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The term "optimization" describes a way of increasing the favourable features of a function in a mathematical form while reducing the negative ones. Most of the problems encountered in the real world may be formulated as optimization problems. Particle swarm optimization is a tool which has been used extensively to handle problems across different fields. The purpose of this study is to develop a numerical method for solving nonlinear reaction-diffusion Fisher's equations, whose numerical solutions exhibit the solitons form and have a wide range of applications. This study includes differential quadrature method using exponential basis function and particle swarm optimization. In the work so far documented in the literature, a random number was used to approximate the involved parameter in the basis functions. This value is now determined using the implemented optimization technique. The numerical solutions obtained for the equation is comparable to the data available in the literature. The research presented through figures and tables, yields favourable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the efficient and reliable methods for resolving fractional order linear as well as non-linear differential equations is the Laplace transform with residual power series method. This approach is used in the current research to obtain the numerical solutions of the two-dimensional fractional differential equations, namely, the temporal fractional order diffusion equation and the fractional biological population equation. The unknown coefficients of the series solutions to these equations are determined using the proposed approach. The difference between exact and analytical-numerical solutions is presented for these equations in the form of errors. The advantage of the suggested method over alternative approaches is that it requires less computation to solve these two-dimensional differential equations of time-fractional order.

Background: School bags serve as a practical means for students to transport essential academic materials and personal items, including food. The significance of school bag weight has garnered increased attention in recent years due to its potential impact on the musculoskeletal health of school children. Excessive school bag weight has been identified as a significant contributor to various health issues, ranging from neck pain and shoulder discomfort to headaches, general fatigue, decreased muscle strength, and, notably, back injuries among children. Methods: The study involved 178 school children in Mangalore, ranging from 10-15 years, for a period of 23 days. School bag weights were measured using calibrated scales, and trunk strength was assessed using a hand held dynamometer. Statistical analysis, including Chi-square test, student’s ‘t’ test and Karl Pearson correlation test were employed to identify any significant relationships between these variables. Results: Preliminary findings revealed a positive correlation between school bag weight and trunk strength among the participants. Results indicated that a considerable proportion (83.1%) of students were burdened with an excessive load of bags. The evaluated muscular strength was discovered to be diminished in these individuals, and they experienced symptoms that were interconnected, highlighting the potential impact of school bag weight on the musculoskeletal health of children in Mangalore. Conclusion: These findings advocate measures to alleviate the burden on children’s musculoskeletal health. Further research and interventions are warranted to promote a balanced and healthy school environment for the well-being of the younger generation.

To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm for the assessment and comparison of skeletal maturation in patients with and without cleft lip and/or palate and to detect the presence of cervical vertebral anomalies (CVAs)., Retrospective cohort study., A university orthodontic clinic and comprehensive cleft care centers., In total, 1080 cephalograms of patients with and without unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) aged 6 to 18 years, without any associated syndromes, congenital disorders, or history of trauma or illness, were collected. About 960 cephalograms were assessed in the study upon elimination of poor-quality lateral cephalograms., The MobileNet architecture using TensorFlow framework was employed to develop 2 convolutional neural network (CNN)-based AI models for automated assessment of skeletal age and detection of CVAs. Inter-rater reliability for manual cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) staging was assessed using Cohen's kappa coefficient, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. The results of each model were separately analyzed using chi-square test, and the statistical significance was tested at 5% level., The CNN-based AI model yielded an average accuracy rate of 74.5%, with an accuracy of up to 88% for detecting skeletal maturity and an accuracy rate of 83% for detecting CVAs., It can be concluded that CVM methods help detect skeletal maturity objectively in patients with UCLP and have shown delayed skeletal growth compared to patients without UCLP. CVAs were found to be more prevalent in patients with UCLP than in their non-cleft counterparts, with these findings facilitated by utilizing a novel AI algorithm., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To evaluate sex-associated differences in the short- and long-term outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) undergoing septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation., Methods: This retrospective cohort study used electronic health record data from the TriNetX research database. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify patients with HCM who underwent septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation in the United States between January 2002 and March 2023. The outcomes were long-term mortality and postprocedural complications (<30 days), including death, stroke, major bleeding, and renal failure. Multivariable adjusted Cox models were used to assess the association of outcomes by sex, taking female patients as reference., Results: Of 11,680 adults (32.0% female; median age, 63 [interquartile range, 54 to 71] years), 1916 (16.4%) and 9764 (83.6%) underwent septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation, respectively. For those who underwent septal myectomy, sex was not associated with short-term (adjusted hazard ratio [HR adj ], 1.57 [0.64 to 3.87]) and long-term (HR adj , 1.05 [0.87 to 1.26]) mortality. Male patients had a higher risk of acute renal failure compared with female patients after septal myectomy (HR adj , 1.69 [1.33 to 2.15]). Of those who underwent alcohol septal ablation, male patients (HR adj , 1.07 [0.99 to 1.16]) had a similar risk of long-term mortality to that of female patients. Compared with female patients, the risk of acute renal failure was higher in male patients (HR adj , 1.23 [1.02 to 1.48]) after alcohol septal ablation., Conclusion: This nationwide study found that the risk of short- and long-term mortality was similar for male and female patients undergoing septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation for HCM. The sex-based differences in the clinical presentation should not prevent consideration of septal reduction therapies., (Copyright © 2024 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Septal myectomy and alcohol septal ablation (ASA) are septal reduction therapies for patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Operator and hospital volume may influence outcomes, but contemporary data on this relationship are limited., Methods and Results: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base (2016-2022). Patients with undergoing septal myectomy and ASA were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification ( ICD-10-CM ) codes and stratified into low-, medium-, and high-volume groups based on annualized operator and hospital volumes. The outcomes were 30-day in-hospital mortality and 90-day readmission, analyzed using multivariable adjusted logistic and Cox models. Among 5725 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (3990 septal myectomy; 1735 ASA), most operators and hospitals performed <10 procedures annually. For septal myectomy, low-volume operators were associated with higher odds of 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.86 [95% CI, 1.11-3.15]) and greater risk for 90-day readmission (aOR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.22-1.88]), and medium-volume operators had higher odds of 30-day mortality (aOR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.05-3.55]). Medium-volume hospitals had higher 30-day mortality (aOR, 2.29 [95% CI, 1.32-3.99]), with low-volume hospitals showing greater risk for 90-day readmission (aOR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.14-2.23]). For ASA, low- and medium-volume operators had increased 30-day mortality (aOR, 2.99 [95% CI, 1.15-7.75] and aOR, 3.86 [95% CI, 1.30-11.46]), but the risk of 90-day readmission was similar. Hospital volumes did not significantly impact outcomes for ASA., Conclusions: Low operator and hospital volumes were associated with worse outcomes for septal reduction therapies, emphasizing the need to refer patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to high-volume centers with experienced operators.

