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This article discusses a rare condition called PLACK syndrome, which is characterized by painless shedding of the outer layer of skin. The article presents a case study of an 11-year-old boy with PLACK syndrome who also experienced patchy hair loss on the scalp, a condition known as alopecia areata. The study identified a novel homozygous mutation in the CAST gene, which encodes calpastatin, a protein that inhibits calpain, an enzyme involved in cell processes. The article suggests a potential link between the CAST gene mutation and the development of alopecia areata, and proposes further research to explore this connection. [Extracted from the article]

Bananas are the fourth most important food crop in the world. Odoiporus longicollis (Oliver), commonly called the banana pseudostem weevil, is one of the serious insect pests that affect the banana production. Though cultural practices and synthetic insecticides are used against this insect pest, indiscriminate use of the synthetic insecticides is expensive, causes health problems or develops pest resistance. The present study was conducted to investigate the insecticidal efficacy of Cinnamomum verum against the fourth instar larvae of O. longicollis, its impeding effects on the pest, and identify the potential bioactive compounds. The acetone extract of the plant showed larvicidal activity in a dose-dependent manner with an LD50 value of 4.12 g/100 mL. The extract induced hyperproteinemia, increased amino acid content, correlated variations in the activity of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase, an increase in trehalose content, and a reduction in the haemocyte count of the haemolymph. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectroscopy analyses of the extract could identify three bioactive compounds: trans-13-octadecenoic acid, 9-octadecenamide and spiro(tricyclo(4.4.0.0.(5.9)]decane-10,2'- oxirane],1- methyl -4- isoprol (relative abundance 7%, 29% and 13%, respectively), resulting in synergistic action. The results suggest C. verum could be used as a source of natural insecticidal agents for the management of O. longicollis, as an alternative to synthetic insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesize that in silico structural biology approaches can discover novel drug binding sites for RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerases (RdRp) of positive sense single-strand RNA (ss(+)RNA) virus species. RdRps have a structurally conserved active site with seven motifs (A to G), despite low sequence similarity. We refined this architecture further to describe a conserved structural domain consisting of motifs A, B, C and F. These motifs were used to realign 24 RdRp structures in an innovative manner to search for novel drug binding sites. The aligned motifs from the enzymes were then docked with 833 FDA-approved drugs (Set 1) and 85 FDA-approved antivirals (Set 2) using the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) docking 2020.09 software. Sirolimus (rapamycin), an immunosuppressant that targets the mammalian mTOR pathway, was one of the top ten drugs for all 24 RdRp proteins. The sirolimus docking site was in the nucleotide triphosphate entry tunnel between motifs A and F but distinct from the active site in motif C. This original finding supports our hypothesis that structural biology approaches based on RdRp motifs that are conserved across evolution can define new drug binding locations and infer potential broad-spectrum inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and other ss(+)RNA viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial palsy is a neurological emergency with a wide spectrum of aetiologies. The term 'alternating facial palsy', a very rare presentation, refers to facial paralysis, the onset of which occurs at different points in time on both sides of the face. It can occur in systemic vasculitis, trauma, tumours and infectious diseases. We report the case of a middle-aged female who presented with complaints of alternating facial palsy and the diligent journey that we took to finally reach a diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generic medicine is a pharmaceutical drug which contains the same active ingredients as a branded drug in terms of strength, dosage, route of administration, quality, safety, performance characteristics, and therapeutic use. Generic medicine plays a major role in providing affordable medicines to patients. This systematic review was done to identify the knowledge regarding generic medicine prescription among dental and medical professionals worldwide. The search was performed in four databases PubMed, Turning Research Into Practice database (Trip database), Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to identify the relevant articles with specific keywords and the time filter was February 2012 to February 2022. Finally we included 11 cross-sectional studies. However, generic prescribing is not very much adopted in India due to a lack of awareness about regulatory standards used in generic drug manufacturing. Based on this, the systematic review found that limited knowledge and negative perception among medical and dental professionals about generic medicine are clearly a major barrier to the implementation of generic medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local laws on urban policy, i.e., ordinances directly affect our daily life in various ways (health, business etc.), yet in practice, for many citizens they remain impervious and complex. This article focuses on an approach to make urban policy more accessible and comprehensible to the general public and to government officials, while also addressing pertinent social media postings. Due to the intricacies of the natural language, ranging from complex legalese in ordinances to informal lingo in tweets, it is practical to harness human judgment here. To this end, we mine ordinances and tweets via reasoning based on commonsense knowledge so as to better account for pragmatics and semantics in the text. Ours is pioneering work in ordinance mining, and thus there is no prior labeled training data available for learning. This gap is filled by commonsense knowledge, a prudent choice in situations involving a lack of adequate training data. The ordinance mining can be beneficial to the public in fathoming policies and to officials in assessing policy effectiveness based on public reactions. This work contributes to smart governance, leveraging transparency in governing processes via public involvement. We focus significantly on ordinances contributing to smart cities, hence an important goal is to assess how well an urban region heads towards a smart city as per its policies mapping with smart city characteristics, and the corresponding public satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a significant health problem worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 5–12% in the general