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Byline: Adrija. Ghosh, Abhilash. Dagar, Ram. Bharat, Aman. Sharma, Daya. Sharma, Supriya. Mallick Thyroid carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system and accounts for nearly 1.5% of [...]

Environment effects in plasticity and fracture of metals, well studied for several decades, still pose many unanswered questions. A micro-mechanics explanation of how dislocation activity is influenced by the material surface state, that can answer these questions, has been elusive. We build on a recently discovered effect in metal cutting – organic monolayer embrittlement (OME) – wherein metal surfaces are rendered brittle by long-chain organic adsorbates, to explore how material state variables influence surface plasticity and fracture. In particular, cutting experiments with Al containing Self Assembled Monolayers (SAMs), show that the OME is controlled by surface stress (f) induced by the adsorbates. This is contrary to many instances of environment-assisted fracture which are usually attributed to surface energy changes, and wherein fis largely ignored. Other contributions include (a) a cantilever technique to measure surface stress, (b) demonstration of strong effect of SAM molecule chain length on f, (c) characterization of how dislocation activity at crack-tips is affected by adsorbate-induced f, and (d) large improvements in machining processes enabled by controlled environment-assisted fracture. We make the case that surface stress, due to adsorbates, likely influences all environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) phenomena, warranting a revisit of extant models of EAC.

The study of monsoon variability in India has been the focus of scientific research for many decades due to its impact on agricultural production and the national economy. This study aims to understand the research trend over time and analyses those issues using bibliometric analysis with systematic literature review and meta analysis. A bibliometric and meta analysis was developed to analyses Scopus metadata documents from 1978 to 2022 by using bibliometric R-tool. The meta analysis was conducted at four broad bibliometric indices levels- authors, sources, affiliation and collaboration. The result shows the major area of the research in this field, as well as the institution, authors and journal, are inter-link with each other. Collaboration networks are found between a close group of researchers, institutions and countries, but international collaborations are growing. The reference spectroscopy helps to identify the historical root of this study. This study has created a bridge between the previous research findings and the research gap and how researchers can work on this research gap to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2, 6 and 13 that are also incorporated through a unified framework. The findings will be helpful for researchers at various stages in the field of monsoon variability by providing an extensive overview and authoritative literature review.

Background Despite increasing use of minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques for trauma, limited large-scale studies have evaluated trends, outcomes, and resource utilization at centers that utilize MIS modalities for blunt abdominal trauma.Methods Operative adult admissions after blunt assault, falls, or vehicular collisions were tabulated from the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Patients who received diagnostic laparoscopy or other laparoscopic and robotic intervention were classified as MIS. Institutions with at least one MIS trauma operation in a year were defined as an MIS Performing Institution (MPI; rest: non-MPI). The primary endpoint was mortality, with secondary outcomes of reoperation, complication, postoperative length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization costs. Mixed regression models were used to determine the association of MPI status on the outcomes of interest.Results Throughout the study period, the proportion of MIS operations and MPI significantly increased from 22.6 to 29.8% and 45.9 to 58.8%, respectively. Of an estimated 77,480 patients, 66.7% underwent care at MPI. After adjustment, MPI status was not associated with increased odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.96,1.24]), reoperation (AOR 1.02, CI [.87,1.19]), or any of the tabulated complications. There was additionally no difference in adjusted LOS (β-.18, CI [-.85, +.49]) or costs (β+$1600, CI [-1600, +4800]), between MPI and non-MPI.Discussion The use of MIS operations in blunt abdominal trauma has significantly increased, with performing centers experiencing no difference in mortality or resource utilization. Prospectively collected data on outcomes following MIS trauma surgery is necessary to elucidate appropriate applications.

Background Readmission at a non-index hospital, or care fragmentation (CF), has been previously linked to greater morbidity and resource utilization. However, a contemporary evaluation of the impact of CF on readmission outcomes following elective colectomy is lacking. We additionally sought to evaluate the role of hospital quality in mediating the effect of CF.Methods All records for adults undergoing elective colectomy were tabulated from the 2016 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients readmitted non-electively within 30 days to a non-index center comprised the CFcohort (others: Non-CF). Hierarchical mixed-effects models were constructed to ascertain risk-adjusted rates of major adverse events (MAEs, a composite of in-hospital mortality and any complication) attributable to center-level effects. Hospitals with risk-adjusted MAE rates ≥50thpercentile were considered Low-Quality Hospitals (LQHs) (others: High-Quality Hospitals [HQHs]).Results Of 68,185 patients readmitted non-electively within 30 days, 8968 (13.2%) were categorized as CF. On average, CFwas older, of greater comorbidity burden, and more often underwent colectomy for cancer, relative to Non-CF. Following risk adjustment, CFremained independently associated with greater likelihood of MAE (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.16, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.05-1.27) and per-patient expenditures (β+$2,280, CI +$1080-3490). Further, readmission to non-index LQH was linked with significantly increased odds of MAE, following initial care at HQH (AOR 1.43, CI 1.03-1.99) and LQH (AOR 1.72, CI 1.30-2.28; Reference: Non-CF).Conclusions Care fragmentation was associated with greater morbidity and resource utilization at readmission following elective colectomy. Further, rehospitalization at non-index LQH conferred significantly inferior outcomes. Novel efforts are needed to improve continuity of care.

