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The invention of using radio waves, for sending voice signals over long distances, brought profound changes to human society. The idea was picked up, initially by enthusiasts called radio amateurs, and later by business entities, to start radio stations transmitting voice and music programs for public entertainment. This was the beginning of public broadcasting. Rapid progress in communication technology enabled transmission of video information in the same fashion, called television (TV). The development has been very rapid in the recent past. TV has finally reached the old concept of being the picture frame on the wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prescription of antibiotics empirically without confirmation of an infective etiology is on the rise. Administration of appropriate antibiotics can be guided by real‑time fluorescence imaging using a point‑of‑care device. These composite images show the presence, type and the burden of infection. The time saved by this method over microbiological testing, especially in resource‑poor settings, can lead to a paradigm shift in treatment by facilitating prompt and adequate antimicrobial therapy, surgical debridement as well as follow‑up. Thumbnail sketches of a series of four cases highlighting different scenarios in which a fluorescent imaging device utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning was found useful is presented in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) is one of the most frequently co-infecting bacteria reported. Development of drug resistance, biofilm formation, cell associated factors make the P.aeruginosa more virulent. Type III secretion system controls expression of genes. P.aeruginosa chromosome harbours exoT, exoS, exoU, and exoY virulent genes. Gene exoT plays an important role in causation of infection. The identification of virulent markers of pathogens for identification of acute and chronic infections at early stage remains a critical area and still need large research. Aim: To study the prevalence of exoT gene encoding exotoxin T in P.aeruginosa from clinical samples. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted during January 2015 to March 2016 at the Department of Microbiology in Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Various clinical samples were processed using standard laboratory methods. The statistical analysis was done by using Chi-square test. Strains of P.aeruginosa isolated from various clinical samples were identified using standard laboratory methods, and exoT gene was detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis technique. Results: Out of 30 strains of P. aeruginosa, 20 (66.67%) were isolated from male and 10 (33.33%) from female patients. Most of them belonged to the age group 41-60 years (46.67%). The exoT gene occurred in 20/30 (66.67%) isolates of P.aeruginosa, while 10/30 (33.33 %) showed negative amplification results. Out of 20 exoT genes in P.aeruginosa, 17/20 (85%) were detected from male and 3/10 (15%) from female patients. Conclusion: Gene exoT of P. aeruginosa plays the crucial role in causation of disease. It is concluded that exoT gene can be a notable virulent element expressed by 66.67% of P.aeruginosa clinical isolates. The proven role of exoT virulence gene in the pathogenicity of P.aeruginosa would help in understanding the prognosis of Pseudomonas infection and designing an effective treatment and vaccine against the Pseudomonas infections to prevent them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brook rearrangement is a valuable synthetic tool that facilitates the controlled construction of complex molecules. Conventionally, it generates carbanion intermediates utilized in subsequent functionalization reactions. In this review, we will explore recent advancements in the Brook rearrangement that extend beyond the traditional functionalization reactions. Specifically, we will highlight its involvement in unusual bond cleavage, annulation reactions, and dearomatization efforts. The novelty of this rearrangement is underscored by showcasing its most recent applications. 1 Introduction 2 Novel Synthetic Pathways Involving the Brook Rearrangement 2.1 C–C and C–X Bond Formation 2.2 C–C and C–X Bond Cleavage 2.3 Stereodefined Substituted Silyl Enol and Allenol Ethers 2.4 Annulation Reactions 2.5 Dearomatization 3 Synthetic Applications 4 Conclusion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter reports first simultaneous detection of F‐region plasma‐depleted structure in O(1D) 630.0 and O(1S) 557.7 nm airglow images on a geomagnetically quiet‐night (Ap = 3) of 26 June 2021 from mid‐latitude station (Hanle, India) due to enhanced thermospheric 557.7 nm emission. Since nighttime thermospheric 557.7 nm emission over mid‐latitudes is predominantly masked by significantly larger mesospheric component, F‐region plasma structures are rarely observed in 557.7 nm images. Interestingly, thermospheric 557.7 nm emission was not significant on the following geomagnetically quiet‐night as bands of medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbance were only observed in 630.0 nm images. Poleward wind generated by Equatorial Temperature and Wind Anomaly transported plasma from the boundary of equatorial ionization anomaly, causing significant electron density enhancement around 250 km and descent of F‐layer peak over Hanle on 26 June 2021. This amplified the