Search

Abstract Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common cause of graft dysfunction, accounting for significant morbidity, and are associated with poor graft and patient survival. This study aimed to assess the association between post-renal transplant UTI and graft outcomes. Methods: We examined the effect of UTIs on graft outcomes in patients who underwent renal transplantation surgery between January 2010 and December 2022. The study population included 349 renal transplantations, of which 74 experienced 140 UTI events. Based on the number of UTI episodes, patients were categorized into three groups. Results: Of the 349 recipients, 275 (74.4%) had no UTI, 47 (18.8%) had non-recurrent UTIs (NR-UTIs), and 27 (6.8%) had recurrent UTIs (R-UTIs). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that post-KT UTI status was a significant factor in graft survival, death-censored graft survival, and patient survival after a follow up of 5 years (log rank, P < 0.001). R-UTIs were associated with very poor graft survival and patient survival when compared with no UTI after a follow up of 5 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.506; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.233–1.840; P < 0.001 & HR, 1.529; 95% CI, 1.227–1.905; P = 0.001). R-UTIs were more likely to be associated with multi-drug resistant Gram-negative organisms (Klebsiella pneumonia or Escherichia coli) with resistance to nitrofurantoin (RR, 2.753; 95% CI, 1.257–6.032; P = 0.01) and carbapenem (RR, 2.064; 95% CI, 0.988–4.314; P = 0.05). Conclusion: Compared to no UTI, R-UTIs were associated to worse graft and patient outcomes after a follow-up of 5 years, whereas NR-UTIs were associated with poor graft and patient outcomes in the long term.

Objective: To determine the effect of Augmented Reality (AR) - based toothbrushing on oral hygiene practices among 6-8yrs old children of Mysuru City. Material and Methods: A concurrent parallel examiner-blinded study was conducted on 6-8yrs old children. The participants were divided into two groups: a) the Conventional brushing group and b) the AR-assisted brushing group. Oral hygiene parameters were assessed at the baseline. The conventional group was given a manual toothbrush. The AR-assisted group received a Colgate Magik toothbrush. Both groups were followed up for two weeks. The acceptance of using AR-assisted brushing was recorded via feedback. The pre-post comparison within the group was carried out using a paired t-test. Results: An improvement in oral hygiene status with a significant reduction in the AR-assisted brushing group (p

The aim of the paper is to obtain common fixed point theorems for ( psi, phi)-contraction under the generalized rational type condition in a complete metric space. Moreover, these theorems generalize recent well known results in the literature.

Abstract Objective: Despite the literature on dydrogesterone, studies on dydrogesterone utilization patterns are largely lacking in Indian patients. Methods: This was a multi-center, retrospective, observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study across 817 centers in India. Data of patients who received dydrogesterone in past and provided consent for future use of their medical record for research purpose was were retrieved and analyzed. Results: Data of 7287 subjects (aged 29.55±4.84 years) was analyzed. Threatened abortion was the most common indication for which the subjects received dydrogesterone (46.9%) followed by recurrent pregnancy loss. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders and anemia were the most common comorbid conditions and prior pregnancy loss, advanced maternal age and obesity were the most common risk factors seen in subjects who received dydrogesterone. Total 27.5% of subjects received a loading dose of dydrogesterone, and majority (64%) received 40 mg as loading dose. 10 mg dose was used as maintenance or regular dose in 81.4% of the subjects. Twice daily (BID) was the most common dosing frequency (66.6%). The most common concomitant medications being taken by the subjects on dydrogesterone included folic acid (45.1%), iron supplements (30.3%) and calcium and vitamin D3 supplements (25.5%). Another progesterone preparation (oral, injection, vaginal, tubal) other than dydrogesterone was used concurrently in 7.8% of subjects. Conclusion: The study helped to identify the patient population that is benefitted by dydrogesterone and the preferred indications, risk factors, comorbid conditions and concomitant medication used in this patient population at real-life scenario.

