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IntroductionDromedary camels robustly withstand dehydration, and the rough desert environment but the adaptation mechanisms are not well understood. One of these mechanisms is that the dromedary camel increases its body temperature to reduce the process of evaporative cooling during the hot weather. Stress in general, has deleterious effects in the body. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of dehydration and rehydration on stress parameters in the dromedary camels and how it pacifies these effects.MethodsNineteen male camels were randomly divided into control, dehydrated and rehydrated groups, and fed alfalfa hay ad-libitum. The dehydrated and rehydrated groups were water-restricted for 20 days after which the rehydrated camels were provided with water for 72 h. The control and dehydrated camels were slaughtered at day 20 from the start of experiment whereas the rehydrated group was killed 72 h later. Many biochemical, hematological histopathological parameters and gene analysis were performed in relevant tissues collected including blood, plasma, and tissues.Results and discussionIt was observed that severely dehydrated camels lost body weight, passed very hard feces, few drops of concentrated urine, and were slightly stressed as reflected behaviorally by loss of appetite. Physiologically, the stress of dehydration elicited modulation of plasma stress hormones for water preservation and energy supply. Our results showed significant increase in cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine, and significant decrease in epinephrine and serotonin. The significant increase in malondialdehyde was accompanied with significant increase in antioxidants (glutathione, retinol, thiamin, tocopherol) to provide tissue protection from oxidative stress. The physiological blood changes observed during dehydration serve different purposes and were quickly restored to normality by rehydration. The dehydrated/rehydrated camels showed reduced hump size and serous atrophy of perirenal and epicardial fat. The latter changes were accompanied by significantly increased expression of genes encoding proteins for energy production (ANGPTL4, ACSBG1) from fat and significantly decreased expression of genes (THRSP; FADS 1&2) encoding proteins enhancing energy expenditure. This process is vital for camel survival in the desert. Dehydration induced no major effects in the vital organs. Only minor degenerative changes were observed in hepatic and renal cells, physiological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in heart and follicular hyperplasia in splenic but lipidosis was not depicted in liver hepatocytes. Ketone bodies were not smelled in urine, sweat and breathing of dehydrated animals supporting the previous finding that the ß hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in ketone body formation, is low in the camel liver and rumen. Rehydration restored most of blood and tissues to normal or near normal. In conclusion, camels are adapted to combat dehydration stress and anorexia by increasing anti-stressors and modulating genes involved in fat metabolism.

Milk quantity and quality traits in cattle are affected by udder health, breed, genetic (such as heritability, repeatability, and heterosis), and environmental factors. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of udder health, genetic factors and environmental factors on milk performance traits in cattle breeds. The study was conducted on four dairy farms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 291 milk samples and 547 records were collected from lactating cattle ranging between parities one to six. For milk performance traits and udder health, each milk sample was analysed for milk composition (fat %, protein %, and lactose %) and SSC (by direct microscopic SCC method). The data were analysed using a generalized linear model of SAS studio for the effect of the SCC, breed, and herd on milk performance while wombat and CFC for the analysis of genetic and non-genetic factors. The results showed that animals with higher SCC have significantly lower (P<0.01) milk fat %. Breed-wise analysis showed significantly higher (P<0.01) protein % in Achai, lactose % in Jersey and its crossbred (Jersey x Achai), and LMY was recorded significantly higher in Friesian and its crossbred Jersey x Friesian (JF). The analysis of the environmental effect on milk composition and LMY showed that animals kept in the different herds have significantly different (P<0.01) milk compositions and LMY. The estimates of additive genetic variance (Va), variance of the permanent environment (Vpe), and estimates of phenotypic variation (Vp) were recorded highest for SCC. The analysis of the effect of genetic factors (i.e. heritability, repeatability, and heterosis) revealed that estimation of heritability was highest (0.59) for age at first calving (AFC) while lowest (0.00) for calving interval (CI), and estimation of repeatability was highest (0.99) for AFC while lowest (0.00) for CI. The results of heterosis analysis showed that crossbred (Achai x Jersey) had positive heterosis for milk composition traits and SCC while negative heterosis for LMY compared to their purebreds. The study concluded that crossbred, better herd management and nutrition, and selection based on genetic factors (such as heritability, repeatability, and heterosis) can bring improvement in milk performance traits and udder health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dromedary camels robustly withstand dehydration, and the rough desert environment but the adaptationmechanisms are not well understood. One of these mechanisms is that the dromedary camel increases its body temperature to reduce the process of evaporative cooling during the hot weather. Stress in general, has deleterious effects in the body. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of dehydration and rehydration on stress parameters in the dromedary camels and how it pacifies these effects. Methods: Nineteen male camels were randomly divided into control, dehydrated and rehydrated groups, and fed alfalfa hay ad-libitum. The dehydrated and rehydrated groups were water-restricted for 20 days after which the rehydrated camels were provided with water for 72 h. The control and dehydrated camels were slaughtered at day 20 from the start of experiment whereas the rehydrated group was killed 72 h later. Many biochemical, hematological histopathological parameters and gene analysis were performed in relevant tissues collected including blood, plasma, and tissues. Results and discussion: It was observed that severely dehydrated camels lost body weight, passed very hard feces, few drops of concentrated urine, and were slightly stressed as reflected behaviorally by loss of appetite. Physiologically, the stress of dehydration elicited modulation of plasma stress hormones for water preservation and energy supply. Our results showed significant increase in cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine, and significant decrease in epinephrine and serotonin. The significant increase in malondialdehyde was accompanied with significant increase in antioxidants (glutathione, retinol, thiamin, tocopherol) to provide tissue protection from oxidative stress. The physiological blood changes observed during dehydration serve different purposes and were quickly restored to normality by rehydration. The dehydrated/rehydrated camels showed reduced hump size and serous atrophy of perirenal and epicardial fat. The latter changes were accompanied by significantly increased expression of genes encoding proteins for energy production (ANGPTL4, ACSBG1) from fat and significantly decreased expression of genes (THRSP; FADS 1&2) encoding proteins enhancing energy expenditure. This process is vital for camel survival in the desert. Dehydration induced nomajor effects in the vital organs. Onlyminor degenerative changes were observed in hepatic and renal cells, physiological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in heart and follicular hyperplasia in splenic but lipidosis was not depicted in liver hepatocytes. Ketone bodies were not smelled in urine, sweat and breathing of dehydrated animals supporting the previous finding that the ß hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in ketone body formation, is low in the camel liver and rumen. Rehydration restored most of blood and tissues to normal or near normal. In conclusion, camels are adapted to combat dehydration stress and anorexia by increasing anti-stressors and modulating genes involved in fat metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates the inhibition of selective foodborne pathogenic bacteria by exposure to a 355 and 266 nm Nd:YAG laser. In baseline assay P. aeruginosa showed maximum inhibition followed by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes grown on agar surface. Cell lysis was confirmed by confocal microscopy for all pathogens. In liquid media, P. aeruginosa was irradiated with the third harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser pulse energy of 185 mJ, which was able to reduce the population of 1.65 x [10.sup.5] by 4.7 logs, while P. aeruginosa could only be reduced by 0.73 log/[cm.sup.2] on packaging material surface. In the final phase, the laser's potential was preliminarily tested for sterilization of raw cow milk. The reduction patterns of E. coli, Salmonella sp. yeasts and Lactobacillus sp. were 30%, 25%, 47%, and 30%, respectively, in raw milk, moreover, laser exposure had no significant impact on physio-chemistry of milk. Therefore, results indicate the potential application of laser in packing materials and milk sterilization at the industrial level. Key words: laser, foodborne pathogens, sterilization, milk. Cette etude demontre l'inhibition de bacteries pathogenes selectives liees a la salubrite des aliments par l'exposition de 355 nm et 266 nm de Nd : YAG. Dans le test de reference sur la surface de la gelose, P. aeruginosa a montre une inhibition maximale suivie par Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium et Listeria monocytogenes. Lyse cellulaire a ete confirmee par microscopie confocale pour tous les pathogenes. Dans les milieux liquides, une energie d'impulsion de 185 mJ P. aeruginosa a ete irradiee avec un troisieme harmonique de laser Nd : YAG qui a permis de reduire la population de 1,65 x [10.sup.5] par 4,7 logs alors que P. aeruginosa ne pouvait etre reduite que de 0,73 log/[cm.sup.2] sur les materiaux d'emballage. En phase finale, le potentiel du laser a ete teste pour la sterilisation du lait de vache cru. Le profil de reduction de E. coli, Salmonella sp., levures et Lactobacillus sp. a ete de 30, 25, 47, 30 % dans le lait cru d'ailleurs, l'exposition au laser n'ont aucun impact significatif sur la physico-chimie du lait. En consequent, les resultats indiquent l'application potentielle du laser sur les materiaux d'emballage et la sterilisation du lait au niveau industriel. Mots-cles : laser, agents, pathogenes d'origine alimentaire, sterilisation, lait., 1. Introduction Food safety is a most serious issue for food industries and consumers in both developed and developing countries. Several studies have been proposed that various bacteria like Escherichia [...]

Aswathy Sreedevi, Reshma Javed, Avani Dinesh Community Medicine, AIMS, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, India Abstract: Cervical cancer is on the declining trend in India according to the population-based registries; yet it continues to be a major public health problem for women in India. Multifactorial causation, potential for prevention, and the sheer threat it poses make cervical cancer an important disease for in-depth studies, as has been attempted by this paper. This paper attempts to review the available knowledge regarding the epidemiology and pattern of cervical cancer; types of HPV (human papilloma virus) prevalent among cervical cancer patients and among women in general, high-risk groups such as commercial sex workers, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-positive women; and the role of the national program on cancer in control efforts. The peak age of incidence of cervical cancer is 55–59 years, and a considerable proportion of women report in the late stages of disease. Specific types of oncogenic HPV-16, 18 have been identified in patients with cervical cancer. Other epidemiological risk factors are early age at marriage, multiple sexual partners, multiple pregnancies, poor genital hygiene, malnutrition, use of oral contraceptives, and lack of awareness. A multipronged approach is necessary which can target areas of high prevalence identified by registries with a combination of behavior change communication exercises and routine early screening with VIA. Sensitizing the people of the area, including menfolk, is necessary to increase uptake levels. Vaccination against types 16 and 18 can also be undertaken after taking into confidence all stakeholders, including the parents of adolescent girls. Preventing and treating cervical cancer and reducing the burden are possible by targeting resources to the areas with high prevalence. Keywords: cervical cancer, HPV, screening, prevention, epidemiology, India

Present investigation was carried out to study the effect of stress on ovarian follicular activity in postpartum acyclic Sahiwal cows during hot-humid months. Postpartum ovarian activity was monitored using trans-rectal ultrasound scanning on alternate days beginning between day 60 and 90 postpartum in Sahiwal cows (n=16) up to next 21 days. Daily maximum temperature and relative humidity was recorded and temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated during study period. Six animals (37.5 %) showed presence of dominant follicle (≥10 mm, cyclic) and 10 animals (62.5 %) were classified as acyclic (ovarian follicle < 10 mm diameter). Present study demonstrated that as the value of THI reduced, the mean follicular diameter proportionately increased and vice versa. Based on the findings of present study, it may be concluded that development of ovarian follicle is highly affected by THI value during hot-humid season in Sahiwal cows and the reproductive performance of animal may be predicted using THI values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature and strength of the interactions between the 1,3-bis(dimethylhexadecyl)propanediammonium dibromide (16-3-16) gemini surfactant and a homologous series of nonionic polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan ester surfactants having laurate (Tween 20), stearate (Tween 60), or oleate (Tween 80) alkyl tails has been investigated. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) values of the mixed gemini-tween systems were determined using the du Notly ring surface tension method, and the results have been analyzed using Clint's, Rubingh's, Motomura's, and Maeda's theories for mixed micellar systems. The results demonstrate a synergistic mixing behaviour between the Tween surfactants and the 16-3-16 gemini surfactant, where the strength of interaction is dependent upon the chain length and saturation of the Tween alkyl tail. Key words: gemini surfactants, Tween surfactants, mixed micelles, surface tension. On a etudie la nature et la force des interactions entre l'agent de surface jumeau dibromure de 1,3- bis(dimethylhexadecyl)propanediammonium (16-3-16) et une serie d'agents de surface non ioniques a base d'ester de polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitane comportant des chaines alkyles du laurate (Tween 20), du stearate (Tween 60) ou oleate (Tween 80). On a determine; les valeurs de concentration micellaire critique (cmc) des systemes mixtes jumeau-Tween en faisant appel a la methode de la tension superficielle des anneaux de Noiiy et on a analyse les resultats a l'aide des theories de Clint, de Rubingh, de Motomura et de Maeda pour les systemes micellaires mixtes. Les resultats mettent en evidence un comportement de melange synergistique entre les agents de surface de la famille Tween et l'agent de surface jumeau 16-3-16 et la force de l'interaction depend de la longueur et de la saturation de la chaine alkyle du Tween. Mots-cles: agents de surface jumeaux, agents de surface Tween, micelles mixtes, tension superficielle. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Gemini surfactants represent an intriguing class of surfactants that have been extensively studied by various research groups since the late 1980s. Their unique structure, which consists of two typical [...]