Scientific data concerning climate change are critical for designing mitigation and adaptation strategies. Equally important is how stakeholders perceive climate change because perceptions influence decision-making. In this paper, we employ spatially-delineated primary surveys to evaluate weather perception biases among corn and soybean farmers located on western frontier of the U.S. Corn Belt where substantial loss of grassland has been documented. We characterize farmers' perception biases by measuring the gap between survey-based perception reports for three distinct weather indicators (i.e., temperature, precipitation and drought) and corresponding meteorological evidence. About 70% farmers in our sample misperceive past weather changes. Three-fourths of these misperceiving farmers over-estimate local temperatures and drought frequency and 40% of them under-estimate precipitation trends relative to past records. We further find evidence that farmers' weather change perceptions are systematically biased in a manner that would justify past land use decisions. Particularly, higher cropping incidence on previously protected grasslands effected more farmers to under-perceive drier conditions and over-perceive wetter conditions. Our investigation of perception biases across distinct weather indicators with a reference to past economic decisions enriches the understanding of climate change perceptions and related policies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate and compare antimicrobial efficacy of Chlorhexidine and Chlorine dioxide mouthwashes on S . mutans biofilm created on metal and ceramic self-ligating brackets., Materials and Methods: A total of 162 metal and ceramic self-ligating brackets (3M™ SmartClip™ & Clarity SL™) were randomly divided into 3 groups and 2 subgroups. Standard procedures were followed to coat all brackets with S . mutans biofilm. The biofilms were cultivated which were then subjected to the effects of the mouthwashes. Quantitative assessment was carried out by comparing the number of viable colonies of S . mutans. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the data between the experimental and control groups. ( p  < 0.05)., Result: When compared to untreated controls the antimicrobial efficacy of Chlorhexidine Digluconate and Chlorine Dioxide mouthwashes was found to be statistically significant ( p  = 0.00). The comparison between Chlorhexidine digluconate and Chlorine dioxide mouthwashes was not statistically significant in Ceramic self-ligating group ( p  = 0.502) and statistically significant in Metal self-ligating group ( p  = 0.001)., Conclusion: S mutans colonies on metal and ceramic self-ligating brackets can be reduced effectively by Chlorhexidine digluconate and Chlorine dioxide mouthwashes. Chlorhexidine digluconate more effective for metal bracket group. Both mouthwashes had comparable antimicrobial effectiveness, with the difference in the number of viable colonies following exposure for ceramic bracket groups., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Introduction: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a common pediatric arrhythmia. Beta blockers (BBs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are used for treatment despite little data examining their use. We describe the prescriptive tendencies, efficacy, and tolerability of BBs and CCBs used in the treatment of pediatric SVT., Methods and Results: This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study from three academic children's hospitals. Individuals aged 1-21 years at time of SVT diagnosis initiated on a BB or a CCB between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2020 were included. Exclusion criteria were pre-excitation, ectopic atrial tachycardia, and hemodynamically significant heart disease. Demographic, comorbidity, symptomatology, and medication data were collected. Treatment success was defined using a composite data abstraction tool. Of 164 patients, 151 received a BB and 13 received a CCB. The success rate on the initial dosage was 46% for both BB and CCB; the success rate following dosage adjustments was also comparable for BBs (98/151, 65%) and CCBs (9/13, 69%). While 27 (18%) BB patients experienced intolerable side effects, no CCB patient did., Conclusion: Treatment with a BB or CCB was successful in half of patients. BBs were prescribed more frequently than CCBs but were associated with more side effects., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Nearly 3% to 4% of Black individuals in the United States carry the transthyretin V142I variant, which increases their risk of heart failure. However, the role of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (RFs) in influencing the risk of clinical outcomes among V142I variant carriers is unknown., Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of CV RFs on the risk of heart failure in V142I carriers., Methods: This study included self-identified Black individuals without prevalent heart failure from 6 TOPMed (Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine) cohorts, the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) study, and the All of Us Research Program. The cohort was stratified based on the V142I genotype and the number of CV RFs (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia). Adjusted Cox models were used to assess the association of heart failure with the V142I genotype and CV RF profile, taking noncarriers with a favorable CV RF profile as reference., Results: The cross-sectional analysis, including 1,625 V142I carriers among 48,365 Black individuals, found that the prevalence of CV RFs did not vary by V142I carrier status. In the longitudinal analysis, there were 587 (3.2%) V142I carriers among 18,407 Black individuals (median age: 60 years [Q1-Q3: 52-68 years], 63.0% female). Among carriers, the heart failure risk was attenuated with a favorable (0 or 1 RF) CV RF profile (adjusted HR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.58-3.23) compared with an unfavorable (3 or 4 RFs) CV RF profile (adjusted HR: 4.14; 95% CI: 2.79-6.14)., Conclusions: A favorable CV RF profile lowers but does not abrogate V142I variant-associated heart failure risk. This study highlights the importance of having a favorable CV RF profile among V142I carriers for risk reduction of heart failure., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Arora was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards (R01HL160982, R01HL163852, and R01HL163081). Dr Patel was supported by the NIH grant T32HL007457. The TOPMed (Molecular data for the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine) program was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) for NHLBI TOPMed: JHS (phs000964) was performed at the Northwest Genomics Center (HHSN268201100037C). WGS for NHLBI TOPMed: MESA (phs001416) was performed at Broad Genomics (HHSN268201600034I, 3U54HG003067-13S1). WGS for NHLBI TOPMed: CARDIA (phs001612) was performed at Baylor (HHSN268201600033I). WGS for NHLBI TOPMed: CHS (phs001368) was performed at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (HHSN268201600034I) and Baylor (HHSN268201600033I). Core support including centralized genomic read mapping and genotype calling, along with variant quality metrics and filtering were provided by the TOPMed Informatics Research Center (3R01HL-117626-02S1; contract HHSN268201800002I). Core support including phenotype harmonization, data management, sample-identity quality control, and general program coordination were provided by the TOPMed Data Coordinating Center (R01HL-120393; U01HL-120393; contract HHSN268201800001I). The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) projects are conducted and supported by the NHLBI in collaboration with MESA investigators. Support for MESA is provided by contracts 75N92020D00001, HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, 75N92020D00005, N01-HC-95160, 75N92020D00002, N01-HC-95161, 75N92020D00003, N01-HC-95162, 75N92020D00006, N01-HC-95163, 75N92020D00004, N01-HC-95164, 75N92020D00007, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168, N01-HC-95169, UL1-TR-000040, UL1-TR-001079, UL1-TR-001420, UL1TR001881, DK063491, and R01HL105756. The ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the NHLBI, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under contract numbers 5N92022D00001, 75N92022D00002, 75N92022D00003, 75N92022D00004, and 75N92022D00005. The CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) Study is conducted and supported by the NHLBI in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (HHSN268201800005I and HHSN268201800007I), Northwestern University (HHSN268201800003I), University of Minnesota (HHSN268201800006I), and Kaiser Foundation Research Institute (HHSN268201800004I). CARDIA was also partially supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIA (National Institute on Aging) and an intra-agency agreement between the NIA and NHLBI (AG0005). The research for the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study) was supported by contracts HHSN268201200036C, HHSN268200800007C, HHSN268201800001C, N01HC55222, N01HC85079, N01HC85080, N01HC85081, N01HC85082, N01HC85083, N01HC85086, and 75N92021D00006 and grants U01HL080295 and U01HL130114 from the NHLBI, with additional contribution from the NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Additional support was provided by R01AG023629 from the NIA. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The JHS (Jackson Heart Study) is supported and conducted in collaboration with Jackson State University (HHSN268201800013I), Tougaloo College (HHSN268201800014I), Mississippi State Department of Health (HHSN268201800015I) and University of Mississippi Medical Center (HHSN268201800010I, HHSN268201800011I, and HHSN268201800012I) contracts from the NHLBI and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The Women’s Health Initiative program is funded by the NHLBI, NIH, HHS through contracts 75N92021D00001, 75N92021D00002, 75N92021D00003, 75N92021D00004, and 75N92021D00005. The REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) study is supported by cooperative agreement U01 NS041588 cofunded by the NINDS and the NIA, NIH, HHS. The genotyping was supported by R01HL13666. Adjudication of heart failure events was supported by R01HL080477. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH and its institutes. None of the funding agencies had any role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Representatives of the NINDS were involved in the review and approval of the manuscript. Dr Arora has received grant support from Merck Sharp and Dohme LLC and Bristol-Myers Squibb; and consulting income from Bristol-Myers Squibb, which are all unrelated to this work. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Class III malocclusion presents many challenges due to its varying elements of imbalance in skeletal, dental, and soft tissues. This necessitates a comprehensive treatment plan, including growth modification during the pre-pubertal growth phase, and long-term retention to reduce the chances of orthognathic surgery later. The components of Class III malocclusion include maxillary retrognathism, mandibular prognathism, or, in some cases, a combination of both. This article presents a case report of a pre-pubertal female patient, 11.5 years old, with skeletal Class III malocclusion, who sought orthodontic treatment for a backwardly positioned upper jaw. The case was complicated due to a vertical growth pattern with an FMA of 36 degrees, a constricted maxilla in a retrognathic position, unerupted maxillary canines, mandibular anterior crowding, and an anterior open bite. During the first phase of treatment, maxillary protraction with rapid palatal expansion was performed using a facemask appliance and a bonded Hyrax expander. Corrective orthodontics with a fully fixed labial appliance followed after the retention period for maxillary expansion. A functionally stable occlusion was achieved with good vertical control. The patient was satisfied with an aesthetically pleasing smile at the end of the treatment. However, orthognathic surgery might be needed to address the problem of a prominent chin and severe vertical growth pattern. Furthermore, the patient was recommended to wear a vertical pull chin cup for 12 hours daily to prevent any further mandibular growth. Early intervention yielded favorable outcomes, including improvement in skeletal discrepancy, spontaneous eruption of maxillary canines, and an aesthetically enhanced facial profile. The present case report highlights the importance of timely management of malocclusion in growing patients., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Aziz et al.)

Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES: The authors have indicated they have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.

Objective: To assess research trends and publication patterns of literature related to presurgical infant orthopaedics (PSIO) through a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most-cited articles., Material and Methods: The top 100 most-cited articles were identified in the Web of Science (WoS) database using search terms related to PSIO on April 23, 2024, without any restrictions to study design, publication date and language. Standard information about each study was extracted. Citations from WoS, Scopus and PubMed databases were compared. The level of evidence for each article included was assessed. Association between different variables was calculated using Spearman's correlation coefficient with statistical significance set at p  < 0.05. Visual analysis of the author's keyword co-occurrence, co-authorship analysis of authors, and citation analysis of journals and authors were performed using VOSviewer., Results: Top cited articles were published from 1994 to 2020, with total individual database citations being WoS (n = 5378), Scopus (n = 6184) and PubMed (n =  10 450). Eleven articles were considered classic articles. Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Journal (Impact Factor = 1.1) had a maximum number of articles and citations. Two hundred eighty-five individuals contributed to top-cited articles, with 62 corresponding authors from 19 countries. A maximum number of authors were affiliated with universities in the United States. The most common keyword used was "nasoalveolar molding (n = 24)", "cleft palate (n = 16)", and "infant orthopedics (n = 16)". The study design of the majority of articles was retrospective and follow-up studies (level 3; n = 53). A weak negative correlation was observed between citation metrics and both the publication year ( P  < 0.01) and the level of evidence ( P  < 0.01)., Conclusion: This analysis recognises the contributions of experts and offers valuable insights into trends that have shaped the development and evidence related to PSIO research. Future research should focus on integrating advanced technologies, conducting longitudinal studies, fostering collaboration, and emphasizing patient-centred outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Context: Sectional matrix systems, namely, Garrison and Bioclear with contact rings, are valuable aids to establish proximal contact tightness and contours in Class II composite restorations when compared with the circumferential matrix system Tofflemire., Aims: This study aimed to compare the proximal contact and contours of Class II restoration in premolars and molars restored with Tofflemire, Garrison, and Bioclear matrix system by FDI criteria of approximal anatomical form using floss or 25-µm metal blade and radiographic examination., Subjects and Methods: Sixty Class II patients were selected, and a preoperative bitewing radiograph was taken. Initially, caries removal was done by round diamond bur, followed by 245 carbide bur. Samples were divided randomly into three groups based on the type of matrix system used for restoration. Group 1 ( n = 20): Tofflemire, Group 2 ( n = 20): Garrison matrix system, and Group 3 ( n = 20): Bioclear matrix system. Matrix systems were applied according to the manufacturer's instructions, and composite restoration was done. The clinical evaluation of proximal contact and contour was done by a blinded observer immediately after placement of composite restoration using FDI criteria by passing dental floss or 25-µm metal blade, whereas marginal gaps and overhangs were checked using a radiograph. Results were statistically analyzed., Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS for Windows, Version 19.0). Descriptive statistics was calculated as frequency and percentage. The comparison of characteristics of the contact points, contour, and radiographic examination was carried out using the Chi-square test. Multiple comparisons were done by comparing column proportions with Bonferroni adjustments. The level of significance for the present study was fixed at P < 0.05., Results: There were significantly higher proportions of normal contacts in Garrison (60%) and Bioclear (70%) compared to that in the Tofflemire (20%) matrix system (Bioclear > Garrison > Tofflemire). Comparison of contours showed normal contours with Garrison (50%), Bioclear (50%), and Tofflemire (15%) matrix system (Bioclear = Garrison > Tofflemire). In radiographic examination, harmonious transitions between the restoration and the tooth were similar in Garrison (30%) and Bioclear (30%) compared to the Tofflemire (15%) matrix system (Bioclear = Garrison > Tofflemire)., Conclusions: Garrison and Bioclear sectional matrix systems established superior contacts and contours than the Tofflemire circumferential system., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.)