Garbage codes, such as external causes with no specific information, indicate poor quality cause of death data. Investigation of garbage codes via an effective instrument is necessary to convert them into useful data for public health. This study analyzed the performance and suitability of the new investigation of deaths from external causes (IDEC) form to improve the quality of external cause of death data in Brazil. The performance of the IDEC form on 133 external garbage codes deaths was compared with a stratified matched sample of 992 (16%) investigated deaths that used the standard garbage codes form. Consistency between these two groups was checked. The percentage of garbage codes from external causes reclassified into valid causes with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was analyzed. Reclassification for specific causes has been described. Qualitative data on the feasibility of the form were recorded by field investigators. Investigation using the new form reduced all external garbage codes by -92.5% (95%CI: -97.0; -88.0), whereas the existing form decreased garbage codes by -60.5% (95%CI: -63.5; -57.4). The IDEC form presented higher effectivity for external-cause garbage codes of determined intent. Deaths that remained garbage codes mainly lacked information about the circumstances of poisoning and/or vehicle accidents. Despite the fact that field investigators considered the IDEC form feasible, they suggested modifications for further improvement. The new form was more effective than the current standard form in improving the quality of defined external causes.

In this article, we derive new modular relations on Ramanujan's product of theta-functions $\phi(q)$ and $f(-q^2)$, which is analogous to Ramanujan's remarkable product of theta-functions and their explicit evaluations.

Letters, figures or words are sometimes fraudulently added to a contract or other legal documents after it has been signed or produced. This can drastically change the intent of the document. It is more difficult to detect additions that are skillfully added to a document than erasures. It becomes the task of the document examiner to determine if the addition or alteration was made after the document was executed or these were the part and parcel of the document earlier. The forensic document experts can examine, detect and interpret the evidence of alteration by means of additions/insertions, as well as relative age of writings and spuriousness of the documents even in the absence of samples. Besides examining the different types of forgery involved in the writings/ signatures, the ink of the writings, misalignment between the letters, figures, words as well as lines, crowdedness of the writing, rhythm of the writing1, detection and analysis of indented and other accidental markings in the front as well as back side of the document under observation need to be carefully and thoroughly examined. In this study, the systematic method of identification of fraudulent nature of the document with respect to alteration by means of additions/ insertions/interpolation, as well as relative age of writings are discussed.

The present work details the results of the palynological studies carried out in the Umrer Coalfield of Wardha Basin of Maharashtra State, Central India. The coalfield covers an area of 4 sq. km and is characterized by three coal seams designated as bottom, middle and top seams with partings. Statistical analysis of the palynomorphs from these sediments have revealed the dominance of radial monosaccate pollen grains of the genus Parasaccites and subdominance of non-striate bisaccate genus Scheuringipollenites in association with other typical early Permian taxa viz. Crucisaccites, Callumispora, Caheniasaccites, Brevitriletes, Tiwariasporis and Primuspollenites. This association characterizes the palynoflora of the upper Karharbari Formation of India on the basis of which the Umrer Coalfield has been assigned an early Permian late Sakmarian to early Artinskian age. It is further authenticated by the presence of the species Crucisaccites monoletus significant of the Karharbari Formation. Age deductions have also been made by correlations with similar assemblages from different basins in India and early Permian palynoflora from other Gondwanan continents some of which have been associated with radiometrically dated sediments.

The Solenoid Complex comprises a fossil wood assemblage with stratigraphic distribution restricted to the middle-late Kungurian, present in Western (Irati Formation, Paraná Basin, Brazil) and Eastern (Upper Barakar Interval of the Indian basins) Gondwana. Its occurrence seems to be related to the adaptation of certain plant groups to paleoenvironmental stress in lowland niches of coastal areas subject to salinity variation. The disappearance of these forms in the latest Kungurian is probably linked to the cessation of these conditions, which is confirmed by the sedimentary record. The here designated “Solenoid Complex Zone” correlates with the acme in diversification of striate and taeniate patterns especially in bisacatte pollen grains, but also in monosacatte ones, reflecting important tectonically and climatically driven changes in the vegetational pattern. The waning icehouse stage during the Permian was an important factor to the development of similar vegetation patterns in Western and Eastern Gondwana in the latitudinal belt of 40° – 55°.

