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Background Amyand’s hernia, first described by Claudius Amyand in 1735, continues to remain a diagnostic & therapeutic challenge. By definition includes inguinal herniae that contain the vermiform appendix. Aim This up-to-date review aims to define and classify Amyand’s hernia and suggest appropriate management options in the current era. Aim to shed light on the value of pre-operative cross-sectional imaging and the use of laparoscopic surgery to provide a one stop solution. Method Published English literature was reviewed (1735–2021), using PubMed and Embase, combining the MeSH terms “hernia”, “inguinal”, “appendix”, “Amyand”, “low dose CT” and “laparoscopic herniotomy”. Most cited open access reviews, case series and case reports were chosen to provide a framework. A recent case is described with selected images (radiological, histology and intra operative). Results Since the original publication, by Claudius Amyand in 1735, there exists a gulf on this condition in the available British medical literature. Nearly 100,000 hernia repairs are performed in the UK annually. If Amyand’s hernia account for 1% of these (according to the most stated estimate), there should be a thousand Amyand’s herniae repaired annually in the UK alone. Unfortunately, the management options remain nonstandard. Conclusions Computerized tomography (CT) allows for pre-operative diagnosis and should be considered more often, even in children. Laparoscopic appendicectomy combined with a laparoscopic herniotomy is a safe one stop solution, in experienced hands, for paediatric patients.

Longitudinal multimodal imaging presents unique opportunities for noninvasive surveillance and prediction of treatment response to cancer immunotherapy. In this work we first designed a novel granzyme B activated self-assembly small molecule, G-SNAT, for the assessment of cytotoxic T lymphocyte mediated cancer cell killing. G-SNAT was found to specifically detect the activity of granzyme B within the cytotoxic granules of activated T cells and engaged cancer cells

This research was undertaken to examine the result of microwave pre-treatment on chickpea dehulling. The experiments were conducted at three microwave power levels (PL), 50, 70, and 90, at different five exposers from 1 to 3 minutes at the time interval of 30 seconds to evaluate chickpea dehulling with the pre-milling treatment of microwave exposure for achieving maximum dehulling yield, dhal yield, good dehulled grains in terms of quality with minimum dehulling loss. It was noted that dehulling yield improved with microwave power and exposure period. The highest dehulling yield, 71.02%, was achieved 90 PL with 2.5 minutes exposure and found maximum dhal yields, i.e., 66.40%, and minimum dehulling loss, 10.25%. So, this requirement was correct and better to get a higher dhal yield. These findings are also valuable for the pulse processing industry and fabricators for designing a continuous type pulse pre-milling treater unit. Hence, it could be highlighted that the microwave pre-milling treatment is more suitable for pulse processing like chickpea. This also presents an improvised method for pre-milling treatments for commercial adoption.

Higher education institutions are globally facing unprecedented disruptive trends, which have rapidly changed the landscape of global higher education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While transnational education (TNE) is increasingly becoming popular as a provision for internationally recognised education at the doorstep of students, the temporary shift from traditional classroom teaching and learning (T&L) to remote online T&L caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all stakeholders to provide the similar student experience as previously. Regarding TNE programmes, the emergency replacement of traditional classrooms with virtual ones has also raised significant challenges of both equity and pedagogy. However, given the current crisis in higher education, TNE can be a cornerstone in rebuilding the post-COVID-19 international education system. This chapter explores the challenges faced by the TNE programmes based on a systematic literature review and information gathered informally from various stakeholders and discusses the opportunities and future impacts in teaching, learning, and student support as the post-COVID-19 educational landscape emerges. It also provides an insight into how a sustainable transnational learning community can be developed for the quality and sustainability of international higher education in this new decade.

Here, we discuss the development of HfO2 PEALD thin films for laser applications. Antireflection coatings and dielectric mirrors for 355, 532 and 1064 nm wavelength and their laser damage resistance are presented.

Researchers have been exploring the potential of educational video games for learning English vocabulary. The primary focus is on two questions: (1) Can educational video games motivate students to learn English vocabulary (which explores students' attitudes)? and (2) Are educational video games effective in acquiring English vocabulary (which explores learning outcomes)? Good quality empirical research on this is rare because of the shortage of games specific to educational purposes. In addition, although some researchers have contributed to answering these two questions, their methodology is not convincing. Therefore, this chapter aims to provide an overview of their methodologies by introducing participant groups, popular educational video games, pre-test, post-test, and data analysis. Finally, this chapter will inspire researchers to conduct more reliable empirical research, thereby making better-found contributions to the field.