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a major bacterial disease that causes significant economic disruption across the globe. Aims: Our study was based on using a fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) that used fluorescein-labeled ESAT-6 protein to detect Mycobacterium bovis antibodies in bovine serum. Methods: The ESAT-6 protein was used in a FPA. Positive TB reactors were determined by the comparative intradermal test (CID) and interferon gamma test (IFN-γ). Antibodies against M. bovis were detected using a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled tracer and a whole culture FITC labeled tracer in the positive cattle. Results: Of the 192 animals tested for bTB, 37 were found to be positive by either the CID or IFN-γ assays. Using the mP values from five culturepositive serum samples, a cutoff value of more than >127 mp provided the best discrimination between positive reactors and negative bTB animals. The ESAT-6 results of FPA in comparison with CID results revealed sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 64.6%, and in comparison with results IFN-γ, showed sensitivity of 95.7% and specificity of 49%. FPA using FITC labelled ESAT-6 as a tracer has better sensitivity (95.7%) and specificity (49.1%) than IFN-γ test in humoral immune response in animals. Conclusion: This work revealed that the ESAT-6 protein as an antigen can be used in diagnosing bTB using a practical and sensitive humoral test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted in nine Holstein Friesian heifers to observe the effect of replacement of cottonseed cakes with sunflower meal on their growth rate and age at maturity. Experimental animals were divided into three equal groups A, B and C. The major protein source in three experimental rations 1, 2 and 3 was based on cottonseed cakes (100%), cottonseed cakes (50%) + sunflower meal (50%) and sunflower meal (100%), respectively. These rations were fed to three groups respectively, for 183 days. The average daily weight gains of groups A, B and C were 0.849 ± 0.056, 0.756 ± 0.122 and 0.914 ± 0.027 kg, while feed efficiency averaged 2.72 ± 0.172, 2.73 ± 0.426 and 2.53 ± 0.0.072, respectively. Age at maturity for these groups averaged 376.33 ± 16.83, 425 ± 46 and 333.67 ± 4.84 days, respectively. Sunflower meal based ration showed equally good performance in terms of growth rate, feed efficiency and age at maturity while cost of production of sunflower meal based ration was the lowest.

The spread of COVID-19 and the lockdowns that followed led to an increase in activity on online social networks. This has resulted in users sharing unfiltered and unreliable information on social networks like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, etc. In this work, we give an extended overview of how Pakistan's population used public WhatsApp groups for sharing information related to the pandemic. Our work is based on a major effort to annotate thousands of text and image-based messages. We explore how information propagates across WhatsApp and the user behavior around it. Specifically, we look at political polarization and its impact on how users from different political parties shared COVID-19-related content. We also try to understand information dissemination across different social networks—Twitter and WhatsApp—in Pakistan and find that there is no significant bot involvement in spreading misinformation about the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topochemical polymerizations are solid-state reactions driven by the alignment of monomers in the crystalline state. The molecular confinement in the monomer crystal lattice offers precise control over the tacticity, packing and crystallinity of the polymer formed in the topochemical reaction. As topochemical reactions occur under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions, giving products in high yield and selectivity/specificity that do not require tedious chromatographic purification, topochemical polymerizations are highly attractive over traditional solution-phase polymer synthesis. By this method, polymers having sophisticated structures and desired topologies can be availed. Often, such ordered packing confers attractive properties to the topochemically-synthesized polymers. Diverse categories of topochemical polymerizations are known, such as polymerizations via [2+2], [4+4], [4+2], and [3+2] cycloadditions, and polymerization of diynes, triynes, dienes, trienes, and quinodimethanes, each of which proceed under suitable stimuli like heat, light or pressure. Each class of these reactions requires a unique packing arrangement of the corresponding monomers for the smooth reaction and produces polymers with distinct properties. This review is penned with the intent of bringing all the types of topochemical polymerizations into a single platform and communicating the versatility of these lattice-controlled polymerizations. We present a brief history of the development of each category and comprehensively review the topochemical synthesis of fully-organic polymers reported in the last twenty years, particularly in crystals. We mainly focus on the various molecular designs and crystal engineering strategies adopted to align monomers in a suitable orientation for polymerization. Finally, we analyze the current challenges and future perspectives in this research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report 11 simple halobenzyl alcohols, each comprising of only 16 atoms, as organogelators for aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents. Comparison of PXRD profiles of wet gels and xerogels with the simulated profiles from the single crystal XRD data confirmed that the molecular packing in gels and crystals are identical. Therefore single crystal X-ray structures were analyzed to understand the molecular level interactions involved in the self-assembly in gel state. Each of these compounds undergoes a faster linear assembly along the crystallographic direction associated with the OH⋯O hydrogen bond and a supplementary non-covalent interaction (NCI). In directions perpendicular to the direction of OH⋯O Hydrogen bonding, molecules associate through various relatively weaker NCIs. Notably, halogen bonds, X⋯X, C–H⋯X interactions play major role in the lateral growth. In the case of gels, the linear growth is faster than lateral growth leading to the formation of long fibers, which entangles to a 3D fibrous network. This study reveals that halogen atoms in halobenzyl alcohols impart molecular features that contribute to their self-assembly in solution and hence in gelation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing has become a significant area for business due to the high demand from people engaging in commerce and hence, protecting the entities from attacks, like Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks is essential. Therefore, an effective DoS attack detec- tion technique is required in the e-commerce transactions to provide security in this space. Accordingly, in this paper, a technique is developed for DoS attack detection for the e-commerce transactions by proposing Glowworm Swarm Optimization-based Support Vector Neural Network (GSO-SVNN) based authorization. The user and the server, who are registered for accessing the e-commerce web, are first registered and then, authenticated based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) encryption with four verification levels follows. The proposed GSO-SVNN classifier, which is developed by incorpo- rating the GSO algorithm in the training procedure of SVNN, de- termines the class of the user. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated using four metrics, namely accuracy, preci- sion, recall, and False Positive Rate (FPR), and the experimental results show that the maximum accuracy attained by the proposed DoS attack detection technique is 95.1%. This proves that the pro- posed technique is effective in detecting DoS attacks in e-commerce applications using the proposed GSO-SVNN based authorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron-tolerant bacteria fall in the category of extremophilic organisms as they have the ability to survive in high boron environments. Such bacterial species needs to be characterized to identify new extremophilic organisms from the ecology for biotechnological benefits. In this study, five boron-tolerant bacterial strains, designated as NCCP-132, NCCP-133, NCCP-134, NCCP-135 and NCCP-136 were isolated from sewage sludge treatment pond of Islamabad, Pakistan. These strains grew on media containing 200 to more than 450 mM of boron concentration. However, the microbial growth is found high at low boron concentration. The isolated boron-tolerant bacterial strains were either extremely boron-tolerant or moderately boron-tolerant. The 16S rRNA gene sequences and phylogenetic analyses delineated that all strains were found to be closely related to species belonging to different genera: Bacillus, Oceanobacillus and Lentibacillus. Strains NCCP-132, NCCP-134 and NCCP-135 are found to be novel species, while NCCP-133 and NCCP-136 are revealed to be previously identified bacterial species. Morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of these strains were studied at their optimal growth conditions. Our study inferred that the sewage treatment pond of Islamabad, Pakistan is rich in boron-tolerant extremophilic bacterial population with diverse bacterial communities having a potential to be utilized in various biotechnological applications in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim was to determine the occurrence of streptococci in equines in Jammu (R. S. Pura, Katra), characterization of Streptococci equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus with respect to their virulence traits and to determine antibiotic sensitivity pattern of virulent Streptococcus isolates. Materials and Methods: A total of 96 samples were collected from both clinically affected animals (exhibiting signs of respiratory tract disease) and apparently healthy animals and were sent to laboratory. The organisms were isolated on Columbia nalidixic acid agar containing 5% sheep blood as well as on sheep blood agar and confirmed by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Molecular detection of Streptococcus was done directly from cultures using sodA and seM gene-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiogram was performed against five antibiotics such as amoxicillin, penicillin G, streptomycin, rifampicin, and methicillin. Results: During this study, a total 40 streptococcal isolates were obtained out of which 2 isolates were of S. equi subsp. equi, 12 isolates were from S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus. In the PCR-based detection, we revealed amplicons of 235 bp and 679 bp for confirmation of sodA and seM gene, respectively. In antibiogram, two isolates of S. equi subsp. equi were found resistant to penicillin G, and all other isolates were found sensitive to amoxicillin and streptomycin. Conclusion: The majority of streptococcal infections was due to S. equi subsp. Zooepidemicus, and thus was recognized as a potential pathogen of diseases of equines besides S. equi subsp. equi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced-swimming can improve the growth and feed conversion efficiency of finfish aquaculture species, such as salmonids and Seriola sp., but some species, such as Atlantic cod, show no or a negative productivity response to exercise. As a possible explanation for these species-specific differences, a recent hypothesis proposed that the applicability of exercise training, as well as the exercise regime for optimal growth gain (ERopt growth), was dependent upon the size of available aerobic metabolic scope (AMS). This study aimed to test this hypothesis by measuring the growth and swimming metabolism of hapuku, Polyprion oxygeneios, to different exercise regimes and then reconciling the metabolic costs of swimming and specific dynamic action (SDA) against AMS. Two 8-week growth trials were conducted with ERs of 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.5 body lengths per second (BL s-1). Fish in the first trial showed a modest 4.8% increase in SGR over static controls in the region 0.5-0.75 BL s-1 whereas the fish in trial 2 showed no significant effect of ER on growth performance. Reconciling the SDA of hapuku with the metabolic costs of swimming showed that hapuku AMS is sufficient to support growth and swimming at all ERs. The current study therefore suggests that exercise-induced growth is independent of AMS and is driven by other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a predominantly autosomal dominant condition with various cardiac and extra-cardiac manifestations. Although it has been linked with atrial arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias are extremely rare in the absence of underlying structural cardiac abnormalities. We report an instance of aborted sudden cardiac arrest in a 7-year-old male with a confirmed SOS1 variant and a lack of evidence to support a structural cardiac, metabolic, or infectious etiology. This is the second reported instance of sudden cardiac arrest related to ventricular fibrillation in a child with SOS1-related NS in the absence of any structural cardiac defects. Although no definitive correlation can be ascertained from a limited existing body of knowledge surrounding SOS1 and ventricular fibrillation unrelated to structural heart defects, it provokes the idea of an arrhythmia phenotype and future research is warranted to guide proper clinical treatment, monitoring, and management of such individuals., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

ATG5 is one of the core autophagy proteins with additional functions such as noncanonical membrane atg8ylation, which among a growing number of biological outputs includes control of tuberculosis in animal models. Here we show that ATG5 associates with retromer's core components VPS26, VPS29 and VPS35 and modulates retromer function. Knockout of ATG5 blocked trafficking of a key glucose transporter sorted by the retromer, GLUT1, to the plasma membrane. Knockouts of other genes essential for membrane atg8ylation, of which ATG5 is a component, affected GLUT1 sorting, indicating that membrane atg8ylation as a process affects retromer function and endosomal sorting. The contribution of membrane atg8ylation to retromer function in GLUT1 sorting was independent of canonical autophagy. These findings expand the scope of membrane atg8ylation to specific sorting processes in the cell dependent on the retromer and its known interactors.

