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Background: Online grocery shopping is a growing source of food purchases in many countries. We investigated the effect of nudging consumers towards purchases of lower sodium products using a web browser extension. Methods: This trial was conducted among individuals with hypertension who shopped for their groceries online in Australia. From July 2021 to June 2023, participants were randomised to use the SaltSwitch Online Grocery Shopping web browser extension or continue their usual grocery shopping for 12 weeks. The SaltSwitch extension modified a retailer's online shopping interface to suggest similar but lower sodium alternative products to those initially selected. The primary outcome was the difference in mean sodium density (mg sodium per 1000 kcal of energy) of packaged food purchases between the intervention and control groups. Results: We randomised 185 participants of average age 56.0 (SD 11.0) years. Most were women (64%), White (89%), had BMI > 25 kg/m2 (91%), and were taking anti-hypertensive medication (83%). Demographic and medical characteristics were similar across the randomised groups. 182 (98%) completed the trial. Over the 12-week intervention, the sodium density of groceries purchased by the intervention group compared to the control group was 204 mg/1000 kcal lower (95%CI, -352 to -56) (P = 0.01). The reduction in sodium density of purchases was apparent in weeks 1–4 and sustained through the end of the trial. 86% of participants in the intervention group made at least one switch to a lower sodium product. There were no detectable effects on blood pressure, spot urine sodium concentration, or other secondary outcomes across the 12-week study period. Conclusions: Online shopping platforms provide a novel opportunity to support purchases of lower sodium foods. While the reductions in sodium density of purchases were moderate in size, population health benefits could nonetheless be large if they were sustained over time and at scale, with large and growing numbers of online grocery shoppers and a high prevalence of elevated blood pressure amongst adults. Trial registration: ACTRN12621000642886. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the past 25 years, startup ecosystem has grown significantly. Prior research tended to focus more on quantitative analysis and very limited work is available specifically in campus startup ecosystem. This study aims to map the intellectual structure of research on campus startup ecosystem through comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Design/methodology/approach: A selection of 1157 studies from the Scopus Database, published between 1998 and 2023, is examined. The analysis incorporates various analysis such as citation, bibliographic coupling, cluster, keyword, and three-field analysis using VOS viewer and Biblioshiny software package. Findings: The study shows a notable growth in publication during the study period, resulting in findings of the impactful authors and journals, current and evolving themes and avenues for future research. The study identifies the paper "Organizational Endowments and the Performance of University Start-ups" as having highest citation and recognizes the "Entrepreneurship and Regional Development" as the most influential journal in the field. Additionally, the investigation reveals ten thematic clusters which are grouped based on study and similarity resulting in five major themes/clusters. The article concludes by suggesting potential directions for future research in the field of campus startup ecosystems, addressing identified gaps and highlighting opportunities for further growth and exploration. Future research: These findings highlight the importance of further exploration into campus startup ecosystems, especially in understanding how academic institutions can strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives through policy support, enhanced mentorship, and industry collaboration. Key areas for future research include interdisciplinary collaboration and global comparisons of campus startup ecosystems. Addressing these gaps will provide practical insights for academia, policymakers, and practitioners in fostering campus startup ecosystem. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the comprehensive bibliometric analyses focusing specifically on the campus startup ecosystem, an area that has received relatively limited attention in prior research. While past studies often focused on broader entrepreneurial ecosystems or startup landscapes, this study delves into the unique dynamics of campus startups, emphasizing the pivotal role academic institutions play in fostering entrepreneurial ventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective Chronic breathlessness is a frequent diagnostic challenge in primary care. Our aim is to evaluate the feasibility of a stepwise breathlessness diagnostic algorithm for primary care. Methods This mixed-methods study included: (1) a general practitioner (GP) nominal group technique study; (2) focus groups on GPs' views on the algorithm; and (3) analysis of algorithm alignment against patterns of diagnostic referrals and diagnoses of breathlessness presentations (2014--19) from the MedicineInsight primary care electronic health record (EHR) dataset of 1,961,264 patients (405 general practice sites). Results All the tests in our algorithm, except for echocardiography, were ranked in the top 10 tests used by most GPs for patients presenting with chronic breathlessness. Themes from the focus group include similarity with current practice and test accessibility. Analysis of EHR diagnostic referrals revealed that all tests in the algorithm are regularly utilised and covered the major tests needed for breathlessness diagnoses recorded. Discussion The results of the three studies support the acceptability and feasibility of the clinical algorithm in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma disruption prediction using the data drive technique is popular for fusion experiments. Auto-encoder LSTM neural network is implemented on ADITYA/ADITYA-U data to predict the plasma disruption. There is a generic way of processing time series from a dataset that facilitates efficient generalization on new time-series data using a transfer learning technique. This technique enables task-specific parameter improvement with residual correction on univariate time series. This provides an on-the-fly architecture to expand the training model for new data without retraining the whole model. It also provides layer updates based on linearization learning for new input data This architecture enables us to update real-time saved models with new features of data that provide performance improvement during prediction. The demo is tested on ADITYA/ADITYA-U data which save time and run time updates to improve the accuracy of data. The improved results are derived by following the trend while predicting the result after adding new features via this architecture to the existing saved model. This technique allows automated on-the-fly training architecture at time-to-time basis or explicit need of retraining with new data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of commercial bank–year observations covering 104 countries over the 1999–2017 period, we consider five contemporary de jure and de facto indicators of financial liberalization to provide a comparative assessment of their impact on bank cost efficiency. With the sole exception of one de jure index, all other financial liberalization measures consistently indicate an improvement in cost efficiency. We also compare the effects before and after the 2007 global financial crisis, which instigated a policy shift from deregulation to prudential re–regulation. We find that prudential re–regulation did not detrimentally affect bank cost efficiency. Our results for the main financial liberalization measures hold irrespective of countries' stage of economic development and prove robust to re–estimations based on a single-country efficiency frontier for the US, alternative model specifications and methodologies that account for endogeneity and cross section dependence. The key policy implication from our findings is that prudential policies aimed at fostering stability and less bank risk–taking, can be pursued without any risks of hindering financial intermediation and lowering bank cost efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral Topiramate therapy is associated with systemic adverse effects including paresthesia,abdominal pain, and fluctuations in plasma levels. The purpose of this research was to develop an intranasal in situ gel based system comprising Topiramate polymeric nanoparticles and evaluate its potential both in vitro and in vivo. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation method were added into the in situ gelling system of Poloxamer 407 and HPMC K4M. Selected formulation (TG5) was evaluated for physicochemical properties, nasal permeation and in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats. PLGAnanoparticles (O1) exhibited low particle size (~ 144.4 nm), good polydispersity index (0.202), negative zeta potential (-12.7 mV), and adequate entrapment efficiency (64.7%). Developed in situ gel showed ideal pH (6.5), good gelling time (35 s), gelling temperature(37℃), suitable viscosity (1335 cP)and drug content of 96.2%. In vitro drug release conformedto Higuchi release kinetics, exhibiting a biphasic pattern of initial burst release and sustained release for 24 h. Oral administration of the drug to Sprague–Dawley rats (G3) showed higher plasma Cmax(504 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) when compared to nasal delivery of in situ gel (G4) or solution (G5). Additionally, AUC0-α of G3 (8786.82 ng/ml*h) was considerably higher than othergroups. Brain uptake data indicates a higher drug level with G4 (112.47 ng /ml) at 12 h when compared to G3. Histopathological examination of groups; G1 (intranasal saline), G2(intranasal placebo), G3, G4, and G5 did not show any lesions of pathological significance. Overall, the experimental results observed were promising and substantiated the potential of developed in situ gel for intranasal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor-quality, substandard and falsified, medicines pose a significant public health threat, particularly in low-middle-income countries. A retrospective study was performed on Kenya's Pharmacovigilance Electronic Reporting System (2014–2021) to characterize medicine quality-related complaints and identify associations using disproportionality analysis. A total of 2767 individual case safety reports were identified, categorized into medicines with quality defects (52.1%), suspected therapeutic failure (41.6%), and suspected adverse drug reactions (6.3%). Predominantly reported were antineoplastic agents (28.6%), antivirals (11.7%), and antibacterial agents (10.8%) potentially linked to non-adherence to good manufacturing practices, inappropriate usage and supply chain degradation. Notably, analgesics (8.2%), and medical devices (3.5%) notified had quality defects, predominantly from government health facilities (60.0%). Antineoplastic agents (20.2%) and antivirals (3.7%) were frequently reported from suspected therapeutic failures and suspected adverse drug reactions, respectively, across both private for-profit facilities (26.5%) and not-for-profit facilities (5.4%). Underreporting occurred in unlicensed health facilities (8.1%), due to unawareness and reporting challenges. Pharmacists (46.1%), and pharmaceutical technicians (11.7%) predominantly reported quality defects, while medical doctors (28.0%) reported suspected therapeutic failures. Orally administered generic medicines (76.9%) were commonly reported, with tablets (5.8%) identified as potential sources of suspected adverse drug reactions, while quality defects were notified from oral solutions, suspensions, and syrups (7.0%) and medical devices (3.9%). The COVID-19 pandemic correlated with reduced reporting possibly due to prioritization of health surveillance. This study provides valuable evidence to supporting the use of medicine quality-related complaints for proactive, targeted regulatory control of high-risk medicines on the market. This approach can be strengthened by employing standardized terminology to prioritize monitoring of commonly reported suspected poor-quality medicines for risk-based sampling and testing within the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the impact of breathlessness on quality of life, health care use, productivity loss, and economic costs in Australia. Study design: National internet‐based survey of Australian adults drawn from a web‐based survey panel (National Breathlessness Survey). Participants, setting: Australian adults (18 years or older), nationally representative by age group, gender, state of residence, and postcode‐based socio‐economic status (Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage quintile), 13–30 October 2019. Main outcome measures: Quality of life assessed with the EQ‐5D 5‐level version (EQ‐5D‐5L) and visual analogue scale (EQ‐VAS), health care use, productivity loss, and societal cost, each by severity of breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council [mMRC] dyspnoea scale; mMRC grade 1: mild breathlessness; mMRC grades 2–4: clinically important breathlessness). Results: Of 10 072 adults who completed the survey, mild breathlessness was reported by 3044 respondents (30.2%), and clinically important breathlessness by 961 (9.5%). The mean EQ‐VAS score was 74.8 points (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.3–75.3 points) and the mean EQ‐5D‐5L score 0.846 (95% CI, 0.841–0.850) for respondents with mMRC grade 0 breathlessness; for each measure, the mean value declined with increasing severity of breathlessness (trends: each P < 0.001). Respondents with clinically important breathlessness were more likely than those with mild breathlessness to report non‐urgent general practitioner visits, urgent general practitioner visits, and specialist visits (exception: mMRC scores of 4) during the preceding year. Among the 2839 respondents of working age, the likelihood of being employed declined with increasing breathlessness severity (mMRC grades 4 v 1: adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.22–0.53). Adjusted mean annual societal cost per person was $1413 (95% CI, $1326–1501) for respondents with mMRC grade 1 breathlessness, $2065 (95% CI, $1766–2365) at mMRC grade 2, $1795 (95% CI, $1371–2218) at mMRC grade 3, and $2075 (95% CI, $1389–2762) at mMRC grade 4. Conclusion: Breathlessness imposes major burdens on individuals, the health care system, and the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rational catalyst for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a long-standing challenge that researchers are confronted with. In view of this, tiny particles of transition metals (TMs) spread over a substrate acting as an active site for the reaction, scientifically known as single-atom catalysts is seen as an efficacious way for designing an efficient catalyst. Herein, we comprehensively investigated catalytic activity of Ni-atoms spread over various kinds of two-dimensional (2D) substrates like