Numerous existing full-spectrum cannabis extract products have been used in clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases. Despite their efficacy, the clinical use of some of these full-spectrum cannabis extracts is limited by behavioral side effects such as cognitive dysfunction and impaired motor skills. To better understand what constitutes cannabis-induced behavioral effects, our objective was to identify a novel panel of blood-based metabolites that are predictive, diagnostic, and/or prognostic of behavioral effects.At 8 weeks of age, male rats were randomly assigned to groups and were gavage fed with full-spectrum cannabis extract (tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol (THC/CBD) along with all other cannabis compounds, 15 mg/kg), broad-spectrum cannabis extract (CBD along with all other cannabis compounds, 15 mg/kg), or vehicle oil. Four hours after being gavage fed, behavioral assessments were determined using the open field test and the elevated plus maze. Following these assessments, serum was collected from all rats and the serum metabolites were identified and quantified by LC–MS/MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy.We found that only rats treated with full-spectrum cannabis extract exhibited behavioral changes. Compared to vehicle-treated and broad-spectrum extract–treated rats, full-spectrum extract–treated rats demonstrated higher serum concentrations of the amino acid phenylalanine and long-chain acylcarnitines, as well as lower serum concentrations of butyric acid and lysophosphatidylcholines. This unique metabolomic fingerprint in response to cannabis extract administration is linked to behavioral effects and may represent a biomarker profile of cannabis-induced behavioral changes. If validated, this work may allow a metabolomics-based decision tree that would aid in the rapid diagnosis of cannabis-induced behavioral changes including cognitive impairment.

The present work was designed to investigate the presence of bioactive chemicals in the reaction mixtures (RMs) of peels of Valencia, Mandarin, and African navel oranges, through GC-MS and FT-IR studies. Limonene, a unique compound, is present in the RMs of the three orange peels. Moreover, hexadecanoic acid 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester was identified in the RMs of all the three-orange peels. The RM of Mandarin orange exhibited potent cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 ATCC human breast cancer cells (HBC). All the three RMs exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against the human pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603), Salmonella choleraesis (ATCC 10708), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 299).

Introduction: olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare cancer of the sinonasal region. We provide a comprehensive analysis of this malignancy with molecular and clinical trial data on a subset of our cohort to report on the potential efficacy of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-targeting imaging and therapy.Methods: we conducted a retrospective analysis of 404 primary, locally recurrent, and metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) patients from 12 institutions in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Europe. Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment approach were evaluated. SSTR2 expression, SSTR2-targeted imaging and the efficacy of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy [PRRT](177Lu-DOTATATE) were reported in a subset of our cohort (LUTHREE trial; NCT03454763).Results: dural infiltration at presentation was a significant predictor of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in primary cases (n = 278). Kadish-Morita staging and Dulguerov T-stage both had limitations regarding their prognostic value. Multivariable survival analysis demonstrated improved outcomes with lower stage and receipt of adjuvant radiotherapy. Prophylactic neck irradiation significantly reduces the rate of nodal recurrence. 82.4% of the cohort were positive for SSTR2; treatment of three metastatic cases with SSTR2-targeted peptide-radionuclide receptor therapy (PRRT) in the LUTHREE trial was well-tolerated and resulted in stable disease (SD).Conclusions: this study presents pertinent clinical data from the largest dataset, to date, on ONB. We identify key prognostic markers and integrate these into an updated staging system, highlight the importance of adjuvant radiotherapy across all disease stages, the utility of prophylactic neck irradiation and the potential efficacy of targeting SSTR2 to manage disease.

The design of an etched lithium niobate waveguide-based modulator with a high-K dielectric cladding is proposed. Optimized design of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator shows a low half-wave-voltage-length product of ~1.52 V.cm.