dissociative recombination enabling the simultaneous detection of plasma‐depleted structure in 557.7 and 630.0 nm images. Plain Language Summary: The thermospheric O(1S) 557.7 generated through dissociative recombination of O2+ in the F‐region is significantly lower than its mesospheric counterpart which is generated via the Barth mechanism in the Mesosphere‐Lower‐Thermosphere region. This causes difficulties in the simultaneous detection of mid‐latitude F‐region plasma structures in 630.0 and 557.7 nm airglow images during geomagnetically quiet nights of low solar active years. We report, for the first time, such simultaneous detection of plasma‐depleted structure from mid‐latitude station (Hanle, India) on a geomagnetically quiet night of 26 June 2021. Interestingly, the thermospheric 557.7 nm emission was not significant on the following geomagnetically quiet night as bands of medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbance were detected only in the 630.0 nm images. Results from multi‐instrument data sets showed the descent of F‐layer peak and significant electron density enhancement over Hanle. The local poleward wind generated by stronger Equatorial Temperature and Wind Anomaly on 26 June 2021 transported the plasma from the boundary of the equatorial ionization anomaly region to Hanle through geomagnetic field lines. This caused the enhancement of electron density around 250 km and descent of F‐layer peak over Hanle that created suitable condition for the amplification of dissociative recombination reaction. Key Points: Simultaneous observation of mid‐latitude F‐region plasma‐depleted structure in O(1D) 630.0 and O(1S) 557.7 nm airglow imagesSignificantly higher electron density is observed over the region on 26 June 2021 than on the following night at airglow emission altitudeThermospheric O(1S) 557.7 nm emission contributed significantly due to the enhancement in the dissociative recombination reaction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted in Department of sericulture, Forest college and research institute, Mettupalayam. In the study, we analysed the impact of reeling waste water on the plant propagation and growth of mulberry cuttings, reeling water samples were collected from reeling units in vadavalli, coimabtore district. Cuttings of V1 and G4 were selected and maintained in a pot culture, frequently irrigated with reeling water at different concentrations. Observations pertained to treatments were calculated at 30,60 and 90 days after planting, from that recordings, present investigation was concluded that the sprouting and other studied biometric traits except internodal distance in both V1 and G4 shows higher value at lowest concentration of reeling waste water i.e., T2 (25% reeling waste water + 75% tap water). Highest concentration of reeling waste water reduces the sprouting as well as growth of the mulberry cuttings due to the presence of more amount of elements which affects the metabolic activities of the plants. Except T5 (100% reeling waste water) all other concentrations were exhibited better propagation and growth of mulberry cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. It usually affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those with uncontrolled diabetes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, iatrogenic immunosuppression, and hematological malignancies, as well as individuals who have had organ transplants. The type of mucormycosis a person suffers from is often determined by their underlying conditions. The most common types are rhino-cerebral mucormycosis, pulmonary mucormycosis, cutaneous mucormycosis, cerebral mucormycosis, gastrointestinal mucormycosis, and disseminated mucormycosis. The incidence of mucormycosis has been increasing over the years, with an overall mortality rate of 54%. Recent cases have shown a correlation between COVID-19 and mucormycosis. Using anti-inflammatory drugs to combat the cytokine storm associated with COVID-19 can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to opportunistic fungal infections like mucormycosis. Underlying health conditions further exacerbate the condition. This study reviewing 198 cases of mucormycosis and conducting a meta-analysis found that post-COVID-19 patients most commonly developed rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis, followed by pulmonary and gastrointestinal mucormycosis. The study also identified diabetes as the most common underlying factor contributing to the development of mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients, followed by hypertension and obesity. The study also examined the influence of age, affected organs, and the use of certain drugs on the development of mucormycosis. Age was found to be a significant factor in the infection. This meta-analysis is one of the first to compare post-COVID mucormycosis cases with those from the pre-COVID era. The hope is that this study and analysis will help identify the determinants of mucormycosis in post-COVID patients and aid the scientific community in finding a solution to this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To reduce reporting time and to determine the exact prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes and type of ESBL genes among single and multi-β-lactamase producing uropathogens. Methodology and results: Positive urine samples (20.8%) for significant pus cells and GNB were processed directly by modified CLSI phenotypic confirmatory test (MCPCT) for detection of ESBL enzymes and GNB isolates by PCR for ESBL genes. In MCPCT, cefotaxime and ceftazidime discs with and without clavulanic acid were used, dispensing 10 μL of both boronic acid and EDTA. Out of 378 GNB isolates tested, 167 (44.2%) were found positive for ESBL production by the modified CLSI phenotypic confirmatory test. Moreover, these GNB strains were assessed using uniplex and multiplex PCR, which also confirmed the findings of the modified CLSI phenotypic confirmatory test. CTX-M was the predominant gene, followed by TEM, OXA and SHV. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The significance of the present study is that the modified CLSI phenotypic confirmatory test can be used to detect ESBL producers directly from clinical samples such as urine, cerebro-spinal fluid, blood, pleural fluid and ascetic fluid from which generally single organism is isolated. This method will not only save time but also help clinicians to start the treatment early so that the lives of critically ill patients can be saved. Moreover, MCPCT can provide a more accurate prevalence of ESBL producers than the CPCT method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of a relict plastid, also known as an apicoplast (apicomplexan plastid), that houses housekeeping processes and metabolic pathways critical to Plasmodium parasites' survival has prompted increased research on identifying potent inhibitors that can impinge on apicoplast-localised processes. The apicoplast is absent in humans, yet it is proposed to originate from the eukaryote's secondary endosymbiosis of a primary symbiont. This symbiotic relationship provides a favourable microenvironment for metabolic processes such as haem biosynthesis, Fe-S cluster synthesis, isoprenoid biosynthesis, fatty acid synthesis, and housekeeping processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation, distinct from analogous mammalian processes. Recent advancements in comprehending the biology of the apicoplast reveal it as a vulnerable organelle for malaria parasites, offering numerous potential targets for effective antimalarial therapies. We provide an overview of the metabolic processes occurring in the apicoplast and discuss the organelle as a viable antimalarial target in light of current advances in drug discovery. We further highlighted the relevance of these metabolic processes to Plasmodium falciparum during the different stages of the lifecycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a crucial phase characterized by significant physical and psychological changes and the provision of adequate nutrition assumes a central position in influencing the overall health and welfare of individuals in this age group. This study specifically focused on examining the impact in both rural and urban regions with 100 adolescents. A cross-sectional comparative study was undertaken in a sample of schools with the participation of 200 teenagers aged 13-18 years. The sample was divided equally between rural and urban locations. The intervention encompassed testing KAP by using information and communication tools, leaflets with recipes rich in protein and iron and an exhibition on balanced diet and nutrients. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were employed to evaluate participants' nutritional knowledge and awareness. Subsequently, the collected data was evaluated to ascertain the efficacy of the intervention. The results showed that both rural and urban adolescents' nutritional knowledge and awareness were enhanced. It was observed that urban adolescents' cognitive achievement increase was 33.3 per cent, whereas rural adolescents' increase was 24.4 per cent. Urban adolescents' awareness increase 32.1 per cent, while rural adolescents' was 36.9 per cent. Both boys and girls improved their knowledge and awareness. Adolescents aged 16-18 years had slightly stronger pre-test knowledge than those aged 13-15 years, although they improved similarly. Thus, the study demonstrated the positive impact of intervention and hence recommends the need of nutrition education for adolescents to improve their dietary pattern and thereby health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron density and Neutral Wind (ENWi) probe and/or Langmuir probe were flown on three different rocket flights from equatorial station Thumba (8.5°N, 77°E), during daytime, eclipse time, and post sunset time respectively, of low solar activity period, to study ionization irregularities in the E region of the ionosphere. The spectral characteristics observed using the payloads were analyzed during the three different rocket flights. The 15 January 2010 solar eclipse event and "SOUREX 1" wind and electron density measurements confirm the validity of the wind shear theory for equatorial regions during the eclipse and post sunset periods, when electrojet is weak, using wind and electron density irregularity measurements from the same instrument (ENWi) for the first time. The spectral indices in the range of −1.2 to −1.78 and the strong wind shear due to gravity wave winds during the eclipse time as well as the post sunset time, confirm the role of neutral turbulence in the generation of irregularities in the 95–112 km altitude region. The spectral index of −2.0 to −2.7 and the presence of irregularities in the negative gradient regions establishes the role of wind‐driven gradient drift instability (GDI) in generating irregularities