Umbrella sampling has been a workhorse for free energy calculations in molecular simulations for several decades. In conventional umbrella sampling, restraining bias potentials are strategically applied along one or several collective variables. Major drawbacks associated with this method are the requirement of a large number of bias windows and the poor sampling of the transverse coordinates. In this work, we propose an alternate formalism that departs from the traditional umbrella sampling to mitigate these issues, where we replace umbrella-type restraining bias potentials with bucket-type wall potentials. This modification permits one to formulate an efficient computational strategy leveraging wall potentials and metadynamics sampling. This new method, called "bucket sampling", can significantly reduce the computational cost of obtaining converged high-dimensional free energy surfaces. Extensions of the proposed method with temperature acceleration and replica exchange solute tempering are also demonstrated.

Increasing the seed germination potential and seedling growth rates play a pivotal role in increasing overall crop productivity. Seed germination and early vegetative (seedling) growth are critical developmental stages in plants. High-power microwave (HPM) technology has facilitated both the emergence of novel applications and improvements to existing in agriculture. The implications of pulsed HPM on agriculture remain unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the effects of pulsed HPM exposure on barley germination and seedling growth, elucidating the plausible underlying mechanisms. Barley seeds underwent direct HPM irradiation, with 60 pulses by 2.04 mJ/pulse, across three distinct irradiation settings: dry, submerged in deionized (DI) water, and submerged in DI water one day before exposure. Seed germination significantly increased in all HPM-treated groups, where the HPM-dry group exhibited a notable increase, with a 2.48-fold rise at day 2 and a 1.9-fold increment at day 3. Similarly, all HPM-treated groups displayed significant enhancements in water uptake, and seedling growth (weight and length), as well as elevated levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total soluble protein content. The obtained results indicate that when comparing three irradiation setting, HPM-dry showed the most promising effects. Condition HPM seed treatment increases the level of reactive species within the barley seedlings, thereby modulating plant biochemistry, physiology, and different cellular signaling cascades via induced enzymatic activities. Notably, the markers associated with plant growth are upregulated and growth inhibitory markers are downregulated post-HPM exposure. Under optimal HPM-dry treatment, auxin (IAA) levels increased threefold, while ABA levels decreased by up to 65 %. These molecular findings illuminate the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing phenotypic changes in barley seedlings subjected to HPM treatment. The results of this study might play a key role to understand molecular mechanisms after pulsed-HPM irradiation of seeds, contributing significantly to address the global need of sustainable crop yield., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is an exceedingly rare congenital heart defect (CHD) which has not been well-defined in a pediatric population., Methods: The Mayo Clinic echocardiography database was retrospectively analyzed to identify patients ≤18 years diagnosed with QAV from January 1990 to December 2023. Patients with truncus arteriosus were excluded. All images were independently reviewed to define morphology of the QAV by using the Hurwitz and Roberts classification., Results: Fourteen patients with QAV were identified with a median age at time of diagnosis being 10.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 6-14 years). Male-to-female ratio was 3:1. Associated CHDs were present in 50% (n = 7) patients. The most common morphological subtypes of QAV were Type D in 43% (n = 6) and Type B in 29% (n = 4). Aortic regurgitation was the most frequently associated valvular abnormality affecting 86% (n = 12) cases, with greater than moderate regurgitation in only two patients. Aortic valve stenosis was observed in 14% (n = 2) patients. Ascending aortic dilatation was present in 21% (3/14) of the cohort, but only 14% (1/7) of isolated QAV patients. At a mean follow up of 11 ± 6.6 years and a median follow-up age of 22 years (IQR 14-27 years), survival was 100% with no primary interventions on the aortic valve or aorta. However, four patients required surgical interventions for associated CHDs., Conclusion: Among children with QAV, almost half of the patients had additional CHD. Aortic regurgitation was the predominant hemodynamic abnormality. Long-term survival was excellent with minimal progression during childhood and adolescence., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Infants with perinatal asphyxia and moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are currently treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) as part of a brain protective strategy. However, perinatal asphyxia is a risk factor for development of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). As such, the aim of this study was to quantify the risk of PPHN in infants undergoing TH and assess short-term outcomes in infants developing PPHN. All N = 59 infants undergoing TH for moderate-to-severe HIE over a period of 3 years (January 2020-December 2022) at a single center were included. PPHN was diagnosed in N = 10 (17%), with this deemed to have been exacerbated by TH in n = 6 (10%). Only 50% (5/10) with PPHN required inhaled nitric oxide, and none of the infants received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. PPHN was not found to be significantly associated with short-term outcomes, including the extent of HIE on brain magnetic resonance imagings, in-hospital mortality or requirement for nasogastric feeding at discharge. In conclusion, TH appears to be a safe and effective treatment for moderate-to-severe HIE with or without PPHN.