Background Patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) often require complex management and transfer to higher acuity facilities, especially given increasing national efforts aimed at centralizing care. We sought to characterize factors and evaluate outcomes associated with interhospital transfer using a contemporary national cohort.Methods All adult hospitalizations for EGS (appendectomy, cholecystectomy, laparotomy, lysis of adhesions, small/large bowel resection, and perforated ulcer repair) ≤2 days of admission were identified in the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Patients initially admitted to a different institution and transferred to the operating hospital comprised the Transfercohort (others: Non-Transfer). Multivariable models were developed to consider the association of Transferwith outcomes of interest.Results Of ∼1 653 169 patients, 107 945 (6.5%) were considered the Transfercohort. The proportion of patients experiencing interhospital transfer increased from 5.2% to 7.7% (2016-2020, P< .001). On average, Transferwas older, more commonly of White race, and of a higher Elixhauser comorbidity index. After adjustment, increasing age, living in a rural area, receiving care in the Midwest, and decreasing income quartile were associated with greater odds of interhospital transfer. Following risk adjustment, Transferremained linked with increased odds of in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.64, CI 1.49-1.80), as well as any perioperative complication (AOR 1.33, CI 1.27-1.38; Reference: Non-Transfer). Additionally, Transferwas associated with significantly longer duration of hospitalization (β + 1.04 days, CI + .91-1.17) and greater costs (β+$3,490, CI + 2840-4140).Discussion While incidence of interhospital transfer for EGS is increasing, transfer patients face greater morbidity and resource utilization. Novel interventions are needed to optimize patient selection and improve post-transfer outcomes.

Background The role of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the acute management of diverticulitis remains controversial. Using a national cohort, we examined the relationship between operative approaches with acute clinical and financial outcomes.Methods Adults undergoing emergent colectomy for diverticulitis were tabulated from the 2015-2020 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Regression models were developed to analyze the association between open and MIS approaches with major adverse events (MAE), as well as secondary endpoints. A subgroup analysis was conducted to compare outcomes between open and MIS requiring conversion to open (CTO).Results Of 9194 patients, 1580 (17.3%) underwent MIS colectomy. The proportion of MIS resection increased from 15.1% in 2015 to 19.1% in 2020 (nptrend<.001). Compared to Open, MIS patients were younger, equally likely to be female, had a lower proportion of patients with ASA class ≥3, and a higher BMI. Preoperatively, MIS patients were less frequently diagnosed with sepsis. Following adjustment with open as reference, MIS approach had reduced odds of MAE (AOR .56), ostomy creation (AOR .12), shorter postoperative length of stay (LOS; β −1.63), and a lower likelihood of nonhome discharge (AOR .45, all P< .001). Additionally, CTO was linked to decreased likelihood of MAE (AOR .78, P= .01), ostomy creation (AOR .02, P< .001), comparable LOS (β −.46, P= .41), and reduced odds of nonhome discharge (AOR .58, P< .001), relative to open.Discussion Compared to planned open colectomy, MIS resection was associated with improved clinical and financial outcomes, even in cases of CTO. Our findings suggest that whenever possible, MIS should be attempted first in emergent colectomy for diverticulitis. Nevertheless, future prospective studies are likely needed to further elucidate specific patient and clinical factors.

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has emerged as a life-sustaining measure for individuals with end-stage cardiopulmonary derangements. An estimated one-third of patients must be transferred to a specialized center to receive this intervention. Therefore, the present study sought to characterize the impact of interhospital transfer (IHT) status on outcomes following ECMO.Methods The 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all adult (≥18 years) hospitalizations for ECMO. Patients were stratified based on transfer status from another acute care hospital. Multivariable regression models were developed to assess the association between transfer status and outcomes of interest. Patient and operative factors associated with IHT were identified using regression.Results Of an estimated 61,180 hospitalizations entailing ECMO, 21,410 (35.0%) were transfers. Annual transfer volume doubled over the study period, from 2915 to 5945 (nptrend < .001). The predicted morality risk of non-transfers decreased between 2016 and 2020 but remained similar in transferred patients. Following adjustment, transfer was associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality, complications, duration of stay, and hospitalization costs. Patients experiencing transfer were less likely to be of black race and private insurance status.Conclusion Despite increasing transfer volume and utilization of ECMO, IHT was associated with significant mortality and hospital complication risks. Further work to reduce adverse outcomes, resource burden, and socioeconomic differences within IHT may improve accessibility to this life-saving modality.

Here, we report the first utilization of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in optical wireless communication (OWC) applications. In the solid form, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen often shows promising emissive characteristics that augment radiative decays and improve fluorescence. We have synthesized an AIE-COFthrough the Knoevenagel condensation reaction by taking advantage of the ability to carefully design and alter the COF structure by integrating an AIE luminogen with linear building blocks. The synthesized AIE-COFexhibited a high solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield (∼39%) and a short photoluminescence lifetime (∼1 ns), crucial for achieving modulation bandwidth for high-speed OWC applications. For comparison, we constructed an aggregation-caused quenching based COF, showing a similar lifetime but almost insignificant quantum yield. The orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing modulation strategy employed by the AIE-COFdemonstrates remarkable high-rate data transmission, with a wide −3 dB modulation bandwidth of nearly 200 MHz and achieving high net data rates of 825 Mb/s, outperforming traditional materials. These results open new avenues for the ability to design and finetune new COF materials for their utilization as color converters in developing cutting-edge OWC components, enabling faster and more efficient data transfer.

