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The growing demand for high-performance, light materials in several tertiary industries is a leading factor propelling the current polymer market. The international UHMWPE market was estimated at USD 1.87 billion in 2023 and is projected to increase by 11.3% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) from 2024 to 2030 (Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Market Report, 2030). The aerospace, defence, and medical sectors have been this market's primary drivers. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is an excellent polymer popularly used for its enhanced strength, exceptional wear resistance, and ability to support life processes without causing undesirable reactions. Nevertheless, conventional surface modification techniques mainly focus on improving specific properties for established applications. In this article, we have explored how UHMWPE nanocomposites loaded with different nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, graphene oxides, hydroxyapatite, and metal alloys could be used to make high-performance products. This review advances the frontiers of knowledge by concentrating explicitly on three key application areas: defence, biomedical, and electromechanical. In the defence realm, these advancements could revolutionise ballistic protection equipment, paving the way for next-generation gear with superior capabilities. Within the biomedical sector, UHMWPE nanocomposites hold great promise for creating exceptional joint replacements that possess enhanced wear resistance and biocompatibility. Lastly, in the electromechanical domain, these composites offer the possibility of developing lightweight and high-performance tribological components, thereby driving advancements in diverse mechanical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Preterm delivery rates have increased obviously worldwide over the past decade, yet reliable epidemiological studies on the incidence of preterm birth and temporal trends are not available in Hainan, The Free Trade Port in China. We aimed to describe the rate of preterm birth and trends between 2010 and 2021 and to primarily explore risk factors associated with preterm birth in Hainan, China. Methods: This was an observational study was based on data from the Hainan Provincial Birth Certificate System (HPBCS) for live births between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2021. We included pregnancies resulting in at least one live birth, with newborns born at a gestational age of 28 weeks or greater, or with a birth weight of 1000 g or more. The outcome were preterm birth rates and their trends over time. Potential risk factors were collected, including infant gender, maternal age, paternal age, maternal ethnicity, paternal ethnicity, home address, and single or multiple pregnancies. The logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between preterm birth and potential risk factors. Results: A total of 1,537,239 live births and 86,328 preterm births were investigated, giving a total preterm birth rate of 5.62%. The overall preterm birth rate increased from 4.47% in 2010 to 7.12% in 2021 (compound annual growth rate [CAGR] 4.32). The CAGR of late preterm birth is consistent with the overall preterm birth rate (4.32%). The fastest growth is observed in the rate of very preterm births (5.53%), while the rate of moderate preterm births exhibits the slowest growth (3.87%). Infant gender, multiple pregnancy, home address, parental age, and ethnicity had significant effects on preterm birth. Conclusion: The preterm birth rate was increasing year by year from 2010 to 2021 in Hainan, The Free Trade Port in China. Incidence of preterm births in Hainan Province in relation to multiple pregnancies, infant sex, parental age, parental race and residential address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are used to prevent, detect, and treat a broad spectrum of non-communicable and communicable diseases. Over the past few years, the market for mAbs has grown exponentially with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.07% from 2024 (237.64 billion USD estimated at the end of 2023) to 2033 (679.03 billion USD expected by the end of 2033). Ever since the advent of hybridoma technology introduced in 1975, antibody-based therapeutics were realized using murine antibodies which further progressed into humanized and fully human antibodies, reducing the risk of immunogenicity. Some benefits of using mAbs over conventional drugs include a drastic reduction in the chances of adverse reactions, interactions between drugs, and targeting specific proteins. While antibodies are very efficient, their higher production costs impede the process of commercialization. However, their cost factor has been improved by developing biosimilar antibodies as affordable versions of therapeutic antibodies. Along with the recent advancements and innovations in antibody engineering have helped and will furtherly help to design bio-better antibodies with improved efficacy than the conventional ones. These novel mAb-based therapeutics are set to revolutionize existing drug therapies targeting a wide spectrum of diseases, thereby meeting several unmet medical needs. This review provides comprehensive insights into the current fundamental landscape of mAbs development and applications and the key factors influencing the future projections, advancement, and incorporation of such promising immunotherapeutic candidates as a confrontation approach against a wide list of diseases, with a rationalistic mentioning of any limitations facing this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to measure the competitiveness of top apparel exporting nations competing with China in different apparel product categories across the global environment. Design/methodology/approach: Compound annual growth rate, trade competitiveness, market share percentages, revealed comparative advantage and its variant normalized revealed comparative advantage using two-, four- and six-digit harmonized system codes for the period of 2016–2021 were used to understand the comparative advantage of competing apparel exporting nations. Findings: The findings revealed that China still holds a more decisive comparative advantage than its competitors over the majority of the product categories within the knitted or not knitted apparel and clothing accessories. The other competing nations hold better export competitiveness over China in specific