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Chronic cervical spondylitis (CCS), a degenerative disorder of the spine, is known for causing disability among old and young people. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in various cytokine genes have demonstrated an impactful association with several inflammatory disorders. In the present study, we have investigated the SNPs and allelic distribution of the three most prevalent cytokines genes, IL-1β (-511C/T), TNF-α (-308G/A), and TGF-β (-509C/T), along with serum levels of these cytokines in 252 subjects. SNPs were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and digested fragments were separated and visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis and Native Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The serum cytokine levels were analyzed with a flow cytometer using a customized multiplex bead-based assay. It was observed that these SNPs did not reflect the susceptibility to CCS but were associated with susceptibility to CCS. We found a significant association between the C/C and G/G genotypes and the C and G alleles of IL-1β and TNF-α, respectively, suggesting a lower risk of CCS. The frequency distribution of risk alleles (-511T) and (-308A) were simultaneously higher in CCS compared to the control, reflecting the susceptibility to CCS. TGF-β showed a significant association with disease susceptibility, along with a significant correlation between age and the chronicity of CCS. The serum cytokine levels were significantly different in CCS and controls.

Alginate is a polysaccharide that has found numerous applications in the domain of pharmaceutical science, paper and textile industry, food industry, dental applications, welding roads, mucoadhesive properties, scaffolding, biomedical and engineering due to its cost-effective nature, film forming ability, gelling, biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxic, non-immunogenic, readily availability, antimicrobial nature. Hydrogels of alginates play a crucial role in well-controlled or sustained release drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. This book chapter will provide a detailed overview of Alginate and its applications. To the best of our knowledge there no such type of informative data is available on Alginate and its relation with drug susceptibility. Here we more focused on the antibiotic capability of Alginate and its association with bacterial resistance.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), the two most significant physicochemical indicators, we find higher in water samples from plain regions than from hilly regions. Mean levels of As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Ni were 5.48, 1.060, 4.4, 0.728, 3.5, 2.93, 26.56, and 7.68 (µg/L), respectively, in water samples, was within normal ranges, except Arsenic, which was found in higher at shukartal site > 10 µg/L. A marked correlation was observed between the physicochemical quality of water and bacterial density. The presence of specific bacterial strains, e.g. Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and Proteus spps., in higher concentrations suggests a significant level of faecal contamination in water. The Most Probable Number, Escherichia coli count, total coliform count, faecal streptococci count and faecal coliform count were discovered in the regions of Rishikesh, Roorkee, and Shukartaal, indicating that the total bacterial count was higher than the permitted range (GR1, GRR, and GS). The spatial distribution of the Hazardous index (H.I.) in the study area revealed a rising trend of environmental leaching from mountainous parts to plain regions. Children were at a higher carcinogenic risk compared to adults both males and females. The study recommends prevention and safeguarding against anthropometric variables.

Objectives To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the FDA-approved drug disulfiram in combination with meropenem against MBL-expressing carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods Chequerboard and antibiotic resistance reversal analysis were performed using 25 clinical isolates producing different MBLs. Three representative strains harbouring NDM, IMP or non-MBL genes were subjected to a time–kill assay to further evaluate this synergistic interaction. Dose-dependent inhibition by disulfiram was assessed to determine IC50 for NDM-1, IMP-7, VIM-2 and KPC-2. Further, to test the efficacy of meropenem monotherapy and meropenem in combination with disulfiram against NDM- and IMP-harbouring A. baumannii, an experimental model of systemic infection and pneumonia was developed using BALB/c female mice. Results Chequerboard and antibiotic reversal assay displayed a synergistic interaction against MBL-expressing A. baumannii strains with 4- to 32-fold reduction in MICs of meropenem. In time–kill analysis, meropenem and disulfiram exhibited synergy against NDM- and IMP-producing carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAb) isolates. In vitro dose-dependent inhibition analysis showed that disulfiram inhibits NDM-1 and IMP-7 with IC50 values of 1.5 ± 0.6 and 16.25 ± 1.6 μM, respectively, with slight or no inhibition of VIM-2 ( Conclusions These results strongly suggest that the combination of disulfiram and meropenem represents an effective treatment option for NDM- and IMP-associated CRAb infections.

