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Fruiting behaviour and sex form are important goals for Luffa breeders and this study aimed to shed light upon inheritance patterns for both these traits. The hermaphrodite form of Luffa acutangula (known as Satputia) is an underutilized vegetable with a unique clustered fruiting habit. Its desirable traits, such as plant architecture, earliness, as well as contrasting traits like unique clustered fruiting, bisexual flower, and crossability with Luffa acutangula (monoecious ridge gourd with solitary fruits), make it a potential source for trait improvement and mapping of desirable traits in Luffa. In the present study, we have elucidated the inheritance pattern of fruiting behaviour in Luffa using F2 mapping population generated from a cross between Pusa Nutan (Luffa acutangula, monoecious, solitary fruiting) × DSat-116 (Luffa acutangula, hermaphrodite, cluster fruiting). In F2 generation, the observed distribution of plant phenotypes fitted in the expected ratio of 3:1 (solitary vs cluster) for fruit-bearing habit. This is the first report of monogenic recessive control for cluster fruit-bearing habit in Luffa. Herein, we designate for the first time the gene symbol cl for cluster fruit bearing in Luffa. Linkage analysis revealed that SRAP marker ME10 EM4-280 was linked to the fruiting trait at the distance of 4.6 cM from the Cl locus. In addition, the inheritance pattern of hermaphrodite sex form in Luffa was also studied in the F2 population of Pusa Nutan × DSat-116 that segregated into 9:3:3:1 ratio (monoecious:andromonoecious:gynoecious:hermaphrodite), suggesting a digenic recessive control of hermaphrodite sex form in Luffa, which was further confirmed by the test cross. The inheritance and identification of molecular marker for cluster fruiting trait provides a basis for breeding in Luffa species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrot is an important vegetable crop worldwide valued for its fleshy edible roots of varied colours. Owing to its highly cross-pollinated nature and small flower size, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is being utilized for hybrid development. Among different types of male sterility, petaloid CMS is widely used for hybrid carrot breeding globally. This study aimed to develop selection criteria for parents in developing heterotic F 1 hybrids using CMS lines. A large number of agro-morphological traits and Simple Sequence Repeats (genomic-SSRs) were used to assess the diversity among parental lines. We developed 60 F 1 hybrids by crossing four petaloid CMS lines and 15 testers in line × tester mating design and evaluated them in replicated randomized block design trial for four vegetative and 11 economic traits. The mean squares of all the traits in line × tester interactions were significant. The estimates of genetic components of variance indicated predominance of non-additive gene action except for root maturity, root length and core diameter. The hybrids with highest per se performance also had significant positive specific combining ability effects. The root yield and root weight showed highest heterosis percentage (33%). The best performing heterotic hybrids were DCatH-5392, DCatH-700 and DCatH-9892. Correlation between genetic distance and relative heterosis of economic traits indicated no significant association and thus genetic distance could not be used to predict heterosis. As most of the yield-related traits were controlled by non-additive gene action, heterosis breeding could be potentially used along with combining ability analysis to reduce time in selection of best parents and crosses in tropical carrot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cauliflower is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide. Development and characterization of suitable cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and male fertile inbreds is instrumental in developing heterotic hybrids. A study was undertaken to estimate heterosis and combining ability in snowball cauliflower lines through line × tester analysis involving five Ogura CMS lines and seven male fertile testers. The assessment of F1s along with their parental lines for different horticultural traits revealed a wide range of heterosis. Ogu-13-01 was the best general combiner for leaf length, leaf width and plant height, Ogu-13-85 for number of leaves/plant, Ogu-101 for days to 50% curd initiation, days to 50% curd maturity and net curd weight and Ogu-119 for harvest index. The lines with better general combining ability (GCA) were involved in majority of the heterotic hybrids. The tester Kt-18 was the best general combiner for leaf width, DB-1305 for number of leaves/plant and DB-187 for leaf length, plant height, gross plant weight and days to 50% curd initiation. However, GCA alone was not sufficient to determine and identify the potential parental lines. Hybrids Ogu-101 × DB-1305 and Ogu-119 × Suprimax Late were the best specific combinations for marketable curd weight, marketable curd yield, net curd weight and net curd yield. The hybrid Ogu-119 × Suprimax Late was the best heterotic combination for marketable curd weight, marketable curd yield, net curd weight and net curd yield, followed by Ogu-101 × DB-1305, Ogu-119 × Sel-26 and Ogu-101 × DB-187. Our findings will be instrumental to identify suitable parental lines and developing heterotic F1 hybrids in cauliflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a machine learning (ML) application to examine artificial lift (AL) selection, using only field production datasets from a Sudanese oil field. Five ML algorithms were used to develop a selection model, and the results demonstrated the ML capabilities in the optimum selection, with accuracy reaching 93%. Moreover, the predicted AL has a better production performance than the actual ones in the field. The research shows the significant production parameters to consider in AL type and size selection. The top six critical factors affecting AL selection are gas, cumulatively produced fluid, wellhead pressure, GOR, produced water, and the implemented EOR. This article contributes significantly to the literature and proposes a new and efficient approach to selecting the optimum AL to maximize oil production and profitability, reducing the analysis time and production losses associated with inconsistency in selection and frequent AL replacement. This study offers a universal model that can be applied to any oil field with different parameters and lifting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Studied variability for fruit quality traits among 91 Indian accessions of bottle gourd. • High heritability with high genetic advance recorded for phenol content and antioxidant activity. • Positive association noted between phenol, antioxidant activity, Mg, Fe and Zn content. • 91 accessions grouped into 12 clusters. First two PCs accounted for 62.43% variation. • Promising accessions for use as donors in quality breeding were identified. Bottle gourd is amongst the widely grown yet under-researched cucurbit vegetable in India and sub-Saharan Africa. The fresh immature leaves, fruit and seed are used for food and medicinal purposes, as rootstock for watermelon. Despite the economic and culinary importance, availability of wide variation in Africa and India, the bottle gourd genetic resources remains under-utilized, particularly with respect to harnessing the nutritional quality. In the present study, we evaluated 91 bottle gourd accessions from India and identified promising bottle gourd accessions for quality traits such as total phenol content, total antioxidant capacity, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper contents. High genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation (>20%) were recorded for all the biochemical traits and mineral nutrients. High heritability (h2) with high genetic advance was recorded for phenol content (99.00/62.76%) and antioxidant activity (99.71/62.58%) whereas high heritability (h2) with low genetic advance was recorded for all the mineral nutrients except magnesium (98.79/49.84%). Simple correlation coefficients among the different traits revealed a highly significant positive association of total phenol content with antioxidant activity, magnesium, iron and zinc content. Euclidian cluster analysis grouped 91 accessions into 12 clusters based on Ward's distance. Eigen value from principal component analysis depicted the first two components accounted for 62.43 cumulative percent of total variation which signifies a high degree of correlation between the analyzed traits. The promising accessions IC-0336825, IC-0385814, IC-0418246 and IC-0284925 and check cultivar Pusa Santusthi for phenol content, antioxidant activity and mineral nutrients (Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu) may be used as donors in the quality breeding program in bottle gourd. The implication of identified promising bottle gourd accessions for development of new cultivars in bottle gourd is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article applies critical pedagogy to creative writing courses in the context of the modern transforming university. The author incorporates discussions of varied forms of capital, histories of cultural and capital production in the academy, and transforming canons into workshops to facilitate student contextualization of their own creative work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we operate on a small dataset available from the technical literature to predict the oxidation-induced mass change at 1000 °C of thousands of new alloy compositions using "Tree-based Pipeline Optimization Tool" , an automated machine learning (ML) method. The ML pipeline we develop is trained on the log10 of the mass change per unit area. This yields a mean absolute error of 0.34 on the test set's values, which span 3.5 decades. With additional insights from thermodynamic simulations, a set of seven alloys is selected, manufactured, and characterized. Of these, the oxidation behavior of five alloys is well-predicted by the ML-based model, while results for two alloys show orders of magnitude deviations from predictions. The results show that ML-based methods can be useful for predicting composition-dependent oxidation behavior, despite its many complexities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer screening is estimated to save 1300 lives annually in the United Kingdom. Despite this, uptake of invitations has fallen over the past decade. Behavioural science-informed interventions addressing the determinants of attendance behaviour have shown variable effectiveness. This may be due to the narrow repertoire of techniques trialled, and the difficulties of implementation at a population-scale. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact on breast screening uptake of a novel behavioural video intervention which can contain more complex combinations of behavioural change techniques.Methods: A 3-armed randomised controlled trial will be undertaken in London comparing the impact of (1) the usual care SMS reminder, to (2) a behavioural plain text SMS reminder and (3) a novel video sent as a link within the behavioural plain text SMS reminder. A total of 8391 participants (2797 per group) will be allocated to one of the three trial arms using a computer randomisation process, based upon individuals' healthcare identification numbers. The novel video has been co-designed with a diverse range of women to overcome the barriers faced by underserved communities and the wider population. The behavioural SMS content has also been co-designed through the same process as the video. Messages will be sent through the current reminder system used by the London screening programmes, with reminders 7 days and 2 days prior to a timed appointment. The primary outcome is attendance at breast cancer screening within 3 months of the initial invitation. Secondary outcomes will include evaluating the impact of each message amongst socio-demographic groups and according to the appointment type e.g. first invitation or recall.Discussion: In addition to general declining trends in attendance, there is also concern of increasing healthcare inequalities with breast cancer screening in London. The current novel intervention, designed with underserved groups and the general population, incorporates several behavioural techniques to overcome the barriers to attendance. Understanding its potential impact in a real-world setting therefore may provide significant information on how to address reducing attendance and healthcare disparities.Trial Registration: This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT05395871 ) on the 27th May 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anatomical variations of the mandibular canal play a vital role while performing surgical procedures affecting an area with mandibular canal course in the mandible. The neurovascular bundle may be severed during surgical procedures carried out mandible. Aims and Objectives: The present retrospective study was aimed to assess and evaluate the mandibular canal and its variations on the panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods: The study included 88 randomly selected panoramic radiographs with complete mandible and associated bone. On a panoramic radiograph, the following parameters were assessed including bifid mandibular canal and location of bifurcation, the diameter of the mandibular canal as recorded in the first molar region, trabeculation in submandibular gland fossa, anterior loop measurement, direction and diameter of the bifid mandibular canal were all evaluated. Statistical analysis was done. Results: In 51 hemimandibles, the mandibular canal was found to be corticalized, whereas in 21.59% (n = 19), the mandibular canal was visible. In the remaining 20.45% (n = 18) of the study participants, the mandibular canal was not visualized. In the submandibular gland fossa region, diminished trabeculation was seen in 55.68% of the evaluated radiographs, whereas trabeculation was not seen at all in the remaining 23.86% of the subjects. A significant correlation was seen in decreased trabeculation of submandibular gland fossa and absence of the mandibular canal (P value < 0.001). The bifid mandibular canal was seen in 19.31% of the study participants (n = 17) with a mean width of 3.12 ± 1.1 mm. Extension of the anterior loop of the mental nerve was seen as up to 2 mm in majority participants in 67.04% individuals (n = 59). Conclusion: The present study suggests that panoramic radiographs are a reliable tool for assessment of the mandibular canal and associated anatomical variations associated with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide as a thermoelectric material has shown great attention in recent years due to its outstanding thermal and chemical stability, good oxidation resistance, low cost, etc. This article reports the successful synthesis of tungsten oxide (WO 3) nanoparticles and tungsten oxide-reduced graphene oxide (WO 3 -rGO) nanocomposites and studies of their thermoelectric properties. The structural characteristics of the WO 3 nanoparticles and WO 3 -rGO nanocomposites were examined using XRD and Raman techniques. At 313 K, WO 3 -rGO nanocomposites exhibit an ~ 8.8 times enhancement in the thermoelectric material figure of merit (zT). These excellent performances are further supported by up to ~ 13.7 times enhanced electrical conductivity and a ~ 56% reduction in thermal conductivity compared to WO 3 nanoparticles. It has been concluded that reduce graphene oxide helps in forming a conducting pathway in the WO 3 -rGO nanocomposites, allowing the easy passage of charge carriers in the matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on journals' contents that were manuscripts prepared by the employees of pharma companies. Topics include considered they recruited academically affiliated researchers to be authors for these manuscripts replaces the names of company scientists who actually wrote them and examines most such manuscripts did not have any disclosure regarding the industry affiliation or support.

The purpose of this paper is to an analytical study of the offensive aspect of the national team players in the Arab Gulf Championships (2015) and the Asian Nations (2018) in football. To achieve the goal, the researchers used the descriptive approach to fit the research problem, and the research sample included the matches of the Iraqi national football team participating in the two championships. It was 9 matches and 7 matches were analyzed. Only, the necessary equipment and tools were used, and the analysis form was prepared that includes calculating the attack when it crosses the middle of the field, and one match was shown on the computer screen to calculate the successful and failed repetitions of the attack. The analysis process took (15) days, Each match was re-analyzed twice to reach the accuracy of the results, and the researchers concluded that no moral differences appeared between the two halves, weakness in the offensive manoeuvres of the Iraqi team, and the researchers recommend the need to conduct research on the defensive side of the Iraqi team for the 2015 Arab Gulf Championships and the 2018 Asian Nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hostile vascular disease can pose a challenge for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, for which the preferred access is via a common femoral artery. However, extensive peripheral arterial disease may also preclude traditional points of alternative access in some patients. Herein, we describe two patients in whom successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement was performed via direct innominate artery access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to evaluate using Varian HyperArc as a planning and treatment solution for whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) with hippocampal sparing following Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0933 dosimetric criteria. Ten patients previously treated for intracranial lesions were retrospectively planned for WBRT with hippocampal sparing using HyperArc and a 2-arc coplanar VMAT technique. The whole brain and hippocampus were delineated on fused MRI and CT datasets. The planning target volume (PTV), defined as the whole brain excluding the hippocampal avoidance region, was prescribed 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Plans were evaluated using dosimetric parameters which included the volume of 105% of the prescription dose (V105%) and the maximum dose to the PTV, and the minimum dose to the hippocampus. The planning time, delivery time, and delivery quality assurance (QA) results were also evaluated. Statistical significance was performed between the HyperArc and coplanar VMAT metrics using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with a significance level of 0.05. All plans met RTOG 0933 dosimetric criteria. HyperArc plans demonstrated significant improvements in PTV