2), 473.59 nm (3p44s 4P5/2–3p44p 4P3/2), 476.49 nm (3p44s 2P1/2–3p44p 2P3/2), 480.60 nm (3p44s 4P5/2–3p44p 4P5/2) are recorded using a high resolution visible spectrometer. Also, a VUV spectrometer has been used to simultaneously observe Ar13+ line emission at 18.79 nm (2s22p 2P3/2–2s2p22P3/2) and Ar14+ line emission at 22.11 nm (2s21S0–2s2p 1P1). The diffusivity and convective velocity of Ar are obtained by comparing the measured radial emissivity profile of Ar1+ emission and the line intensity ratio of Ar13+ and Ar14+ ions, with those simulated using the impurity transport code, STRAHL. Argon diffusivities ~ 12 m2/s and ~ 0.3 m2/s have been observed in the edge (ρ > 0.85) and core region of the Aditya-U, respectively. The diffusivity values both in the edge and core region are found to be higher than the neo-classical values suggesting that the argon impurity transport is mainly anomalous in the Aditya-U tokamak. Also, an inward pinch of ~ 10 m/s mainly driven by Ware pinch is required to match the measured and simulated data. The measured peaked profile of Ar density suggests impurity accumulation in these discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methionine and choline may play role in maintaining health by metabolic optimization in transition Surti buffaloes. Present study has evaluated physiological, hematological, biochemical and thermographic changes on supplementation of rumen protected methionine and choline in transition Surti buffaloes. Methods: 27 Surti buffaloes were divided in 3 groups (n=9) as G-I, G-II and G-III. Apart from basal diet offered to G-I (control), supplementation of RPM in G-II and RPM+RPC in G-III was done from -15 d to 30 d postpartum. Dose per/animal/day of RPM and RPC was 10 g and 50 g respectively. Blood collection, measurement of meteorology, BCS, physiological parameters and infrared thermography were done -15 d, 1st, 3rd and 6th week of calving. Result: RPM and RPC supplementation increased BCS, blood glucose, TP, ALB, T3, T4, Ca, P and Mg levels and decreased BUN, Cr, AST, ALT, GGT, GLDH and cortisol levels during transition period in Surti buffaloes. RPM and RPC supplementation also decreased RT, TT and ET at 1st week postpartum period in Surti buffaloes. Supplementation of RPM +RPC as compared to RPM alone, gave better results in terms of biochemical analytes in transition Surti buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comparative study of the physico-chemical properties of babool (Acacia nilotica) and karaya (Sterculia urens Roxb.) gums. The study found significant differences in properties such as protein and nitrogen content, water holding capacity, and viscosity. However, there were no significant differences in values such as true density, bulk density, angle of repose, refractive index, coefficient of friction, and fat content. The article discusses the moisture content, physico-chemical properties, and functional properties of both gums, highlighting their suitability for various applications in industries such as food, medicine, and therapeutics. [Extracted from the article]

The experiment was conducted to test the bio-efficacy of insecticides against rice yellow stemborer and leaf folder at Main Rice Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Nawagam during kharif 2019 and 2020 crop seasons. The experiment comprising seven treatments was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The lowest per cent dead hearts and white earheads (3.76 and 8.91/hill) due to yellow stemborer were recorded in the plot treated with the chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC (30 g a.i./ha) and it was at par with the cartap hydrochloride 75 SG (375 g a.i./ha) (4.0 and 10.08/hill) and flubendiamide 4 + buprofezin 20 SC (210 g a.i./ha) (4.16 and 9.10/hill). Similar trend was recorded with the infestation of leaf folder. The highest grain and straw yield (51.52 and 77.54 q/ha) was recorded from the plots treated with chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC and it was at par with the cartap hydrochloride 75 SG (50.87 and 76.13 q/ha) and flubendiamide 4 + buprofezin 20 SC (49.28 and 74.92 q/ha). The results revealed that the chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, cartap hydrochloride 75 SG, and flubendiamide 4 + buprofezin 20 SC were found superior in management of yellow stemborer and leaf folder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given increasing opioid overdose mortality rates in the USA over the past 20 years, accelerating the implementation of prevention interventions found to be effective is critical. The Helping End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Prevention Cooperative (HPC) is a consortium of research projects funded to implement and test interventions designed to prevent the onset or escalation of opioid misuse among youth and young adults. The HPC offers a unique opportunity to synthesize and share lessons learned from participating research projects' varied implementation experiences, which can facilitate quicker integration of effective prevention interventions into practice. This protocol paper describes our hybrid approach to collecting and analyzing information about the implementation experiences of nine of the HPC research projects while they maintain their focus on assessing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prevention interventions. To better understand implementation within this context, we will address five research questions: (1) What were the context and approach for implementing the prevention interventions, and how was the overall implementation experience? (2) How representative of the target population are the participants who were enrolled and retained in the research projects' effectiveness trials? (3) For what purposes and how were stakeholders engaged by the research projects? (4) What are the adaptable components of the prevention interventions? And finally, (5) how might implementation of