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Summary: In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of incremental relaying (IR)‐based underlay cognitive nonorthogonal multiple access (CNOMA) system with maximal ratio combining (MRC). Considering imperfect successive interference cancelation (i‐SIC), we derive analytical expressions for the outage probabilities experienced by the secondary users (SUs) and the system outage probability of the IR‐CNOMA system. We also derive the analytical expression for the outage probability of far SUs by considering IR‐CNOMA system with MRC. The maximum transmit power constraint of the secondary nodes and the interference threshold constraint of the primary receiver are considered in the analysis. We also evaluate the system throughput of IR‐CNOMA network. We also derive outage and throughput expression for the traditional cooperative relaying‐based CNOMA system (CR‐CNOMA) for the purpose of comparison. We derive analytical expression for the asymptotic outage probability and the asymptotic system outage probabilities of the SUs of IR‐CNOMA system. Further, we derive expressions for the optimal power allocation (OPA) factor at the secondary source that minimizes the asymptotic system outage probability of the IR‐CNOMA system. Through numerical and simulation investigations, we demonstrate that the system outage probability significantly lowers when the OPA factor is selected based on the criteria outlined in this work. It can be observed from the results that the IR‐CNOMA system outperforms the conventional CR‐CNOMA system in terms of outage probabilities and throughput. The outage probability is further reduced when IR‐CNOMA system with MRC is considered for the far SUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated diagnosis of retinal diseases holds significant promise in enhancing healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes. However, existing methods often lack the accuracy and efficiency required for timely disease detection. To address this gap, we introduce RetNet30, a novel stacked convolutional neural network (CNN) designed to revolutionize automated retinal disease diagnosis. RetNet30 combines a custom‐built 30‐layer CNN with a fine‐tuned Inception V3 model, integrating these sub‐models through logistic regression to achieve superior classification performance. Extensive evaluations on retinal image datasets such as DRIVE, STARE, CHASE_DB1, and HRF demonstrate significant improvements in accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUROC) when compared to conventional approaches. By leveraging advanced deep learning architectures, RetNet30 not only enhances diagnostic precision but also generalizes effectively across diverse datasets, establishing a new benchmark in retinal disease classification. This novel approach offers a highly efficient and reliable solution for early disease detection and patient management, addressing the limitations of manual examination methods. Through rigorous quantitative and qualitative assessments, our proposed method demonstrates its potential to significantly impact medical image analysis and improve healthcare outcomes. RetNet30 marks a major step forward in automated retinal disease diagnosis, showcasing the future of AI‐driven advancements in ophthalmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is based on the comprehensive characterization of starches from pearl millet, sorghum, mango kernel, and water chestnut. The starches are analyzed to observe the difference in physicochemical, pasting, rheological, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) properties. The amylose content from diverse sources ranges from 17.3 to 26.3%. The swelling power and solubility of the starches are influenced by the increase in temperature. It is observed that an increase in temperature results in increased swelling power and solubility. At 90 °C, mango kernel starch shows the highest swelling power while pearl millet starch shows the lowest. The botanical sources influence the pasting and rheological properties, and a significant difference (p < 0.05) is observed in all the parameters recorded. The peak viscosity (PV) of starches ranges from 1256 to 2101 cP. All the starches possess almost similar and typical starch FTIR spectra. The starches from all sources show prominent peaks at 15.2, 17, 18.3, and 23 (2θ), corresponding to a typical A‐type starch crystallinity organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Breast cancer is the most prevalent kind of tumor to occur in females and the primary cause of death for women. Early detection is perhaps the most successful strategy to minimize breast cancer mortality. Early diagnosis necessitates a consistent and efficient diagnostics method that allows doctors to differentiate benign from malignant breast cancers without a surgical sample. The goal of this endeavor is to develop a sophisticated breast cancer diagnosis method. The primary goal of the paper is to reduce the death rate among women by promoting early detection of breast cancer. First, pre‐processing techniques such as median filtering and contrast limiting adaptive histogram equalization are used to the obtained raw images. By doing this, the machine‐learning model's computational complexity is decreased and the image quality is enhanced. K‐means clustering is used to segregate the pre‐processed image. Additionally, features including the enhanced local vector pattern, grey‐level co‐occurrence matrix and local vector patterns are produced in the course of the feature extraction stage. Finally, an optimized deep belief network (DBN) is carrying out the classification process. To boosts the classification accuracy, activation function of DBN (tanh, softmax, ReLu) as well as its weight function is optimized by the proposed grey wolf updated whale optimization algorithm The accuracy of the greywolf updated whale optimization algorithm+DBN is above 93% for datasets 1 and 2 when compared to extant models. Finally, calculation of the performance validates the proposed model's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are novel agents for heart failure (HF) and are now recommended in guidelines. Understanding general physicians' perspectives can help to optimise utilisation of this new medication. Aim: To understand the clinical concerns and barriers from general physicians about prescribing SGLT2is in a general medicine cohort. Methods: A questionnaire exploring clinicians' experience, comfort level and barriers to prescribing SGLT2is in patients with HF, incorporating two clinical scenarios, was disseminated to Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand members over a 2‐month period. Results: Ninety‐eight participants responded to the questionnaire (10.8% response rate). Most respondents (66.3%) were senior medical staff. Most participants worked in metropolitan settings (64.3%) and in public hospital settings (83.7%). For HF with reduced ejection fraction, 23.5% of participants reported prescribing SGLT2is frequently (defined as prescribing SGLT2is frequently over 75% of occasions). For HF with preserved ejection fraction, 57.1% of participants reported prescribing SGLT2is less than 25% of the time. Almost half of the participants (44%) expressed a high level of familiarity with therapeutic knowledge of SGLT2is, while 47% indicated high familiarity with potential side effects. Patient complexity, cost of medications and discontinuity of care were identified as important barriers. Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis was the side effect that caused the most hesitancy to prescribe SGLT2is in 48% of the respondents. Conclusion: General physicians in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are familiar with the therapeutic knowledge and side effects of SGLT2is. Patient complexity, medication cost and discontinuity of care were significant barriers to the use of SGLT2is for HF among general physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the role of combined intravoxel incoherent motion and diffusion kurtosis imaging (IVIM–DKI) and their machine‐learning‐based texture analysis for the detection and assessment of severity in prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and methods: Eighty‐eight patients underwent MRI on a 3 T scanner after giving informed consent. IVIM–DKI data were acquired using 13 b values (0–2000 s/mm2) and analyzed using the IVIM–DKI model with the total variation (TV) method. PCa patients were categorized into two groups: clinically insignificant prostate cancer (CISPCa) (Gleason grade ≤ 6) and clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) (Gleason grade ≥ 7). One‐way analysis‐of‐variance, t test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to measure the discriminative ability to detect PCa using IVIM–DKI parameters. A chi‐square test was used to select important texture features of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and IVIM–DKI parameters. These selected texture features were used in an artificial neural network for PCa detection. Results: ADC and diffusion coefficient (D) were significantly lower (p < 0.001), and kurtosis (k) was significantly higher (p < 0.001), in PCa as compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and normal peripheral zone (PZ). ADC, D, and k showed high areas under the curves (AUCs) of 0.92, 0.89, and 0.88, respectively, in PCa detection. ADC and D were significantly lower (p < 0.05) as compared with CISPCa versus CSPCa. D for detecting CSPCa was high, with an AUC of 0.63. A negative correlation of ADC and D with GS (ADC, ρ = −0.33; D, ρ = −0.35, p < 0.05) and a positive correlation of k with GS (ρ = 0.22, p < 0.05) were observed. Combined IVIM–DKI texture showed high AUC of 0.83 for classification of PCa, BPH, and normal PZ. Conclusion: D, f, and k computed using the IVIM–DKI model with the TV method were able to differentiate PCa from BPH and normal PZ. Texture features of combined IVIM–DKI parameters showed high accuracy and AUC in PCa detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report azopyrazole photoswitches decorated with variable N‐alkyl and alkoxy chains (for hydrophobic interactions) and phenyl substituents on the pyrazoles (enabling π‐π stacking), showing efficient bidirectional photoswitching and reversible light‐induced phase transition (LIPT). Extensive spectroscopic, microscopic, and diffraction studies and computations confirmed the manifestation of molecular‐level interactions and photoisomerization into macroscopic changes leading to the LIPT phenomena. Using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies, the energetics associated with those accompanying processes were estimated. The long half‐lives of Z isomers, high energy contents for isomerization and phase transitions, and the stability of phases over an extended temperature range (−60 to 80 °C) make them excellent candidates for energy storage and release applications. Remarkably, the difference in the solubility of the distinct phases in one of the derivatives allowed us to utilize it as a photoresist in photolithography applications on diverse substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we describe water‐soluble heteroaryl azopyridinium ionic photoswitches (HAPIPs). We aim to combine variations in five‐membered heterocycles, their substitutions, N‐alkyl groups at pyridinium nitrogen, the position of pyridinium center relative to azo group, counterions, and solvents, in achieving better photoswitching. Through these studies, we successfully tuned the half‐life of Z isomers of the resultant HAPIPs between seconds to days in water. Extensive spectroscopic studies and density functional theory (DFT) computations unravelled the factors responsible for thermal relaxation behavior. Considering the versatility of these photoswitches, the tunability of half‐lives and photoswitching in aqueous medium allows the scope of applications in several fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for the generation of diverse value‐added biochemicals and biofuels is crucial in modern biorefineries and bioenergy initiatives, contributing significantly to the pursuit of a climate‐neutral future. Agricultural, forest and industrial sources of lignocellulosic biomass serve as exceptionally renewable precursors in biorefinery processes. In spite of its abundance, the effective breakdown of biomass poses a significant challenge. Thus, it is essential to integrate various unit processes, including biochemical, thermochemical, physical, enzymatic and catalytic conversion, to generate a wide array of bio‐based products. Intensive integration of these processes not only enhances yield and reduces reaction time but also proves to be economically efficient. Furthermore, these process integration approaches may contribute to the establishment of a circular bioeconomy through biorefineries, effectively reducing both bioresource waste and greenhouse gas emissions. This review offers fundamental insights into biomass and its chemistry, with a detailed discussion on lignocellulosic conversion systems. It explores how integrating conversion processes can facilitate the transition toward a circular economy. Additionally, it summarizes the challenges and prospects associated with advancing integrated biorefineries and circular economy principles to achieve complete biomass valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the predominant strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in dahi that are resistant to bacteriophages is essential for developing robust starter cultures. Dahi samples from two agroecological zones of Kerala were collected for isolation of LAB. Limosilactobacillus fermentum emerged as the dominant starter culture species based on sequence‐based identification and technological property characterisation. Dairy effluents were screened for phages targeting L. fermentum, and 10 of 11 strains of L. fermentum showed resistance to one lytic phage isolated as part of this study. The strain ADMT 15 showed sensitivity to the phage and on subsequent genome sequencing the phage revealed its close relationship to members of the Herelleviridae phage family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Dental behaviour support (DBS) describes all specific techniques practiced to support patients in their experience of professional oral healthcare. DBS is roughly synonymous with behaviour management, which is an outdated concept. There is no agreed terminology to specify the techniques used to support patients who receive dental care. This lack of specificity may lead to imprecision in describing, understanding, teaching, evaluating and implementing behaviour support techniques in dentistry. Therefore, this e‐Delphi study aimed to develop a list of agreed labels and descriptions of DBS techniques used in dentistry and sort them according to underlying principles of behaviour. Methods: Following a registered protocol, a modified e‐Delphi study was applied over two rounds with a final consensus meeting. The threshold of consensus was set a priori at 75%. Agreed techniques were then categorized by four coders, according to behavioural learning theory, to sort techniques according to their mechanism of action. Results: The panel (n = 35) agreed on 42 DBS techniques from a total of 63 candidate labels and descriptions. Complete agreement was achieved regarding all labels and descriptions, while agreement was not achieved regarding distinctiveness for 17 techniques. In exploring underlying principles of learning, it became clear that multiple and differing principles may apply depending on the specific context and procedure in which the technique may be applied. Discussion: Experts agreed on what each DBS technique is, what label to use, and their description, but were less likely to agree on what distinguishes one technique from another. All techniques were describable but not comprehensively categorizable according to principles of learning. While objective consistency was not attained, greater clarity and consistency now exists. The resulting list of agreed terminology marks a significant foundation for future efforts towards understanding DBS techniques in research, education and clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paroxysmal movement disorders are common in Glut1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1DS). Not all patients respond to or tolerate ketogenic diets. Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of triheptanoin in reducing the frequency of disabling movement disorders in patients with Glut1DS not receiving a ketogenic diet. Methods: UX007G‐CL301 was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase 3 crossover study. After a 6‐week run‐in, eligible patients were randomized 1:1 to the first sequence (triheptanoin/placebo or placebo/triheptanoin) titration plus maintenance, followed by washout and the opposite sequence titration plus maintenance. The placebo (safflower oil) matched the appearance, taste, and smell of triheptanoin. Open‐label triheptanoin was administered in the extension. The frequency of disabling paroxysmal movement disorder events per 4 weeks (recorded by diary during maintenance; primary endpoint) was assessed by Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. Results: Forty‐three patients (children, n = 16; adults, n = 27) were randomized and treated. There was no difference between triheptanoin and placebo in the mean (interquartile range) number of disabling paroxysmal movement disorder events (14.3 [4.7–38.3] vs. 11.8; [3.2–28.7]; Hodges‐Lehmann estimated median difference: 1.46; 95% confidence interval, −1.12 to 4.36; P = 0.2684). Treatment‐emergent adverse events were mild/moderate in severity and included diarrhea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, headache, and nausea. Two patients discontinued the study because of non‐serious adverse events that were predominantly gastrointestinal. The study was closed early during the open‐label extension because of lack of effectiveness. Seven patients continued to receive triheptanoin compassionately. Conclusion: There were no significant differences between the triheptanoin and placebo groups in the frequency of disabling movement disorder events during the double‐blind maintenance period. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis, structural characterization, and catalytic application of two novel aluminum complexes, [κ3ENSe−{Ph2P(E)N−C6H4−SePh}AlMe2] [E=S (1) and Se (2)] supported by new pincer‐type phenylselenium‐phosphanamidinate chalcogenide ligands are described. The molecular structures of both complexes in their solid states reveal a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around the Al(III) ion, involving monoanionic ligand {Ph2P(E)N−C6H4−SePh}− bonded to the AlMe2‐motif in a tridentate manner. Complex 1 was found to be an effective pre‐catalyst for the cyanosilyation of aldehydes and ketones with TMSCN under solvent‐free conditions. The reaction protocol is simple, efficient, and has a diverse substrate scope of aldehydes and ketones, showing superior functional group tolerance. The kinetic study revealed that ketone reduction proceeded with first‐order dependence on ketone concentrations, TMSCN, and catalyst 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium‐based coatings have been of interest to researchers for the last two decades because of their extraordinary properties like high hardness, high wear, and corrosion resistance properties. However, it is in practice and research to increase the properties of Cr‐based coatings for high‐temperature applications. Numerous dopants like silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), aluminum (Al), and zirconium (Zr) have been used together with Cr to achieve enhanced properties. The plasma‐based sputtering process is one of the popular and reliable techniques to deposit thin film coatings. The substrate material, processed gas and pressure, substrate temperature, film thickness, and so on also play a significant role in varying the properties and microstructure of the deposited film. Several researchers have deposited Cr/CrN‐based thin films via the chemical vapor deposition technique (CVD) and physical vapor deposition technique (PVD) to study their properties and behavior at room temperature as well as for high‐temperature applications. This work reflects the review of work done to deposit Cr/CrN‐based coatings deposited via PVD: more specifically sputtering technique. The effect of doping in the CrN matrix and variation in sputtering parameters on the properties of CrN‐based coatings have also been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Differentiating forms of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) from other causes of seizures helps expedite immunotherapies in AE patients and informs studies regarding their contrasting pathophysiology. We aimed to investigate whether and how Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)‐based metabolomics could differentiate AE from drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE), and stratify AE subtypes. Methods: This study recruited 238 patients: 162 with DRE and 76 AE, including 27 with contactin‐associated protein‐like 2 (CASPR2), 29 with leucine‐rich glioma inactivated 1 (LGI1) and 20 with N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies. Plasma samples across the groups were analyzed using NMR spectroscopy and compared with multivariate statistical techniques, such as orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA). Results: The OPLS‐DA model successfully distinguished AE from DRE patients with a high predictive accuracy of 87.0 ± 3.1% (87.9 ± 3.4% sensitivity and 86.3 ± 3.6% specificity). Further, pairwise OPLS‐DA models were able to stratify the three AE subtypes. Plasma metabolomic signatures of AE included decreased high‐density lipoprotein (HDL, −(CH2)n−, –CH3), phosphatidylcholine and albumin (lysyl moiety). AE subtype‐specific metabolomic signatures were also observed, with increased lactate in CASPR2, increased lactate, glucose, and decreased unsaturated fatty acids (UFA, –CH2CH=) in LGI1, and increased glycoprotein A (GlycA) in NMDAR‐antibody patients. Interpretation: This study presents the first non‐antibody‐based biomarker for differentiating DRE, AE and AE subtypes. These metabolomics signatures underscore the potential relevance of lipid metabolism and glucose regulation in these neurological disorders, offering a promising adjunct to facilitate the diagnosis and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is unclear whether kidney/pancreas (KP) transplantation will prevent the progression of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM) and end‐stage renal disease. We sought to determine the pre‐ and posttransplant prevalence of symptomatic PAD and changes in carotid artery intima‐media thickness (IMT) in KP recipients. Methods: In this single center study, outcomes were compared between KP recipients with and without a history of PAD. A subset of recipients underwent pre‐ and posttransplant IMT measurements. Results: Among the study group (N = 107), 18 (17%) recipients admitted to a pretransplant history of symptomatic PAD, comprised 11 foot infections and 7 amputations (5 minor and 2 major). Baseline characteristics of age, gender, race, years of diabetes, dialysis history, smoking history, years of hypertension, and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were equivalent between PAD and non‐PAD cohorts. At a median follow‐up of 60 months (IQR: 28, 110), 16 (15%) KP recipients had suffered a PAD event. In multivariate analysis, a pretransplant history of PAD (hazard ratio [HR] 9.66, p < 0.001) and CAD (HR 3.33, p = 0.04) were independent predictors of posttransplant PAD events. Among a subset of 20 recipients (3 with PAD), mean IMT measurements pretransplant and at a median of 24 (range 18–24) months posttransplant, showed no evidence of disease progression. Conclusion: Based on IMT measurements and clinical results, KP transplantation stabilized PAD in most patients, but did not alter outcomes of symptomatic PAD recipients. A pretransplant history of PAD and CAD was an independent predictor of posttransplant PAD events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the comparison of the catalytic performances of α‐MnO2 nanorods synthesized by a facile hydrothermal approach at varying temperatures (140–200 °C). The structure and morphology of these nanorods were analyzed by XRD, N2‐physisorption, NH3‐TPD, Raman, SEM, HRTEM, and XPS. The prepared α‐MnO2 nanorods also performed exceptionally well in the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexanone to dicarboxylic acids under mild reaction conditions. The characterization results conferred that there is a significant influence of hydrothermal temperatures on the textural properties, morphology, and catalytic activity. Notably, the α‐MnO2 nanorods obtained from 180 °C hydrothermal conditions outperformed other catalysts with 77.3 % cyclohexanone conversion and 99 % selectivity towards acid products such as adipic acid (AA), glutaric acid (GA) and succinic acid (SA). The improved catalytic activity may be attributed to the interaction of the bifunctional Mn3+/4+ redox metal centres and surface acidic sites. The present oxidation reaction was found to be a promising eco‐benign process with high selectivity for the production of commercially significant carboxylic acids from cyclohexanone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recorded earthquake‐induced changes in hydrogeological systems date back over 2,000 years. As a part of our ongoing hydrogeochemical monitoring effort to study such changes, we collected 406 groundwater samples twice a week between February 2021 and July 2023 from two bore wells in the Kopili fault zone of Northeast India. We analyzed stable isotope ratios (δ2H, δ18O) and dissolved element concentrations to obtain a 2.5‐year hydrogeochemical time series and responses to multiple regional earthquakes (Mw ≥ 3) within the monitored period. We find significant but transient anomalies in both the chemical and isotopic composition of groundwater at one of the observation wells (OW1) after the 2021 Assam Mw 6.4 earthquake, followed by prolonged alterations in the hydrochemistry at both wells. We do not identify any precursory changes. Using multivariate statistical techniques and analyzing compositional changes before and after the mainshock, we infer that the hydrochemical anomalies at OW1, representing an immediate response to the mainshock, can be attributed to the potential breach of a hydrological barrier. This, in turn, allowed the infiltration of new water into the OW1 aquifer, potentially sourced from the nearby Brahmaputra River. Subsequently, during the post‐anomaly period, the earthquake‐induced fracturing and the associated changes in permeability sustained a prolonged period of mixing between surface water and groundwater, resulting in newly formed hydrochemistry at both wells. Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of aquifer properties during earthquakes. Long‐term continuous evaluation of such changes may provide new insights into feedback between tectonics and fluid flow in the crust. Plain Language Summary: When an earthquake occurs, it not only shakes the surface of the solid earth but also has the potential to alter the composition of groundwater by deforming or fracturing the subsurface. We monitored groundwater chemistry to document changes connected to earthquakes, searching for changes before and after earthquakes. Using two observation wells in Guwahati, Northeast India, following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in April 2021, we observed significant changes. We did not identify any significant changes in groundwater chemistry before the earthquake. However, we detected anomalies within 2 weeks after the earthquake. We explain these changes as the result of a hydrological barrier being ruptured, allowing infiltration of surface water from the nearby Brahmaputra River into the aquifer. Following the anomaly, there was a prolonged period of mixing between groundwater and surface water for 6 months, leading to a new and stable water chemistry for the remainder of our 2.5‐year monitoring period. Our findings highlight the dynamic nature of aquifer responses during earthquakes. This underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring efforts to better understand the intricate relationship between earthquakes and groundwater. Key Points: 2.5‐year time series of hydrogeochemical data from two bore wells revealed post‐earthquake changes in groundwater chemistryTransient anomalies were observed in major ions and stable isotopes (δ2H, δ18O) following the 2021 Assam Mw 6.4 earthquakeHydrological barrier breakage and changes in permeability created new pathways for water transport, resulting in groundwater mixing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the distribution and prevalence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) antibody (as evidence of past infection) in northern Victoria following the 2022 Japanese encephalitis outbreak, seeking to identify groups of people at particular risk of infection; to investigate the distribution and prevalence of antibodies to two related flaviviruses, Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and West Nile virus Kunjin subtype (KUNV). Study design: Cross‐sectional serosurvey (part of a national JEV serosurveillance program). Setting: Three northern Victorian local public health units (Ovens Murray, Goulburn Valley, Loddon Mallee), 8 August – 1 December 2022. Participants: People opportunistically recruited at pathology collection centres and by targeted recruitment through community outreach and advertisements. People vaccinated against or who had been diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis were ineligible for participation, as were those born in countries where JEV is endemic. Main outcome measures: Seroprevalence of JEV IgG antibody, overall and by selected factors of interest (occupations, water body exposure, recreational activities and locations, exposure to animals, protective measures). Results: 813 participants were recruited (median age, 59 years [interquartile range, 42–69 years]; 496 female [61%]); 27 were JEV IgG‐seropositive (3.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2–4.8%) (median age, 73 years [interquartile range, 63–78 years]; 13 female [48%]); none were IgM‐seropositive. JEV IgG‐seropositive participants were identified at all recruitment locations, including those without identified cases of Japanese encephalitis. The only risk factors associated with JEV IgG‐seropositivity were age (per year: prevalence odds ratio [POR], 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.10) and exposure to feral pigs (POR, 21; 95% CI, 1.7–190). The seroprevalence of antibody to MVEV was 3.0% (95% CI, 1.9–4.5%; 23 of 760 participants), and of KUNV antibody 3.3% (95% CI, 2.1–4.8%; 25 of 761). Conclusions: People living in northern Victoria are vulnerable to future JEV infection, but few risk factors are consistently associated with infection. Additional prevention strategies, including expanding vaccine eligibility, may be required to protect people in this region from Japanese encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the proportion of people in New South Wales towns at high risk of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infections during the 2022 outbreak; to identify risk factors for JEV infection. Study design: Cross‐sectional serosurvey study of the seroprevalence of JEV‐specific antibodies in NSW. Setting, participants: Convenience sample of people (all ages) from five regional NSW towns deemed to be at high risk of JEV infections after first outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in southeastern Australia in early 2022 (Balranald, Corowa, Dubbo, Griffith, Temora), 21 June – 22 July 2022. Main outcome measures: Proportion of people seropositive for JEV total antibody, assayed by defined epitope‐blocking enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay; prevalence odds ratios for exposure risk factors and protective behaviours. Results: Eighty of 917 eligible participants (559 girls or women, 61%; 42 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 4.6%; median age, 52 years [IQR, 37–62 years]) were seropositive for JEV‐specific total antibody (8.7%); the median age of seropositive people was 61 years (IQR, 48–70 years). The seropositivity proportion was largest for people aged 65 years or more (30 of 192; weighted proportion, 13.7%) and larger for male than female participants (30 of 358, 10.6% v 50 of 559, 7.5%). Five of 42 samples from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants were seropositive (12%). We found mixed associations with a range of potential risk factors. Conclusion: We found evidence for a substantial number of JEV infections in five regional NSW towns during a single arbovirus season in 2022. Public health responses, including effective surveillance, vaccination against JEV, and mosquito management, are critical for controlling outbreaks. Promoting behaviours that reduce exposure to mosquitoes is a core component of prevention, particularly when the vaccine supply is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID‐19 can have a particularly detrimental effect on patients with cancer, but no studies to date have examined if the presence, or site, of metastatic cancer is related to COVID‐19 outcomes. Methods: Using the COVID‐19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) registry, the authors identified 10,065 patients with COVID‐19 and cancer (2325 with and 7740 without metastasis at the time of COVID‐19 diagnosis). The primary ordinal outcome was COVID‐19 severity: not hospitalized, hospitalized but did not receive supplemental O2, hospitalized and received supplemental O2, admitted to an intensive care unit, received mechanical ventilation, or died from any cause. The authors used ordinal logistic regression models to compare COVID‐19 severity by presence and specific site of metastatic cancer. They used logistic regression models to assess 30‐day all‐cause mortality. Results: Compared to patients without metastasis, patients with metastases have increased hospitalization rates (59% vs. 49%) and higher 30 day mortality (18% vs. 9%). Patients with metastasis to bone, lung, liver, lymph nodes, and brain have significantly higher COVID‐19 severity (adjusted odds ratios [ORs], 1.38, 1.59, 1.38, 1.00, and 2.21) compared to patients without metastases at those sites. Patients with metastasis to the lung have significantly higher odds of 30‐day mortality (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.00) when adjusting for COVID‐19 severity. Conclusions: Patients with metastatic cancer, especially with metastasis to the brain, are more likely to have severe outcomes after COVID‐19 whereas patients with metastasis to the lung, compared to patients with cancer metastasis to other sites, have the highest 30‐day mortality after COVID‐19. Patients with metastatic cancer have more severe outcomes than patients without metastasis, with those with metastasis to the brain having the highest odds of severe COVID‐19. When adjusting for initial COVID‐19 severity, patients with metastasis to the lung, compared to patients with metastasis sites other than the lung, have the highest odds of 30‐day mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Raman and infrared (IR) wavenumbers were computed for the Aurivillius structure ABi4Ti4O15 (ABT) (ACa, Sr, Ba) in an orthorhombic space group (A21am, No. 36, C122v) using normal coordinate analysis. This study aimed to investigate the impact of A‐site cations on vibrational phonons. The analysis of zone center phonons primarily involved numerous stretching and bending bonds, serving as force constants. These force constants were utilized to assign the calculated wavenumbers in the examined phase for the first time. The theoretical findings in this paper exhibited a favorable correlation with the wavenumbers reported in the literature. Comparisons of force constants, bond lengths, and wavenumbers were conducted to elucidate A‐site cation disordering in these intricate compounds. The outcomes indicated that, in the studied complexes, the Sr atom exhibited an ideal radius for fitting into the structure. The mass of the A‐site cations was identified as a factor contributing to tilts in the octahedra. An additional analysis was carried out to assess the impact of A‐cations on both the affected equatorial and axial bonds, providing a clearer understanding of the structure. Outer octahedra displayed greater sensitivity to A‐site cations compared with inner octahedra. A study of potential energy distribution was also conducted in this work to determine the significance of each force constant in all calculated wavenumbers. It was observed that higher wavenumbers were predominantly influenced by vibrations in oxygen atoms, while lower wavenumbers were mainly affected by A‐site cations. Notably, overdamping was observed in the lowest frequency of the BBT compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients who have recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) following redo catheter ablation may eventually be managed with a pace-and-ablate approach, involving pacemaker implant