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The present research explores the cytotoxic mechanism of protein Cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4) with aflatoxin (AFB1), a potent carcinogen. Cytochrome P450 is an essential enzyme involved in drug metabolism, however epoxide formation due to the binding event of AFB1 leads to cell cytotoxicity. In this direction, our study elucidates the scavenging effect of algal-derived Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin (SCC) over AFB1 cytotoxicity. Cyanobacteria/ microalgae-derived SCC have garnered attention due to its diverse applications in pharmacological and food industries. This work began with the production of SCC from Spirulina and Chlorella sp. over a stipulated period of growth. Subsequently, the study delved into the interplay between SCC and the carcinogenic impact of AFB1 on the CYP3A4 enzyme. Computational studies demonstrated SCC binding and blocking mechanisms against AFB1. Our research intended to determine whether CYP3A4 can bind to SCC that, in turn, act as an interceptor for AFB1 or influence the metabolism of bound AFB1. Current results support that SCC is an effective AFB1 trap as it shows interactions with AFB1. These findings would open up new avenues in clinical biology/pharmacology to further explore the mechanisms of action of CYP3A4 with AFB1 and SCC, offering promising prospects for abating cell cytotoxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors affirm that they do not possess any recognized competing financial interests or personal relationships that might have seemed to affect the research reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is a well-established technique for the treatment of biliary obstruction in patients with failed endoscopic approaches. We report on an 82-year-old man with a history of cholangiocarcinoma treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy who presented with recurrent cholangitis and sepsis. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed after unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, which initially improved his condition. However, due to an accidental dislodgement, there was an intra-abdominal fracture of the drain which led to biliary peritonitis and clinical deterioration. The fractured intrahepatic drain was successfully extracted in our angio suite, and a novel subcutaneous fixation technique was introduced to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This case study signifies the role of interventional radiology in the management of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage complications and the importance of preventative measures to avoid dislodgement., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Forest fires (FF) in tropical seasonal forests impact ecosystem. Addressing FF in tropical ecosystems has become a priority to mitigate impacts on biodiversity loss and climate change. The escalating frequency and intensity of FF globally have become a mounting concern. Understanding their tendencies, patterns, and vulnerabilities is imperative for conserving ecosystems and facilitating the development of effective prevention and management strategies. This study investigates the trends, patterns, and spatiotemporal distribution of FF for the period of 2001-2022, and delineates the forest fire susceptibility zones in Odisha State, India. The study utilized: (a) MODIS imagery to examine active fire point data; (b) Kernel density tools; (c) FF risk prediction using two machine learning algorithms, namely Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF); (d) Receiver Operating Characteristic and Area Under the Curve, along with various evaluation metrics; and (e) a total of 19 factors, including three topographical, seven climatic, four biophysical, and five anthropogenic, to create a map indicating areas vulnerable to FF. The validation results revealed that the RF model achieved a precision exceeding 94 % on the validation datasets, while the SVM model reached 89 %. The estimated forest fire susceptibility zones using RF and SVM techniques indicated that 20.14 % and 16.72 % of the area, respectively, fall under the "Very High Forest Fire" susceptibility class. Trend analysis reveals a general upward trend in forest fire occurrences (R 2  = 0.59), with a notable increase after 2015, peaking in 2021. Notably, Angul district was identified as the most affected area, documenting the highest number of forest fire incidents over the past 22 years. Additionally, forest fire mitigation plans have been developed by drawing insights from forest fire management strategies implemented in various countries worldwide. Overall, this analysis provides valuable insights for policymakers and forest management authorities to develop effective strategies for forest fire prevention and mitigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hazardous pollutants like Mercury (Hg) have emerged as a pressing challenge in recent times where the expanding industrial sector is regarded as the major source in developing country India. In this study, we are trying to identify all possible industrial sectors at district level to quantify Hg emission load across India for the year 2019 using IPCC methodology where the country-specific technological emission factors are used. We have included 5 major sectors out of which emission from coal combustion in thermal power plants accounts for 186.5 t/yr of Hg emission followed by non-ferrous metal production (88.3 t/yr), captive power plants (65.5 t/yr) and fly ash generation from various manufacturing industries (45.9 t/yr). A total of 459.4 t/yr of Hg is released into the ecosystem in 2019 with an uncertainty of ± 48%. This study also estimated that about 233 million people living in and around 10 km periphery of major industrial zones with as many as 17 million people residing near the 10 major hotspots are susceptible to hazardous Hg emissions directly or indirectly. This information would be quite useful in formulating future Hg emission control strategies in India. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: Present study is the first-of-its-kind quantification of Hg emission load from the Industrial process and many unattended sectors over India, which will not only give an insight into potential hotspots regions across the country but also assess the population exposed to it. It will provide aid in tracking the mercury burden to match the international conventions. The findings suggest that about 233 million people are likely to be exposed to hazardous Hg emissions. It will also enlighten the government, policymakers, stakeholders and people about their mercury footprint and envision protecting the biomes and formulating future control strategies in India., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Currently, sea turtle habitats are being altered by climate change and human activities, with habitat loss posing an urgent threat to Indian sea turtles. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the dynamic shoreline alterations and their impacts on Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (ORT) nesting sites in Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary from 1990 to 2022. Landsat satellite images served as input datasets to assess dynamic shoreline changes. This study assessed shoreline alterations and their rates across 929 transects divided into four zones using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. The results revealed a significant 14-km northward shift in the nesting site due to substantial coastal erosion, threatening the turtles' Arribada. This study underscores the need for conservation efforts to preserve nesting environments amidst changing coastal landscapes, offering novel insights into the interaction between coastal processes and marine turtle nesting behaviors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hypothesis: The emergence of Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) in ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens is a global challenge to public health. The inherent antimicrobial nature of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) makes them promising antimicrobial candidates against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This study explores the combination of AgNPs with antibiotics (SACs) to create new antimicrobial agents effective against MAR ESKAPE microorganisms., Methods: AgNPs were synthesized using Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619 and characterized for structure and surface properties. The SACs were tested against ESKAPE microorganisms using growth kinetics and time-kill curve methods. The effect of SACs on bacterial biofilms and the disruption of cell membranes was determined. The in-vitro cytotoxicity effect of the AgNPs was also studied., Findings: The synthesized AgNPs (spherical, 7.37±4.55 nm diameter) were antimicrobial against MAR ESKAPE microorganisms. The SACs showed synergy with multiple conventional antibiotics, reducing their antibacterial concentrations up to 32-fold. Growth kinetics and time-kill studies confirmed the growth retardation effect and bactericidal activity of SACs. Mechanistic studies suggested that these biofilm-eradicating SACs probably resulted in the loss of bacterial cell membrane integrity, leading to leakage of the cytoplasmic content. The AgNPs were highly cytotoxic against skin melanoma cells but non-cytotoxic to normal Vero cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Archana Rath, Maitri Mishra has patent #458867 issued to Archana Rath, Maitri Mishra. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This research comprehensively assesses the aftermath of Cyclonic Storm Mocha, focusing on the coastal zones of Rakhine State and the Chittagong Division, spanning Myanmar and Bangladesh. The investigation emphasizes the impacts on coastal ecology, shoreline dynamics, flooding patterns, and meteorological variations. Employed were multiple vegetation indices-Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Modified Vegetation Condition Index (mVCI), Disaster Vegetation Damage Index (DVDI), and Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC)-to evaluate ecological consequences. The Digital Shoreline Assessment System (DSAS) aided in determining shoreline alterations pre- and post-cyclone. Soil exposure and flood extents were scrutinized using the Bare Soil Index (BSI) and Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI), respectively. Additionally, the study encompassed an analysis of microclimatic variables, comparing meteorological data across pre- and post-cyclone periods. Findings indicate significant ecological impacts: an estimated 8985.46 km 2 of dense vegetation (NDVI >0.6) was adversely affected. Post-cyclone, there was a discernible reduction in EVI values. The mean mVCI shifted negatively from -0.18 to -0.33, and the mean FVC decreased from 0.39 to 0.33. The DVDI underscored considerable vegetation damage in various areas, underscoring the cyclone's extensive impact. Meteorological analysis revealed a 245 % increase in rainfall (20.22 mm on May 14, 2023 compared to the May average of 5.86 mm), and significant increases in relative humidity (14 %) and wind speed (205 %). Erosion was observed along 74.60 % of the studied shoreline. These insights are pivotal for developing comprehensive strategies aimed at the rehabilitation and conservation of critical coastal ecosystems. They provide vital data for emergency response initiatives and offer resources for entities engaged in enhancing coastal resilience and protecting local community livelihoods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Global sea levels, having risen by approximately 20 cm since the mid-19th century, necessitate a critical examination of their impacts on shoreline dynamics. This research evaluates the historical (1985-2022) and future shoreline changes in Conde County, Paraíba State, Brazil, an area of significant touristic interest. Employing Landsat satellite imagery, the study utilized the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) and a Kalman filter algorithm for cloud removal, while also assessing land use and land cover changes using data from the MapBiomas Project for 2000, 2010, and 2020. These analyses informed projections of potential inundation under various sea-level rise (SLR) scenarios: 1, 2, 5, and 10 m. Key findings revealed a negative average coastline change rate of -0.27 m/year from 1985 to 2022, indicative of erosive trends likely accelerated by human activities. Long-term projections for 2032 and 2042 anticipate continued erosion in areas identified as highly vulnerable. The SLR scenario analysis underscores the urgent need for adaptive climate measures; while a 1- or 2-meter SLR presents limited immediate effects, a 5-meter rise could lead to significant inundation across key sectors, including urban and agricultural landscapes. The projected severity of a 10-meter SLR necessitates immediate, comprehensive interventions to safeguard both natural and human systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This investigation analyzed shoreline evolution along India's Digha Coast from 1992 to 2022, using multispectral Landsat satellite images and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). Methods included identifying zones and transects, shoreline extraction, and applying spatial statistical techniques. The study area, divided into five zones with 587 transects, enabled both short- and long-term analysis. Key findings indicate that the mean long-term rate of shoreline change is -0.54 m per year, with 70.70 % of transects experiencing erosion and 29.30 % accretion. Notably, Zone V had the highest accretion rate (8.55 m/year), while Zone III faced the most erosion (-7.47 m/year). Short-term analysis from 1997 to 2017 indicated significant erosion, contrasting with accretion during 1992-1997 and 2017-2022. Particularly, Zones II, III, and IV underwent major erosion, especially from 1997 to 2002. The study underscores the need for continuous shoreline management strategies and demonstrates geospatial technology's effectiveness in capturing coastal landscape changes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Situated in the climatically vulnerable Sundarbans region, Sagar Island has increasingly been subjected to intense cyclonic events, including Yaas, Amphan, Bulbul, and Aila, leading to significant alterations in its coastal morphology. This study aims to elucidate the overwash vulnerability and shoreline dynamics in Sagar Island, spanning the period from 2000 to 2020. Utilizing satellite imagery, the study employs three indices-Overwash Shoreline Ratio (OSR), Maximum Overwash Intrusion Recurrence (MOIR), and Complete Barrier Overwash (CBO)-to assess overwash vulnerability. These indices collectively indicate a heightened susceptibility to overwash intrusion, with a particular focus on the years following severe cyclonic events. Additionally, shoreline change dynamics were quantitatively analyzed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool, revealing a strong positive correlation between shoreline recession and climatic variables. Interlinkages between overwash vulnerability and shoreline dynamics were established, confirming that both phenomena are exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather events. The study's findings have critical implications for a broad range of sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, transportation, and ecosystem conservation. The research underscores the urgency for an integrated coastal management strategy that considers both overwash vulnerability and shoreline change dynamics to enhance sustainability and resilience. This study contributes to the global discourse on coastal dynamics, serving as a benchmark for climate adaptation measures in other cyclone-prone regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) results in treatment failure and poor clinical outcomes. This study was carried out with the aim to determine the pattern of drug resistance against Mycobacterium tuberculosis towards first line ATT (anti-tubercular treatment) in sputum smear-positive patients using Line Probe Assay (LPA)., Methods: A cross sectional prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care Hospital of Meerut. A total of 898 sputum samples (on spot and early morning) collected from 449 suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients as per RNTCP guidelines were screened by microscopy. Decontamination was done by N-acetyl-l-cysteine and sodium hydroxide. Then smear positive samples were subjected to 1st line drug susceptibility testing (DST) using LPA GenoType® MTBDRplus (HAIN Life Science) assay, a molecular method which allows rapid detection of Rifampicin (Rif) and Isoniazid (INH) resistance., Results: The overall burden of MDR TB in this geographical area was 7.9 %. Mono-resistance with Rif alone was around 2.8 %. However, the mono-resistance with INH (inhA gene) and INH (katG gene) was 2.8 % and 1.1 % respectively. Drug resistance of Rif was due to mutations in rpoB gene while resistances to INH were more commonly due to mutation in inhA gene followed by katG gene. TB was more commonly seen in the age group of 30-59 years (43.8 %) and predominantly in males., Conclusion: Tuberculosis positivity rate is high in Western Uttar Pradesh. Burden of MDR TB in Western Uttar Pradesh was similar to National data. Line probe assay can be used as a primary method to diagnose multi drug resistant TB as done in present study which can help in earlier initiation of correct therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Coral reefs worldwide are under severe threat due to their inherent fragility and urgent need for conservation. The escalating tourism in coral reefs significantly impacts the marine ecosystem's biodiversity and conservation. This study analyzed the diversity and conservation status of macrobenthos in the Seixas coral reef, located in northeastern Brazil, and proposed a zoning plan. We employed monitoring protocols adapted from the Reef Check Program, the Rapid Assessment Protocol for Atlantic and Gulf Reefs, and the Protocol for Monitoring Coastal Benthic Habitats. Species identification was carried out by analyzing 25 transects, each divided into 1 m 2 grids, with photos recorded for each grid, totaling 625 photos. Margalef, Shannon-Weaver, Simpson, and Pielou indices were used to analyze species distribution and diversity. The results indicated Dictyotaceae, Sargassaceae, and Corallinaceae as prevalent families. This research offers decision-makers a snapshot of species distribution in the Seixas coral reefs, providing a non-destructive, efficient methodology for assessing environmental impacts on coastal coral reefs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the success rate of infrazygomatic mini-implants between adolescents and young adults., Methods: A total of 60 subjects of different age groups ie, (group I [adolescents]: 12-18 years, mean age: 14.9 ± 2.9 years; group II [young adults]: 19-25 years, mean age = 21.9 ± 3.1 years) were assessed in the study. En-masse retraction of maxillary anterior teeth was carried out with extraction of upper first premolars with infrazygomatic crest (IZC) mini-implants as anchorage units. Clinical parameters such as success rate, soft tissue thickness, maximum insertion torque, maximum removal torque, pain response, soft tissue response, and cone-beam computed tomography parameters such as embedded angulation, penetration depth, thickness of bone on buccal and palatal aspect of mini-implant, and peri-implant bone density were evaluated., Results: The success rate of IZC mini-implants in adolescents was found to be 96.6% and 98.3% in young adults respectively. There was no significant difference in success rate between the two groups. Intergroup comparison showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in terms of maximum insertion torque, maximum removal torque, soft tissue thickness, cortical bone thickness, and peri-implant bone density values. Comparison between right and left side revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) with regards to soft tissue response, soft tissue thickness, total bone thickness, cortical bone thickness, and peri-implant bone density., Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the success rate of IZC mini-implants between adolescents and young adults. Thus, the use of IZC mini-implants can be recommended in adolescents for successful orthodontic treatment., (Copyright © 2023 World Federation of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lung cancer (LC), related with the enhanced expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and sialic acid binding receptors (glycan) brought about the development of EGFR and glycan receptor specific anticancer therapeutics. The current study assessed the formulation, physiochemical characterization, in vitro and in vivo effects of sialic acid (SA) and cetuximab (Cxmab) decorated chitosan nanoparticles (CSN-NPs) loaded with gemcitabine (GMC) targeted to glycan and EGFR over-expressing non-small-cell lung-cancer (NSCLC) A-549 cells. Chitosan (CSN) was conjugated with sialic acid via EDC/NHS chemistry followed by gemcitabine loaded sialic acid conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (GMC-CSN-SA-NPs) were prepared by ionic gelation method decorated with Cxmab by electrostatic interaction. In vitro cytotoxicity of NPs quantified using cell based MTT, DAPI and Annexing-V/PI apoptosis assays showed superior antiproliferative activity of targeted nanoformulations (GMC-CSN-SA-Cxmab-NPs ≫ GMC-CSN-SA-NPs, GMC-CSN-Cxmab-NPs) over non-targeted nanoformulation (GMC-CSN-NPs) against A-549 cells. In vivopharmacokinetic study showed superior bioavailability and in vivo therapeutic efficacy investigation exhibited strongest anticancer activity of glycan and EGFR targeted NPs (GMC-CSN-SA-Cxmab-NPs). GMC-CSN-SA-Cxmab-NPs demonstrated enhanced cellular internalization and better therapeutic potential, by specifically targeting glycan and EGFR on NSCLC A-549 cells and B[a]P induced lung cancer mice model, hence it might be a good substitute for non-targeted, conventional chemotherapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known conflict of interest or personal relationships, which have, or could be perceived to have, influenced the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study assessed the machine learning based sensitivity analysis coupled with source-apportionment of volatile organic carbons (VOCs) to look into new insights of O 3 pollution in Yunlin County located in central-west region of Taiwan. One-year (Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2021) hourly mass concentrations data of 54 VOCs, NO X , and O 3 from 10 photochemical assessment monitoring stations (PAMs) in and around the Yunlin County were analyzed. The novelty of the study lies in the utilization of artificial neural network (ANN) to evaluate the contribution of VOCs sources in O 3 pollution in the region. Firstly, the station specific source-apportionment of VOCs were carried out using positive matrix factorization (PMF)-resolving six sources viz. AAM: aged air mass, CM: chemical manufacturing, IC: Industrial combustion, PP: petrochemical plants, SU: solvent use and VE: vehicular emissions. AAM, SU, and VE constituted cumulatively more than 65% of the total emission of VOCs across all 10 PAMs. Diurnal and spatial variability of source-segregated VOCs showed large variations across 10 PAMs, suggesting for distinctly different impact of contributing sources, photo-chemical reactivity, and/or dispersion due to land-sea breezes at the monitoring stations. Secondly, to understand the contribution of controllable factors governing the O 3 pollution, the output of VOCs source-contributions from PMF model along with mass concentrations of NO X were standardized and first time used as input variables to ANN, a supervised machine learning algorithm. ANN analysis revealed following order of sensitivity in factors governing the O 3 pollution: VOCs from IC > AAM > VE ≈ CM ≈ SU > PP ≈ NO X . The results indicated that VOCs associated with IC (VOCs-IC) being the most sensitive factor which need to be regulated more efficiently to quickly mitigate the O 3 pollution across the Yunlin County., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The eastern coast of India is one of the regions where most of the population resides in urban areas in the low-elevation coastal zone, making it vulnerable to frequent extreme weather events. The objectives