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IoT device security has become a major concern as a result of the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the growing adoption of cloud computing for central monitoring and management. In order to provide centrally managed services each IoT device have to connect to their respective High-Performance Computing (HPC) clouds. The ever increasing deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices linked to HPC clouds use various medium such as wired and wireless. The security challenges increases further when these devices communicate over satellite links. This Satellite-Based IoT-HPC Cloud architecture poses new security concerns which exacerbates this problem. An intrusion detection technology integrated in the central cloud is suggested as a potential remedy to monitor and detect aberrant activity within the network in order to allay these worries. However, the enormous amounts of data generated by IoT devices and their constrained computing power dose not allow to implement IDS techniques at source and renders towards typical central Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) ineffectiveness. Moreover, to protect these systems, powerful intrusion detection techniques are required due to the inherent vulnerabilities of IoT devices and the possible hazards during data transmission.During the course of literature survey it is revealed that the research work has been done to detect few types of attacks by using the old school model of IDS. The computational expensiveness in terms of processing time is also an important parameter to be considered. This work introduces a novel Embedded Hybrid Deep Learning-based intrusion detection technique (EHID) based on embedded hybrid deep learning that is created specifically for IoT devices linked to HPC clouds via satellite connectivity. Two Deep Learning (DL) algorithms are integrated in the proposed method to improve detection abilities with decent accuracy while considering the processing time and number of trainable parameters to detect 14 types of threats. It segregates among the normal and attack traffic. We also modify the conventional IDS approach and propose architectural change to harness the processing power of central server of cloud. This hybrid approach effectively detects threats by harnessing the computing power available at HPC cloud along with leveraging the power of AI. Additionally, the proposed system enables real-time monitoring and detection of intrusions while providing monitoring and management services through HPC using IoT-generated data. Experiments on Edge-IIoTset Cyber Security Dataset of IoT & IIoT indicate improved detection accuracy, reduced false positives, and efficient computational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of deteriorated physicochemical conditions in the river Jhelum on parasitic infestations and to investigate the potential of fish parasites as bioindicators of water quality. All the physicochemical parameters exhibited statistically significant differences based on both site and season (p < 0.01). The interaction term (Site × Season) was also kept in the model since it was statistically significant (p < 0.01). A parasitological survey of 360 schizothoracine fish revealed a 30.3% prevalence (109/360) of endohelminth infection. The study identified four predominant parasitic taxa across two distinct classes: Cestoda, including Adenoscolex oreini and Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, and Acanthocephala, comprising Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis and Neoechinorhynchus manasbalensis. For the assessment of parasitic load, we calculated the prevalence, mean intensity, mean abundance, and index of infection for each sampling period. Correspondence analysis identified associations between parasite occurrence and specific water quality parameters. Regression analysis, including R2 and p values, demonstrated a positive correlation between the number of parasites and both the proportion of infected fish and the ratio of infected to examined fish. Given that parasitic load is significantly influenced by a range of water quality parameters, fish parasites can serve as a robust indicator of declining water quality. Fish parasites are highly sensitive to water quality changes such as pollutants, toxins, and fluctuations in pH, temperature, and oxygen levels. Deteriorating water quality can stress fish, compromising their immune systems and increasing their susceptibility to parasitic infections. Additionally, complex life cycles of parasites can be disrupted by poor water conditions, making them indicators of water quality issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent resurgence of traditional medicines, driven by a renewed interest in the medicinal use of plant extracts, has garnered significant scientific attention for their therapeutic efficacy in treating a wide range of diseases. Glycyrrhiza species, commonly known as licorice, are widely recognized both as herbal remedies and as natural sweeteners. Among these, Glycyrrhiza uralensis stands out for its exceptional therapeutic potential, particularly in enhancing muscle regeneration, slowing muscle aging, and promoting skeletal muscle myogenesis. This review explores the traditional uses and biological effects of G. uralensis, highlighting the biological significance of its bioactive constituents, such as saponins and flavonoids. The hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiobesity, anti-inflammatory, skeletal muscle-enhancing and cardiovascular effects of G. uralensis are reviewed, along with its toxicity and safety profile. Additionally, we propose directions for future clinical and scientific investigations, advocating for using G. uralensis as a natural therapeutic agent. The primary aim of this review is to contribute to the incorporation of this ancient medicine into modern clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle (SM) contains a diverse population of muscle stem (or satellite) cells, which are essential for the maintenance of muscle tissue and positively regulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). However, in aged SM, PGE2 levels are reduced due to increased prostaglandin catabolism by 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH), a negative regulator of SM tissue repair and regeneration. Screening of a library of 80,617 natural compounds in the ZINC database against 15-PGDH was conducted from PyRx. Further, drug-likeness rules, including those of Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge were performed. The selected complex was forwarded for MD simulations up to 100ns. Based on free energy of binding obtained from docking revealed that ZINC14557836 and ZINC14638400 more potently inhibiting to 15-PGDH than SW033291 (the control and high-affinity inhibitor of 15-PGDH). The free energies of binding obtained from PyRx for 15-PGDH-ZINC14557836, 15-PGDH-ZINC14638400, and 15-PGDH-SW033291 complexes were − 10.30, -9.80, and − 8.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Root mean square deviations (RMSDs), root mean square fluctuations (RMSFs), radii of gyration (Rg), solvent-accessible surface areas (SASAs), and H-bond parameters obtained by 100 ns MD simulations predicted ZINC14557836 and ZINC14638400 more stably complexed with 15-PGDH than SW033291. The several parameters, including physicochemical properties and drug-likenesses, were within acceptable limits, and ZINC14557836 and ZINC14638400 also satisfied other drug-likeness rules, including those of Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge. These findings suggest that ZINC14557836 and ZINC14638400 provide starting points for the development of medications that increase SM regeneration and muscle stem (or satellite) cell numbers by inhibiting 15-PGDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Annals of Surgical Oncology (ASO) launched a Social Media Committee in 2022 to strategically promote surgical science, boost journal impact, and raise awareness of cutting-edge research. This study investigated the impact of the ASO Social Media Committee on journal visibility, publication engagement, and article-level metrics. Methods: Manuscripts accepted by ASO and promoted on Twitter/X between 21 September 2020 and 20 September 2023 were evaluated for differences in article and social media metrics. Pearson correlations evaluated the relationship between normalized article downloads and normalized likes, retweets/reposts, and quote tweets/quotes. Group comparisons of social media engagement by article type were performed. Results: In the 18 months before the formation of the ASO Social Media Committee, 1023 manuscripts were published, and 1023 were published in the 18 months afterward. The median Altmetric scores for articles published before (3.0; IQR, 0–7.0) and afterward (2.0; IQR, 0–7.0) were similar (p = 0.480). In contrast, the normalized median number of downloads per article was significantly greater after the Social Media Committee was formed (0.85 downloads per article [IQR, 0.55–1.48] vs 1.37 [IQR, 0.93–2.51]; p < 0.001). Positive correlations were noted for normalized downloads with likes (r = 0.14; p < 0.001), retweets/reposts (r = 0.08; p < 0.001), and quote tweets/quotes (r = 0.16; p < 0.001). No difference in social media engagement by article type was observed. Conclusion: More downloads were noted for ASO articles posted by the Social Media Committee after normalization. An organized effort to promote surgical science likely improves article exposure. Future efforts should seek to expand article promotion to additional social media and networking platforms with a more international, multi-lingual approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical properties of Ni2XAl (X = V, Fe) alloys were investigated using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method based on density functional theory (DFT), employing the Wien2K code. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) was applied for the exchange and correlation potential (XC) during structural optimization. The elastic analysis indicates that both Ni2VAl and Ni2FeAl alloys are mechanically stable. Ni2FeAl is a spin-magnetic alloy that crystallizes in a stable cubic structure, while Ni2VAl is a non-magnetic alloy with a stable L21 cubic structure. Our study reveals that Ni2VAl exhibits metallic characteristics in its electronic properties, and similarly, Ni2FeAl demonstrates metallic behavior in both spin-up and spin-down states. Regarding magnetism, Ni2VAl is non-magnetic, in contrast to the magnetic Ni2FeAl. These findings suggest that Ni2XAl (X = V, Fe) alloys are promising candidates for future applications in spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative adverse events (AEs) in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BR-PC) treated with neoadjuvant therapy and pancreatectomy in the national cooperative group setting have not been previously characterized. We conducted a preplanned secondary analysis of patients enrolled on the Alliance A021501 clinical trial to quantify perioperative AE rates. Methods: The A021501 phase 2 trial randomized patients with BR-PC to receive 8 doses of mFOLFIRINOX (Arm 1) or 7 doses of mFOLFIRINOX and hypofractionated radiotherapy (Arm 2), followed by pancreatectomy (December 31, 2016 to May 31, 2019). Adverse events were assessed 90 days after pancreatectomy. Results: Of 126 enrolled patients, 51 (40%) underwent pancreatectomy (n = 32, Arm 1; n = 19, Arm 2) at 28 institutions. Five (10%) patients required reoperation within 90 days; 56% of patients (n = 27/48) experienced at least one grade 3 or higher AE (50% vs. 67%, p = 0.37). Ninety-day mortality was 2.0%. Readmission was less frequent in Arm 1 (16% vs. 42%, p = 0.05), but there were no differences between study arms in rates of reoperation (13% vs. 5%), pancreatic fistula or intra-abdominal abscess requiring drainage (9% vs. 16%), or wound infection (6% vs. 16%). Pancreatic fistula or intra-abdominal abscess requiring drainage was associated with receipt of adjuvant therapy (p = 0.012). No difference in overall survival was observed based on occurrence of postoperative AEs (hazard ratio = 1.1; 95% confidence interval 0.5–2.6). Conclusions: In this multicenter study, rates of postoperative AEs were consistent with those previously reported. Multimodality trials of preoperative therapy for BR-PC may be performed in the cooperative group setting with careful quality assurance and safety monitoring. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02839343 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma belongs to the most common cancers, but also to the tumors with the poorest prognosis. Here, we pharmacologically targeted a mitochondrial potassium channel, namely mitochondrial Kv1.3, and investigated the role of sphingolipids and mutated Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Virus (KRAS) in Kv1.3-mediated cell death. We demonstrate that inhibition of Kv1.3 using the Kv1.3-inhibitor PAPTP results in an increase of sphingosine and superoxide in membranes and/or membranes associated with mitochondria, which is enhanced by KRAS mutation. The effect of PAPTP on sphingosine and mitochondrial superoxide formation as well as cell death is prevented by sh-RNA-mediated downregulation of Kv1.3. Induction of sphingosine in human pancreas cancer cells by PAPTP is mediated by activation of sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase and prevented by an inhibitor of sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase. A rapid depolarization of isolated mitochondria is triggered by binding of sphingosine to cardiolipin, which is neutralized by addition of exogenous cardiolipin. The significance of these findings is indicated by treatment of mutated KRAS-harboring metastasized pancreas cancer with PAPTP in combination with ABC294640, a blocker of sphingosine kinases. This treatment results in increased formation of sphingosine and death of pancreas cancer cells in vitro and, most importantly, prolongs in vivo survival of mice challenged with metastatic pancreas cancer. Key messages: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common tumor with poor prognosis. The mitochondrial Kv1.3 ion channel blocker induced mitochondrial sphingosine. Sphingosine binds to cardiolipin thereby mediating mitochondrial depolarization. Sphingosine is formed by a PAPTP-mediated activation of S1P-Phosphatase. Inhibition of sphingosine-consumption amplifies PAPTP effects on PDAC in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On February 11, 2022, the Brengi streambed caved in, and a sizable sinkhole (33.57 N and 75.33 E) was developed. The Brengi stream is a major tributary of the Upper Jhelum River in Kashmir Himalaya. The sinkhole swallowed the entire stream flow and caused mass mortality of fish and other aquatic creatures, besides disrupting completely the local water supplies. The present study analyzed the ancillary data reports, geological and topographic maps, satellite and Google Earth images, and climatic data in conjunction with the field, geophysical and chemical tracer studies to understand the causes of sinkhole formation, the outlet of captured flow and its associated hazards. The study indicated the sinkhole as a "Collapse Sinkhole" formed due to the collapse of the limestone (Triassic) roof cap of an existing deep-seated underground cavern through a prolonged dissolution and physical erosion by the weakly acidic stream and groundwater circulation under suitable climatic conditions. In this area, the limestone bedrock covered under a thick pile of overburden alluvial material comprises large structural discontinuities (bedding planes, fractures, joints and shear zones) and karst features. Before the collapse, a large water pool consisting ~ 80 m3 of the water column was estimated to be at the sinkhole site. Proton Precession Magnetometer survey around the sinkhole indicated that the underlying caverns are about ~ 100 m long downstream. A stream flow of ~ 15.03 m3/s was estimated to be swallowed by the sinkhole continuously for a couple of weeks till its closure. As a consequence, an estimated area of ~ 77.15 km2 comprising 58% agricultural/horticultural land, 25% vegetation cover and 10% built-up area was at high risk of catastrophe downstream of the sinkhole. From the tracer study, the outlet of the sinking water was found located at 16 km downstream at Achabal springs with an average flow velocity of ~ 1.3 km/h from the sinkhole site to the outlet. The sinkhole is a part and characteristic feature of karst topography of the area. Therefore, a detailed study on sinkhole susceptibility and hazard assessment is required. Although the sinkhole formation is an event of local significance in terms of the scale of the disaster, it may be of extreme importance in planning a given investment and management of local groundwater resources and karst springs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Bangkaew dog is an indigenous dog breed in the Phitsanulok province of Thailand. This breed is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), a global canine organization. The unique traits of the Bangkaew breed lead to purebred selection for breeding, while only their traits and pedigree from parental history are recorded. Determination of the risk of inbreeding depression and the origin of unknown DNA profiles is essential due to the challenges in predicting puppy characteristics, which are crucial for breed management and conservation. Objective: This study aimed to emphasize that current