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are predicted in many extensions of the Standard Model, and their masses can naturally be well below the electroweak scale. In the presence of couplings to electroweak bosons, these particles could be emitted in flavor-changing $B$ meson decays. We report herein a search for an ALP, $a$, in the reaction $B^\pm\rightarrow K^\pm a$, $a\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$ using data collected by the BABAR experiment at SLAC. No significant signal is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the ALP coupling to electroweak bosons are derived as a function of ALP mass, improving current constraints by several orders of magnitude in the range $0.175\,\,\mathrm{GeV} < m_a < 4.78\,\,\mathrm{GeV}$., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett

Real-world evidence is important for post-marketing evaluation. Data comparing adalimumab's effectiveness and safety with traditional therapies in clinical settings are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to compare real-world effectiveness of adalimumab versus topical/traditional systemic agents for management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis METHODS: Patients requiring change in treatment were enrolled between 2011 and 2016 and followed per routine care for up to 24 months. Achievement of Physician Global Assessment (PGA) ≤ 1.0 at 6 months was assessed with logistic regression; time to achievement was assessed using Cox regression. Additional outcomes were assessed using repeated measures mixed models.Patients receiving adalimumab (n = 293) versus topical/traditional systemic agents (n = 302) were more likely to achieve PGA ≤ 1.0 at 6 months (odds ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-4.30) in a shorter time (hazard ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.53-3.00), reporting both lower body surface area and improved quality of life and work productivity.In this real-world study, adalimumab was more effective than topical/traditional systemic agents at reducing disease activity and improving quality of life outcomes among Canadians with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. (NCT00799877).

Delhi is one of the world’s most polluted cities, with very high concentrations of airborne particulate matter. However, little is known on the factors controlling the characteristics of particle number size distributions. Here, new measurements are reported from three field campaigns conducted in winter, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons on the Indian Insitute of Technology campus in the south of the city. Particle number size distributions were measured simultaneously using a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and a Grimm optical particle monitor, covering 15 nm to > 10 µm diameter. The merged, wide-range size distributions were categorised into five size ranges: nucleation (15–20 nm), Aitken (20–100 nm), accumulation (100 nm–1 µm), large fine (1–2.5 µm) and coarse (2.5–10 µm) particles. The ultrafine fraction (15–100 nm) accounts for about 52 % of all particles by number (PN10), but just 1 % by PM10 volume (PV10). The measured size distributions are markedly coarser than most from other parts of the world, but are consistent with earlier cascade impactor data from Delhi. Our results suggest substantial aerosol processing by coagulation, condensation and water uptake in the heavily polluted atmosphere, which takes place mostly at nighttime and in the morning hours. Total number concentrations are highest in winter, but the mode of the distribution is largest in the post-monsoon (autumn) season. The accumulation mode particles dominate the particle volume in autumn and winter, while the coarse mode dominates in summer. Polar plots show a huge variation between both size fractions in the same season and between seasons for the same size fraction. The diurnal pattern of particle numbers is strongly reflective of a road traffic influence upon concentrations, especially in autumn and winter. There is a clear influence of diesel traffic at nighttime when it is permitted to enter the city, and also indications in the size distribution data of a mode < 15 nm, probably attributable to CNG/LPG vehicles. New particle formation appears to be infrequent, and in this dataset is limited to one day in the summer campaign. Our results reveal that the very high emissions of airborne particles in Delhi, particularly from traffic, determine the variation of particle number size distributions.

TNF, produced largely by T and innate immune cells, is potently proinflammatory, as are cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-17 produced by Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively. Here, we asked if TNF is upstream of Th skewing toward inflammatory phenotypes. Exposure of mouse CD4(+) T cells to TNF and TGF-β generated Th17 cells that express low levels of IL-17 (ROR-γt(+)IL-17(lo)) and high levels of inflammatory markers independently of IL-6 and STAT3. This was mediated by the nondeath TNF receptor TNFR2, which also contributed to the generation of inflammatory Th1 cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of central nervous system–infiltrating CD4(+) T cells in mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) found an inflammatory gene expression profile similar to cerebrospinal fluid–infiltrating CD4(+) T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis. Notably, TNFR2-deficient CD4(+) T cells produced fewer inflammatory mediators and were less pathogenic in EAE and colitis. IL-1β, a Th17-skewing cytokine, induced TNF and proinflammatory granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in T cells, which was inhibited by disruption of TNFR2 signaling, demonstrating IL-1β can function indirectly via the production of TNF. Thus, TNF is not just an effector but also an initiator of inflammatory Th differentiation.