of this study are to assess the short- to long-term shoreline changes of the Odisha coast, to understand how anthropogenic influences, and particularly extreme natural events, affect these changes, and to predict shoreline changes for 2050. This study utilized multi-temporal/spectral/spatial resolution satellite images and a digital shoreline analysis (DSAS) tool to appraise the short- (at five/six-year intervals) and long-term (1990-2019) shoreline dynamics along the coastal part of Odisha over the past three decades (1990-2019). The long-term shoreline analysis shows that the mean shoreline change is about 0.67 m/year and highlights that 52.47 % (227.4 km), 34.70 % (150.4 km), and 12.83 % (55.6 km) of the total Odisha coastline exhibit erosion, accretion, and stability, respectively. During the short-term analysis, the 2000-2005 period had the highest percentage of erosion (64.27 %), followed by the 2005-2010 period with an erosional trend of 59.06 %. The 1995-2000 period showed an accretion trend, whereas, during the last period, i.e., 2015-2019, the percentage of transects depicting erosion and accretion was almost similar. In 2050, 55.85 % of the transects are expected to show accretion, while 44.15 % would show erosion or a constant trend. The study identified the hotspots of coastal erosion along delineated study zones by synthesizing data from previous studies as well. The regional analysis of shoreline change along the Odisha coast would not only provide coastal managers with critical information on shoreline dynamics but also draw attention to vulnerable areas linked to shoreline dynamicity along the coast., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Odisha's coastline supports various development activities that are critical to the state and national economy, such as oil and gas, ports and harbors, power plants, fishing, tourism, and mining that continues to not only detriment the coastal ecology but also affect the overall shoreline morphodynamics. The morphological changes are complicated processes involving both natural and human-induced drivers, but it is critical to understand how recent development activities further impact beach morphodynamics and shoreline dynamicity. The study analyzes the overall shoreline morphodynamics in response to the recent development of port and other related infrastructure for annual and decadal scale using two-dimensional (2-D) shoreline changes along with detailed 3-D beach profile volumetric changes for different studied zones along the Gopalpur coast. The results reveal that nearly all studied zones of the Gopalpur shoreline, Zone-4 (EPR = -05.64 m a -1 and LRR = -04.25 m a -1 ), Zone-3 (EPR = -04.51 m a -1 and LRR = -07.01 m a -1 ) and Zone-1 (EPR = -2.85 m a -1 and LRR = -01.46 m a -1 ), experienced erosion between 2010 and 2020 except Zone-2 (EPR = 24.31 m a -1 and LRR = 25.96 m a -1 ), which showed overall sign of deposition. The interannual shoreline analysis depicted that Zone-1 (tourist beach area) remained almost stable, Zone-2 (south of the breakwater of Gopalpur Port) showed accretion trends, Zone-4 (north side of the port) dominantly showed an erosion pattern, whereas Zone-3 (port area) showed a high level of uncertainty in the context of erosional or deposition trends. Calculated volumetric loss along the surveyed 3-D beach profiles supports these 2-D changes for all the studied zones. The results showed substantial changes in coastal morphodynamics in different studied zones of the Gopalpur region and severe erosion along its northern segment of the constructed coastal infrastructure. These findings can potentially promote effective coastal zone management and prevent further deterioration along the Gopalpur coast in future., 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 © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a disease long dealt with, but still remains the second leading cause of death world-wide. The current anti-tubercular chemotherapy primarily targets the microbial pathogenesis, which however, is failing due to the development of drug resistance. Moreover, with fewer new drugs reaching the market, there is a need to focus on alternate treatment approaches that could be used as stand-alone or adjunct therapy and the existing drugs, referred to as Track II chemotherapy. This article is an attempt to review the changing global patterns of tuberculosis and its treatment. Further, newer drug delivery approaches like multi-particulate drug carriers which increase the therapeutic efficacy and bring down the systemic toxicity associated with drugs have also been discussed. There is also a need to use interventions which can be used as Track II therapy. Host-directed therapeutics (HDT) is an emerging area concept in which host cell functions and hence the response to pathogens can be modulated, which can help manage TB. HDT decreases damage induced due to inflammation and necrosis in the lungs and other parts of the body due to the disease. Various immuno-modulatory pathways have been discussed in this review which could be explored further to treat TB. An in-depth understanding of multi-particulate drug carriers and HDT could help in dealing with tuberculosis; however, there is still a long way to go., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors have none to declare., (Copyright © 2021 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Tamoxifen-mediated endocrine therapy has been standard treatment for ER+ breast cancers; however, majority of them acquire resistance leading to disease relapse. Although numerous substrates of E3 ligase FBW7 are known, only a handful of factors that regulate FBW7 expression and function are reported. In particular, there remains a lack of in-depth understanding of FBW7 transcriptional regulation., Materials and Methods: Luciferase reporter assay was performed after cloning full length and truncated FBW7 promoters followed by Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to validate binding of SOX4 on FBW7 promoter. Transcriptional regulation of FBW7 by SOX4 and their biological consequences with respect to ER+ breast cancer was then evaluated using immunoblotting and other cell based assays., Key Findings: SOX4 positively regulates FBW7 at transcriptional level by binding to three putative SOX4 biding sites within 3.1 kb long FBW7 promoter. Analysis of publicly available RNAseq datasets also showed a positive correlation between SOX4 and FBW7 mRNA in cancer cell lines and patient samples. qPCR and Immunoblotting confirmed that transiently or stably expressed SOX4 induced both endogenous FBW7 mRNA and protein levels. Our findings further demonstrated that increased levels of SOX4 and FBW7 in MCF7 mammospheres promoted cancer stemness and tumor cell dormancy. We further showed that both MCF7 mammospheres and MCF TAMR cells had elevated SOX4 levels which apparently enhanced FBW7 to potentiate GATA3 degradation leading to enhanced stemness, tumor dormancy and Tamoxifen resistance in MCF7 TAMR as well as patients with ER+ breast cancers., Significance: Targeting SOX4-FBW7-GATA3 axis may overcome tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancers., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In the N0 neck the incidence of ECS might range from 13 to 60%. In this retrospective study we intended at evaluating the primary tumor and nodal characteristics that might influence the presence of ECS in early stage OSCC., Methods: The predictor variables were tumor and nodal features and the incidence of ENE was the outcome. Univariate and multivariate regression models along with ROC curve and Youden's J statistics was used for analysis. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: The cut off value for DOI was 6.5 mm and LN size was 12.5 mm with overall accuracy of 80.15% and 84.93% respectively. Primary tumor features and LN size was significantly associated with ENE., Discussion: Oral tongue tumors and PNI are independent risk factors for ENE. An elective neck dissection remains the standard of care from both diagnostic and therapeutic viewpoints., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2022 Craniofacial Research Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The detection of coastal vulnerability to erosion is crucial for decision-making regarding the economy, ecology, health, security, among other issues. Most of the studies gather a large data set about physical and anthropogenic interference's on the vulnerability of coastal erosion regions around the world. However, for developing nations like Brazil, with extensive shoreline, it is challenging to develop and maintain an in situ infrastructure to offer a systematical scientific data set. In this context, several methods like Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) for monitoring the dynamic behavior of coastal systems require in situ collected data. Therefore, this contribution explores the use of global open source satellite-based indicators to assess coastal vulnerability to erosion at a regional level adopting an uncorrelated orthogonal basis set of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). For this, the data set covers many spheres of the environment like biophysical and social factors, adopting the Pernambuco State's coast, Brazil, as a case study. The results showed the direct relationship between a high level of urbanization and low vegetation with the high coastal vulnerability to erosion. PC1 revealed built-up and surface temperature vary inversely to the soil organic carbon and vegetation cover along about 20 km (≈10% of the shoreline extension). The hotspots were in the urban cluster (Paulista, Olinda, Recife, and Jaboatao dos Guararapes), combined with high shoreline change around -2 m/yr. PC2 showed the natural action of wind on wave heights combined with sediment removal and the backshore settlement along 10 km of extension (≈5.5% of the shoreline), with the highly vulnerable sites concentrated in Itamaraca Island and C. S. Agostinho. This approach benefits from the multi-satellite and multi-resolution data sets integration to unravel the statistical influence of each variable able to guide stakeholders., 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 © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The long- to short-term morphodynamic response in low-lying coastal wetlands raises serious concerns worldwide about the loss of their biodiversity and ecological ramifications due to change in tidal amplitude and cyclonic events. One such place worth studying is Chilika lake, India, a prominent Ramsar site, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, and the second-largest coastal lagoon in the world. It experiences frequent cyclone landfalls and strong littoral drift that tends to open/close the tidal inlet. The goal of this study was to analyze the response of slow onset events such as long- (1952-2020) to short-term (~annual scale from 1989 to 2020) tidal inlet movement, shoreline change (1990-2020 with almost every five-year interval), spit morphodynamics (~annual scale from 1989 to 2020) on ecological ramification in Chilika lake as well as the implications of sudden onset event such as cyclonic landfall. In this study, we used the Digital Shoreline Change Analysis System (DSAS) to compute the statistics of shoreline change rate by calculating end point rate (EPR) values for short-term shoreline change (1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2020) and weighted linear regression (WLR) for long-term shoreline change (1990-2020). The results show that Chilika lake experienced both erosion and accretion processes with a remarkably high erosion rate of 19.87 m year -1 and accretion of 16.91 m year -1 during a long-term scale (1990-2020). The average erosion and accretion rates were 2.25 m year -1 and 4.67 m year -1 , respectively, during the past three decades (1990-2020). The short-term analysis suggests that the highest mean erosion of 4.37 m year -1 occurred during 2005-2011, mainly due to cyclonic storms, reduction in sediment discharge, and lunar eclipse, which induced tide with very high amplitude in August 2008. Overall, the annual scale analysis of tidal inlet shows a shifting trend towards the northward side even after the artificial opening of an inlet in 2000. It can be ascribed mainly to the prevalent direction of longshore drift along this coast. This study observed that the landfall of cyclones significantly affects the spit morphodynamics and opening of the tidal inlet, which defines the inflow of the seawater into the lagoon and further substantial impacts on the ecological ramification. The current study's methodology can be extended to comprehend the response of long- to short-term changes of the tidal inlet, shoreline, and spit morphodynamics on the ecological ramification of coastal lagoons worldwide along with impacts of sudden-onset events caused by cyclonic landfall., 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 © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To assess the utility of preoperative testing in ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients undergoing outpatient surgery across several surgical specialties., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Patients: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2017 to 2018 was queried to extract patients defined as ASA 1 and 2 who underwent outpatient surgeries. A total of 352,775 adult patients underwent outpatient surgery with 186,954 patients had at least one lab drawn within 30 days prior to the surgery., Interventions: ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients who underwent outpatient surgeries., Measurements: The primary independent variable was the utilization of preoperative laboratory testing. The primary outcomes were the occurrence of any medical or surgical complication adverse events within 30 days of discharge. In addition, we also examined hospital readmissions. A P value of 0.025 was used to avoid type I error for each primary outcome., Main Results: In the overall cohort, 186,954 out of 352,775 (53%) of patients had at least one lab test. Hematology was the most common lab test ordered, 172,903 out of 352,755 patients (49%), followed by chemistry (43%), liver function (23%), and coagulation tests (11%). After adjusting for confounding factors, the use preoperative testing was not associated with overall medical complications, OR (95%CI) of 1.09 (1.00 to 1.18), P = 0.05 and overall surgical complications, 1.00 (0.92 to 1.08), P = 0.96 [Bonferroni corrected: medical complications OR (97.5% CI) of 1.09 (0.989 to 1.202), P = 0.0950 and overall surgical complications, 1.00 (0.918 to 1.093), P = 1.00., Conclusion: We detected a low utility of preoperative tests for ASA 1 and 2 patients undergoing a large variety of outpatient procedures. Our results support the elimination of preoperative laboratory test for ASA 1 and 2 undergoing ambulatory surgery., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Research on calling has largely focused on its benefits for employees. This study contends that experiencing work as a moral duty based calling in invisible-dirty occupations can yield both favorable and unfavorable employee outcomes. Whether employees feel burdened or supported in their work and family roles depends on the demands and resources provided by the workplace. In a sample of 175 janitors at a large government hospital designated for treating COVID-19 patients in the national capital region of India, hypothesis testing results support that work calling is positively associated with both positive (job performance, subjective career success), and negative (work-family and family-work conflicts, burnout) outcomes. Further, job demands strengthen the relationship of work calling with work-family and family-work conflicts, and burnout, whereas, job resources augment the relationship between work calling and job performance, and subjective career success., Competing Interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial conflict of interests to disclose., (© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Significant advancement has occurred over the years in diagnosis, recognition, intervention and impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on morbidity and mortality in critically-ill neonates. However an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still observed among neonates who survive an episode