allelic frequency data for the Bangkaew dog breed must be considered for precise individual identification. Methods: Approximately 82 Bangkaew dogs from various Thai localities were studied using 15 microsatellite markers for genotypic monitoring and individual identification. Maternal genetic inheritance was assessed via mtDNA D-loop analysis. Results: The results revealed high genetic diversity in the Bangkaew breed, indicating low potential for inbreeding. We also found that using a 15 loci microsatellite panel was effective for the identification of Bangkaew dogs. The optimized 10 loci microsatellite genotyping panel developed in this study presents improved identification testing efficiency, promoting both time- and cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Analysis of microsatellite DNA markers in Bangkaew dogs using an optimized panel of 10 loci selected from 15 loci effectively facilitated individual identification. This approach not only enhances time and cost efficiency, but also provides accurate allelic frequency estimates, which are crucial for the realistic evaluation of DNA evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease marked by high rates of both local and distant failure. In the minority of patients with potentially resectable disease, multimodal treatment paradigms have allowed for prolonged survival in an increasingly larger pool of well-selected patients. Therefore, it is critical for surgical oncologists to be abreast of current guideline recommendations for both surgical management and multimodal therapy for pancreas cancer. We discuss these guidelines, as well as the underlying data supporting these positions, to offer surgical oncologists a framework for managing patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's wetlands, estimated to cover 15.26 million hectares, have experienced significant degradation due to human activities. Urbanization, population growth, land transformation, encroachment, and pollution have all contributed to the shrinking of wetlands, which were earlier estimated to be 58.2 million hectares. This review analyzes the root causes of wetland degradation in India, providing insights from more than 100 studies conducted over the last four decades. It also examines the impacts of population growth, urbanization, land transformation, encroachment, and pollution on wetlands, and their associated ecological consequences. The paper highlights the need for conservation and management efforts to protect these vital ecosystems, which provide numerous benefits to human societies and biodiversity. From the above review, it can be inferred that approximately 64% of wetlands have suffered degradation in terms of wetland coverage as a result of these drivers. Additionally, metropolitan areas are experiencing a continuous reduction in wetland size due to overpopulation and urbanization, which serve as the primary contributing factors. The majority of research conducted on wetlands in India concentrates on the ecological and environmental aspects of the wetland ecosystem. Moreover, the physical factors, such as alterations in land use within the catchment area, and the socio-economic factors, including population growth and changes in economic activities, which lead to modifications in wetland surroundings, have not been extensively investigated. So, there is a necessity for further research to be conducted on the physical, socio-economic, and conservation aspects that influence the state of wetlands and their utilization. Also, this research calls for the development of more effective and comprehensive management strategies in response to escalating stress from various climatic and particularly anthropogenic factors, because the governmental and scholarly attention towards wetland management policies, rules, regulations, and organizations has only recently emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over half of human genomic DNA is composed of repetitive sequences generated throughout evolution by prolific mobile genetic parasites called transposable elements (TEs). Long disregarded as “junk” or “selfish” DNA, TEs are increasingly recognized as formative elements in genome evolution, wired intimately into the structure and function of the human genome. Advances in sequencing technologies and computational methods have ushered in an era of unprecedented insight into how TE activity impacts human biology in health and disease. Here we discuss the current views on how TEs have shaped the regulatory landscape of the human genome, how TE activity is implicated in human cancers, and how recent findings motivate novel strategies to leverage TE activity for improved cancer therapy. Given the crucial role of methodological advances in TE biology, we pair our conceptual discussions with an in-depth review of the inherent technical challenges in studying repeats, specifically related to structural variation, expression analyses, and chromatin regulation. Lastly, we provide a catalog of existing and emerging assays and bioinformatic software that altogether are enabling the most sophisticated and comprehensive investigations yet into the regulation and function of interspersed repeats in cancer genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In nucleotide public repositories, studies discovered data errors which resulted in incorrect species identification of several accipitrid raptors considered for conservation. Mislabeling, particularly in cases of cryptic species complexes and closely related species, which were identified based on morphological characteristics, was discovered. Prioritizing accurate species labeling, morphological taxonomy, and voucher documentation is crucial to rectify spurious data. Objective: Our study aimed to identify an effective DNA barcoding tool that accurately reflects the efficiency status of barcodes in raptor species (Accipitridae). Methods: Barcode sequences, including 889 sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene and 1052 sequences from cytochrome b (Cytb), from 150 raptor species within the Accipitridae family were analyzed. Results: The highest percentage of intraspecific nearest neighbors from the nearest neighbor test was 88.05% for COI and 95.00% for Cytb, suggesting that the Cytb gene is a more suitable marker for accurately identifying raptor species and can serve as a standard region for DNA barcoding. In both datasets, a positive barcoding gap representing the difference between inter-and intra-specific sequence divergences was observed. For COI and Cytb, the cut-off score sequence divergences for species identification were 4.00% and 3.00%, respectively. Conclusion: Greater accuracy was demonstrated for the Cytb gene, making it the preferred primary DNA barcoding marker for raptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location of female-specific/linked loci identified in Siamese cobra (Naja kaouthia) previously has been determined through in silico chromosome mapping of the Indian cobra genome (N. naja) as a reference genome. In the present study, we used in silico chromosome mapping to identify sex-specific and linked loci in Siamese cobra. Many sex-specific and sex-linked loci were successfully mapped on the Z sex chromosome, with 227 of the 475 specific loci frequently mapped in a region covering 57 Mb and positioned at 38,992,675–95,561,177 bp of the Indian cobra genome (N. naja). This suggested the existence of a putative sex-determining region (SDR), with one specific locus (PA100000600) homologous to the TOPBP1 gene. The involvement of TOPBP1 gene may lead to abnormal synaptonemal complexes and meiotic chromosomal defects, resulting in male infertility. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic basis and functional aspects of sex-specific traits in the Siamese cobra, which will contribute to our understanding of snake genetics and evolutionary biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotes have varying numbers and structures of characteristic chromosomes across lineages or species. The evolutionary trajectory of species may have been affected by spontaneous genome rearrangements. Chromosome fusion drastically alters karyotypes. However, the mechanisms and consequences of chromosome fusions, particularly in muntjac species, are poorly understood. Recent research-based advancements in three-dimensional (3D) genomics, particularly high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing, have allowed for the identification of chromosome fusions and provided mechanistic insights into three muntjac species: Muntiacus muntjak, M. reevesi, and M. crinifrons. This study aimed to uncover potential genome rearrangement patterns in the threatened species Fea’s muntjac (Muntiacus feae), which have not been previously examined for such characteristics. Deep Hi-C sequencing (31.42 × coverage) was performed to reveal the 3D chromatin architecture of the Fea’s muntjac genome. Patterns of repeated chromosome fusions that were potentially mediated by high-abundance transposable elements were identified. Comparative Hi-C maps demonstrated linkage homology between the sex chromosomes in Fea’s muntjac and autosomes in M. reevesi, indicating that fusions may have played a crucial role in the evolution of the sex chromosomes of the lineage. The species-level dynamics of topologically associated domains (TADs) suggest that TAD organization could be altered by differential chromosome interactions owing to repeated chromosome fusions. However, research on the effect of TADs on muntjac genome evolution is insufficient. This study generated Hi-C data for the Fea’s muntjac, providing a genomic resource for future investigations of the evolutionary patterns of chromatin conformation at the chromosomal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsatellites are short tandem DNA repeats, ubiquitous in genomes. They are believed to be under selection pressure, considering their high distribution and abundance beyond chance or random accumulation. However, limited analysis of microsatellites in single taxonomic groups makes it challenging to understand their evolutionary significance across taxonomic boundaries. Despite abundant genomic information, microsatellites have been studied in limited contexts and within a few species, warranting an unbiased examination of their genome-wide distribution in distinct versus closely related-clades. Large-scale comparisons have revealed relevant trends, especially in vertebrates. Here, “MicrosatNavigator”, a new tool that allows quick and reliable investigation of perfect microsatellites in DNA sequences, was developed. This tool can identify microsatellites across the entire genome sequences. Using this tool, microsatellite repeat motifs were identified in the genome sequences of 186 vertebrates. A significant positive correlation was noted between the abundance, density, length, and GC bias of microsatellites and specific lineages. The (AC)n motif is the most prevalent in vertebrate genomes, showing distinct patterns in closely related species. Longer microsatellites were observed on sex chromosomes in birds and mammals but not on autosomes. Microsatellites on sex chromosomes of non-fish vertebrates have the lowest GC content, whereas high-GC microsatellites (≥ 50 M% GC) are preferred in bony and cartilaginous fishes. Thus, similar selective forces and mutational processes may constrain GC-rich microsatellites to different clades. These findings should facilitate investigations into the roles of microsatellites in sex chromosome differentiation and provide candidate microsatellites for functional analysis across the vertebrate evolutionary spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current status and distributional patterns of fish fauna of Pir Panjal Himalayan region are poorly explored, and research on habitat ecology and species composition along different habitat of river Poonch is still deficient. The current study was undertaken to update the status and distributional pattern of ichthyofauna of this river. The study was conducted from June 2017 to December 2019. A total of 25 fish species were documented from different sampling sites, which belong to four orders, six families and fifteen genera. The Renyi diversity profiles show that the lower and middle stretch had rich species diversity as compared to the upper stretch, with highest at Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge (lower stretch) and lowest at Bufflaiz (upper stretch). The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) results show a considerable variation in the total fish species composition as well as the water quality parameter among the studied sites. The distributional pattern of fish species showed significant variation in their dominance with respect to different sampling sites, indicating the supremacy of the family Cyprinidae (64%) followed by Sisoridae (16%) then by Cobitidae (8%). In contrast, the other three families, Nemachalidae, Salmonidae and Mastacembelidae, contribute only (4%) each, respectively. Significant variation in abundance of the species was recorded across all the site, as the least number of species have been encountered from Bufflaiz and the highest was recorded at the Sher-e-Kashmir bridge site. About 16% species were found common to the entire habitat, while 32% species were restricted to only single habitat. The result of the current study will provide the information needed for freshwater fish resource protection in river Poonch and a reference for promoting the conservation and management of fish diversity of the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported the sol–gel synthesis for preparing ZnS and SnO2 products and their composite material, for the first time for application as an electrode for a hybrid supercapacitor to attain an optimized energy storage performance. The structural feature reveals that the high phase purity and crystallinity with tetragonal SnO2, and in the cubic crystal structure of ZnS has been successfully verified from XRD analysis. A snow-like morphology of SnO2 and irregular nanoparticles in shape with a honeycomb-like appearance of ZnS and their combination that is detected in the ZnS–SnO2 composite without any residues was noticed on the surface of the samples, which was confirmed from the FESEM study. The electrochemical properties demonstrated that the ZnS–SnO2 composite manifests more awesome performance than its bulk materials, e.g., 466 F/g of capacitance, good rate performance, and reversibility with good charge transport properties. These striking results motivated us to fabricate a hybrid supercapacitor for practical aspects of the as-prepared electrode material. To do so, a ZnS–SnO2||AC/KOH hybrid supercapacitor was fabricated, which delivers a good stability of 85.7% (7000 cycles) and supreme power delivery of 4238.4 W/kg. A great specific energy of 36.12 Wh/kg after adding an optimum voltage of 1.7 V. These outstanding outcomes manifest the promising route to prepare another metal oxide/hydroxide for electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Unfortunately, the prognosis of PDAC is rather poor, and for instance, in the USA, over 47,000 people die because of pancreatic cancer annually. Here, we demonstrate that high expression of acid sphingomyelinase in PDAC strongly correlates with long-term survival of patients, as revealed by the analysis of two independent data sources. The positive effects of acid sphingomyelinase expression on long-term survival of PDAC patients were independent of patient demographics as well as tumor grade, lymph node involvement, perineural invasion, tumor stage, lymphovascular invasion, and adjuvant therapy. We also demonstrate that genetic deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of the acid sphingomyelinase promotes tumor growth in an orthotopic mouse model of PDAC. This is mirrored by a poorer pathologic response, as defined by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) score for pancreatic cancer, to neoadjuvant therapy of patients co-treated with functional inhibitors of the acid sphingomyelinase, in particular tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in a retrospective analysis. Our data indicate expression of the acid sphingomyelinase in PDAC as a prognostic marker for tumor progression. They further suggest that the use of functional inhibitors of the acid sphingomyelinase, at least of tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with PDAC, is contra-indicated. Finally, our data also suggest a potential novel treatment of PDAC patients with recombinant acid sphingomyelinase. Key messages: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common tumor with poor prognosis. Expression of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) determines outcome of PDAC. Genetic deficiency or pharmacologic inhibition of ASM promotes tumor growth in a mouse model. Inhibition of ASM during neoadjuvant treatment for PDAC correlates with worse pathology. ASM expression is a prognostic marker and potential target in PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a novel fabrication approach to develop a ZnS–Carbon nanofiber (CNFs) cloudy-like composite material for application in electrochemical energy storage devices. A co-precipitation technique, combined with wet-chemical-assisted synthesis, was used to synthesize the composite material. The ZnS–CNFs cloudy-like architecture exhibited excellent capacitance value, of 500 F/g in a potential window between 0.0 to 0.6 V, outperforming the individual ZnS and CNFs electrodes. Additionally, the study showed that the ZnS–CNFs cloudy-like architecture possessed coherent pathways, facilitating efficient charge transport and ion mobilization, which led to superior energy storage performance. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was also assembled using the synthesized ZnS–CNFs composite as an active electrode with activated carbon as an anode to construct a full cell assembly in KOH electrolyte. The ASC device demonstrated an impressively high power density of 7680 W/kg at 6.4 Wh/kg and maximum specific energy of 26.7 Wh/kg with a good stability of 81.4% at a current density of 10 A/g. The results indicate significant potential for utilizing the ZnS–CNFs cloudy-like architecture as a formidable electrode material in advanced ASC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kashmir Valley besides being famous as a luring destination of tourism and other recreational activities is also rich in diverse geology, geomorphology, archeology, and cultural history. The present study describes the geoheritage and geotourism potential of the Kalaruch old workings (ancient mines) and Satbarren (archeological stone) and highlights its significance for preservation, conservation, and sustainable development. These unique structures are of immense geological, archeological, historical, cultural, educational, and scientific importance. Its surroundings with beautiful topography and geomorphic landforms covered with lush green forests possess the marvelous potential for geotourism development. In this area, more than 8 old workings (OWs) clustered along a major quartz vein of strike length ~3.5 km (from Madmadou-Lashteal-Lainat Top to Gagarnar) and the average width of ~9 m (2–15 m) are present. The quartz vein is hosted within the Lolab Formation of the Lower Cambrian age that represents the oldest lithounits of the Paleozoic succession of the Kashmir Nappe Zone. The Formation shows profuse development of ichno fossils and tentatively marks the Precambrian-Cambrian (P-C) boundary in the area. Prominent sulfide mineralization of pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, malachite, and azurite is present within the main quartz vein, its host rock and on the walls of OWs respectively. Conversely, the Satbarren is an archeological giant slaty rock that is meticulously crafted and half buried in the ground. It comprises 9 shallow carved shelves (doors) that do not represent any distinct route to Russia and other neighboring countries as commonly believed. However, the Kalaruch OWs and Satbarren stone form an important geo-archeological artifact that indicates ancient mining activities by early civilization probably during ~3300–1000 BC in the area. Therefore, developing this place as a geoheritage and geotourism site will help in enhancing the socio-economic status of the local population and conserve it for future geologists, archeologists, researchers, students, and curious tourists. For its geoconservation and sustainable development, certain recommendations are provided in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gadolinium-substituted magnesium nanoferrites with composition, MgGdxFe2−xO4 (X = 0.0–1.0 with 0.025 variations), have been synthesized by citrate gel auto-combustion method. The effect of Gd3+ substitution on the structural, photocatalytic, electrical and magnetic of Mg nanoferrites was investigated. XRD, SEM, FTIR, UV–vis, VSM, and dielectric transport measurements were employed to investigate the structural, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of the synthesized materials. Crystalline sizes, lattice parameters, the volume of the unit cell, and X-ray densities of samples were calculated using the XRD analysis method. The crystalline size obtained was in the range of 15–19 nm determined by Scherrer's formula. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the formation of spinel structure showing two signature absorption bands, nearby 400 cm−1 and higher wave number at near 600 cm−1, at octahedral and tetrahedral positions, respectively. PL spectroscopy at 400 nm region peaks observed and exhibited fluorescence character. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized samples was analyzed with methylene blue and acid red, and pure Mg ferrite shows high degradation activity which contains low crystalline size. Sample changes from hard to soft magnetic materials could be revealed from VSM studies. The nanoferrites' frequency-dependent AC conductivity (ac) increased as a function of temperature. With increasing frequency, dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss (tan δ) decreased. The results of dielectric investigations show that dielectric dispersion occurs between Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions due to the hopping mechanism of electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrode material with exceptional durability, energy density, and rate performance has been of great interest in next-generation advanced supercapacitor applications in recent years. In this paper, we portray the facile synthesis of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) for a supercapacitor that obtained the capacitances of 335 F/g and 210 F/g when tested in an aqueous conducting medium in a three-electrode mode over a wide potential range between 0.0 to 0.8 V. The performance of pure electrode materials is not satisfactory; therefore, a composite of CdS/CNFs was further fabricated that exhibits enhanced energy storage performance in terms of the capacitance of 510 F/g, and a minor charge transfer resistance compared with pure counterparts. The fascinating performance was turned to develop an asymmetric supercapacitor (CdS/CNFs||AC), which realizes a high voltage of up to 2.0 V. It is believed that optimization of voltage put significant enhancement in energy and power delivery. Interestingly, a high power of 9000 W/kg was accomplished with maximum energy of 31.94 Wh/kg at high and low discharge current rates. Additionally, only a 15.3% capacity fade was attained and 85.7% retention at a high current rate of 20 A/g for 7500 cycles. Our strategy is synthesizing other metal oxide-based composite electrodes for future energy storage domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SWOG 0809 is the only prospective study of adjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation focusing on margin status in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) and gallbladder cancer (GBCA); however, the effects of adjuvant therapy by nodal status have never been reported in this population. Methods: Patients with resected EHCC and GBCA, stage pT2-4, node-positive (N+) or margin-positive (R1) who completed four cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy were included. Cox regression was used to compare overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence, and distant metastasis by nodal status. DFS rates were compared with historical data via a one-sample t-test. Results: Sixty-nine patients [EHCC, n = 46 (66%); GBCA, n = 23 (33%)] were evaluated, with a median age of 61.7 years and an R0 rate of 66.7% and R1 rate of 33.3%. EHCC versus GBCA was more likely to be N+ (73.9% vs. 47.8%, p = 0.03). Nodal status did not significantly impact OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86–4.54, p = 0.11) or DFS (HR 1.63, 95% CI 0.77–3.44, p = 0.20). Two-year OS was 70.6% for node-negative (N0) disease and 60.9% for N+ disease, while 2-year DFS was 62.5% for N0 tumors and 49.8% for N+ tumors. N+ versus N0 tumors showed higher rates of distant failure (42.2% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.04). The 2-year DFS rate in N+ tumors was significantly higher than in historical controls (49.8% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Adjuvant therapy is associated with favorable outcome independent of nodal status and may impact local control in N+ patients. These data could serve as a benchmark for future adjuvant trials, including molecular-targeted agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major pathologic response (MPR) following neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients undergoing resection is associated with improved survival. We sought to determine whether racial disparities exist in MPR rates following NAT in patients with PDAC undergoing resection. Methods: Patients with potentially operable PDAC receiving at least 2 cycles of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel ± radiation followed by pancreatectomy (2010-2019) at 7 high-volume centers were reviewed. Self-reported race was dichotomized as Black and non-Black, and multivariable models evaluated the association between race and MPR (i.e., pathologic complete response [pCR] or near-pCR). Cox regression evaluated the association between race and disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Results of 486 patients who