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Abstract Purpose The present paper examines the existing literature on how FinTech and RegTech contribute to business sustainability and the sustainability of new-age technology firms. It highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by new age technology firms, especially in emerging markets, in ushering in business sustainability and provides insights to attain economic stability, growth, and social and environmental sustainability through FinTech and RegTech. Methodology We conducted a systematic literature review using the SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis) framework to examine existing literature on the topic of the current study. To analyse the evolution and development of this domain, we extract published literature from Scopus using search strings based on the PICOC (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Context) framework population, without considering any time frame. Thematic synthesis is used for data extraction and further classification of literature to synthesize the current body of knowledge and ascertain future research agendas in FinTech, RegTech and sustainability. Finding We find that FinTech has favourable influence on banks, SMEs and agriculture performance but is a significant challenger to the traditional finance industry. Although, there is suggestive evidence in favour of cyber security being a factor for FinTech adoption, further evidence is still required. Results highlight differences in market penetration of FinTech in developed and emerging economies, and demographic factors like the age of the population and demographic dividend of the emerging economies play an important role in the rise of FinTech in emerging economies. RegTech has continuously evolved to address the challenges posed by evolving financial technologies, with a focus on improving internal control systems. This study outlines the future research agenda in terms of protection against non-compliance, money laundering, terror financing, and cyber security, which are other major reasons for the adoption of RegTech. RegTech has also shown a positive impact on preventing financial crime, reducing compliance costs, and easy onboarding of clients. Practical implications This paper reveals the connection between FinTech and RegTech and business sustainability, the factors that influence their adoption, and the challenges of adopting these technologies. The findings underscore the issues that policymakers must tackle to promote responsible FinTech adoption, striking a balance between innovation and sustainability. Originality To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study examining and presenting a structured literature review of the existing literature on the impact of FinTech/RegTech on business sustainability.

Abstract Balanced nutrition will be rewarding to profitable and sustainable yield of Kodo millet. In this context, soil test crop response (STCR) experiments on kodo millet were conducted from 2020 to 2022 to assess relationships between yield, soil, plant, and fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and calibrate optimum nutrient doses for attaining yield targets. The Basic parameters, i.e., nutrient requirements, contributions of nutrients from fertilizers, soil, and organic manure were derived. The NPK nutrients required to produce one kg of grain yield were 0.049, 0.0047 and 0.035 kg, respectively, under the STCR NPK alone and 0.050, 0.0046 and 0.037 kg, respectively, under the STCR NPK + FYM approach. The STCR NPK + FYM approach for the targeted yield of 1700 kg ha–1 resulted in a higher grain yield (1710 kg ha–1), which was significantly greater than the general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. The developed STCR equations are valid, as the percent deviation of the grain yield from the targeted yield was within ± 10%. The implementation of the STCR approach not only surpassed the effects of the other fertilizer recommendation approaches in terms of grain yield but also increased NPK uptake, nutrient use efficiency and economic returns.

Objectives: Thyroid surgery is a painful procedure for which bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) can be given to potentially reduce postoperative pain. Ultrasound guidance provides real-time visualization of anatomical structures, needle movement, and accurate deposition of local anesthetic in close proximity to nerves, thus making the procedure safer and more effective. Our aim was to compare the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided versus the landmark technique of BSCPB in patients undergoing thyroid surgeries. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients (19–64 years) undergoing thyroid surgeries were divided into two groups – Group US (n = 30): patients undergoing ultrasound-guided BSCPB and Group LM (n = 30): patients undergoing landmark technique for BSCPB. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h, total fentanyl requirement during the intraoperative period, time taken to first rescue analgesia demand, and total tramadol consumption during the first 24 h postoperatively were compared among the two groups. Results: In Group US, there was less intraoperative fentanyl requirement (102.07 ± 18.96 μg vs. 113.33 ± 22.65 μg in group LM, P - 0.037), lower VAS pain score at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h (P = 0.03,

Given the complexities and inequities of our digitised lives, many educators are developing technology curricula with an orientation towards social justice outcomes. Our pedagogical goals are to centre issues of digital inequalities, power, and social justice in curriculum about digital technologies. To do this, we use ‘identity’ as a conceptual lens and narrative for students to critically examine digital technologies. Drawing on a duo-ethnographic method, we examine the development of our ‘Digital Identities’ curriculum over an eight-year period, which encompasses teaching practices that make visible and aim to challenge the inequalities and inequities perpetuated by digital technologies and systems. A ‘pedagogy of digital identities’, we argue, positions students to explore the implicit assumptions embedded in technological design, reflexively consider their own digital identities, practices, and experiences of power, as well as (re)consider the socio-technically (un)just implications of our digitalising society.

Abstract Background The unprecedented increase in the older population and ever-increasing incidence of dementia are leading to a “silver tsunami” in upcoming decades. To combat multimorbidity and maintain daily activities, elderly people face a high prevalence of polypharmacy. However, how these medications affect dementia-related pathology, such as Alzheimer’s β-amyloid (Aβ) fibrils formation, remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the medication profiles of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; n = 124), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 114), and non-demented (ND; n = 228) patients to identify highly prevalent drugs and to determine the effects of those drugs on Aβ fibrils formation. Methods Study subjects (≥ 65 years) were recruited from an academic geriatric practice that heavily focuses on memory disorders. The disease state was defined based on the score of multiple cognitive assessments. Individual medications for each subject were listed and categorized into 10 major drug classes. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the frequency of individual and collective drug classes, which are expressed as percentages of the respective cohorts. 10 µM monomeric β-amyloid (Aβ) 42 and fibrillar Aβ (fAβ) were incubated for 6–48 h in the presence of 25 µM drugs. fAβ was prepared with a 1:10 ratio of Aβ42 to Aβ40. The amount of Aβ fibrils was monitored using a thioflavin T (Th-T) assay. Neuronal cells (N2A and SHSY-5Y) were treated with 25 µM drugs, and cell death was measured using a lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Results We noticed a high prevalence (82–90%) of polypharmacy and diverse medication profiles including anti-inflammatory (65–77%), vitamin and mineral (64–72%), anti-cholesterol (33–41%), anti-hypersensitive (35–39%), proton pump inhibitor (23–34%), anti-thyroid (9–21%), anti-diabetic (5–13%), anti-constipation (9–11%), anti-coagulant (10–13%), and anti-insomnia (9–20%) drugs in the three cohorts. Our LDH assay with 18 highly prevalent drug components showed toxic effects of Norvasc, Tylenol, Colace, and Plavix on N2A cells, and of vitamin D and Novasc on SH-SY5Y cells. All these drugs except Colace significantly reduced the amount of Aβ fibril when incubated with Aβ42 for a short period (6 h). However, Lipitor, vitamin D, Levothyroxine, Prilosec, Flomax, and Norvasc prominently reduce the amount of fibrils when incubated with monomeric Aβ42 for a longer period (48 h). Furthermore, our disaggregation study with fAβ showed consistent results for cholecalciferol (vitamin D), omeprazole (Prilosec), clopidogrel hydrogensulfate (Flomax), levothyroxine, and amlodipine (Norvasc). The chemical structures of these four efficient molecules contain polyphenol components, a characteristic feature of the structures of polyphenolic inhibitors of Aβ fibrillation. Conclusion A higher polypharmacy incidence was observed in an elderly population of 228 ND, 114 MCI, and 124 AD patients. We found that several highly recommended drug components, including vitamin D3, Levothyroxine, Prilosec, Flomax, and Norvasc, efficiently reduce the amount of fibrils formed by monomeric Aβ42 and existing preformed Aβ fibrils in vitro. However, only Levothyroxine was able to prevent Aβ-mediated toxicity to SH-SY5Y cells. Our study suggested that these drugs likely function as polyphenolic inhibitors of Aβ.