the prevention interventions vary for non-trial implementation? This work will result in intervention-specific and general practical dissemination resources that can help potential adopters and deliverers of opioid misuse prevention make adoption decisions and prepare for successful implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Increasing equality and diversity, widening access and maintaining a work–life balance are important aims for the future surgical workforce. The executive committee of the Rouleaux Club (the trainee association of vascular surgeons in the UK) sought to ensure that it represented its members fairly by establishing the diversity of the vascular surgery training workforce. METHODS: The Rouleaux Club committee devised an anonymous online survey covering an extensive topic range (including sex and gender identity, ethnicity, less than full-time working and children). The link to the questionnaire was distributed via email to all members, via social media and via pre-existing mailing lists. The survey was open for four weeks (26 September to 23 October 2020). RESULTS: A total of 117 vascular trainees participated in our survey (55% of 213 known with a national training number). There were 48 female (41%) and 69 male respondents (59%). This ratio is better than the national average in surgical specialties (35% female trainees) but lower than that in medical specialties (57%). One respondent's gender identity did not align with their biological sex. Almost two-thirds (60%) of the respondents were White. The ethnic backgrounds of the remaining trainees were Asian (24%), Arab (5%), Black (4%) and mixed (5%). Two trainees preferred not to state their ethnicity. The majority of the respondents (n=101, 86%) were heterosexual/straight, three (3%) identified as bisexual and two (2%) as gay. Eleven participants (9%) indicated that they preferred not to answer this question. Ten trainees (10/101, 10%) stated that they had worked less than full time at some point during their training. Three of these continue to work less than full time. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first of its kind to assess the equality and diversity of the vascular trainee workforce; improvements can only be made if baseline data are known. The Rouleaux Club confirms that it represents its members fairly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental results of the trace argon impurity puffing in the ohmic plasmas of Aditya-U tokamak performed to study the argon transport behaviour. Argon line emissions in visible and Vacuum Ultra Violet (VUV) spectral ranges arising from the plasma edge and core respectively are measured simultaneously. During the experiments, space resolved brightness profile of Ar1+ line emissions at 472.69 nm (3p44s 2P3/2–3p44p 2D3/2), 473.59 nm (3p44s 4P5/2–3p44p 4P3/2), 476.49 nm (3p44s 2P1/2–3p44p 2P3/2), 480.60 nm (3p44s 4P5/2–3p44p 4P5/2) are recorded using a high resolution visible spectrometer. Also, a VUV spectrometer has been used to simultaneously observe Ar13+ line emission at 18.79 nm (2s22p 2P3/2–2s2p22P3/2) and Ar14+ line emission at 22.11 nm (2s21S0–2s2p 1P1). The diffusivity and convective velocity of Ar are obtained by comparing the measured radial emissivity profile of Ar1+ emission and the line intensity ratio of Ar13+ and Ar14+ ions, with those simulated using the impurity transport code, STRAHL. Argon diffusivities ~ 12 m2/s and ~ 0.3 m2/s have been observed in the edge (ρ > 0.85) and core region of the Aditya-U, respectively. The diffusivity values both in the edge and core region are found to be higher than the neo-classical values suggesting that the argon impurity transport is mainly anomalous in the Aditya-U tokamak. Also, an inward pinch of ~ 10 m/s mainly driven by Ware pinch is required to match the measured and simulated data. The measured peaked profile of Ar density suggests impurity accumulation in these discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Children with single-sided deafness often receive inconsistent clinical recommendations because there is currently no clear best practice in paediatric single-sided deafness. This systematic review of the literature aimed to compare commonly used treatments and attempted to support the use of a particular treatment modality. Method: This was a comprehensive literature review from 1 January 2000 to 22 February 2022; the study compared the outcomes of bone conduction devices and cochlear implantation in paediatric patients with single-sided deafness. Results: Fifteen studies consisting of 202 patients were examined. Variables including speech reception in quiet and noise, as well as quality of life measures were compared. Both cochlear implantation and bone-anchored hearing aids demonstrated benefits in sound perception. Quality of life measures improved with both modalities. Conclusion: Although both bone-anchored hearing aids and cochlear implantation appear to provide significant improvements, additional research with more direct comparisons is needed to provide more decisive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was conducted during summer 2021 and 2022 at Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat to evaluate the effects of different morphological characters of okra genotypes against insect pests infestation. The genotype, AOL 20-03 recorded the minimum population of jassid, whitefly, mite as well as fruit damage due to shoot and fruit borer, with the maximum trichome density on leaf and fruit with higher thickness of the fruit wall. Further, genotype AOL 16-01 recorded the maximum insect-pest infestation with the minimum trichome density on leaf with lesser thickness of the fruit wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation was carried out to evaluate five different hosts viz., mango, sapota, banana, guava, and papaya for the mass rearing of Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) at the Department of