The prime intention of super-resolution (SR) technique is to restore the high-resolution images from one or more low-resolution (LR) images. These images are captured from the same scene with different acquisition systems with different resolution. Because these acquisition systems, images are suffered for an ill-posed problem with low visualization and picture information. Therefore, in this paper, the zoom-based super-resolution approach is proposed for super-resolution of low resolute images which are acquired from different camera zoom-lens. In this approach, three LR images of the same static scene which are acquired using three distinct zoom factors are used. Learning-based SR technique is used to enhance the spatial resolution of these LR images. The training dataset comprises three sets of captured images which are LR images, an enhanced version of LR images-HR1 and enhanced version of HR1 images-HR2. High-frequency details of the super-resolute image are learned in form of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients of HR training images. Finally, the super-resolved versions of LR observations, captured at different zoom-factors, are combined. The experimental results show that this proposed approach can be applied to various types of natural images in grayscale as well as color. The experimental results also show that this proposed approach performs better than existing approaches.

Ferritin is a known inflammatory biomarker in COVID-19. However, many factors and co-morbidities can confound the level of serum ferritin. This current metaanalysis evaluates serum ferritin level in different severity levels in COVID-19. Studies evaluating serum ferritin level in different clinical contexts (COVID-19 vs. control, mild to moderate vs. severe to critical, non-survivor vs. survivor, organ involvement, ICU and mechanical ventilation requirement) were included (total 9 literature databases searched). Metaanalysis and metaregression was carried out using metaphor “R” package. Compared to control (COVID-19 negative), higher ferritin levels were found among the COVID-19 patients [SMD −0.889 (95% C.I. −1.201, −0.577), I2 = 85%]. Severe to critical COVID-19 patients showed higher ferritin levels compared to mild to moderate COVID-19 patients [SMD 0.882 (0.738, 1.026), I2 = 85%]. In meta-regression, high heterogeneity was observed could be attributed to difference in “mean age”, and “percentage of population with concomitant co-morbidities”. Non-survivors had higher serum ferritin level compared to survivors [SMD 0.992 (0.672, 1.172), I2 = 92.33%]. In meta-regression, high heterogeneity observed could be attributed to difference in “mean age” and “percentage of male sex”. Patients requiring ICU [SMD 0.674 (0.515 to 0.833), I2 = 80%] and mechanical ventilation [SMD 0.430 (0.258, 0.602), I2 = 32%] had higher serum ferritin levels compared to those who didn't. To conclude, serum ferritin level may serve as an important biomarker which can aid in COVID-19 management. However, presence of other co-morbid conditions/confounders warrants cautious interpretation.

Introduction: The human oral cavity comprises various niches such as teeth, gingiva, tongue, soft and hard palate, and various dental prostheses, all inhabited by different bacterial species. Although more than 600 taxa belong to the oral cavity, identifying Staphylococcus arlettae, an incompletely understood bacterium, has been rare. Methods: Three patients who underwent periodontal flap surgeries were reported with the incidental finding of S. arlettae associated with the intra-oral sutures placed. Environmental sampling was performed, to establish the exact source of this bacterium. Results: Staphylococcus arlettae was isolated in three patients’ intra-oral sutures. All environmental samples were negative for the presence of the bacterium. Conclusion: To this date, no studies have identified such an occurrence of Staphylococcus arlettae with intra-oral sutures. Its identification in association with foreign materials, such as sutures, can be considered a potential for surgical site infections and requires further investigation.

This chapter lays out both the critique of the oxymoron sustainable development as well as the potential and nuances of a post-development agenda. Post-development is generally meant as an era or approach in which development would no longer be the central organizing principle of social life.We highlight the contribution by Joan Martinez Alier with an ecological critique to development and his work on the global movement for environmental justice to show that activists should be considered as theory and knowledge producers in their own right. We then propose to deepen and widen a research, dialogue and action agenda for activists, policy makers and scholars on a variety of worldviews and practices relating to our collective search for an ecologically wise and socially just world. This could be one base in the search for alternatives to United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in an attempt to truly ‘transforming the world’. In fact, it is an agenda towards the pluriverse: ‘a world where many worlds fit’, as the Zapatista say.