graphene, AlC, AlN, h-BN, BeO, and MgO (Ni@2D) towards HER using density functional theory calculations. All the considered 2D substrates have various inequivalent anchoring sites like top, hollow, bridge, and vacancy sites for Ni-atoms. So, there are total 34 anchoring sites, and we computed binding energy (E b ) of Ni-atom over all the sites. Having large number of configurations, we first applied a screener on stability of Ni@2D and only considered those configurations for which the E b value is < - 3.00 eV for further calculations. Out of 34, 17 configurations were falling in this range. Further, we computed the differential Gibbs free energy of H-adsorption (Δ G H ) and generated volcano plot between Δ G H and exchange current density ( i 0 ) as a prime indicators of HER activity. Then, we screened these configurations based on Δ G H values that | Δ G H | ≤ to 0.5 eV, and out of 17, 10 systems were falling in this region. At last, we examined complete reaction profile of HER via Volmer-Heyrovsky (VH) and Volmer-Tafel (VT) mechanisms over the remaining 10 configurations, and the lowest activation energy for HER are 0.12 eV and 0.21 eV for Ni@AlN and 0.28 eV and 0.36 eV for Ni@h-BN via VT and VH mechanism, respectively. Our findings show Ni@AlN and Ni@h-BN could be a non-noble TM candidate for eco-operational HER catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruptions in tokamak nuclear reactors, where plasma confinement is suddenly lost, pose a serious threat to the reactor and its components. Classifying discharges as disruptive or non-disruptive is crucial for effective plasma operation and advanced prediction. Traditional disruption identification systems often struggle with noise, variability, and limited adaptability. To address these challenges, we propose an enhanced stacking generalization model called the "Double-Phase Stacking Technique" integrated with Pool-based Active Learning (DPST-PAL) for designing a robust classifier with minimal labor cost. This innovative approach improves classification accuracy and reliability using advanced data analysis techniques. We trained the DPST-PAL model on 162 diagnostic shots from the Aditya dataset, achieving a high accuracy of 98% and an F1-score of 0.99, surpassing conventional methods. Subsequently, the deep 1D convolutional predictor model is implemented and trained using the classified shots obtained from the DPST-PAL model to validate the reliability of the dataset, which is tested on 47 distinct shots. This model accurately predicts the disruptions 7–13 ms in advance with 93.6% accuracy and exhibited no premature alarms or misclassifications for our experimental shots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Does the administration of β-lactam antibiotics by prolonged infusion reduce 90-day mortality compared with intermittent infusion in adult patients with sepsis or septic shock? Findings: This systematic review and bayesian meta-analysis of 18 randomized trials that included 9108 critically ill adults with sepsis or septic shock reported a 99.1% posterior probability that prolonged infusions were associated with lower 90-day mortality compared with intermittent infusions (risk ratio, 0.86). Meaning: Prolonged infusions of β-lactam antibiotics are associated with a reduced risk of death in critically ill adult patients with sepsis or septic shock compared with intermittent infusions. This systematic review and bayesian meta-analysis investigated whether administration of β-lactam antibiotics by prolonged infusion reduces 90-day mortality compared with intermittent infusion in adult patients with sepsis or septic shock. Importance: There is uncertainty about whether prolonged infusions of β-lactam antibiotics improve clinically important outcomes in critically ill adults with sepsis or septic shock. Objective: To determine whether prolonged β-lactam antibiotic infusions are associated with a reduced risk of death in critically ill adults with sepsis or septic shock compared with intermittent infusions. Data Sources: The primary search was conducted with MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to May 2, 2024. Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials comparing prolonged (continuous or extended) and intermittent infusions of β-lactam antibiotics in critically ill adults with sepsis or septic shock. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction and risk of bias were assessed independently by 2 reviewers. Certainty of evidence was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. A bayesian framework was used as the primary analysis approach and a frequentist framework as the secondary approach. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was all-cause 90-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) mortality and clinical cure. Results: From 18 eligible randomized clinical trials that included 9108 critically ill adults with sepsis or septic shock (median age, 54 years; IQR, 48-57; 5961 men [65%]), 17 trials (9014 participants) contributed data to the primary outcome. The pooled estimated risk ratio for all-cause 90-day mortality for prolonged infusions of β-lactam antibiotics compared with intermittent infusions was 0.86 (95% credible interval, 0.72-0.98; I2 = 21.5%; high certainty), with a 99.1% posterior probability that prolonged infusions were associated with lower 90-day mortality. Prolonged infusion of β-lactam antibiotics was associated with a reduced risk of intensive care unit mortality (risk ratio, 0.84; 95% credible interval, 0.70-0.97; high certainty) and an increase in clinical cure (risk ratio, 1.16; 95% credible interval, 1.07-1.31; moderate certainty). Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults in the intensive care unit who had sepsis or septic shock, the use of prolonged β-lactam antibiotic infusions was associated with a reduced risk of 90-day mortality compared with intermittent infusions. The current evidence presents a high degree of certainty for clinicians to consider prolonged infusions as a standard of care in the management of sepsis and septic shock. Trial Registration: PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42023399434 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the outcomes of platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for eyelid and periocular sebaceous gland carcinoma (eSGC). Methods: Retrospective study of 25 patients. Results: The mean age at presentation of eSGC was 59 years. The mean tumor basal diameter was 46 mm. By the 8th edition of AJCC classification, tumors belonged T2 (n = 2, 8%), T3 (n = 6, 24%), and T4 (n = 17, 68%); N1 (n = 12,48%); and M1 (n = 1, 4%). NACT with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin/carboplatin was administered in 21 (84%)/4 (16%) patients, respectively. The mean number of cycles of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy per patient was 2 (median, 3). The mean percentage reduction of tumor basal volume after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 65% (median, 60%). After NACT, 12 (48%) patients underwent surgical treatment, 6 (12%) patients underwent EBRT, and 4 (8%) underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 11 (44%) patients were lost to follow-up during the course of treatment, of whom 3 died from metastatic disease. In 16 patients followed up for ≥ 3 months, complete tumor control was achieved in 11 (69%) patients, local tumor control in 14 (88%), and globe salvage in 7 (44%) at a mean follow-up of 25 months (median, 7 months; range, 3 to 110 months). No tumor recurrence was seen in any case. One (4%) serious adverse event of cardiotoxicity was noted. Conclusion: Platinum-based NACT is a suitable option for eSGC with advanced tumors and locoregional metastasis. Adverse events are rare and in patients compliant with treatment, NACT-based combination therapy offers globe salvage and systemic tumor control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While previously considered a transient condition, with no lasting adverse impact, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is now a well‐established risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The risk of developing T2DM appears to be particularly high in the first few years after childbirth, providing a compelling case for early intervention. This review provides an up‐to‐date systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the effectiveness of interventions to reduce incidence of T2DM in women with a recent history of GDM. Methods: The search was conducted on October 20, 2023 with an annual surveillance planned for the next 5 years to maintain a living systematic review. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials of any type in women within 5 years of GDM‐complicated pregnancy that reported outcomes of T2DM diagnosis or measures of dysglycemia with a follow‐up of at least 12 months. Results: Seventeen studies met our inclusion criteria and have been included in this review. There were 3 pharmacological and 14 lifestyle interventions. Intervention was not associated with significant reduction in the primary outcome of T2DM (risk ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43–1.41; p = 0.41; I2 = 79%) compared with the control group (placebo or usual care). However, meta‐analysis of the four studies reporting hazard ratios suggested a reduction in diabetes incidence (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI: 0.48–0.97; p = 0.03; I2 = 31%). Conclusion: This review provides equivocal evidence about the efficacy of interventions to reduce the risk of T2DM in women within 5 years of GDM‐complicated pregnancy and highlights the need for further studies, including pharmacotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two different methods modified Pechini and green synthesis techniques, are used to synthesize Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The modified Pechini is a subset of the sol-gel route and results in nanoparticles from metal salts, ethylene glycol, and citric acid. The plant extracts of ginger root and cardamom seeds are utilized for the auto-combustion, green synthesis process to obtain the nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the spinel structure and the average particle size in the range of 14–20 nm for the nano ferrites. Energy dispersive analysis of X-ray shows the elemental analysis of cobalt, iron, and oxygen. The GC-MS analysis determines the structure of phenols present in the plant extracts, which act as fuels in the reaction. Scanning Electron Microscopy helps study nanoparticle morphology and particle size distribution. The FTIR analysis has been performed to identify the functional group in the as-prepared samples. Ultraviolet-Differential Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS) examines cobalt ferrite's optical properties. The photocatalytic properties of the CoFe2O4 spinel nano ferrites have been tested with Phenol red dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorporation of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in higher education has transformed learning and teaching. When GenAI (e.g. ChatGPT) was released, it almost immediately began to feature heavily in learning and teaching practice. Many research studies are currently being undertaken to evaluate the potential perceived benefits and challenges of GenAI, especially in higher education. This paper leverages these studies to conduct an in-depth exploration of GenAI through a systematic literature survey to identify the common GenAI approaches implemented in the higher education (HE) sector, gather the perception of GenAI among stakeholders of higher education, and review cases of GenAI use in learning and teaching. The survey findings revealed that integrating GenAI into educational pedagogy enriches personalised and adaptive learning experiences facilitated by ChatGPT and virtual learning assistants. Furthermore, it is noted that the stakeholders have mixed perspectives on GenAI: education administrators are more concerned about the potential consequences of GenAI, such as excessive dependence and declining student proficiency, while teachers and students foresee opportunities for enhanced teaching and learning through GenAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers incorporate health state utility values as inputs to inform economic models. However, for a particular health state or condition, multiple utility values derived from different studies typically exist and a single study is often insufficient to represent the best available source of utility needed to inform policy decisions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introductory guidance for conducting Bayesian meta-analysis of health state utility values to generate a single parameter input for economic evaluation, using R. The tutorial is illustrated using data from a systematic review of health state utilities of patients with heart failure, with 21 studies that reported utilities measured using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Explanations, key considerations and suggested readings are provided for each step of the tutorial, adhering to a clear workflow for conducting Bayesian meta-analysis: (1) setting-up the data; (2) employing methods to impute missing standard deviations; (3) defining the priors; (4) fitting the model; (5) diagnosing model convergence; (6) interpreting the results; and (7) performing sensitivity analyses. The posterior distributions for the pooled effect size (i.e. mean health state utility) and between-study heterogeneity are discussed and interpreted in light of the data, priors and models used. We hope that this tutorial will foster interest in Bayesian methods and their applications in the meta-analysis of utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing number of studies that generate health state utility values (HSUVs) and the impact of HSUVs on cost-utility analyses make a robust tailored quality appraisal (QA) tool for systematic reviews of these studies necessary. Objective: This study aimed to address conceptual issues regarding QA in systematic reviews of studies eliciting HSUVs by establishing a consensus on the definitions, dimensions and scope of a QA tool specific to this context. Methods: A modified Delphi method was used in this study. An international multidisciplinary panel of seven experts was purposively assembled. The experts engaged in two anonymous online survey rounds. After each round, the experts received structured and controlled feedback on the previous phase. Controlled feedback allowed the experts to re-evaluate and adjust their positions based on collective insights. Following these surveys, a virtual face-to-face meeting was held to resolve outstanding issues. Consensus was defined a priori at all stages of the modified Delphi process. Results: The response rates to the first-round and second-round questionnaires and the virtual consensus meeting were 100%, 86% and 71%, respectively. The entire process culminated in a consensus on the definitions of scientific quality, QA, the three QA dimensions—reporting, relevance and methodological quality—and the scope of a QA tool specific to studies that elicit HSUVs. Conclusions: Achieving this consensus marks a pivotal step towards developing a QA tool specific to systematic reviews of studies eliciting HSUVs. Future research will build on this foundation, identify QA items, signalling questions and response options, and develop a QA tool specific to studies eliciting HSUVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was designed to assess the clinical profile and frequency of associated autoantibodies in all consecutive patients classified as systemic sclerosis (SSc) at Medanta—the Medicity Hospital, Gurgaon, India. Methods: Between August 2017 and July 2019, we identified a total of 119 consecutive patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) 2013 criteria for SSc and 106 patients consented to this study. Their clinical and serological data at the time of enrolment were analysed. Results: Our cohort had a mean age at symptom onset of 40 ± 13 years with a median symptom duration of 6 years. We had 76 patients (71.7%) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), which was a higher proportion compared to European cohorts. 