Prolonged mechanical ventilation following cardiopulmonary and neurological events oftentimes necessitates a tracheostomy and tracheal granulation is one of its most common late complications. The literature recommends that large granulation be managed through surgical excision or endoluminal techniques. A 6-year-old boy presented with high-grade tracheal stenosis secondary to endotracheal cuff-related injury and prolonged tracheostomy. We present an unconventional yet successful method of management that included multiple sittings of endoscopic rigid bronchoscopic dilation and endoluminal cryotherapy.

Abstract This study assesses river discharges derived using remote sensing and hydrologic modeling approaches throughout the CONUS. The remote sensing methods rely on total water storage anomalies (TWSA) from the GRACE satellite mission and water surface elevations from altimetry satellites (JASON-2/3, Sentinel-3). Surface and subsurface runoff from two Land Surface Models (NOAH, CLSM) are routed using the Hillslope River Routing model to determine discharge. The LSMs are part of NASA’s Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS). Differences in key physical processes represented in each model, model forcings, and use of data assimilation provide an intriguing basis for comparison. Evaluation is performed using the Kling Gupta Efficiency and USGS stream gauges. Results highlight the effectiveness of both satellite-derived discharge methods, with altimetry generally performing well over a range of discharges and TWSA capturing mean flows. LSM-derived discharge performance varies based on hydroclimatic conditions and drainage areas, with NOAH generally outperforming CLSM. CLSM-derived discharges may be impacted by the use of data assimilation (GLDAS v2.2). Low correlation and high variability contribute to lower KGE values. GLDAS models tend to perform poorly in snow dominated, semi-arid and water-regulated systems where both the timing and magnitude of the simulated results are early and overestimated.

Purpose To study the outcomes and complications of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy in patients with uveitis. Methods This study retrospectively evaluated outcomes of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy in 260 eyes of 260 patients with uveitis. The main indications for performing capsulotomy were a visually significant posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and inability to visualize the posterior segment. The presence of 5 or

Abstract Background Herlyn–Werner–Wunderlich syndrome also known as OHVIRA syndrome is a rare complex congenital developmental anomaly characterized by the triad of uterine didelphys, obstructed hemivagina causing hematometrocolpos and ipsilateral renal anomaly. Case presentation Here we report a case of a 14-year-old girl who presented with acute onset lower abdominal pain. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed uterus didelphys, hematometrocolpos, obstructed hemivagina and right renal agenesis. Patient underwent hematocolpos drainage. Conclusions OHVIRA syndrome is an uncommon congenital anomaly. Imaging plays a major role in diagnosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice to resect the septum and relieve the obstruction. An early correct diagnosis is the goal to relieve the symptoms and prevent complications, caused by retrograde menstruation which may result in endometriosis and, also, preserve sexual and conception abilities.

Introduction: The aerosols produced by an ultrasonic scaler contain bacteria that may enter the respiratory systems of both dental surgeons and patients. Lemongrass oil is one of the essential oils with enormous antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. Aim: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of commercially available preprocedural mouth rinses, containing 0.2% lemongrass oil mouthwash and a 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution, in reducing the levels of viable bacteria in aerosols. Materials and Methods: This single-centre double-blinded randomised controlled parallel design split-mouth clinical trial was planned among patients in the Department of Periodontics attending Vishnu Dental College and Hospital in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was conducted for 40 days, from August 2022 to October 2022. Two distinct types of preprocedural mouth rinses (lemongrass oil and chlorhexidine) were used on 56 participants with Stage II or III and Grade B periodontitis. A total of 56 subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (0.2% lemongrass oil) and Group B (0.2% chlorhexidine), using a simple coin toss method. Colony-forming units (CFUs) with and without rinsing in each group were assessed and studied. CFUs collected on blood agar plates were counted during ultrasonic scaling both with and without rinsing. International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 was used for data analysis. Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were used for intragroup and intergroup comparisons for both groups. Results: The mean CFU count in the chlorhexidine group without rinsing was 259.6±26.6, and with rinsing, it was 140.7±22.6, which was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). In the lemongrass oil group, the CFU count without rinsing was 263.5±26.9, and with rinsing, it was 147.18±33.82, which was also statistically significant (p-value

BACKGROUND: Previously, low- and middle-income nations grappled with widespread undernutrition, but now encounter the added challenge of overweight/obesity. Rapid urbanization has led to changes in the diet and physical activity of Indian adolescents. Malnutrition during adolescence has far-reaching consequences into adulthood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status of adolescents in schools and identify associated factors, with the aim of assessing whether the double burden of malnutrition exists among urban adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted across four schools of Bangalore city with a universal sampling of 752 adolescents aged 10–19 years. Height and weight were entered into the WHO AnthroPlus software to compute body mass index-for-age and categorize nutritional status as per Z-scores. Sociodemographic details and data on diet and physical activity were collected by the interview schedule. The Chi-square test and Independent t-test were done to associate nutritional status with various exposure variables, followed by multiple logistic regression separately for undernutrition and for overweight/obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of adolescent undernutrition was 13.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.89%–15.71%) and significantly associated with middle adolescence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6 [1.43–2.75]),

Background: The only effective treatment for patients with life-threatening conditions characterized by organ failure is an organ transplant. A substantial discrepancy exists between the demand for organ recipients and the supply of organ donors globally. There are more individuals in need of organ donations than donors who are currently available to donate. Objective : This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and awareness regarding organ donation of urban slum dwellers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Methodology: With 190 participants, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Chennai’s urban slum. The sample was chosen using simple random sampling. A pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate them. The Statistical Package of the Social Sciences version was used to analyze the data. Results: Nearly, 65% of the participants in our study are male, 35% are female, and 45% are between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Approximately, 60% of the participants in our study possessed adequate knowledge. A statistically significant correlation (P ≤ 0.05) was observed between gender and the levels of sufficient knowledge and willingness. Approximately, 64% of the population demonstrates a willingness to contribute organs for donation. There was a significant statistical correlation (P ≤ 0.05) found between the willingness to donate organs and gender. Roughly, 56% of the participants said they had learned about organ donation mainly through radio or television. Conclusion: There is adequate knowledge in the community, but the social norms and stigma remain constant among people. Regular campaigns are necessary to help people make positive changes to their attitudes, beliefs, and social behaviors.