dosimetric quality which included a reduced V105% of 6 ± 7% and decreased maximum dose of 1.3 ± 0.3 Gy, compared to coplanar VMAT. Significant OAR sparing was also found for HyperArc plans that included a decreased minimum dose to the hippocampus of 0.3 ± 0.3 Gy. Coplanar VMAT plans resulted in significantly shorter planning and delivery times, compared to HyperArc, by 2.4 minutes and 1.5 minutes, respectively. No significant difference was found between the delivery QA results. This study demonstrated using Varian HyperArc as a planning and treatment solution for WBRT with hippocampal sparing following RTOG 0933 dosimetric criteria. The primary advantages of WBRT with hippocampal sparing using HyperArc, compared to coplanar VMAT, are the gains in OAR sparing and reduced high dose volumes to the PTV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anatomical variations of the mandibular canal play a vital role while performing surgical procedures affecting an area with mandibular canal course in the mandible. The neurovascular bundle may be severed during surgical procedures carried out mandible. Aims and Objectives: The present retrospective study was aimed to assess and evaluate the mandibular canal and its variations on the panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods: The study included 88 randomly selected panoramic radiographs with complete mandible and associated bone. On a panoramic radiograph, the following parameters were assessed including bifid mandibular canal and location of bifurcation, the diameter of the mandibular canal as recorded in the first molar region, trabeculation in submandibular gland fossa, anterior loop measurement, direction and diameter of the bifid mandibular canal were all evaluated. Statistical analysis was done. Results: In 51 hemimandibles, the mandibular canal was found to be corticalized, whereas in 21.59% (n = 19), the mandibular canal was visible. In the remaining 20.45% (n = 18) of the study participants, the mandibular canal was not visualized. In the submandibular gland fossa region, diminished trabeculation was seen in 55.68% of the evaluated radiographs, whereas trabeculation was not seen at all in the remaining 23.86% of the subjects. A significant correlation was seen in decreased trabeculation of submandibular gland fossa and absence of the mandibular canal (P value < 0.001). The bifid mandibular canal was seen in 19.31% of the study participants (n = 17) with a mean width of 3.12 ± 1.1 mm. Extension of the anterior loop of the mental nerve was seen as up to 2 mm in majority participants in 67.04% individuals (n = 59). Conclusion: The present study suggests that panoramic radiographs are a reliable tool for assessment of the mandibular canal and associated anatomical variations associated with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted outpatient radiology practices, necessitating change in practice infrastructure and workflow. The purpose of this study was to assess the consequences of social distancing regulations on 1) outpatient imaging volume and 2) no-show rates per imaging modality. Volume and no-show rates of a large, multicenter metropolitan healthcare system outpatient practice were retrospectively stratified by modality including radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasonography, PET, DEXA, and mammography from January 2 to July 21, 2020. Trends were assessed relative to timepoints of significant state and local social distancing regulatory changes. The decline in imaging volume and rise in no-show rates was first noted on March 10, 2020 following the declaration of a state of emergency in New York State (NYS). Total outpatient imaging volume declined 85% from baseline over the following 5 days. Decreases varied by modality: 88% for radiography, 75% for CT, 73% for MR, 61% for PET, 80% for ultrasonography, 90% for DEXA, and 85% for mammography. Imaging volume and no-show rate recovery preceded the mask mandate of April 15, 2020, and further trended along with New York City's reopening phases. No-show rates recovered within 2 months of the height of the pandemic, however, outpatient imaging volume has yet to recover to baseline after 3 months. The total outpatient imaging volume declined alongside an increase in the no-show rate following the declaration of a state of emergency in NYS. No-show rates recovered within 2 months of the height of the pandemic with imaging volume yet to recover after 3 months. Understanding the impact of social distancing regulations on outpatient imaging volume and no-show rates can potentially aid other outpatient radiology practices and healthcare systems in anticipating upcoming changes as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. • After the implementation of social distancing regulations, total outpatient imaging volume declined 85% from baseline. • During the same timeframe, no-show rates increased by 55%. • Of the imaging modalities measured, DEXA, radiography, and mammography were most affected. • No-show rates have since returned to pre-pandemic levels, but total imaging volume remains down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypophosphatasia is a systemic bone disease characterized by inhibition of bone mineralization due to mutations in the ALPL gene that results in a deficiency of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase. The perinatal form is the most severe. In the past, this form was lethal, although human recombinant enzyme replacement therapy has now been developed and licensed, which improves survival. Perinatal hypophosphatasia is usually suggested on antenatal ultrasonography with undermineralization of the long bones, skull, and thoracic cavity. In the UK, antenatal ultrasonography for fetal anomalies is conducted at mid-gestation (i.e., 18–21 weeks gestational age), and if normal, no further routine scans are performed. Usually, this would identify abnormalities in bone mineralization suggestive of perinatal hypophosphatasia. Cases: We describe 2 cases of perinatal hypophosphatasia where mid-gestation ultrasonography was normal. In the first case, where a previous pregnancy had been terminated for perinatal hypophosphatasia, third trimester ultrasonography revealed skeletal features of hypophosphatasia. In the second case, the diagnosis of perinatal hypophosphatasia was made only immediately after birth. Conclusion: We conclude that serial antenatal ultrasonography or antenatal genetic testing should be considered in all pregnancies with a positive family history of hypophosphatasia, as mid-gestation ultrasonography cannot reliably exclude perinatal hypophosphatasia. This is especially important given that effective enzyme replacement therapy is now available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature cardiovascular disease among the HIV-infected population is of great concern among clinicians. The increased life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals is mainly due to the early detection of infection and the advent of antiretroviral therapy. Once known as a deadly disease, HIV infection has transitioned into a chronic condition. Cardiovascular disease in this population is thought to progress early due to traditional and non-traditional risk factors. Early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis has become a center of focus in research as our complete understanding of this process it not yet well known. Advancements in cardiac computed tomography angiography has enabled the exploration of coronary artery disease by further evaluation of coronary stenosis and plaque analysis. An increase in cardiovascular event rates in this population is currently thought to be linked to antiretroviral therapy, Framingham risk factors, and HIV. We sought to present an updated comprehensive review of the available literature on HIV related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 90% of tuberculosis (TB) cases among non-US-born persons in the United States are attributable to progression of latent TB infection to TB disease. Using survival analysis, we investigated whether birthplace is associated with time to disease progression among non-US-born persons in whom TB disease developed. We derived a Cox regression model comparing differences in time to TB diagnosis after US entry among 19 birth regions, adjusting for sex, birth year, and age at entry. After adjusting for age at entry and birth year, the median time to TB diagnosis was lowest among persons from Middle Africa, 128 months (95% CI 116-146 months) for male persons and 121 months (95% CI 108-136 months) for female persons. We found time to TB diagnosis among non-US-born persons varied by birth region, which represents a prognostic indicator for progression of latent TB infection to TB disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to identify current trends in the management of metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) in the United Kingdom. Methods: A nationwide electronic survey was disseminated to all neonatal networks across the United Kingdom, as well as to paediatric endocrinologists for comparison. Weighted averages were used to compare relative importance placed on screening and diagnostic investigations (1 = not important, 5 = essential). Results: Sixty‐nine individuals responded from 53 neonatal units. Greatest emphasis was placed on levels of serum phosphate and alkaline phosphatase for screening (weighted average 4.5 and 4.6, respectively), diagnosis (weighted average 4.1 and 4.5, respectively) and monitoring (93% and 