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Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and its resistant form methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens causing a wide range of infections in humans. The anterior nares are the main ecological niche for S. aureus. Nasal carriage of S. aureus acts as an important reservoir of infection among the colonised healthcare workers and they transmit the infection to the community. The aim of the present study was to estimate the nasal colonisation of S. aureus (with special reference to MRSA) in healthcare workers (doctors and nursing staff) and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods: A descriptive study was planned in the Department of Microbiology, JLN Medical College, Ajmer (Rajasthan, India) after due approval from the institutional ethics committee. A total of 170 healthcare workers of either sex aged between 18 to 60 years were screened for S. aureus. Identification was done using standard microbiological techniques, by studying their morphology, colony and biochemical characteristics. MRSA was detected by cefoxitin disc diffusion test, oxacillin disc diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin by E-test and oxacillin screen agar test. The observations were described in proportions and Chisquared test was used to find independence. Statistical significance was considered at 5 %. Results: Among 170 samples, 159 (93.53 %) samples (50 doctors and 109 nursing staff) had staphylococci colonisation. Among these 159 isolates, 34 (21.38 %) were S. aureus. Further, 8 (5.03 %) S. aureus isolates were resistant to both cefoxitin and oxacillin and had oxacillin MIC values ≥ 4 µg/mL and were considered MRSA. All the MRSA were detected in the nursing staff (males: 5.50 %, females: 1.83 %). All S. aureus and MRSA isolates were found sensitive to linezolid, vancomycin and mupirocin (minimum inhibitory concentration ≤ 4 µg/mL). Conclusion: Screening and treatment of healthcare workers colonised with MRSA should be an important component of hospital infection control policy. These measures will prevent spread of infection to patients and the community and thereby reduce the morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs associated with nosocomial infections.

Abstract Background Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by loss of pigmentation in the skin. It affects 0.4 to 2% of the global population, but the factors that trigger autoimmunity remain elusive. Previous work on several immune-mediated dermatological disorders has illuminated the substantial roles of the gut microbiome in disease pathogenesis. Here, we examined the gut microbiome composition in a cohort of vitiligo patients and healthy controls from India, including patients with a family history of the disease. Results Our results show significant alterations in the gut microbiome of vitiligo patients compared to healthy controls, affecting taxonomic and functional profiles as well as community structure. We observed a reduction in the abundance of several bacterial taxa commonly associated with a healthy gut microbiome and noted a decrease in the abundance of SCFA (Short Chain Fatty Acids) producing taxa in the vitiligo group. Observation of a higher abundance of genes linked to bacteria-mediated degradation of intestinal mucus suggested a potential compromise of the gut mucus barrier in vitiligo. Functional analysis also revealed a higher abundance of fatty acid and lipid metabolism-related genes in the vitiligo group. Combined analysis with data from a French cohort of vitiligo also led to the identification of common genera differentiating healthy and gut microbiome across populations. Conclusion Our observations, together with available data, strengthen the role of gut microbiome dysbiosis in symptom exacerbation and possibly pathogenesis in vitiligo. The reported microbiome changes also showed similarities with other autoimmune disorders, suggesting common gut microbiome-mediated mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. Further investigation can lead to the exploration of dietary interventions and probiotics for the management of these conditions.

Abstract The multifaceted, multivendor-based global design supply chain induces hardware threats of intellectual property (IP) piracy for modern computing and electronic systems. Current hardware watermarking techniques fall short either in terms of watermark strength (size of covert constraints generated) or number of security layers/variables involved in the security constraints generation process. This paper presents a novel approach for high level synthesis (HLS) watermarking by bio-mimicking DNA fingerprint profiling to counter hardware IP piracy. The proposed approach effectively captures the vital DNA fingerprint profiling phases such as DNA sequencing, DNA fragmentation, fragment replication, DNA ligase, etc. and bio-mimics them to generate a digital watermarking framework. The presented approach has been demonstrated on convolutional layer and JPEG compression-decompression (CODEC) algorithms that are widely used in several medical and machine learning applications. The proposed approach has been thoroughly compared with several state-of-the-art approaches. The proposed approach depicts superior security in the probability of coincidence of up to ~ 104 and tamper tolerance of up to ~ 10368 at 0% overhead as compared to the prior approaches.