followed by atrioventricular nodal ablation (AVNA). We sought to determine which factors would predict subsequent AVNA in patients undergoing redo AF ablation. Methods: We analyzed patients undergoing redo AF ablations between 2013 and 2019 at our institution. Follow-up was censored on December 31, 2021. Patients with no available follow- up data were excluded. Time-to-event analysis with Cox proportional hazard regression was used to compare those who underwent AVNA to those who did not. Results: A total of 467 patients were included, of whom 39 (8.4%) underwent AVNA. After multivariable adjustment, female sex (aHR 4.68 [95% CI 2.30-9.50]; p < 0.001), ischemic heart disease (aHR 2.99 [95% CI 1.25-7.16]; p = 0.014), presence of a preexisting pacemaker (aHR 3.25 [95% CI 1.10-9.60]; p = 0.033), and persistent AF (aHR 2.22 [95% CI 1.07-4.59]; p = 0.032) were associated with increased risk of subsequent AVNA requirement. Conclusion: Female sex, ischemic heart disease, and persistent AF may be useful clinical predictors of the requirement for subsequent AVNA and may be considered as part of shared clinical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Proactive esophageal cooling has been FDA cleared to reduce the likelihood of ablation‐related esophageal injury resulting from radiofrequency (RF) cardiac ablation procedures. Data suggest that procedure times for RF pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) also decrease when proactive esophageal cooling is employed instead of luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring. Reduced procedure times may allow increased electrophysiology (EP) lab throughput. We aimed to quantify the change in EP lab throughput of PVI cases after the introduction of proactive esophageal cooling. Methods: EP lab throughput data were obtained from three EP groups. We then compared EP lab throughput over equal time frames at each site before (pre‐adoption) and after (post‐adoption) the adoption of proactive esophageal cooling. Results: Over the time frame of the study, a total of 2498 PVIs were performed over a combined 74 months, with cooling adopted in September 2021, November 2021, and March 2022 at each respective site. In the pre‐adoption time frame, 1026 PVIs were performed using a combination of LET monitoring with the addition of esophageal deviation when deemed necessary by the operator. In the post‐adoption time frame, 1472 PVIs were performed using exclusively proactive esophageal cooling, representing a mean 43% increase in throughput (p <.0001), despite the loss of two operators during the post‐adoption time frame. Conclusion: Adoption of proactive esophageal cooling during PVI ablation procedures is associated with a significant increase in EP lab throughput, even after a reduction in total number of operating physicians in the post‐adoption group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The debate about observing total versus free serum valproate levels for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been unresolved for decades. This study was planned to assess the agreement between the total versus free valproate levels and the advantage of one method over the other in TDM. Methods: The present cross‐sectional study was done on 93 patients with bipolar disorder. The intraclass correlation coefficient, Bland Altman analysis, and Lin's concordance analysis were done to assess the agreement between the total and free valproate concentrations. Linear and polynomial models were constructed to evaluate the relation between the two measurements. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was done to compare the accuracy for differentiating remission from non‐remission on Young's mania rating scale (YMRS). Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient were 0.491 (p =.002) and 0.055 (95% CI:0.037, 0.073), respectively. Bland Altman's analysis showed proportional bias. A polynomial model of second order was found to be the best fit for the prediction of free valproate from the data for total valproate, and 81.4% of the variability in free valproate could be explained when adjusted for albumin levels. The area under the curve for total valproate was 0.60 when compared to free valproate 0.56 for differentiating between remission and non‐remission, but the comparison between the two ROC analyses was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Free valproate does not provide any added advantage over the total valproate levels; hence, total valproate levels may continue to be used as the marker for drug monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaweeds are promising resources of the coastal zone and can serve as an effective breakthrough in seafood owing to the causes of food security. Hence, challenges in its processing are of utmost importance with respect to its consumption. The present study aims to investigate the effects of various food processing methods (unwashed, washed, soaked, and boiled) on biochemical, mineral, and microbial loads on two selected seaweeds (Ulva lactuca and Gracilaria corticata) sampled seasonally from the Visakhapatnam coast of Andhra Pradesh during 2018–19. The analyzed seawater parameters, nutritive and anti‐nutritive values, were at their maximum during the monsoon, followed by the post‐monsoon and the pre‐monsoon. Biochemical parameters showed an increased concentration in boiled U. lactuca and G. corticata. Minerals, heavy metals, and microbial load results have shown a decreased concentration in the order of unwashed > washed > soaked > boiled in both species. This has been proven through the bioconcentration factor for both species seasonally. All the results are well within the Recommended Dietary Intake as per FAO/WHO. Pearson's correlation coefficient has proven post‐monsoon to be the best season for the harvest of seaweeds. Principle component analysis biplots computed for unwashed, washed, soaked, and boiled seaweeds have shown a positive relationship with mineral and toxic metals in unwashed and washed G. corticata in contrast to U. lactuca. This study ascertains the fact of using boiled and soaked G. corticata and U. lactuca (in all forms except unwashed) for the development of new healthy seaweed‐based foods in changing climate scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is investigating the use of short carbon fiber (SCF) and silver‐coated hollow glass microsphere (Ag@HGM) reinforced epoxy light‐weight composites for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications in the X‐band frequency range (i.e., 8–12 GHz). The study found that Ag@HGM along with SCF significantly improved the dielectric properties of the composites and enhanced the EMI shielding effectiveness of 34.6 dB. Thermal analysis indicates that the sample shows a high rate of heat dissipation and good thermal conductivity. The dynamic mechanical analysis has indicated that the composite has improved storage modulus, glass transition temperature, and activation energy. Highlights: SCF and Ag@HGM epoxy composite is fabricated for EMI shielding application.Two steps: etching and electroless coating of HGM are used for silver coating.The addition of Ag@HGM has enhanced total SE from 27.4 to 34.6 dB.EM wave gets scattered, experiences internal reflections view SCF and Ag@HGM.Additionally, enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Data are limited pertaining to the long‐term benefits of aflibercept treatment for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD). The aim of this study was to provide outcomes, safety, durability and quality‐of‐life data with aflibercept using a modified treat, extend and fixed regime over 4 years. Methods: Prospective, multicentre, single cohort observational study of treatment‐naïve nAMD participants treated with aflibercept as 2‐year extension of the MATE‐trial that compared early and late Treat‐and‐Extend for 2 years. Refracted ETDRS best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), treatment interval and adverse events were assessed. Quality‐of‐life was measured using the Macular Disease Dependent Quality of Life (MacDQoL) and Macular Disease Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires (MacTSQ). Results: Twenty‐six of 40 participants completing the MATE‐trial were enrolled with 20 completing the total 4‐year study. Mean BCVA was 60.7 at Month 0 and 64.8 ETDRS letters at Month 48 while CRT decreased from 423.7 μm to 292.2 μm. Five participants discontinued treatment due to inactivity. The mean number of treatments and visits for the remaining participants was 27 and 30.0, respectively, with treatment intervals extended to 12 weeks in four participants at Month 48. Both AMD‐specific QoL and treatment satisfaction remained stable between Months 0 and 48 and mean BCVA significantly correlated with AMD‐specific QoL scores at Months 12, 24 and 48. Conclusions: Results suggest that BCVA can be maintained over 48 months when following a treat‐extend‐and‐fix regimen of aflibercept with intervals out to 12 weeks, while maintaining AMD‐specific QoL and treatment satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in Experimental Dermatology compared the UV-induced transcriptional signature of vitiligo skin to non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and actinic keratosis (AK). The researchers found that keratinocytes in vitiligo skin are remarkably protected from damage due to UV radiation, despite the presence of few functional melanocytes. The study also revealed a lower "UV signature" in vitiligo skin compared to NMSCs, indicating that vitiligo skin is inherently resistant to UV exposure. The findings suggest potential links between UV exposure, NMSCs, and vitiligo, and highlight the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions for developing personalized treatment strategies. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a study on the synthesis and characterization of three new donor-acceptor conjugates that have the ability to sense changes in pH and detect fluoride ions. The molecules were analyzed using various techniques and their optical properties were investigated. The compounds showed solvatochromic effects on their fluorescence spectra and demonstrated pH sensitivity, with a turn-on fluorescence response towards acidic pH. They also selectively bound to fluoride ions, resulting in a fluorescence response. The article provides detailed experimental procedures and characterization data for each compound. [Extracted from the article]