This contribution focuses on the relationship between the Siderópolis Member paleoflora and Indian Gondwanan paleofloras, especially with those of the Cisuralian stages, thus providing additional criteria for the correlation of Western and Eastern Gondwanan coal successions in the lower Permian interval. Despite the large number of species in common with the Karharbari Stage (Sakmarian) flora, the Siderópolis paleoflora exhibits a higher percentage and diversification of the genus Glossopteris, which is less expressive in the Karharbari Stage floras, while the declining Gangamopteris-Noeggerathiopsis complex in Siderópolis Member paleoflora still dominates the associations of Karharbari Stage. However, the floristic composition of the lower level of the Barakar Stage (Artinskian), despite having fewer species in common with the Siderópolis paleoflora, exhibits the characters of the latter vis-à-vis the dominance and diversity of the genus Glossopteris over the Gangamopteris‑Noeggerathiopsis complex, which decreases both in diversity as well as in abundance in the lower Barakar, similar to what occurs in the Brazilian paleoflora. The decline of the icehouse stage and the similar latitudinal position of the Gondwanan regions compared in the present study seem to have acted as important factors to the development of similar vegetation patterns in coal floras from Western (Brazilian) and Eastern (Indian) Gondwana during the Artinskian.

The pre-glossopterid macroflora from the Volpe Ranch, in Monte Mor (State of São Paulo), was deposited during an interglacial context of the Itararé Group. It is characterized by the Paranocladus-Ginkgophyllum-Brasilodendron Association and is included in the middle-basal part of the Itararé Group outcrop, in the NE of the Paraná Basin. It is similar to the Argentine macrofloristic association Krauselcladus-Asterotheca Phytozone (ex-Interval Zone) and its palynofloristic contents belong to the Crucisaccites monoletus Palynozone (Kasimovian to Gzhelian). The conifers in this assemblage are represented by macro and microfossils and record the first level of occurrence of conifers in the basin. They are documented by leafy branches impressions and compressions of Paranocladus dusenii Florin and Buriadia heterophylla (Feistmantel) Seward and Sahni emend. Singh, and platyspermic seeds of the genus Paranospermum. Cuticular studies allowed to correlate the presence of Paranocladus dusenii with the platyspermic seeds Paranospermum cambuiense Ricardi-Branco and to identify a new species of Paranospermum as well. Previous palynological studies in this level led to the recognition of some pollen grains affinis to the gymnosperms (conifers, ginkgoaleans and pteridospermales) comprising monosaccate and bisaccate forms allocated to the genera Cannanoropollis, Plicatipollenites, Potonieisporites and Caheniasaccites indicating certain diversity of conifers as early as in Pennsylvanian. The association of conifers and Ginkgophyllum represents a mesoxerophytic tree community. The abundance of their fragmented material in the taphofloral assemblage suggests allochthonous origin transported toward a deltaic plain which were associated to a parautochthonous origin material. Their fossiliferous sandy matrix overlying the coal also suggests a higher energy agent of transport.

An overview of the composition of the paleoflora preserved in clay-siltstones of the Siderópolis Member, Rio Bonito Formation is presented in order to establish phytostratigraphical comparisons with other Late Pennsylvanian and Cisuralian paleofloras of the Paraná Basin. The Rio Bonito Formation, the most important of the coal bearing lithostratigraphic units of the Paraná Basin belongs to the Gondwana I Supersequence (Pennsylvanian-Early Triassic). The Siderópolis paleoflora occurs in the uppermost layers of coal of Rio Bonito Formation in Santa Catarina coalfield in four distinct localities of the State of Santa Catarina: Lauro Muller, Criciúma, São Marcos and Treviso. In this paleoflora the glossopterid leaves predominate with an evident dominance of the genus Glossopteris over Gangamopteris, followed by Cordaitalean leaves (Noeggerathiopsis) and seeds (Cordaicarpus, Samaropsis, Cornucarpus). Sterile fronds are common and few are fertile (Sphenopteris, Pecopteris, Ponsotheca and Notoangaridium). Pteridosperm reproductive structures (Arberia, Arberiopsis, Ottokaria) are not frequent and branches of conifers (Brasilocladus, Buriadia) are rare. Concerning other paleofloras of the basin, the Siderópolis paleoflora is distinguished by high diversity and many exclusive taxa showing only few similarities with some paleofloras registered in Rio Grande do Sul, occurring in outcrops of the Rio Bonito Formation such as Morro do Papaléo (upper section) and Quitéria. The differences may reflect an upper stratigraphic position, but may also indicate differences in sedimentation and / or in paleoecological conditions.

