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Age and Gender are two facial potentials play a principalrole in the society. An instinctive age and gender appreciation have a massive numeral of real-world uses that comprises a consumer facility, the priority voting system, medical diagnosis, the human computer communication. Deep learning methods are usually used in utmost researches and attained to progress the performance too. Relating dissimilar deep education models and evaluating the enhancement in exactness leads to complementary studies. The chief aim of this paper is to achieve detailed examination of age and gender credentials through numerous datasets and deep learning prototypes. In this paper, the growth made by, deep learning prototypes are highlighting the assistances addressed; the prototypes and dataset used are estimating the acclaimed method with the concerns attained.

The creation of a smart gun using ESP32-Cam is accomplished using the surrounding data and Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) in conjunction with a server which is further connected to the ESP32-CAM for more precise identification of the enemies. The user receives information from the server, which serves as the main framework of the system. Here, the server that has the acquired data goes through several processes to provide precise information that is then given to the user. After the user receives the information from the server, the output of the information is shown on an OLED panel that is positioned on the equipment. The user receives directions from the OLED display, which in turn aids in enemy detection

Water contamination has become a global challenge which must be tackled. This study examined the contamination level of water in four locations at Ogbete area Enugu state. Carters street had the highest pH of 5.23 which is below the WHO standards limits for drinking water. The conductivities ranged from the highest conductivity 1445 µs/cm, which is below the WHO limits (8-10,000 µs/cm), TDS (1000 mg/l., TSS (WHO (500 mg/l). For alkalinity, the four locations were all below the (150 mg/l) standard set by World Health Organisation. Results showed that most of the physicochemical, biological and heavy metals parameters considered in this study were significantly above the permissible or allowed by WHO. It is therefore recommended that the water should be treated before use.

Autistic people experience significant health disparities and reduced life expectancy. Barriers to accessing healthcare are associated with adverse health outcomes. Autism training and healthcare professionals' knowledge about autism is variable, and heterogeneity among autistic people leads to additional educational and clinical complexities. Autism remains nebulous for many practitioners, who are unclear about communication differences, access needs or life experiences common to autistic people. Healthcare environments can be challenging for all patients but autistic people may require specific accommodations to allow equitable access. The authors have developed a simple framework which may facilitate equitable clinical services at all points of access and care, using the acronym ‘SPACE’. This encompasses five core autistic needs: Sensory needs, Predictability, Acceptance, Communication and Empathy. Three additional domains are represented by physical space, processing space and emotional space. This simple yet memorable framework encompasses commonalities shared by autistic people.

As a clinician, everyone undergoes a difficult time in clinical decision-making when attempting to apply a clinical prediction rule for manipulation (Flynn et al., 2002; Childs et al., 2004) to a patient with a history and physical examination consistent with clinical lumbar instability (Hicks et al., 2005). The effect on neural pathways associated with manipulation has been suggested as one possible mechanism that may improve muscle performance (Pickar, 2002) and patient symptoms. Support exists for an association between spinal manipulation and improved muscle function in the quadriceps (Suter et al., 1999), the erector spinae (Keller and Colloca, 2000), and the deep neck flexors (Sterling et al., 2001). Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that spinal manipulation, by a reflexogenic mechanism, may improve the performance of the deep trunk stabilizers. In turn, improved relaxation and contractility of the lumbar multifidus and the transversus abdominis (TrA) theoretically could lead to improved functional stability of the spine through enhancement of the neurological and active subsystems as defined by Panjabi (1992a, b). This single case study describes changes observed in the TrA musculature pre- to post-manipulation in a patient that presented with a clinical paradox (symptoms suggestive of clinical lumbar instability but also meeting the clinical prediction rule to succeed with lumbar manipulation therapy). Real-time ultrasound imaging (USI) was used to describe the changes in the TrA musculature..