Introduction. The world is at the stage of creating an interdisciplinary approach that will be implemented in metallurgical research. The paper formulates the technique of image analysis in the study of processing at different depths from the mold-metal interface. The purpose of the work. Processing of a cast-iron workpiece within the first 3.5 mm of thickness from the mold-metal interface is a serious problem of solid processing. The study of machinability at different depths is a key requirement of the industry for ease of processing. Machinability will determine a number of factors, including tool consumption, workpiece surface quality, energy consumption, etc. The method of investigation. Image analysis is performed to determine the percentage of graphite in etched and non-etched samples. K-means clustering allows to create a new image from a given one with a clear separation of white and black areas by converting a digital image into a binary image using a threshold value for segmentation. The volume fraction of perlite, the volume fraction of graphite and the average size of graphite flakes in microns are used as input variables for the machinability of cast iron. Results and discussion. The output, that is, the segmented image, will be the input function for calculating the workability index using formulas. Thus, microstructural analysis will help predict the workability index of grey cast iron ASTM A48 Class 20. Using this method and the program, based on the microstructure, it is possible to predict in advance the characteristics of the machining of the part, taking into account possible changes in the casting process itself.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is currently posing a significant threat to global public health. By testing for resistance to different antibiotic classes, we discovered that the majority of clinical bacteria are multidrug-resistant. These clinical multidrug-resistant species have antibiotic resistance genes on their plasmids that can be horizontally transferred to various antibiotic susceptible environmental bacterial species, resulting in antibiotic-resistant transconjugates. Furthermore, we discovered that the presence of an optimal concentration of antibiotics or heavy metal (arsenic) facilitates horizontal gene transfer through the formation of transconjugants. Notably, the addition of a conjugation inhibitor (2-hexadecynoic acid, a synthetic fatty acid) completely blocked the formation of antibiotic or arsenic-induced transconjugants. We discovered a high level of arsenic in water from the Shukratal region, Uttarakhand, India, which corresponded to a high serum level of arsenic in clinically infected individuals from the Shukratal region compared to other locations in Uttarakhand. Importantly, bacterial strains isolated from infected people who drink water from the Shukratal region with high arsenic levels were found to be more antibiotic-resistant than strains isolated from other sites. We discovered that bacterial strains isolated from individuals with high serum arsenic levels are significantly more resistant to antibiotics than individuals with low serum arsenic levels within the Shurkratal. This research sheds light on imminent threats to global health in which improper clinical, industrial, and other waste disposal, increased antibiotic concentrations in the environment, and increased human interference can easily transform commensal and pathogenic bacteria found in environmental niches into life-threatening multidrug-resistant superbugs.

Allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice for high-risk or relapsed acute leukemia. However, unfortunately, relapse post-transplant continues to be the most common cause of treatment failure with 20-80% of patients relapsing based on disease risk and status at transplant. Advances in molecular profiling of different hematological malignancies have enabled us to monitor low level disease before and after transplant and develop a more personalized approach to the management of these disease including early detection post-transplant. While, in general, detectable disease by morphology remains the gold standard to diagnosing relapse, multiple approaches have allowed detection of cancer cells earlier, using peripheral blood-based methods with sensitivities as high as 1:10

Globally there is a visible counter-trend to the destructive process of ‘development’ that the forces of capitalism, statism, patriarchy have imposed. Though still marginal and not yet able to make...

The planetary boundaries concept has profoundly changed the vocabulary and representation of global environmental issues. We bring a critical social science perspective to this framework through the notion of societal boundaries and aim to provide a more nuanced understanding of the social nature of thresholds. We start by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of planetary boundaries from a social science perspective. We then focus on capitalist societies as a heuristic for discussing the expansionary dynamics, power relations, and lock-ins of modern societies that impel highly unsustainable societal relations with nature. While formulating societal boundaries implies a controversial process ‒ based on normative judgments, ethical concerns, and socio-political struggles ‒ it has the potential to offer guidelines for a just, social-ecological transformation. Collective autonomy and the politics of self-limitation are key elements of societal boundaries and are linked to important proposals and pluriverse experiences to integrate well-being and boundaries. The role of the state and propositions for radical alternative approaches to well-being have particular importance. We conclude with reflections on social freedom, defined as the right not to live at others’ expense. Toward the aim of defining boundaries through transdisciplinary and democratic processes, we seek to open a dialogue on these issues.