Entomology, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India during 2021-22. The results showed that the mean life cycle was slightly longer, when B. zonata was reared on sapota as compared to guava, banana, papaya and mango. Also, the duration of the life cycle was lower on papaya due to the mortality of late instar maggots because of the quick depletion of papaya fruits. All host fruits were sufficient enough to support the maggots till the final instars, except papaya due to its poor keeping quality. Bananas and sapota are the best hosts for mass production of B. zonata throughout the year as compared to other hosts due to their availability throughout the year and the short life cycle of B. zonata. Whereas, papaya is the least preferred host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because proton head and neck (HN) treatments are sensitive to anatomical changes, plan adaptation (re-plan) during the treatment course is needed for a significant portion of patients. We aim to predict re-plan at plan review stage for HN proton therapy with a neural network (NN) model trained with patients' dosimetric and clinical features. The model can serve as a valuable tool for planners to assess the probability of needing to revise the current plan. Mean beam dose heterogeneity index (BHI), defined as the ratio of the maximum beam dose to the prescription dose, plan robustness features (clinical target volume (CTV), V100 changes, and V100 > 95% passing rates in 21 robust evaluation scenarios), as well as clinical features (e.g., age, tumor site, and surgery/chemotherapy status) were gathered from 171 patients treated at our proton center in 2020, with a median age of 64 and stages from I-IVc across 13 HN sites. Statistical analyses of dosimetric parameters and clinical features were conducted between re-plan and no-replan groups. A NN was trained and tested using these features. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of the prediction model. A sensitivity analysis was done to determine feature importance. Mean BHI in the re-plan group was significantly higher than the no-replan group (p <.01). Tumor site (p <.01), chemotherapy status (p <.01), and surgery status (p <.01) were significantly correlated to re-plan. The model had sensitivities/specificities of 75.0%/77.4%, respectively, and an area under the ROC curve of.855. There are several dosimetric and clinical features that correlate to re-plans, and NNs trained with these features can be used to predict HN re-plans, which can be used to reduce re-plan rate by improving plan quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is the important cereal and is highest produced grain in the world after corn and rice. It is the second most important crop in India next to rice. Like several crops, wheat is also prone to diseases. Among various diseases, wheat stem rust is the main biotic constraint to wheat production and it is important to understand and analyze the disease in terms of pathological responses. Out of six cultivars tested, three wheat varieties showed a resistance response, while the other three varieties showed a susceptible response against stem rust of wheat. Disease severity and area under disease progressive curve (AUDPC) data of three susceptible varieties revealed that the highest AUDPC value (1785.93) was recorded in A-9-30-1 which showed the most susceptible response followed by Agra Local (1762.93) and Kharachia (1645.90). There was no development of stem rust symptoms on three varieties viz., GDW 1255, GW 496 and GW 451. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Development of potent antimicrobial agents is a relentless topic of interest in therapeutic field and the medicinal field is always on the lookout for more advanced and effective antimicrobial agents. The idea to develop therapeutically effective agents by means of green chemistry is very enticing research area due to the rising threat of global pollution and constant human health hazards. To attain this goal, one-pot multicomponent synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives from diethyl malonate, aromatic aldehydes, malono-nitrile, and hydrazine hydrate in the presence of morpholine using water as a green solvent under ultrasonic conditions is reported herein. The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed through IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectra and elemental analyses, and their antibacterial and antifungal activity was evaluated against a wide range of bacteria and fungi. The proposed green synthesis is believed to be more effective in terms of reaction time, yield, and environmental friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has named tobacco one of the greatest public health threats of the twenty-first century. Tobacco smoking is an escalating public health problem especially in a developing country like India. Material and methods: This is a Case control study was carried out in Department of Biochemistry on 159 cases(smokers) 159 controls(non-smokers) patients those fulfilling inclusion / exclusion criteria and attended the outpatient and in patients Department of Medicine. A Comparative case-control study with 159 chronic smokers and 159 non-smokers is undertaken to study the changes in lipid profile and fibrinogen levels in chronic smokers. Results: The mean serum triglycerides levels in non-smokers and smokers were 130.68±19.54 and 300.93±63.51 respectively. There is a significant raise in triglycerides in smokers with p value <0.001 The mean LDL-C and VLDL-C values in non-smokers were 83.74±14.73 mg/dl and 26.03±4.04 mg/dl respectively. But these values were significantly higher in smokers (LDL-C=149.74±17.68 mg/dl, VLDL-C =61.72±13.32 mg/dl) as compared to those of non-smokers. The mean HDL-C in non-smokers was 52.00±6.26 and 43.94±2.28 in smokers respectively (p value <0.001) This finding is similar to that of Rosenson 67 who reported that there is fall in HDL-C