Background COVID-19 vaccine rollout is lagging in Africa, where there has been a high rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection before vaccination with the ChAdOx-nCoV19 (AZD1222) vaccine on antibody responses through to 180 days. Methods We did an unmasked post-hoc immunogenicity analysis after the first and second doses of AZD1222 in a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 1b–2a study done in seven locations in South Africa. AZD1222 recipients who were HIV-uninfected, were stratified into baseline seropositive or seronegative groups using the serum anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) immunoglobulin G (IgG) electroluminescence immunoassay to establish SARS-CoV-2 infection before the first dose of AZD1222. Binding IgG to spike (anti-S) and receptor binding domain (anti-RBD) were measured before the first dose (day 0), second dose (day 28), day 42, and day 180. Neutralising antibody (NAb) against SARS-CoV-2 variants D614G, beta, delta, gamma, and A.VOI.V2, and omicron BA1 and BA.4 variants, were measured by pseudovirus assay (day 28, day 42, and day 180). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04444674, and the Pan African Clinicals Trials Registry, PACTR202006922165132. Findings Of 185 individuals who were randomly assigned to AZD1222, we included 91 individuals who were baseline seropositive and 58 who were baseline seronegative, in the final analysis. In the seropositive group, there was little change of anti-S IgG (and anti-RBD IgG) or neutralising antibody (NAb) titres at day 42 compared with at day 28. Anti-S (and anti-RBD) IgG geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) were higher throughout in the seropositive compared with the seronegative group, including at day 180 (GMCs 517·8 [95% CI 411·3–651·9] vs 82·1 [55·2–122·3] BAU/mL). Also D614G NAb geometric mean titres (GMTs) were higher in the seropositive group than the seronegative group, as was the percentage with titres of at least 185 (80% putative risk reduction threshold [PRRT] against wild-type–alpha COVID-19), including at day 180 (92·0% [74·0–99·0] vs 18·2% [2·3–51·8). Similar findings were observed for beta, A.VOI.V2, and gamma. For delta, BA.1, and BA.4, NAb GMTs and the proportion with titres above the PRRT were substantially higher in the seropositive compared with seronegative group at day 28 and day 42, but no longer differed between the groups by day 180. Interpretation A single dose of AZD1222 in the general African population, where COVID-19 vaccine coverage is low and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity is 90%, could enhance the magnitude and quality of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2. Funding The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the South African Medical Research Council, the UK Research and Innovation, the UK National Institute for Health Research, and the South African Medical Research Council. Translation For the Zulu translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease with a microbiome dysbiosis towards a high relative abundance of Staphylococcus aureus. However, information is missing on the actual bacterial load on AD skin, which may affect the cell number driven release of pathogenic factors. Here, we combined the relative abundance results obtained by next-generation sequencing (NGS, 16S V1-V3) with bacterial quantification by targeted qPCR (total bacterial load = 16S, S. aureus = nuc gene). Skin swabs were sampled cross-sectionally (n = 135 AD patients; n = 20 healthy) and longitudinally (n = 6 AD patients; n = 6 healthy). NGS and qPCR yielded highly inter-correlated S. aureus relative abundances and S. aureus cell numbers. Additionally, intra-individual differences between body sides, skin status, and consecutive timepoints were also observed. Interestingly, a significantly higher total bacterial load, in addition to higher S. aureus relative abundance and cell numbers, was observed in AD patients in both lesional and non-lesional skin, as compared to healthy controls. Moreover, in the lesional skin of AD patients, higher S. aureus cell numbers significantly correlated with the higher total bacterial load. Furthermore, significantly more severe AD patients presented with higher S. aureus cell number and total bacterial load compared to patients with mild or moderate AD. Our results indicate that severe AD patients exhibit S. aureus driven increased bacterial skin colonization. Overall, bacterial quantification gives important insights in addition to microbiome composition by sequencing.

Consumption of plant foods, including fruits and vegetables, has been associated with a lower risk of some diseases. Besides food constituents, such as fibre or beta-carotene, other bioactive plant compounds such as polyphenols have been suggested to contribute to this protective effect. Yellow mombin (Spondias mombinL.) is a tropical fruit with increasing acceptance in both national and international fruit markets. However, it remains a neglected and underused species. Neglected and underutilized species (NUS), also known as minor crops or 'orphan' crops, can help solving some global issues, such as hunger, poverty and adaptation to climate change. In this review, we have highlighted the functional potential of the fruit ofSpondias mombin. Particular emphasis has been placed on polytphenols, vitamins and minerals.

Background: Stroke is a seriously disabling disease that can affect both the patients and their caregivers in different ways but in equal proportion. This study aimed to explore the experiences of stroke survivors and along with their caregivers after one year of stroke in India. Methods: Twenty stroke survivors and their caregivers were selected for our qualitative, study. Participants who attended two rehabilitation centers were selected using a random sampling method. A previously standardized questionnaire was used to collect information during the interview process. Results: Post-stroke occupational demands were less met and poor awareness of stroke led to various systems of medicines (Indigenous medicine) being tried even after the neuroplasticity had weaned out. Conclusions: The study highlights the need for stroke education for setting up post-stroke recovery expectations from the patient as well as the caregivers. The physiotherapy sessions should commence at the earliest for better results and there should be an emphasis on return to occupation or occupational modification. Keywords: Stroke, stroke survivors, caregivers, physiotherapy.

Focal dystonia and stroke are very rare co-existing phenomena and they are very challenging for a physiotherapist. The problem encountered is the hand function which is very vital for functional activity and hence for the quality of life. Here we have presented a 56-year-old patient with right hemiplegia and focal dystonia co-existing and his physiotherapy management strategy. Though there is a limited success following 8 weeks of management in this case report, there are good take-home messages in the assessment, activity limitation, and participation restriction faced by the patient. Keywords: Stroke, hemiplegia, Focal dystonia, Hand function, rehabilitation, physiotherapy.

AIM: This study was performed with the aim to know if there will be any change in the neural tension of the peripheral nerves following hemiplegia. The study analyzed the status of neural tension in radial, median, ulnar nerves following stroke METHODOLOGY: 30 individuals in post-stroke condition were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detailed procedure was explained in the subject’s words and those who are interested; informed consent was obtained from all the participants. Complete neurological assessment was done. The subject was positioned in a supine position at lateral end of the couch in a diagonal manner. Upper limb tension testing 2 and 3 was tested on both the upper limbs of the subject. The positive and negative test results of the ULTT will be analyzed for the three major nerve of upper limb. RESULT: There were seven subjects positive with neural tension in upper limb out of thirty samples taken. There were 4 subjects with positive ULTT2a, 2 subjects with ULTT2b and 3 patients with ULTT3 positive. CONCLUSION: From this study, we conclude that neural tension is not a regular phenomenon in stroke hence it can be generalized as a treatment protocol for all the stroke subjects. This study also concludes that median nerve and ulnar nerve are the mostly affected in subjects tested positive for neural tension. Keywords: Neural Tension, Hemiplegia, Stroke.