Objective: To assess the role of the systolic blood pressure polygenic risk score (SBP-PRS) in antihypertensive treatment initiation and its comparative efficacy with coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores., Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included participants with whole genome sequencing data who underwent CAC scanning between 1971 and 2008, were free of prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD), and were not taking antihypertensive medications. The cohort was stratified by blood pressure (BP) treatment group and SBP-PRS (low/intermediate, first and second tertiles; high, third tertile) and CAC score (0 vs >0) subgroups. The primary outcome was the first occurence of adjudicated coronary heart disease, heart failure, or stroke during 10-year follow-up. The 10-year number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent 1 event of the primary outcome was estimated. A relative risk reduction of 25% for the primary outcome based on the treatment effect of intensive control (SBP <120 mm Hg) of hypertension in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) was used for estimating the NNT., Results: Among the 5267 study participants, the median age was 59 years (interquartile range, 51-68 years); 2817 (53.5%) were women and 2880 (54.7%) were non-White individuals. Among 1317 individuals with elevated BP/low-risk stage 1 hypertension not recommended treatment, the 10-year incidence rate of the primary outcome was 5.6% for low/intermediate SBP-PRS and 6.3% for high SBP-PRS with NNTs of 63 and 59, respectively. Similarly, the 10-year incidence rate of the primary outcome was 2.9% for CAC score 0 and 9.7% for CAC score greater than 0, with NNTs of 117 and 37, respectively., Conclusion: Including genetic information in risk estimation of individuals with elevated BP/low-risk stage 1 hypertension has modest value in the initiation of antihypertensive therapy. Genetic risk and CAC both have efficacy in personalizing antihypertensive therapy., (Copyright © 2024 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a vector of many infectious agents, including flaviviruses such as Zika virus. Components of mosquito saliva have pleomorphic effects on the vertebrate host to enhance blood feeding, and these changes also create a favorable niche for pathogen replication and dissemination. Here, we demonstrate that human CD47, which is known to be involved in various immune processes, interacts with a 34-kilodalton mosquito salivary protein named Nest1. Nest1 is up-regulated in blood-fed female A. aegypti and facilitates Zika virus dissemination in human skin explants. Nest1 has a stronger affinity for CD47 than its natural ligand, signal regulatory protein α, competing for binding at the same interface. The interaction between Nest1 with CD47 suppresses phagocytosis by human macrophages and inhibits proinflammatory responses by white blood cells, thereby suppressing antiviral responses in the skin. This interaction elucidates how an arthropod protein alters the human response to promote arbovirus infectivity.

Supercapacitors (SCs), including electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), pseudocapacitors, and hybrid capacitors, are esteemed for their high power density and attractive features such as robust safety, fast charging, low maintenance, and prolonged cycling lifespan, sparking significant interest. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are fluorescent nanomaterials with small size, broad excitation spectrum, stable fluorescence, and adjustable emission wavelengths. They are widely used in optoelectronics, medical diagnostics, and energy storage due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, rich surface functional groups, abundant electron-hole pairs, large specific surface area, and tunable heteroatom doping. In this short review, we briefly discussed the advantages and disadvantages of bottom-up and top-down of CQD synthesis methods. The arc-discharge technique, laser ablation technique, plasma treatment, ultrasound synthesis technique, electrochemical technique, chemical exfoliation, and combustion are among the initial top-down approaches. The subsequent section delineates waste-derived and bottom-up methods, encompassing microwave synthesis, hydrothermal synthesis, thermal pyrolysis, and the metal-organic framework template-assisted technique. In addition, this short review focuses on the operational mechanism of supercapacitors, their properties, and the utilization of CQDs in supercapacitors., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:HK Jun reports financial support was provided byMalaysia 10.13039/501100002385Ministry of Higher Education., (© 2024 The Authors.)