Dye-sensitized photochemical hydrogen evolution is potentially promising and ecofriendly but often suffers from low stability and photocatalytic activities. The Ir(III) complex plays an important role in photoinduced energy and electron transfer processes, along with excellent luminescence properties, such as high emission intensities and long lifetimes. In this work, a heterobimetallic Fe∧Ir photosensitizer has been rationally designed and synthesized for solar hydrogen evolution application. Harnessing visible light with a significantly high lifetime of 592 ns of bimetallic boosts hydrogen evolution performance compared to a monometallic system, i.e., without a ferrocene auxiliary (390 ns). The longer lifetime of Fe∧Ir-dye is attributed to the extension of π-conjugation achieved by the ferrocene moiety into the ancillary ligand. The investigated materials exhibited the highest rate of ∼8.04 mmol g–1h–1(AQY = 19.68%, TON = 14894) under visible light, and at neutral pH. Fe∧Ir-dye demonstrates quasi-reversible redox processes for IrIII/IValongside a reversible reduction of bpy0/bpy–1. The induction of redox-active ferrocene in Fe∧Ir-dye altered the overall electronic properties of the catalyst. The light-harvesting ability, theoretical molecular orbital levels, and redox potential behavior of the dye-sensitized photocatalysts are systematically investigated, complementing the superior activity of the designed material.

Synthesis of diversely functionalized quinoline-2-carboxylates is illustrated through electrochemical cross-dehydrogenative coupling between N-aryl glycinates and methylenecyclopropanes. An extensive range of distinct functionalities is well-compatible under these transition-metal- and oxidant-free mild electrochemical conditions, contributing to a broad substrate scope and practical applicability. Cyclic voltammetric measurements and control experiments suggested a formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition involving radical intermediates, followed by a cyclopropyl ring opening through nucleophilic polar addition, consecutively fabricating C–C and C–N bonds.

With the phenomenal growth in renewable energy generation, the conventional synchronous generator-based power plants are gradually getting replaced by renewable energy sources-based microgrids. Such transition gives rise to the challenges of procuring various ancillary services from microgrids. We propose a distributed optimization framework that coordinates multiple microgrids in an active distribution network for provisioning passive voltage support-based ancillary services while satisfying operational constraints. Specifically, we exploit the reactive power support capability of the inverters and the flexibility offered by storage systems available with microgrids for provisioning ancillary service support to the transmission grid. We develop novel mixed-integer inequalities to represent the set of feasible active and reactive power exchange with the transmission grid that ensures passive voltage support. The proposed alternating direction method of multipliers-based algorithm is fully distributed, and does not require the presence of a centralized entity to achieve coordination among the microgrids. We present detailed numerical results on the IEEE 33-bus distribution test system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and examine the scalability and convergence behavior of the distributed algorithm for different choice of hyperparameters and network sizes.

The rapid changes of urbanization-induced land use and land cover (LULC) make impacts on ecological landscape which directly or indirectly effects on ecosystem service values (ESVs). Thus, this study investigated the impacts of LULC dynamics on ESVs and their present and future spatial association in the Asansol Municipal Corporation Region (AMCR). To analysis the result, first assessed the LULC and its transformation using the geospatial techniques and machine learning methods. Then, the LULC used to predict the further changes based on the current trend (2011 to 2021) using Cellular automata- Markov chain (CA-MC) model for LULC. Similarly, this process adopted in the estimation of the ESVs and its functional contribution with correspondence of coefficient with sensitivity (CS). Results indicated a decline in ESVs from $9.81 million hectares in 2001 to 2021, with a projected decrease to $9.011 million hectares by 2031. A favorable association between LULC and ESVs was found through spatial analysis utilizing geographical weighted regression (GWR) models and ordinary least squares (OLS), especially in peripheral locations. Finally, this study has recommended sustainable ecosystem planning by promoting urban green-space and blue-space as well as conservation the natural landscape alongside the urban land use planning for future sustainable practice promotion.

Purpose:To describe the use of intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to treat central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Methods:A case and its findings were analyzed. Results:A 45-year-old man diagnosed with a CRAO and had cerebral angiography and treatment with intra-arterial tPA. After treatment, follow-up included optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and OCT angiography. The visual acuity (VA) improved from hand motions to 20/30 immediately after fibrinolysis. A vascular occlusion event the next day resulted in a decrease in VA to 20/400. After initiation of dual antiplatelet therapy, the patient’s VA improved to 20/20. As the retina recovered, the evolution of retinal ischemic changes to a finding similar to paracentral acute middle maculopathy was seen on imaging. Conclusions:This is the first report describing a patient safely started on dual antiplatelet therapy that led to vision improvement after initial treatment with intra-arterial tPA for a CRAO resulted in recurrent vision loss.