Proximity ligation assay (PLA), also referred to as Duolink® PLA technology, permits detection of protein-protein interactions in situ (

Traditional socket prosthesis (TSP) rehabilitation for amputees is associated with substantial dissatisfaction due to poor mobility and pain from soft tissue squeezing. Osseointegration (OI), eliminates skin compression and prosthesis fit issues, providing superior mobility and quality of life (QOL) for most amputees. The potential for OI to benefit patients with exceptionally poor mobility is understudied. To address this knowledge gap, this project investigated the mobility and QOL changes.A retrospective review was performed to identify transfemoral amputees who presented with wheelchair-bound mobility (K0) and had at least five years of post-osseointegration follow-up. Outcome measures included changes in mobility (K-level, daily prosthesis wear hours, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6 minute walk test (6MWT)) and QOL (Questionnaire for persons with a Transfemoral Amputation (QTFA); Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF36). Adverse events recorded included debridement for infection, implant revision surgery, fractures, and implant failures.9 patients with mean age 48.2±7.7 (range 34-59) years were included. The proportion of patients achieving K-level >2 improved from 0/9=0% to [9/9=100%], pOsseointegration does confer significant sustained mobility and quality of life improvement for wheelchair bound transfemoral amputees. All 9 K0 patients had statistically improved mobility and QOL after osseointegrated reconstruction. This supports osseointegration as an effective rapid and long-term rehabilitation alternative for patients who have the neurologic and muscular capacity to walk but are unable due to issues related to their TSP.

In this study, the influence of hydrothermal reaction temperatures on V2O5synthesized via a green facile mild hydrothermal method at six different reaction temperatures ranging from 100 to 200 °C, at steps of 20 °C and the physical properties the synthesized samples have been investigated. The x-ray diffraction pattern confirms the stable orthorhombic crystal structure of the synthesized samples at all reaction temperatures. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images demonstrate the particle-like morphology, and these characterizations affirmed that the particles’ size became larger with the increase in the reaction temperatures. To study the functional groups, Fourier-transform infrared investigation has been employed. The bandgap of the synthesized samples has been estimated using UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and was found to vary from 2.08 to 2.15 eV, which implies their suitability for absorbing a significant amount of visible light. The photocatalysis of methylene blue with synthesized samples has been carried out to investigate the photocatalytic efficiency. Pure V2O5 synthesized at a lower reaction temperature (100 °C) possesses a lower bandgap and, accordingly, higher photocatalytic efficiency.

Current immune monitoring strategies in the clinic are limited in their sensitivity and specificity or struggle to provide precise spatiotemporal information, emphasizing the need for superior imaging probes that can provide macroscopic and accurate assessments of immune cells and their functional states in real time. Lymphocytes, comprising of T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, have been a primary focus in the immune imaging field since many of the desired robust, killing responses in cancer immunotherapy and infection converge on these cell types, as does the undesired cytotoxicity observed in autoimmunity and transplant rejection. Identification and targeting of endogenous markers specific to these cells enables their noninvasive visualization in their native environment, bypassing the need for prior isolation or ex vivo radiochemical or genetic manipulation. In this chapter, we highlight nuclear imaging probes that have been developed in the last decade for specific visualization of endogenous biomarkers of lymphocytes, thereby reporting on their distinct behaviors including activation, proliferation, trafficking, inhibition, and cytotoxic effector functions. We discuss how imaging these processes can improve our understanding of local and systemic immune dynamics occurring in cancer immunotherapy and immunopathology and the potential utility of these radioactive probes for improving disease diagnosis, guiding treatment, and evaluating treatment response. Additionally, we discuss the strengths and limitations of these approaches and highlight areas of focus for future studies.