population. Osteitis refers to inflammation of bone characterized by bone remodeling, neo-osteogenesis and thickening of adjacent mucosa. These changes are evidenced by specific radiological appearance on Computerized Tomography (CT) which may be localized or diffuse dependent on extent of disease. Osteitis act as a marker of severity in chronic rhinosinusitis and can significantly affect the patient's Quality of Life (QOL) proportional to its severity. Aim: To analyze the impact of osteitis on quality of life in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis as evidenced by pre-operative Sinonasal Outcome Test-22(SNOT-22) scores. Materials & Methods: 31 patients diagnosed to have chronic rhinosinusitis with co-existing osteitis were enrolled in this study based on computerized tomography scan Paranasal Sinuses (PNS) findings and graded as per the calculated Global Osteitis Scoring Scale. Accordingly, patients were categorised into those without significant osteitis, with mild, moderate and severe osteitis. Baseline quality of life in these patients was assessed using the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and its association with the severity of osteitis analysed. Results: There is a very strong correlation between severity of osteitis and quality of life in the study population based on the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 scores (p = 0.000). The mean Global Osteitis score was 21.65 with standard deviation 5.66. Maximum score obtained was 38 and minimum score 14. Conclusion: • Osteitis has a significant impact on quality of life in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. • Severity of osteitis has a direct relation to quality of life in chronic rhinosinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaginal epithelial abnormalities (VEA) are a common complication associated with pessary use. The objective of this study was to determine if there is a host pro-inflammatory response associated with pessary use and VEA. Methods: Patients wearing pessaries for at least two weeks for the management of pelvic organ prolapse and/or urinary incontinence were screened for eligibility. Vaginal swabs were collected from women with VEA (cases) and without VEA (controls). Cases were matched to controls in a 1:3 ratio. Cytokine analysis of the collected samples was performed using multiplex analysis to determine the concentrations of interleukin (IL)6, interferon alpha 2 (IFNα2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and IL1β. A cross-sectional analysis was performed, comparing vaginal cytokine concentrations in women with and without VEA. Results: We enrolled 211 patients in this analysis: 50 cases and 161 controls. The median concentrations (pg/mL) of the four cytokines for cases and controls respectively were; IL6: 6.7 (IQR <2.9 [the lower limit of detection, LLD]-14.2) and < 2.9 (LLD) (IQR <2.9 [LLD]-5.5), IFNα2: 8.2 (IQR 6.1–13.9) and 7.9 (IQR 3.9–13.6), TNFα: 15.2 (IQR 6.1–30.4) and 4.68 (IQR <2.3 [LLD]-16.3), IL1β 195.7 (IQR 54.5–388.6) and 38.5 (IQR 6.7–154.9). The differences in median cytokine levels were statistically higher in cases for IL6, TNFα, and IL1β (all p < 0.001) compared to controls. Older age (OR: 1.062, 95% CI, 1.015–1.112), lower BMI (OR: 0.910, 95% CI, 0.839–0.986) and presence of VEA at last check (OR: 5.377, 95% CI, 2.049–14.108) were associated with higher odds of having VEA on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically IL6, TNFα, and IL1β, are elevated in pessary-wearing patients who have VEA. Additional prospective studies are needed to assess baseline vaginal inflammatory profiles before and after pessary placement to understand VEA formation in pessary patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The usage of mobile phones has increased drastically in recent years. Their use without any knowledge of their adverse effects is quite unsafe. Studies on cancers due to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones are available but there is a need to research on the harmful effects of mobile phones on general and oral health among the rampant mobile phone users. Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice or awareness regarding mobile phone radiation and its impact on the oral cavity among the individuals using mobile phones. Materials and Methods: The present study was a self-administered structured questionnaire study which was filled by 259 participants between the age group of 18–33 years through online forms. Results: The study resulted that 50% of the participants did not have knowledge on deleterious effects of mobile phone radiation on the oral cavity and have experienced oral problems such as dry mouth (39.4%) and hypersalivation (41.7%) after prolonged talk time and 54.1% of the participants were aware on the impact of mobile phone radiation on health status. Conclusion: The results showed that most of the participants were aware of the potential risks arising from the use of mobile phones on general health but lacking the knowledge on oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-robot collaboration (HRC), where humans and robots work together to handle specific tasks, requires designing robots that can effectively support human beings. Robots need to conduct reasoning using commonsense knowledge (CSK), e.g., fundamental knowledge that humans possess and use subconsciously, in order to assist humans in challenging and dynamic environments. Currently, there are several effective CSK systems used for organizing information and facts, along with detecting objects and determining their properties. HRC is employed in various manufacturing tasks, such as paint spraying and assembly, in order to keep humans safe while increasing efficiency. Although there is a large array of research on HRC and on CSK, there is minimal research linking the two concepts together. This paper presents a novel system on human-robot collaboration guided by commonsense reasoning for automation in manufacturing tasks. This fits within the general realm of smart manufacturing. The primary focus is on improving the efficacy of human-robot co-assembly tasks. Evaluations conducted with online simulations and real-world experiments indicate that reasoning using CSK-based robot priorities enhances HRC as compared to simpler robot priorities, e.g., merely handling nearby objects. This system is modifiable and can be used for larger and more complex real-world tasks, thereby leading to improved automation in manufacturing. This paper demonstrates the scope of combining HRC and CSK, while future works will be able to further utilize the benefits of combining the two fields with significant impacts. Note to Practitioners—This paper is motivated by the human-robot collaboration problem in smart manufacturing. Robots operating by reasoning with commonsense priorities in human-robot collaboration enable faster task execution and better human work life. This can help balance work for humans and prevent injury. Adding robots to tasks accordingly does not necessarily decrease costs, but can limit human exposure to danger which is significant (and can also lower costs overall). Simulations and real-world experiments in our research using commonsense reasoning demonstrate how work is easier and better with human-robot collaboration. These factors are highly significant when tasks are repeated multiple times. The system is presented within automated manufacturing and is scalable for different real-world applications. Such automation is particularly helpful during recent times in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient education is a low-cost intervention that can help in improving the knowledge and compliance regarding analgesics. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the standardized educational intervention on knowledge regarding analgesic, its compliance, and barriers to compliance among advanced cancer patients attending palliative care clinic. In this randomized control trial, 100 advanced cancer patients with pain were randomly allocated to two groups. A standardized educational intervention of 10-15 minutes on cancer pain management and analgesics was delivered at clinic visit to the patients in the intervention group at baseline and the control group received usual care. Analgesic knowledge, analgesic compliance, and barriers to compliance were measured for each patient at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks follow up visit. The data was analyzed and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Analgesic knowledge (p = 0.001) and compliance (p = 0.001) improved significantly in the experimental group at 2 weeks and 4 weeks as compared to the control group. There was also a statistically significant decrease in barriers to compliance in the experimental group as compared to the control group. A significant correlation between the knowledge and compliance score at 4 weeks in the experimental group was found with a Karl Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.628 (p = 0.001). The standardized educational intervention was found to be effective in improving the analgesic knowledge and analgesic compliance among cancer patients with pain at 2 and 4 weeks follow up as compared to the usual care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent decades, the use of mobile phone has increased drastically. This has raised many concerns about the potential health risk to the individuals who are exposed to mobile phone emitted radiation. The aim of this systematic review is to find out the impact of mobile phone emitted radiations on salivary gland. An electronic database search was performed to identify the suitable literature using Cochrane, EBSCO host, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Trip database. The literary search was focused on the impact of mobile phone emitted radiation on the salivary gland. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, the studies were selected. A total of 31 relevant studies were identified, and 11 articles were taken for the systematic review. The studies concluded that the radiations emitted by the mobile phones have detrimental effects on salivary gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical computation to analyze the heat and mass transfer mechanism of a magnetohydrodynamic radiative Casson fluid flow over a wedge in the presence of Joule heating, viscous dissipation, and chemical reaction is carried out in this study. The flow‐governing partial differential equations are transformed as ordinary differential equations by relevant similarity transformations and subsequently resolved by Runge–Kutta numerical approach with a shooting technique. The characteristics of momentum, thermal, and concentration border layers due to various influencing parameters are graphically outlined and numerically computed by MATLAB software. We present comparative solutions to construe the relative outcomes of Casson fluid versus Newtonian fluid. Computational outcomes of friction factor and Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are tabulated with suitable interpretations. An increase in skin friction values is noted due to an increment in the thermal Grashof number, whereas a decrease is observed due to the chemical reaction parameter. The Casson fluid displays a superior heat transfer mechanism than the Newtonian fluid. Obtained outcomes are in good agreement with the prevailing literature in the limiting case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated monazite crystals, known to experience lattice distortions due to alpha particle emission from their atomic nuclei. Our aim in this investigation is to study the complex relationship between the lattice parameters and Raman spectra of monazite crystals. Through this study, we seek to understand the interdependency between these physical parameters and their influence on one another for an improved understanding of radiation-induced damage in these crystals. In addition to this, we also attempted to establish a correlation between these properties and their picometer-scale images to gain a deeper understanding of the structural changes that occur at the atomic scale. We conducted our study on four monazite samples withstanding intrinsic alpha decay radiation, denoted as M1, M2, M3, and M4, with crystal unit cell volume ranging from 299.961 Å3 to 301.96 Å3. Our Pearson statistical analysis revealed a correlation R2 (0.96) between the SCXRD-derived Ce–P Distance of monazite and the FWHM of PO 4 band active mode in Raman spectra. This indicated lattice distortions due to alpha decay radiation impacting the Raman spectra. While Raman PO 4 band broadening can be a consequence of impurities, dopants, and radiation damage, HRTEM scrutiny of the samples at picometer scales revealed the presence of point defects, plane rotation, and lattice distortions within the samples, suggesting the impact of alpha decay on the crystal lattice. HRTEM analysis has added additional confirmation that the major contribution to PO 4 band broadening is due to alpha radiation damage in these samples. Through our study, we conclude a multiple-approach correlation is necessary to accurately study radiation damage dynamics at atomic scales. • Intrinsic corpuscular α-damaged monazite crystals was analysed. • Correlation between their lattice parameters and Raman spectra was established. • Picometer scale images revealed α radiation-induced damage at the atomistic scale. • The study advocates the need for multi-approach correlation in atomic scale studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PA6 absorbs moisture, restricting its use in humid applications. The first objective of this study is to process composite parts to be used in high humid applications using PA6 blend based matrix (PA6/PP/PP‐g‐MA) and SCF (3‐15 wt%) reinforcement. The second objective is to perform tensile and impact tests in both dry and wet conditions. The third objective is to carry out the