A detailed analysis of the gases evolved during pyrolysis of the End-of-Life (EOL) crystalline silicon photovoltaic (c-Si PV) solar module, focusing on recycling strategies has been reported herein. PV modules encapsulated with Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) – with and without Poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer backsheet were pyrolyzed at 500 °C and evolve gases was collected in the gas cell. Further another sets; pyrolysis gases at 500 °C passes through a water bubbler, and 700 °C pre-heated burner and end gases were collected in gas cell. This study utilizes Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to analyse the collected gases. This would help determine the appropriate processing conditions to minimize the environmental impact of EOL recycling of PV modules by pyrolysis. Surface morphology, glass transmittance, and peel adhesion of PV module glass and EVA were characterized to facilitate re-lamination of new modules using recycled glass. Experimental findings include specific toxic gas emission observed with PVDF pyrolysis, the impact of burner and water bubbler treatments on gas emissions, minimal reduction in glass transmittance, and peel adhesion retention in recycled glass. This suggesting a potential recycling approach involving pyrolysis at 500 °C, followed by gas passes through water bubbler, to minimize environmental impact, while reusing recycled glass for new module fabrication. The best recycling steps also proposed for future research work on complete recycling of c-Si PV modules.

The rapid advancement of technology and the proliferation of IoT devices have rendered cyberspace vulnerable, resulting in Significant Cyber Incidents (SCIs). This paper proposes an Enhancing Cyber security: a Comprehensive Approach to the Classification with Prediction of Significant Cyber Incidents through Data Mining with Variation Neural Network with Fox Optimization Algorithm (ECS-SCI-DM-VNN-FOA). The dataset is split into pre-pandemic and post-pandemic SCI subsets, according to the report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Adaptive Variation Bayesian Filter (AVBF) is utilized to remove the noise from the input data. Then the preprocessed input data is supplied to the Improved Window Adaptive Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (IWAGM) for feature extraction. The proposed approach is implemented in Python and its efficacy is evaluated under some metrics, like accuracy, precision, recall, FI-score, sensitivity, computational time, recall, and RoC. The proposed ECS-SCI-DM-VNN-FOA gives 24.91%, 23.76% and 25.98% high accuracy and 30.45%, 23.67% and 29.32% high precision compared with the existing methods, like classification with prediction of cyber events utilizing data mining with machine learning (CRP-SML), Cyber risk prediction via social media big data analytics along statistical machine learning (PECI-MUIP), Mining user interaction patterns in the dark web to forecast enterprise cyber occurrences (CTPA-CSCS) respectively.

Hospitalized families who use languages other than English (LOE) for care encounter unique communication challenges, as do children with medical complexity (CMC). We sought to better understand communication challenges and opportunities to improve care of families who use LOE from the perspectives of hospital staff and Spanish-speaking parents of CMC.This qualitative project involved secondary analysis of transcripts from a study on family safety reporting at 2 quaternary care children’s hospitals and additional primary data collection (interviews) of staff and parents. Bilingual researchers conducted audio-recorded, semistructured interviews with staff and Spanish-speaking parents of CMC during/after hospitalization. We professionally transcribed and translated interviews and developed, iteratively refined, and validated a codebook. Three independent researchers coded interviews using qualitative descriptive methodology and identified emerging themes through thematic analysis.We coded 49 interviews (13 parents, 11 physicians, 13 nurses, 6 allied health professionals, 6 leaders). Five themes emerged: (1) assumptions and bias regarding specific groups who use LOE for care, (2) importance of trust and relationships, (3) importance of language-concordant care, (4) workarounds to address communication challenges, and (5) the “double-edged” sword of technology. Participant-suggested strategies to improve communication included increasing interpreter access for parents and staff, optimizing technology use, and minimizing bias and assumptions through training.Parents of CMC and staff identified challenges and opportunities related to communicating with hospitalized families who use LOE for care. Solutions to improve communication and safety for these families should be attuned to needs of all parties involved.

This article reports an energy-efficient method of magnetic poling for core-shell magnetoelectric (ME) nanoparticles with cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles as core and barium titanate (BaTiO3) shell embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix for the development of low-cost, flexible, magnetic field sensors. The simplicity in fabrication, high sensitivity magnetic field detection, low-frequency operation capability, and a unique magnetic poling approach, projects it as an alternate to the current state-of-the-art magnetic sensors. The trielectrode configuration of the proposed sensor enables a directional magnetic sensing by either ${d}_{{31}}$ or ${d}_{{33}}$ operating modes, which shows the comparable performances of electrically poled and magnetically poled sensor variants. This article reports a sensitivity of 16.20 and 16.86 mV/Oe, for the electrically and magnetically poled variants in ${d}_{{31}}$ mode, respectively, while the sensitivities of 12.5 and 13.7 mV/Oe are obtained in ${d}_{{33}}$ mode for electrically poled and magnetically poled variants, respectively. The underlying physics for the equivalence of two types of poling is explained using piezoforce microscopy (PFM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM) techniques, and different structural characterizations. The persistent issues in electrical poling are addressed, and the resulting high-performance magnetically poled core-shell nanocomposite sensors are projected for unprecedented applications in wearable sensing, soft robotics, and smart health monitoring.