categories. However, that is not sufficient to be the "Next China." Research limitations/implications: The study has important implications for different stakeholders of the global apparel industry, such as governments, industry officials, policymakers, investors, researchers and students. The study's limitations arise from using product categories as competitiveness indicators, notably relying on a macro level approach for measurement while the micro level perspective is not analyzed, which constitutes a significant limitation of the study. Originality/value: This research thoroughly analyzes the competitive position of the top ten apparel-exporting countries in the global market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal additive manufacturing has significantly evolved since the 1990s, achieving a market valuation of USD 6.36 billion in 2022, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 24.2% from 2023 to 2030. While powder-bed-based methods like powder bed fusion and binder jetting dominate the market due to their high accuracy and resolution, they face challenges such as lengthy build times, excessive costs, and safety concerns. Non-powder-bed-based techniques, including direct energy deposition, material extrusion, and sheet lamination, offer advantages such as larger build sizes and lower energy consumption but also encounter issues like residual stress and poor surface finish. The existing reviews of non-powder-bed-based metal additive manufacturing are restricted to one technical branch or one specific material. This survey investigates and analyzes each non-powder-bed-based technique in terms of its manufacturing method, materials, product quality, and summary for easy understanding and comparison. Innovative designs and research status are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTPs) have become a new generation of lightweight materials due to their superior mechanical properties, good weldability and environmental resistance, potential for recycling, etc. The market for FRTPs is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8% from 2022 to 2030. Many researchers have been trying to solve the problems in their processing and joining process, and gradually expand their application. Resistance welding is one of the most suitable techniques to join FRTPs. This paper summarizes the research progress of FRTP resistance welding in terms of the basic process of FRTP resistance welding, factors affecting joint performance, joint failure behavior, numerical simulation, weld quality control, and resistance welding of thermoplastic/thermoset composites. The objective of this paper is to provide a deeper insight into the knowledge of FRTP resistance welding and provide reference for the further development and application of FRTP resistance welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are considered a potent source of prebiotics for humans. The global prebiotic market is expanding in size, was valued at USD 6.05 billion in 2021, and is expected to grow at a 14.9% compound annual growth rate between 2022 and 2030, indicating a huge demand. These XOS are non‐digestible pentose sugar oligomers comprising mainly xylose. Xylose is naturally present in the lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), fruits and vegetables. Apart from the prebiotic effect, these XOS have been reported to reduce blood cholesterol, possess antioxidant effects, increase calcium absorption, reduce colon cancer risk, and benefit diabetic patients. The primary use of XOS is reported in the feed industry followed by health, medical use, food and drinks. LCB mainly contains glucan, xylan and lignin. After glucan, xylan is the second‐highest available sugar on the globe composed of xylose. Therefore, the xylan fraction of LCB has great significance in producing food, feed and energy. Glucan has been exploited for the commercial production of ethanol, xylitol, furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural and glucose. As of now, xylan has limited applications. Therefore, xylan can be exploited to convert to XOS. The production of XOS from LCB fraction not only helps to produce these at a very low price, but also helps in the reduction of greenhouse gases. Its use in food and drinks is increasing as it can be derived from the abundantly and cheaply available LCB. The article provides a review on the production, purification and characterization of XOS in view of their use as nutraceuticals. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly expanding field. Given the dynamic nature of AI research, staying up‐to‐date with this evolving landscape is imperative to guide the global race in this field. Using the world's largest bibliometric database (SciVal/Scopus), we analyzed the research output of the top 15 countries in AI research productivity between the years 1998 and 2022. Over the past 25 years, the global research output in AI has increased by 26 folds, with China leading the way in the overall number of AI publications (~281,650 articles). During this period, China and India had the highest fold growth (~240–250) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) (~25). However, when normalized to population size and gross domestic product (GDP), Singapore (250 AI publications per million capita) and India (7.7 AI publications per billion GDP) were the best performers in 2022, respectively. When normalized to the number of researchers and gross expenditures on research and development (GERD), again, India was the best with 36.8 AI publications per thousand researchers and 0.77 AI publications per million GERD in 2020. When the overall quality of AI publications over the past decade was considered, Hong Kong and Singapore performed the best with respect to publications in higher percentile journals (the top 1%, 5%, and 10% journals), and Switzerland performed the best with respect to citations/publication and field‐weighted citation impact (FWCI). Finally, when the quality measures of publications were normalized to country or research metrics, the three best performers were Hong Kong, Singapore, and Switzerland (although India stood out for citations/GERD). These three countries (along with the United States) also had the highest economic impact as measured by the patent citations per scholarly output, which was aligned with the high FWCI values for these countries. Long‐term strategies to help leading countries gain an advantage in the AI frontier have been discussed at the end of the manuscript. These