Background: Ebola virus emerged in West Africa in December 2013. The ease of mobility, porous borders, and lack of public health infrastructure led to the largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak to date. Intervention: The 2013 EVD outbreak signalled the need for laboratory diagnostic capabilities in areas without strong public health systems. As part of the United States’ Department of Defense response, MRIGlobal was contracted to design, fabricate, equip, deploy, and operate two mobile diagnostic laboratories (MDLs). The first laboratory analysed blood samples from patients in an adjacent Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) and buccal swabs from the deceased in the community in Moyamba, Sierra Leone. The second laboratory was deployed to support an ETC in Conakry, Guinea. The Department of Defense provided real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays that were deployed and validated on-site. Lessons Learnt: Prompt and accurate molecular diagnostics reduced sample turn-around times from over 24 h to under 4 h. Experienced laboratory staff tested up to 110 samples per day and on-site engineering proved necessary for MDL setup and operation. As the Ebola response slowed, the sustainment of the MDLs’ operations was prioritised, including staff training and the transition of the MDLs to local governments. Training programmes for local staff were prepared in Sierra Leone and Guinea. Recommendations: The MRIGlobal MDL team significantly contributed to establishing increased laboratory capacity during the EVD outbreak in West Africa. Using the MDLs for molecular diagnosis is highly recommended until more sustainable solutions can be provided.

A novel and efficacious inorganic-organic hybrid material was synthesized by immobilizing Cu(II)-Schiff’s base complex on silica-gel using 3-(2-aminoethylamino) propyltrimethoxysilane as linker and 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione for Schiff’s base formation. The hybrid was characterized by FT-IR, DRUV-Vis, Solid State 13C CPMAS NMR, Powder-XRD, SEM, ICP-AES, EDX and TGA and EPR techniques. Catalytic ability of the hybrid was evaluated for oxidative degradation of Reactive Black 5, and oxidation of few representative organic substrates, viz., tetralin, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, and cyclopentanol, where the hybrid catalyst decomposes H2O2 to generate ·OH free radicals. Influence of various reaction parameters, i.e., H2O2 concentration, catalyst concentration, and temperature, on dye degradation process was studied and best reaction conditions for maximum degradation of RB5 were also determined. The catalyst gave a high dye degradation efficiency of 91 %, and a good product yield of 42.61 %, 41.09 %, 40.54 %, and 38.44 % for conversion of tetralin (with selectivity of 74.23 % and 25.77 % for tetralone and tetralol, respectively), cyclohexane (with selectivity of 75.05 % and 24.95 % for cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, respectively), cyclohexanol (with 100 % selectivity for cyclohexanone), and cyclopentanol (with 100 % selectivity for cyclopentanone), respectively. Easy separation, reusability, and good catalytic activity leading to possible development of eco-friendly industrial manufacturing process are the motivating factors for using the synthesized novel material. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Seaweeds are a major marine resource that can be explored to develop novel pharmaceutical molecules. The present study showed the presence of unique bioactive components in the petroleum ether extract (PEE) and methanolic extract (ME) of Sargassum tenerrimum. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis suggested that the PEE of S. tenerrimum contained antibacterial biomolecules: hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, 17-pentatriacontene, dasycarpidan-1-methanol, and acetate (ester). However, the ME of S. tenerrimum exhibited better antibacterial effect than the PEE due to the presence of the bioactive compounds 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester, tetratetracontane, 1-docosene, 1,2-benzenediol, and benzoic acid. Thus, promising antibacterial molecules can be isolated from S. tenerrimum for better therapeutic use. Resumo As algas marinhas são um importante recurso marinho que pode ser explorado para desenvolver novas moléculas farmacêuticas. O presente estudo mostrou a presença de componentes bioativos únicos no extrato etéreo de petróleo (PEE) e no extrato metanólico (ME) de Sargassum tenerrimum. A análise por cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massa sugeriu que o PEE de S. tenerrimum continha biomoléculas antibacterianas: ácido hexadecanoico, éster metílico, 17-pentatriaconteno, dasycarpidan-1-metanol e acetato (éster). Entretanto, o ME de S. tenerrimum exibiu melhor efeito antibacteriano do que o PEE devido à presença dos compostos bioativos ácido 1,2-benzenodicarboxílico, éster diisooctil, tetratetracontano, 1-docosene, 1,2-benzoenodiol e ácido benzoico. Assim, moléculas antibacterianas promissoras podem ser isoladas de S. tenerrimum para melhor uso terapêutico.