High-proportion spliced-in (hiPSI) titin truncating variant (TTNtv) carriers have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure 1 . However, the role of cardiovascular risk factors in modifying the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure attributed to hiPSI TTNtv carriers is unknown. Here, we investigate the role of cardiovascular risk, quantified using the pooled cohort equations (PCEs), in influencing the hazard of outcomes attributed to hiPSI TTNtvs among UK Biobank participants without baseline cardiovascular disease. The cohort was stratified based on hiPSI TTNtv carrier status and cardiovascular risk (low: <5%, intermediate: 5.0-7.5% and high: >7.5%). The primary outcome was a composite of atrial fibrillation, heart failure or death. TTNtv noncarriers with low cardiovascular risk were used as the reference group for all analyses. Among 179,752 participants (median age: 56 (49, 62) years; 57.5% female), the risk of the primary outcome was lower in hiPSI TTNtv carriers with low cardiovascular risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.62-3.07)) than those with high cardiovascular risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 8.21 (95% confidence interval: 6.63-10.18)). A favorable cardiovascular risk factor profile may partially offset the risk of clinical outcomes among hiPSI TTNtv carriers., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objectives: To evaluate the color-match with extracted natural teeth of three single-shade universal composites, a group-shade universal composite, and a highly translucent-shade conventional composite., Methods: Twenty extracted human teeth were divided into light- and dark-shade groups (n = 10, LSG and DSG). A preparation was restored with the 3 single-shade universal composites, OMNICHROMA (OMC), Admira Fusion x-tra U (AFU), and Essentia U (ESU); a highly translucent-shade conventional composite, Tetric EvoCeram T (TEC-T); and two shades of a group-shade universal composite-Filtek Universal Restorative (FUR A1 and A4). Composites were photopolymerized, polished, and stored in water for 24 h. The ΔE 00 value between the unprepared and restored surfaces was obtained using a spectrophotometer. Composite placement and measurements were repeated three times per tooth. Color differences were statistically analyzed with the within-between-subjects t-test and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by post hoc pairwise comparisons with a Bonferroni adjustment (α = 0.05)., Results: There were no statistically significant differences between OMC and FUR (A1 and A4). AFU and ESU showed significantly higher ΔE 00 values than OMC and TEC-T (p < 0.05). Single-shade composites exhibited significantly higher ΔE 00 values in the DSG than in the LSG except ESU (p < 0.05). None of the composites satisfied the criteria for an acceptable match (ΔE 00  >1.8)., Conclusion: OMC showed the same color matching ability as a group-shade universal composite. A highly translucent-shade conventional composite and OMC exhibited better color matching ability than other single-shade composites. Overall, single-shade universal composites performed better in lighter-shaded teeth., Clinical Significance: Single-shade universal composites have the potential to reduce chair time by eliminating shade selection in cavities with lighter-shade teeth. Highly translucent incisal conventional composites also may be used if the appropriate shade of composite is not available., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Vector-borne diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide and pose a substantial unmet medical need. Pathogens binding to host extracellular proteins (the "exoproteome") represents a crucial interface in the etiology of vector-borne disease. Here, we used bacterial selection to elucidate host-microbe interactions in high throughput (BASEHIT)-a technique enabling interrogation of microbial interactions with 3,324 human exoproteins-to profile the interactomes of 82 human-pathogen samples, including 30 strains of arthropod-borne pathogens and 8 strains of related non-vector-borne pathogens. The resulting atlas revealed 1,303 putative interactions, including hundreds of pairings with potential roles in pathogenesis, including cell invasion, tissue colonization, immune evasion, and host sensing. Subsequent functional investigations uncovered that Lyme disease spirochetes recognize epidermal growth factor as an environmental cue of transcriptional regulation and that conserved interactions between intracellular pathogens and thioredoxins facilitate cell invasion. In summary, this interactome atlas provides molecular-level insights into microbial pathogenesis and reveals potential host-directed targets for next-generation therapeutics., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests N.W.P. and A.M.R. are inventors of a patent describing the BASEHIT technique., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Transthyretin is a transport protein whose misfolding has been implicated in the development of cardiac amyloidosis. Here, we examine the clinical correlates of transthyretin levels, the differences in transthyretin levels according to the pathogenic V142I TTR variant carrier status, and the association of transthyretin levels with outcomes among 35,206 UK Biobank participants who underwent plasma profiling and were free from prevalent cardiovascular disease and chronic renal disease. Transthyretin levels are lower in females, decrease with increasing C-reactive protein levels, and increase with body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, albumin levels, triglyceride levels, and creatinine levels. V142I non-carriers [n = 35,167, mean: -0.1 (0.3)] have higher adjusted transthyretin levels compared with the carriers [n = 39, mean: -0.5 (0.3)] (p:<0.001). A standard deviation decrease in transthyretin levels increases the risk of heart failure [HR adj : 1.17 (95% Confidence Interval = 1.08-1.26)] and all-cause mortality [HR adj : 1.18 (95% Confidence Interval = 1.14-1.24)]. This study shows that individuals with low transthyretin levels, such as those carrying the V142I variant, are at a higher risk of heart failure and mortality., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Chronic immune activation promotes tuberculosis (TB) reactivation in the macaque Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis)/SIV coinfection model. Initiating combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART) early lowers the risk of TB reactivation, but immune activation persists. Studies of host-directed therapeutics (HDTs) that mitigate immune activation are, therefore, required. Indoleamine 2,3, dioxygenase (IDO), a potent immunosuppressor, is one of the most abundantly induced proteins in NHP and human TB granulomas. Inhibition of IDO improves immune responses in the lung, leading to better control of TB, including adjunctive to TB chemotherapy. The IDO inhibitor D-1 methyl tryptophan (D1MT) is, therefore, a bona fide TB HDT candidate. Since HDTs against TB are likely to be deployed in an HIV coinfection setting, we studied the effect of IDO inhibition in M. tuberculosis/SIV coinfection, adjunctive to cART. D1MT is safe in this setting, does not interfere with viral suppression, and improves the quality of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, including reconstitution, activation and M. tuberculosis-specific cytokine production, and access of CD8+ T cells to the lung granulomas; it reduces granuloma size and necrosis, type I IFN expression, and the recruitment of inflammatory IDO+ interstitial macrophages (IMs). Thus, trials evaluating the potential of IDO inhibition as HDT in the setting of cART in M. tuberculosis/HIV coinfected individuals are warranted.

Persistent junctional reciprocating tachycardia is a rare form of refractory atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia that accounts for <1% of supraventricular tachycardia in pediatrics. The accessory pathways are generally isolated with few reported underlying structural heart defects. We present a case of a five-month-old male with refractory tachyarrhythmia found to have cor triatriatum sinister, which to our knowledge, is the first reported case of these two rare anomalies coexisting., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To evaluate the association of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with incident heart failure and incident amyloidosis and to assess the risk of CTS in pathogenic TTR genetic variant carriers., Methods: This prospective cohort study included multiethnic US adults 18 years of age and older without prevalent heart failure and amyloidosis with available genotypic data from the All of Us Research Program. The primary outcomes were incident heart failure and incident amyloidosis. The association of incident heart failure and incident amyloidosis with CTS was assessed using multivariable adjusted Cox models accounting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, statin use, and smoking status., Results: Of the 166,987 individuals included, the median age was 54 (38 to 66) years; 105,279 (63.0%) were female, and 92,780 (55.6%) were non-Hispanic White individuals; CTS was identified in 12,407 (7.4%) individuals. Compared with individuals without CTS, the adjusted hazard ratio for incident heart failure was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.26) in individuals with CTS. The risk of amyloidosis was ∼3-fold higher (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.71 to 4.77) in individuals with CTS compared with those without CTS. Individuals carrying a pathogenic TTR variant had an approximately 40% higher risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.65) for development of CTS compared with noncarriers., Conclusion: Cardiac amyloidosis screening programs may use CTS as a sentinel event and use genetic testing to identify individuals at a higher risk of TTR amyloidosis., (Copyright © 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Metronomic chemotherapy refers to the frequent administration of chemotherapeutic agents at a lower dose and presents an attractive alternative to conventional chemotherapy with encouraging response rates. However, the schedule of the therapy, including the dosage of the drug, is usually based on empiricism. The confounding effects of tumor-endothelial-immune interactions during metronomic administration of drugs have not yet been explored in detail, resulting in an incomplete assessment of drug dose and frequency evaluations. The present study aimed to gain a mechanistic understanding of different actions of metronomic chemotherapy using a mathematical model. We have established an analytical condition for determining the dosage and frequency of the drug depending on its clearance rate for complete tumor elimination. The model also brings forward the immune-mediated clearance of the tumor during the metronomic administration of the chemotherapeutic agent. The results from the global sensitivity analysis showed an increase in the sensitivity of drug and immune-mediated killing factors toward the tumor population during metronomic scheduling. Our results emphasize metronomic scheduling over the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and define a model-based approach for approximating the optimal schedule of drug administration to eliminate tumors while minimizing harm to the immune cells and the patient's body., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Emergency departments are a last resort for some socially vulnerable patients without an acute medical illness (colloquially known as "socially admitted" patients), resulting in their occupation of hospital beds typically designated for patients requiring acute medical care. In this study, we aimed to explore the perceptions of health care providers regarding patients admitted as "social admissions.", Methods: This qualitative study was informed by grounded theory and involved semistructured interviews at a Nova Scotia tertiary care centre. From October 2022 to July 2023, we interviewed eligible participants, including any health care clinician or administrator who worked directly with "socially admitted" patients. Virtual or in-person individual interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, then independently and iteratively coded. We mapped themes on the 5 domains of the Quintuple Aim conceptual framework., Results: We interviewed 20 nurses, physicians, administrators, and social workers. Most identified as female ( n = 11) and White ( n = 13), and were in their mid to late career ( n = 13). We categorized 9 themes into 5 domains: patient experience (patient description, provision of care); care team well-being (moral distress, hierarchy of care); health equity (stigma and missed opportunities, prejudices); cost of care (wait-lists and scarcity of alternatives); and population health (factors leading to vulnerability, system changes). Participants described experiences caring for "socially admitted" patients, perceptions and assumptions underlying "social" presentations, system barriers to care delivery, and suggestions of potential solutions., Interpretation: Health care providers viewed "socially admitted" patients as needing enhanced care but identified individual, institutional, and system challenges that impeded its realization. Examining perceptions of the people who care for "socially admitted" patients offers insights to guide clinicians and policy-makers in caring for socially vulnerable patients., Competing Interests: Competing interests:: Jasmine Mah receives scholarships supporting her PhD research from the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie University, Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, Dr. Patrick Madore Traineeship, and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Kenneth Rockwood has asserted copyright of the Clinical Frailty Scale through Dalhousie University’s Industry, Liaison, and Innovation Office. In addition to academic and hospital appointments, Kenneth Rockwood is cofounder of Ardea Outcomes, which (as DGI Clinical) in the last 3 years has contracts with pharmaceutical and device manufacturers (Danone, Hollister, INmune, Novartis, Takeda) on individualized outcome measurement. In 2020, he attended an advisory board meeting with Nutricia on dementia and chaired a Scientific Workshop & Technical Review Panel on frailty for the Singapore National Research Foundation. He is associate director of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, itself funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and several other charities. He holds the Kathryn Allen Weldon Chair in Alzheimer Research, funded by the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation. Kenneth Rockwood also reports personal fees from Ardea Outcomes, the Chinese Medical Association, Wake Forest University Medical School Centre, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the Australia and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine, Atria Institute, Fraser Health Authority, McMaster University, and EpiPharma. In addition, Dr. Rockwood has licensed the Clinical Frailty Scale to Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Synairgen Research, Faraday Pharmaceuticals, KCR S.A., Icosavax, BioAge Labs, Biotest AG, Qu Biologics, AstraZeneca UK, Cellcolabs AB, Pfizer, W.L. Gore & Associates, pending to Cook Research Incorporated, Renibus Therapeutics, and, as part of Ardea Outcomes, has a pending patent for Electronic Goal Attainment Scaling. He also reports permission for the Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale licensed to Congenica. Use of both the Clinical Frailty Scale and Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale is free for education, research, and nonprofit health care with completion of a permission agreement stipulating users will not change, charge for, or commercialize the scales. For-profit entities pay a licensing fee, 15% of which is is retained by the Dalhousie University Office of Commercialization and Industry Engagement. The remainder of the licence fees are donated to the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation. Melissa Andrew reports grants from Sanofi, grants and support to attend meetings from GSK, grants from Pfizer, grants from Canadian Frailty Network, personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Seqirus, grants from Merck, grants from Public Health Agency of Canada, and grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, outside the submitted work. Dr. Andrew is a volunteer board member for the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Sheliza Khan declares leadership in the patient flow department at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital. No other competing interests were declared., (© 2024 CMA Impact Inc. or its licensors.)