strategies include government initiatives and financial support, talent creation and networking, public awareness, and mindful considerations of rules, guidelines, and ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural transformation in Punjab, spurred by the Green Revolution of the mid-1960s, has led to significant shifts in land use patterns, crop diversification, and cropping dynamics. This transformation has profound implications for sustainability and economic resilience. This study delves into the complex relationship among agricultural growth, instability, and environmental sustainability in Punjab. It examines the growth and instability in the state's key crops' area, production, and yield/productivity over 56 years, from 1966–1967 to 2021–2022. Using secondary data, this study employs an assortment of methodologies, including compound annual growth rate, simple linear regression, diversity indices such as the Herfindahl index and Simpson diversity index, instability analysis, and decomposition analysis. The results indicate an increase in cropping intensity, indicating agricultural intensification, with a shift towards wheat and rice monoculture from once diverse cropping patterns. The instability analysis reveals that wheat and rice emerge as the most stable crops in their area, production, and yield, while others exhibit instability, raising concerns about diminishing crop diversity and its implications for Punjab's natural resources. The study emphasizes the urgent necessity for sustainable agricultural practices and policies to counteract monoculture's adverse effects and ensure long-term agricultural resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen food industry is gaining momentum in the developing world. Rapid urbanisation and the expansion of the fast food industry have greatly contributed to the significant expansion of India's potato processing sector, particularly in relation to the popular and fast-selling food item, French fries. Despite being the world's second-largest producer of potatoes, India processes only a small fraction, approximately 0.6%, of its total potato production into frozen French fries. In contrast, industrialised countries typically process over 80% of their potato harvest into frozen French fries. Current consumption patterns and preferences indicate that there is significant potential for further expansion in the Indian frozen French fry industry. According to an analysis of the Indian Agri-processing industry, the future demand for processing potatoes is projected to be highest for French fries, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% followed by dehydrated potato flakes (7.6% CAGR) and potato crisps (4.5% CAGR). Factors limiting industry expansion mainly include technical challenges (availability of poor quality seed; limited genetic base for the development of new varieties; prevalent diseases like late blight) and natural resource constraints (declining water tables associated with unpredictable and reduced rainfall). The primary issue facing the industry is consistent and assured supply of high-quality raw materials. This review describes the scenario of the Indian potato processing industry, developments in the frozen French fry industry in terms of market trends, new cultivars and technology. It also tackles concerns and highlights areas for enhancing and establishing a sustainable processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an update on a longitudinal analysis of 401(k) plan participants, focusing on consistent participants who maintained accounts from 2016 to 2022. The findings show that the average and median account balances for consistent participants increased over the study period, with younger participants or those with smaller balances experiencing higher percentage growth. The study also found that consistent participants tend to concentrate their accounts in equity securities and there was an increase in the use of target date funds. Another document provides data on the accumulation of 401(k) plan account balances, showing that the consistent sample had higher average and median account balances compared to the broader database. Account balances tend to increase with age and tenure, and the average account balance among consistent participants more than doubled between 2016 and 2022. A third document discusses factors that influence changes in 401(k) plan account balances, such as contributions, investment returns, and withdrawal or loan activity. It also examines changes in asset allocation and reallocation activity among participants. The data suggests relatively small changes in participants' exposure to equities and an increase in the use of target date funds. The final document provides data and statistics related to participant tenure, average account balances, asset allocation by participant age, contributions, investment returns, benefits disbursed, and plan assets. The data covers the years 2000 to 2023 and includes information on employer contributions and market total return indexes. These sources are used in a research report that provides insights and analysis on retirement savings [Extracted from the article]

This article presents the results of an analysis aimed at verifying the relationship between the implementation of SDG Goal 7 and the use of clean coal technologies in Poland. Clean coal technologies in the United Nations plans will constitute a crucial element of the strategy for sustainable development in the energy context. They are intended to be one of the tools for building an energy system based on renewable energy sources, constituting a bridge that enables the transition of Poland's energy system from coal to renewable energy sources. To identify whether this relationship exists, the Autoregressive Moving Average with Exogenous Input (ARMAX) model was used. The structure of the model, its correctness, and its accuracy were confirmed using information criteria; statistical tests such as Dickey-Fuller, Doornik-Hansen, Durbin-Watson, and Breusch-Pagan; and measures of prediction accuracy such as MAPE, MAE, and RMSE. The explanatory variables were the Objective 7 indicators adopted by Eurostat. Before being introduced to the ARMAX model, they were standardized using the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) indicator. The analysis made it possible to indicate which of the explanatory variables has the greatest impact on the development of clean coal technologies in Poland, to determine a synthetic CAGR measure for all the explanatory variables, and to compare the results obtained with the indicator determined by the United Nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to observe the trends in (1) utilization of meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT), (2) demographics and comorbidities of patients undergoing transplants and (3) reimbursements for this procedure between the years of 2010 and 2019. Using a national database, patients who underwent MAT were observed. Incidence of MAT, percentage of female patients, average age, and average Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were analyzed between 2010 and 2019. Average reimbursement during the index and postoperative 90-day bundle period were also calculated from 2010 to 2019. Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of change in incidence, demographic and reimbursement was calculated, and linear regressionwas conducted for each trends analysis. In total, 744 patients underwent a MAT between the years of 2010 and 2019. The incidence of MAT increased from 0.12 per 100,000 to 0.15 per 100,000 during this period but was not statistically significant (p=0.345). There was no significant difference in age (p=0.462) and gender (p=0.831) among the patients, but the average CCI significantly increased from 2010 to 2019 (CAGR: +15.30; p=0.001). The total reimbursement in the index (p=0.451) and 90-day bundle period (p=0.191) did not significantly change from 2010 to 2019. Although MAT has been shown to be a safe and reliable surgery for the treatment of meniscus deficient knees, the incidence of MAT as well as the population undergoing MAT has minimally increased from 2010 to 2019. Future studies should seek to identify why the utilization of this efficacious surgery has not increased. IV; Descriptive Epidemiology Study [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell and gene therapies are an innovative solution to various severe diseases and unfulfilled needs. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), a form of cellular immunotherapies, has been favored in recent years due to the approval of chimeric antigen receptor CAR-T products. Market research indicates that the industry’s value is predicted to reach USD 24.4 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5%. More importantly, ACT is recognized as the hope and future of effective, personalized cancer treatment for healthcare practitioners and patients worldwide. The significant global momentum of this therapeutic approach underscores the urgent need to establish it as a practical and standardized method. It is essential to understand how cell culture conditions affect the expansion and differentiation of T-cells. However, there are ongoing challenges in ensuring the robustness and reproducibility of the manufacturing process. The current study evaluated various adoptive T-cell culture platforms to achieve large-scale production of several billion cells and high-quality cellular output with minimal cell death. It examined factors such as bioreactor parameters, media, supplements and stimulation. This research addresses the fundamental challenges of scalability and reproducibility in manufacturing, which are essential for making adoptive T-cell therapy an accessible and powerful new class of cancer therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The printed electronics (PEs) market has witnessed substantial growth, reaching a valuation of USD 10.47 billion in the previous year. Driven by its extensive use in a multitude of applications, this growth trend is expected to continue with a projected compound annual growth rate of 22.3% from 2022 to 2032. Compared to screen printing, the adoption of inkjet printing (IJP) technology to manufacture PEs has been limited to laboratory‐scale research only. The fact that IJP's inability to maintain consistent high‐resolution quality over large printing areas has made transitioning IJP for commercial production arduous. Most of the previous literatures have focused on holistic discussion on material design for IJP, but this review provides insight into key aspects in material processing up to printing optimization to realize high‐resolution PEs. This review also highlights the challenges in controlling the functional ink properties and their interaction with the substrate as well as printing parameters to deliver the desired quality of the droplets and final prints. Imminent application of IJP in PEs and future perspectives are also included in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime industry needs sustainable, low-emission fuels to reduce the environmental impact. Ammonia is one of the most promising alternative fuels because it can be produced from renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Furthermore, ammonia combustion does not emit carbon. This review article covers the advantages and disadvantages of using ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel. We start by discussing the regulations and environmental concerns of the shipping sector, which is responsible for around 2% to 3% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. These emissions may increase as the maritime industry grows at a compound annual growth rate of 4.33%. Next, we analyze the use of ammonia as a fuel in detail, which presents several challenges. These challenges include the high price of ammonia compared to other fossil fuels, the low reactivity and high toxicity of ammonia, NOx, and N2O emissions resulting from incomplete combustion, an inefficient process, and NH3 slipping. However, we emphasize how to overcome these challenges. We discuss techniques to reduce NOx and N2O emissions, co-combustion to improve reactivity, waste heat recovery strategies, the regulatory framework, and safety conditions. Finally, we address the market trends and challenges of using ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital therapeutics (DTx), evidence‐based software interventions for preventing, managing, or treating medical disorders, have rapidly evolved with healthcare's shift toward online, patient‐centric solutions. This study scrutinizes DTx clinical trials from 2005 to 2022, analyzing their growth, funding, underlying medical specialties, and other R&D characteristics, using ClinicalTrials.gov data. Our analysis includes trials categorized via the ICD‐11 system, covering active, recruiting, or completed studies and considering trials listing multiple conditions. In analyzing 5,889 registered DTx trials, we