Longitudinal multimodal imaging presents unique opportunities for noninvasive surveillance and prediction of treatment response to cancer immunotherapy. In this work we first designed a novel granzyme B activated self-assembly small molecule, G-SNAT, for quantitative assessment of cytotoxic T lymphocyte mediated cancer cell killingin vivo. In lymphoma tumor bearing mice, the retention of cyanine 5 labeled G-SNAT-Cy5 was shown to be highly correlated to CAR T-cell mediated granzyme B release and tumor eradication. In colorectal tumor-bearing transgenic mice, expressing firefly luciferase in hematopoietic cells, and which received combination treatment of anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4, longitudinal bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging revealed the dynamics of immune cell expansion, trafficking, tumor infiltration, and cytotoxic activity which predicted therapeutic outcome before tumor shrinkage was evident. These results support further development of G-SNAT for imaging early immune response to checkpoint blockade and CAR T-cell therapy in patients and highlight the utility of multimodality imaging for improved mechanistic insights into cancer immunotherapy.

We study the processes γ γ → η c → η ′ K + K - , η ′ π + π - , and η π + π - using a data sample of 519 fb - 1 recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e + e - collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the ϒ ( n S ) ( n = 2 , 3, 4) resonances. This is the first observation of the decay η c → η ′ K + K - and we measure the branching fraction Γ ( η c → η ′ K + K - ) / ( Γ ( η c → η ′ π + π - ) = 0.644 ± 0.03 9 stat ± 0.03 2 sys . Significant interference is observed between γ γ → η c → η π + π - and the nonresonant two-photon process γ γ → η π + π - . A Dalitz plot analysis is performed of η c decays to η ′ K + K - , η ′ π + π - , and η π + π - . Combined with our previous analysis of η c → K K ¯ π , we measure the K 0 * ( 1430 ) parameters and the ratio between its η ′ K and π K couplings. The decay η c → η ′ π + π - is dominated by the f 0 ( 2100 ) resonance, also observed in J / ψ radiative decays. A new a 0 ( 1700 ) → η π resonance is observed in the η c → η π + π - channel. We also compare η c decays to η and η ′ final states in association with scalar mesons as they relate to the identification of the scalar glueball.

Peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes mellitus (DM) and vitamin B12 deficiency may produce overlapping clinical pictures. Metformin use is a known cause of B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at two specialized endocrine outpatient clinics in Mymensingh and Cumilla cities of Bangladesh over one year from July 2019 to June 2020. Non-pregnant adults (≥18 years of age) receiving drug treatment for T2DM for at least six months were included in this study. The study subjects were divided into two groups: those with ongoing treatment with metformin and those who never received metformin in their lifetime. Out of 99 subjects evaluated, 66 (66.7%) were in the metformin group, and 33 (33.3%) were in the non-metformin group. Subjects in the metformin group had significantly lower B12 levels compared to the non-metformin group [448.5 (343.0-570.9) vs. 549.0 (487.5-847.0) pg/mL, median (IQR), p0.001]. None of the study subjects in the non-metformin group were either borderline deficient or deficient of B12 compared to five borderline deficient and three deficient subjects in the metformin group. Among the study subjects, 88.9% had peripheral neuropathy (PN) (43.4% mild, 21.2% moderate and 24.2% severe PN); the two groups had similar frequencies of PN. Though median serum B12 levels were lower in mild [483.0 (411.2-620.0) pg/mL], moderate [492.0 (366.5-680.0) pg/mL] and severe PN [524.5 (363.5-654.2) pg/mL] groups compared to absent PN group [540.0 (340.0-685.0) pg/mL]; the difference in B12 levels across the four groups was not statistically significant. B12 levels had weak negative correlation (r = -0.061, p = 0.624) with gram-years of metformin use. Periodic screening for serum vitamin B12 levels should be done to identify metformin-induced B12 deficiency in T2DM, especially those with PN.

Use of series vacuum interrupters is known in the industry which is used to improve the dielectric performance of Vacuum interrupters to handle the higher voltages. This uses two or more Vacuum interrupters for the said application or a specially designed Vacuum Interrupters. Which can become a little complicated, bulky.In this paper, a standard design of Vacuum interrupter is used to generate an idea of double moving contact. Commercially available Single moving contact VI are mounted on existing mechanism but with modified linkage in order to pull both the contacts of VI, which results in movement of Fixed contact along with VI Bottle in one direction and Moving contact in other direction.Advantage of this method is that the opening velocity of VI is increased to around twice of original with existing spring mechanism and contact travel along with contact gap also increased, so it can be used for Higher voltages or clearing fault with higher TRV values. A detailed description of the mechanical parameters, its advantages is given.