97% of neonatal responders, respectively) of MBDP by neonatologists. Although similar results were obtained for endocrinologists, significantly greater emphasis was placed on plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) level for screening, diagnosis and monitoring (p < 0.001 for each). Phosphate supplementation was reported almost universally by neonatal responders (99%), but was significantly less for endocrine responders (62%) for the treatment of MBDP (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is an under‐utilisation of plasma PTH as a screening, diagnostic and monitoring investigation to guide appropriate supplementation for MBDP by neonatologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three helical Histone Fold Motif (HFM) of core histone proteins provides an evolutionarily favored site for the protein–DNA interface. Despite significant variation in sequence, the HFM retains a distinctive structural fold that has diversified into several non-histone protein families. In this work, we explore the ancestry of non-histone HFM containing families in the plant kingdom. A sequence search algorithm was developed using iterative profile Hidden Markov Models to identify remote homologs of core-histone proteins. The resulting hits were functionally annotated, classified into families, and subjected to comprehensive phylogenetic analyses via Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. We have identified 4390 HFM containing proteins in the plant kingdom that are not histones, mostly existing as diverse transcription factor families, distributed widely within and across taxonomic groups. Patterns of homology suggest that core histone subunit H2A has evolved into newer families like NF-YC and DRAP1, whereas the H2B subunit of core histones shares a common ancestry with NF-YB and DR1 class of TFs. Core histone subunits H3 and H4 were found to have evolved into DPE and TAF proteins, respectively. Taken together these results provide insights into diversification events during the evolution of the HFM, including sub-functionalization and neo-functionalization of the HFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of density fluctuations in bulk water has made significant contributions to our understanding of the hydration and interactions of idealized, purely repulsive hydrophobic solutes. To similarly inform the hydration of realistic hydrophobic solutes that have dispersive interactions with water, here we characterize water density fluctuations in the presence of attractive fields that correspond to solute-water attractions. We find that when the attractive field acts only in the solute hydration shell, but not in the solute core, it does not significantly alter water density fluctuations in the solute core region. We further find that for a wide range of solute sizes and attraction strengths, the free energetics of turning on the attractive fields in bulk water are accurately captured by linear response theory. Our results also suggest strategies for more efficiently estimating hydration free energies of realistic solutes in bulk water and at interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI) is a potentially lethal problem with a staggering incidence. The CardiAMP Heart Failure trial represents the first attempt to personalize marrow-derived cell-based therapy to individuals with cell characteristics associated with beneficial responses in prior trials. Before the initiation of the randomized pivotal trial, an open-label "roll-in cohort" was completed to ensure the feasibility of the protocol's procedures. Patients with chronic post-MI heart failure (NYHA class II-III) receiving stable, guideline-directed medical therapy with a left ventricular ejection fraction between 20 and 40% were eligible. Two weeks prior to treatment, a ~ 5 mL bone marrow aspiration was performed to examine "cell potency". On treatment day, a 60 mL bone marrow aspiration, bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM MNC) enrichment and transendocardial injection of 200 million BM MNC's was performed in a single, point of care encounter. Patients were then followed to assess clinical outcomes. The cell potency small volume bone marrow aspirate, the 60 mL bone marrow aspirate, and transendocardial injections were well tolerated in 10 patients enrolled. There were no serious adverse events related to bone marrow aspiration or cell delivery. Improvement in 6-min walk distance was observed at 6 months (+47.8 m, P = 0.01) and trended to improvement at 12 months (+46.4, P = 0.06). Similarly, trends to improved NYHA heart failure functional class, quality of life, left ventricular ejection fraction and recruitment of previously akinetic left ventricular wall segments were observed. All CardiAMP HF protocol procedures were feasible and well tolerated. Favorable functional, echo and quality of life trends suggest this approach may offer promise for patients with post MI heart failure. The randomized CardiAMP Heart Failure pivotal trial is underway to confirm the efficacy of this approach. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02438306 • CardiAMP HF trial will test personalized cell therapy for heart failure patients. • A 10 patient, open-label, roll-in cohort was performed for protocol feasibility. • Per protocol procedures were feasible and well-tolerated in all roll-in patients. • No significant serious adverse safety responses were observed. • Efficacy trends were observed for functional, quality of life and echo parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of face masks remains contentious, with international variation in practice. Their prevalence in the UK, is likely to increase due to new legislation. Clear information regarding the appropriate use of masks is needed, to ensure compliance with policies to reduce transmission of COVID-19. We aimed to assess the impact of visual representations of guidance, or infographics, upon the knowledge of appropriate face mask usage in a representative UK cohort.Methods: Adult patients were recruited to this randomised internet-based questionnaire study during the 12-14 May 2020 from across the UK. Respondents viewed one of five public health stimuli regarding the use of face masks, or no stimulus. The groups accessed aids by the European Centre for Disease Control (EUCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO), Singaporean Ministry of Health (SMOH), text from the UK government (UK Gov), or an infographic designed by the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). The primary outcome was to evaluate the effect of each infographic upon participants' recall of face mask technique, sentiments and willingness to wear a face covering. Secondary outcomes included the effect of symptomology and socio-demographic factors.Results: 4099 respondents were randomised (1009 control, 628 EUCDC, 526 WHO, 639 SMOH, 661 UKGOV and 606 BIT). Stimuli from the WHO, SMOH and BIT demonstrated significantly higher average recall scores compared to the controls (7.40 v. 7.38 v. 7.34 v. 6.97, P < 0.001). BIT's stimulus led to the highest confidence about mask-wearing (87%). Only 48.2% of the cohort felt stimuli reduced anxiety about COVID-19. However, willingness to use a mask was high, (range 84 to 88%).Conclusions: To ensure the appropriate use of masks, as mandated by UK law, guidance must provide sufficient information, yet remain understandable. Infographics can aid the recall of correct mask techniques by highlighting salient steps and reducing cognitive burden. They have also demonstrated greater trustworthiness than text-only guidance. The effect of infographics upon COVID-19-related anxiety was poor, and they should be further developed to address this sentiment. A willingness to wear face masks has, however, been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical safety profile of transendocardial injection catheters (TIC) reported in the published literature.Background: Transendocardial delivery is a minimally invasive approach to deliver potential therapeutic agents directly into the myocardium. The rate of adverse events across TIC is uncertain.Methods: A systematic search was performed for trial publications using TIC. Procedure-associated adverse event data were abstracted, pooled and compared across catheters for active treatment and placebo injected patients. The transendocardial injection associated serious adverse events (TEI-SAE) was defined as the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack within 30 days and cardiac perforation causing death or requiring evacuation, serious intraprocedural arrhythmias and serious coronary artery or peripheral vascular complications.Results: The search identified 4 TIC systems: a helical needle (HN), an electro-anatomically tracked straight needle (EAM-SN), a straight needle without tracking elements (SN), and a curved needle (CN). Of 1799 patients who underwent transendocardial injections, the combined TEI-SAE was 3.4% across all catheters, and 1.1%, 3.3%, 7.1%, and 8.3% for HN, EAM-SN, SN and CN, respectively. However, TIC procedure duration and post procedural cardiac biomarker levels were reported in only 24% and 36% of published trials, respectively.Conclusions: Transendocardial injection is associated with varied TEI-SAE but the data are very limited. The HN catheter appeared to be associated with lower TEI-SAE, versus other catheters. Procedure duration and post procedure cardiac biomarker levels were under-reported. Clearly, standardized, procedure-related event reporting for trials involving transcatheter delivery would improve our understanding of complications across different systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upsurge in exigency of environmental-friendly and vigorous plant-based products has spurred a substantial increase in the use of plant-based biopolymers, most conspicuously mucilage and gums. Plant extracted mucilage encompasses a group of complex macromolecules and is renowned for its stabilization, thickening and gelling properties, besides its drug delivery potential. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seed mucilage embodies a polysaccharide of plant origin and is often characterized by its branched carbohydrate structure. Its consumption not only offers prospective health advantages but also aligns with an eco-friendly paradigm. In this study, the optimization of the extraction yield of basil seed mucilage (BSM) was done using response surface methodology and artificial neural network. The experimental design encompassed four parameters, namely pH, temperature, contact time and seed/water ratio, using a 3-level central composite design. The response surface methodology (RSM) and genetic algorithm feedforward neural network (ANN) were employed to predict and evaluate the optimal extraction conditions. The optimal conditions for the extraction yield of BSM were determined to be 7 pH, 56 °C temperature, 6 h of contact time and a 1:30 (w/v%) seed/water ratio. These conditions resulted in a BSM extraction actual yield of 9.94%, which was close to the RSM and ANN predicted values, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach for optimizing the plant-based polymer extraction process parameters. [Display omitted] • The study aims to optimize the yield of Ocimum basilicum seed mucilage by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). • The yield of mucilage can be significantly improved by adjusting the process parameters using temperature, pH, seed/water contact time and ratio. • By using RSM and ANN, the model developed in this study can accurately predict the optimal conditions required for maximum yield. • The RSM-ANN model in this study can further be applied to food and pharmaceutical processes, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced production costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer screening attendance in the UK has fallen, and London has the lowest uptake nationally. This study tested the impact of a behavioural science-informed reminder SMS, and animated video intervention on screening uptake. This three-armed randomised controlled trial took place in two screening services in London (each service operated across a range of static sites such as hospitals, and mobile sites). We included participants who were registered with GP as female, aged 50–70 years, and not screened in the past 3 years. We excluded those who had opted out of screening messages or were in care. Participants were assigned into three groups via the final two digits of their NHS number (ratio 34:33:33): control group (received usual care reminder), behavSMS group (behavioural science-informed SMS reminder addressing reducing negative emotions and information on health consequences), or behavSMS+video group (behavioural SMS plus link to animation). Researchers were masked to allocation. The SMS and video were co-designed with stakeholders using the Behaviour Change Wheel. Invitation processes changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore, we did separate analyses for those receiving a timed appointment (n=9027), and an open invitation to book an appointment (n=25 020). Messages were sent 7 days and 1 day before the appointment, plus 7 days after the open invitation letter. Group differences in the primary outcome of attendance within 3 months of invitation (and secondary outcome of booking for open invites) were assessed using χ2, and logistic regression controlling for age, ethnicity, deprivation, and first invitation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05395871. Recruitment took place between July 18, and Oct 21, 2022. For timed invitations, 3094 participants were assigned to the control group, 2952 to the behavSMS group, and 2981 to the behavSMS+video group. For open invitations groups sizes were 8654, 8095, and 8271 respectively. Median age was 59 years for participants who received a timed appointment, and 58 years for those who received an open invitation. There were no attendance differences for timed appointments (intention-to-treat analysis): 71·9% (2225/3094) in control group; 69·9% (2064/2952) in behavSMS group; 71·7% (2137/2981) in behavSMS+video group (χ2(2)=3·47, p=0·176), even when controlling for covariates. There were no attendance differences for open invitations either: 7·4% (4104/8654) in control group, 8·3% (3909/8095) in behavSMS group, 48·1% (3978/8271) in behavSMS+video (χ2(2)=1·40, p=0·497), including when controlling for covariates. However, in the per-protocol analysis (of those with valid mobile numbers), intervention groups were more likely to book an appointment: 44·7% (3238/7274) in control group, 46·3% (3121/6744) in behavSMS group, and 46·3% (3199/6910) in behavSMS+video group (χ2(2)=6·01, p=0·050). Despite positive stakeholder feedback during co-design, the SMS or SMS+video interventions did not increase breast screening attendance compared with the usual SMS reminder. A limitation is that only 5·8% participants followed the video link. Links within SMS are unlikely to be an effective way to disseminate video content, and alternative options are being explored. NHS England and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a well-established prodromal stage of dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) that is often accompanied by early signs of neurodegeneration. To facilitate a better characterization of the underlying pathophysiology, we assessed the available literature to evaluate potential fluid biomarkers in MCI. Peer-reviewed articles that measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or peripheral biomarkers of neuronal injury (total-tau [T-tau], neurofilament light chain [NfL], heart-type fatty acid binding protein [HFABP], neuron-specific enolase, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1) and/or astroglial pathology (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], S100 calcium-binding protein B) in MCI and healthy controls were assessed. Group differences were summarized by standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was quantified using I2. A total of 107 studies were included in the meta-analysis and 10 studies were qualitatively reviewed. In CSF, concentrations of NfL (SMD = 0.69 [0.56, 0.83]), GFAP (SMD = 0.41 [0.07, 0.75]), and HFABP (SMD = 0.57 [0.26, 0.89]) were elevated in MCI. In blood, increased concentrations of T-tau (SMD = 0.19 [0.09, 0.29]), NfL (SMD = 0.41 [0.32, 0.49]), and GFAP (SMD = 0.39 [0.23, 0.55]) were found in MCI. Heterogeneity that was identified in all comparisons was explored using meta-regression and subgroup analysis. Elevated NfL and GFAP can be detected in both CSF and peripheral blood. Monitoring these biomarkers in clinical settings may provide important insight into underlying neurodegenerative processes in MCI. • In CSF, elevated NfL, HFABP, and GFAP can be found in MCI compared to controls. • Elevated T-tau, NfL, and GFAP can be detected less-invasively via peripheral blood. • Limited or no evidence for group differences in blood HFABP, NSE, UCHL1, and S100B. • NfL and GFAP may provide insight into neuroaxonal injury and astroglial pathology. • Future research should assess the clinical utility of monitoring these biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phenobarbitone induces suppression of cerebral electrical activity on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE); however, its effect during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has not been well characterized. Objective: To evaluate the effect of phenobarbitone on aEEG in neonates with HIE undergoing TH. Methods: Thirty-five neonates born at ≥350 weeks gestational age (GA), who received phenobarbitone as first-line antiepileptic drug during TH for ≥ Sarnat stage II HIE with aEEG recordings were retrospectively studied. Background pattern, upper and lower margin voltages were characterized for a 30-min period before and 30–60 min after phenobarbitone administration. Primary outcome was presence of severely abnormal aEEG pattern after phenobarbitone administration. Results: Mean (±SD) GA and median birth weight were 38.2 ± 1.9 weeks and 3.1 (2.5–3.9) kg, respectively. Phenobarbitone (10–20 mg/kg), administered at median age 16.8 h, was associated with background pattern worsening in 19/29 (65.5%) cases. Severe background patterns were more prevalent in post- versus pre-phenobarbitone tracings (21/29 [72%] vs. 11/29 [38%]; p = 0.01). Presence of severe pattern versus either continuous normal voltage or discontinuous normal voltage pattern post-phenobarbitone, (20/25 [80%] vs. 3/8 [38%]; p = 0.036) was associated with death or moderate-to-severe injury on MRI brain. Median time to trace recovery, when measurable, was 4 h (45 min–72 h). Conclusions: Phenobarbitone induces significant suppression on aEEG in infants with HIE undergoing TH. Development of severe aEEG background patterns after phenobarbitone may unmask a population at greater risk of abnormal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial systems such as Varian HyperArcTM and BrainLab Elements MultiMetTM have been