document a more than five‐fold increase in such trials since 2011, and a compound annual growth rate of 22.82% since 2005. While most trials were single‐center, the median number of study subjects increased in recent years, driven by larger interventional trials. The key disciplines driving this growth were psychiatry, neurology, oncology, and endocrinology. Mental health dominated DTx trials in recent years, led by neurocognitive disorders, substance abuse disorders, and mood disorders. Industry funding varied across disciplines and was particularly high in visual system diseases and dermatology. DTx trials have surged since 2005, accelerated by recent growth in mental health trials. These trends mirror developments toward remote healthcare delivery, amplified by digital health investments during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Growing numbers of participants in DTx trials point to increased demand for more robust trials. However, because most trials are single‐center and country‐specific, more international cooperation and harmonized evaluation standards will be essential for DTx trials to become more efficient and provide validation across countries, health systems, and groups of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigates the pivotal role of pension funds and insurance companies within the National Pension System, as well as their contributions to financial welfare through retirement planning. It also analyzes the challenges these institutions confront as well as the opportunities for growth in the Indian pension and insurance markets. Secondary data was gathered from a variety of reliable sources, including PFRDA, NPS Trust, NSDL, World Bank, OECD, Economic Survey of India, CRISIL, and SEBI. The year-on-year growth rate, compound annual growth rate, percentage share, and graphical representations were utilized to analyze the trend of variables. The findings demonstrate that collaboration between pension funds and insurers can improve financial inclusion and long-term wealth creation, hence promoting social and financial well-being during retirement. However, retirement literacy in India is extremely poor, and if it improves, the need for pension and insurance products will grow exponentially given India's demographic trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of next generation energy storage devices with low self‐discharge rate, high energy density and low cost are the requirements to meet the future and environmental needs. In recent years, energy demand has risen in tandem with population growth and technological advancement. Energy resources are finite. Thus, solving economic difficulties and ensuring their continuous and efficient consumption will require new research and technologies. The use of nanomaterials in energy storage devices improves the performance of the devices with its morphologies and properties like high surface area, tunable pore size, good ionic and conductive properties. It also plays a critical role by improving the long lifespan, safety, and cyclicity of electrodes materials. This short review brings out the main approaches about the comprehensive analysis of the recent advances and future prospect of nanomaterials for energy storage technology and its applications. It discusses the classification of nanomaterials i. e., carbon‐based materials, metal‐oxides, nanowires, conductive polymers, etc. and the environmental impact in the energy storage technologies of nanomaterials. They also make it possible to occupy all the intercalation sites in the particle volume, which results in quick ion diffusion and high specific capacities. Because of these characteristics, electrodes made of nanomaterials can withstand high currents, making them a potential option for storing energy at high power and energy density. The related market study predicts that the worldwide market for nanotechnology in the energy sector will expand from an estimated $ 139.7 million in 2020 to $ 384.8 million in 2030, representing a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.7 percent from 2021 to 2030. Research indicates that energy storage and conversion systems using nanomaterials are more efficient. Carbon‐based materials, metal‐oxides, nanowires, conductive polymers, etc. added to phase change materials were studied for their high charge and discharge rates. Prior research indicated that several material properties, including size, concentration, form, and phase transition, significantly impacted the storage efficiency of composites. This review article also summarises and discusses the current state of knowledge regarding effective nanomaterials for its role in energy storage and conversion. Finally, possible uses for nanomaterials in new energy storage technologies, including wearable and flexible electronics, grid‐scale energy storage, and electrochemical energy conversion with different applications is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the region of Piedmont, in Northern Italy, formal monitoring of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs has been in place since 2012. The objective of our study was to provide an updated assessment of AMS programs operating in our region, and to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stewardship activities. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted to investigate AMS programs implemented in acute-care trusts participating in a broader healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention and control program, promoted by the regional health department. Within this program, structure, process, and outcome indicators of AMS programs were investigated, using a previously developed scoring system. Differences between scores prior to (2019) and during the pandemic (2021) were assessed. Linear regression was used to assess whether the 5-year trends (2017–2021) in outcome measures in relation to structure and process scores were statistically significant. Compound annual growth rates (CAGR) for each outcome were calculated to illustrate changes in outcome rates over time. Results: All public trusts in the Region (20) and a small number of private institutions (3) provided data for this study. A modest, non-significant improvement was found for 2021 structure, process, and total scores compared to respective 2019 scores. A significant improvement was found concerning the definition of a formal mission statement, whereas significantly less trusts included monitoring adherence to antimicrobial policy or treatment guidelines in their programs. Overall consumption of antibiotics for systemic use saw an increase in 2021, with 2021 recording the highest median overall consumption compared to all previous years considered in this study. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria (CRE) rates decreased over the 5-year period. Significant downwards trends in MRSA rates were identified for high-outlier structure and process groups. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest AMS programs in Piedmont were not set back following the pandemic. This outcome was possible thanks to well-established programs, coordinated within a regional framework. Continued efforts should be dedicated to supporting AMS programs and contrasting AMR, even when the focus is shifted towards other public health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The multifaceted importance of pulses in India's agricultural landscape is explored along with its implications particularly the surge in pulse exports to regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa. By highlighting India's pivotal role as a global pulse producer and exporter, shedding light on its impact on foreign exchange earnings, employment generation, comprehensive analysis and overall economic growth is attempted. Two key objectives, relating to pulse production, import and export trends, the direction of pulse trade from India to major importing countries, through Markov Chain Analysis, market dynamics are uncovered. Methods: The data on pulses production and export in terms of quantity and value in India were collected from secondary sources. Result: Pulse production remained relatively stable with moderate variability, exports experienced significant fluctuations, particularly in pulse quantities and values. Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) analysis confirms consistent production growth, with pulses showing positive CAGR figures. Impact of interaction between area and yield was significant as compared to area and yield independently. Pulse exports saw steady growth in both quantity and value. Further, The Markov chain analysis underscored Pakistan's stability as a primary export destination, while Bangladesh, the UAE and others exhibited varying degrees of export retention probabilities. Overall, the data reflects a stable domestic production environment and an increasingly dynamic international pulse export market for India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign companies import Afghan saffron, which is considered to be best quality in the world. These companies then apply their labels and market the product under their country names. By adopting methodology required for production and market analysis, a study was conducted to determine the potential for production, export and value share. The study used techniques such as compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and decomposition analysis to determine changes in the area, production and productivity of saffron from 1991-92 to 2021-22. The findings revealed that the growth rates of area, production and productivity of saffron significantly increased by 29.61 per cent, 29.06 per cent and 0.42 per cent annually respectively. Additionally, the returns per hectare of Afghanistan's saffron were compared to other crops such as wheat, rice, corn and barley and the returns of saffron were found to be the highest. The export of Afghanistan's saffron also increased annually, providing farmers with more income opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty micro and small steel products manufacturing enterprises in Salem District of Tamil Nadu, South India faced problems in value addition of the steel products like windows, grill gates, truss work and panel boards manufactured by them. They formed M/s Salem Steel Cluster Pvt Ltd; Salem, a special purpose vehicle, in 2012 by getting funds from the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India through the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation under Micro Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. The objective is to find the physical and financial performance of the Steel Product Fabrication Cluster (SPFC) before and after Cluster Development Approach (CDA) to find the productivity of the cluster by taking independent variables like number of units, employment and production and dependent variable like turnover, and to find the performance of SPFC before and after CDA. To find business analytics models like Diagnostic Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Inferential Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Prescriptive Analytics and Decision Analytics. The methodology adopted is by collecting primary data like number of units, employment in numbers, production in crores and turnover in crores before and after CDA and analysing using Compound Annual Growth Rate, Descriptive Analysis, Correlation Analysis, Trend Analysis, Regression Analysis, Structural Equation Modelling and T-Test. There is a Difference in Difference between controlled units which have not adopted CDA and experimental units which have adopted CDA, where there is an increase in number of units, employment, profit and turnover. To conclude, there is an increase in number of units, employment, production and turnover after CDA when compared to before CDA, which leads to an increase in productivity thereby Sustainable Development Goals of 1, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of Wharton's jelly MSC-derived exosome treatments for skin rejuvenation after micro-needling. The cosmetic industry is increasingly focusing on natural products, and exosomes are a natural source that facilitate cell-to-cell communication. The study evaluated the efficacy of Age Zero™ exosomes derived from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly MSCs in improving skin health. Participants in the study experienced improvements in skin texture, tone, pore size, fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and acne scarring. The use of Wharton's jelly MSC-derived exosomes shows promise as a safe and natural way to address age-related skin conditions. [Extracted from the article]