level by 3-5 mg/dl in smokers. Bai-Mei-He 68 Cigarette smoking is associated with reduced HDL cholesterol levels. Conclusion: Our study showed an increase in the lipid parameters and fibrinogen levels with significant p values when compared between smokers and non smokers. Also showed significant rise in the lipid parameters and fibrinogen levels in heavy smokers compared with moderate smokers and light smokers, with the exception of HDL cholesterol which is decreased in all smokers compared to controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexpression of casein kinase-2 (CK2) has been implicated in several carcinomas, mainly lung, prostate and acute myeloid leukaemia. The smaller nucleotide pocket compared to related kinases provides a great opportunity to discover newer ATP-competitive CK2 inhibitors. In this study, we have employed an integrated structure- and fragment-based design strategy to design 2-amino-6-methyl-pyrimidine benzoic acids as ATP-competitive CK2 inhibitors. A statistically significant four features-based E-pharmacophore (ARRR) model was used to screen 780,092 molecules. Further, the retrieved hits were considered for molecular docking study to identify essential binding interactions. At the same time, fragment-based virtual screening was performed using a dataset of 1,542,397 fragments. The identified hits and fragments were used as structure templates to rationalize the design of 2-amino-6-methyl-pyrimidine benzoic acids as newer CK2 inhibitors. Finally, the binding interactions of the designed hits were identified using an induced fit docking (IFD) study, and their stability was estimated by a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study of 100 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a patient who presented with scrotal swelling followed by non-healing and discharging scrotal sinuses, following local trauma and was initially suspected to have an infected scrotal hematoma. An evaluation revealed it to be scrotal tuberculosis. He also complained of upper abdominal pain and on transabdominal ultrasonography was detected to have a mass in the head of the pancreas. Evaluation of the pancreatic mass revealed it to be pancreatic tuberculosis. Both lesions responded well to anti-tubercular therapy. This is an unusual case of two rare sites of extrapulmonary tuberculosis presenting simultaneously in the same individual. Care needs to be exercised while evaluating any non-healing ulcers or sinuses and mass lesions in countries endemic for tuberculosis as this disease can be a great masquerader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concerns have been raised about the utility of self-report assessments in predicting future suicide attempts. Clinicians in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) often are required to assess suicidal risk. The Death Implicit Association Test (IAT) is an alternative to self-report assessment of suicidal risk that may have utility in ED settings. Methods: A total of 1679 adolescents recruited from 13 pediatric emergency rooms in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network were assessed using a self-report survey of risk and protective factors for a suicide attempt, and the IAT, and then followed up 3 months later to determine if an attempt had occurred. The accuracy of prediction was compared between self-reports and the IAT using the area under the curve (AUC) with respect to receiver operator characteristics. Results: A few self-report variables, namely, current and past suicide ideation, past suicidal behavior, total negative life events, and school or social connectedness, predicted an attempt at 3 months with an AUC of 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84–0.90] in the entire sample, and AUC = 0.91, (95% CI 0.85–0.95) for those who presented without reported suicidal ideation. The IAT did not add significantly to the predictive power of selected self-report variables. The IAT alone was modestly predictive of 3-month attempts in the overall sample ((AUC = 0.59, 95% CI 0.52–0.65) and was a better predictor in patients who were non-suicidal at baseline (AUC = 0.67, 95% CI 0.55–0.79). Conclusions: In pediatric EDs, a small set of self-reported items predicted suicide attempts within 3 months more accurately than did the IAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global demand for power generation has had an immense impact on thermal power plants that has caused a problem with fly ash disposal. Unless utilized suitably, fly ash deposits turn valuable land into dumping grounds that pose a risk to the environment and human health. In this study, the effectiveness of Class C fly ash (CFA) incorporated in a flexible pavement was investigated, which was based on laboratory and field investigations along with an environmental impact assessment. The laboratory experimentation included durability and repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests and in the field, falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests were conducted. The test sections with a fly ash layer and a control section were constructed in the field to assess the viability of construction and service life. For the fly ash layer, the back-calculated modulus values were 4.3 and 6.5 times greater than the base and subbase of the control section, respectively. The fly ash section exhibited a service life ratio (SLR) of 1.72 compared with the control section under standard loading conditions. The energy consumed, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced, and capital cost incurred in the construction of the fly ash section were reduced by 67%, 59%, and 25.7%, respectively, compared with the control section. The bulk application of fly ash was advantageous and sustainable due to better structural performance and a significantly reduced environmental impact compared with conventional base and subbase layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]