developed that allow radiosurgery treatment of multiple brain metastases using a single isocenter. Each software package places increased demands on frameless immobilization and requires the use of a specific immobilization system: the QFix-Encompass system for Varian and the BrainLab frameless-mask system for BrainLab. At our institution, patients receiving traditional radiosurgery (one isocenter per target lesion) were treated using both immobilization systems. Intrafraction motion was determined for each patient using multiple cone-beam CT scans and the same imageregistration software during treatment. There were no statistically-significant differences in mean absolute translational shifts between the two mask systems, with a mean 3D-vector motion of approximately 0.43 mm for both systems. There were also no statistically-significant differences in the mean absolute rotational shifts between the two mask systems. Although the average residual errors were insignificant between the mask systems, special attention should be paid to individual maximum shifts with both systems. Large maximum rotational misalignments could present significant misalignment of lesions as distance increases from the isocenter. Finally, large maximum shifts highlight the need for real-time monitoring of patient movement during radiosurgery of multiple lesions using a single isocenter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence, clinical spectrum, prognostic factors, and outcome of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with malaria. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients with malaria, diagnosed by a positive peripheral blood film and rapid malaria test, were studied for MODS using the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. The severity of malaria was assessed by the WHO criteria. Results: Severe malaria was present in 54 (43.54%) patients. MODS was detected in 108 (87.09%) patients with malaria (Plasmodium falciparum - 57 [85.07%], Plasmodium vivax - 46 [88.46%] and mixed P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria - 5 [100%] cases). SOFA scores of MODS-and non-MODS-patients differed significantly (P < 0.001). No significant association was seen between MODS and type of malaria (P = 0.894). Mortality among malaria patients with MODS was 5.55% (6/108) (P. falciparum 8.77% [5/57] and P. vivax 2.17% [1/46]). The outcome of MODS was associated significantly with the severity of the SOFA score at admission (P = 0.011) but not with the type of malaria, malaria parasite index, and the number of organs involved (P > 0.05 each). The SOFA score at admission correlated significantly with the duration of hospitalization (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: MODS occurs with high frequency in malaria and is not dependent on the type of malaria. The outcome of MODS and recovery time depends on the severity of MODS. The SOFA score is useful in detecting MODS and ascertaining its severity and prognosis in malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genomic basis of adaptative intraspecific phenotypic variation is a central goal in conservation genetics and evolutionary biology. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are an excellent species for addressing the genetic basis for adaptive variation because they express a striking degree of ecophenotypic variation across their range; however, necessary genomic resources are lacking. Here we utilize recently-developed analytical methods and sequencing technologies to (1) construct a high-density linkage and centromere map for lake trout, (2) identify loci underlying variation in traits that differentiate lake trout ecophenotypes and populations, (3) determine the location of the lake trout sex determination locus, and (4) identify chromosomal homologies between lake trout and other salmonids of varying divergence. The resulting linkage map contains 15,740 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapped to 42 linkage groups, likely representing the 42 lake trout chromosomes. Female and male linkage group lengths ranged from 43.07 to 134.64 centimorgans, and 1.97 to 92.87 centimorgans, respectively. We improved the map by determining coordinates for 41 of 42 centromeres, resulting in a map with 8 metacentric chromosomes and 34 acrocentric or telocentric chromosomes. We use the map to localize the sex determination locus and multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with intraspecific phenotypic divergence including traits related to growth and body condition, patterns of skin pigmentation, and two composite geomorphometric variables quantifying body shape. Two QTL for the presence of vermiculations and spots mapped with high certainty to an arm of linkage group Sna3, growth related traits mapped to two QTL on linkage groups Sna1 and Sna12, and putative body shape QTL were detected on six separate linkage groups. The sex determination locus was mapped to Sna4 with high confidence. Synteny analysis revealed that lake trout and congener Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are likely differentiated by three or four chromosomal fissions, possibly one chromosomal fusion, and 6 or more large inversions. Combining centromere mapping information with putative inversion coordinates revealed that the majority of detected inversions differentiating lake trout from other salmonids are pericentric and located on acrocentric and telocentric linkage groups. Our results suggest that speciation and adaptive divergence within the genus Salvelinus may have been associated with multiple pericentric inversions occurring primarily on acrocentric and telocentric chromosomes. The linkage map presented here will be a critical resource for advancing conservation oriented genomic research on lake trout and exploring chromosomal evolution within and between salmonid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Characteristic changes in cerebral saturation (CrSO2), amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG), and echocardiography (ECHO) may be associated with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH); however, the feasibility of their combined application is not known. Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the feasibility and safety of combined multimodal cerebral and hemodynamic monitoring in extremely low gestational age (ELGA) infants in the first 72 h after birth. Methods: In this prospective -observational study of 50 infants born between 23 + 0 and 27 + 6 weeks gestation, we measured CrSO2 and aEEG, starting <8 h until 72 h of age. Sequential echocardiography and head ultrasound were performed at 4–8, 12–18, 24–30, and 48–60 h of age. The primary outcome was feasibility of multimodal monitoring, defined as >75% of the subjects satisfying at least 3/4 criteria: (a) CrSO2 and (b) aEEG monitoring each for >75% of the time, and (c) at least 2 out of 4 ECHO and (d) head ultrasounds (at least one by age 24 h). Adverse reactions to sensors, desaturation, and bradycardia during ultrasound studies were recorded. Results: Fifty infants were enrolled over 14 months. Multimodal monitoring was feasible in 49 (98%) infants. Forty-one (82%) infants fulfilled all 4 criteria. Mild erythema below CrSO2 sensors lasting 3–8 h without skin breakdown was noted in 8/50 subjects (16%). Desaturation was noted during 17/197 (8.6%) of the ultrasound studies. In total, 26/50 (52%) infants developed IVH (grade I/II, n = 22; grade III/IV, n = 4). Conclusion: Multimodal monitoring is feasible, safe, and well tolerated in ELGA infants in the first 72 h after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In these studies, the microwave-assisted transesterification of non-edible Papaya oil was investigated under the fixed microwave power of 700 W and constant magnetic stirring. Optimization of the yield of Papaya oil methyl ester was investigated using response surface methodology. Within the range of the selected operating conditions, the optimized values of temperature, catalyst amount, time, and methanol to oil molar ratio were found to be 62.33 °C, 0.95 wt %, 3.30 min, and 9.50:1 respectively. Current studies revealed that the methanol to oil molar ratio and temperature have significant effects on microwave-assisted transesterification of Papaya oil. The high values of R2 97.72 and R2 adj 95.60 indicate that the fitted model shows a good agreement with the predicted and actual FAME yield. Based on the optimum condition, the predicted biodiesel yield was 99.9% and the actual experimental value was 99.3%. Papaya oil methyl ester (POME) exhibits property close to ASTM standards. In conclusion, these studies revealed that biodiesel obtained from Papaya seed oil feedstock has a potential to use as an alternative of diesel. Highlights • Unexplored and nonedible Papaya seed oil investigated for biodiesel synthesis. • Microwave-assisted transesterification of Papaya oil into its methyl ester was explored. • Optimization of four process variables was studied by using response surface methodology. • Close to 99% POME yield obtained at 62.33 °C, 0.95 wt% alkali catalysts, 3.30 min, and 9.50:1 methanol to oil molar ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a coarse-grained lattice model of solvation thermodynamics and the hydrophobic effect that implements the ideas of Lum-Chandler-Weeks theory [J. Phys. Chem. B 134, 4570 (1999)] and improves upon previous lattice models based on it. Through comparison with molecular simulation, we show that our model captures the length-scale and curvature