In this contribution we present the composition of the Late Cretaceous / Paleocene dinoflagellate cyst assemblages found in the Pelotas Basin, southern Brazil in order to provide a first paleobiogeographical comparison between this location, India and other former Gondwana continents: South America (Argentina and Uruguay), Africa (Nigeria and Western Ghana), Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand. A total of 13 taxa, some endemic and other cosmopolitan were identified. The paleoenvironment of the Gondwana former members basins, as previously presented and attested by the dinoflagellate cysts are marginal marine nearshore, varying from neritic to shallow neritic and lagoonal or coastal swamps, which permitted the deposition of sediments in anoxic marine conditions. The present analysis of similarity between K/Pc dinoflagellate cyst associations allowed the establishment of paleobiogeographic distribution.

Sedimentation studies have been carried out to optimize the dispersion conditions of aqueous alumina nanopowder suspensions with or without dispersants (ammonium salt of polymethacrylic acid or rhamnolipids at 15%). Different dispersant dosages, solid loadings, pulp densities and pH values were examined. The iso-electric point (IEP) of the alumina nanopowder was found to be pHiep= 9.2. The experiments revealed that the polymethacrylic acid was more effective as dispersant than rhamnolipids in a wide range of pH at all solid-loading conditions tested. Optimum dispersant dosages for polymethacrylic acid and rhamnolipids to achieve maximum stability of alumina nanodispersion at iso-electric point were found to be 9.25 mg/g and 57.75 mg/g solids, respectively.Foram feitos estudos de sedimentação para otimizar as condições de dispersão de suspensões aquosas de pós de alumina nanométrica com e sem dispersantes (sais de amônia de ácido poliacrílico ou rhamnolipídeos a 15%). Foram examinados diferentes dosagens de dispersante, cargas de sólidos, densidades de pasta e valores de pH. O ponto isoelétrico do pó de alumina nanométrica obtido foi pHiep = 9,2. Os experimentos mostraram que numa ampla faixa de pH e para todas as condições de carga de sólidos testadas, o ácido polimetacrílico foi mais efetivo como dispersante que o rhamnolipídeo. Os teores otimizados de dispersante para que as dispersões de alumina nanométrica atinjam estabilidade máxima, obtidos para o ácido polimetacrílico e para o rhamnolipídeo foram, respectivamente, 9,25 mg/g e 57,75 mg/g de sólidos.

O Complexo Solenoide compreende um conjunto de lenhos fósseis com distribuição estratigráfica restrita ao Kunguriano médio-superior, presente no Gondwana Ocidental (Formação Irati, Bacia do Paraná, Brasil) e Oriental (Intervalo Barakar Superior de bacias da Índia). A sua ocorrência parece estar relacionada à adaptação de determinados grupos vegetais ao estresse paleoambiental em terras baixas de áreas costeiras sujeitas a variações de salinidade. O desaparecimento dessas formas no topo do Kunguriano está provavelmente relacionado à cessação de tais condições, o que é confirmado pelo registro sedimentar. A "Zona do Complexo Solenoide" aqui designada correlaciona-se com o clímax na diversificação de padrões estriados e teniados principalmente em polens bissacados, mas também em monossacados, refletindo importantes modificações no padrão vegetacional relacionadas à evolução climática e a processos tectônicos. O declínio do estágio icehouse durante o Permiano foi um fator importante para o desenvolvimento de padrões florísticos similares no leste e oeste do Gondwana em uma faixa latitudinal entre 40° - 55°.