62 pa- tients (58.5%) had diffuse cutaneous involvement which was significantly associated with anti-Scl70 antibodies (p < 0.001), digital ulcers (p = 0.039) and the presence of ILD (p = 0.004). 65 patients (61.3%) had anti-Scl70 and 15 patients (14.2%) had anti-centromere (anti-CENP) antibodies. Scl70 positivity was associated with the presence of ILD (p < 0.001) and digital ulcers (p = 0.01). Centromere antibodies had a negative association with ILD (p < 0.001), but was a risk factor for calcinosis (p < 0.001) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (p = 0.01). The combination of diffuse cutaneous disease and Scl70 antibodies was the strongest predictor of ILD and digital ulcers (p = 0.015). sm/RMP, RNP68 and Ku antibodies correlated with musculoskeletal involvement (p < 0.01), while all seven of the patients with Pm/Scl antibodies had ILD. Renal involve- ment was noted in only two patients. Limitations: A single-centre study may not capture the true prevalence of disease characteristics in the population. Referral bias for patients with diffuse cutaneous disease has been noted. Data on RNA-Polymerase antibodies have not been provided. Conclusion: North Indian patients have some characteristic differences in disease phenotype as compared to their Caucasian counterparts with a larger proportion of patients presenting with ILD and Scl70 antibodies. Antibodies against Ku, RNP and Pm/Scl occur in a minority of patients, but may be associated with musculoskeletal features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture liaison services (FLS) have been proven clinically effective and cost-effective in preventing subsequent fractures among patients with an existing fragility fracture. Little is known about their monetary benefits such as their return on investment (ROI). This systematic review aimed to investigate the ROI of FLS and identify the FLS characteristics with better ROI. Studies on the cost-effectiveness of FLS published between January 2000 and December 2022 were searched from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Central. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction. ROI was calculated based on the difference between monetary benefits and FLS costs divided by the FLS costs. Subgroup analysis of ROI was performed across FLS types and FLS design details. A total of 23 FLS were included in this review. The majority of them were targeting patients aged over 50 years having fractures without identified sites. The mean ROI of these FLS was 10.49 (with a median ROI of 7.57), and 86.96% of FLS had positive ROI. FLS making treatment recommendations yielded the highest ROI (with a mean ROI of 18.39 and a median of 13.60). Incorporating primary care providers (with a mean ROI of 16.04 and a median of 13.20) or having them as program leaders (with a mean ROI of 12.07 and a median of 12.07) has demonstrated a high ROI. FLS for specific fracture sites had great monetary return. Intensive FLS such as type A and B FLS programs had higher ROI than non-intensive type C and D FLS. This review revealed a 10.49-fold monetary return of FLS. Identified characteristics contributing to greater economic return informed value-for-money FLS designs. Findings highlight the importance of FLS and the feasibility of expanding their contribution in mitigating the economic burden of osteoporotic fracture and are conducive to the promotion of FLS internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common cause of recurrent vertigo. Migraine headache preventative therapies are currently prescribed to control vertigo symptoms in VM. Clinical trials of nutraceuticals for migraine headache prevention have shown positive outcomes, but, to date, there have been no studies to assess their effectiveness in the management of VM. Aims: To report the effects of nonprescription therapy management on VM symptoms. Methods: We undertook a prospective, questionnaire‐based assessment of patients diagnosed with VM between November 2019 and August 2021 at two Sydney tertiary referral clinics. Patients were advised on optimising sleep, hydration, exercise and nutrition and instructed to use an over‐the‐counter combination product containing riboflavin 200 mg, magnesium 150 mg, coenzyme Q10 75 mg and feverfew 200 mcg. Symptom severity and frequency were assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the Vertigo Symptom Score short‐form (VSS‐sf) and two visual analogue scales for severity (VAS‐s) and frequency (VAS‐f) before and 3 months after commencing treatment. Result: In 82 participants (78% female; mean age, 44 ± 14 years) we recorded a decrease in DHI (mean, 16.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.8–20.9], VSS‐sf (9.3, 7.1–11.5), VAS‐s (3.0, 2.2–3.8) and VAS‐f (2.8, 2.1–3.4), equating to an improvement of 44.1%, 44.9%, 44.1% and 38.9% for each measure respectively. On the DHI and VSS‐sf, 41 (50%) and 44 (53.7%) patients showed improvement in their symptoms; 39 (47.6%) and 36 (43.9%) patients noted no change and two patients reported worsening. The supplement was well‐tolerated. Conclusions: The results provide preliminary evidence that VM symptom frequency and severity can be reduced by using nonprescription therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights a curious lack of diversity within the proliferating discourse about the lack of diversity in international arbitration. There is hardly any awareness or at least sustained discussion about the limited diversity of professional backgrounds, and more specifically, the dominance nowadays of those with practicing lawyer positions or primary careers across the key groups and publication outlets for international arbitration. Yet this encroachment of lawyers was still being contested in the 1990s, as being linked to burgeoning costs and delays, and such "formalisation" has been re-emerging in recent years. Diversifying the world of international arbitration to involve more nonlawyers, including academics, could promote various other objectives, too, as outlined in Part I. This article, therefore, empirically analyses how lawyers have come to dominate key nodes of influence across international commercial arbitration and the overlapping, more controversial field of investor-state arbitration. Part II looks at key general associations or organizations promoting international arbitration, including their leadership and presenters at symposiums. Part III focuses on various arbitration centres globally, which actually administer cases. Part IV examines contributions to some key arbitration journals, an influential book series, and a widely-read Blog. The conclusion reiterates that restoring more non-lawyers in the world of international arbitration