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Summary: Influenza A virus subtype H2N2, which caused the 1957 influenza pandemic, remains a global threat. A recent phase 1 clinical trial investigating a ferritin nanoparticle vaccine displaying H2 hemagglutinin (HA) in H2-naive and H2-exposed adults enabled us to perform comprehensive structural and biochemical characterization of immune memory on the breadth and diversity of the polyclonal serum antibody response elicited. We temporally map the epitopes targeted by serum antibodies after vaccine prime and boost, revealing that previous H2 exposure results in higher responses to the variable HA head domain. In contrast, initial responses in H2-naive participants are dominated by antibodies targeting conserved epitopes. We use cryoelectron microscopy and monoclonal B cell isolation to describe the molecular details of cross-reactive antibodies targeting conserved epitopes on the HA head, including the receptor-binding site and a new site of vulnerability deemed the medial junction. Our findings accentuate the impact of pre-existing influenza exposure on serum antibody responses post-vaccination.

Essential oils are plant-derived aromatic volatile oils, and they contain bioactive compounds that have been shown to improve poultry nutrition. However, considering problems associated with the solubility and bioavailability of polyphenolic compounds, the study was planned to find out the effect of the novel feed-grade delivery system, phytosomes for conjugation of plant-derived polyphenolic compound carvacrol on the growth performance of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted, on 240 broiler chicks for a period of 6 weeks. The chicks were divided into 4 groups having 4 replicates of 15 birds each. The birds in the control group (T0) offered a standard diet as per BIS (2007) specification. Group T1 received a standard diet supplemented with Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD) antibiotic at standard dose and group T2 received a standard diet supplemented with carvacrol essential oil @100 mg/kg feed. Group T3 received a standard diet supplemented with phytosome-conjugated carvacrol essential oil (carvacrol @16.6%) @100 mg/kg feed. The performance of all the treatment groups was assessed with respect to the different performance parameters. The supplementation of phytosome-conjugated carvacrol essential oil (carvacrol @16.6%) @ 100 mg/kg feed was found beneficial in terms of growth performance, feed efficiency, and intestinal morphometry. In terms of economics of broiler production, the results revealed that the addition of phytosome- conjugated carvacrol essential oil and carvacrol essential oil in diets was found beneficial in reducing the cost of broiler production, thereby enhancing the margin of profit in broiler production and fetching higher net profit than the control group.

Jaundice usually occurs in the late stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Obstructive jaundice is rarely seen as an initial presentation of HCC, as opposed to cholangiocarcinoma. Various causes of obstructive jaundice in these cases also known as “Icteric HCC” have been described such as tumour thrombi, compression, infiltration or tumours arising from native hepatocytes in the bile duct. We present a case of 74-year-old gentleman with “Icteric HCC” that clinically and radiologically mimicked cholangiocarcinoma for which the patient underwent left hepatectomy with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Histopathology revealed dilated large duct with polygonal sheets of cells of hepatoid morphology which stained diffusely positive for both glypican 3 and Hep-par 1. The epicentre was in the left hepatic duct with no discernible liver lesion and the tumour probably originated from the ectopic hepatocytes within the biliary duct The patient was disease free at 1.5 years of follow up. In conclusion, HCC should be a differential for obstructive jaundice. Patients with such “Icteric HCC” benefit from surgical resection with favourable outcomes. The prognosis in such patients is better than in patients of HCC with jaundice due to hepatic insufficiency.

AIMComplimentary use of Liver directed therapies (LDTs) with systemic chemotherapy has improved oncologic outcomes in colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). We analysed institutional results of multimodality management.MethodsRetrospective analysis of prospectively maintained database of CRLM patients managed with LDT including surgical resection, Ablation, Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) between November 2011 to March 2020. Management plan was decided in multidisciplinary meeting. Resectable tumours underwent surgical resection or ablation or both in some cases. Borderline resectable or unresectable disease was treated with down staging chemotherapy or TACE/TARE followed by resection or ablation. All patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Factors influencing survival were analysed.ResultsOut of total 375 patients, surgery alone was done in 191 (50.93%) patients while surgery with other LDT in 26 patients (6.93%). Ablation alone was done in 100 (26.66%) whereas TACE/TARE were done as standalone treatment in 21 (5.6%) and 7 (1.86%) patients respectively. TACE + ablation was done in 28 (7.46%) and TARE + ablation was done in 2(0.53%) patients.5-year Overall Survival(OS) was 49.8% while Event free survival(EFS) was 21.4%. The median OS and EFS for surgical group was significantly better than non-surgical group (78 V/s 39 months; p