Abstract Predicting phase stability in high entropy alloys (HEAs), such as phase fractions as functions of composition and temperature, is essential for understanding alloy properties and screening desirable materials. Traditional methods like CALPHAD are computationally intensive for exploring high-dimensional compositional spaces. To address such a challenge, this study explored and compared the effectiveness of random forests (RF) and deep neural networks (DNN) for accelerating materials discovery by building surrogate models of phase stability prediction. For interpolation scenarios (testing on the same order of system as trained), RF models generally produce smaller errors than DNN models. However, for extrapolation scenarios (training on lower-order systems and testing on higher order systems), DNNs generalize more effectively than traditional ML models. DNN demonstrate the potential to predict topologically relevant phase composition when data were missing, making it a powerful predictive tool in materials discovery frameworks. The study uses a CALPHAD dataset of 480 million data points generated from a custom database, available for further model development and benchmarking. Experiments show that DNN models are data-efficient, achieving similar performance with a fraction of the dataset. This work highlights the potential of DNNs in materials discovery, providing a powerful tool for predicting phase stability in HEAs, particularly within the Cr-Hf-Mo-Nb-Ta-Ti-V-W-Zr composition space.

Abstract The study was formulated to identify the effect of Mangifera indica leaf extract in inhibiting the growth and metamorphosis of Culex quinquefasciatus larva. Bioassay-guided extraction identified the bioactive fraction, after which GC-MS characterized it. The larvicidal activity was analyzed by administrating extract in various concentrations and then subjecting the mortality rate for probit analysis. The morphological and physiological impact upon larvae was understood by histological analysis and acetylcholinesterase activity assay. The results suggested that the extract possessed a high degree of larvicidal activity, whereas the Dose50 was 225.158 ± 15.168 with a Total Chi-Square of 13.09 and p-value of 0.11. The histological studies revealed notable aberrations among the study subjects compared to the control group due to diminished abdominal tissue integrity. It was also observed that the extract could inhibit the acetylcholinesterase activity, with an LD 50 of 0.9512 µg/ml. The observations made in these studies may be utilized to develop a potential larvicidal agent that could act upon multiple targets.

Nanotechnology has been progressively developed recently and used extensively in all disciplines. These nanoscale particles overpower the use of conventional technological metal particles. Applications of Cu nanoparticles in agriculture enhance production and soil fertility, albeit their usage in excess amounts causes toxicity for soil fauna. So, we studied and collated the toxicity research trends of copper nanoparticles in the worm’s species (earthworms and enchytraeids) and their activities to assess the consequences of copper nanoparticles in varied sizes and oxidation states. Various Cu NPs have a high capacity for adsorbing biomolecules and interacting with biological receptors. Cu NPs can interact with the host organism’s inherent immunity and impair the host’s immune system when confronted with different dose concentrations. These artificially induced nanoparticles interpret the biological cell system and manipulate cell receptors in situ. Nations all across the world are currently attempting to establish a global policy on the regulation of nanomaterials as per their ecological safety. In some cases, they have been reported to be more hazardous than the comparable ions and micromaterials in some cases. As a result, nanoparticle safety research has far-reaching ramifications for national economies. These studies will be extremely significant in regulating the environmental outcome of nanoparticles.

In the field of cardiovascular health, rosuvastatin, a potent statin, holds significance as it aids in lowering cholesterol levels and mitigating the risk of cardiovascular diseases. While generally well tolerated, it is not without side effects. Common adverse reactions exist, and rare severe events such as liver injury and myopathy can occur. This case report sheds light on a specific incident involving a 49-year-old male patient who presented with a range of distressing symptoms, including loose motion, fever accompanied by chills, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and disrupted sleep. Following an extensive investigation encompassing the patient’s medical history and laboratory tests, a diagnosis of drug-induced acute hepatitis was established, with rosuvastatin identified as the causative agent. Consequently, the statin therapy was promptly discontinued, and the patient was provided with symptomatic treatment until the liver-related investigations returned to normal. This case report underscores the paramount importance of diligent monitoring and surveillance in identifying and managing potential adverse effects associated with statin therapy, thereby safeguarding patient well-being and ensuring their safety.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a reactive condition marked by cytopenias and clinical features of systemic inflammation related to macrophage activation. It may be familial and may present early in life or sporadic and may affect people of any age. HLH secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare clinical entity with an estimated prevalence of 0.9–4.6%. A 19-year-old man with no significant past medical history presented with complaints of high-grade fever with chills and bleeding manifestations, such as hematemesis, hemoptysis, epistaxis, and petechial rash in both upper limbs and lower limbs. Laboratory investigations showed significant pancytopenia and raised plasma levels of ferritin, triglycerides, and soluble interleukin (IL)-2. Ultrasonography of the abdomen showed mild hepatomegaly. A bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of mild hemophagocytosis. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and double-strand deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) came positive, and a diagnosis of HLH secondary to SLE was made. The patient was treated symptomatically with PCV and random donor platelet (RDP) transfusions and definitively with steroid therapy. HLH provokes potential life-threatening systemic toxicity and organ failure. Thus, prompt recognition when a patient presents with unexplained fever, cytopenias, and hepatosplenomegaly is required for timely treatment to prevent end-organ irreversible damage.

The present work examines the mechanical characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA) samples manufactured in 3D printing using various infill patterns. The infill patterns investigated are cuboid, grid, and octet, prepared at a constant infill density of 50 %. The study aimed to identify the most suitable infill pattern for specific mechanical requirements, considering tensile, compression, and flexural behaviour. Experimental testing was conducted on the 3D-printed PLA specimens to assess their mechanical performance. The findings reveal that the octet infill pattern showed the highest mechanical qualities across all three tests, including tensile, flexural, and compression evaluations, indicating improved strength and stability. The octet infill pattern samples had the highest tensile value of 17.3 MPa, maximum flexural stress of 35 MPa, and maximum compression stress of 34.4 MPa. These results emphasize the need to choose suitable infill patterns to adjust the mechanical properties of 3D-printed PLA components to meet particular application requirements.

Category: Hindfoot; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Calcaneal fractures, commonly caused by high-energy trauma, present significant challenges for orthopedic surgeons. Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) is a widely used surgical technique for managing these fractures; it can lead to subtalar joint arthritis and pain, requiring subtalar fusion when conservative treatments prove ineffective. Understanding the risk factors associated with subtalar fusion (STF) after calcaneal ORIF is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and treatment strategies. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively evaluate these risk factors, including patient demographics, medical comorbidities, same day and 90-day reimbursement data. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using the PearlDiver Mariner 157 national claims database from January 1st, 2010 to October 31st, 2021. Patients who underwent calcaneal ORIF, identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9, ICD-10) codes, were queried for 5-year rates of STF and reimbursement data. Patient demographics and comorbidities were recorded, and multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine the association of risk factors with STF. A p-value of less than 0.001 was considered significant after performing a Bonferroni correction. Results: Patients with STF had a higher proportion of alcohol abuse (21.3% vs. 16.2%), depression (58.1% vs. 43.1%), drug abuse (29.1% vs. 19.7%), obesity (40.3% vs. 28%) and tobacco use (62.2% vs. 50.3%), all exhibiting a p-value of less than 0.001. Those with depression (OR: 1.54; 99% CI:1.29-1.84; p< 0.001) and obesity (OR:1.58; 99% CI: 1.32-1.88; p< 0.001) as comorbidities had a higher odds ratio of association ith STF within 5 years following calcaneal ORIF. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that patients who ultimately required STF within 5 years of calcaneal ORIF had higher rates of alcohol abuse, tobacco use, drug use, obesity, and depression prior to ORIF. In addition, there was no significant difference observed between those with and without STF in average same-day and 90-day reimbursements and demographics. Future patients with a calcaneal fracture along with multiple risk factors listed above should be in consideration for primary surgical fusion over calcaneal ORIF, with additional studies needed to aid orthopaedic surgeons in this decision making.

