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Increased time spent by users in virtual environments globally coupled with the choice architectures created by artificial intelligence (AI) systems within these virtual environments means that the AI systems can ‘persuade’ users to take certain actions or abstain from them. In this article, we address this issue through the lens of ‘dark patterns’. Dark patterns are features of the user interface that shape the actions of the users in different ways, getting them to act in ways that they might not act otherwise and that are not necessarily beneficial for them. Recently, regulatory action has been undertaken in various jurisdictions to contain the menace of dark patterns, including in India. But can these measures prevent dark patterns that are powered by AI systems? In this article, we argue that they cannot, as AI-powered dark patterns work at a deep level of behavioural change, making users’ choices appear uninfluenced by manipulation. The laws pertaining to unfair trade practices, transparency and labelling obligations are also not sufficient to deal with these problems. We conclude with an appeal for a holistic approach to AI-powered dark patterns that engage in persuasive behaviour.

Background Perfusion imaging is one of the methods used to grade glial neoplasms, and in this study we evaluated the role of ASL perfusion in grading brain glioma.Purpose The aim is to evaluate the role of arterialized cerebral blood volume (aCBV) of multi-delay ASL perfusion for grading glial neoplasm.Materials and methods This study is a prospective observational study of 56 patients with glial neoplasms of the brain who underwent surgery, and only cases with positive diagnosis of glioma are included to evaluate the novel diagnostic parameter.Results In the study, ASL-derived normalized aCBV (naCBV) and T2*DSC-derived normalized CBV (nCBV) are showing very high correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient value of 0.94) in grading glial neoplasms. naCBV and nCBF are also showing very high correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient value of 0.876). The study also provides cutoff values for differentiating LGG from HGG for normalized aCBV(naCBV) of ASL, normalized CBV (nCBV), and normalized nCBF derived from T2* DCS as 1.12, 1.254, and 1.31, respectively. ASL-derived aCBV also shows better diagnostic accuracy than ASL-derived CBF.Conclusion This study is one of its kind to the best of our knowledge where multi-delay ASL perfusion-derived aCBV is used as a novel imaging biomarker for grading glial neoplasms, and it has shown high statistical correlation with T2* DSC-derived perfusion parameters.

In the present work, aluminium alloy-based composites were developed for automobile applications. Aluminium-based functionally graded material (FGM) was developed by adding 2.5, 5 and 7.5 wt% of nanoparticles of alumina. The composites were made using gravity casting in an open hearth furnace with the surface temperature of FGM maintained at 750, 850 and 1,000°C. The microstructure of the samples was studied using scanning electron microscopy and particle distribution. The particle distribution was higher at the bottom in all compositions, which can be attributed to more solidification time. As the wt% of the Al2O3increased, the volume fraction of particles also increased from the top surface to the bottom surface of the samples. After adding 7.5 wt% of Al2O3and heating up to 1,000°C led to the grain refinement of the alloy. The increase in hardness from the top surface to the bottom surface of the sample verified the development of FGM. Due to increase in the solidification temperature, better reinforcement was observed in the developed FGM.

The objective of this article is to explore whether the use of single or double ringed wound protectors (WP) in patients undergoing colorectal resection (CRR) are associated with reduced risk of surgical site infections (SSI).

A case of synchronous cystic teratomas presented with the complaints of a slow-growing facial mass and forward protrusion of the right eye since birth. The patient was examined thoroughly and subjected to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The MRI scan revealed the presence of two separate cysts in the right orbit and right temporal fossa. The patient was operated by a combined effort of ophthalmologists and otorhinolaryngologists. The cysts were excised and subjected to pathological examination. The histopathological survey revealed both the cysts to be mature cystic teratomas similar to each other. This coexistence of a primary temporal fossa teratoma with an orbital teratoma is the first of its kind and to the best of our knowledge has not been reported before.