Background: In 2022, the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score was replaced with the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score as a tool to measure cardiovascular health. The risk prediction values of LE8 and LS7 scores for mortality have not been compared. Additionally, the risk prediction value of these scores has not been compared with the pooled cohort equations (PCE) in individuals aged 40 to 79 years., Objectives: This study compared the risk prediction value of the: 1) LE8 and LS7 scores in the overall population; and 2) LE8 score, LS7 score, and PCE in the 40- to 79-year-old age group for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a nationally representative US population., Methods: The LS7 and LE8 scores and the PCE were calculated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles 2007 to 2018. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were identified by linking the participants to the National Death Index. The C-statistics of the respective weighted Cox models were used to compare the risk prediction value of the standardized scores., Results: Among 21,721 individuals included, the C-statistics for all-cause mortality were 0.823 (95% CI: 0.803-0.843) and 0.819 (95% CI: 0.799-0.838) in the LE8 and LS7 score-based models, respectively. The C-statistics for cardiovascular mortality were 0.887 (95% CI: 0.857-0.905) for the LE8 score-based model and 0.883 (95% CI: 0.861-0.905) for the LS7 score-based model. Among 12,943 individuals aged 40 to 79 years, the C-statistics for the outcome of all-cause mortality were 0.756 (95% CI: 0.732-0.779), 0.674 (95% CI: 0.646-0.701), and 0.681 (95% CI: 0.656-0.706) for the PCE, LS7 score, and LE8 score-based models, respectively., Conclusions: The LS7 and LE8 scores had similar risk prediction values for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Among 40- to 79-year-old individuals, the PCE had better risk discrimination in the LE8 and LS7 scores in predicting all-cause mortality., Competing Interests: Dr Arora is supported by the 10.13039/100000050National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the 10.13039/100000002National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards R01HL160982, R01HL163852, R01HL163081, and K23HL146887; and has received grant support from Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC and Bristol-Myers Squibb and consulting income from 10.13039/100002491Bristol-Myers Squibb, which are all unrelated to this work. Dr Patel is supported by the National Institutes of Health grant T32HL007457. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Introduction Magnesium is recognized for its ability to reduce the onset time of rocuronium while simultaneously extending its duration of action. This study aims to assess the efficacy of magnesium pre-treatment in decreasing the onset time with two different doses of rocuronium in patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation. Materials and methods This randomized prospective double-blind clinical study involved 50 patients classified as American Society Of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I/II, with no preoperative indications of difficult intubation, undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups: group A received 60 mg/kg of magnesium 15 minutes before intubation with 1.2 mg/kg of rocuronium, and group B received 60 mg/kg of magnesium before 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium. Intubating conditions were assessed and graded at loss of last twitch after administration in both groups, considering ease of intubation, vocal cord position, and response to the insertion of the tracheal tube. Simultaneously, hemodynamic variations were recorded just before intubation, at one minute and five minutes post-intubation. Results Intubating conditions with 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium were comparable or equally good compared to 1.2 mg/kg of rocuronium with magnesium pre-treatment. Conclusions Magnesium pre-treatment enhances the neuromuscular blocking effect of rocuronium, reducing its onset time without clinically significant prolongation of the duration of the block., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Sharma et al.)