The black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, has been a key species in the development and expansion of intensive shrimp aquaculture worldwide. The problem of disease susceptibility in P. monodon, particularly vibriosis caused by Vibrio harveyi, poses a significant threat and leads to substantial economic losses. To combat bacterial infections, researchers are exploring the antimicrobial potential of microbes from unique environments, like algicolous endophytes. In this study, we investigated the in vivo exclusion of Vibrio in P. monodon post-larvae using an extract from the endophytic fungus Penicillium citrinum SW171 (PCE), evaluating its impact on disease resistance, growth, and survival. Crude endophytic extract was administered both via feed and rearing water for 28 days before the challenge with V. harveyi. Treatment with PCE improved the water quality of rearing water by significantly reducing ammonia and nitrate levels compared to the control. This treatment notably decreased Vibrio colonies without substantial alteration in the overall microbial load of the rearing water. Moreover, the endophytic extract not only inhibited pathogens but also enhanced productivity, as evidenced by improved growth rates (1272 ± 20.8 and 1109.02 ± 28.4 mg) compared to the control (1026.02 ± 33.8 mg). Transcript levels of the immune-related genes i.e., anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF), crustin, penaeidin, prophenoloxidase-activating enzyme (PPA), phagocytosis-activating protein (PAP), lysozyme-like, ferritin, haemocyanin, lectin, and survivin, were assessed in post-larvae using qRT-PCR. Extract treatment led to significant up-regulation of all genes except PPA, survivin and ALF. The cumulative survival rate of the group orally treated with PCE was 66.9 %, while that of water treatment was 64.5 %, significantly higher than that of the control group. The higher growth rate and post-challenge survival of P. monodon larvae point towards the immunostimulatory and antibacterial properties of endophytic P. citrinum extract which can be exploited in aquaculture for better production.

In the present work, the surface of the ZK60 Mg alloy was alloyed with tin (Sn), and the FSP process parameters have been optimized for the better mechanical properties by employing response surface methodology (RSM). Furthermore, RSM was combined with artificial neural networks (ANNs) to evaluate and compare the predictive capacity of both the models. FSP process parameters, namely, tool rotational speed (S), feed rate (F), number of passes (N), and weight percentage of Sn (W) were selected as influential parameters for optimization. The optimum conditions that were predicted by the RSM model to maximize the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and % elongation (%EL) were a tool rotational speed of 2000 rpm, a feed rate of 0.39 mm/sec, 3 number of passes, and 8 wt.% of Sn which yields the maximum tensile strength of 217 MPa and the maximum %El of 26%.

Sugarcane-based products are inherently rich in elements such as silicon, carbon and nitrogen. As such, these become ideal precursors for utilization in a wide array of application fields. One of the appealing areas is to transform them into nanomaterials of high interest that can be employed in several prominent applications. Among nanomaterials, sugarcane products based on silica nanoparticles (SNPs), carbon dots (CDs), metal/metal oxide-based NPs, nanocellulose, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and nano biochar are becoming increasingly reported. Through manipulation of the experimental conditions and choosing suitable starting precursors and elements, it is possible to devise these nanomaterials with highly desired properties suited for specific applications. The current review presents the findings from the recent literature wherein an effort has been made to convey new development in the field of sugarcane-based products for the synthesis of the above-mentioned nanomaterials. Various nanomaterials were systematically discussed in terms of their synthesis and application perspectives. Wherever possible, a comparative analysis was carried out to highlight the potential of sugarcane products for the intended purpose as compared to other biomass-based materials. This review is expected to stand out in delivering an up-to-date survey of the literature and provide readers with necessary directions for future research.

IntroductionEnhancing soil health and nutrient levels through fertilizers boosts agricultural productivity and global food security. However, careful fertilizer use is essential to prevent environmental damage and improve crop yields. The soil test crop response (STCR) is a scientific approach to fertilizer recommendation that ensures efficient use, supporting higher crop production while protecting the environment and preserving resources.MethodologyA long-term field experiment on the STCR approach was initiated in 2017 at the Zonal Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. The experiment aimed to study the impact of STCR-based nutrient prescription along with farmyard manure (FYM) for a targeted yield of soybean (Glycine max), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), dry chili (Capsicum annuum), aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on yield and changes in soil health in comparison with other approaches of fertilizer recommendation.ResultsThe results showed a significant and positive impact of the integrated use of fertilizer with FYM based on the STCR approach on the productivity of all the crops and soil fertility. Significantly higher yields of soybean (23.91 q ha−1), sunflower (27.13 q ha−1), dry chili (16.67 q ha−1), aerobic rice (65.46 q ha−1), foxtail millet (14.07 q ha−1), okra (26.82 t ha−1), and kodo millet (17.10 q ha−1) were observed in the STCR NPK + FYM approach at yield level 1 compared to the general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. This approach outperformed the standard recommendations, enhancing nutrient uptake and efficiency across various crops. Utilizing the principal component analysis, the soil quality index effectively reflected the impact of nutrient management on soil properties, with the STCR NPK + FYM treatment at yield level 1 showing the highest correlation with improved soil physical and chemical parameters.DiscussionThe STCR approach led to improved yield, nutrient uptake, utilization efficiency, and soil health, thanks to a balanced fertilization strategy. This strategy was informed by soil tests and included factors like crop-induced nutrient depletion, baseline soil fertility, the efficiency of inherent and added nutrients through fertilizers and farmyard manure, and the success of yield-targeting techniques in meeting the nutritional needs of crops.

This article reports on and analyses data from a situated and in-depth project on the experiences of six cisgender South Asian-Australian women/people who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, negatively racialized women experienced barriers to health care and a lack of social support, which were further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. International border closures in Australia combined with local mitigation strategies inhibited social and cultural support from families, impacting many migrant mothers/birthing people who gave birth for the first time in Australia. Many hospitals in the states of New South Wales and Victoria instituted restrictions to birthing services as a way of reducing exposure to the coronavirus during the pandemic. Our research suggests that pre-existing limitations of health care providers, digital platforms, and apps with regard to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women in Australia have been amplified during the pandemic. Online Facebook groups from the mothers’ countries of origin or cultural backgrounds, or for mothers who had babies due in the same month, represented a significant source of information and support for the participants. This was particularly important at a time when women’s capacities to engage in traditional cultural practices, which provide practical, emotional, and informational support, were compromised by the inability to garner familial support. We situate these findings in the literature on “performing good motherhood” in neoliberal times and via reliance on digital devices and platforms and what it means for CALD women’s sociality, sense of agency, and negotiations with cultural practices.