Current medical treatments for diastasis recti often involve exercises to strengthen the core muscles, along with abdominal binders or supports. However, there is limited evidence comparing the effectiveness of surface electromyography (SEMG) biofeedback-assisted core strengthening exercises combined with kinesiotaping to other approaches. This study aimed to assess the impact of three interventions on core strength, inter-rectus distance, and quality of life in postpartum women with diastasis recti. The interventions included core strengthening exercises with kinesiotaping and SEMG biofeedback-assisted core strengthening with kinesiotaping. This randomized controlled trial (NCT05897255) included 24 postpartum women divided into three groups. We measured inter-rectus distance, quality of life using the Short Form Health Survey 36, and core strength using the McGill torso battery test. The SEMG biofeedback provided auditory and visual cues. We used one-way analysis of variance to compare outcomes between groups, while a t -test for within-group analysis. Both the SEMG biofeedback-assisted and non-assisted core strengthening exercises with kinesiotaping groups showed significantly greater improvements in energy, bodily pain, general health, physical functioning, and limitations due to physical problems than the core strengthening group. Additionally, the SEMG biofeedback-assisted group demonstrated a greater reduction in inter-rectus distance. There were no statistically significant differences in core strength improvement among the three groups. Core strengthening exercises with SEMG-assisted kinesiotaping were superior to core strengthening alone in reducing inter-rectus distance, enhancing physical function, energy levels, and general health, and decreasing bodily pain and limitations due to physical problems. Core strength improvements were similar across all groups.

Membrane atg8ylation is a homeostatic process responding to membrane remodeling and stress signals. Membranes are atg8ylated by mammalian ATG8 ubiquitin-like proteins through a ubiquitylation-like cascade. A model has recently been put forward which posits that atg8ylation of membranes is conceptually equivalent to ubiquitylation of proteins. Like ubiquitylation, membrane atg8ylation involves E1, E2 and E3 enzymes. The E3 ligases catalyze the final step of atg8ylation of aminophospholipids in membranes. Until recently, the only known E3 ligase for membrane atg8ylation was ATG16L1 in a noncovalent complex with the ATG12-ATG5 conjugate. ATG16L1 was first identified as a factor in canonical autophagy. During canonical autophagy, the ATG16L1-based E3 ligase complex includes WIPI2, which in turn recognizes phosphatidylinositiol 3-phosphate and directs atg8ylation of autophagic phagophores. As an alternative to WIPIs, binding of ATG16L1 to the proton pump V-ATPase guides atg8ylation of endolysosomal and phagosomal membranes in response to lumenal pH changes. Recently, a new E3 complex containing TECPR1 instead of ATG16L1, has been identified that responds to sphingomyelin's presence on the cytofacial side of perturbed endolysosomal membranes. In present review, we cover the principles of membrane atg8ylation, catalog its various presentations, and provide a perspective on the growing repertoire of E3 ligase complexes directing membrane atg8ylation at diverse locations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we provide empirical evidence in support of intergenerational effects of women's marriage age on girl-specific child education outcomes using a nationally representative household survey of 24,809 households from Pakistan. Our key findings are four-fold: First, we find that mother's age at marriage has no girl-specific impact on the education of children of school going age in terms of school enrolment, type of school (public/private) or education expenditure. However, there is a positive effect of delaying mother's marriage on girls in terms of relative grade progression and primary school attainment, implying that late-marrying mothers are more likely to transfer their human capital advantages/disadvantages to the daughters. Second, the impact does not depend on whether the child is firstborn or later-order, youngest child or with no siblings. Sex of the previous child does not affect the relationship either. Third, the beneficial impact of mother's marriage age on girls' education is visible only in the cohort of women who got married in 2000 or later. Fourth, father's marriage age is significantly associated with an increase in daughters' school enrolment and primary completion. The impact of smaller spousal age difference is also positive. These findings are robust to the use of empirical strategies and specifications that address potential endogeneity, collider bias, recall bias, sample selection and confounding factors. These findings suggest that delay in women's marriage is helping to narrow down gender disparities in education. The findings underscore the need to promote social and behavioural changes that encourage later marriages., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recently, nanozymes as an outstanding alternative to natural enzymes has attracted wide attention because of its high stability performance. In this study, PNC nonmetal nanozymes with high oxidase-like activity was synthesized can specifically catalyze colorless 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-benzidine(TMB) to form blue oxidized TMB (TMBox). In the presence of nitrite, it further oxidizes TMBox to obtain yellow derivative products attributed to nitrite inducing diazotization reaction in TMBox. Based on this principle, a colorimetric and electrochemical sensing system was developed, and the ultra-sensitive multi-mode detection of nitrite was realized by combining RGB mode of smart phone, UV-Vis spectrum and electrochemical method. Compared with single signal detection, the multi-mode sensing system can realize self-validation to achieve more reliable detection results. What's more, the developed multi-mode sensing could quickly and sensitively detect nitrite in real sample, especially RGB mode of smart phone meeting the equipment limited areas, suggesting a broad application prospects in food safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Peanut allergy is a leading cause of severe food reactions. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) compared to placebo for peanut-allergic individuals. After prospectively registering on PROSPERO, we searched three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane CENTRAL) and 2 trial registries till September 2023. Analysis was conducted via RevMan where data was computed using risk ratios (RR). The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE criteria were used to appraise and evaluate the evidence. From 4927 records, six multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trials comprising 1453 participants were included. The 250 µg EPIT group had a significant increase in successful desensitization compared to placebo (RR: 2.13 (95% C.I: 1.72, 2.64), P < 0.01, I 2  = 0%), while the 100 µg EPIT group did not (RR: 1.54 (95% C.I: 0.92, 2.58), P = 0.10, I 2  = 0%) (moderate certainty evidence). Moreover, there was a significant increase in local (RR: 1.69 (95% C.I: 1.06, 2.68), P = 0.03, I 2  = 89%) and systemic adverse events (RR: 1.75 (95% C.I: 1.14, 2.69), P = 0.01, I 2  = 0%) with EPIT. Additionally, individuals administered EPIT have an increased probability of requiring rescue medications like epinephrine (RR: 1.91 (95% C.I: 1.12, 3.28), P = 0.02, I 2  = 0%) and topical corticosteroids (RR: 1.49 (95% C.I: 1.29, 1.73), P < 0.01, I 2  = 0%) to treat adverse events. The association of adverse events post-treatment including anaphylaxis (RR: 2.31 (95% C.I: 1.00, 5.33), P = 0.05, I 2  = 36%), skin/subcutaneous disorders like erythema or vesicles (RR: 0.93 (95% C.I: 0.79, 1.08), P = 0.33, I 2  = 0%), and respiratory disorders like dyspnea or wheezing (RR: 0.94 (95% C.I: 0.77, 1.15), P = 0.55, I 2  = 0%) with EPIT is inconclusive. EPIT, although effective in desensitization, is linked to an increased risk of adverse events. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023466600., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The advancement of highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors has garnered escalating interest over time. Owing to the distinctive physicochemical attributes, the signal amplification strategy facilitated by functional nanomaterials has achieved notable milestones. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), featuring atomically dispersed metal active sites, have garnered significant attention. SACs offer unprecedented control over active sites and surface structures at the atomic level. However, to fully harness their potential, ongoing efforts focus on strategies to enhance the catalytic performance of SACs, profoundly influencing both the sensitivity and selectivity of SACs-based sensing platforms., Results: In this study, we focused on the synthesis and application of Fe-Co-PNC dual-atom catalysts (DACs) with the incorporation of phosphorus, aiming to enhance catalytic efficiency, particularly in the context of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) correlated cathodic luminol ECL. The synergistic effects arising from the combination of Fe and Co in DACs were explored by ECL emission. Comparative studies with Fe-PNC SACs highlighted the superior catalytic performance of Fe-Co-PNC DACs. The ECL sensing platform exhibited excellent sensitivity, which provided a fast detection of Trolox with a wide linear range (0.1 μM-1.0 mM) and a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.03 μM. The platform demonstrated remarkable reproducibility and long-term stability, showcasing its potential for practical biosensing applications., Significance: This study introduced the novel concept of Fe-Co-PNC DACs. The demonstrated synergistic effects and enhanced catalytic efficiency of DACs offer new avenues for the rational design of advanced catalysts. The successful application in the sensitive detection of Trolox emphasizes their potential significance in biosensing. It not only expands our understanding of SACs but also opens doors for the development of efficient and stable catalysts with broader applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A pioneering study employed a holistic geostatistical approach to predict the spatial variability of a non sampled area in the Chenab River, Pakistan, using kriging interpolation for organochlorine pesticide (OCP)-polluted risk zones. The Present research intended to investigate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks, contamination levels, and spatial variation of OCPs in the Chenab River, Pakistan. The residual OCP content in sediment samples (n = 120) ranged from 0.056 to 32.14 ng/g. DDE and α-HCH were prevalent among all the samples analyzed, with mean concentrations of 15.84 ± 8.02 and 12.45 ± 6.72 ng/g, respectively. The order of magnitude of OCPs in sediment samples was DDTs > α-HCH > chlorothalonil > heptachlor > endosulfan > aldrin > dieldrin. The findings of the single (SPI) and Nemerow (Nel) pollution index of α-HCH, heptachlor, and aldrin depicted the Chenab River as a serious pollution risk zone. The outcomes of the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis represent the positive correlation among all OCPs, revealing the common origin. Distribution trends showed substantially higher (p < 0.05) contents of analyzed OCPs along the downstream zone. With regards to USEPA human health hazard assessment model, the estimated non-carcinogenic (ΣHI) and non-carcinogenic (ΣTCR) risk ranged from 1.1 × 10 -5 to 1.0 × 10 -1 , 4.0 × 10 -8 to 3.2 × 10 -4 respectively. TCR >10 -4 illustrated a substantial cancer health risk posed by α-HCH, heptachlor, aldrin, and dieldrin in the downstream zone. We recommend the urgent cessation of the ongoing discharge of OCPs into the Chenab River, which needs to be highlighted owing to the significant cancer risk to public health to ensure the good health and wellbeings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare there is no conflict of interest/competing interest in this study., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Nanoparticles (NPs) of metals and metal oxides have received increasing attention regarding their characteristic behavior in plant systems. The fate and transport of metal NPs and metal oxide NPs in plants is of emerging concern for researchers because they ultimately become part of the food chain. The widespread use of metal-based NPs (MBNPs) in plants has revealed their beneficial and harmful effects. This review addresses the main factors affecting the uptake, translocation, absorption, bioavailability, toxicity, and accumulation of MBNPs in different plant species. It appraises the mechanism of nanoparticle-plant interaction in detail and provides understanding of the estimation strategies for the associated pros and cons with this interplay. Critical parameters of NPs include, but are not limited to, particle size and shape, surface chemistry, surface charge, concentration, solubility, and exposure route. On exposure to MBNPs, the molecular, physiological, and biochemical reactions of plants have been assessed. We have filled knowledge gaps and answered research questions regarding the positive and negative effects of metal and metal oxide NPs on seed germination, callus induction, growth and yield of plant, nutritional content, antioxidants, and enzymes. Besides, the phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and detoxification studies of MBNPs in plants have been outlined. Furthermore, the recent developments and future perspectives of the two-way traffic of interplay of MBNPs and plants have been provided in this comprehensive review., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

ATG5 plays a pivotal role in membrane Atg8ylation, influencing downstream processes encompassing canonical autophagy and noncanonical processes. Remarkably, genetic ablation of ATG5 in myeloid cells leads to an exacerbated pathological state in murine models of tuberculosis, characterized by an early surge in mortality much more severe when compared to the depletion of other components involved in Atg8ylation or canonical autophagy. This study shows that in the absence of ATG5, but not other core canonical autophagy factors, endolysosomal organelles display a lysosomal hypersensitivity phenotype when subjected to damage. This is in part due to a compromised recruitment of ESCRT proteins to lysosomes in need of repair. Mechanistically, in the absence of ATG5, the ESCRT protein PDCD6IP/ALIX is sequestered by the alternative conjugate ATG12-ATG3, contributing to excessive exocytic processes while not being available for lysosomal repair. Specifically, this condition increases secretion of extracellular vesicles and particles, and leads to excessive degranulation in neutrophils. Our findings uncover unique functions of ATG5 outside of the autophagy and Atg8ylation paradigm. This finding is of in vivo relevance for tuberculosis pathogenesis as modeled in mice. Abbreviations: Atg5: autophagy related 5; ESCRT: endosomal sorting complex required for transport; EVPs: extracellular vesicles and particles; FPR1: formyl peptide receptor 1; LyHYP: lysosomal hypersensitivity phenotype; LysoIP: lysosome immunopurification; Mtb: Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; ORF3a: open reading frame 3a protein; PDCD6IP/ALIX: programmed cell death 6 interacting protein; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, TFEB: transcription factor EB.