Black race has been associated with increased resource utilization after operation for small bowel obstruction (SBO). While prior literature has similarly demonstrated differences between urban and rural institutions, limited work has defined the impact of rurality on resource utilization by race.

Recent randomized trials have suggested non-operative management to be a safe alternative to appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Yet, there remains significant variability in treatment approach. This study sought to characterize center-level variation in non-operative management within a national cohort of adults presenting with appendicitis.

Obesity is a known risk factor for cholecystitis and is associated with technical complications during laparoscopic procedures. The present study seeks to assess the association between obesity class and conversion to open (CTO) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Although national efforts have aimed to improve the safety of inpatient operations, income-based inequities in surgical outcomes persist, and the evolution of such disparities has not been examined in the contemporary setting. We sought to examine the association of community-level household income with acute outcomes of cardiac procedures over the past decade.

Anti-Predatory Nature-Inspired Algorithm (APNIA) is designed to emulate the anti-predatory behaviour of frogs in order to solve optimization problems. It has a good convergence rate and offers a good balance between exploration and exploitation. It preserves diversity during the optimization process. This work aims to test the strength and resilience of APNIA by finding the optimal solution for small to very high-scale unconstrained optimization problems. This work also evaluates the convergence analysis of APNIA. The performance and convergence measures of APNIA are evaluated against the well-known nature-inspired algorithms and over well-known problems through the four experimental evaluations. Our experimental evaluations interpret the efficient and effective performance of APNIA.

Deep-learning-based data-driven forecasting methods have achieved impressive results for traffic forecasting. Specifically, spatiotemporal graph neural networks have emerged as a promising class of approaches because of their ability to model both spatial and temporal patterns in traffic data. A major limitation of these methods, however, is that they provide forecasts without estimates of data and model uncertainty, which are critical for understanding inherent variations of the data and forecast limitations due to a lack of training data. We develop a scalable deep ensemble approach to quantify data and model uncertainties for spatiotemporal graph neural networks. Our approach consists of four stages: 1) using a Gaussian-assumption-free simultaneous quantile regression loss for training a spatiotemporal graph neural network to model the traffic distribution; 2) applying a scalable Bayesian optimization method to tune the hyperparameters of the spatiotemporal graph neural network; 3) fitting a Gaussian copula generative model to capture the joint distributions of the high-performing hyperparameter configurations, and training an ensemble of models by sampling a new set of hyperparameter configurations from the generative model; and 4) decomposing the data and model uncertainties from the spatiotemporal graph neural network ensembles. We illustrate the effectiveness of our approach on a diffusion convolutional recurrent neural network, a state-of-the-art method for short-term traffic forecasting. We demonstrate the efficacy of our ensemble-based uncertainty quantification method by comparing it with other uncertainty estimation techniques. We show that our generic and scalable approach outperforms the current state-of-the-art Bayesian and a number of other commonly used frequentist uncertainty estimation techniques. The code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/tanwimallick/DESQRUQ.

Failure to rescue (FTR) is increasingly recognized as a quality metric but remains understudied in emergency general surgery (EGS). We sought to identify patient and operative factors associated with FTR to better inform standardized metrics to mitigate this potentially preventable event.

A high-yielding and well-adapted wheat variety for central and peninsular India HD2932 was improved for three types of wheat rusts by introgressing genes Lr19/Sr25, Lr24/Sr24and Yr10and a new variety HD3407 (Unnat HD2932) was developed. The linked genes, Lr19/Sr25and Lr24/Sr24, were derived from Thinopyrum(syn. Agropyron), whereas Yr10was derived from Moro wheat (Triticum aestivumL.). NILs (> 90% RPG) with Lr19/Sr25 and Lr24/Sr24in BC2F1generation were intercrossed to produce two gene combinations Lr19/Sr25+ Lr24/Sr24.The two genes carrying plants were crossed with the third NIL with Yr10for stripe rust resistance. Three-way cross NILF1s were selfed and a large F2generation was produced to select plants with three genes. A single plant with all three genes in the homozygous state and maximum phenotypic and genotypic similarity (RPG = 98.14%) was identified and nominated in all India coordinated trials as HD3407. The proposed entry HD3407 yielded at par as that of the recurrent parent and check variety HD2932 during both the years of testing, 2020–21 and 2021–22, and displayed a high degree of resistance to leaf, stem and stripe rusts at seedling and adult plant stages. The average coefficient of infection for leaf rust (1.95), stem rust (3.45) and stripe rust (6.4) in HD3407 is found to be very low in artificial conditions in comparison with recurrent parent and check HD2932. Variety HD3407 (Unnat HD2932) was released for cultivation in 2023 for the central zone of India with Gazette notification S.O. 1056(E), dated 6th March, 2023.