Abstract Catamenial hemoptysis (CH) is a rare, known disease for which diagnosis is crucial and treatment is indefinite. In this case report, CH was identified 2 years ago while taking medical history of the patient. It has disclosed hemoptysis at night with breathlessness that was concurrent with her menses every month for the past 6 months. A series of radiological tests followed by a bronchoscopic examination during menses confirmed the diagnosis. A complex fluid-filled cystic lesion with few air foci in the right lower lobe superior segment with ground glass opacity was seen by a CT scan test. Subsequent bronchoscopy examination showed an active bleeding site at the right lower lobe superior segment. The bronchial wash tests were negative for microbial infections as well as for malignancies. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) was done and it ceased the hemoptysis. However, it recurred after 2 years of the BAE procedure. The symptoms and amount of hemoptysis were milder; hence, repeated BAE was not required. Earlier, the patient refused hormonal therapy (HT) owing to its side effects, but this time, she accepted HT. After 2 months of HT, hemoptysis gradually ceased. If complications arise in the future, then surgical treatment along with HT (combination therapy) would be the course of treatment. The diagnosis of CH is challenging, and treatment procedures vary from patient to patient; hence, they are customised. Hormones regulate the CH recurrence even though the symptoms have ceased after treatment. Therefore, regular follow-up and close vigilance are crucial requirements.

Background: In the dynamic medical landscape, anesthesiology plays a pivotal role in ensuring patient safety and comfort during surgeries. Central to this is endotracheal intubation, a critical procedure for securing the airway under anesthesia. Innovations such as King Vision and Airtraq video laryngoscopes offer enhanced glottis visualization and Cormack Lehane scores compared to direct laryngoscopy, with a shorter learning curve. This study aims to assess King Vision and Airtraq’s efficiency in terms of laryngoscopy time, Cormack and Lehane grading, and single-attempt success rate, the number of intubation attempts and endotracheal intubation duration. Methodology: We conducted a study involving 90 patients, aged 20–40 years, undergoing elective surgeries in Departments of General Surgery, ENT, and Gynecology under General Anesthesia. They were divided into two groups, Group K (King Vision) and Group A (Airtraq). Anesthesiologists with at least 40 prior intubations using both devices performed intubations. Preoperative assessments included Alprazolam and Ranitidine, fasting for 8 h, and vital sign monitoring. Anesthesia induction comprised fentanyl, propofol, and succinylcholine, with Macintosh laryngoscopy as a backup. Anesthesia maintenance included nitrous oxide, oxygen, isoflurane, and rocuronium, while parameters were diligently recorded. Results: Our results indicate comparable age and gender distributions between Airtraq and King Vision groups, as well as no differences in Mallampati grading. Kings Vision showed significantly faster laryngoscopy and quicker intubation. Most patients required only one intubation attempt in both groups. Cormack and Lehane grading was unaffected by device choice. Conclusion: Our study shows that both Airtraq and King Vision perform similarly across patient characteristics, but King Vision offers faster laryngoscopy and intubation times, ideal for urgent airway management.

The research paper proposes a novel approach for signal detection in cognitive radio networks, aiming to improve spectrum utilization and overall performance. The approach combines matched filter-based detection and the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA)-optimized energy detection.Matched filtering is a technique used to detect the presence of a known signal. It correlates the received signal with a reference waveform to determine if the signal is present. In the proposed approach, matched filtering is utilized to detect known signals in the cognitive radio network.On the other hand, energy detection is employed to identify unknown signals. Energy detection measures the energy level of the received signal and compares it to a predetermined threshold. If the energy exceeds the threshold, it is considered as a signal. In this approach, energy detection is optimized using the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA). SSA is a metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the behavior of salps in nature, and it is used to find an optimal energy threshold for energy detection in order to improve detection accuracy. The proposed approach is evaluated through simulations, and the results demonstrate its superiority over existing methods in terms of probability of detection, probability of false alarm, and receiver operating characteristics. This indicates that the proposed hybrid approach offers better performance in detecting both known and unknown signals, leading to more efficient spectrum utilization.