The time-fractional order differential equations are used in many different contexts to analyse the integrated scientific phenomenon. Hence these equations are the point of interest of the researchers. In this work, the diffusion equation for a one-dimensional time-fractional order is solved using a combination of residual power series method with Elzaki transforms. The residual power series approach is a useful technique for finding approximate analytical solutions of fractional differential equations that needs the residual function's (n-1)α derivative. Since it is challenging to determine a function's fractional-order derivative, the traditional residual power series method's application is somewhat constrained. The Elzaki transform with residual power series method is an attempt to get over the limitations of the residual power series method. The obtained numerical solutions are compared with the exact solution of this equation to discuss the method's applicability and efficiency. The results are also graphically displayed to show how the fractional derivative influences the behaviour of the solutions to the suggested method., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist, (Copyright: © 2024 Pant et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background Acne scars are one of the most common sequelae of inflammatory acne. It commonly affects adolescents and young adults and hence is associated with significant psychological morbidity. It is historically resistant to oral as well as surgical modalities. In the last two decades, ablative lasers (fractional or otherwise) have proven to be effective in management of acne scars. Some studies have proven the efficacy of platelet rich plasma in reducing the adverse effects and improving the efficacy of lasers. Objective Review of the studies combining platelet rich plasma with ablative laser for post acne scars. Methods A literature review of the MEDLINE database for studies evaluating the combination of ablative lasers with platelet rich plasma was performed. Only studies with higher levels of evidence (randomised controlled trials and comparative studies) were included in this review. Results Adding intradermal platelet rich plasma to fractional ablative lasers in the management of post acne scars increases clinical efficacy, reduces downtime as well as frequency and duration of ablative lasers related adverse effects. The efficacy of topical platelet rich plasma is less as compared to intradermal platelet rich plasma. Limitations The studies analysed are heterogeneous in nature with varied protocols and duration of follow up. Conclusions It is recommended to combine the ablative lasers with intradermal platelet rich plasma for better clinical response and reduce adverse effects as well as downtime.

Structured beams carrying topological defects, namely phase and Stokes singularities, have gained extensive interest in numerous areas of optics. The non-separable spin and orbital angular momentum states of hybridly polarized Stokes singular beams provide additional freedom for manipulating optical fields. However, the characterization of hybridly polarized Stokes vortex beams remains challenging owing to the degeneracy associated with the complex polarization structures of these beams. In addition, experimental noise factors such as relative phase, amplitude, and polarization difference together with beam fluctuations add to the perplexity in the identification process. Here, we present a generalized diffraction-based Stokes polarimetry approach assisted with deep learning for efficient identification of Stokes singular beams. A total of 15 classes of beams are considered based on the type of Stokes singularity and their associated mode indices. The resultant total and polarization component intensities of Stokes singular beams after diffraction through a triangular aperture are exploited by the deep neural network to recognize these beams. Our approach presents a classification accuracy of 98.67% for 15 types of Stokes singular beams that comprise several degenerate cases. The present study illustrates the potential of diffraction of the Stokes singular beam with polarization transformation, modeling of experimental noise factors, and a deep learning framework for characterizing hybridly polarized beams.

Objectives: To assess whether right atrial enlargement (RAE) on electrocardiogram (ECG) correlates with true RAE on echocardiogram in previously healthy young patients and to understand which patients with RAE on ECG may warrant additional testing., Study Design: A single-center, retrospective review of previously healthy young patients with (1) ECGs that were read as RAE by a pediatric cardiologist and (2) echocardiograms obtained within 90 days of the ECG. ECGs were reviewed to confirm RAE and determine which leads met criteria. The echocardiograms were then reviewed and RA measurements with z scores obtained. A z score >2 was considered positive for RAE on echocardiogram., Results: In total, 162 patients with median age 10.8 years were included in the study. A total of 23 patients had true RAE on echocardiogram, giving a positive predictive value (PPV) of 14%. In patients <1 year of age, the PPV increased to 35%. In patients older than 1 year, the PPV was low at 7%. Patients with true RAE were more likely to meet criteria for RAE in the anterior precordial leads (V1-V3) (48% vs 5%, P < .001) and meet criteria for right ventricular hypertrophy (22% vs 6%, P = .023)., Conclusion: Our findings show that RAE on ECG has a low PPV for RAE on echocardiogram in previously healthy young patients. The highest yield for RAE on echocardiogram was observed in patients who were <1 year of age, had RAE in the anterior precordial leads, or displayed right ventricular hypertrophy on ECG., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Statistical analysis for this project was supported by National Institutes of Health grant UL1-TR-001857. No additional funding was secured for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

High-proportion spliced-in titin truncating variants (hiPSI TTNtvs) have been associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure in individuals of European ancestry 1 . However, similar data in individuals of African ancestry are lacking. Here we examined the association of hiPSI TTNtvs with atrial fibrillation, DCM and heart failure in individuals of African ancestry using data from the All of Us Research Program. Among 38,154 individuals of African ancestry, 169 (0.4%) individuals carried a hiPSI TTNtv. hiPSI TTNtv carriers were at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (adjusted hazard ratio (HR adj ) 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-3.85), DCM (HR adj 2.82, 95% CI 1.81-4.39) and heart failure (HR adj 2.07, 95% CI 1.43-3.00) compared with noncarriers. The association of hiPSI TTNtvs with atrial fibrillation, DCM and heart failure was similar in individuals of African ancestry and those of European ancestry. Therefore, genetic testing for hiPSI TTNtvs may permit early identification of carriers and support preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of heart failure development both in individuals of European ancestry and in individuals of African ancestry., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: PSMA expression is seen in many solid tumours in addition to prostate cancer and several studies and case reports have shown PSMA expression and 68 Ga-PSMA imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our prospective study evaluates the role of 68 Ga-PSMA in HCC patients and compares it to conventional imaging (CE-CT/MRI)., Methods: Patients with radiologically and/or histopathologically confirmed HCC were included and all had undergone serum alpha-fetoprotein (S.AFP) assessment as well as CE-CT/MRI prior to PSMA PET/CT. Acquired whole-body PET/CTs were analysed both visually and quantitatively by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians., Results: Forty-one (41) patients (36 male; 5 female) with known HCC and a mean age of 53.9 ± 10.9 years underwent 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. All patients had lesions on conventional imaging but only 38/41 patients showed 68 Ga-PSMA uptake. Conventional imaging revealed 18 patients with single lesions, all of which were tracer avid. Twenty-three (23) of 41 patients had multifocal (> 2) hepatic lesions on CE-CT/MRI of which 3 patients showed no 68 Ga-PSMA uptake, 7 showed tracer uptake in a single lesion only and 13 patients had multifocal tracer avid lesions. There was no correlation observed between S. AFP level and tumour SUV max on 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT., Conclusion: 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT imaging of HCC may complement conventional imaging and identify patients for potential theranostic intervention., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine.)