We present an ultra-wide-band beam-summation (UWB-BS) algorithm for calculating the radar cross-section (RCS) of large smooth targets whose asymptotic numerical complexity is of $ O(1) $ O(1). In this approach, the incident field is expanded into a sparse set of iso-diffracting Gaussian beams (ID-GB), tiling the phase space (PS) of beam origins and directions. The field of each ID-GB is then tracked through reflections from the scatterer until the beam emerges from the target zone and propagates to the far zone using a closed-form near-to-far (N2F) zone transformation, and finally, the beam contributions are aggregated to obtain the scattered field. The algorithm can accommodate a multi-octave frequency band by dividing it into octave-wide sub-bands and introducing a UWB-BS scheme such that the PS beam lattices in the higher sub-bands are obtained by spatial-spectral upsampling those of the lower bands. The PS summation of ID-GBs is a priori localized and involves a roughly constant relatively small number of contributing beams in all the sub-bands, leading to an $ O(1) $ O(1) (frequency-independent) asymptotic computational complexity. Furthermore, with the ID parametrization, the beam axes and their propagation and scattering parameters are frequency-independent and, therefore, need to be calculated only once and then reused for all frequencies, thus greatly reducing the numerical cost of computing the RCS at multiple frequencies. The paper describes all aspects of the algorithm, including the choice of the beam parameters for asymptotic error convergence and the utilization of localization for algorithmic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The evolution and outcomes of extended pancreatectomies at a single institute over 15 years are presented in this study. Methods A retrospective analysis of the institutional database was performed from 2015 to 2022 (period B). Patients undergoing extended pancreatic resections, as defined by the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery, were included. Perioperative and survival outcomes were compared with data from 2007–2015 (period A). Regression analyses were used to identify factors affecting postoperative and long-term survival outcomes. Results A total of 197 (16.1%) patients underwent an extended resection in period B compared to 63 (9.2%) in period A. Higher proportions of borderline resectable (5 (18.5%) versus 51 (47.7%), P = 0.011) and locally advanced tumours (1 (3.7%) versus 24 (22.4%), P < 0.001) were resected in period B with more frequent use of neoadjuvant therapy (6 (22.2%) versus 79 (73.8%), P < 0.001). Perioperative mortality (4 (6.0%) versus 12 (6.1%), P = 0.81) and morbidity (23 (36.5%) versus 83 (42.1%), P = 0.57) rates were comparable. The overall survival for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma was similar in both periods (17.5 (95% c.i. 6.77 to 28.22) versus 18.3 (95% c.i. 7.91 to 28.68) months, P = 0.958). Resectable, node-positive tumours had a longer disease-free survival (DFS) in period B (5.81 (95% c.i. 1.73 to 9.89) versus 14.03 (95% c.i. 5.7 to 22.35) months, P = 0.018). Conclusion Increasingly complex pancreatic resections were performed with consistent perioperative outcomes and improved DFS compared to the earlier period. A graduated approach to escalating surgical complexity, multimodality treatment, and judicious patient selection enables the resection of advanced pancreatic tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of “closing the loop” has become a fundamental principle in contemporary society, particularly within the context of sustainable and circular systems. This abstract examines the notable progress achieved in the field of materials science, energy management, and waste reduction methods, all of which play a crucial role in the attainment of a more environmentally conscious and resource-efficient future. The field of materials science has experienced significant advancements, characterised by a notable transition towards the utilisation of sustainable and recyclable materials. The manufacturing and consuming sectors are undergoing significant transformations due to the emergence of many innovations, including biodegradable plastics, smart materials, and the study of innovative composites. These advancements are playing a crucial role in redefining the current landscape of these industries. By incorporating principles of durability, reusability, and recyclability into the design of materials, we are effectively mitigating our dependence on finite resources and mitigating the environmental impact of products. Alongside advancements in materials, the field of energy management has emerged as a prominent focus. The incorporation of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and grid optimisation is revolutionising the methods by which energy is produced, distributed, and consumed. These technological advancements not only serve to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases but also facilitate the achievement of energy self-sufficiency and enhance the ability to withstand and adapt to climate-related adversities. As we explore these notable developments, we uncover the interconnections among materials, energy, and waste management. The convergence of these fields illustrates that a comprehensive approach to sustainability is not just attainable but necessary. Through the integration of these advancements, there is not only a mitigation of environmental consequences but also a promotion of economic growth, the creation of employment opportunities, and the enhancement of societal well-being.