Introduction:Despite considerable national attention, racial disparities in surgical outcomes persist. We sought to consider whether race-based inequities in outcomes following major elective surgery have improved in the contemporary era. Methods:All adult hospitalization records for elective coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, colectomy, and hip replacement were tabulated from the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Patients were stratified by Black or White race. To consider the evolution in outcomes, we included an interaction term between race and year. We designated centers in the top quartile of annual procedural volume as high-volume hospitals (HVH). Results:Of ∼2,838,485 patients, 245,405 (8.6%) were of Black race. Following risk-adjustment, Black race was linked with similar odds of in-hospital mortality, but increased likelihood of major complications (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.41, 95%Confidence Interval [CI] 1.36-1.47). From 2016-2020, overall risk-adjusted rates of major complications declined (patients of White race: 9.2% to 8.4%; patients of Black race 11.8% to 10.8%, both P < .001). Yet, the delta in risk of adverse outcomes between patients of White and Black race did not significantly change. Of the cohort, 158,060 (8.4%) were treated at HVH. Following adjustment, Black race remained associated with greater odds of morbidity (AOR 1.37, CI 1.23-1.52; Ref:White). The race-based difference in risk of complications at HVH did not significantly change from 2016 to 2020. Conclusion:While overall rates of complications following major elective procedures declined from 2016 to 2020, patients of Black race faced persistently greater risk of adverse outcomes. Novel interventions are needed to address persistent racial disparities and ensure acceptable outcomes for all patients.

Byline: Suvendu. Purkait, Sanjeev. Gupta, Sameer. Bakhshi, Saumyaranjan. Mallick Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a highly aggressive hematologic neoplasm and classified under acute myeloid leukemia. Here, we describe [...]

ABSTRACTUrban plantation dynamics in different topographical and climatic conditions in Odisha were evaluated using linear model selection and regularisation techniques. The main objective was to evaluate how and to what extent the urban plantations respond to various climatic and edaphic conditions. The relationship between vegetation growth and climatic and soil parameters was studied using four statistical learning tools, subset selection, ridge regression, lasso, and partial least squares regression, and their performance was compared to a multiple regression model. The test MSE for the subset selection, ridge regression, lasso, and partial least squares regression models was evaluated to be 16,261.54, 12245.11, 16263.79 and 14,317.21, respectively. Results proved that statistical learning methods, namely subset selection, lasso, ridge regressions and partial least squares regression, were more accurate than multiple linear regression. From the results, it can be safely concluded that temperature shows greater correlation with the growth parameters. Precipitation also plays a vital role in vegetation dynamics. Soil parameters indicate a positive correlation with that of the growth.

Many people with intestine problems go to the emergency room and get special pictures called computed tomography scans. These pictures can be helpful, but they cost a lot, use radiation, and impact the environment. We asked different types of doctors why they ordered these scans. Gastroenterologists, who know a lot about intestine issues, often thought the scans would find only inflammation, not other problems. Emergency doctors and surgeons had different ideas. Sixteen percent of gastroenterologists, 40% of emergency doctors, and 60% of surgeons thought these scans found more complications than they really did. Most doctors feel okay diagnosing intestine issues without using these scans. Gastroenterologists are less likely to ask for scans if patients in the emergency room do not have signs of intestine problems. Our survey helps us understand why doctors order these scans. This information will help create programs to teach doctors when it is right to use scans.

This paper employs time series and panel ARDL methods to investigate the impact of economic globalization and productivity on labor share in India and China from 1980–81 to 2019–2020 at both aggregated and disaggregated industry levels. The study makes three significant contributions: (1) creating comparable trade data at 27 disaggregated industry levels, (2) exploring whether the change in labor share is due to wage-productivity gap and/or capital income growth, and (3) empirically evaluating the impact of economic integration and productivity on labor share. The study finds that India has expanded forward (GVCs) by reducing backward GVCs relatively, while China has expanded forward GVCs with relatively unchanged backward GVCs. The share of ICT-intensive services in India’s exports and the share of investment goods in China’s exports have both significantly increased. Furthermore, the wage-productivity gap and high growth of capital income are crucial factors for declining labor share in India. The empirical results establish the dominant role of economic integration and capital intensity in explaining labor share in India and China. The study also finds that productivity has an adverse effect on labor share in both countries.

Graphical abstract:

The study explores the determinants of indirect tax mobilization across various groups of Indian states based on their major, minor categories and more and less industrialized attributes. It observes a strongly positive but differential impact of per capita RGSDP on own tax revenue efforts of various state groups. Information and Communication Technology use is only helping major less and minor more producer states in augmenting their tax revenues, whereas it results in decreased revenues for major more and minor less producing state groups including all the states in a group. This implies use of Information and Communication Technology has been less effective for most Indian states in augmenting their tax revenues. The governance quality results in loss of tax revenues in major and minor less producer states, while it has no effect on major more producer including all minor and all states together. This implies a weak role of governance in taxation. We observe differential impact of tax regimes for different state panels, which has significant policy relevance.JEL Classification:H11, H21, H27, H77

This article discusses the concept of toxic positivity in the workplace, specifically focusing on bosses who practice it. Toxic positivity refers to the excessive and unrealistic promotion of positivity, even in situations where it is not appropriate or helpful. The article highlights three red flags to watch for in identifying a boss who practices toxic positivity: surrounding themselves with yes people, providing excessive praise, and expecting people to be happy regardless of the circumstances. The author emphasizes the importance of balancing optimism with realism and validating employees' true feelings rather than dismissing them. The article concludes with advice on setting boundaries, seeking support, and remaining optimistic while staying grounded in reality. [Extracted from the article]