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of a newer series of N‐(1‐(2‐(phenylamino) pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazol‐5‐yl)benzenesulfonamide (6 a–6 n) and N‐(6‐ethoxy‐1‐(2‐(phenylamino) pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazol‐5‐yl)benzenesulfonamide (7 a–7 c) derivatives through the reaction of N‐(1‐(2‐chloropyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazol‐5‐yl) benzenesulfonamide (4 a–i) and N‐(1‐(2‐chloropyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐6‐ethoxy‐1H‐indazol‐5‐yl) benzenesulfonamide (5 a–i) with various aniline derivatives in isopropanol. The compounds were thoroughly evaluated for their biological activities, encompassing antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer assays, as well as antioxidant potential in DPPH and ABTS assays. Compound 7 b (IC50: 0.0125 MIC), 6 e (IC50: 0.0128 MIC), and 6 i (IC50: 0.0128 MIC) demonstrated exceptional antibacterial efficacy, while 6 d (IC50: 0.0124 MIC), 6 f (IC50: 0.0125 MIC) and 7 c (IC50: 0.0118 MIC), exhibited notable antifungal activity. Compounds 6 c (IC50: 13.31±0.32 μM, A459) & (IC50: 22.36±1.76 μM, MCF7) displayed significant anticancer activity comparable to established drugs. Moreover, 6 b (IC50: 11.22±0.16 μM, A459) & (IC50: 18.21±1.32 μM, MCF7) and 6 d (IC50: 11.23±0.17 μM, A459) & (IC50: 18.31±1.41 μM, MCF7) showed remarkable anticancer potency. Notably, compound N‐(1‐(2‐(methyl(phenyl)amino)pyrimidin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indazol‐5‐yl)‐4‐nitrobenzenesulfonamide (IC50:0.1090 μmol/mL for DPPH and IC50: 0.1286 μmol/mL for ABTS) exhibited the most significant antioxidant activity. Computational docking studies revealed robust binding interactions with target enzymes (PDB ID: 4JT3 for anticancer, PDB ID: 1EA1 for antifungal, PDB ID: 1KZN for antibacterial, PDB ID: 3SRG for antioxidant), supported by molecular dynamics simulations indicating consistent stability of the most potent compound within the binding sites of the target proteins. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of these derivatives, warranting further investigation for potential clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ gel systems have emerged as promising drug delivery platforms due to their numerous benefits, including increased patient compliance and decreased administration frequency. The potential of in situ gel extends beyond its formulation benefits, with the ability to transform medical treatment by enhancing drug delivery, offering personalized therapies, and introducing innovative approaches. Ongoing research and the efforts of pharmaceutical companies are dedicated to exploring the vast opportunities presented by in situ gel, pushing the limits of innovation in the field of drug delivery. The selection of suitable polymers is critical for the development of in situ gel formulations. Additionally, consideration of drug‐polymer compatibility ensures the stability and efficacy of the drug within the gel matrix. Formulation considerations play a pivotal role in the development of effective in situ gel systems. They have shown great potential in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. The ability to prolong gastric retention time, targeted delivery, and localized drug release are among the advantages offered by in situ gels. Although in situ gel technology has shown significant advancements, challenges remain, including stability and shelf‐life issues, biocompatibility and safety concerns, and the need for further research and development. Future directions focus on overcoming these challenges and exploring new applications and advancements in the field. In conclusion, in situ gel systems provide a versatile and promising drug delivery and tissue engineering platform. However, further research and development are essential to address the challenges and fully harness the potential of this innovative technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of the proposed study is to establish and validate a low‐cost, sensitive, reliable, and trouble‐free RP‐UPLC process with improved performance for the direct estimation of Lixisenatide in pure powder and fixed‐dose tablet form. The proposed method is optimized by implementing quality by design studies. The method is optimized using quadratic model of central composite design (CCD) of randomized response surface study. Successful separation of Lixisenatide is obtained by the use of Phenyl‐XBD (1.7 µm, 2.1 mm × 100 mm) column and a mobile phase of acetonitrile: 0.1% w/v OPA (60:40) with 0.5 mL min−1 flow rate. The separated Lixisenatide and its degradants are explorated with PDA detector which has the ability to provide comprehensive spectral information, rapid data acquisition, quantitative analysis, and peak purity analysis of all compounds simultaneously. The RT of Lixisenatide is found to be 1.34 min. The lowest concentration of Lixisenatide's limit of detection and limit of quantification makes guarantees regarding the method's sensitivity. For the provided range of linear concentrations (1.25–7.5 µg mL−1), the regression coefficient is found to be 0.999. The computed average percentage recoveries of Lixisenatide in spiked solutions ranged from 98.9% to 101.2%. The % degradation of Lixisenatide in the presence of a variety of forced conditions confirms the existing method's stability. Lixisenatide is significantly photo sensitive when compared to other stressful conditions such as acid, base hydrolysis, and oxidation. The proposed UPLC approach separates Lixisenatide with high sensitivity, a short retention time, and an affordable solvent system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diabetic‐induced ulcer is a complication of diabetes in which the formation of an ulcer increases and also causes a delay in ulcer healing. Diabetes adds a bonus to various factors like starvation and stress, imbalanced acid‐pepsin secretions, impaired mucosal resistance, acid‐back diffusion, and neuronal dysfunction. Feeding a high‐fat diet for 15 days after induction of STZ in rats develops diabetes mellitus simultaneously with growth, resulting in an acceleration of ulcers for any of the above reasons. The OGTT investigation included both normal and diabetic rats, and the researchers establish a consistently low dosage of conventional oral hypoglycemic agents for the treatment. Clinical studies in the literature highlight that effectively treating patients with diabetes complications has been demonstrated through glycemic control. Hence, effective palliative hypoglycemic agents are employed. Long‐term usage has revealed that they exert a drastic negative effect. Hence, herbal drug combinations with these standard drugs have proved to be effective in minimizing the side effects. QE, which has hypoglycemic, dyslipidemia, and antioxidant properties, has been effective when administered with Glipizide (5 mg kg−1). The monotherapy of this Glipizide and QE has not shown a beneficial effect in protecting the stomach from ulcers. The combination (G + QE) showed effective control of glucose without any hypoglycemia. QE as a single adjunct with Glipizide has proven promising in preventing and treating diabetic ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trastuzumab is a US‐FDA‐approved humanized monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancer. The aim of the present work is to optimize a freeze‐dried formulation of DOTA‐Trastuzumab conjugate for the preparation of patient doses of [177Lu]Lu‐Trastuzumab for radioimmunotherapy of breast cancer. The formulation of [177Lu]Lu‐Trastuzumab usually takes a long time, and thus, such a process is not suitable for the routine preparation of this agent in hospital radiopharmacies. To circumvent this, a pre‐synthesized DOTA‐Trastuzumab conjugate as a freeze‐dried formulation is proposed. In the present work, DOTA‐Trastuzumab conjugate was subjected to a freeze‐drying process after the addition of optimized amounts of radioprotectant and cryoprotectant. [177Lu]Lu‐DOTA‐Trastuzumab was prepared by incubating the lyophilized powder of the kit vial with medium‐specific activity 177LuCl3. The final radiochemical purity of [177Lu]Lu‐DOTA‐Trastuzumab, prepared using freeze‐dried kit, was determined