in‐depth analysis of fractography of blends and composites. For blend, more than 50% reduction in water absorption was observed in comparison to pure PA6, indicating the need to blend with PP. The tensile strength of the composite with 15 wt% SCF was 55% and 133% higher than matrix blend in dry and wet conditions respectively indicating the need to reinforce the blend with SCF. Injection molded composites with 15 wt% SCF revealed the tensile strength of 54 MPa, 46 MPa and modulus of 5 GPa, 4 GPa in dry, wet state respectively. At higher SCF content, both SCF and PP are well dispersed in PA6 matrix but fiber pull out led to fracture of dry samples. Post water absorption, tensile fractured samples showed significant fiber pull out, indicating reduction in interfacial adhesion due to water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide increased use of mobile phone in recent years has raised many questions on whether their use is safe to user who is exposed to electromagnetic radiation. The aim of the review is to find out the effect of mobile phone emitted radiations on buccal mucosal cells. To identify suitable literature, an electronic search was performed using PubMed, Trip database, Cochrane, Google Scholar and EBSCO host database. The search was focused on the effect of mobile phone radiation on buccal cells. Among the literature available in English, the screening of the related titles and abstracts was done, and only those articles were selected for full-text reading that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The initial literature search resulted in 23 articles out of which only 7 articles fulfilled the criteria were included in this systematic review. The Studies showed that mobile phone-emitted radiations have adverse effects on buccal mucosal cells such as the formation of micronuclei and broken egg which was considered as bio-markers of genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research regarding the heat transit mechanism of magnetohydrodynamic hybrid nanoliquid flow over contrasting flow profiles is predominantly employed in transpiration, coolants, fiber coatings, heat exchangers, and so on. Owing to this, we intend to dissect the heat transport behavior of MHD hybrid nanofluid flow past a cone as well as a wedge. For the analysis, we take nonlinear radiation and viscous dissipation into consideration with 30% of ethylene glycol and water (or EGW) as base fluid with suspended copper oxide (CuO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. The Runge-Kutta method with the shooting technique is utilized to figure out the deduced nonlinear gotverning equations. The influence of the concerned different admissible parameters on similar distributions (cone and wedge) are graphically illustrated and interpreted accordingly via computed numerical values. It is worth noting that the heat transport rate is greater past the cone rather than the wedge. The presence of CuO and MgO hybrid nanoparticles increases the heat transfer rate of the EGW base fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of bilingualism on set-shifting and working memory in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Bilinguals with ASD were predicted to display a specific bilingual advantage in set-shifting, but not working memory, relative to monolinguals with ASD. Forty 6- to 9-year-old children participated (20 ASD, 20 typically-developing). Set-shifting was measured using a computerized dimensional change card sort (DCCS) task, and by parent report of executive functioning in daily life. Results showed an advantage for bilingual relative to monolingual children with ASD on the DCCS task, but not for set-shifting in daily life. Working memory was similar for bilinguals and monolinguals with ASD. These findings suggest that bilingualism may mitigate some set-shifting difficulties in children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compostable bio-sourced moisture barrier coating is among the most emerging material alternative to non-degradable single use plastics liner in paper packaging applications. In the current work, highly unsaturated linseed oil is epoxidized and acrylated to form UV curable bio-acrylate resin (Acrylated Linseed Oil) to be used as bio-coating material for paper substrate to improve its barrier properties. Beeswax has been proposed as an excellent barrier to water vapour permeability, the hydrophobicity being imparted by esters of long chain fatty alcohols, acids and long chain alkanes present within. Beeswax is incorporated into AELO resin to enhance the water and moisture barrier property of the coating due to its hydrophobicity and food compatibility. The addition of beeswax has significantly reduced the Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) to 20 g/m2.day.atm while improving the Water Contact Angle (WCA) to 111° for 10 wt% beeswax loading. Further, the WCA remains above 90° even after 50 cycles of abrasion revealing the durability of the coating. The hydrophobicity is further reinstated by the SEM images which show microscale roughness imparted by uniformly dispersed beeswax. Beeswax thus improves hydrophobicity both by virtue of its composition and the surface roughness imparted. Improved transparency (>95% UV–vis transmittance), higher thermal stability (T 5 >250 °C, T 10 >300 °C), and reasonable glass transition temperature of the bio-coatings reveals its wide application in the field of packaging. The compostability of the coating in soil and paper repulpability after removal of the coating, both explored its potential in paper-based food packaging by replacing single use plastics. • UV curable acrylated linseed oil-Beewax based Bio-coating is developed for paper packaging. • WVTR and Water Contact Angle improved on beeswax loading. • Coating showed improved transparency and higher thermal stability (>200 °C). • The coating is compostable and also removable for repulpability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an artificial neural network model to predict the sea surface temperature (SST) and delineate SST fronts in the northe-astern Arabian Sea. The predictions are made one day in advance, using current day’s SST for predicting the SST of the next day. The model is used to predict the SST map for every single day during 2013-2015. The results show that more than 75% of the time the model error is ≤ ±0.5ºC. For the years 2014 and 2015, 80% of the predictions had an error ≤±0.5ºC. The model performance is dependent on the availability of data during the previous days. Thus during the summer monsoon months, when the data availability is comparatively less, the errors in the prediction are slightly higher. The model is also able to capture SST fronts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) negatively affect quality of life in the general population, and their prevalence in gynecologic cancer survivors has not been systematically described. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PFDs in cancer survivors. We hypothesized that the prevalence of PFDs in the gynecologic cancer population would be higher than in the general female population.Methods: We searched PubMed (1809 to present), EMBASE (1974 to present), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) through May 2017. The search combined subject headings, title, and abstract words for gynecologic cancer, PFDs, and prevalence. Any studies evaluating the prevalence of PFDs in gynecologic malignancies were included.Results: A total of 550 articles met the designated search criteria and 31 articles were included in this review. In cervical cancer survivors, before treatment the prevalences of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and fecal incontinence (FI) were 24-29%, 8-18% and 6%, respectively, and after treatment the prevalences of SUI, UUI, urinary retention, FI, fecal urge, dyspareunia and vaginal dryness were 4-76%, 4-59%, 0.4-39%, 2-34%, 3-49%, 12-58% and 15-47%, respectively. In uterine cancer survivors, before treatment the prevalences of SUI, UUI and FI were 29-36%, 15-25% and 3%, respectively, and after treatment the prevalences of urinary incontinence (UI) and dyspareunia were 2-44% and 7-39%, respectively. In vulvar cancer survivors, after treatment the prevalences of UI, SUI and FI were 4-32%, 6-20% and 1-20%, respectively. In ovarian cancer survivors, the prevalences of SUI, UUI, prolapse and sexual dysfunction were 32-42%, 15-39%, 17% and 62-75%, respectively.Conclusions: PFDs are prevalent in gynecologic cancer survivors and this is an important area of clinical concern and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized in its emeraldine form by the oxidation of aniline with ammonia persulphate (APS). The coprecipitation technique was employed for the synthesis of PANI-SnO 2 nanocomposite using prepared PANI, tin chloride dihydrate and ammonia solution precursors. The nanocomposite samples consisting of different weight percentage of PANI were prepared. The morphological features of the nanocomposites were analyzed from its Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The crystalline size and structural properties were deciphered from the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results of the samples. The Energy Dispersive X-ray Analyses (EDAX) of the samples provided the information on elemental composition. Furthermore, UV–vis spectroscopy was used to analyze the optical properties while the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was used for the study of electrochemical properties of the samples, which have revealed that PANI-SnO 2 nanocomposite can act as a suitable counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Thus, this nanocomposite can be a cheaper replacement to the more expensive and commercialized platinum counter electrodes in DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the rural population of South India, tooth loss affects 48.7% of people. In addition, there are now more patients with more than five congenitally missing adult teeth. This may cause a person's quality of life to decline and cause them to experience both physical and psychological discomfort. Materials and Methods: The current cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted over a period of month using a questionnaire-based survey (February 2022). Using G-POWER software version 3.1, the minimum sample size was calculated as 100 people, considering a study with an 80% power and a = 0.5. Results: Around 59.6% have answered right when asked about the source of dental stem cells (DSCs). 13.5 percentage have no idea about sourcing of stem cells, 6.7% state dental pulp stem cell, a very small population state periodontal tissue to be the source, while a minor group state it to be from apical papilla, <1% have no idea. Conclusion: Data of this study indicate that although there is typically good awareness regarding DSCs origins, uses, and clinical research best practises, there is not a comprehensive comprehension of these topics. The respondents have shown a quite favorable attitude toward improving their understanding of DSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood is define as a natural disaster that causes loss of life and property damages. Flash flood is an overflow of water that submerge lands and properties affecting lives and habitats all around the world due to climate change and heavy rainfalls. It is impossible to avoid risk or prevent their occurrence but we can reduce their effects by various engineering techniques. Incessant monsoon rains in the month of July 2016, triggered flash floods in several southern districts of Bhutan including Sarpang town affecting hundreds of people. The town was also wiped out after an overnight flash flood in 1996 and several minor flash flood kept on occurring particularly during monsoon. Hence, the present study aims to model the flash flood with respect to rainfall at Sarpang, Bhutan and to understand the suitability of methods in mountain terrain. Modelling was done by integrating ArcGIS and HEC-RAS modelling software. SRTM DEM and Landsat 8 OLI satellite image were used as base data. Meteorological data from Department of Hydro Met Services, Bhutan has been used to calculate average discharge of the river outlet. The model was validated with the recent flash flood event and also study shows that the methods and procedures adopted in this paper are suitable for carrying out similar kind of studies in mountain terrain like Sarpang where flash floods are very frequent and most common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nylon 6 blends such as polyamide 6/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene and polyamide 6/polypropylene are among the commercially successful blends, having varied applications ranging from automobile parts to construction industry. Nylon 6 blends can be made supertough based on other polymers involved. Nylon 6 blends are immiscible, and the use of compatibilizers can increase the interfacial adhesion between the polymers. Amount of compatibilizer plays a key role in defining the size distribution, dispersion, and adhesion between the polymers. In this paper, a detailed review on the compatibilizers used and the effect of compatibilizer on the mechanical and impact properties of the blends has been given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mahua ( Madhuca indica ) is a widely grown tree in tropical regions of India. The estimated annual production of it is higher as compared to karanja oil and neem oil. In the present work mahua oil was reacted with diethanol amine resulting in the formation of mahua oil fatty amide (MFA) which was further reacted with bisphenol-A forming mahua polyetheramide resin (MPEA). The structures of the synthesized intermediate and polyetheramide resin were confirmed by spectroscopic methods and estimated physico-chemical properties like acid value, iodine value, saponification value, hydroxyl and acid value. The prepared MPEA resin