should help not only to reduce formalisation and inefficiencies in international arbitration, but also have various other salutary effects, including potentially improving gender diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have revolutionized medical image segmentation in recent years. This scoping review aimed to carry out a comprehensive review of the literature describing automated image segmentation of the middle ear using CNNs from computed tomography (CT) scans. Data Sources: A comprehensive literature search, generated jointly with a medical librarian, was performed on Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane, using Medical Subject Heading terms and keywords. Databases were searched from inception to July 2023. Reference lists of included papers were also screened. Review Methods: Ten studies were included for analysis, which contained a total of 866 scans which were used in model training/testing. Thirteen different architectures were described to perform automated segmentation. The best Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) for the entire ossicular chain was 0.87 using ResNet. The highest DSC for any structure was the incus using 3D‐V‐Net at 0.93. The most difficult structure to segment was the stapes, with the highest DSC of 0.84 using 3D‐V‐Net. Conclusions: Numerous architectures have demonstrated good performance in segmenting the middle ear using CNNs. To overcome some of the difficulties in segmenting the stapes, we recommend the development of an architecture trained on cone beam CTs to provide improved spatial resolution to assist with delineating the smallest ossicle. Implications for Practice: This has clinical applications for preoperative planning, diagnosis, and simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally known that public opinion and stock market dynamics are inextricably linked. With the growth of social and web-based media, online platforms have emerged as a key gauge of public mood. This digital environment produces a lot of data quickly. This extensive dataset's analysis offers priceless insights into the general public's perception, which in turn might influence market performance. The vast array of approaches for efficiently processing the sizable amount of data originating from social and web-based media are reviewed in detail in this study. Additionally, it looks at studies exploring the integration of big data analytics and sentiment insights for more accurate market predictions, as well as studies studying the prediction of stock market trends using sentiment analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Present study focuses on the structural and magnetic properties of Gadolinium orthoferrite specimen synthesize using one-step sol-gel auto combustion method. The Rietveld refinement of XRD pattern confirms the orthorhombic structure of the GdFeO3 nanomaterial with the Pbnm space group. SEM analysis reveals that the particles exhibit dimensions within the nano regime. FTIR and Raman spectra show the presence of all the modes associated with GdFeO3. Magnetic isotherm recorded at room temperature shows the antiferromagnetic behaviour of the sample. Magnetic field-induced spin reorientation transition is observed to be broad around 5 K. The fitting of modified Curie–Weiss law results in larger value of µeff as compared to theoretical value. The observed anomalous results, in contrast to earlier studies, may have originated from modifications in the microstructure. Highlights: Synthesis of GdFeO3 nanoparticles using single step auto combustion technique. Structural study of GdFeO3 using X-ray diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy. Temperature and field dependent Magnetic property study of GdFeO3. Contribution of temperature independent magnetic susceptibility in total magnetization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first-of-its-kind, inductively driven micro-particle (Pellet) accelerator and injector have been developed and operated successfully in ADITYA-U circular plasma operations, which may ably address the critical need for a suitable disruption control mechanism in ITER and future tokamak. The device combines the principles of electromagnetic induction, pulse power technology, impact, and fracture dynamics. It is designed to operate in a variety of environments, including atmospheric pressure and ultra-high vacuum. It can also accommodate a wide range of pellet quantities, sizes, and materials and can adjust the pellets' velocities over a coarse and fine range. The device has a modular design such that the maximum velocity can be increased by increasing the number of modules. A cluster of lithium titanate/carbonate (Li2TiO3/Li2CO3) impurity particles with variable particle sizes, weighing ∼50–200 mg are injected with velocities of the order of ∼200 m s−1 during the current plateau in ADITYA-U tokamak. This leads to a complete collapse of the plasma current within ∼5–6 ms of triggering the injector. The current quench time is dependent on the amount of impurity injected as well as the compound, with Li2TiO3 injection causing a faster current quench than Li2CO3 injection, as more power is radiated in the case of Li2TiO3. The increase in radiation due to the macro-particle injection starts in the plasma core, while the soft x-ray emission indicates that the entire plasma core collapses at once. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Headache is one of the most common neurological symptoms. Headache disorders are associated with a high global burden of disease. Prior studies indicate that short-to-medium term sodium reduction reduces headache symptom. This study evaluated the effects of long-term reduced-sodium, added-potassium salt on headache frequency and severity in rural China. Methods: The Salt substitute and stroke study (SSaSS) was an open-label cluster-randomised trial in rural China designed to evaluate the effect of salt substitution on mortality and cardiovascular events. Participants included adults with a history of prior stroke and those aged ≥60 years with uncontrolled high blood pressure (BP). Villages were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio either to intervention with salt substitute (75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride by mass) or to control with continued use of regular salt (100% sodium chloride). In this pre-specified analysis, between-group differences in headache frequency and severity were evaluated. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier number: NCT02092090). Results: A total of 20,995 participants were included in the trial (mean age 64.3 years, 51% female, mean follow-up 4.7 years). At final follow-up at the end of the study, headache outcome data including frequency and severity of headaches was available for 16,486 (98%) of 16,823 living participants. Overall, 4454/16,486 (27%) individuals reported having headache: 27.4% in the intervention group (2301/8386) vs 26.6% in the control group (2153/8100) (RR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.16, p = 0.48). There was no difference in headache severity between intervention and control groups (p = 0.90). Conclusion: Long term salt substitution did not reduce the frequency or severity of headaches in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweeds have proven to be nutrient-dense and are rich in antioxidants, like phenolics, flavonoids, and other essential metabolites that help to provide their medicinal benefits. Non-targeted metabolite profiling of the tropical green seaweed Acrosiphonia orientalis showed the presence of numerous groups of contents, including sugars, essential amino