during the SOUREX 1 post sunset flight for altitudes below 93 km. Further, the role of gradient drift instability in triggering ionization irregularities during the daytime on 14 January 2010 is unraveled by the spectral index of −2.03 and the presence of irregularities in the positive gradient regions alone. Plain Language Summary: The spectral characteristics of ionospheric plasma irregularities were studied using rocket‐borne in situ measurements of electron density and neutral winds. The Electron density and Neutral Wind probe and/or Langmuir probe were flown during different geophysical conditions from equatorial station, Thumba. The validity of the wind shear theory for equatorial region and the role of neutral turbulence in the generation of irregularities were verified by the electron density and neutral wind measurements during daytime for the 15 January 2010 solar eclipse event and post sunset time for the "SOUREX 1" experiment. The presence of irregularities in the positive electron density gradient regions alone and the spectral index value of −2.03 together confirm the role of gradient drift instability in the generation of daytime E region irregularities. The irregularities generated through wind‐driven GDI during post sunset time is characterized by the spectral index of −2.0 to −2.7 and the irregularities were present in the negative electron density gradient regions. Key Points: In situ measurements of electron density and neutral wind as well as spectral analysis of irregularitiesRole of neutral turbulence in irregularity generation above 95 km during eclipse time and post sunset time unraveledRole of wind‐driven gradient drift instability in post sunset irregularity generation below 93 km is deduced [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study evaluated the inhibitory effect of Moringa oleifera leaves methanolic extract (MOL) against the in vitro growth of Babesia bovis (B. bovis), B. caballi, B. bigemina, and Theileria equi (T. equi), as well as in vivo growth of B. microti in mice. Active principles of MOL extract were determined using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). MOL's anti-piroplasm efficacy was assessed both in vitro and in vivo using the SYBR Green I fluorescence assay. Every 96 hours, the hematological parameters, including red blood cell count (RBCs; 104/UL), hemoglobin content (HGB; g/dl), and hematocrit percent (HCT; %), in the treated mice were monitored using a Celltac MEK6450 automated hematological analyzer. LC-MS of MOL revealed that the most abundant polyphenolic catechism found in the MOL extract was isoquercetin and rutin. MOL inhibited B. bovis, B. caballi, B. bigemina, and T. equi in vitro growth in a dose-dependent way, with IC50 values of 45.29 ± 6.14, 19.16 ± 0.45, 137.49 ± 16.07, and 9.29 ± 0.014 μg/ml, respectively. MOL's in vitro antibabesial activity was enhanced when administrated simultaneously with either diminazene aceturate (DA) or MMV665875 compound from malaria box. In mice infected by B. microti, a combination of MOL and a low dose of DA (12.5 mg·kg−1) resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in B. microti growth. These findings suggest that MOL is an effective herbal anti-piroplasm therapy, especially when combined with a low dosage of either DA or MMV665875. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel series of furan‐bearing pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridines were designed as cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitors and as p53–murine double minute 2 (MDM2) inhibitors. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antiproliferative activity toward hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. The most active compounds on both cell lines were additionally evaluated for their in vitro CDK2 inhibitory activity. Compounds 7b and 12f displayed enhanced activity (half‐maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 0.46 and 0.27 µM, respectively) in comparison to the standard roscovitine (IC50 = 1.41 ± 0.03 µM), in addition to, cell cycle arrest at S phase and G1/S transition phase in MCF7 cells treated with both compounds, respectively. Moreover, the most active spiro‐oxindole derivative against MCF7 cell line, 16a, exhibited enhanced inhibitory activity against p53–MDM2 interaction in vitro (IC50 = 3.09 ± 0.12 µM) compared to nutlin, and increased the levels of both p53 and p21 by nearly fourfold in comparison to the negative control. Molecular docking studies demonstrated the plausible interaction patterns of the most potent derivatives 17b and 12f in the CDK2 binding pocket and the spiro‐oxindole 16a with p53–MDM2 complex, respectively. Consequently, the new chemotypes 7b, 12f, and 16a can be presented as promising antitumor hits for further studies and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study deals with the application of statistical and geostatistical modelling to analyse spatio-temporal variation in water quality of selected 466 km in the lower stretch of river Ganga (545 km). Six important physicochemical parameters, e.g. water temperature, transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and specific conductivity, each of thirteen selected sites of monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons are observed for the year 2014. Statistical modelling such as factor analysis is used to identify significant variables for variation in water parameters, whereas geostatistical