Background: Adequate equipment maintenance is necessary to ensure efficient dental care facilities and satisfactory medical equipment performance., Objective: This study aimed to assess maintenance practices and manpower adequacy in private dental centres (DCs) across Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Methods: A questionnaire was designed to evaluate equipment maintenance and manpower strength based on international and national standards. Thirty-three private DCs were visited in-person with the designed questionnaire to conduct the study. The Chi-square test and t-test were performed., Results: Only 21 dental centres had a scheduled maintenance plan for medical equipment, whereas the rest had no plan. Furthermore, only 22 DCs maintained equipment maintenance records, while 11 DCs did not have any records. Additionally, the study found a lack of trained personnel to handle medical equipment and overall inadequate maintenance practices. Significant differences were observed between the responses for many questions (p< 0.05)., Conclusion: These findings increase health risks to both the patient and the user. To address these issues, DC administrators should implement stricter measures to adhere to local DCs standards and hire qualified personnel who can periodically maintain and repair medical equipment.

Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is an inexpensive fungus with a broad range of traditional and medicinal applications. These applications include therapy for breast, cervix, and skin cancers, as well as treating diabetes. However, its benefits are virtually untapped due to a limited understanding of its mycochemical composition and bioactivities. In this article, we explore the ethnobotany, mycochemistry, pharmacology, traditional therapeutic, cosmetic, and prospective agricultural uses. The review establishes that several secondary metabolites, such as steroids, terpenoids, and other compounds exist in chaga. Findings on its bioactivity have demonstrated its ability as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antitumor agent. The study also demonstrates that Chaga powder has a long history of traditional use for medicinal purposes, pipe smoking rituals, and mystical future forecasts. The study further reveals that the applications of Chaga powder can be extended to industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and agriculture. However numerous publications focused on the pharmaceutical benefits of Chaga with few publications on other applications. Overall, chaga is a promising natural resource with a wide range of potential applications and therefore the diverse array of therapeutic compounds makes it an attractive candidate for various applications such as plant biofertilizers and active ingredients in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Thus, further exploration of Chaga's potential benefits in agriculture and other industries could lead to exciting new developments and innovations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Fordjour, Manful, Javed, Galagedara, Cuss, Cheema and Thomas.)

Background: Infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are a major hurdle in hematopoietic stem-cell transplants (HSCTs). Conditioning regimens lead to mucosal barrier injury, which in-turn leads to transmigration of gut bacteria and sepsis. Pre-transplant stool and throat surveillance cultures can guide empirical antibiotic policy during the neutropenic period. In this paper, we document colonization with MDRO in pre-transplant surveillance cultures and the correlation with bloodstream infections in HSCT patients and analyze transplant outcomes with respect to these infections., Methods: A single-center, retrospective study on HSCT was performed between January 2021 and December 2021. The incidence of bacterial infections, percentage of MDROs, correlation with pre-transplant stool/throat surveillance cultures, and their impact on overall 100-day and post-100-day to 6-month post-transplant survival were analyzed., Results: Sixty-four patients were included in the study. Pre-transplant stool surveillance cultures were positive for MDRO in 85.9% of patients. Almost half (48.5%) of the isolates were positive for carbapenemase-producing genes (mainly New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 [NDM-1] and oxacillinase-48 [OXA-48]). Eighteen patients (18/64, 28%) had a positive blood culture for MDRO in the peri-engraftment neutropenic period. Correlation between surveillance and blood cultures was seen in 61% (11/18) of patients. All-cause mortality was 14.1% (9/64) and 25% (16/64) in patients at 100 days and 6 months post-HSCT, respectively. The 100-day and post-100-day all-cause mortality rates were higher in patients with Gram-negative MDRO bloodstream infections (p < .012 and <.008, respectively)., Conclusion: MDRO infections can adversely affect HSCT outcomes. Pre-transplant stool and throat surveillance cultures may guide empirical antibiotic policy and lead to favorable transplant outcomes., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Globally, retinal disorders impact thousands of individuals. Early diagnosis and treatment of these anomalies might halt their development and prevent many people from developing preventable blindness. Iris spot segmentation is critical due to acquiring iris cellular images that suffer from the off-angle iris, noise, and specular reflection. Most currently used iris segmentation techniques are based on edge data and noncellular images. The size of the pigment patches on the surface of the iris increases with eye syndrome. In addition, iris images taken in uncooperative settings frequently have negative noise, making it difficult to segment them precisely. The traditional diagnosis processes are costly and time consuming since they require highly qualified personnel and have strict environments. This paper presents an explainable deep learning model integrated with a multiclass support vector machine to analyze iris cellular images for early pigment spot segmentation and classification. Three benchmark datasets MILE, UPOL, and Eyes SUB were used in the experiments to test the proposed methodology. The experimental results are compared on standard metrics, demonstrating that the proposed model outperformed the methods reported in the literature regarding classification errors. Additionally, it is observed that the proposed parameters are highly effective in locating the micro pigment spots on the iris surfaces., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.