Invasive species alter invaded ecosystems via direct impacts such as consumption. In turn, an invasive species’ ability to thrive in new habitats depends on its ability to exploit available resources, which may change over time and space. Diet quality and quantity are indicators of a consumer’s consumptive effects and can be strongly influenced by season and latitude. We examined the effects of season and latitude on the diet quality and quantity of the invasive Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus throughout a non-winter sampling year at 5 different sites spanning 8° of latitude across its invaded United States range. We found that diet quality, averaged through time, largely follows an expected latitudinal cline, being higher in the center of its range and lower toward the southern and northern edges. We also found that while some sites show similar patterns of diet quality variation with season, no pattern is consistent across all latitudes. Finally, we found that crabs at sites with low diet quality during summer reproductive months did not compensate by increasing total consumption. Because the Asian shore crab is an important consumer in its invaded ecosystems, understanding how its diet quality and quantity vary with season and latitude can help us better understand how this species influences trophic interactions and community structure, how it has been able to establish across a wide ecological and environmental range, and where future range expansion is most likely to occur.

Objective -The primary objective of the study is to find out the effects of adding whole-body vibration therapy to conventional physiotherapy among chronic non-specific low back pain patients. Methodology:20 subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain patients were selected as samples. This study design is an experimental study and the study type is comparative. The duration of this study is 12 weeks within which whole body vibration therapy and conventional physiotherapy are given to the patients of group A and group B. subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain [ LBP], age group around 30 to 50, both males and females are included in this study. GROUP -A -Ten weeks of vibration therapy was provided to selected samples. All the subjects underwent baseline analysis and post-test analysis after ten weeks of intervention using the 3 selected outcome measures, namely the Roland Morris scale for pain, Oswestry disability index, and Visual analog scale. GROUP-B- was treated with conventional physiotherapy. Result: On comparing the between group analysis of the Roland-Morris scale, Oswestry disability index, and Visual analog scale. It has been found that there is no significant difference between group A and group.On comparing the within-group analysis, it has been found that there was a significant difference in the Roland-Morris scale of group A and group B of pre-test and post-test with the p-value 0.005. In Oswestry Disability index of group-A and group B for pre-test and post-test with ap-value of 0.005. In VAS of group A for pre-test and post-test with the p-value of 0.005 and group B with the p-value of 0.004. Conclusion: The study concluded that whole-body vibration therapy is more effective than conventional physiotherapy in treating with chronic non-specific low back pain

This study aims to evaluate the combined effectiveness of specific stabilization exercises with yoga training for chronic low back pain patients in minimizing pain and improving their lumbar stability and functional ability. Totally 36 patients participated in this study which was performed as a Pre-test and post-test experimental study design. The outcome measure used was VAS, Roland Morri’s back pain questionnaire (RMQ). Specialized Lumbar stabilization exercises combined with therapeutic Yoga were provided to the patients. There was a significant difference in the gain score for the exercise with yoga for the VAS and RMQ. In the patient, the VAS score has decreased from the mean (standard deviation), pre–test (8/10) to post-test (3/10) which shows the difference. There was a significant difference in the Pain score (11) for the exercise with yoga for the Roland – Morris low back pain questionnaire. In the patient, RMQ scores have increased from the mean (standard deviation), pre–test (16/24) to post–test (5/24). This study reveals that specific stabilization exercises with yoga therapy training programs resulted in improvement. Progressive training appears to be an effective intervention to reduce low back pain and has a positive effect on improving strength. The study supports the lumbar spine stabilizing exercises combined with yoga therapy as an effective approach in minimizing pain and improving functional capacity.

Yoga and aerobics are the two main protocols used widely for the reduction of weight in obesity management. This study have taken these two as the main variables in analysing their efficiency in reducing weight. Methodology: Only male subjects with an age of 15 to 25 years and BMI value more than 26 participated in this clinical trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups namely group A and B. Group A subjects received a set or aerobic exercises that included elliptical exercises, tread mill walking, cycling in magnetic stationary cycling, floor exercises like squats, jumps and lunges. Group B subjects received a set of kriya, asana, pranayama, mudras and bandha. Observation: Outcome measures used in this study are lipid profile variables namely Triglycerides,Total cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein, High density lipoprotein. Results of this study concluded that both YOGIC practice and aerobic training are effective in reducing the lipid profile abnormalities. Though there is no significant difference between the two groups at the end of the 6th week, the results suggest that YOGA practice results in a constant and steady correction of lipid profile value in obese young adults. So this study concludes that YOGA is an effective way of normalising the lipid profile values in obese young adults

An experiment for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) was conducted to evaluate the use of mulching materials in increasing productivity and profitability of potato production. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five different mulching materials including control replicated for four times namely, banmara (Agertina adenophora) weed (T1), black polythene sheet (T2), white polythene sheet (T3), commercially used mulch paper having black color outside and silver color inside (T4) and farmers practice (T5) as a control with no mulch. The research result revealed that all the mulching materials significantly (p value ≤ 0.05) increased tuber yield and yield attributing characters of potato as compared with control (no mulch). The highest tuber yield was obtained from mulching with commercial mulch paper followed by mulching with black polythene sheet in both years. Mulching with banmara also produced significantly (p value ≤ 0.01) higher tuber yield than no mulch plot in the year 2017 and 2018. Mulching practices significantly (p value ≤ 0.05) improved the soil available phosphorus. The incremental benefit cost ratio was highest (2.97) in the mulched with banmara followed by commercial mulch paper (2.12). The banmara mulch was also profitable with comparatively higher tuber yield.