underwent resection following NAT (mFOLFIRINOX 56%, gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel 25%, radiation 29%), 67 (13.8%) patients were Black. Black patients had lower CA19-9 at diagnosis (median 67 vs. 204 U/mL; P = 0.003) and were more likely to undergo mild/moderate chemotherapy dose modification (40 vs. 20%; P = 0.005) versus non-Black patients. Black patients had significantly lower rates of MPR compared with non-Black patients (13.4 vs. 25.8%; P = 0.039). Black race was independently associated with worse MPR (OR 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10-0.69) while controlling for NAT duration, CA19-9 dynamics, and chemotherapy modifications. There was no significant difference in DFS or OS between Black and non-Black cohorts. Conclusions: Black patients undergoing pancreatectomy appear less likely to experience MPR following NAT. The contribution of biologic and nonbiologic factors to reduced chemosensitivity in Black patients warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a malignant tumor with very poor prognosis and low 5-year overall survival. Here, we aimed to simultaneously target mitochondria and lysosomes as a new treatment paradigm of malignant pancreas cancer in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that the clinically used sphingosine analog FTY-720 together with PAPTP, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Kv1.3, induce death of pancreas cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The combination of both drugs results in a marked inhibition of the acid sphingomyelinase and accumulation of cellular sphingomyelin in vitro and in vivo in orthotopic and flank pancreas cancers. Mechanistically, PAPTP and FTY-720 cause a disruption of both mitochondria and lysosomes, an alteration of mitochondrial bioenergetics and accumulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+, events that collectively mediate cell death. Our findings point to an unexpected cross-talk between lysosomes and mitochondria mediated by sphingolipid metabolism. We show that the combination of PAPTP and FTY-720 induces massive death of pancreas cancer cells, thereby leading to a substantially delayed and reduced PDAC growth in vivo. Key messages: FTY-720 inhibits acid sphingomyelinase in pancreas cancer cells (PDAC). FTY-720 induces sphingomyelin accumulation and lysosomal dysfunction. The mitochondrial Kv1.3 inhibitor PAPTP disrupts mitochondrial functions. PAPTP and FTY-720 synergistically kill PDAC in vitro. The combination of FTY-720 and PAPTP greatly delays PDAC growth in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of nucleotide sequences in public repositories has exploded recently. However, the data contain errors, leading to incorrect species identification. Several fighting fish (Betta spp.) are poorly described, with unresolved cryptic species complexes masking undescribed species. Here, DNA barcoding was used to detect erroneous sequences in public repositories. Objective: This study reflects the current quantitative and qualitative status of DNA barcoding in fighting fish and provides a rapid and reliable identification tool. Methods: A total of 1034 barcode sequences were analyzed from mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cytb) genes from 71 fighting fish species. Results: The nearest neighbor test showed the highest percentage of intraspecific nearest neighbors at 93.41% for COI and 91.67% for Cytb, which can be used as reference barcodes for certain taxa. Intraspecific variation was usually less than 13%, while most species differed by more than 54%. The barcoding gap, calculated from the difference between inter- and intraspecific sequence divergences, was negative in the COI data set indicating overlapping intra- and interspecific sequence divergence. Sequence saturation was observed in the Cytb data set but not in the COI data set. Conclusion: The COI gene should thus be used as the main barcoding marker for fighting fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a serine–threonine protein kinase and important regulator of the DNA damage response (DDR). One critical ATM target is the structural subunit A (PR65–S401) of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), known to regulate diverse cellular processes such as mitosis and cell growth as well as dephosphorylating many proteins during the recovery from the DDR. We generated mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing PR65-WT, -S401A (cannot be phosphorylated), and -S401D (phospho-mimetic) transgenes. Significantly, S401 mutants exhibited extensive chromosomal aberrations, impaired DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair and underwent increased mitotic catastrophe after radiation. Both S401A and the S401D cells showed impaired DSB repair (nonhomologous end joining and homologous recombination repair) and exhibited delayed DNA damage recovery, which was reflected in reduced radiation survival. Furthermore, S401D cells displayed increased ERK and AKT signaling resulting in enhanced growth rate further underscoring the multiple roles ATM–PP2A signaling plays in regulating prosurvival responses. Time-lapse video and cellular localization experiments showed that PR65 was exported to the cytoplasm after radiation by CRM1, a nuclear export protein, in line with the very rapid pleiotropic effects observed. A putative nuclear export sequence (NES) close to S401 was identified and when mutated resulted in aberrant PR65 shuttling. Our study demonstrates that the phosphorylation of a single, critical PR65 amino acid (S401) by ATM fundamentally controls the DDR, and balances DSB repair quality, cell survival and growth by spatiotemporal PR65 nuclear–cytoplasmic shuttling mediated by the nuclear export receptor CRM1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been excessive use of groundwater resources owing to dwindling water resource potentialities across the globe. As a result, efficient water resource management has become inevitable. However, locating the groundwater potential zones in dry and mountainous regions of many developing countries which lack suitable economic and human resources is challenging. The integrated approach of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) can offer a solution to this problem as it is useful to fetch first-hand information and has wider applicability. The present study focuses on delineating of groundwater potential zones in Pohru Watershed, of Jhelum Basin-Western Himalaya, India by integrating RS, GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Seven thematic layers, namely lithology, geomorphology, soil, land use/land cover, slope, drainage density and lineament density have been used in this study. The parameters were weighted using AHP according to their importance in determining the groundwater potential. Five major groundwater potential zones were identified as: Very High (18.14%), High (18.17%), Moderate (19.03%), Low (41.75%) and Very Low (2.88%). The findings reveal that High and Very High Potential Zones are concentrated in the alluvial plains and the adjoining fluvio-lacustrine deposits/ Karewas. However, the highly or moderately dissected hills and the mountain ridges mostly comprise of Low and Very Low groundwater potential zones. The residual hills comprise of Medium and Low groundwater potential zones. The analysis of location and water depth of groundwater wells in the study area was found in accordance with the mapped groundwater potential zones, which validates our study. The Area Under Curve (AUC) value of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for AHP method was calculated as 0.7037, which corresponds to the prediction accuracy of 70.37%, indicating Moderate to High predictability of groundwater recharge zones for the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthrocentesis is a simple minimally invasive procedure with less risk of complications and significant benefits in patients with internal derangement of temporomandibular joint. Here we report a study on four patients to evaluate the efficacy of arthrocentesis in the treatment of internal derangement of temporomandibular joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infertility is a huge global problem with a significant mental health burden. Infertility could become a source of continuous stress leading to psychosocial issues including stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem in these women. A cross-sectional, case-controlled study was conducted between January 2021 and November 2021 to study the effect of infertility on mental health and quality of life. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for sociodemographic and clinical variables. The Oslo Social Support Scale-3 and FertiQol were used to study social support and quality of life respectively. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using ICD-10 symptom checklist. A total of 56 cases and 102 controls were studied. Results: The mean age of cases and controls was 30.4 ± 3.5 years and 31.9 ± 2.9 years, respectively. Young infertile females, primary infertility, and female factor for infertility were associated with higher psychiatric morbidity. Psychiatric morbidity was seen in 46.4% of infertile women. FertiQoL score for the infertile group was 64.61 ± 5 with the lowest score in the emotional domain (45.10) and mind-body domain (54.86) (p < 0.0001). The scores in the relational domain and social domain were higher (85.2 and 73.3, respectively). The scores in the mind-body domain and emotional domain were poor among the infertile women regardless of the presence of psychiatric morbidity (48.27 vs 59.80 and 43.57 vs 46.57) (p < 0.0001–0.04). Conclusions: Our study emphasizes the role of more qualitative instruments like FertiQoL in studying the well-being of infertile women. Even in the absence of psychiatric morbidity, the QoL score could still predict mental well-being in fertility-related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all the natural and human forces acting on the land surface and shaping Landuse and Landcover (LULC), anthropogenic actions have been a dominant force, which has caused dramatic changes to the LULC throughout the globe. The situation of Kashmir Himalayas is no different. LULC changes are rampant and a cause for several environmental problems in the region. Under the changing climate regime and ever-growing anthropogenic pressures, the long-term analysis of LULC has become a necessity. The present study attempts to track the LULC change through a systematic review of literature, to analyse and discuss the trends and patterns of LULC dynamics in Kashmir Valley. The findings from several studies concerning the region that have applied geospatial technology to detect changes in LULC reveal that the changes have occurred at a faster pace in the last 20 years. Major landuse classes such as agriculture, forest, water, snow, and glaciers have shown a declining trend, in comparison to horticulture and built-up that has shown an increasing trend. These changes in LULC have far-reaching impact on the economy of the region. Climate change, population growth, economic compulsion, and unplanned development among others are the major causes /drivers of intensified LULC changes in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data regarding the survival impact of converting frozen-section (FS):R1 pancreatic neck margins to permanent section (PS):R0 by additional resection (i.e., converted-R0) during upfront pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are conflicting. The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on this practice and its relationship with overall survival (OS) is incompletely understood. Methods: We reviewed PDAC patients (80% borderline resectable/locally advanced [BR/LA]) undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy after neoadjuvant therapy at seven, academic, high-volume centers (2010–2018). Multivariable models examined the association of PS:R0, PS:R1, and converted-R0 margins with OS. Results: Of 272 patients receiving at least 2 (median 4) cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (71% mFOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel) and undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with intraoperative frozen-section assessment of the transected pancreatic neck margin, PS:R0 (n = 220, 80.9%) was observed in a majority of patients; 18 patients (6.6%) had converted-R0 margins following additional resection, whereas 34 patients (12.5%) had persistently positive PS:R1 margins. At a median follow-up of 42 months, PS:R0 resection was associated with improved OS compared with either converted-R0 or PS:R1 resection (median 25 vs. 14 vs. 16 months, respectively; p = 0.023), with no survival difference between the converted-R0 and PS:R1 groups (p = 0.9). On Cox regression, SMA margin positivity (hazard ratio 2.2, p = 0.012), but not neck margin positivity (hazard ratio 1.2, p = 0.65), was associated with worse OS. Conclusions: In this multi-institutional cohort of predominantly BR/LA PDAC patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy following modern neoadjuvant therapy, pursuing a negative neck margin intraoperatively if the initial margin is positive does not appear to be associated with improved survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: T2 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is defined as a solitary tumors with vascular invasion or multifocal tumors including satellite lesions, multiple lesions, and intrahepatic metastases. This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis associated with multifocal tumors. Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried from 2004 to 2017 for patients with non-metastatic ICC. The patients were grouped based on T2 staging, multifocality, and lymph node involvement. Results: The study enrolled and classified 4887 patients into clinical (c) stage groups as follows: 15.2% with solitary T2N0 (sT2N0) tumors, 21.3% with multifocal T2N0 (mT2N0) tumors, and 63.5% with node-positive (TxN1) disease. Patients with (c)sT2N0 tumors had higher rates of surgical resection than those with (c)mT2N0 or (c)TxN1 disease (33.5% vs 19.7% vs 15.0%; p < 0.01). Median overall survival (OS) was better for the patients with (c)sT2N0 tumors than for those with multifocal and node-positive disease (15.4 vs 10.4 vs 10.4 months; p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, (c)sT2N0 tumors were associated with better OS than (c)mT2N0 tumors [hazard ratio (HR), 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17–1.46; p < 0.01] or (c)TxN1 disease (HR,1.41; 95% CI 1.28–1.56; p < 0.01). In a subset analysis based on pathologic (p) staging of patients who underwent surgical resection with regional lymphadenectomy, multivariate analysis demonstrated that (p)sT2N0 tumors were associated with better OS than (p)mT2N0 tumors (HR,1.40; 95% CI 1.03–1.92; p = 0.03) or (p)TxN1 disease (HR, 2.05; 95% CI 1.62–2.58; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Multifocal T2N0 ICC is associated with poor OS and has a disparate prognosis compared with solitary T2N0 disease, even among patients who undergo resection. Future staging criteria should account for the poor outcomes associated with multifocal ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanocrystalline solid solution of Ceria co-doped with Samarium, Strontium, and Calcium with composition Ce0.8Sm0.2−x−ySryCaxO2−δ (x = y = 0–0.5) samples pellets were synthesized via solid-state reaction method and sintered at 1300 °C intended to be an electrolyte of IT-SOFC. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the crystalline nature with an fcc fluorite structure. Williamson-hall plots were used to find the microstrain and particle size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for surface morphology with microstructure and found to be nearly spherical particles with porosity, the Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis (EDAX) with color mapping confirmed the stoichiometry. The sample pellets were analyzed using impedance spectroscopy by impedance spectra, where an AC voltage is applied in the range of frequency 1 Hz–10 MHz to record the impedance in the temperature ranging from 300 to 800 °C in the air as a medium. Electrical parameters such as the dielectric constant, ε'r, and AC conductivity, σac have been found. The samples show a negative temperature coefficient of resistance, where the grain boundary conductivity is increased with increasing temperatures showing a peak in the conductivity curve which is also evident from the Nyquist plot for impedance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of systemic therapy for Stage IA pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) on survival in patients with early stage disease. Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried from 2006 to 2017 for resected pT1N0M0 (Stage 1A) PDAC. Exclusion criteria included neoadjuvant therapy, radiation, or those who suffered a 90-day mortality. Results: Of the 1526 patients included in the study, 42.2% received AC and 57.8% underwent surgery alone. Patients who received AC were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and were more likely to have private insurance, compared with those treated with surgery alone. Patients who received AC had longer median overall survival (OS) compared with those who underwent surgery alone (105.7 months vs 72.0 months, p < 0.01). Subset analyses based on individual "good" prognostic features (size ≤ 1.0 cm, lymphovascular invasion negative, well/moderately differentiated, margin negative resection) demonstrated improved OS with AC. Following propensity score matching based on key clinicopathologic features, AC remained associated with improved median OS (83.7 months vs 59.8 months, p < 0.01). However, in the cohort with body/tail tumors (101.2 months vs 95.0 months, p = 0.19) and those with all "good" prognostic features (95.9 months vs 90.6 months, p = 0.15), AC was not associated with improved survival. Conclusions: In resected, Stage IA PDAC, AC is associated with improved overall survival in the vast majority of patients; however, in select cohorts the role of AC is unclear. Further study is needed to tailor treatment to individual patients with PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emerging viral pandemic worldwide is associated with a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). This virus is said to emerge from its epidemic center in Wuhan, China, in 2019. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are single-stranded, giant, enveloped RNA viruses that come under the family of coronaviridae and order Nidovirales which are the crucial pathogens for humans and other vertebrates. Main body: Coronaviruses are divided into several subfamilies and genera based on the genomic structure and phylogenetic relationship. The name corona is raised due to the presence of spike protein on the envelope of the virus. The structural and genomic study revealed that the total genome size of SARS-CoV-2 is from 29.8 kb to 29.9 kb. The spike protein (S) is a glycoprotein that attaches to the receptor of host cells for entry into the host cell, followed by the attachment of virus RNA to the host ribosome for translation. The phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 revealed the similarity (75–88%) with bat SARS-like coronavirus. Conclusion: The sign and symptoms of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are also discussed in this paper. The worldwide outbreak and prevention from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 are overviewed in the present article. The latest variant of coronavirus and the status of vaccines are also overviewed in the present article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The living fishes span a unique and interesting set of animals because of their vast diversity, morphology, ecology, genetics and genomics, and higher importance to biology, economy and culture. During the past decade, the remarkable increase in fish genome sequencing has revolutionized comparative and evolutionary genomics, with the outcome of stimulating insights into vertebrate genome biology. Fish genomics has been transformed rapidly, with the availability of high-quality chromosome level genome assemblies and large collections of sequencing datasets, which are roadmaps for striking discoveries. Landmark achievements are being made; such as the accomplishment of fully assembled lungfish genome which is biggest genome ever sequenced. Here, we highlight current developments in vertebrate's comparative genomics and discuss how fish genomes could be considered as vital resources for genomic studies. We present a recent overview of genomics data, address different approaches applicable to comparative genomics analyses, and illustrate these comparisons to better understand the complex mechanisms under the vertebrate genomes. We also summarize the applications in chromosomes research and cytogenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin films co-sputtered with chromium (Cr) have been studied for their structural, electrical, and optical properties. The fabrication has been carried out at room temperature in oxygen-deficient environment under different sputtering power on chromium target followed by thermal annealing in air at 300 °C for 1 h. Experimental characterizations reveal a decrease in grain, crystallite size, increase in crystallinity, and major diffraction peak (222) shift towards higher angle with increase in Cr-doping content. XPS spectra confirmed the presence of Cr as Cr3+, Cr6+oxidation state, and oxygen vacancies in Cr-doped ITO thin films. The presence of more structural defects due to difference in ionic radii between dopant (Cr3+ and Cr6+) and host ions (In3+), consequently, increases the carrier concentration. The decrease in carrier mobility (≈ 18%) is caused by the disordering related to increase in Cr content and decreased crystallite size that favor surface trapping states. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed that ITO thin film having thickness of 300 nm doped with ≈ 1 at. % Cr content has optimum opto-electronic properties, an average transmittance of ≈ 86% in the visible range (380–780 nm), and band gap of 3.82 eV. For the same Cr-doping, four-point probe investigation indicates resistivity of 7.65 × 10–5 Ω.cm, carrier density 2.2 × 1021 cm−3, and carrier mobility of 36.7 cm2 V−1S−1. The significant decrease in resistivity of approximately nine times in produced thin films compared with relevant work in literature is the combined effect of Cr-doping and annealing which affect the carrier density and crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic therapy is an essential part of treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, not all patients receive every cycle of chemotherapy and even if they do, the impact of reduced dose density (DD) on survival is not known. Patients and Methods: A single institutional prospective database was queried for patients with PDAC who underwent curative resection between 2009 and 2018. The primary outcome was DD, defined as the percentage of total planned chemotherapy actually received and associated survival. Results: Of the 126 patients included, 38.9% underwent a neoadjuvant approach, which was associated with a greater median number of completed chemotherapy cycles (5 cycles versus 4 cycles, p < 0.01) and a higher median total DD (93.0% versus 65.0%, p < 0.01), compared with an adjuvant treatment approach. In both groups, adjuvant chemotherapy completion rates were low, with only 55 patients completing all adjuvant cycles. After sequential survival analysis, patients who received a DD ≥ 80% had improved median overall survival (OS) (27.1 months versus 18.6 months, p = 0.01), compared with patients who achieved a DD < 80%. On multivariate Cox proportional-hazards modeling, only the presence of lymphovascular invasion (HR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.04–2.99, p = 0.04) and DD < 80% (HR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.23–3.00, p = 0.01) were associated with decreased OS. Conclusions: In this cohort study, patients who received ≥ 80% DD had significantly better OS. DD should be considered an important prognostic metric in pancreatic cancer, and strategies are needed to improve chemotherapy tolerance to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum state tomography is a process for estimating an unknown quantum state; which is innately probabilistic. The exponential growth of unknown parameters to be estimated is a fundamental difficulty in realizing quantum state tomography for higher dimensions. Iterative optimization algorithms like self-guided quantum tomography have been effective in robust and accurate ascertaining a quantum state even with exponential growth in Hilbert space. We propose a faster convergent simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation algorithm which is more practical in a resource-deprived situation for determining the underlying quantum states by incorporating the Barzilai–Borwein two-point step size gradient method with minimal loss of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guinea is located on a stable continental region in West Africa, this is a region characterised by infrequent seismic events. In this study, the seismic hazard level of Guinea and 10 main cities was determined by a probabilistic approach. The calculation was carried out for 10%, 2% and 0.5% probability of exceedance in 50 years (corresponding to 475, 2475 and 9975 years return periods, respectively). We developed a homogenized 100-year catalogue compiled from different seismic sources. Two ground motion prediction equations, originally developed for Eastern and Central North America, a stable continental region, were used for the hazard calculation. A uniform b-value of 0.70 ± 0.12, and individual activity rate (λ) were calculated for the three seismic zones considered in this study. The estimated seismic hazard was high in the Palaeozoic area of Guinea. The PGA values estimated for the study region, considering hard rock conditions, were 0.08 g, 0.27 g, and 0.57 g for 475, 2475 and 9975 years return periods, respectively. The results of this study an inform future programmes in disaster risk management and planning for new regional infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]