Lung adenocarcinoma is a primary type of lung cancer and is classified as a non small cell lung carcinoma. Headache is a rare presentation of lung carcinoma. This case report found that early diagnosis and proper treatment can improve disease outcomes. The case describes a 36-year-old woman presenting with a persistent left-sided headache and non radiating pain. Despite normal vital signs and laboratory results, an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed multifocal abnormalities in the brain, suggesting neoplastic metastasis. Further investigations, including Computed Tomography (CT) scans and Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography PET-CT scans, confirmed lung adenocarcinoma with metastases to the brain, bone, and liver. Histopathology revealed an invasive, moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient was recommended palliative radiation therapy, and after compliance with treatment, she was discharged. The present case underscores the importance of thorough diagnostic evaluation in unexplained symptoms, leading to the identification of advanced-stage lung adenocarcinoma with multiple metastases.

Endocardial fibroelastosis is characterized by proliferation of both elastic and collagenous fibers within the endocardium, causing diffuse or localized thickening. A four-and-a-half-month-old baby was admitted to a local hospital, with a history of seizures for one day. Baby developed features of heart failure and died within one week after admission. At the post-mortem examination, heart was found to be enlarged with dilated ventricles. The endocardium of left ventricle was markedly thickened with a whitish appearance. Histopathology showed a thick layer of collagenous fibrous tissue in the endocardium, which was confirmed by Masson trichrome stain. The cause of death was offered as dilated cardiomyopathy due to endocardial fibroelastosis. The underlying mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis remain unclear. It is hypothesized that genetic, infectious, inflammatory, and nutritional processes are involved in this condition. This case highlights the importance of gross specimen examination and special staining methods to support histopathology after postmortem examination, for ascertaining the cause of death.

Data visualization has entered the mainstream, and numerous visualization recommender systems have been proposed to assist visualization novices, as well as busy professionals, in selecting the most appropriate type of chart for their data. Given a dataset and a set of user-defined analytical tasks, these systems can make recommendations based on expert coded visualization design principles or empirical models. However, the need to identify the pertinent analytical tasks beforehand still exists and often requires domain expertise. In this work, we aim to automate this step with TaskFinder, a prototype system that leverages the information available in textual documents to understand domain-specific relations between attributes and tasks. TaskFinder employs word vectors as well as a custom dependency parser along with an expert-defined list of task keywords to extract and rank associations between tasks and attributes. It pairs these associations with a statistical analysis of the dataset to filter out tasks irrelevant given the data. TaskFinder ultimately produces a ranked list of attribute–task pairs. We show that the number of domain articles needed to converge to a recommendation consensus is bounded for our approach. We demonstrate our TaskFinder over multiple domains with varying article types and quantities.

Abstract Dendranthema grandiflora is an important cut flower with high economic importance in the floriculture industry. Identification of stable and high yielding genotypes of Dendranthema grandiflora, hence becomes paramount for ensuring its year-round production. In this context, the genotype by environment interaction effects on 22 chrysanthemum hybrids across six test environments were investigated. The experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications for 6 years and data on various agro-morphological and yield-contributing traits were evaluated. Our analysis revealed significant mean sum of squares due to environmental, genotypic and genotype by environment interaction variations for all examined traits. A 2D GGE biplot constructed using first two principal components computed as 59.2% and 23.3% of the differences in genotype by environment interaction for flower yield per plant. The GGE biplot identified two top-performing genotypes, G2 and G5, while the AMMI model highlighted genotypes G17, G15, G6, G5, and G2 as the best performers. Genotype G17 ranked highest for multiple traits, while G2 displayed high mean flower yield as well as stability across all environments. According to AEC line, genotypes G2 and G5 exhibited exceptional stability, whereas genotypes G4, G18 and G19 demonstrated lower stability but maintained high average flower yields. Hence, our findings provide valuable insights into chrysanthemum hybrids that were not only best performing but also hold promise to meet the growers demand of the cut flower industry and can be recommended for large scale commercial cultivation.

Background: Venous thrombosis is a dreaded complication of long bone fractures. The occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may be high in specific cases such as bone tumors with pathological fractures. In this regard, more work is required to establish its correlation. Scanty data are available that shows whether pathological fractures increase the risk of DVT by comparing fracture fixation and replacement surgeries as a treatment. The anticoagulation protocols in published literature might not be suitable for this specific group. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study on patients who underwent surgeries for pathological fracture fixation between September 2010 and October 2020. Their data were collected and analyzed. DVT is diagnosed by clinical sign, D-dimer test, and using color Doppler. The study population (n = 68) was compared and paired with a control group (n = 140) with similar baseline characteristics. Results: There were 12 patients (17.64%) in the study group and 8 (5.71%) patients in the control group that developed DVT after performing risk ratio and Student’s t-test and calculating odds ratio (P < 0.031). There was a statistically significant correlation found between the development of DVT with the type of implant used, the presence of neoplastic lesions, and the presence of metastases. Conclusion: Patients with a pathological long bone fracture who underwent surgical management are at greater risk for DVT or death due to pulmonary embolism under the current recommended thromboprophylaxis protocol. This risk of developing DVT is increased much fold in the presence of metastasis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, fracture fixation, and arthroplasty.

Abstract The regulated release of chemical messengers is crucial for cell-to-cell communication; abnormalities in which impact coordinated human body function. During vesicular secretion, multiple SNARE complexes assemble at the release site, leading to fusion pore opening. How membrane fusion regulators act on heterogeneous SNARE populations to assemble fusion pores in a timely and synchronized manner, is unknown. Here, we demonstrate the role of SNARE chaperones Munc13-1 and Munc18-1 in rescuing individual nascent fusion pores from their diacylglycerol lipid-mediated inhibitory states. At the onset of membrane fusion, Munc13-1 clusters multiple SNARE complexes at the release site and synchronizes release events, while Munc18-1 stoichiometrically interacts with trans-SNARE complexes to enhance N- to C-terminal zippering. When both Munc proteins are present simultaneously, they differentially access dynamic trans-SNARE complexes to regulate pore properties. Overall, Munc proteins’ direct action on fusion pore assembly indicates their role in controlling quantal size during vesicular secretion.