This is a review on the use of artificial intelligence for digital breast pathology. A systematic search on PubMed was conducted, identifying 17,324 research papers related to breast cancer pathology. Following a semimanual screening, 664 papers were retrieved and pursued. The papers are grouped into six major tasks performed by pathologists-namely, molecular and hormonal analysis, grading, mitotic figure counting, ki-67 indexing, tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte assessment, and lymph node metastases identification. Under each task, open-source datasets for research to build artificial intelligence (AI) tools are also listed. Many AI tools showed promise and demonstrated feasibility in the automation of routine pathology investigations. We expect continued growth of AI in this field as new algorithms mature.

Objective: Today laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the treatment of choice for acute cholecystitis. However, the presence of severe inflammation makes it challenging for the surgeons to accurately recognize the Calot’s triangle which increases the risk of intraoperative complications. The aim of this study was to explore the validity of a scoring system used to predict difficult LC and to analyse the risk factors associated with difficult cholecystectomy in the setting of acute calculous cholecystitis. Material and Methods: An observational study was conducted between December 2018 and December 2020 among 132 patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A scoring system by Randhawa et al. was used preoperatively for all of these patients to predict difficult LC, which was correlated to intraoperative difficulties in actual surgery. Data were analysed using the SPSS version 26.0. Results: Mean age was 43.63 ± 13.37, with almost equal representation from both sexes. History of previous attacks of cholecystitis, impacted stone, thickness of GB wall were statistically significant in calculating preoperative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The scoring system had a sensitivity and specificity of 82.6% and 63.5%, respectively. The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was 6.9%. Conclusion: Analysing the significant risk factors before operating in the presence of an inflamed gallbladder can reduce the overall mortality and morbidity. An accurate preoperative scoring system will enable the operating surgeon to be well prepared with adequate resources and time. The patient attenders can also be counselled regarding the risk involved beforehand.

The present study aims to assess the perception of fruit traders on plant species under anthropogenic threats in natural ecosystems of southern Benin. To do this, a semi-structured survey was conducted among fruit traders in local markets of Tangbo-Djevié and Dantokpa (Southern Benin). From the results obtained, it appears that the fruit sales activity is exclusively female (100%) and the majority of women (84.74%) are between 31 and 60 years old. According to surveyed people, fruit trade activities are closely depended on the fruiting period of each fruit species. Fruits sold in these markets are commonly pineapple (Ananas comosus), avocado (Persea americana), banana (Musa acuminata), soursop (Anona muricata), lemon (Citrus limon), orange (Citrus sinensis), grapefruit (Citrus maxima), papaya (Carica papaya), chapokin (Ceiba pentandra), guava (Psidium guajava), cinnamon apple (Annona squamosa), star apple (Chrysophylum albidum), wild apple (Irvingia gabonensis), black tamarind (Dialium guineense) and watermelon (Citrullus nanatus). The fruits sold in these markets came mainly from four departments of southern Benin, such as Atlantique, Zou, Couffo and Borgou. The fruits mostly cited by surveyed people as to be under anthropogenic threats are chapokin (Ceiba pentandra), soursop (Anona muricata), guava (Psidium guajava), cinnamon apple (Annona squamosa), star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum), wild apple (Irvingia gabonensis), mombin plum (Spondias mombin) and black tamarind (Dialium guineense). This study therefore shows that particular attention should be given to this activity sector through the awareness of the nutritional opportunity that these wild fruits represent for the population and also the development of technological processes allowing their real industrial valorization

Tomato is an important horticultural product cultivated worldwide and a major crop subject of studies. The present study therefore aims to review the state of the art of research on tomato. To do this, search was carried out in scientific databases (Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed and Agora), A suitable scientific research works were selected and analyzed. From the results, it appears that tomato is a fruit vegetable, belongs to Solanaceae family and cultivated in many countries of the world and in various climates. Its production can be done in field, but also under controlled conditions by using of artificial lighting, heaters, as well as fertigation to produce high quality tomatoes. Nutritionally, regular intake of tomato fruit increase levels of carotenoids, lycopene, vitamin C, and polyphenols compounds in the daily diet. Regarding the preservation of tomato, research papers mentioned that tomato, like any plant, is subject to agronomic constraints, such as abiotic (light, water supply, salinity, floor structure) and biotic constraints (bacterial, fungal and viruses’ attacks). Mechanical damage also influenced external quality traits of tomato. Finally, this review paper presents a brief overview of some recent studies concerning the control of tomato diseases, the valorization of tomato fruits, as well as the using of tomato waste as a bioresource for lycopene extraction. However, it would be interesting that future investigations revolve around the search for more alternatives methods to control bacterial, fungal or virus attacks, such as the use of natural compounds, in particular those from plant origin.

Pada Program Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat ini yang dijadikan sebagai mitra adalah Yayasan Dharma Jati II yaitu sebuah Panti Asuhan Hindu yang membina anak-anak yatim piatu, miskin dan anak terlantar yang beralamat di Jalan Trengguli no. 80 Desa Penatih Denpasar Bali. Tujuan dari program ini adalah untuk memberi solusi dari salah satu masalah yang sedang dihadapi oleh yayasan tersebut,yakni mengenai masalah yang terkait dengan kegiatan pengembangan diri diluar kegiatan formal.Terkait dengan masalah tersebut, maka dalam pengabdian ini berupaya untuk berkontribusi dengan menawarkan suatu solusi, yaitu memberi pelatihan tentang menggambar Ornamen tradisional Bali. Metoda pelatihan dilakukan dengan metode porposive sampling dengan menentukan sebanyak 10 orang peserta. Pelaksanaan kegiatan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat ini dilakukan didukung dengan metode penyampaian pengetahuan atau transfer of knowledge yakni: (1) Ceramah yaitu metode menyampaikan materi pelajaran dengan cara penuturan lisan kepada peserta didik pada waktu dan tempat tertentu, dilakukan untuk menyampaikan materi pelatihan mengenai pengertian Ornamen, fungsi dan alat yang diperlukan; (2) Metode demonstrasi adalah penyajian pelajaran dengan memperagakan kepada peserta pelatihan tentang suatu proses, situasi atau benda tertentu, baik sebenarnya atau hanya sekadar tiruan;(3) Observasi yaitu dengan mengamati hasil gambar yang dibuat serta untuk memantau perkembangan para peserta selama mengikuti pelatihan;(4) Metode Wawancara, dilakukan untuk menggali informasi tentang pengetahuan peserta pelatihan,sebelum dan sesudah mengikuti pelatihan. Diharapkan setelah mengikuti pelatihan tersebut mereka dapat membuat gambar ornamen tradisional Bali sebagai bekal pengetahuan dalam menjalani kehidupan di masa depan. Adapun Target Luaran publikasi, yaitu berupa artikel yang akan dipublikasikan pada jurnal ilmiah, Video kegiatan akan diunggah ke youtube dan terdaftar pada HKI.