modelling, e.g. ordinary kriging (OK) is used for spatial distributions of the water parameters in the river. Result showed alkalinity and specific conductivity during monsoon season, while transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen and specific conductivity in pre-monsoon season correlated to maximum variation in water quality. Geostatistical modelling, ordinary kriging (OK)-based interpolation model for water parameters showed more than 85% correlation at validation sites. The generated thematic map of spatial distribution for alkalinity during monsoon season and specific conductivity in both pre-monsoon and monsoon season showed an increasing trend from northern part (upward stream) to southern part (downward stream) of the river stretch. Whereas, in case of transparency, pH and dissolved oxygen, a reverse trend was observed as they increased from southern part (downward stream) to northern part (upward stream) of the river in pre-monsoon season. This combined approach for spatio-temporal water quality assessment in River Ganga can provide useful information for researchers and policy-makers for sustainable management of lower stretch of the River Ganga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human body harbours trillions of microbes, and their influence on human health has been explored in many parts of the human body, including the male reproductive system. From routine culturing to polymerise chain reaction (PCR) and high throughput DNA sequencing, several studies have identified bacteria in the male reproductive system. In this review, we discuss the past and current literature surrounding the testicular and semen microbiome in correlation with male infertility. We further highlight the potential benefits of probiotics as an alternative therapeutic option for male infertility. Although not conclusive, emerging data are indicating potential implications of certain bacterial members on male fertility. There is a general agreement on the negative impact of some pathogenic bacterial species on semen parameters, including sperm counts, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. On the other hand, Lactobacillus, known as a human-friendly bacteria, has shown protective effects on semen parameters, which makes it a potentially good probiotic. In order to confirm the findings of previous studies, more clinical studies with larger sample sizes and the right controls are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of targeted protein degradation (TPD), especially proteolysis targeting chimeras. These degraders have manifested many advantages over small molecule inhibitors. To date, a huge number of degraders have been excavated against over 70 disease‐related targets. In particular, degraders against estrogen receptor and androgen receptor have crowded into phase II clinical trial. TPD technologies largely expand the scope of druggable targets, and provide powerful tools for addressing intractable problems that can not be tackled by traditional small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we mainly focus on the structures and biological activities of small molecule degraders as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of emerging TPD technologies. We also propose the challenges that exist in the TPD field at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article will critically explore how the intersection of mimesis and labour may open up another perspective on the much-theorized relationship between practice (prayoga) and theory (śāstra) in dance and painting. Labour or śrama, a loaded term by itself, will be taken in its complex sense of not only involving labour as skill that informs acts of painting, acting-dancing but also as a thematic of representation. Interspersed into these two senses is ritual labour or the labour involving acts of propitiating the divine – a domain not sufficiently thought out beyond the truism that religion pervades all spheres of Indic life. What this mode of inquiry aims to bring out is a tense relationship between manual/artistic labour and ritual labour both as a site of complicity and conflict amongst the actor-dancers and the authors of the treatises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile synthesis of novel 3-functionalized pyridine derivatives has been accomplished through the reaction of 4-hydroxy-3-benzoylpyridin-2(1H)-ones and β-nitrostyrenes in the presence of catalytic amount of pyrrolidine (10 mol%). In this process, the desired products were obtained with 72–87% yields using ethanol as solvent at 80 °C for 4 h. In addition, a total of 19 examples were obtained, which exhibited the broad substrate scope of the transformation. The reaction process may involve the formation of an unstable enamine intermediate and then undergo hydrolysis to afford 4-hydroxy-3-benzoylpyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonoelastography is a comparatively new and developing technology in the field of salivary gland imaging. Nevertheless, it has the potential to distinguish between various types of lesions by calculating the degree of strainrelated deformation under the externally applied force. With this background, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of sonoelastography in characterising salivary gland lesions as benign or malignant. The aim: To evaluate and characterize salivary Gland lesions on the Gray scale and Colour doppler ultrasonography and sonoelastography