dependence of solvation free energies with near-quantitative accuracy and 2-3 orders of magnitude less computational effort, and further, correctly describes the large but rare solvent fluctuations that are involved in dewetting, vapor tube formation, and hydrophobic assembly. Our model is intermediate in detail and complexity between implicit-solvent models and explicit-water simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the influence of Ca ion substitution on the structural and superconducting properties of (Nd1-xCax)(Ba1.6La0.4)Cu3Oz system. Magnetization, x-ray diffraction, and neutron diffraction studies have been carried out on a series of compounds with x=0.0–0.6. The superconducting transition temperature Tc, determined from magnetization measurements, increases with increasing Ca2+ substitution. Neutron diffraction studies reveal that these compounds crystallize in a tetragonal structure (space group P4/mmm). A detailed analysis of the neutron diffraction data reveals that Ca and La ions are intermixed at the nominal Ba and Nd sites. While a major fraction of Ca ions occupy the usual Nd site, a small fraction occupies the Ba site. Consequently, the corresponding amount of La substitutes at the nominal Nd site. The intermixing of Ca and La sites randomizes the chain site oxygens leading to a tetragonal structure despite an oxygen content close to 7.0 for all the Ca doped samples. Further increase in Ca content leads to change in its coordination from sixfold to eightfold at x>=0.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovering genetic markers associated with phenotypic or ecological characteristics can improve our understanding of adaptation and guide conservation of key evolutionary traits. The Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) of the northern Great Basin Desert, USA, demonstrated exceptional tolerance to high temperatures in the desert lakes where it resided historically. This trait is central to a conservation hatchery effort to protect the genetic legacy of the nearly extinct lake ecotype. We genotyped full‐sibling families from this conservation broodstock and samples from the only two remaining, thermally distinct, native lake populations at 4,644 new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Family‐based genome‐wide association testing of the broodstock identified nine and 26 SNPs associated with thermal tolerance (p < 0.05 and p < 0.1), measured in a previous thermal challenge experiment. Genes near the associated SNPs had complex functions related to immunity, growth, metabolism and ion homeostasis. Principal component analysis using the thermotolerance‐related SNPs showed unexpected divergence between the conservation broodstock and the native lake populations at these loci. FST outlier tests on the native lake populations identified 18 loci shared between two or more of the tests, with two SNPs identified by all three tests (p < 0.01); none overlapped with loci identified by association testing in the broodstock. A recent history of isolation and the complex genetic and demographic backgrounds of Lahontan cutthroat trout probably limited our ability to find shared thermal tolerance loci. Our study extends the still relatively rare application of genomic tools testing for markers associated with important phenotypic or environmental characteristics in species of conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasound (US)-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation is a widely accepted standard procedure. The axillary vein (AV) in comparison to the subclavian vein is easily visualized, but its cannulation is not extensively studied in cardiac patients.Aims: This study is an attempt to study the efficacy of real-time US-guided axillary venous cannulation as a safe alternative for the time-tested US-guided IJV cannulation.Design: This is a prospective randomized controlled study.Materials and Methods: A total of 100 adult patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were divided equally in Group A-US-guided IJV cannulation, and Group B-US-guided axillary venous cannulation. Under local anesthesia and real-time US guidance the IJV or AV was secured. The access time, guidewire time, and procedure time were noted. Furthermore, the number of needle attempts, malposition, change of site, and complications were noted.Results: The data were analyzed for 49 patients in Group A and 48 patients in the Group B due to exclusions. The access time and the guidewire time were comparable in both groups. The first attempt needle puncture was successful for the IJV group in 98% of patients in comparison to 95% of patients in Group B. Guidewire was passed in the first attempt in 94% in Group A and 89% in the Group B. Except for arterial puncture in one case in group A, the complications were insignificant in both groups.Conclusion: The study shows that the US-guided AV cannulation may serve as an effective alternative to the IJV cannulation in cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low dielectric constant substrate for patch antenna using additive manufacturing air gap technique is prepared. This work can tune the desirable value of the dielectric constant and loss tangent of patch substrate by optimizing the various factors involved in 3D printing. The prototype is based on PLA Pro + filament to check the variation in dielectric constant and loss tangent. The performance of the 3D printer used has also been examined for the proposed substrate. This technique helps to create low dielectric constant materials for the high-frequency range of operation of RF communication devices. The prototype's experimental results demonstrate that the 80% Linearly infilled sample (L-80) outperforms the 100% Linearly infilled sample (L-100) in terms of average loss tangent, which has improved by 45.07% on average from 8.5 to 12.5 GHz. At higher frequency ranges of 10.86 to 12.5 GHz, the dielectric constant of the L-80 sample outperforms the L-100 sample in terms of a lower desirable dielectric constant (ε r) range (2.0 ≤ ε r ≤ 2.2). The dielectric constant results for the above frequency range show that the L-80 sample is 3 to 5 times better than L-100. The average improvement in the dielectric constant for 8.5 to 9.0 GHz is nearly 31.84%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The poor healing of diabetic wound affects large proportion of human beings by high mortality rate and associated expenditures. Such chronic wounds mainly become problematic due to unavailability of suitable environmental conditions which lead to cell migration, proliferation and uncontrolled inflammation. An ideal dressing should prohibit wound dryness and allow a suitable environment at the injury surface. However, present wound dressing therapeutics lacks the potential to overcome these problems resulting in their limited clinical success. There is a shift research domain from synthetic to natural polymeric materials to overcome issues associated with traditional wound dressings. Many biological organisms' extracted polymers are useful for injury healing due to their ease of availability and various active substances. The naturally occurring polymers mainly polysaccharides and proteins find several attractive applications in the biomedical field.These substances are not only non-toxic but also possess ideal wound dressing characteristics. In this work, the polysaccharides and proteins-based biopolymers utilized in recent years as wound dressing material are discussed. This review will surely provide guidance to researchers in using biopolymers as effective and economical wound dressing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Greater levels of self-reported pain, pain catastrophizing, and depression have been shown to be associated with persistent pain and functional limitation after surgeries such as TKA. It would be useful for clinicians to be able to measure these factors efficiently.Questions/purposes: We asked: (1) What is the association of whole-body pain with osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee pain, function, pain catastrophizing, and mental health? (2) What is the sensitivity and specificity for different cutoffs for body pain diagram region categories in relation to pain catastrophizing?Methods: Patients (n = 267) with knee OA undergoing elective TKA at one academic center and two community orthopaedic centers were enrolled before surgery in a prospective cohort study. Questionnaires included the WOMAC Pain and Function Scales, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5), and a pain body diagram. The diagram documents pain in 19 anatomic areas. Based on the distribution of the anatomic areas, we established six different body regions. Our analyses excluded the index (surgically treated) knee. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between the total number of nonindex painful sites on the whole-body pain diagram and measures of OA-related pain and function, mental health, and pain catastrophizing. Generalized linear regression was used to evaluate the association between the number of painful nonindex body regions (categorized as 0; 1-2; or 3-6) with our measures of interest. All models were adjusted for age, sex, and number of comorbid conditions. The cohort included 63% females and the mean age was 66 years (SD, 9 years). With removal of the index knee, the median pain diagram score was 2 (25(th), 75(th) percentiles, 1, 4) with a range of 0 to 15. The median number of painful body regions was 2 (25(th), 75(th) percentiles, 1, 3).Results: After adjusting for age, sex, and number of comorbid conditions, we found modest associations between painful body region categories and mean scores for WOMAC physical function (r = 0.22, p < 0.001), WOMAC pain (r = 0.20, p = 0.001), MHI-5 (r = -0.31, p < 0.001), and PCS (r = 0.27, p < 0.001). A nonindex body pain region score greater than 0 had 100% (95% CI, 75%-100%) sensitivity for a pain catastrophizing score greater than 30 but a specificity of just 23% (95% CI, 18%-29%) . A score of 3 or greater had greater specificity (73%; 95% CI, 66%-79%) but lower sensitivity (53%; 95% CI, 27%-78%).Conclusions: We found modest associations between the number of painful sites on a whole-body pain diagram and the number of painful body regions and measures of OA-related pain, function, pain catastrophizing, and mental health. Patients with higher self-reported body pain region scores might benefit from further evaluation for depression and pain catastrophizing.Level Of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case is a very good example of how a multimodality approach was taken in diagnosis and management of patient with suspected uterine sarcoma, which turned out to be uterine leiomyoma with parasitic leiomyoma mimicking the pararenal deposit. There has been an increased use of fluorodeoxyglucose avid positron emission tomography-computed tomography in pelvic malignancies, especially in the cases where there is suspected extrapelvic spread. It was an interesting finding of parasitic leiomyoma, which can be easily thought to be as deposit/mass in a patient with pelvic malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied exchange-dominated surface and bulk spin-wave modes in a single period of CoFe/PtMn/CoFe trilayer film grown on a seed layer of Ru with CoFe film compositions being Co-16 at. %Fe. The thickness of the ferromagnetic CoFe layers is ∼400 Å and that of the antiferromagnetic layer is 120 Å. Multimode spin-wave spectra were observed using the ferromagnetic resonance technique, as the sample plane was rotated with respect to the direction of the magnetic field. The effective magnetic anisotropy parameters and the g factor of the magnetic film were calculated from the field corresponding to the main (strongest) resonance peak at different angles. In addition, we identified a high-order standing spin wave in our spectra and found a “critical angle” in the multilayer sample. As H is significantly rotated away from the normal, there is a critical orientation where only a single acoustic spin-wave mode can be observed. We included an effective surface anisotropy field to describe our results. From the surface anisotropy, we are able to analyze the spin-wave resonance spectra in terms of the dynamic surface spin pinning. This allows us to determine the exchange interaction stiffness in the CoFe layers, J∼2.7 meV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report vibrating reed and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer data that exhibit prominent dips or oscillations of the superconducting (SC) onset temperature, ΔTC(H)≈0.01–0.7 K, for a [Nb(23 nm)/Ni(5 nm)]5 multilayer (ML) in dc magnetic fields applied nearly parallel to the ML plane. The vibrating reed data exhibit reproducible structures below TC that may reflect multiple SC transitions, but they are sensitive to ac field amplitude and dc field orientation. This striking behavior poses challenges for theoretical and experimental investigations of interfaces between SC and ferromagnetic layers that involve magnetic pair breaking effects, “pi phase shifts” of the SC order parameter, and exotic (“LOFF”) pairing states. Alternatively, the anomalies may mark dynamical instabilities within a confined, strongly anisotropic Abrikosov vortex lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Goal setting is used in education to promote learning and performance. Debriefing after clinical scenario-based simulation is a well-established practice that provides learners a defined structure to review and improve performance. Our objective was to integrate formal learning goal generation, using the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound), into standard debriefing processes (i.e., "SMART Goal Enhanced Debriefing") and subsequently measure the impact on the development of learning goals and execution of educational actions. Methods: This was a prospective multicenter randomized controlled study of 80 emergency medicine residents at three academic hospitals comparing the effectiveness of SMART Goal Enhanced Debriefing to a standard debriefing. Residents were block randomized on a rolling basis following a simulation case. SMART Goal Enhanced Debriefing included five minutes of formal instruction on the development of SMART learning goals during the summary/application phase of the debrief. Outcome measures included the number of recalled learning goals, self-reported executed educational actions, and quality of each learning goal and educational action after a two-week follow-up period. Results: The mean number of reported learning goals was similar in the standard debriefing group (mean 2.05 goals, SD 1.13, n=37 residents), and in the SMART Goal Enhanced Debriefing group (mean 1.93, SD 0.96, n=43), with no difference in learning goal quality. Residents receiving SMART Goal Enhanced Debriefing completed more educational actions on average (Control group actions completed 0.97 (SD 0.87), SMART debrief group 1.44 (SD 1.03) p=0.03). Conclusion: The number and quality of learning goals reported by residents was not improved as a result of SMART Goal Enhanced Debriefing. Residents did, however, execute more educational actions, which is consistent with the overarching intent of any educational intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive differences across species' ranges can have important implications for population persistence and conservation management decisions. Despite advances in genomic technologies, detecting adaptive variation in natural populations remains challenging. Key challenges in gene-environment association studies involve distinguishing the effects of drift from those of selection and identifying subtle signatures of polygenic adaptation. We used paired-end restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data (6,605 biallelic single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNPs) to examine population structure and test for signatures of adaptation across the geographic range of an iconic Australian endemic freshwater fish species, the Murray cod Maccullochella peelii. Two univariate gene-association methods identified 61 genomic regions associated with climate variation. We also tested for subtle signatures of polygenic adaptation using a multivariate method (redundancy analysis; RDA). The RDA analysis suggested that climate (temperature- and precipitation-related variables) and geography had similar magnitudes of effect in shaping the distribution of SNP genotypes across the sampled range of Murray cod. Although there was poor agreement among the candidate SNPs identified by the univariate methods, the top 5% of SNPs contributing to significant RDA axes included 67% of the SNPs identified by univariate methods. We discuss the potential implications of our findings for the management of Murray cod and other species generally, particularly in relation to informing conservation actions such as translocations to improve evolutionary resilience of natural populations. Our results highlight the value of using a combination of different approaches, including polygenic methods, when testing for signatures of adaptation in landscape genomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of a fistula between the internal mammary artery and the pulmonary vasculature (IMA-to-PV) is a rare anomaly. The etiology can be congenital; however, most recent cases have been associated with coronary artery bypass grafting, trauma, inflammatory conditions, chronic infections, or neoplasia. The knowledge base on the formation of these fistulas is derived primarily from case reports. To our knowledge, no systematic reviews or guidelines are available that provide information on how to manage these cases, and the treatment of an IMA-to-PV fistula is controversial. To our knowledge, this report is the first to review 80 cases of IMA-to-PV fistulas reported in the literature. We describe the etiologies, clinical presentation, and management of these fistulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 6.1 million people in the United States have atrial fibrillation (AF), which is associated with an increased risk of stroke. Oral anticoagulants are the mainstay of stroke prevention in AF. For decades, warfarin was the only available drug, fraught with compliance limitations, a narrow therapeutic window, and a high risk of hemorrhage. Pharmacologic developments have produced new anticoagulants that have improved the rates of stroke related to AF; however, they still confer a high risk of bleeding, making them unsuitable for some patients. Studies have shown that roughly 90% of strokes in patients with AF occur in the left atrial appendage (LAA). This understanding has prompted the development and testing of novel percutaneous strategies for LAA closure as an alternative to anticoagulation therapy. The following review examines the relative merits and shortcomings of these strategies and explores future prospects in the prevention of AF-related stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]