Metal oxide transistors have garnered substantial attention for their potential in low-power electronics, yet challenges remain in achieving both high performance and low operating voltages through solution-based fabrication methods. Optimizing interfacial engineering at the dielectric/semiconductor interface is of utmost importance in the fabrication of high-performance thin film transistors (TFTs). In the present article, a bilayer Ti3C2Tx-MXene/SnO2–semiconductor (Tx stands for surface termination) configuration is used to fabricate a high-performance n-type thin film transistor by using an ion-conducting Li-Al2O3 gate dielectric on a p+-Si substrate, where electrical charges are formed and modulated at the Li-Al2O3/SnO2 interface, and Ti3C2Tx-MXene nanosheets serve as the primary electrical charge channel due to their long lateral size and high mobility. A comparative characterization of two distinct TFTs is conducted, one featuring Ti3C2Tx MXene and SnO2 semiconductor layer and the other with SnO2 only. Notably, the TFT with the Ti3C2Tx MXene layer has shown a significant boost in the carrier mobility (10.6 cm2/V s), leading to remarkable improvements in the on/off ratio (1.3 × 105) and subthreshold swing (194 mV/decade), whereas the SnO2 TFT without the Ti3C2Tx MXene layer shows a mobility of 1.17 cm2/V s with 8.1 × 102 on/off ratio and 387 mV/decade subthreshold swing. This investigation provides a possible way toward the development of high-performance, low-voltage TFT fabrication with the MXene/semiconductor combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Neonatal autonomic signs such as apnea, cyanosis, pallor, and desaturation rarely occur as isolated ictal phenomena and require a high degree of clinical suspicion in combination with continuous video electroencephalogram (vEEG) to establish a diagnosis. Methods We review the clinical profile, etiology, and treatment response in five neonates who presented with apnea as the primary seizure semiology. Results Ictal apneic episodes were confirmed on continuous vEEG in all five infants within 24–48 h of symptom onset. Seizure etiologies included structural, infectious, and genetic, including a neonate with ANKRD11‐associated KBG syndrome, in which ictal apnea has not been previously described. Acute seizures resolved in all neonates following treatment with a single or combination of antiseizure medications. Conclusions Abrupt onset and clustering episodes of apnea and oxygen desaturation in term infants should raise suspicion for epileptic seizures. Genetic testing should be considered as part of the diagnostic evaluation for autonomic seizures of unknown etiology. Early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal autonomic seizures may lead to excellent treatment response in the acute setting.

Abstract Corpus callosotomy (CC) is a palliative treatment for drop seizures in patients with drug‐resistant nonlocalizable epilepsy. We compared drop seizure outcomes between patients undergoing anterior CC versus complete CC and examined factors impacting outcomes for drop seizures including age at CC and duration of epilepsy. A retrospective review of patients who underwent CC between 2003 and 2022 with a minimum of 6 months postsurgical follow‐up was included. Outcome measure for drop seizures included seizure reduction ≥50% from baseline as well as elimination of drop seizures. Thirty‐eight patients were included. Overall, ≥50% reduction in drop seizures occurred in nearly 70% (23 out of 33) patients with complete elimination in 58% (19 out of 33). Compared with anterior CC (n = 13), patients undergoing complete CC (n = 25) had increased likelihood of ≥50% reduction (p = 0.006) or elimination (p = 0.024) of drop seizures. Regression analysis showed that complete CC was the primary predictor for improved drop seizure outcomes (elimination, p = 0.014 or ≥50% reduction, p = 0.006), while age at CC and duration of epilepsy did not impact the outcomes. Compared to anterior CC, complete CC was significantly more likely to lead to improvement/freedom from drop seizures. Age at CC or duration of epilepsy did not influence drop seizure outcomes.