and to correlate these findings with the clinico-pathological diagnosis. Methodology: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre, Moradabad (U.P.), from Aug 2021 to Nov 2022. All patients referred to the radiology department for imaging with clinical suspicion of having salivary gland lesions were enrolled in the study and evaluated on the SIEMENS ACUSON S3000 machine. Gray scale USG was done first to assess various morphological features of lesions, and then a Doppler assessment was done to determine vascularity within the lesion. Subsequently, real-time strain elastography (eSie touch) was performed to assess the tissue stiffness. The elastogram image of the detected lesions was evaluated using colour coding ranging from blue (soft) through green (intermediate/average hardness) and red (hard). After strain elastography, shear wave elastography of the lesion was also performed using Virtual Touch Quantification (VTQ) and Virtual Touch Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) software. The sonographic findings were correlated with histopathological diagnosis. The acquired data were subjected to statistical analysis using the software SPSS version 20. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were calculated for conventional ultrasound techniques alone & in combination with elastography. Results: Out of the 50 salivary gland lesions included in the study, 44 (88 %) were benign, whereas 6 (12 %) were malignant on cytology. The age of the study population ranged from 16 to 75 years, with a mean age of 38.82 years. Pleomorphic adenoma (60 %) was the most frequent lesion, followed by Warthin's tumour (28 %). The Conventional USG showed 66.67 %, sensitivity, 52.27 %, specificity, 16.00 %, PPV, 92.00 % NPV and 54.00 % accuracy in differentiating benign from malignant lesions while USG-Elastography combined showed higher diagnostic performance with 83.33 %, sensitivity, 79.55 %, specificity, 35.71 % PPV, 97.22 % NPV and 80.00 %, accuracy. The specific cut-off scores for the sonoelastography score, eSie touch, VTQ, and VTIQ were also determined to diagnose a lesion as malignant or benign, and the difference was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: Sonoelastography alone cannot be solely relied upon to distinguish between malignant & benign salivary gland abnormalities. However, it can be combined with conventional USG for better differentiation and characterization of these lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous research shows us the relationship between the management and process of educational leadership and results in the quality of the educational system internationally at the time of globalisation. That is why we will talk in this article about the commitment that the education system and universities, in particular, have to the constant development and improvement of the quality of teaching and updating of study projects, among others, and above all, of their teachers, as well as what characterises a teacher with leadership and educational leadership in a competitive and globalised system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process of all chronic liver diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role in the development of liver fibrosis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a cell cycle kinase that regulates mRNA transcription and elongation. A CDK9 inhibitor SNS-032 has been reported to have good effects in anti-tumor. However, the role of SNS-032 in the development of liver fibrosis is unclear. In this study, SNS-032 was found to alleviate hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the activation and inducing the apoptosis of active HSCs in carbon tetrachloride-induced model mice. In vitro, SNS-032 inhibited the activation and proliferation of active HSCs and induced the apoptosis of active HSCs by downregulating the expression of CDK9 and its downstream signal transductors, such phosphorylated RNA polymerase II and Bcl-2. CDK9 short hairpin RNA was transfected into active HSCs to further elucidate the mechanism of the above effects. Similar results were observed in active HSCs after CDK9 knockdown. In active HSCs with CDK9 knockdown, the expression levels of CDK9, phosphorylated RNA polymerase II, XIAP, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and ɑSMA significantly decreased, whereas those of cleaved-PARP1 and Bax decreased prominently. These results indicated that SNS-032 is a potential drug and CDK9 might be a new prospective target for the treatment of liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tide and lunar phases often influence the behaviour and life cycle of different fishes, especially migratory species. In the Hooghly River estuary, Hilsa shad is an anadromous fish species that migrates from the adjacent sea to the estuary and rivers for spawning. After spawning, the juveniles remain in the rivers and estuary for few months then start their downstream migration towards the adjacent sea. However, the pattern of their downstream migration has not been studied in detail so far. This study investigates the role of tide and lunar phases on the juvenile Hilsa shad migration pattern. In this study, we have estimated the rate of juveniles migrating through the river channel (no. m−2 h−1) during high tide and low tide in all of the lunar phases. The number of juvenile Hilsa shad fishes is found to be much higher during low tides in most of the observations