acids, and fatty acids. Targeted metabolite profiling using HPLC identified 17 amino acids. The extract exhibited a very low half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) dosage for HeLa and Huh-7 cell lines, indicating a high likelihood of anticancer properties. A significant positive correlation was found between biological activities, such as antioxidation, scavenging, and reducing power with the phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extract revealed augmentation of proliferation in selected cervical cells, as it upregulated p53 1.3-fold, and downregulated important cancerous genes such as Cas-3 and DNMT 12- and 8-fold, respectively. An approximate 55-fold downregulation was observed in selected hepatic cell lines. Microarray analysis of hepatic cells indicated 0.27% and 0.07% upregulation of coding and non-coding genes, respectively, and 0.41% and 0.13% downregulation of coding and non-coding genes, respectively. As a consequence, it can be said that A. orientalis has possible medicinal use, such as anticancer activity, and therefore may be an intriguing food component that has potential as a regular dietary supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several previous studies have questioned on the applicability of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for patients with old age having Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of GCS in diagnosing TBI in relation to elderly people. Materials and Method: A prospective study was performed involving 558 patients with brain injury out of that 126 had TBI. The GCS was assessed and compared with patients after dividing them into different age groups. Logistic regression was performed after adjusting for addition classical factors influencing the GCS like sex, Abbreviated Injury Scores (AIS) and mode of injury. Results: We found a continuously increasing trend for GCS score with age of the patients having TBI. The similar trend was noted at all the level of severity. Logistic regression has shown a significant trend after adjusting for patients' sex and mode of injury. However, level and height of the fall are the determining factors. GCS score increases significantly after the age of 44. Conclusion: Greater weightage should be given to the age of the patients and the level and mode of injury to patients with TBI during the screening procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since hypertension is so common and a major risk factor for cardiovascular illnesses and other complications, it is both a significant public health issue and an important topic of research. Hence, a clinical trial was planned. Aims: To evaluate the role of herbal preparation capsule BP Norm containing dry extract of Bhringraja (Eclipta alba (L) Hassk.), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), and Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina [L.] Benth. Ex Kurzc) in newly diagnosed cases and in combination with allopathic antihypertensive drugs in the uncontrolled cases of essential hypertension. Materials and methods: A total of 103 patients meeting the seventh report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure criteria of essential hypertension (EHT) of age group 20–65 years of either sex participated in the study. Newly diagnosed cases who were not taking any antihypertensives were administered capsule BP Norm (250 mg), two capsules twice daily for 1 month, whereas uncontrolled cases of essential hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] >140 mmHg and <200 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] >90 mmHg and <120 mmHg) were administered 1 capsule of BP Norm (250 mg) twice daily with water in addition to continuing allopathic antihypertensive drugs for 1 month. The assessment was made through various variables such as SBP, DBP, chief complaints, associated complaints, Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HARS), Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD), lipid profile, and serum creatinine. Results: Capsule BP Norm produced highly significant reduction in both the SBP (16.82%, P < 0.001) and DBP (13.71%, P < 0.001) of newly diagnosed patients as well as in the SBP (18.49%, P < 0.001) and DBP (13.95%, P < 0.001) of uncontrolled cases (EHT). Capsule BP Norm provided significant relief in clinical features of EHT, HARS, and HRSD in both groups. Conclusion: Capsule BP Norm has promising antihypertensive effects in newly diagnosed cases as well as synergistic effects when combined with allopathic antihypertensive drugs in uncontrolled cases of essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virus-specific T cells (VST) from partially-HLA matched donors have been effective for treatment of refractory viral infections in immunocompromised patients in prior studies with a good safety profile, but rare adverse events have been described. Here we describe a unique and severe adverse event of VST therapy in an infant with severe combined immunodeficiency, who receives, as part of a clinical trial (NCT03475212), third party VSTs for treating cytomegalovirus viremia following bone marrow transplantation. At one month post-VST infusion, rejection of graft and reversal of chimerism is observed, as is an expansion of T cells exclusively from the VST donor. Single cell gene expression and T cell receptor profiling demonstrate a narrow repertoire of predominantly activated CD4+ T cells in the recipient at the time of rejection, with the repertoire overlapping more with that of peripheral blood from VST donor than the infused VST product. This case thus demonstrates a rare but serious side effect of VST therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematite nanostructures are strong candidates for the development of sustainable water splitting technologies. However, major challenges exist in improving charge density and minimizing charge recombination rates for a competitive photoelectrochemical performance based on hematite without compromising sustainability aspects. Here we develop a synthetic strategy to leverage earth-abundant Al3+ and Zr4+ in a dual-chemical modification to synergistically minimize small polaron effects and interfacial charge recombination. The solution-based method simultaneously induces Al3+ doping of the hematite crystal lattice while Zr4+ forms interfacial excess, creating a single-phased homogeneous nanostructured thin film. The engineered photoanode increased photocurrent from 0.7 mA cm−2 for pristine hematite up to 4.5 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V and beyond 6.0 mA cm−2 when applying an overpotential of 300 mV under simulated sunlight illumination (100 mW cm−2). The results demonstrate the potential of dual-modification design using solution-based processes to enable sustainable energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat (VOR) can reverse human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) latency in vivo and allow T cells to clear infected cells in vitro. HIV-specific T cells (HXTCs) can be expanded ex vivo and have been safely administered to people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy. Methods Six PWH received infusions of 2 × 107 HXTCs/m² with VOR 400 mg, and 3 PWH received infusions of 10 × 107 HXTCs/m² with VOR. The frequency of persistent HIV by multiple assays including quantitative viral outgrowth assay (QVOA) of resting CD4+ T cells was measured before and after study therapy. Results VOR and HXTCs were safe, and biomarkers of serial VOR effect were detected, but enhanced antiviral activity in circulating cells was not evident. After 2 × 107 HXTCs/m² with VOR, 1 of 6 PWH exhibited a decrease in QVOA, and all 3 PWH exhibited such declines after 10 × 107 HXTCs/m² and VOR. However, most declines did not exceed the 6-fold threshold needed to definitively attribute decline to the study intervention. Conclusions These modest effects provide support for the strategy of HIV latency reversal and reservoir clearance, but more effective interventions are needed to yield the profound depletion of persistent HIV likely to yield clinical benefit. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT03212989. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc ferrite (ZF) nanomaterials were synthesised by the sol–gel auto-combustion method. Synchrotron-XRD confirms the formation of the pure F-d3m spinel structure whereas EDX reveals the composition of synthesised nano ZF. We investigated and compared the dielectric properties of un-irradiated pellet ZF-UI and irradiated pellets ZF-I1 (pulsed Nd:YAG laser dose of 1.2 W, λ = 1064 nm), ZF-I2 (pulsed Nd:YAG laser dose of 1.5 W, λ = 532 nm) and ZF-I3 (continuous AlGaAs diode laser of 4 W, λ = 808 nm) at room temperature. Dielectric constant (ε′) decreased prominently for ZF-UI while it decreased gradually for ZF-I1 and its decrement for ZF-I2 and ZF-I3 is very slow whereas dielectric constant (ε″) decreased prominently for ZF-UI and ZF-I1while reduced slowly for ZF-I2 and ZF-I3 in the low-frequency region. ε′ becomes ∼69% for ZF-I1 and ∼9% for ZF-I2 and ZF-I3 at a higher frequency of 2 MHz whereas ε″ for radiated samples becomes steady and nearly equitable at higher frequencies in comparison to that of ZF-UI in the measured frequency range of 10 kHz to 2 MHz. Dielectric loss (tan δ) of all irradiated samples has decreased and become ∼33% for ZF-I3, 43% for ZF-I2, nearly equal for ZF-I1 at 104 Hz and then decreased continuously up to 2 MHz when compared to tan δ for ZF-UI. The Jonscher power law has been fitted in measured ac conductivity (σac) with angular frequency (ω) graphs. DC conductivity (σdc), temperature-dependent parameter B(T) and frequency exponent (n) have been extracted. σdc for all irradiated samples has decreased and become nearly 51% for ZF-I1, 3% for ZF-I2 and 2% for ZF-I3 in comparison to that of ZF-UI whereas B(T) increased to 1.6 times for ZF-I3 and decreased to 0.7 times for ZF-I1 and 0.2 times for ZF-I2 while n shows slight decrement for ZF-I2 and ZF-I3. Interpretation from Cole–Cole plots for un-irradiated and irradiated pellets is in agreement with our investigations. These results suggest that the dielectric properties of ZF can be controlled and tuned by laser irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solvents are extensively used in in vitro drug metabolism studies to overcome the solubility issues of lipophilic substrate/new chemical entities. The effects of ten common water miscible organic solvents on cytochrome P450s and non-cytochrome P450 enzymes, namely, flavin monooxygense, aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase, esterases and glutathione S-transferases were evaluated. Rat liver microsomes and rat liver cytosol were used for cytochrome P450, flavin monooxygenase and glutathione S-transferase assays. Partially purified guinea pig liver aldehyde oxidase and rat liver xanthine oxidase fractions were used for molybdenum hydroxylase activity assays. Human plasma was used for esterase activity. Para-nitro phenol, metoprolol, imipramine, methyl para-tolyl sulfide, para-nitrophenyl acetate, vanillin, xanthine and chloro dinitrobenzene, were used as substrates for evaluating CYP2E1, CYP2D6, CYP1A2, flavin monooxyenase, esterase, aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities, respectively. Ten solvents (acetonitrile, acetone, dioxane, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethanol, methanol, polyethylene glycol 400, n-propanol, and isopropanol) were evaluated at four concentrations (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 % v/v). The following results were obtained. Dioxane (1 % v/v) was found to a potent inhibitor inhibiting all the tested CYP's (>90 % inhibition) and flavin monooxygenase (71 % inhibition). Seven of ten organic solvents inhibited esterases in a concentration dependent manner out of which n-propanol showed the maximal inhibition (79 % inhibition). Methanol was the only solvent that inhibited aldehyde oxidase (78 % inhibition) and xanthine oxidase mediated metabolism (64 % inhibition). Minimal inhibition effect was observed on glutathione S-transferase mediated activity by all solvents. Polyethylene glycol 400 showed least inhibition of enzyme activities. Among the 10 solvents studies, acetonitrile overall appears to be the safest organic solvent at concentrations of 1 % v/v or less. The results of this study indicate that many water miscible organic solvents must be used very judiciously in drug metabolism studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hypertension is one of the leading causes of premature morbidity and mortality, both in industrialised and developing countries. Patients with arterial hypertension are advised to make lifestyle adjustments, such as increasing physical activity and reducing stress. Nowadays, a variety of relaxation techniques are used to reduce stress and tension. The practise of Biofeedback (BF) is regarded as a successful treatment for this purpose. Aim: To investigate the effect of Galvanic Skin Resistance Biofeedback (GSRBF) on perceived stress. Materials and Methods: In present quasi-experimental study, 53 individuals with high blood pressure, including prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals {Blood Pressure (BP)> 120/80 mmHg}, were included. Participants were recruited from various Medical and Physiotherapy Outpatient Departments (OPD) of private and Government hospitals and clinics in Veraval, Gujarat, India, from March 2022 to September 2022. Basic demographic data was collected, Blood Pressure (BP) was measured, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered. Participants were then connected to the GSRBF instrument and instructed to relax using a relaxation response technique. After 12 sessions, BP was measured again, and the PSS was administered. As the data were not normally distributed, a t-test was performed at a significance level of 95% (p<0.05). Results: The analysis revealed a significant decrease in PSS scores following GSRBF sessions, with a p-value of <0.05. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) also showed a significant reduction, with a p-value of <0.05. Conclusion: The GSRBF demonstrated a significant reduction in perceived stress among individuals with high blood pressure, and it also showed a significant reduction in SBP and DBP. The present study provides valuable insights into the potential of GSRBF as an adjunct therapy for managing hypertension and promoting overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the Indian graphic novelist Sarnath Banerjee's works evidence a well-imagined 'ideal reader'. We contend that the process of ascertaining Banerjee's ideal reader will allow us to appreciate his craft better while examining his creative politics. The paper attempts to delineate such a reader mainly based on substantiation from the texts. It uses supporting material from Banerjee's interviews and readers' responses from discussion platforms and reviews. It examines the choices made by Banerjee in the course of the creation of his work in terms of medium and format, language, complexity of form, subject matter, and age to demarcate his readership. It asserts that Banerjee attempts to continually evolve his works, demanding more from himself and his readers, evolving them in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]