Haemodialysis centres have conventionally provided maintenance haemodialysis using a standard dialysate temperature (eg, 36·5°C) for all patients. Many centres now use cooler dialysate (eg, 36·0°C or lower) for potential cardiovascular benefits. We aimed to assess whether personalised cooler dialysate, implemented as centre-wide policy, reduced the risk of cardiovascular-related death or hospital admission compared with standard temperature dialysate.MyTEMP was a pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group, registry-based, open-label, cluster-randomised, superiority trial done at haemodialysis centres in Ontario, Canada. Eligible centres provided maintenance haemodialysis to at least 15 patients a week, and the medical director of each centre had to confirm that their centre would deliver the assigned intervention. Using covariate-constrained randomisation, we allocated 84 centres (1:1) to use either personalised cooler dialysate (nurses set the dialysate temperature 0·5-0·9°C below each patient's measured pre-dialysis body temperature, with a lowest recommended dialysate temperature of 35·5°C), or standard temperature dialysate (36·5°C for all patients and treatments). Patients and health-care providers were not masked to the group assignment; however, the primary outcome was recorded in provincial databases by medical coders who were unaware of the trial or the centres' group assignment. The primary composite outcome was cardiovascular-related death or hospital admission with myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, or congestive heart failure during the 4-year trial period. Analysis was by intention to treat. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02628366.We assessed all of Ontario's 97 centres for inclusion into the study. Nine centres had less than 15 patients and one director requested that four of their seven centres not participate. 84 centres were recruited and on Feb 1, 2017, these centres were randomly assigned to administer personalised cooler dialysate (42 centres) or standard temperature dialysate (42 centres). The intervention period was from April 3, 2017, to March 31, 2021, and during this time the trial centres provided outpatient maintenance haemodialysis to 15 413 patients (about 4·3 million haemodialysis treatments). The mean dialysate temperature was 35·8°C in the cooler dialysate group and 36·4°C in the standard temperature group. The primary outcome occurred in 1711 (21·4%) of 8000 patients in the cooler dialysate group versus 1658 (22·4%) of 7413 patients in the standard temperature group (adjusted hazard ratio 1·00, 96% CI 0·89 to 1·11; p=0·93). The mean drop in intradialytic systolic blood pressure was 26·6 mm Hg in the cooler dialysate group and 27·1 mm Hg in the standard temperature group (mean difference -0·5 mm Hg, 99% CI -1·4 to 0·4; p=0·14).Centre-wide delivery of personalised cooler dialysate did not significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events compared with standard temperature dialysate. The rising popularity of cooler dialysate is called into question by this study, and the risks and benefits of cooler dialysate in some patient populations should be clarified in future trials.Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Ontario Renal Network, Ontario Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Support Unit, Dialysis Clinic, Inc., ICES (formerly known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences), Lawson Health Research Institute, and Western University.

Aflatoxins are the result of fungal metabolites that contaminate agricultural produce and can cause death to both humans and animals. The risks of using contaminated food and feed with aflatoxins have increased due to environmental factors, pre-harvest, post-harvest and socio-economic factors. This study revealed on harvesting, drying, and sorting practices that can reduce aflatoxin contamination. Experiments were designed in three districts; Kilosa, Gairo, and Mvomero with five (5) treatments replicated nine (9) times under farmers’ conditions. Samples were collected during harvesting, drying, and sorting; and analyzed for aflatoxin B1 using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) at Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) laboratory. Analysis of variance and comparison of means for moisture content, mold levels, grain damage, and aflatoxin levels were performed using GenStat® Executable release 16 Statistical Analysis Software. Results indicated that aflatoxin contamination levels were lower at maize grain harvested into bags (456.9μg/kg) compared to maize harvesting onto the ground (889.1μg/kg). It was also observed that maize dried on tarpaulin and raised platform had significantly (p

To report two cases of bilateral retinal vasculitis in adolescents following COVID-19 vaccination.Case report. We report the first two cases of retinal vasculitis in adolescents following COVID-19 vaccinations. Both patients received recent second-dose COVID-19 vaccinations (7 weeks and 4 weeks respectively), and presented with bilateral retinal vasculitis and vitritis. Investigations did not reveal other causes of retinal vasculitis. Both patients' retinal vasculitis settled with a short course of oral prednisolone.Although rare, the temporal association between vaccination, bilateral eye involvement, and the absence of alternative infective or inflammatory causes, makes this a plausible etiology. mRNA vaccinations may cause an autoimmune reaction via host antigenic mimicry, and systemic vasculitis has previously been described. We believe that a short interval between COVID-19 vaccination doses might be a risk factor for the development of retinal vasculitis in adolescents, and clinicians should be aware to elicit vaccination history.