and there is a significant difference (t = 11.904, P < 0.001) between the high tide and low tide catches in the entire study region. Among the eight lunar phases, the number of juveniles is also observed to be higher during the new moon and full moon, and there is also a significant difference in juvenile catch among the lunar phases (F = 64.372, P < 0.001) in the entire stretch of the study area. These observations enabled us to develop a plausible mechanism of the downstream migration of Hilsa shad juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new library of different substituted aryl derivatives of isoxazole-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (10a–j) were prepared, confirmed their structures by 1HNMR, 13CNMR and mass spectral data. Furthermore, the preliminary anticancer activities of newly developed compounds (10a–j) were tested against four human cancer cell lines PC3 (prostate), DU-145 (Prostate), A549 (lung) and MCF-7 (breast) by utilizing of MTT method. The obtained results of were compared with standard reference etoposide. Among all, compounds (10a, 10b, 10c, 10e, 10i and 10j) displayed highest anticancer activities than standard. Predominantly, one compound 10a with 3,4,5-trimethoxy substituent on the aryl ring showed excellent activity. The molecular modeling studies indicated the interactions of synthesized compounds with SARM, and DNA via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature, fixed bed grain drying was investigated as an alternative to high temperature drying. Drying data was collected in an on-farm bin drying system over three harvest seasons. A one-dimensional transient model of the grain drying process was shown to predict most aspects of the drying process with reasonable accuracy. Preliminary calculations were completed to investigate the potential benefits of a heat pump as the heat source using typical meteorological year data. It was shown that greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by as much as 90% at a similar operating cost compared to high temperature fossil fuel-based drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectral model turbulence analysis technique is widely used to derive kinetic energy dissipation rates of turbulent structures (ɛ) from different in situ measurements in the Earth's atmosphere. The essence of this method is to fit a model spectrum to measured spectra of velocity or scalar quantity fluctuations and thereby to derive ɛ only from wavenumber dependence of turbulence spectra. Owing to the simplicity of spectral model of Heisenberg (1948), https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01668899 its application dominates in the literature. Making use of direct numerical simulations which are able to resolve turbulence spectra down to the smallest scales in dissipation range, we advance the spectral model technique by quantifying uncertainties for two spectral models, the Heisenberg (1948), https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01668899 and the Tatarskii (1971) model, depending on (a) resolution of measurements, (b) stage of turbulence evolution, (c) model used. We show that the model of Tatarskii (1971) can yield more accurate results and reveals higher sensitivity to the lowest ɛ‐values. This study shows that the spectral model technique can reliably derive ɛ if measured spectra only resolve half‐decade of power change within the viscous (viscous‐convective) subrange. In summary, we give some practical recommendations on how to derive the most precise and detailed turbulence dissipation field from in situ measurements depending on their quality. We also supply program code of the spectral models used in this study in Python, IDL, and Matlab. Plain Language Summary: Turbulence plays a central role in most geophysical fluids, but our understanding of it remains limited. Atmospheric turbulence plays roles as diverse as dispersion of pollutants in the boundary layer to strong influences on the thermal and wind fields on global scales from the surface to above 100 km. It also is key to transports in, and the large‐scale circulation and structure of, Earth's oceans. Measurements quantifying turbulence intensities and their environments are key to understanding its many effects but remain challenging. In situ measurements of various quantities enable estimates of turbulence intensities but must be calibrated to be of optimal benefit. This study employs a direct numerical simulation of Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities that quantifies the associated turbulence dynamics exactly over the range of scales simulated to evaluate theoretical spectral forms enabling the best estimates of the known turbulence intensities. Key Points: Accuracies of spectral model turbulence analysis techniques are evaluated using high‐resolution direct numerical simulation dataThe Tatarskii model shows very accurate results if measured spectra resolve the viscous subrange for more than 2 decadesThe Heisenberg model yields less accurate results that are almost independent of measurement resolution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of liver-related diseases. In Uganda, there is a regional disparity in the HBV burden. Our study was aimed at establishing the circulating genotypes in a low and a high endemic region to give plausible explanations for the differences in regional burden and guide the future management of the disease. Methods. A total of 200 