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are high on the priority list of the Kerala government, and exploring the extent to which transgender and gender diverse (TGD) community members benefit from the services of national programmes for NCDs can provide valuable insights on improving the inclusivity of the health system as it moves towards Universal Health Coverage. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of NCD risk factors as well as facilitators and barriers to NCD management among the TGD population in Kerala. Methods A multiple methods study, including a cross-sectional survey of 120 self-identifying TGD people that included an adaptation of the WHO STEPS questionnaire, as well as in-depth interviews with thirteen individuals, was conducted in three districts of Kerala to explore the barriers and facilitators to NCD prevention and management. Results The results are presented using the key dimensions emerging out of the Diederichsen framework. A range of discrimination faced by TGD people in Kerala traps them in situations of low educational outcomes with consequent disadvantages in the job market when they search for livelihoods. This results in a large proportion of our sample living away from families (69 percent), and finding themselves in precarious jobs including sex work (only 33 percent had a regular job), with all these aforementioned factors converging to marginalise their social position. This social position leads to differential risk exposures such as increased exposure to modifiable risk factors like alcohol (40 percent were current alcohol users) and tobacco use (40.8 percent currently used tobacco) and ultimately metabolic risk factors too (30 and 18 percent were hypertensive and diabetic respectively). Due to their differential vulnerabilities such as the discrimination that TGD people are subjected to (41.7 percent had faced discrimination at a healthcare centre in the past one year), those with higher exposure to risk factors often find it hard to bring about behavioural modifications and are often not able to access the services they require. Conclusions The disadvantaged social position of TGD people and associated structural issues result in exacerbated biological risks, including those for NCDs. Ignoring these social determinants while designing health programmes is likely to lead to sub-optimal outcomes.

Even with significant advancements in the treatment modalities for patients with heart failure (HF), the rates of morbidity and mortality associated with HF are still high. Various therapeutic interventions, including cardiac resynchronization therapy, Implantable Cardiovascular-Defibrillators, and left ventricular assist devices, are used for HF management. Currently, more research and developments are required to identify different treatment modalities to reduce hospitalization rates and improve the quality of life of patients with HF. In relation to this, various non-valvular catheter-based therapies have been recently developed for managing chronic HF. These devices target the pathophysiological processes involved in HF development including neurohumoral activation, congestion, and left ventricular remodeling. The present review article aimed to discuss the major transcatheter devices used in managing chronic HF. The rationale and current clinical developmental stages of these interventions will also be addressed in this review.

Background Nutritional risk in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) admitted in intensive care units (ICU) is less researched. We planned a prospective trial to determine the utility of Nutritional risk in the Critically ill (NUTRIC) and modified NUTRIC (mNUTRIC) scores in such cases. Materials and Methods Patient characteristics and data at admission of all 199 COVID-19 cases admitted to ICU were collected. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk nutrition groups using NUTRIC and mNUTRIC scores. These groups were compared in terms of 28-day ICU mortality, length of stay, calorie and protein intake, duration of ventilation, oxygen therapy, and problems of nutrition. Results When compared to low nutritional risk group, the high nutritional risk group (NUTRIC score ≥6) had higher mortality at 28 and 90 days (P < 0.001). High nutritional risk of mNUTRIC score (≥5) also had greater mortality at 28 and 90 days (P < 0.001) than the low-risk group. The high nutritional risk group had shorter hospital and ICU stays and needed more days of mechanical ventilation, according to both scores (P < 0.001). Patients in the high nutrition risk category also had more incidence of myocardial infarction, adult respiratory distress syndrome, renal replacement requirement, and vasopressor use. The sensitivity and specificity of NUTRIC score were 75 and 86.5%, respectively, as compared to 82.5 and 79% of mNUTRIC. Conclusion The mortality at 28 and 90 days was greater in COVID-19 patients with high nutritional risk as measured by NUTRIC and mNUTRIC scores with both the scores performing equally well.

The bacterial diseases black leg and soft rot in potatoes cause heavy losses of potatoes worldwide. Bacteria within the genus Pectobacteriaceae are the causative agents of black leg and soft rot. The use of antibiotics in agriculture is heavily regulated and no other effective treatment currently exists, but bacteriophages (phages) have shown promise as potential biocontrol agents. In this study we isolated soft rot bacteria from potato tubers and plant tissue displaying soft rot or black leg symptoms collected in Danish fields. We then used the isolated bacterial strains as hosts for phage isolation. Using organic waste, we isolated phages targeting different species within Pectobacterium. Here we focus on seven of these phages representing a new genus primarily targeting P. brasiliense; phage Ymer, Amona, Sabo, Abuela, Koroua, Taid and Pappous. TEM image of phage Ymer showed siphovirus morphotype, and the proposed Ymer genus belongs to the class Caudoviricetes, with double-stranded DNA genomes varying from 39 kb to 43 kb. In silico host range prediction using a CRISPR-Cas spacer database suggested both P. brasiliense, P. polaris and P. versatile as natural hosts for phages within the proposed Ymer genus. A following host range experiment, using 47 bacterial isolates from Danish tubers and plants symptomatic with soft rot or black leg disease verified the in silico host range prediction, as the genus as a group were able to infect all three Pectobacterium species. Phages did, however, primarily target P. brasiliense isolates and displayed differences in host range even within the species level. Two of the phages were able to infect two or more Pectobacterium species. Despite no nucleotide similarity with any phages in the NCBI database, the proposed Ymer genus did share some similarity at the protein level, as well as gene synteny, with currently known phages. None of the phages encoded integrases or other genes typically associated with lysogeny. Similarly, no virulence factors nor antimicrobial resistance genes were found, and combined with their ability to infect several soft rot-causing Pectobacterium species from Danish fields, demonstrates their potential as biocontrol agents against soft rot and black leg diseases in potatoes.

BackgroundMalaria impacts nearly 250 million individuals annually. Specifically, Uganda has one of the highest burdens, with 13 million cases and nearly 20,000 deaths. Controlling the spread of malaria relies on vector surveillance, a system where collected mosquitos are analyzed for vector species’ density in rural areas to plan interventions accordingly. However, this relies on trained entomologists known as vector control officers (VCOs) who identify species via microscopy. The global shortage of entomologists and this time-intensive process cause significant reporting delays. VectorCam is a low-cost artificial intelligence–based tool that identifies a mosquito’s species, sex, and abdomen status with a picture and sends these results electronically from surveillance sites to decision makers, thereby deskilling the process to village health teams (VHTs). ObjectiveThis study evaluates the usability of the VectorCam system among VHTs by assessing its efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. MethodsThe VectorCam system has imaging hardware and a phone app designed to identify mosquito species. Two users are needed: (1) an imager to capture images of mosquitos using the app and (2) a loader to load and unload mosquitos from the hardware. Critical success tasks for both roles were identified, which VCOs used to train and certify VHTs. In the first testing phase (phase 1), a VCO and a VHT were paired to assume the role of an imager or a loader. Afterward, they swapped. In phase 2, two VHTs were paired, mimicking real use. The time taken to image each mosquito, critical errors, and System Usability Scale (SUS) scores were recorded for each participant. ResultsOverall, 14 male and 6 female VHT members aged 20 to 70 years were recruited, of which 12 (60%) participants had smartphone use experience. The average throughput values for phases 1 and 2 for the imager were 70 (SD 30.3) seconds and 56.1 (SD 22.9) seconds per mosquito, respectively, indicating a decrease in the length of time for imaging a tray of mosquitos. The loader’s average throughput values for phases 1 and 2 were 50.0 and 55.7 seconds per mosquito, respectively, indicating a slight increase in time. In terms of effectiveness, the imager had 8% (6/80) critical errors and the loader had 13% (10/80) critical errors in phase 1. In phase 2, the imager (for VHT pairs) had 14% (11/80) critical errors and the loader (for VHT pairs) had 12% (19/160) critical errors. The average SUS score of the system was 70.25, indicating positive usability. A Kruskal-Wallis analysis demonstrated no significant difference in SUS (H value) scores between genders or users with and without smartphone use experience. ConclusionsVectorCam is a usable system for deskilling the in-field identification of mosquito specimens in rural Uganda. Upcoming design updates will address the concerns of users and observers.