The Indian megacity of Delhi suffers from some of the poorest air quality in the world. While ambient NO2 and particulate matter (PM) concentrations have received considerable attention in the city, high ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations are an often overlooked component of pollution. O3 can lead to significant ecosystem damage and agricultural crop losses, and adversely affect human health. During October 2018, concentrations of speciated non-methane hydrocarbon volatile organic compounds (C2–C13), oxygenated volatile organic compounds (o-VOCs), NO, NO2, HONO, CO, SO2, O3, and photolysis rates, were continuously measured at an urban site in Old Delhi. These observations were used to constrain a detailed chemical box model utilising the Master Chemical Mechanism v3.3.1. VOCs and NOx (NO + NO2) were varied in the model to test their impact on local O3 production rates, P(O3), which revealed a VOC-limited chemical regime. When only NOx concentrations were reduced, a significant increase in P(O3) was observed; thus, VOC co-reduction approaches must also be considered in pollution abatement strategies. Of the VOCs examined in this work, mean morning P(O3) rates were most sensitive to monoaromatic compounds, followed by monoterpenes and alkenes, where halving their concentrations in the model led to a 15.6 %, 13.1 %, and 12.9 % reduction in P(O3), respectively. P(O3) was not sensitive to direct changes in aerosol surface area but was very sensitive to changes in photolysis rates, which may be influenced by future changes in PM concentrations. VOC and NOx concentrations were divided into emission source sectors, as described by the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) v5.0 Global Air Pollutant Emissions and EDGAR v4.3.2_VOC_spec inventories, allowing for the impact of individual emission sources on P(O3) to be investigated. Reducing road transport emissions only, a common strategy in air pollution abatement strategies worldwide, was found to increase P(O3), even when the source was removed in its entirety. Effective reduction in P(O3) was achieved by reducing road transport along with emissions from combustion for manufacturing and process emissions. Modelled P(O3) reduced by ∼ 20 ppb h−1 when these combined sources were halved. This study highlights the importance of reducing VOCs in parallel with NOx and PM in future pollution abatement strategies in Delhi.

Breath analysis holds great promise for rapid, noninvasive early cancer detection; however, clinical implementation is impeded by limited signal from nascent tumors and high background expression by non-malignant tissues. To address this issue, we developed a novel breath-based reporter system for early cancer detection using D-limonene, a volatile organic compound (VOC) from citrus fruit that is not produced in humans, in order to minimize background signal and maximize sensitivity and specificity for cancer detection. We metabolically engineered HeLa human cervical cancer cells to express limonene at levels detectable by mass spectrometry by introducing a single plant gene encoding limonene synthase. To improve limonene production and detection sensitivity twofold, we genetically co-expressed a modified form of a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. In a HeLa xenograft tumor mouse model, limonene is a sensitive and specific volatile reporter of tumor presence and growth, permitting detection of tumors as small as 5 mm. Moreover, tumor detection in mice improves proportionally with breath sampling time. By continuously collecting VOCs for 10 hours, we improve sensitivity for cancer detection 100-fold over static headspace sampling methods. Whole-body physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and simulation of tumor-derived limonene predicts detection of tumors as small as 7 mm in humans, equivalent to the detection limit of clinical imaging modalities, such as PET, yet far more economical.Significance StatementWe developed a breath-based reporter system using the plant terpene, D-limonene – a volatile secondary metabolite that gives citrus fruit its characteristic scent but is not produced in human tissues – as a biomarker for early cancer detection. Results from this study could pave the way for in vivo gene delivery and tumor-specific expression of exogenous volatile cancer reporters with broad applicability to the early diagnosis of a wide variety of cancers.

One technique to evaluate the performance of oil sands reclamation covers is through the simulation of long-term water balance using calibrated soil–vegetation–atmosphere transfer models. Conventional practice has been to derive a single set of optimized hydraulic parameters through inverse modelling (IM) based on short-term (