HBsAg-seropositive subjects were recruited into the study by convenience sampling. The HBsAg Rapid Test Strip (Healgen Scientific Limited Liability Company, Houston, TX77047- USA) was used to screen for HBsAg while the Roche machine (Roche, Basel Switzerland/Abbot Technologies (USA)) was used to determine the viral load. The Chemistry Analyzer B120 (Mindray, China) was used for chemistry analysis. For HBV genotyping, total DNA was extracted from whole blood using the QIAamp® DNA extraction kit. Nested PCR amplification was performed using Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen Corporation, USA) to amplify the 400 bp HBV polymerase gene. Purification of nested PCR products was performed using Purelink PCR product purification kit (Life Technologies, USA). Automated DNA sequencing was performed using BigDye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit on 3130 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, USA). The NCBI HBV genotyping tool (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/genotyping/formpage.cgi) was used for determination of genotype for each HBV sequence. Pearson's chi-square, multinomial logistic regression, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for the analysis. All the analyses were done using SPSS version 26.0 and MedCalc software version 19.1.3 at 95% CI. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Majority of our study subjects were female (64.5%), youth (51.0%), and married (62.0%). Overall, genotype A was the most prevalent (46%). Genotype D and the recombinant genotype D/E were proportionately more distributed in the high endemic (38.2%) and low endemic (36.5%) regions, respectively. Genotype D was significantly more prevalent in the high endemic region and among the elderly (p < 0.05). Genotype D was significantly associated with elevated viral load and direct bilirubin (p < 0.05). The recombinant genotype D/E was significantly associated with elevated viral load (p < 0.05). Similarly, genotype A was significantly associated with elevated AST and GGT, lowered viral load, and normal direct bilirubin levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion. There is disproportionate distribution of genotypes A and D and the recombinant genotype D/E in the low and high endemic regions of Uganda. This probably could explain the differences in endemicity of HBV in our country signifying the need for regional specific HBV management and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Medical Library of University of Peradeniya serves the staff, students and the researchers of the Faculty of Medicine. The library has a good collection of text books, monographs, journals and other information resources in print and electronic forms. The library provides services such as lending, reference, photocopy, inquiry, literature survey and user education programmes. The main objective of carrying out this study was to determine the usage of library facilities by first year medical undergraduates. The specific objectives are to find out the usage of print and electronic resources and the usefulness of user education programmes. A structured questionnaire was distributed among 50% of the total first year student population.A structured questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. Descriptive statistical methods were sued for data analysis. About 80% of the students visit the library at least once a week. Majority of students visit the library to borrow books. The highest usage of print resources is Text books. Usage of electronic journals and databases was low. 53.77 % undergraduates use the library catalogue to find books. Only 9.4 % of the students use electronic journals and databases provided through the library web page. The majority of the students use Pubmed database. The undergraduates were positive about the user education parogrammes. The responses for the usefulness of the library orientation programme and IL programme were 88.67% and 61.32% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is mandatory for hospitals functioning. Its consumption varies from one service to another, and its use can reduce the service quality on one hand and presents a major risk of nosocomial infection on the other hand. The health risks related to the use of water in hospitals are mostly microbiological but sometimes they can be chemical. For this reason, our work aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the quality and bacteriological efficiency of the network water of the provincial hospital center IBN BAJA in Taza, Northeast Morocco. During one year, 72 samples were analyzed in six surgery departments, one sample per month for each ward at a rate of six samples per month and per department. The results obtained showed that the water quality of the hospital network was in conformity with the requirements of the Moroccan standards. Nonetheless, we found some bacterial strains such as Aeromonas salmonicida spp salmonicida, Enterococcus spp., Pseudomonas luteola, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Stenotrophonomas maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia and Micrococcus luteus, which constitute a major risk to human health. Moreover, after sensitivity evaluation to the twenty-seven antibiotics, some strains have been shown to be multi-resistant, which can present a major risk of nosocomial infections in hospitals for human beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]