Aim: To compare the performance of the Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) questionnaire with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and check its application in large screening camps or nonclinic-based settings. Study Designs: Cross-sectional observation study. Purpose: To evaluate the DEQ 5 questionnaire by comparing its performance to that of OSDI in assessing dry eye. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study comparing the performance of two questionnaires was conducted. Demographic information was collected. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability and correlation were determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The reliability of both the DEQ 5 and OSDI was 0.52 and 0.78, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between both questionnaires. (r = 0.6, P < 0.050). Conclusion: DEQ-5 questionnaire can serve as a useful tool for evaluating and monitoring in various dry eye settings in comparison to OSDI.

Abstract Leafy vegetables comprises of the majority of food intake around the world. A nuanced understanding of their phytonutrients, bioavailability and post-harvest processing will aid in understanding their utility in human health better. Plant foods have a variety of dietary phytonutrients beneficial to us. With a lot of diversity in the variety of these leafy vegetables, it is of utmost importance as consumers to understand their benefits, functional properties, post processing changes that occurs until it reaches us. Some of the most popular green leafy vegetables include spinach, cabbage, lettuce and mustard greens. In this review, we provide a summary of the phytonutrients in such leafy greens with a detailed description of its bioavailability of nutrients, role of bio fortification, changes during harvest and post-harvest processing. As a low calorie food item, green leafy vegetables are ideal candidates to add valuable nutrients into our daily diets, and spinach especially is known to have multiple therapeutic implications in human health. Post-harvest processing may include addition of nutrients, increasing bio availability of important constituents, assessing effect of fertilizers and growth promoting factors on their nutrient content. All of these parameters need to be studied in depth to improve their beneficial effect in human nutrition and diet. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background The burden of chronic conditions is growing in Australia with people in remote areas experiencing high rates of disease, especially kidney disease. Health care in remote areas of the Northern Territory (NT) is complicated by a mobile population, high staff turnover, poor communication between health services and complex comorbid health conditions requiring multidisciplinary care. Aim This paper aims to describe the collaborative process between research, government and non-government health services to develop an integrated clinical decision support system to improve patient care. Methods Building on established partnerships in the government and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) sectors, we developed a novel digital clinical decision support system for people at risk of developing kidney disease (due to hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) or with kidney disease. A cross-organisational and multidisciplinary Steering Committee has overseen the design, development and implementation stages. Further, the system’s design and functionality were strongly informed by experts (Clinical Reference Group and Technical Working Group), health service providers, and end-user feedback through a formative evaluation. Results We established data sharing agreements with 11 ACCHS to link patient level data with 56 government primary health services and six hospitals. Electronic Health Record (EHR) data, based on agreed criteria, is automatically and securely transferred from 15 existing EHR platforms. Through clinician-determined algorithms, the system assists clinicians to diagnose, monitor and provide guideline-based care for individuals, as well as service-level risk stratification and alerts for clinically significant events. Conclusion Disconnected health services and separate EHRs result in information gaps and a health and safety risk, particularly for patients who access multiple health services. However, barriers to clinical data sharing between health services still exist. In this first phase, we report how robust partnerships and effective governance processes can overcome these barriers to support clinical decision making and contribute to holistic care.

Abstract Pathogenic loss-of-function variants in BGN, an X-linked gene encoding biglycan, are associated with Meester-Loeys syndrome (MRLS), a thoracic aortic aneurysm/dissection syndrome. Since the initial publication of five probands in 2017, we have considerably expanded our MRLS cohort to a total of 18 probands (16 males and 2 females). Segregation analyses identified 36 additional BGN variant-harboring family members (9 males and 27 females). The identified BGN variants were shown to lead to loss-of-function by cDNA and Western Blot analyses of skin fibroblasts or were strongly predicted to lead to loss-of-function based on the nature of the variant. No (likely) pathogenic missense variants without additional (predicted) splice effects were identified. Interestingly, a male proband with a deletion spanning the coding sequence of BGN and the 5’ untranslated region of the downstream gene (ATP2B3) presented with a more severe skeletal phenotype. This may possibly be explained by expressional activation of the downstream ATPase ATP2B3 (normally repressed in skin fibroblasts) driven by the remnant BGN promotor. This study highlights that aneurysms and dissections in MRLS extend beyond the thoracic aorta, affecting the entire arterial tree, and cardiovascular symptoms may coincide with non-specific connective tissue features. Furthermore, the clinical presentation is more severe and penetrant in males compared to females. Extensive analysis at RNA, cDNA, and/or protein level is recommended to prove a loss-of-function effect before determining the pathogenicity of identified BGN missense and non-canonical splice variants. In conclusion, distinct mechanisms may underlie the wide phenotypic spectrum of MRLS patients carrying loss-of-function variants in BGN.

Background: Biofilms are the assembly of bacterial species embedded in an extra-polymer matrix. Literature suggests biofilms can be formed on various biotic and abiotic surfaces. This may contribute to diseases by inducing chronic inflammation by underlying bacterial species. A prospective observational study was planned to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens among heterogenous clinical samples along with their antimicrobial resistance pattern and to study their tendency to form biofilm. Materials and Methods: Samples were processed and identified according to standard microbiological protocol. Further Tissue Culture Plate (TCP) method was employed for detection of biofilm formation. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test & Fisher test. Results: Among 329 positive bacterial isolates, 295 isolates were gram negative while only 35 isolates were gram positive. 138 (41.95%) bacterial isolates produced biofilm while 191 (58.05%) isolates were non-biofilm producers. Antibacterial resistance was higher in biofilm producing isolates as compared to non-biofilm producing isolates. Conclusions: Timely information about biofilm producing bacterial species causing infection can help clinicians for appropriate treatment measures in addition to antibiotic therapy. Knowledge regarding these organisms could help us in formulating hospital antibiotic policy which will lead to better patient outcome.