Nanosized mesoporous silica has emerged as a promising flexible platform delivering siRNA for cancer treatment. This ordered mesoporous nanosized silica provides attractive features of well-defined and tunable porosity, structure, high payload, and multiple functionalizations for targeted delivery and increasing biocompatibility over other polymeric nanocarriers. Moreover, it also overcomes the lacunae associated with traditional administration of drugs. Chemically modified porous silica matrix efficiently entraps siRNA molecules and prevents their enzymatic degradation and premature release. This Review discusses the synthesis of silica using the sol–gel approach and the advantages with different silica mesostructure. Herein, the factors affecting the synthesis of silica at nanometer scale, shape, porosity and nanoparticle surface modification are also highlighted to attain the desired nanostructured silica carriers. Additional emphasis is given to chemically modified silica delivering siRNA, where the silica nanoparticle surface was modified with different chemical moieties such as amine modified with (3-aminoropyl) triethoxysilane, polyethylenimine, chitosan, poly(ethylene glycol), and cyclodextrin polymer modification to attain high therapeutic loading, improved dispersibility and biocompatibility. Upon systemic administration, ordered mesoporous nanosized silica encounters blood cells, immune cells, and organs mainly of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Thereby, biocompatibility and biodistribution of silica based nanocarriers are deliberated to design principles for smart and efficacious nanostructured silica-siRNA carriers and their clinical trial status. This Review further reports the future scopes and challenges for developing silica nanomaterial as a promising siRNA delivery vehicle demanding FDA approval.

“Aggregation-caused quenching” is a deep-seated mechanism and has been widely used by the researchers as the possible basis for new sensor development. Contrast to aggregation, its turn around process, disaggregation, has gained much less consideration so far. Unfortunately, study of the further scope for reaggregation of the disaggregated probe assembly in the same solution, as and when required, is still under the rare category. The central theme of the current study is focused on this aspect. For this purpose, the effects of headgroup charge (cationic, anionic, and nonionic) and polarity of the micelles on the degree of disaggregation and subsequent emission amelioration of a synthesized bis-indole derivative, 3,3'-bisindolyl(phenyl)methane (BIPM), are studied using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. The relative emission yield of BIPM (ff= 0.01) is significantly enhanced in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (ff= 0.21) and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (ff= 0.24), whereas comparatively less emission enhancement is recorded within the sodium dodecyl sulfate system (ff= 0.07). In contrast, addition of an external biophilic agent, uric acid, causes requenching of the enhanced emission because of the reaggregation of the disaggregated probes. Detailed microscopic and calorimetric studies are also adopted to investigate the disaggregation-reaggregation mechanism of BIPM associations. The study will provide prior insights about the use of suitable micellar systems for the required degree of disaggregation as well as for the modulation of emission efficiency by controlled tuning of the disaggregation-reaggregation equilibrium for similar probe associations in pure aqueous medium avoiding any chemical transformation.

Our modern study is going to inspect new inclusion phenomena between the 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Bdmim]BF4ionic liquid (IL) and the host α-Cyclodextrin (α-CD) by a 1:1 ratio and newly formed inclusion complex was further explored by the 1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV–vis spectroscopy, PXRD, DSC, and SEM analysis. Molecular docking was also performed to investigate the encapsulation of the inclusion complex in which orientation and it have been seen that the IL [Bdmim]BF4enters into the α-CD cavity with a 1:1 ratio was further established with the help of Job’s plot. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of [Bdmim]BF4IL and its inclusion complex was verified against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.

Magnesium alloys have spurred a strong interest in automobile and aerospace industries owing to their high specific strength and stiffness, with magnesium being the lightest structural metal. Alloying with rare earth improves tensile properties considerably. However, the availability of rare-earth elements is a concern. Therefore, attempts are being made to prepare alloys without rare-earth elements. One Mg-1Ca alloy was prepared with different amounts of Sn to study the impact on the high-temperature strength after dynamic recrystallization by hot rolling. Optical and electron microscopy analyzed the change in the microstructure. XRD and EDS were used to identify phases and composition of different microconstituent particles and high-temperature strength was measured at 250°C, 300°C, and 350 °C under 2 x 10-4 s -1 strain rate and at 3000C, 3500C, 4000C, and 4500C temperature under 5 x 10 -4 s -1 strain rate. According to XRD investigation, the alloys essentially comprise the Ca-containing phase and Mg2Sn particles. The Mg-1Ca-1Sn alloy exhibited maximum high-temperature strength at 250°C, attributed to the maximum amounts of MgCaSn particles. It was also found that dynamic recrystallization was accelerated by particle-stimulated nucleation and maximum refinement was found at 1% Sn-containing alloys.

In this experimental study, we studied the molecular interactions of l-valine and l-leucine in separate aqueous solutions of D-mannitol at various temperatures and concentrations. The derived parameters, such as apparent molar volume (ϕv), limiting apparent molar volume (ϕv0), viscosity B-coefficient, and Gibbs free energies of activation per mole of solvent and solute, conductance, have been used to predict solute–solvent and solute–solute interactions based on the transition state theory and cosphere overlap model. By adjusting the concentration of l-valine and l-leucine, fluorescence spectra were measured, and the association constant was computed. Hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions were seen in the 1H NMR experiments, and these findings were supported by computational research. The primary goal of this research is to comprehend how biologically important D-mannitol interacts with significant amino acids in aqueous solutions, which could be suitable for the pharmaceutical sector. These results are anticipated to offer important foundational knowledge for comprehending how sugar alcohol affects protein conformational stability.