Marine transport has the potential to alter the geographic range of microorganisms through ballast water movement. Recent culture-independent studies investigated the bacteriome of ballast water, but no prior studies have examined the mycobiome. Here were examined 60 ballast and harbor samples from 4 major ports and 5 ocean samples using culture-independent techniques to determine (1) the composition of harbor and ballast water mycobiomes; (2) if ballast contained human and environmentally relevant fungal pathogens; and (3) the potential risk of introduction to coastal ecosystems. Results indicate that ballast water and harbor water contain a diverse mycobiome and that ballast water may contain fungal taxa that are relevant human and marine fish pathogens. Fungal genera were identified that contain known coral and coastal plant pathogen species; however, species-level identification of these potential pathogens could not be conclusively resolved. Ballast and harbor mycobiomes contained similar taxa, suggesting that environmental filtering may not inhibit the spread of fungal taxa between these ecosystems. This study highlights the potential risks of ballast movement and suggests further research of the ballast mycobiome is needed.

Active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback during galaxy merger has been the most favoured model to explain black hole–galaxy co-evolution. However, how the AGN-driven jet/wind/radiation is coupled with the gas of the merging galaxies, which leads to positive feedback, momentarily enhanced star formation, and subsequently negative feedback, a decline in star formation, is poorly understood. Only a few cases are known where the jet and companion galaxy interaction leads to minor off-axis distortions in the jets and enhanced star formation in the gas-rich minor companions. Here, we briefly report one extraordinary case, RAD12, discovered by RAD@home citizen science collaboratory, where for the first time a radio jet–driven bubble (∼ 137 kpc) is showing a symmetric reflection after hitting the incoming galaxy which is not a gas-rich minor but a gas-poor early-type galaxy in a major merger. Surprisingly, neither positive feedback nor any radio lobe on the counter jet side, if any, is detected. It is puzzling if RAD12 is a genuine one-sided jet or a case of radio lobe trapped, compressed and re-accelerated by shocks during the merger. This is the first imaging study of RAD12 presenting follow-up with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, archival MeerKAT radio data and Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope optical data.

This study focused on the problems of disparities in sanitation infrastructure and their consequences on the environment and health in the city of Cotonou. The methodology focuses on documentary research, sociological surveys by questionnaire, direct observation using an observation grid. A total of 10 boroughs and 20 neighborhoods were covered. The Accelerated Participatory Research Method (MARP) was used to reach households in order to have their perceptions on the causes of floods and sanitation problems, their impacts on the environment and health. The model (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) served as the basis for the analysis and interpretation of the results. The cartographic data was processed using GIS software. The maps were drawn up using the topographic base map from the National Geographic Institute (IGN). The results obtained show that there are significant differences in terms of sanitation in Cotonou.This is partly due to the irregular settlement of populations in unhealthy areas where the land have not been serviced in time. As far as the collectors are concerned, there are arrondissements which are not or poorly provided for, whereas the need is real. This is the case of the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 12th, arrondissements. This same trend is observed with the paved roads and gutters in these respective arrondissements. It has been observed that the majority of domestic wastewater is discharged on the ground, outside or in the courtyard of the concessions (87% households) and this is explained by the fact that the majority of households do not have pits for the collection of this water. The water from the shower is collected in the pits (77% of households) or is left to infiltrate directly into the ground (40% of households). The existence of sewage streams and uncontrolled deposits of solid waste in the city are certainly one of the causes of ailments such as malaria, diarrhea, and acute respiratory ailments.

This study investigated the characterization of vehicular noise pollution and established health standards in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. There were four types of data collected for this study: vehicular noise data were collected across the junctions and roundabouts using the Noise Level Meter (NLM); vehicular traffic data were generated by observation and counting vehicles that passed each junction and roundabout; vehicular traffic map was developed using the Global Positioning System (GPS) device analyzed in the Geographic Information System (GIS) environment and vehicular noise levels were matched with national and international standards respectively. The result indicated that Port Harcourt metropolis has exceeded both the national and international vehicular traffic noise standard of 70dB which has triggered physiological and psychological health challenges to residential areas and the general road users as well as the public. This study recommended that there should be improved road network across the city, especially the southern and western segments in order to ameliorate vehicular noise pollution. Effective road-safety management framework should be developed and implemented. Finally, state and national laws on noise pollution offenders should be implemented in order to reduce vehicular noise pollution and provide a safe as well as livable environment for Port Harcourt city dwellers.