Abstract Background PGT-A has become an important part of IVF treatments. Despite its increased use, there are contradicting results on its role in improving reproductive outcomes of ART cycles. Given that aneuploidy is a main limiting factor for IVF success, we aimed to study the predictive factors of aneuploidy in infertile patients undergoing IVF and hence highlight the patients who would benefit the most from genetic testing. Results A retrospective analysis of 1242 blastocysts biopsied in the setting of PGT-A cycles was performed. The euploid group included 703 embryos, while the aneuploid group had 539 embryos. The factors included in the analyses were the couple’s history as well as the embryo characteristics. The primary outcome was the rate of aneuploid embryos per patient’s history as well as per embryo characteristics. The aneuploidy rate (AR) in our cohort was 43.4%. The woman’s age was found to be a significant predictor (OR 1.045, 95% CI 1.008–1.084, p = 0.016). Biopsy on day 5 as well as degree of expansion 3 was also found to affect significantly (OR 0.724, 95% CI .541–.970, p = 0.03 and OR 2.645, 95% CI 1.252–5.585, p = 0.011). Lack of consanguinity decreased the AR by an OR 0.274 with 95% CI .137–.547, p

Objective: In recent years, frailty has been reported to be an important predictive factor associated with worse outcomes in neurosurgical patients. The purpose of the present systematic review was to analyze the impact of frailty on outcomes of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review of literature using the PubMed, Cochrane library, Wiley online library, and Web of Science databases following PRISMA guidelines of studies evaluating the effect of frailty on outcomes of cSDH published until January 31, 2023. Results: A comprehensive literature search of databases yielded a total of 471 studies. Six studies with 4085 patients were included in our final qualitative systematic review. We found that frailty was associated with inferior outcomes (including mortality, complications, recurrence, and discharge disposition) in cSDH patients. Despite varying frailty scales/indices used across studies, negative outcomes occurred more frequently in patients that were frail than those who were not. Conclusions: While the small number of available studies, and heterogenous methodology and reporting parameters precluded us from conducting a pooled analysis, the results of the present systematic review identify frailty as a robust predictor of worse outcomes in cSDH patients. Future studies with a larger sample size and consistent frailty scales/indices are warranted to strengthen the available evidence. The results of this work suggest a strong case for using frailty as a pre-operative risk stratification measure in cSDH patients.

The basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain center of emotional expression, contributes to acoustic communication by first interpreting the meaning of social sounds in the context of the listener’s internal state, then organizing the appropriate behavioral responses. We propose that modulatory neurochemicals such as acetylcholine (ACh) and dopamine (DA) provide internal-state signals to the BLA while an animal listens to social vocalizations. We tested this in a vocal playback experiment utilizing highly affective vocal sequences associated with either mating or restraint, then sampled and analyzed fluids within the BLA for a broad range of neurochemicals and observed behavioral responses of adult male and female mice. In male mice, playback of restraint vocalizations increased ACh release and usually decreased DA release, while playback of mating sequences evoked the opposite neurochemical release patterns. In non-estrus female mice, patterns of ACh and DA release with mating playback were similar to males. Estrus females, however, showed increased ACh, associated with vigilance, as well as increased DA, associated with reward-seeking. Experimental groups that showed increased ACh release also showed the largest increases in an aversive behavior. These neurochemical release patterns and several behavioral responses depended on a single prior experience with the mating and restraint behaviors. Our results support a model in which ACh and DA provide contextual information to sound analyzing BLA neurons that modulate their output to downstream brain regions controlling behavioral responses to social vocalizations.

In today's digital era, the rapid growth of databases presents significant challenges in data management. In order to address this, we have developed and designed CHAMP (Cervical Health Assessment using machine learning for Prediction), which is a user interface tool that can effectively and efficiently handle cervical cancer databases to detect patterns for future prediction diagnosis. CHAMP employs various machine learning algorithms which include XGBoost, SVM, Naive Bayes, AdaBoost, Decision Tree, and K-Nearest Neighbors in order to predict cervical cancer accurately. Moreover, this tool also designates to evaluate and optimize processes, to retrieve the significantly augmented algorithm for predicting cervical cancer. Although, the developed user interface tool was implemented in Python 3.9.0 using Flask, which provides a personalized and intuitive platform for pattern detection. The current study approach contributes to the accurate prediction and early detection of cervical cancer by leveraging the power of machine learning algorithms and comprehensive validation tools, which aim to provide learned decision-making. • CHAMP is a user interface tool which is designed for the detection of patterns for future diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer. • Various machine learning algorithms are employed for accurate prediction. • This tool provides personalized and intuitive data analysis which enables informed decision-making in healthcare.

Key Clinical Message Scalp metastasis from atypical meningioma, though rare, underscores the importance of meticulous surgical techniques to prevent tumor cell implantation. Early detection and comprehensive management, including surgery and adjuvant therapy, are crucial for optimal outcomes. Abstract Meningiomas are tumors of the meninges that originate in the arachnoid layer from arachnoid cap cells. Atypical meningiomas, classified as WHO grade 2 tumors, tend to metastasize and recur if not surgically managed properly. Scalp metastasis is a rare occurrence that presents as a subcutaneous elevation. A 33‐year‐old patient presented with a complaint of a constant, dull pressure headache persisting for the past 12 months, exacerbated by exertion, along with seizures and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The patient had no significant medical history but had undergone surgery 4 years ago for a WHO grade 2 meningioma. The current brain MRI revealed a dural tail sign, along with masses on both the left and right sides of the frontal lobe, extending to involve the skin on the forehead and scalp. The patient underwent surgical resection and adjuvant radiation therapy. At the 12‐month follow‐up, no neurological deterioration or tumor recurrence was observed. A literature review on scalp metastasis in patients with atypical meningioma was also conducted, including eight articles published up to September 2023. The mechanism of metastasis development appears to be consistent in all eight reported cases, involving the implantation of tumor cells during resection. Therefore, there is a critical need for meticulous intra‐ and post‐operative surgical techniques to prevent such implantation.

Abstract Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are the germline embedded proviral fragments of ancient retroviral infections that make up roughly 8% of the human genome. Our understanding of HERVs in physiology primarily surrounds their non-coding functions, while their protein coding capacity remains virtually uncharacterized. Therefore, we applied the bioinformatic pipeline “hervQuant” to high-resolution ribosomal profiling of healthy tissues to provide a comprehensive overview of translationally active HERVs. We find that HERVs account for 0.1–0.4% of all translation in distinct tissue-specific profiles. Collectively, our study further supports claims that HERVs are actively translated throughout healthy tissues to provide sequences of retroviral origin to the human proteome.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a common issue among individuals with thyroid disorders, which can affect their cognitive abilities without completely interfering with their daily tasks. Early screening is important to provide social and psychological support and the best care and intervention. The Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (M-ACE) assessment tool has been found to be more accurate and reliable in identifying Alzheimer's disease from mild cognitive impairment and control groups. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate the impact of thyroid disorders on various cognitive domains using the M-ACE tool and evaluate its practicality in assessing patients. METHODS: In a 6-month cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital, 202 thyroid patients were evaluated using the M-ACE tool to assess their cognitive status. The patient's responses were scored to determine their overall cognitive status and the most affected cognitive domain. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and International Business Machines Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) version 25, with a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: This study found that 29.21% of the patients had cognitive impairment, with memory being the most affected domain (MCI = 10.17 ± 1.33 and dementia = 6.83 ± 1.66). A significant difference was observed between groups with no cognitive impairment, MCI, and dementia (P < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: In this study, thyroid disorders significantly affected attention, memory, language, and visuospatial domains of cognition, and memory was the most affected domain. This provides insight into the importance of early identification of cognitive decline, especially in thyroid patients. In addition, our findings suggest that the M-ACE questionnaire is a reliable and convenient tool for assessing cognitive status.