of AKI. Therefore, preventing and adequately managing AKI in neonates could help in controlling long-term renal morbidity in neonates who develop AKI. Thus, this study was undertaken with the aim of studying the incidence, contributing factors and outcomes of AKI in at-risk term neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)., Methods: One hundred and ninety-six term neonates admitted to the NICU with sepsis, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), dehydration and respiratory distress were enrolled and evaluated over a period of one year. Detailed maternal history along with neonatal history, anthropometry, vitals and clinical signs of neonates were recorded in a pretested proforma. Urine output was measured in all at-risk neonates. Serum creatinine was estimated to categorize AKI into stages as per modified KDIGO criteria., Results: Incidence of AKI was 21%, (n = 107 out of 510 admissions) in the study. Mortality was significantly higher in AKI stage III neonates (88.9%) (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) had 35.293 (p < 0.001) times higher risk, while sepsis had 35.701 (p < 0.001), dehydration had 30.260 times (p < 0.001) and respiratory distress had 10.366 times (p < 0.001) higher risk of developing AKI., Conclusion: Our study recorded a high incidence of AKI among at-risk neonates. KDIGO criteria for diagnosing AKI is feasible to apply in the at-risk neonates and helps in its early identification. Early diagnosis and timely intervention in neonates with HIE, sepsis, dehydration and respiratory can prevent the progression of AKI and thus improve prognoses., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of Interest., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The tropical cyclones impact both the eastern and western coasts of India, causing severe socio-environmental problems. This study analyzed shoreline changes and vegetation degradation caused by cyclone Nisarga and monsoon events in Maharashtra coastal zone and Mumbai region, India. In this study, the shoreline change was studied using the Net Shoreline Movement (NSM) statistical technique embedded in the digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS) tool. The effects of the cyclone on the vegetation were mapped using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and the rainfall distribution from Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) data. The correlation between rainfall data and vegetation loss was analyzed using geographically weighted regression. The results also show that 90% of the events were concentrated in the 80-300 mm classes, being classified as sudden increases. This cyclone caused erosion in 56.32% of the shoreline; the highest erosion level was observed along the coastal zone of Maharashtra (near Mumbai city). Cyclone Nisarga has also impacted the vegetation loss most prominently in the region, with mean EVI in pre-cyclone equal to 0.4 and post-cyclone equal to 0.2. These eco-physical studies using geospatial technology are needed to understand the behavior of changes in shoreline and vegetation and can also help coastal managers plan for resilient coastal systems after the passage of tropical cyclones., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A uni-molecular layer of lipids at air-water interface mimicking one of the leaflets of the cellular membrane provides a simple model to understand the interaction of any foreign molecules with the membrane. Here, the interactions of protein Kalata B1 (KB1) of cyclotide family with the phospholipids 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) sodium salt (DPPG), and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholine chloride salt (DSEPC) have been investigated. The addition of KB1 induces a change in pressure of the lipid monolayers. The characteristic time of the change in pressure is found to be dependent on the electrostatic nature of the lipid. Even though the protein is weakly surface active, it is capable of modifying the phase behavior and elastic properties of lipid monolayers with differences in their strength and nature making the layers more floppy. The KB1-lipid interaction has been quantified by calculating the excess Gibb's free energy of interaction and the 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) binding studies. The interaction with zwitterionic DPPC and negatively charged DPPG lipids are found to be thermodynamically favorable whereas the protein shows a weaker response to positively charged DSEPC lipid. Therefore, the long ranged electrostatic is the initial driving force for the KB1 to recognize and subsequently attach to a cellular membrane. Thereafter, the hydrophobic region of the protein may penetrate into the hydrophobic core of the membrane via specific amino acid residues., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cardioprotection includes all mechanisms that contribute to preservation of the heart by reducing or even preventing myocardial damage. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are circulating multimolecular platforms that exert a multitude of effects on cardiomyocytes and nonmyocyte cells in the myocardium leading to preservation of cardiac structure and function. Animal intervention studies applying HDL-targeted therapies have provided consistent evidence that HDLs protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury, leading to smaller myocardial infarctions, and that HDLs attenuate infarct expansion and cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction. These beneficial effects of HDLs are not restricted to prevention of development of ischemic cardiomyopathy but also apply to prevention of pathological hypertrophy and adverse remodeling in the presence of diabetes or in the presence of pressure overload. Moreover, HDLs can induce reverse remodeling characterized by a reduction of cardiac hypertrophy, a decrease of myocardial fibrosis, a regression of capillary rarefaction, and a restoration of cardiac function. HDL-targeted interventions are an effective treatment for heart failure in animal models. In conclusion, whereas protective effects of HDLs on coronary arteries remain essentially unproven till now, the potential for clinical translation of HDL-targeted interventions in prevention of cardiomyopathy and in treatment of heart failure is supported by consistent evidence from animal intervention studies., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we have analyzed how geo-ecological cues for endangered Olive Ridley turtles' mass nesting behavior got modified by impact of four severe cyclones during 2010-2019 that made landfall in the vicinity of Rushikulya estuary, which is one of the largest mass nesting congregation (arribada) sites in the world. Analyzing last 10 years of shoreline dynamics, we show that even the slightest modification in beach morphology influenced their nesting behavior in Rushikulya rookery. Shoreline change analysis showed periodic phases of high/low erosion and the northward longshore sediment movement, which becomes impeded by the southern spit, the length of which increased by about 1800 m. During the analyzed period, the nesting behavior of Olive Ridley turtle was greatly influenced by changes in land use and land cover pattern around the Rushikulya rookery. Such reductions in tree cover and marshy land areas were majorly driven by anthropogenic activities and extreme weather events, such as cyclones. We also report increased mortality of turtles, no or false mass nesting events due to significant loss and/or erosion of the nesting sites due to cyclones. The results indicate that conservation of Olive Ridley turtles should be more holistic, or ecosystem centric, rather than species centric. It is important to maintain the ecological integrity of their habitat for highly synchronized mass nesting event and eventually their survival., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The current lifestyle trend has made people vulnerable to diabetes and related diseases. Years of scientific research have not been able to yield a cure to the disease completely. The current study aims to investigate a link between high-fat diet mediated diabesity and circadian rhythm in the