was converted to polyurethane coatings by reacting with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) with 1.1:1 NCO/OH ratio. Thermal stability and coating properties of polyurethane coatings on steel panels and particle board panels were investigated. The coating performance of the resin was tested by measurement of gloss, mar resistance, flexibility, scratch, pencil hardness, adhesion and chemical resistance using standard methods. The results presented better physico-mechanical as well as corrosion resistance performance of the polyurethane coating obtained from mahua oil based polyetheramide resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The incidence of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) increases progressively with age and its treatment is challenging. This prospective case control study was undertaken to compare the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of decitabine with those of cytarabine in older patients with newly diagnosed AML who are not fit for intensive chemotherapy. Materials and Methods. 30 eligible patients above 60 years old with newly diagnosed AML were assigned to receive decitabine or cytarabine. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). The secondary objective was to compare adverse events and cost-effectiveness of therapy in the two study groups. Results. In this study, 15 patients received decitabine and 15 patients received cytarabine. The median OS was 5.5 months for each of the treatment groups. The hazard ratio between the treatment groups was 0.811 with 95% CI of 0.390 to 1.687. Toxicity profile was similar in both groups. Cost per cycle of chemotherapy in INR was 24,200 for decitabine and 1,600 for low-dose cytarabine group. Median of simplified cost-effectiveness ratio was 0.00022 for decitabine group and 0.0034 for low-dose cytarabine group. Conclusions. For elderly patients with AML, decitabine and low-dose cytarabine should be chosen based on the patient’s choice and affordability. Our study has shown that both of these agents have similar OS and toxicity. Low-dose cytarabine scores over decitabine in developing countries as it is more cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate efficacy of high-dose oral ambroxol in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with respect to ventilator-free days (VFD).Design: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded pilot trial.Patients: Sixty-six mechanically ventilated patients (1 month to 12 years) with ARDS who were hand-ventilated for <24 hr before pediatric intensive care unit admission.Interventions: Patients randomized to oral ambroxol (40 mg/kg/day, in four divided doses) (n = 32) or placebo (n = 34) until 10 days, extubation or death whichever is earlier.Measurements and Main Results: Majority (91%) had pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Two study groups were similar in baseline characteristics. Mean partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen and oxygenation index were >175 and <10, respectively, with no difference in the two study groups. VFD were similar in the two study groups. Overall mortality was 26%. No adverse events were noted with ambroxol.Conclusions: Among ventilated pulmonary ARDS patients with oxygenation index of <10, mortality was 26%. Ambroxol did not improve VFD. Study with higher and more frequently administered doses of ambroxol in larger sample is suggested after having generated relevant pharmacokinetic data among critically ill children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At 60 seconds, 2xED95 dose (0.6mg/kg) of rocuronium is frequently used for intubation. Some studies suggest 3XED95 (0.9mg/kg body weight) dose in achieving excellent intubating conditions. In this context, present study aimed at comparing intubating conditions with these two doses of rocuronium, using clinical criteria by cooper's score; assisted with adductor pollicis T.O.F response. Materials and Methods: Present prospective randomized comparative clinical study was conducted on 60 patients subjected for general anaesthesia. Induction was done with fentanyl (1mcg/kg body weight) and propofol (2mg/kg body weight) and relaxation achieved with Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg (Group A-30 cases); 0.9mg/kg (Group B- 30 cases). (n=30) intubation was done at 60 seconds. Intubating conditions were assessed clinically by cooper's score. T.O.F responses of AP by visual and tactile means. results: Intubating conditions clinically were excellent in 16 cases (53%), good in 12 cases (40%), and fair in 2 cases (7%) respectively in Group-A. In group-B excellent in 29 cases (97%) and good in 1case (3%). In group A in no case TOF-0 achieved. TOF 1, 2, 3, and 4 were observed in 1 case (3%), 7 cases (23%) 16 cases (54%) and 6 cases (20%) respectively. Whereas in group B, TOF 0, 1, 2, 3 were observed in 18 cases (61%), 4 cases (13%), 7 cases (23%) and 1 case (3%). In no case TOF-4 observed. Chi square test (p<0.0001) confirmed a highly significant statistical difference with respect to elicited TOFcounts, and intubating conditions achieved. conclusion: 3xED95 dose of Rocuronium achieves more intense NMB and better conditions for intubation at 60 seconds than 2ED 95 dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has an 80% incidence in high-risk patients. This is despite the availability of several antiemetic drugs. Selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists are considered first-line for prophylaxis, ondansetron being the most commonly used agent. Ramosetron, another selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, is more potent and longer acting than ondansetron. This study was conducted to evaluate the antiemetic efficacy of ramosetron in comparison with ondansetron in patients at a high risk of PONV. Methods: This was a prospective randomised double-blind study carried out over a 6-month period in which 206 patients with at least two risk factors for PONV were randomised to receive ramosetron 0.3 mg or ondansetron 8 mg, 30 min before the end of surgery. The incidence of PONV, severity of nausea and need for rescue antiemetic were recorded over the next 24 h. Primary outcome was the incidence of PONV. Secondary outcomes included severity of nausea and need for rescue. The data were analysed using the Predictive Analytics Software (PASW, version 18: Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The incidence of PONV was found to be 35% in the ramosetron group as opposed to 43.7% in the ondansetron group (P = 0.199). Need for rescue antiemetic was 23.3% in the ramosetron group and 32% in the ondansetron group (P = 0.156) in the 24 h following surgery. Conclusion: Ramosetron 0.3 mg and ondansetron 8 mg were equally effective in reducing the incidence of PONV in high risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge representation (KR) is an important area in artificial intelligence (AI) and is often related to specific domains. The representation of knowledge