Objective: To evaluate the contemporary trends of lipid concentrations, cholesterol evaluation, hypercholesterolemia awareness, and statin use among individuals with severe dyslipidemia (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] level ≥190 mg/dL) between 2011 and 2020., Patients and Methods: This serial cross-sectional analysis included nonpregnant adults ≥20 years of age from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2011 and 2020. Age-adjusted weighted trends of LDL-C, triglycerides, cholesterol evaluation in the past 5 years, hypercholesterolemia awareness, and documented statin use among individuals with severe dyslipidemia were estimated., Results: Among 24,722 participants included, the prevalence of severe dyslipidemia was 5.4% (SE: 0.2%) which was stable across the study period (P trend =.78). Among individuals with severe dyslipidemia (mean age: 55.3 [SE: 0.7] years; 52.2% females; 68.8% non-Hispanic White), LDL-C (224.3 [SE: 4.2] mg/dL in 2011-2012 to 224.2 [SE: 4.6] mg/dL in 2017-2020; P trend  =.83), and triglyceride (123.3 [SE: 1.1] mg/dL in 2011-2012 to 101.8 [SE: 1.1] mg/dL in 2017-2020; P trend =.13), levels remained stable from 2011 to 2020. The rates of cholesterol evaluation in the past 5 years (72.0% [SE: 5.7%] in 2011-2012 to 78.0% [SE: 4.8%] in 2017-2020; P trend =.91), hypercholesterolemia awareness (48.1% [SE: 5.5%] in 2011-2012 to 51.9% [SE: 5.8%] in 2017- 2020; P trend =.77), and documented statin use (34.7% [SE: 4.5%] in 2011-2012 to 33.4% [SE: 4.0%] in 2017-2020; P trend =.28) remained stagnant in individuals with severe dyslipidemia between 2011 and 2020., Conclusion: Among individuals with severe dyslipidemia, cholesterol evaluation and hypercholesterolemia awareness rates were stable at ∼75% and ∼50% in the past decade. Only ∼34% of individuals with severe dyslipidemia took statins between 2011 and 2020, which likely contributed to the stable LDL-C levels noted across the study period. Further investigations into the determinants of statin use and adherence to statins are needed., (Copyright © 2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Gene-edited mosquitoes lacking a gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase-like protein, namely (mosGILT null ) have lower Plasmodium infection, which is linked to impaired ovarian development and immune activation. The transcriptome of mosGILT null Anopheles gambiae was therefore compared to wild type (WT) mosquitoes by RNA-sequencing to delineate mosGILT-dependent pathways. Compared to WT mosquitoes, mosGILT null A. gambiae demonstrated altered expression of genes related to oogenesis, 20-hydroxyecdysone synthesis, as well as immune-related genes. Serendipitously, the zero population growth gene, zpg, an essential regulator of germ cell development was found to be one of the most downregulated genes in mosGILT null mosquitoes. These results provide a crucial missing link between two previous studies on the role of zpg and mosGILT in ovarian development. This study further demonstrates that mosGILT has the potential to serve as a target for the biological control of mosquito vectors and to influence the Plasmodium life cycle within the vector., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hard ticks (family Ixodidae) are significant vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals. This review explores the composition of tick saliva, focusing on proteases and protease inhibitors, their biological roles, and their potential in vaccines and therapies. Tick saliva contains various proteases, mostly metalloproteases, serpins, cystatins, and Kunitz-type inhibitors, which modulate host hemostatic, immune, and wound healing responses to facilitate blood feeding and pathogen transmission. Proteases inhibit blood clotting, degrade extracellular matrix components, and modulate immune responses. Serpins, cystatins, and Kunitz-type inhibitors further inhibit key proteases involved in coagulation and inflammation, making them promising candidates for anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory therapies. Several tick proteases and protease inhibitors have shown potential as vaccine targets, reducing tick feeding success and pathogen transmission. Future research should focus on comprehensive proteomic and genomic analyses, detailed structural and functional studies, and vaccine trials. Advanced omics approaches and bioinformatics tools will be crucial in uncovering the complex interactions between ticks, hosts, and pathogens, improving tick control strategies and public health outcomes., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Malaria remains a major health hazard for humans, despite the availability of efficacious antimalarial drugs and other interventions. Given that the disease is often deadly for children under 5 years and pregnant women living in malaria-endemic areas, an efficacious vaccine to prevent transmission and clinical disease would be ideal. Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, uses proteases and protease inhibitors to control and process to invade host, modulate host immunity, and for pathogenesis. Plasmodium parasites rely on these proteases for their development and survival, including feeding their metabolic needs and invasion of both mosquito and human tissues, and have thus been explored as potential targets for prophylaxis. In this chapter, we have discussed the potential of proteases like ROM4, SUB2, SERA4, SERA5, and others as vaccine candidates. We have also discussed the role of some protease inhibitors of plasmodium and mosquito origin. Inhibition of plasmodium proteases can interrupt the parasite development at many different stages therefore understanding their function is key to developing new drugs and malaria vaccines., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Topological defects in vector fields constitute polarization singularities that have numerous applications in classical and quantum optics. These beams are inhomogeneously polarized and are shown to self-heal under symmetric amplitude perturbations. Polarization singular beams are characterized using a singularity index that can be detected using Stokes polarimetry or other interferometric and diffraction approaches. However, the information about the singularity index is lost when these beams travel through random scattering media; this results in a spatially fluctuating polarization pattern known as polarization speckle. This paper proposes and experimentally demonstrates a new method to detect the topological index of these randomly scattered V-point singularities using higher-order Stokes correlations in a lensless condition. A detailed theoretical basis is developed, and the performance of the technique is demonstrated by retrieving the signature of polarization singularities with Poincaré-Hopf index | η |=1 and | η |=2. We also demonstrate that by studying the intensity-intensity correlations of the polarization speckle, it is possible to differentiate between different vector beams having the same magnitude as the Poincaré-Hopf index.

Purpose: Promoting cancer preventive behaviors among adolescents, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, is crucial due to the significant impact of health behaviors in adolescence on disease risk in adulthood. With India witnessing a rise in cancer incidence and mortality, adolescence becomes a pivotal stage for establishing healthy habits, emphasizing the need for early cancer prevention efforts., Methods: This cross-sectional study used survey data from 2242 adolescents attending public schools of Mumbai, India. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to determine the associations between cancer preventive behaviors and: (1) the individual and social determinants of health, and (2) media exposure., Findings: Merely 21.5% of the adolescents ate fruits and vegetables daily, 50% of the adolescents exercised 3 or more times a week, and 20% of the adolescents admitted having used tobacco and/or supari. Girls were found to have lower odds of exercising, as well as using tobacco and/or supari. Wealth and father's education were positively associated with all 3 cancer preventive behaviors. Media exposure was negatively associated, with television exposure linked to reduced fruits and vegetables consumption, while movies and social media exposure were associated with increased tobacco and/or supari use., Interpretation: Our findings suggest that individual and social determinants of health and media exposure can influence cancer preventive health behaviors in low socio-economic status (SES) adolescents. Efforts to increase awareness to promote cancer preventive behaviors among the adolescents, particularly low SES adolescents, a population more vulnerable to poor health outcomes, is critical., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.