Drosophila model and inferences that might help in establishing a cure to the dreaded disease., Main Methods: Several experimental methods including phenotypical, histological, biochemical, molecular, and behavioral assays were used in the study to detect obesity, diabetes, and changes in the circadian clock in the fly model., Key Findings: The larva and adults of Drosophila melanogaster exposed to high-fat diet (HFD) displayed excess deposition of fat as lipid droplets and micronuclei formation in the gut, fat body, and crop. Larva and adults of HFD showed behavioral defects. The higher amount of triglyceride, glucose, trehalose in the whole body of larva and adult fly confirmed obesity-induced hyperglycemia. The overexpression of insulin gene (Dilp2) and tribble (trbl) gene expression confirmed insulin resistance in HFD adults. We also observed elevated ROS level, developmental delay, altered metal level, growth defects, locomotory rhythms, sleep fragmentation, and expression of circadian genes (per, tim, and clock) in HFD larva and adults. Thus, HFD impairs the metabolism to produce obesity, insulin resistance, disruption of clock, and circadian clock related co-mordities in D. melanogaster., Significance: The circadian gene expression provides an innovative perspective to understand and find a new treatment for type-II diabetes and circadian anomalies., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To assess the rate of tooth movement and the periodontal tissue status over a period of 90 days with and without micro-osteoperforation (MOP)., Method: Thirty-three adults of the 19 to 25 age group undergoing labial fixed orthodontic treatment with bilateral maxillary first premolar extraction, requiring individual canine retraction as a part of the treatment plan, were recruited for this split-mouth randomized clinical trial. While performing micro-implant-assisted canine retraction in the maxillary arch, the experimental side received three MOPs each on the mesial and distal aspects of the canine root. The amount of tooth movement was measured clinically at every 15 days interval for 90 days; the periodontal status was assessed clinically (probing depth, relative attachment level) and tomographically (canine root length, alveolar bone level) at the 1st day and 90th day of retraction. The data were subjected to appropriate statistical analyses., Results: A statistically significant difference in tooth movement on the MOP side was observed in the first 45 days, amounting to 1.5 times more than that of the control side. However, during 45 to 90 days, the difference in the rate of tooth movement between the sides was not statistically significant. Changes in periodontal variables were also insignificant between the sides except for the distal alveolar bone level., Conclusion: An increase in the rate of tooth movement can be achieved without any periodontal adverse effects in the first 45 days of the MOP procedure. The effectiveness of the MOP procedure on the rate of tooth movement gradually declined thereafter., Trial Registration: CTRI/2019/07/020403., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The coastal area of João Pessoa city, Paraíba, Brazil, is densely populated and has a large flow of trade and services. More recently, this region has been suffering from the advance of the sea, which has caused changes in the shoreline and caused a decrease in the beach area and damage to various urban facilities. Thus, the spatiotemporal changes of the short- and long-term characteristics of the shoreline of João Pessoa city over the past 34 years (1985-2019) were calculated and the forcing mechanisms responsible for the shoreline changes were analyzed. Remote sensing data (Landsat 5-TM and 8-OLI) and statistical techniques, such as endpoint rate (EPR), linear regression rate (LRR) and weighted linear regression (WLR), using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), were used. In this study, 351 transects ranging from ~1.1 km to ~6 km were analyzed within four zones (Zones I to IV), and the main controlling factors that influence the shoreline changes in these zones, such as sea level, tidal range, wave height, beach morphology and ocean currents, were discussed. The long-term change from 1985 to 2019 showed primarily accretion on the shoreline of João Pessoa city, with the rate of 0.55 m/year (WLR method); 282 transects showed accretion. The results showed that Zone-I, which was located in the south of the study area, was the only zone that primarily recorded erosion from 1985 to 2019, with a mean rate of -0.23 m/year according to the WLR method. According to the short-term shoreline change analysis, a cyclical pattern of erosion was observed in the 1985-1990, 1993-1999, 2005-2011 and 2014-2019 periods, and accretion was observed in the 1990-1993, 1999-2005 and 2011-2014 periods. It was inferred that the patterns of all analyzed zones were similar, i.e., when majority accretion was detected within a zone, the other zones also recorded accretion, except for during the period from 2014 to 2019, when Zone-I showed different behavior. Finally, the long- and short-term analyses showed that the coastal area of João Pessoa city is influenced by various forcing mechanism responsible for the shoreline changes., 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 © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Alar collapse is known to aggravate snoring-severity and possibly the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. Various surgical techniques, implants and commercial mechanical/prosthetic nasal alar dilators are evident in literature., Material and Methods: A malleable wire prosthesis at 'no' manufacturing cost is custom designed through computer modelling and animation and thereafter tested for its efficacy in 20 normal subjects as per visual analog scale along with its correlation with patient-profiles., Observations and Results: All subjects reported improvement in their nasal patency ranging from 30% to 99% but no correlation was seen between the degree of improvement & patient variables. This improvement in normal subjects indicates even a better improvement in true alar collapse., Conclusion: Main advantages of this devise is its extremely low-cost, non-traumatic nature, adjustability to suit patient comfort and can be customised across all types of noses. However it seems cosmetically unacceptable during the daytime, as well as for small children. With no correlation with patient factors the acceptability of this devise is mainly dependent on a good customized design. With a constant use during bedtime in alar collapse this device may not only resolve snoring and improve the sleep-quality of spouse but also enhances oxygenation during sleep., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interests involved., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Craniofacial Research Foundation.)

Studying the behavior of drought and its short-, medium- and long-term features throughout a region is very important for the creation of adequate public policies and actions aimed at the economic and social development of the region. Furthermore, the frequency and intensity of weather-related natural hazards (rainfall, heatwaves and droughts) are increasing every year, and these extreme weather-related events are potent threats worldwide, particularly in developing countries, such as India. Thus, this paper aims to evaluate the drought behavior in the Odisha region of India (1983-2018) by using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the new drought severity classification (DS). PERSIANN-CDR-estimated rainfall data were used to provide 271 time series, which were equally spaced at intervals of 0.25°, over Odisha state. The accuracy of these time series was evaluated with rain gauge-measured data at multiple time scales, and it was observed that the PERSIANN-CDR-estimated rainfall data effectively captured the pattern of rainfall over Odisha state. It was noted that almost half of the mean annual rainfall was concentrated in July and August. On addition, northeastern Odisha and areas near the coast were the rainiest regions. Furthermore, the drought pattern was evaluated based on nine distinct