in domain-specific contexts makes it desirable to capture semantics as domain experts would. This motivates the development of semantics-preserving standards for KR within the given domain. In addition to the storage and analysis of information using such standards, the effect of globalization today necessitates the publishing of information on the Web. Thus, it is advisable to use formats that make the information easily publishable and accessible while developing KR standards. In this article, we propose such a standard called Quenching Markup Language (QuenchML). This follows the syntax of the eXtensible Markup Language and captures the semantics of the quenching domain within the heat treating of materials. We describe the development of QuenchML, a multidisciplinary effort spanning the realms of AI, database management, and materials science, considering various aspects such as ontology, data modeling, and domain-specific constraints. We also explain the usefulness of QuenchML in semantics-preserving information retrieval and in text mining guided by domain knowledge. Furthermore, we outline the significance of this work in software tools within the field of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported monometallic (Pt, Ni,) and bimetallic (Ni–Pt)catalysts were prepared for the selective liquid phase hydrogenationof m-chlronitrobenzene to m-chloroaniline(m-CAN). It was found that the use of sodium carbonateas an additive substantially reduced the extent of dehydrohalogenationin the case of monometallic, 1% Pt/C catalyst, to give the highestselectivity of 96% to m-CAN. Ni–Pt bimetalliccatalyst although showed almost complete selectivity (>99%) to m-chloroaniline; its activity was several fold lower thanthat of 1% Pt/C–Na2CO3system. However,compared with Ni monometallic catalyst, bimetallic Ni–Pt showedhigher activity and selectivity due to the presence of electron richsurface metallic Pt stabilized by Ni having lower ionization potentialcompared with Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The region between the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the equator links the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. A significant exchange of mass, heat and salt occurs in the region via two major current systems: the monsoon current (dominant annual cycle) and the equatorial current (dominant semi-annual cycle). This paper presents observations from deep-sea mooring programmes and describes the rationale for maintaining a mooring array along 77.4 ∘ E to monitor both current systems. Analysis shows that the semi-annual to annual cycle transition occurs at 2–2.5 ∘ N, with the winter monsoon current peaking at 5 ∘ N, the summer monsoon current at 3–6 ∘ N, and the equatorial current at 0–1 ∘ N. Research highlights: Ocean current observations are shown in the monsoon and equatorial currents regime at 77.4 ∘ E. The transition between monsoon and equatorial current occurs at 2-2.5 ∘ N. Summer (winter) monsoon current is strongest at 3-6 ∘ N (5 ∘ N). Minor expansion of existing mooring programmes to monitor two major current systems in the North Indian Ocean is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Barium zirconate (BaZrO3) powder samples were synthesized by ceramic method and their response to the high energy electron irradiation was studied in terms of their ac conductivity, dielectric constant and dielectric losses. Samples were irradiated with the 8MeV electrons with an absorbed dose of 100kGy. The ac conductivity is explained by the charge carrier hopping model. Irradiated BaZrO3 samples exhibited a significant variation of the frequency dependent exponent (s). The ‘s’ parameter decreased after irradiation. The activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius plots was found to increase from 0.06eV to 0.16eV after irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Intranasal tooth is a rare type of supernumerary teeth. Its aetiopathogenesis is uncertain but genetic predisposition, trauma and infection are described in previous literatures. It can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic. In our case report, it was asymptomatic which was diagnosed mainly by CT scan as a radiopaque lesion with morphology and attenuation same as that of intraoral tooth. We report a case of an incidental intranasal supernumerary tooth in a 45-year-old male who presented with history of road traffic accident and parasymphyseal fracture of left mandible. This case highlights the rarity of this entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the most critical unresolved issues associated with the pharmacotherapy treatment of substance users. These issues refer to the following: 1) diagnostic and treatment issues of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance abuse; 2) addiction and pain; 3) pharmacotherapy of alcohol use disorders; 4) pharmacotherapy of co-morbid mood, anxiety and substance use disorders; and, 5) medical illness and co-morbidities in drug users.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral, developmental disorder most often diagnosed during childhood, marked by the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that results in social, academic, and occupational underachievement. Although the disorder has a prevalence of 3–9% in the general childhood population and 1–5% in the general adult population, it affects between 11 and 35% of “substance-abusing” adults, oftentimes complicating treatment response. The present review discusses diagnostic assessment issues, prevalence, comorbidity, pharmacotherapy, and psychological interventions in substance-abusing adults with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alumina surface was modified by adsorption of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Typical S-shaped isotherm of surfactant on alumina was observed. The adsorption of herbicide on alumina and surfactant treated alumina has been investigated. The enhancement in adsorption of herbicide on surfactant treated alumina is observed, which may be attributed to the solubilization of herbicide on surfactant aggregates formed at solid/liquid interface. The effect of pH on adsorption has been studied. The adsorption is greatly influenced by pH of the medium. The applicability of Freundlich equation was tested for equilibrium data.The influence of various factors such as initial concentration, agitation speed, mass of adsorbent and temperature on adsorption was also studied. The batch kinetics has been tested to pseudo second order reaction and rate constants were calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Experimental data in many domains serves as a basis for predicting useful trends. If the data and analysis are available over the Web this promotes E-Business by connecting clientele worldwide. This paper describes such a predictive tool "QuenchMiner™" in the domain "Materials Science". Data mining, more specifically the "Apriori Algorithm", is used to derive association rules that represent relationships between input conditions and results of domain experiments. This enables the tool to answer questions such as "Given cooling medium and agitation during material heat treatment, predict cooling rate". This allows users to perform case studies on the Web and use their results to optimize the involved processes, thus increasing customer satisfaction. Another interesting aspect is predicting material microstructure during heat treatment. Microstructure controls material properties such as hardness. Hence its prediction helps in making decisions about materials selection. Microstructure prediction has similarities to an artificial intelligence process called "Game-of-Life". Some challenges in our work are incorporating domain expert judgement while mining association rules, simulating microstructure evolution under different conditions, and dealing with uncertainty. These challenges and associated research issues are outlined here. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first tool performing Web-based predictive analysis in Materials Science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To document the incidence of airway accidents in the Intensive Care Unit, and to identify the difference in accident rates between short term and long term intubated patients, and between endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy. Design: Prospective, observational non-interventional study. Patients and Methods: All adult patients with either an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy were divided into two groups: intubation for 24 hours, {Long-term intubation/LTI}. The number of tube days (TDs) were calculated from the day of intubation till the day of extubation, discharge or death. The following airway accidents were noted: blocked tube (BT), unplanned extubations (UE), endobronchial intubation (EBI), kinked tube and leaking cuff. Results: 781 patients (1440 tube days) were studied. 665 patients (951 tube days) required an endotracheal tube. 116 patients (489 tube days) had a tracheostomy. 697 patients (697 tube days) required STI while 84 patients (743 tube days) required LTI. Overall there were 55 airway accidents with an incidence of 7.04 % of patients and 3.82 / 100 tube days. The airway accident rate was 4.02 / 100 TD's and 3.63/ 100 TD's for STI and LTI, respectively, and 4.21 100 TD's and 3.07 /100 TD's for endotracheal intuibation and tracheostomy, respectively. Blocked tubes (2.15 per 100 TD's) and Unplanned extubations (1.32 per 100 TD's) were the most common airway accidents. Conclusion: The overall incidence of airway accidents was 3.82/ 100 TD's and 7.04 % of patients with no significant difference between STI vs. LTI & endotracheal tube vs. tracheostomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the essential features of the catalytic core of peptidyl-α-hydroxyglycine αamidating lyase (PAL). Catalysis of hydrolytic cleavage; Analysis of the truncation mutants; Maintenance of the structure of PAL.

It is this pressure sensor that gives the depth of the ADCP transducer, and the incorrect pressure data implies that the depths of the ADCP bins in the water column above the transducer are erroneous. Since data from BKD7A were not available for more than a month, the data from the 75 kHz ADCP deployed as BKD7B were used during 2016-2017; this ADCP did not yield data in the top ~60 m and, therefore, the current at 48 m could not be estimated off Kakinada for this deployment. Table 3 ADCP mooring details for the mooring on the continental slope of Kakinada. [Extracted from the article]

Spectra from two decades of zonal current data at ∼ 4000 m in the central and western equatorial Indian Ocean show a shift in the dominant frequencies from the west to the east. The 120–180-day period is stronger at 77 ∘ E, the 60–120-day period at 83 ∘ E, and the 30–90-day period at 93 ∘ E. The weakening of lower frequencies near the eastern boundary can be explained using theoretical ray paths of Kelvin waves and reflected Rossby waves. The equatorial Kelvin wave forced by winds reflects from the eastern boundary as Rossby waves with different meridional modes. After reflection, the low (high) frequency Rossby beams travel a larger (shorter) distance before reaching the bottom, thereby creating a shadow zone, a region with low wave energy, between the ray path and the eastern boundary. The shift in frequency with longitude is not evident in the top 1000 m, where the current is dominated by the semi-annual cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 33-year-old woman diagnosed with postdural puncture headache (PDPH) who was treated with anticonvulsant pregabalin. Topics discussed include scheduling the patient with carcinoma of stomach for partial gastrectomy, her echocardiography revealing arterial systolic pressure, mild mitral regurgitation and dilated cardiac chambers, intake of tablet pregabalin that lowered intensity of headache and pregabalin as analog of gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Peptide amidation is a ubiquitous posttranslational modification of bioactive peptides. Peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM; EC 1.14.17.3), the enzymne that catalyzes the first step of this reaction, is composed of two domains, each of which binds one copper atom. The coppers are held 11 Å apart on either side of a solvent-filled interdomain cleft, and the PHM reaction requires electron transfer between these sites. A plausible mechanism for electron transfer might involve interdomain motion to decrease the distance between the copper atoms. Our experiments show that PHM catalytic core (PHMcc) is enzymatically active in the crystal phase, where interdomain motion is not possible. Instead, structures of two states relevant to catalysis indicate that water, substrate and active site residues may provide an electron transfer pathway that exists only during the PHM catalytic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which aimed to determine whether the long-term course of bipolar disorder could be classified into distinct categories based on specifiable course characteristics. Criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Details on prior classification systems; Symptom assessment; Discussion on psychiatric history.

Presents research which used the anomalous signal of endogenous coppers to determine the structure of the catalytic core of oxidized rat peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) with and without bound peptide substrate. Amidation in hormones; Role of PHM; Process of PHM reaction; Extension of findings to dopamine beta-monooxygenase.

Studies the structure of the enzyme peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM). Function of PHM in catalyzing the C-terminal amidation of glycine-extended peptides; Disulfide linkages occurring in the N-terminal domain; Proposed two-domain model with a copper site in each domain that allows spatial proximity between copper ligands.