Although clinical outcomes of surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) have improved in the modern biologic era, expenditures continue to increase. A contemporary cost analysis of UC operative care is lacking. The present study aimed to characterize risk factors and center-level variation in hospitalization costs after nonelective resection for UC.

Racial disparities in access to preoperative evaluation for colorectal cancer remain unclear. Emergent admission may indicate lack of access to timely care. The present work aimed to evaluate the association of admission type with race among patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Organic molecule–functionalized lead chromate nanoparticle was synthesized using a complexation strategy route. The structural characterization revealed the single-phase lead chromate system belongs to monazite-type monoclinic structure with the space group of P21/n. The unit cell consists of an alternating chain of polyhedra (PbO9) and tetrahedra (CrO4) units, connected via edge and corner-sharing arrangement. A flexible device of lead chromate was fabricated and investigated dielectric capacitance, electrical impedance, conductivity, and field dependent polarization performances under different frequency and temperature environments. The device displayed a maximum dielectric constant (εʹ) value ~ 2400 at 120°C under 100 Hz frequency condition. High dielectric constant value is originated from the orientation polarization of CrO4unit and space charge contribution in the system. AC conductivity of the device suggested the polaronic charge carriers control the overall conduction process via localized hopping mechanism. A fatigue-free polarization behavior was observed in the device under the applied field of 4.0 kV/mm, for 103cycles and retained the polarization value ~ 0.26 μC/cm2over the switching cycles. Lead chromate–based device also showed pressure-induced voltage generation under different pressure conditions and could have the potential application as a voltage generator.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting have been used for the treatment of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis over the past two decades. A systematic review was performed to understand the efficacy of PTA and/or stenting for petrous and cavernous ICA stenosis. In total, 151 patients (mean age 64.9) met criteria for analysis, 117 (77.5%%) were male and 34 (22.5%) were female. Of the 151 patients, 35 of them (23.2%) had PTA, and 116 (76.8%) had endovascular stenting. Twenty-two patients had periprocedural complications. There was no significant difference in the complication rates between the PTA (14.3%) and stent (14.7%) groups. Distal embolism was the most common periprocedural complication. Average clinical follow up for 146 patients was 27.3 months. Eleven patients (7.5%) out of 146 had retreatment.

Triboelectric generators (TEGs) are extensively utilized for transducing biomechanical energy into electrical energy for harvesting and sensing applications. The distinct motions of the human body can be categorized broadly into rotation/twist, vertical, and lateral translations, and tactile stimuli. To capture the biomechanical energy associated with all such actions, TEGs based on distinct modes can be employed. However, the use of multiple distinct TEG units increases the deployment expenses and complexity. The proposed work envisions a novel strategy for harnessing biomechanical energy using a synergistic triboelectric device that incorporates all four fundamental triboelectric operation modes in a single topology. The TEG modes generate a peak output power of 16.6 [contact separation (CS)], 7.6 [sliding (SL)], 12.1 [single electrode (SE)], and $6.24~\mu \text{W}$ [freestanding (FS)] for charging batteries and driving commercial electronics. As an application of the proposed device, the electrical signal generated in each TEG mode in response to various ankle movements is recorded. A novel application of this device for the selective enhancement of a triboelectric mode in complex biomechanical activities involving both major and minor biomechanical stimuli is presented. The minor stimuli can precharge the triboelectric layers of the TEG mode corresponding to the major stimulus, thereby enhancing the harvesting and sensing capabilities of the device. The enhanced performance of the dominant triboelectric mode can be used for powering several wearable applications.

Large-scale machine learning and data mining applications require computer systems to perform massive matrix-vector and matrix-matrix multiplication operations that need to be parallelized across multiple nodes. The presence of straggling nodes--computing nodes that unpredictably slow down or fail--is a major bottleneck in such distributed computations. Ideal load balancing strategies that dynamically allocate more tasks to faster nodes require knowledge or monitoring of node speeds as well as the ability to quickly move data. Recently proposed fixed-rate erasure coding strategies can handle unpredictable node slowdown, but they ignore partial work done by straggling nodes, thus resulting in a lot of redundant computation. We propose a rateless fountain coding strategy that achieves the best of both worlds--we prove that its latency is asymptotically equal to ideal load balancing, and it performs asymptotically zero redundant computations. Our idea is to create linear combinations of the m rows of the matrix and assign these encoded rows to different worker nodes. The original matrix-vector product can be decoded as soon as slightly more than m rowvector products are collectively finished by the nodes. Evaluation on parallel and distributed computing yields as much as three times speedup over uncoded schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact of social media is back in the headlines, and Dove's latest campaign film, The Cost of Beauty, depicts just one of the real stories that happen when [...]

Byline: Sayani. Shome, Aishika. Mallick, Sanchita. Kundu, Swagata. Gayen Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (AdCC) is an uncommon malignant epithelial salivary gland neoplasm, which is indolent yet persistent. Intraosseous /central variant of [...]