Gouvernance et gestion des aires protegees est une compilation de textes originaux, d'etudes de cas et d'exemples du monde entier. Il s’appuie sur une vaste litterature et sur les connaissances et l'experience de nombreux acteurs des aires protegees. Ces derniers y presentent les connaissances actuelles et les idees innovantes des diverses branches de la gouvernance et de la gestion des aires protegees. Ce livre constitue un investissement dans les competences et les connaissances des hommes et, par consequent, dans la gouvernance et la gestion des aires protegees dont ces hommes sont responsables.

If conservationists of the Global North are serious about saving the Earth, and I would like to believe they are, then they need to listen carefully to people such as Nemonte Nenquimo of the Waorani Indigenous people in the Amazon (‘This is my message to the western world—your civilization is killing life on Earth’;Nenquimo, 2020), and to those communities who have told the advocates of nature-based solutions that ‘our nature is not your solution’ (Global Forest Coalition, 2020b) Global networks comprising Indigenous peoples and local community organizations and civil society groups, such as the Indigenous Peoples’ & Community Conserved Territories & Areas Consortium (ICCA, 2021), and the Global Forest Coalition, have shown how community-led conservation approaches, especially if there is a supportive policy context such as recognition of tenure and the right of self-determination, can work Most Half-Earth protagonists live in conditions radically altered by industrialization: they cannot possibly imagine living one's whole life as an artisanal hunter, gatherer, fisher, farmer or forest-dweller whose livelihood, culture, entertainment, language, food, relationships and emotions are conditioned by everyday interactions with the natural world

Objective: To evaluate the crowd densities in video scene under different constraints. For the crowded video analysis robust foreground detection methods are required to differentiate between moving or static foreground objects and static or dynamic background. Large number of foreground segmentation or motion segmentation approaches are available but only few can handle the various constraints like illumination variations, dynamic background partial or high level of occlusions. Method: We have proposed a modified Gaussian mixture model using adaptive thresholding. The proposed approach is implemented in MATLAB. Findings: Our proposed approach analyze all the aspects of the various backgrounds and foregrounds modelling and then compared their critical performance in terms of the PR curves and miss rate. The performance evaluation demonstrates considerable improvements in miss rate compared to traditional approaches. Our proposed method also shows significant improvements in Multi Object Detection and in Tracking Accuracy. Application: Our proposed approach analyzes the crowded scenes, especially handles outdoor environment. Optimized model parameters and adaptive thresholding makes it more robust to handle varying light conditions and partial occlusions.

Gobernanza y gestion de areas protegidas presenta un compendio de texto original, estudios de caso y ejemplos de todo el mundo, a partir de la literatura, el conocimiento y la experiencia de las personas involucradas en areas protegidas. El libro sintetiza el conocimiento actual y el pensamiento de vanguardia de las diversas ramas de la practica y el aprendizaje relevantes para la gestion y el gobierno de estas zonas. Se pretende que sea una inversion en las habilidades y competencias de las personas responsables de tal tarea y, en consecuencia, la gobernanza y la gestion efectivas, ahora y en el futuro.

Aim/Objectives: This study was aimed to detect extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Pseudomonas species isolated from various clinical samples by phenotypic methods with their susceptibility testing. Materials and Methods: Hundred Pseudomonas isolates were taken from various clinical samples of patients attending outpatient department (OPD) and inpatient department (IPD). Antimicrobial susceptibility test and ESBL detection were assessed using CLSI guidelines on Mueller Hinton agar. Results: Out of 100 Pseudomonas isolates, 46 isolates were from female and 54 were from male patients. More cases of pseudomonal infection were in the age group between 46 and 60 years (34%), and 59% of Pseudomonas species were isolated from patients belongs to urban areas and the rest 41% were from rural. The isolates collected from OPD were 61% and rest 39% from IPD. Pseudomonas species showed maximum resistance to cephalosporin group of antibiotics and showed least resistance to imipenem, and showed 100% susceptibility to colistin. ESBL production was detected in 42% of total isolates. Conclusion: The present study highlights that the Pseudomonas species remains an important cause of nosocomial infections. ESBL producing Pseudomonas species continue to be an important organism causing life-threatening infections. Multidrug resistance was seen in most of the strains. Resistance is developing even to combination of ceftazidime clavulanic acid. Resistance is developing to last resort of antibiotic, i.e. imipenem also. This gives the alarming signal for the future, making the therapeutic options more difficult. Strict infection control measures are to be taken to contain this so-called water and soil organisms as Pseudomonas.