The article published in the Journal of Diabetes discusses the increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its metabolic risk factors in Shanghai, China, from 2002 to 2017. The study reveals a rise in the standardized prevalence rates of diabetes among Shanghai residents aged 35-74 years old, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.08%. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in men, the elderly, and urban residents, and metabolic risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were identified as contributing factors. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing interventions and control measures to address the growing public health concern of diabetes in Shanghai. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the growing industry of health tourism, specifically focusing on cosmetic surgery. It highlights the significant financial worth of the industry and the popularity of cosmetic surgery procedures abroad. The article emphasizes the reasons why British patients choose to undergo cosmetic surgery overseas, including lower costs, long waiting times in the UK, limited availability of certain procedures, and cultural or familial ties to other countries. It also addresses the risks and complications associated with cosmetic surgery tourism, particularly in relation to the UK, and emphasizes the importance of considering key differences between having surgery in one's home country versus abroad. The article concludes by discussing the efforts of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) to promote patient safety and education in the context of cosmetic surgery tourism. [Extracted from the article]

India is one of the world's leading fruit and vegetable producers after China owing to its diverse agro-climatic conditions. However, the 20-30 percent of the produce is wasted because of its perishability. The processed form of fruits is the most convenient for storage and export owing to its demand in foreign countries. Hence, this study analyzed the growth and instability of different processed fruit exports in India from 2001-02 to 2022-23. The Compound Annual Growth rates showed that exports increased overall growth rate, with a higher growth rate for jam, jelly and marmalades at 12 percent, followed by dried fruits (9 percent) and mango pulp (0.08 percent) in quantity exported. The instability was calculated using the Cuddy-Della Index for processed fruits' export values (MT). It was realized from the result that the mango pulp category showed high instability in the overall export with Cuddy-Della Index value of 26.16 percent. In contrast, jam, jelly, marmalades, and dried fruits showed instability of 23.86 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively. This study concluded that proper infrastructure, cold chain, and supply chain for horticultural commodities should be developed for destination-specific production of processed fruits, as this could lead India to compete with global exporters and explore new alternate markets for the produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of 113 scientific and other publications on the smallest and most abundant deer in Lithuania, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), is presented, along with an analysis based on compound annual population growth rates of population numbers, hunting bags, and roadkill. This review covers the species' history in the country from the last glaciation onwards, the changes in numbers from 1934 to 2023, hunting bag changes from 1965 to 2022, roadkill numbers from 2002 to 2022, data on roe deer reproduction, habitat selection, genetic diversity, pathogens, and damage to forest stands. It also provides an overview of species management and selection for trophies. Despite the exponential increase in roe deer numbers since 1990 and the dominance of this species in roadkill, even on urban roads, the number and density of animals and the damage they cause to forest stands are relatively low compared to other European countries. Within the observed period, drops in numbers were related to harsh winters in 1969/1970 and 1995/1996. Poaching, especially coinciding with weakened enforcement during the period of political–economic transition in the early 1990s, has also had a negative impact on population numbers, as have recent increases in the number of large predators. Population growth over the recent period does not correlate with hunting mortality, which has remained stable at an average of 16.9% since 2002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey, a component of milk and a useful by-product of the dairy industry's casein and cheese-making, has been used for generations to augment animal feed. It contains a range of proteins, including α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, heavy and light chain immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, glycomacropeptide, and lactoperoxidase. Whey proteins exhibit great potential as biopolymers for creating bioactive delivery systems owing to their distinct health-enhancing characteristics and the presence of numerous amino acid groups within their structures. Whey has considerable factors such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties in addition to chelating. The global market of whey protein stood at USD 5.33 billion in 2021, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 10.48% spanning the interval from 2022 to 2030. The escalating demand for whey protein is intrinsically linked to the amplifying consciousness surrounding healthy lifestyles. Notably, protein supplements are recurrently endorsed by fitness and sports establishments, thereby accentuating the focal point of customers toward whey protein. This review focuses on nutritional composition, whey bioactives, and their bioavailability with potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research examined the trends, growth rates, and instability in Basmati rice production and export in India from 2001 to 2021. Secondary time series data on these parameters were collected from diverse sources including the official websites of the Department of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare, Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence, the Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Statistics (DGCI&S) and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Various analytical tools such as Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for growth rate analysis, Coefficient of Variation (CV), Coppock Instability Index, Cuddy Della Valle Index, and Index Number for instability analysis, and R-square for linear, second-degree, and polynomial regression for trend analysis were employed which served as a metric for goodness of fit. The analysis revealed significant insights into the dynamics of Basmati rice production and export over the study period. Notable findings include fluctuations in growth rates, trends indicating periods of acceleration or deceleration, and instability factors impacting production and export. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the Basmati rice industry in India, informing policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers for effective decision-making and strategic planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is the most important staple food of the country and consumed by about 65 per cent of the population. The present analysis was undertaken to estimate the growth and instability patterns of area, production and productivity of rainfed paddy for the period spanning from 2011 to 2020, factors affecting in non-adoption of rainfed paddy and production as well as marketing constraints faced by paddy growers in Shivamogga district of Karnataka during 2020-2021. Methodology used as Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), Cuddy Della Vella Index and garret's ranking. Findings showed negative, non-significant compound growth rates for rainfed paddy area (1.64) and production (0.95). However, productivity exhibited positive growth (non-significant). Medium stability for area (32.20), production (28.80) and higher stability for productivity (7.33) characterized rainfed paddy, influenced by farmer shifts to crops like arecanut and maize. Chief obstacles to rainfed paddy adoption were late monsoon onset (62.25%), followed by early withdrawal, weed infestation, water control, yield concerns and traditional farmer mindsets. The major production and marketing constraint faced by farmers were identified by using Garrett's ranking methodology on bases of severity. The key production challenges were insect and pest damage (80.00%), low yield (67.00%), labour scarcity and erratic weather (41.86%). Hindrances encompassed delayed inputs, cultivation costs, credit shortages, and marketing issues: price fluctuation (79.00%), high commissions (66.00%), storage inadequacy (50.00%), market unawareness, transportation costs and subpar quality. So to boost awareness and income for rainfed paddy growers, the government should promote traditional practices via financial aid, subsidies and credit support for rainfed paddy farmers. Addressing market challenges, including fluctuating prices and storage insufficiencies, is crucial for sustained progress in rainfed paddy cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a wearable ultrasound sticker that can detect the stiffness of internal organs for early disease detection. This new technology has the potential to disrupt the ultrasound imaging market, which was valued at $6.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $7.3 billion in 2033. The wearable sensor can monitor changes in organ rigidity over time, allowing for early detection of organ failure. While current market leaders like GE, Siemens, and Phillips may not be immediately affected, they may invest in similar products in the future as the healthcare community recognizes the feasibility of this device. [Extracted from the article]

Fossil fuels are a major source of energy worldwide and serve as raw materials for the production of plastics. However, they have disadvantages such as uneven distribution, price instability, limited availability, and environmental impact. Consequently, there is a need to find alternatives to fossil fuels for both energy and polymer production in the short term. This review focuses on the synthesis of poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), a type of biopolymer, using different bioethanol stream wastes. PHAs exhibit properties comparable to petroleum-based plastics, making them promising replacements. There has been a significant increase in research studies exploring alternatives to fossil fuels and synthetic polymers, as evidenced by the growing number of publications. While biopolymers currently account for only 1% of global polymer production derived from petroleum, the PHA industry is experiencing rapid growth. The market value of PHAs was estimated at $ 168.9 million in 2020, and it is projected to reach $ 440 million by 2031, indicating a compound annual growth rate of 9.2%. The production of this biopolymer is already contributing to an expanding industrial value chain, which is expected to further growth with increased availability of commercial PHAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scientometric analyses characterize the output of research publications using quantitative methods. While it has been reported that the number of publications in anesthesiology has been increasing for years, the global research activity in pediatric anesthesiology and its landscape is largely unknown. Aims: To examine the activity, developmental dynamics, and collaboration landscape of research publications in pediatric anesthesiology over the past two decades. Methods: PubMed and WebOfScience were searched for pediatric anesthesiology publications published between 2001 and 2020. The identified publications were exported into a database, matched, curated, and then assigned to one or more countries according to their affiliation field(s). The primary outcome was the publication activity and its growth rate. Secondary outcomes included the geographical distribution, the evolution of international collaborations (as indicated by articles affiliated with more than one country), and the main sources. Results: Thirty‐four thousand, three hundred and forty‐three pediatric anesthesiology publications were retrieved. The compound annual growth rate over the study period was +7.6%. The highest annual growth rate was +20.6% from 2019 to 2020. Corresponding authors were most often affiliated with USA (32.5%), Germany (5.5%), and China (5.5%). China (+22.9%), Iran (+21.7%), and India (+16.1%) had the highest compound annual growth rates. 6001 (17.5%) articles involved international collaboration, with a compound annual growth rate of +13.1%. The most frequent collaboration was between USA and Canada (716 articles together). The most prominent source was Pediatric Anesthesia (10.0%). Conclusions: Publication activity in pediatric anesthesiology has increased from 2001 to 2020 and has become more geographically diverse. With the volume of international collaborations even outpacing this growth, it is hoped that this will gradually lead to a larger evidence base in pediatric anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]