This study set out to examine ultrasonographic attributes of non-neurosegmentally (pectoral-forelimb) and neurosegmentally linked (hindlimb) myotomes in an experimental model that leads to neurogenic inflammation in segmentally linked myotomes, and to evaluate quantitative correlations among ultrasonographic attributes of the muscles, relative content of various inflammatory mediators, and nociceptive thresholds (hot and mechanical) in rats. Twelve male Wistar Kyoto rats were randomly divided into two equinumerous groups: surgery group, in which the left lumbar (L4–L6) facet joints were compressed for 3 min with modified Kelly forceps under general anesthesia, and sham-operated rats. All ultrasonograms were obtained with the Vevo 2100 Visual Sonic scanner connected to a 24-MHz transducer at four different time points: pre-surgery and 7, 14, and 21 days after surgical procedures. Digital ultrasonographic images of quadriceps femoris, hamstring, and pectoral-brachial muscle groups were analyzed using a polygonal meter region of interest placed on the largest cross-sectional area of the muscles displayed in Image ProPlus® analytical software to compute numerical pixel values and pixel heterogeneity (standard deviation of mean pixel values). On day 21, pain behavior tests (hot plate and von Frey) were performed and then all animals were euthanized. Protein expression of inflammatory mediators in biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscles was measured by Western blot. The most prominent differences in muscle echotextural attributes between the two subsets of rats occurred 14 days post-surgery in pectoral-brachial and quadriceps femoris muscles. The expression of calcitonin-gene-related peptide was directly related to both echotextural variables only in biceps brachii (pixel intensity: r = 0.65, P = 0.02; and heterogeneity: r = 0.66, P = 0.02, respectively). Our findings have revealed the occurrence of echotextural changes in skeletal muscles of rats during myositis; however, the accumulation of inflammatory mediators and the outcomes of sensory tests did not relate to the changes in first-order echotextural characteristics of affected hindlimb muscles.

Epigenetic resetting in the mammalian germ line entails acute DNA demethylation, which lays the foundation for gametogenesis, totipotency, and embryonic development. We characterize the epigenome of hypomethylated human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) to reveal mechanisms preventing the widespread derepression of genes and transposable elements (TEs). Along with the loss of DNA methylation, we show that hPGCs exhibit a profound reduction of repressive histone modifications resulting in diminished heterochromatic signatures at most genes and TEs and the acquisition of a neutral or paused epigenetic state without transcriptional activation. Efficient maintenance of a heterochromatic state is limited to a subset of genomic loci, such as evolutionarily young TEs and some developmental genes, which require H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, respectively, for efficient transcriptional repression. Accordingly, transcriptional repression in hPGCs presents an exemplary balanced system relying on local maintenance of heterochromatic features and a lack of inductive cues.

Purpose:To describe photoreceptor damage in patients withTerson syndromeas a potential cause for inconsistent clinical outcomes. Methods:Clinical evaluation and retinal imaging in six patients Results:Four patients were female and two male, with an average age of 46.8 years (SD 8.9). Four patients suffered aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, one vertebral artery dissection, and one superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. In 11 eyes, we observed a consistent pattern of outer retinal damage within the central macula affecting the ellipsoid zone and the outer nuclear layer, indicating photoreceptor damage. Areas of photoreceptor damage showed poor spatial correlation with intraocular haemorrhage, particularly sub-internal limiting membrane haemorrhage. The observed retinal abnormalities demonstrated incomplete recovery over long-term follow-up 3.5 to 8 years post-haemorrhage, irrespective of surgical or conservative treatment strategy, and had variable impact on the patients’ visual function. Conclusion:The observations suggest that photoreceptor damage inTerson syndromelikely represents a distinct manifestation of this condition, which could be caused by transient ischaemia resulting from disturbed choroidal perfusion secondary to acute rise in intracranial pressure.

Climate-induced natural hazards are thought to be happening more frequent and more intense under an increasingly warmer Earth. Earth-observing satellites including the ones operate in constellations and deliver accurate and sub-daily high-resolution/stereo multispectral satellite imagery, provide an opportunity to rapidly monitoring and quantifying the magnitude of disasters. Planet PBC’s Dove/SuperDove, SkySat, RapidEye (retired in March 2020) satellite constellations have at present over 150 CubeSats providing daily/sub-daily sampled 0.5-5-meter resolution images globally. Here, we use the available multispectral images from Planet CubeSat constellations, other geodetic and remote sensing data with the objective to conduct a feasibility study to monitor hazards. In particular, our goal is to identify, track, and quantify the scopes of active wildfires and rapid flood events even at relatively small scales and relatively short-durations worldwide, to study the feasibility of using timely and multi-platform satellite observations to complement informed disaster responses. In this study, we provide case studies and demonstrations of example brush fire and flood hazards to examine the feasibility of a satellite observation-based decision-support disaster response and management tool., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)

On February 6, 2023, a sequence of earthquakes with Mw 7.8 and Mw 7.5 occurred in southern central Turkey near the northern border of Syria about in 9 hours. The disastrous earthquake sequence and its other aftershocks caused heavy human casualties and devastating building collapses. We employ the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to capture coherent spatiotemporal features of co-seismic deformation for three components (N, E, U), which is based on the time series of 1-Hz GPS solutions at 20 permanent stations spatially well-distributed around the ruptured Anatolian fault system. The solved EOF modes show patterns which would help to investigate co-seismic rupture of the seismogenic faults. We compare the EOF-derived co-seismic displacement to the modeling results, which is computed from the spherical, elastic dislocation theory and finite fault model inverted from teleseismic waves records. Both GPS-observed and the modeled displacements show high consistency except for that at station EKZ1 (Ekinözü) where ~4.7 m of westward motion was estimated from GPS which we believe does not entirely represent the crustal motion; some other phenomena such as a local co-seismic landslide or a relative motion of the pillar with respect to the ground might have occurred. Moreover, this sequence is a large typical strike-slip faulting, which can generate gravity change above the threshold proposed by some theoretical simulation based on the satellite gravimetry observations. We also compute forward-modeled coseismic gravity changes, and discuss the plausible detection by instrument onboard of GRACE Follow-On gravimetry mission., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)

Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) is the ongoing response of the solidEarth to the deglaciation of the last Pleistocene ice sheet. In North America near Hudson Bay, the remoteregion has large-scale GIA-induced deformation, and the GIA modelingis constrained by sparse geodetic measurements from leveling, GNSS, and satellite gravimetry. Satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has been used to constrain GIA modeling in Iceland. However, measuring surface displacements by InSAR is more challenging in southern Hudson Bay because of the lower-gradient pattern. Such low-gradient displacements in time and space are subject to spatial-correlated biases from tropospheric and ionospheric variations, ocean tide loading, and orbit errors. Here we investigate the feasibility of using InSAR to measure GIA-induced deformation in southern Hudson Bay. We used 5-year (2017-2021) summertime Sentinel-1B SAR data and the persistent scatterer InSAR (PSInSAR) method to estimate surface displacements. We used model-based corrections to alleviate the spatial-correlated errors and further applied the spatiotemporal filter to reduce error residuals. The InSAR-derived vertical velocity shows a consistent pattern with the ICE-6G_D GIA model and shows a good agreement with available GNSS observations (RMS difference is at 2.03 mm/yr). The velocity map reveals distinct regional differences with model prediction, at 2-3 mm/yr higher in the northern and southern areas, and 2-3 mm/yr lower in the middle of the Hudson Bay land area study region.The revealed regional inconsistency between the InSAR-derived deformations and the GIA model could advance the understanding of GIA and potentially constrain the Earth's rheology in this region., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)

The Bs0 and B$^{+}$ production yields are measured in PbPb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV. The data sample, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 nb$^{−1}$. The mesons are reconstructed in the exclusive decay channels B→s0J/ψ(μ+μ−)ϕ(K+K−) and B→+J/ψ(μ+μ−)K+, in the transverse momentum range 7–50GeV/c and absolute rapidity 0–2.4. The Bs0 meson is observed with a statistical significance in excess of five standard deviations for the first time in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The measurements are performed as functions of the transverse momentum of the B mesons and of the PbPb collision centrality. The ratio of production yields of Bs0 and B$^{+}$ is measured and compared to theoretical models that include quark recombination effects.

Background: Efforts to regulate tobacco products and reduce consumption in the European Union (EU) include the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which went into force in May 2016. Despite the initial discussion to include a ban on sale of slim cigarettes, it was excluded in the final TPD. The main goal of this study was to examine support for a ban on slim cigarettes among smokers in six European Countries. Methods: Data from the 2018 (Wave 2) International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project 6 European Country (ITC 6E) EUREST-PLUS project survey, a cross sectional study of adult smokers (n=5592) from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Spain, was analysed. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate support for a ban on slim cigarettes by sociodemographic characteristics and smoking behaviors. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with support for a ban on slim cigarettes and perceptions of harm. Results: Support for a ban on slims varied across countries, with highest support in Romania (33.8%), and lowest in Greece (18.0%). Female smokers (OR=0.77; 95%CI=0.66-0.90, daily smokers (OR=0.59; 95%CI=0.42-0.83), menthol smokers (OR=0.56; 95%CI=0.36-0.87), and smokers who did not have plans to quit within next six months (OR=0.45; 95%CI=0.36-0.57) had significantly lower odds of supporting a ban on slim cigarettes. Overall, 20% of smokers perceived slim cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes. Conclusions: Support for a ban of slim cigarettes was relatively low among smokers, while misperceptions that slim cigarettes are less harmful is high, particularly among countries where slim cigarette use is more prevalent. Findings support a ban on slim cigarettes to reduce misperceptions around slim cigarettes being less harmful.

Both frugivores and nectarivores are potentially exposed to dietary ethanol produced by fermentative yeasts which metabolize sugars. Some nectarivorous mammals exhibit a preference for low-concentration ethanol solutions compared to controls of comparable caloric content, but behavioural responses to ethanol by nectar-feeding birds are unknown. We investigated dietary preference by Anna's Hummingbirds (Calypte anna) for ethanol-enhanced sucrose solutions. Via repeated binary-choice experiments, three adult male hummingbirds were exposed to sucrose solutions containing 0%, 1% or 2% ethanol; rates of volitional nectar consumption were measured over a 3 h interval. Hummingbirds did not discriminate between 0% and 1% ethanol solutions, but exhibited significantly reduced rates of consumption of a 2% ethanol solution. Opportunistic measurements of ethanol concentrations within hummingbird feeders registered values peaking at about 0.05%. Ethanol at low concentrations (i.e. up to 1%) is not aversive to Anna's Hummingbirds and may be characteristic of both natural and anthropogenic nectars upon which they feed. Given high daily amounts of nectar consumption by hummingbirds, chronic physiological exposure to ethanol can thus be substantial, although naturally occurring concentrations within floral nectar are unknown.

Introduction: The impact of sex and diabetes mellitus (DM) on patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) is not well elucidated. This study aims to evaluate sex differences in the clinical profile and outcomes in Asian HFmrEF patients with and without DM. Methods: Patients admitted nationally for HFmrEF (ejection fraction 40–49%) between 2008 and 2014 were included and followed up until December 2016. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular (CV) death and/or heart failure (HF) rehospitalisations. Results: A total of 2,272 HFmrEF patients (56% male) were included. More women had DM than men (60% versus 55%, P=0.013). Regardless of DM status, HFmrEF females were older, less likely to smoke, had less coronary artery disease, narrower QRS and lower haemoglobin compared to men. The odds of having DM decreases in smokers who are women as opposed to men (Pinteraction =0.017). In multivariate analysis, DM reached statistical analysis for all-cause mortality and combined CV mortality or HF rehospitalisation in both men and women. However, the results suggest that there may be sex differences in terms of outcomes. DM (vs non-DM) was less strongly associated with increased all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [adj HR] 1.234 vs adj HR 1.290, Pinteraction