to be >95%. To ascertain the reproducibility of the procedure, six consecutive batches of the freeze‐dried formulation were prepared, radiolabeled, and evaluated by carrying out both in vitro and ex vivo studies. The consistency of the results of all the six consecutive batches confirmed the robustness and utility of the in‐house optimized freeze‐dried formulation for the preparation of patient doses of [177Lu]Lu‐Trastuzumab at hospital radiopharmacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both human populations and marine biodiversity are concentrated along coastlines, with growing conservation interest in how these ecosystems can survive intense anthropogenic impacts. Tropical urban centres provide valuable research opportunities because these megacities are often adjacent to mega‐diverse coral reef systems. The Pearl River Delta is a prime exemplar, as it encompasses one of the most densely populated and impacted regions in the world and is located just northwest of the Coral Triangle. However, the spatial and taxonomic complexity of this biodiversity, most of which is small, cryptic in habitat and poorly known, make comparative analyses challenging. We deployed standardized settlement structures at seven sites differing in the intensity of human impacts and used COI metabarcoding to characterize benthic biodiversity, with a focus on metazoans. We found a total of 7184 OTUs, with an average of 665 OTUs per sampling unit; these numbers exceed those observed in many previous studies using comparable methods, despite the location of our study in an urbanized environment. Beta diversity was also high, with 52% of the OTUs found at just one site. As expected, we found that the sites close to point sources of pollution had substantially lower diversity (44% less) relative to sites bathed in less polluted oceanic waters. However, the polluted sites contributed substantially to the total animal diversity of the region, with 25% of all OTUs occurring only within polluted sites. Further analysis of Arthropoda, Annelida and Mollusca showed that phylogenetic clustering within a site was common, suggesting that environmental filtering reduced biodiversity to a subset of lineages present within the region, a pattern that was most pronounced in polluted sites and for the Arthropoda. The water quality gradients surrounding the PRD highlight the unique role of in situ studies for understanding the impacts of complex urbanization pressures on biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Magnetic core‐shell dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres immobilized with imidazolium‐based di‐cationic ionic liquid (Fe3O4@SiO2@DSiO2‐Im‐IL) possessing a large surface area and numerous active site for adsorption of various molecules to carry out organic transformations have been successfully developed. The synthesized nanocatalyst was found to be easily recyclable by applying external magnetic force. The structure, morphology, thermal stability, and magnetic behavior of the synthesized magnetic nanocatalyst were confirmed by different physiochemical techniques like FT‐IR, P‐XRD, FE‐SEM, TGA, VSM, BET, and TEM analysis. The efficiency of the developed heterogeneous nanocatalyst has been investigated for the green synthesis of numerous benzopyran derivatives by employing different aldehydes and active methylene compounds. The catalyst exhibits marvellous activity and efficiency in terms of high product yield, less catalyst use, and wide substrate scope even at room temperature. Finally, after the successful formation of the product, the catalyst was regenerated by utilizing an external magnetic field. The catalyst has been reused multiple times without any noteworthy loss in its activity which confirms the stability of the developed catalyst. The preparation of the catalyst is cost‐effective, and shows atom economy with the utilization of green solvent and without any waste production, which authenticates that it could be a greener pathway for the synthesis of the benzopyran derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: We first examined the role of age at cardiovascular disease (CVD) onset for incident dementia, and then examined whether lifestyle factors at guideline‐recommended levels in individuals with CVD mitigates dementia risk. METHODS: We used population‐based data (Whitehall II: n = 10,308/baseline 1985–1988/examinations every 4–5 years). Lifestyle factors (non‐smoking, body mass index [BMI], physical activity, diet) were extracted post‐CVD. RESULTS: Over a median of 31.6 years, 3275 (32.1%) developed CVD. At age 70, risk of dementia was higher in individuals with CVD onset before (hazard ratio [HR] of incident dementia for participants with CVD before age 60, using participants without CVD at age 70 as the reference: 1.56, 95% confidence interal [CI] 1.18–2.08) but not after 60 years. In participants with CVD, a greater number of lifestyle factors at recommended levels post‐CVD was associated with a lower dementia risk (per lifestyle factor at recommended level HR: 0.73, 95% CI 0.59–0.92). DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that early onset CVD is associated with a higher dementia risk at older ages. In those with CVD, the dementia risk was lower if lifestyle factors are at recommended levels following CVD diagnosis. Highlights: CVD in midlife but not in late life is associated with a higher risk of dementia.Dementia risk in CVD patients is lower if their lifestyle factors are at recommended levels.These findings provide evidence to promote CVD prevention in midlife or earlier.Study findings also show the importance of a healthy lifestyle in those with CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of metabolomics has assisted in the identification of various bewildering characteristics of the biological system. Metabolomics is a standard approach, facilitating crucial aspects of system biology with absolute quantification of metabolites using minimum samples, based on liquid/gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The metabolome profiling has narrowed the wide gaps of missing information and has enhanced the understanding of a wide spectrum of plant--environment interactions by highlighting the complex pathways regulating biochemical reactions and cellular physiology under a particular set of conditions. This high throughput technique also plays a prominent role in combined analyses of plant metabolomics and other omics datasets. Plant metabolomics has opened a wide paradigm of opportunities for developing stress-tolerant plants, ensuring better food quality and quantity. However, despite advantageous methods and databases, the technique has a few limitations, such as ineffective 3D capturing of metabolites, low comprehensiveness, and lack of cell-based sampling. In the future, an expansion of plant--pathogen and plant--pest response towards the metabolite architecture is necessary to understand the intricacies of plant defence against invaders, elucidation of metabolic pathway operational during defence and developing a direct correlation between metabolites and biotic stresses. Our aim is to provide an overview of metabolomics and its utilities for the identification of biomarkers or key metabolites associated with biotic stress, devising improved diagnostic methods to efficiently assess pest and pathogen attack and generating improved crop varieties with the help of combined application of analytical and molecular tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in eliminating tumorigenic cells. Efficient locating and killing of target cells in complex three‐dimensional (3D) environments are critical for their functions under physiological conditions. However, the role of mechanosensing in regulating NK‐cell killing efficiency in physiologically relevant scenarios is poorly understood. Here, we report that the responsiveness of NK cells is regulated by tumor cell stiffness. NK‐cell killing efficiency in 3D is impaired against softened tumor cells, whereas it is enhanced against stiffened tumor cells. Notably, the durations required for NK‐cell killing and detachment are significantly shortened for stiffened tumor cells. Furthermore, we have identified PIEZO1 as the predominantly expressed mechanosensitive ion channel among the examined candidates in NK cells. Perturbation of PIEZO1 abolishes stiffness‐dependent NK‐cell responsiveness, significantly impairs the killing efficiency of NK cells in 3D, and substantially reduces NK‐cell infiltration into 3D collagen matrices. Conversely, PIEZO1 activation enhances NK killing efficiency as well as infiltration. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that PIEZO1‐mediated mechanosensing is crucial for NK killing functions, highlighting the role of mechanosensing in NK‐cell killing efficiency under 3D physiological conditions and the influence of environmental physical cues on NK‐cell functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The east–west component of the geomagnetic field (Y‐component) at the Trivandrum (TRD) station, an equatorial site, is used to investigate the characteristics of Inter‐Hemispheric Field‐Aligned Currents (IHFACs) in the Indian sector during solar cycles 21 and 22. The observations reveal an annual variation of IHFAC in the dawn/noon sector with positive/negative peaks around northern summer. Furthermore, it is noted that IHFAC amplitudes are modulated by solar activity, superimposed with seasonal effects, with consistently higher amplitudes during the northern summer months. The dusk‐time IHFAC also shows a pattern modulated by seasons and solar cycles, with negative peaks around northern summer only during the low solar active years. The seasonal pattern of IHFAC shows a similar trend from April to September, where dawn/noon IHFAC is south/north directed, and for the remaining months, both are northward directed. The dusk‐side IHFAC is mostly south‐directed irrespective of the season. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the seasonal pattern of dawn and noon‐time IHFAC amplitudes show a strong to moderate correlation with amplitudes of Sq asymmetries between two hemispheres, but dusk‐time IHFAC does not follow this trend. The IHFAC directions at TRD follow the Fukushima model for May to September during the dawn‐noon sector for 70%–95% of the days and less than 50% of the days for remaining months. The noon‐dusk sector shows Fukushima model‐type polarity for ∼60% of days in June–July and less than 50% for remaining months. The global analysis of IHFAC, using monthly averages of hourly values from eight observatories spanning Asia, Africa, and America, reveals spatial differences in amplitude and directions. The directions of noon‐time IHFAC in the Indian‐East Asian and East‐African sectors follow similar trends, and the amplitude variations of noon‐time IHFAC can be explained by DE‐3 tidal effects. The IHFAC from the South American and West African sectors show intense southward and northward currents compared to other sites, indicating the influence of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). Plain Language Summary: IHFAC features have been identified in the Indian sector using long‐term geomagnetic data. The seasonal and solar cycle effects on IHFAC have been evaluated. Further attempts have been made to relate the observed seasonal pattern of IHFAC amplitudes with low and mid‐latitude Sq asymmetries between the two hemispheres, using Sq from low and mid‐latitude sites of both hemispheres of the Indian sector. It is noted that strong IHFAC in AUG‐SEP could be caused by Sq asymmetry in the low latitude sites. The study also tried to look at the IHFAC pattern around the globe using data from different sectors, and significant variations were observed and discussed. Key Points: Seasonal variation and solar activity dependence of IHFAC in the Indian sector is studied using long ‐term dataThe amplitude variations of dawn and noon time IHFAC have been connected to Sq asymmetry from low‐mid latitudes in the Indian sectorSpatial variations in IHFAC pattern are reported from American, African, Indian, East Asian sectors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to assess dentists' attitudes toward providing dental care for older adults with disabilities in Singapore and the factors influencing their willingness to provide care. Background: Dentists face a rapidly ageing patient demographic. Practitioner unwillingness to circumvent the attending challenges of care provision prevents older adults from accessing the dental care necessary for better oral and systemic health. Previous studies have reported on dentists' attitudes toward caring for older adults with disabilities; however, these are mostly limited to dependent older adults and exclude frail, community‐dwelling older persons. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2020 using a self‐administered questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis was presented in the form of descriptive statistics, followed by bivariate analyses. Results: There were 193 respondents, a response rate of under 9%. Dentists were less willing, confident and involved in the care of older adults with disabilities as the individual's severity of impairments increased. Less than half of respondents were willing to treat individuals with severe disabilities in cooperation (23.3%), swallowing (30.6%), mobility (33.7%) and communication (45.1%). Dentists with training in geriatric dentistry were more willing to provide care. However, younger dentists, general dental practitioners, private practitioners and public sector dentists had specific restraining and driving forces, which further modulated their willingness to provide care. Conclusions: The current areas of training needs among Singapore dentists are in severe impairments of swallowing, communication, cooperation and mobility. Further geriatric dentistry training may effectively increase dentists' willingness to provide care; however, additional specific targeted interventions are also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian clocks are intracellular systems that orchestrate metabolic processes in anticipation of sunrise and sunset by providing an internal representation of local time. Because the ~24‐h metabolic rhythms they produce are important to health across diverse life forms there is growing interest in their mechanisms. However, mechanistic studies are challenging in vivo due to the complex, that is, poorly defined, milieu of live cells. Recently, we reconstituted the intact circadian clock of cyanobacteria in vitro. It oscillates autonomously and remains phase coherent for many days with a fluorescence‐based readout that enables real‐time observation of individual clock proteins and promoter DNA simultaneously under defined conditions without user intervention. We found that reproducibility of the reactions required strict adherence to the quality of each recombinant clock protein purified from Escherichia coli. Here, we provide protocols for preparing in vitro clock samples so that other labs can ask questions about how changing environments, like temperature, metabolites, and protein levels are reflected in the core oscillator and propagated to regulation of transcription, providing deeper mechanistic insights into clock biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study describes the development and evaluation of a clinical pathway to facilitate the implementation of catch‐up vaccinations for children with significant needle fear, particularly in children with developmental disabilities. The Specialist Immunization Team, based at a tertiary level teaching children's hospital, participated in process mapping activities using Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques and reflective discussions. Team members developed a clinical pathway by incorporating parental feedback from semistructured interviews and clinical expertise from within the team, facilitated by colleagues from the Child Development Unit. A process map was developed that included process strengths and touch points with an action plan that was discussed and agreed upon. A repeat process mapping activity was conducted 16 months later. Reports from parental feedback included: positive, efficient, and successful experiences of having their child undergo catch‐up vaccinations. The experience empowered families for further procedures. Team members reported improvements in triaging appropriate children for the pathway, and an increase in confidence to interact and manage behaviors of children with significant anxiety and challenging behaviors. They also reported an increase in successful vaccinations with improved clinical judgment of facilitating the sedation pathway. This study demonstrates that using group facilitation using motivational interviewing in reflective discussions and process mapping utilizing parent and staff feedback in service improvement activities results in efficient and successful service delivery with improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays central roles in cell architecture, innate defense and cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling. During transition to multicellularity, modular domain structures of ECM proteins and proteoforms have evolved due to continuous adaptation across taxonomic clades under different ecological niche. Although this incredible diversity has to some extent been investigated at protein level, extracellular phosphorylation events and molecular evolution of ECM proteoform families remains unexplored. We developed matrisome proteoform atlas in a grain legume, chickpea and performed meta‐analyses of 74 plant matrisomes. MS/MS analysis identified 1,424 proteins and 315 phosphoproteins involved in diverse functions. Cross‐species ECM protein network identified proteoforms associated with CWI maintenance system. Phylogenetic characterization of eighteen matrix protein families highlighted the role of taxon‐specific paralogs and orthologs. Novel information was acquired on gene expansion and loss, co‐divergence, sub functionalization and neofunctionalization during evolution. Modular networks of matrix protein families and hub proteins showed higher diversity across taxonomic clades than among organs. Furthermore, protein families differ in nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rates. Our study pointed towards the matrix proteoform functionality, sequence divergence variation, interactions between wall remodelers and molecular evolution using a phylogenetic framework. This is the first report on comprehensive matrisome proteoform network illustrating presence of CWI signaling proteins in land plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]