four-year periods (SPI-48), and the results indicated that there was high spatiotemporal variability in drought occurrence among those periods; e.g., in the last four years, extreme drought events occurred throughout the state. For the DS severity index analysis, it was noted that the values tended to be more significant with the increase in the drought time scale. For short-term droughts, DS values were less significant throughout the region, whereas for the medium-term droughts, there was an increase in the DS values in all regions of Odisha, especially in the north-central region. For long-term droughts, the values were more significant throughout the region, especially in the areas with the highest rainfall levels. Finally, the PERSIANN-CDR data should also be analyzed in other regions of India, and the obtained results are useful for the identification of droughts throughout the region and for the management of water resources and can be replicated in any part of the world., 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 © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis is a fatal form because of high morbidity and poor recovery. Improper use of first line medicines and default treatment are the prime reasons of developing resistance of mycobacterium towards conventional anti- TB drugs. Nurses with refined knowledge, current evidence and positive attitude can prevent arising of MDR TB cases by ensuring adequate treatment, promoting treatment adherence and real time case monitoring. Because of paucity of data, present study was aimed to assess efficacy of m-learning in improving knowledge and attitude of nurses about the prevention and control of MDR-TB., Methods: In this Quasi-randomized study, nurses working in the unit of pulmonary, emergency, respiratory ICU, general medicine of AIIMS Rishikesh during the months of August-October 2019 were involved. The number of participation was 190 (95 in each group; experimental and control) where m-learning intervention was available only for experimental group. There were structured questionnaire to measure knowledge and dichotomous checklist to evaluate attitude of nurses of both group before and one week after the provision of m-learning module., Results: Both the group was homogeneous and m-learning intervention was effective to improve knowledge, when compared post-test knowledge score between experimental and control group (18.2 ± 5.4 vs 12.4 ± 4.4; P < 0.001); however, this one-time social media based intervention could not improve attitude of participants (10.3 ± 1.8 vs. 9.9 ± 1.8; P = 0.175)., Conclusion: Hence, m-learning is useful for knowledge development among large number of nurses within limited resource setting but frequent provision of technology based module is recommended to acquire positive attitude among nurses., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors have none to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Tuberculosis Association of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The current study aims to check various behavioural, developmental, cytotoxic, and genotoxic effects of Fe 3 O 4 -GG nanocomposite (GGNCs) on Drosophila melanogaster. Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were prepared by the chemical co-precipitation method and cross-linked with guargum nanoparticles to prepare the nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FTIR techniques. To investigate the biomolecular interaction, GGNCs was further tagged with Fluorescein isothiocyanate. Various concentrations of nanocomposites were mixed with the food and flies were allowed to complete the life cycle. The life cycle of the flies was studied as a function of various concentrations of GGNCs. The 1st instar larvae after hatching from the egg start eating the food mixed with GGNCs. The 3rd instar larvae were investigated for various behavioural and morphological abnormalities within the gut. The 3rd instar larva has defective crawling speed, crawling path, and more number of micronuclei within the gut. Similarly, in adult flies thermal sensitivity, climbing behaviour was found to be altered. In adult flies, a significant reduction in body weight was found which is further correlated with variation of protein, carbohydrate, triglyceride, and antioxidant enzymes. Altogether, the current study suggests GGNCs as a non-genotoxic nanoparticle for various biological applications., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The purpose of this paper is to describe different acquired conditions necessitating lip reconstruction and present our ten-years' experience in managing the same at a tertiary care hospital., Materials and Methods: Data of patients undergoing reconstruction of acquired lip defects from January 2009 to December 2019 were analyzed for demographic details, etiology, extent of defect, reconstruction option used, outcome and complications., Results: 89 patients underwent lip reconstruction after excision of malignant tumors (81%), vascular malformations (12%) and traumatic injuries (7%). Mucosal and cutaneous lip defects were seen in 8 (9%) and 3 (3%) patients respectively, which were treated by primary closure, local advancement flap and tongue flap. Full thickness defects involving less than 1/3rd of lip (36%) and involving up to 2/3rd of lip (33%) were treated by primary closure, Abbe, Abbe Estlander flap and Karapenzic, Bernard Webster & peri-alar crescentic flaps respectively. Sub-total lip defects were repaired using distant and free vascularized flaps. All the localized cutaneous/mucosal defect repair healed uneventfully. Complications associated full thickness defect reconstruction included reduced stoma, flap necrosis and hypertrophic scar., Conclusions: Repair of localized cutaneous/mucosal defects of lip are simple with no significant documented complication. However, full thickness tissue loss necessities careful surgical planning. The choice of surgical technique depends on the extent of lip length lost. While Karapandzic flap was most commonly utilized to reconstruct lip defect involving up to 2/3rd of the lip, radial forearm flap was a choice in managing subtotal lip tissue loss., Competing Interests: None., (© 2020 Craniofacial Research Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Transcription factor CCAAT/Enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is a key regulator of myeloid differentiation, granulopoiesis in particular. Although CEBPA mutations are found in more than 10% in AML, functional inhibition of C/EBPα protein is also widely observed in AML. Here, we sought to examine if SKP2, an aberrantly enhanced E3 ubiquitin ligase in primary AMLs inhibits C/EBPα stability to induce differentiation block., Main Methods: Here we employed cell based assays such as transfections, immunoblotting, co-immunoprecipitation, luciferase and gel shift assays along with differentiation assays to investigate SKP2 regulated C/EBPα protein stability in acute myeloid leukemia., Key Findings: Here we discovered that oncogenic E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF skp2 ubiquitinates and destabilizes C/EBPα in a proteasome-dependent manner. Our data demonstrates that SKP2 physically interacts with C-terminal of C/EBPα and promotes its K48-linked ubiquitination-mediated degradation leading to its reduced transactivation potential, DNA binding ability and cellular functions. We further show that while overexpression of SKP2 inhibits both ectopic as well as endogenous C/EBPα in heterologous (HEK293T) as well as myeloid leukemia cells respectively, SKP2 depletion restores endogenous C/EBPα leading to reduced colony formation and enhanced myeloid differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. Using Estradiol-inducible K562-C/EBPα-ER cells as yet another model of granulocytic differentiation, we further confirmed that SKP2 overexpression indeed inhibits granulocytic differentiation by mitigating C/EBPα stability., Significance: Our findings identify SKP2 as a potential negative regulator of C/EBPα stability and function in AML which suggests that SKP2 can be potentially targeted in AML to restore C/EBPα and overcome differentiation block., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)