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Debdulal Chakraborty,1 Subhendu Boral,1 Tushar Kanti Sinha,1 Arnab Das,1 Angshuman Mukherjee,1 Saptorshi Majumdar,1 Ranabir Bhattacharya,2 Ritobroto Maitra3 1Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 2Department of MIS, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 3Radical Health Tech, New Delhi, IndiaCorrespondence: Debdulal Chakraborty, Department of Vitreoretinal services; Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Tel +91 33 66360000, Email devdc@rediffmail.comPurpose: This study investigates the efficacy of transitioning patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) from aflibercept (T1) to biosimilar ranibizumab (T2), an approach not previously documented in literature.Methods: In this multicenter observational study, patients over 50 years of age with nAMD were shifted from intravitreal aflibercept (IVI AFL) to biosimilar ranibizumab (B-RBZ) due to financial constraints. This study employed standardized ophthalmological methods to assess visual acuity (VA), central macular thickness (CMT), and subretinal and intraretinal fluid. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and linear regression.Results: A total of 29 eyes (12 males and 17 females) were analyzed. Mean age was 72.55 ± 6.43 years. VA improved significantly during T1, with a mean increase from 55.0 ± 10.2 to 70.0 ± 8.5 ETDRS letters at the switch time point (p < 0.01), then a slight decrease to 62.3 ± 8.9 at 12 months (p < 0.05) was noted during T2. The mean CMT decreased notably from 400 ± 50 to 290 ± 45 μm at the switch. The final CMT at 12 months after switching to B-RBZ was 280 ± 40 μm (p < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in the retinal and intra retinal fluid during T1, followed by a gradual increase during T2. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was noted between the presence of intraretinal fluid and increased injection frequency of B-RBZ.Conclusion: The switch from IVI AFL to IVI B-RBZ in patients with nAMD demonstrated efficacy in maintaining the VA and macular anatomy, with some challenges in fluid management.Keywords: neovascular AMD, aflibercept, biosimilar ranibizumab, subretinal fluid, intraretinal fluid

Vaccine development tools for fungal infections are undergoing transformation where newer technologies like nanotechnology and bioinformatics are used to create new and improved vaccine candidates. Immunocompromised individuals and those with multiple chronic conditions are especially vulnerable to invasive fungal infections. These patients are at increased risk of developing widespread infections and experiencing poor health outcomes. Current management of fungal infections is associated with diagnostic challenges, side effects, and resistance. Vaccination is an effective strategy to prevent infections and boost immunity. Despite the significant burden of fungal disease, there are currently no licensed fungal vaccines available. This review is focused on various vaccine development strategies, including whole-cell, subunit, and nucleic acid-based vaccines. Various challenges like safety concerns, weak and nonspecific immune response, ideal adjuvants, and the need for improved drug delivery systems are also highlighted in this review. Sustained antigenic response, addressing host immune response variability, and eliciting persistent predictable immune response are crucial for vaccine development. Standardized protocols and robust preclinical studies are essential for the clinical development of potential vaccine candidates. Exploring novel targets using advanced technologies like bioinformatics, nanotechnology, and reverse vaccinology are being rapidly explored.

Relativistic effects are important to understand the chemistry of heavier elements across the periodic table (PT). Three important relativistic effects are: contraction of s- and p-orbitals (direct relativistic effect), expansion of d- and f-orbitals (indirect relativistic effect) and spin–orbit (SO) coupling to split the p-, d- and f-orbitals. Each of these effects is approximately proportional to Z 2 (Z = atomic number) for the valence shell electrons in many electron atoms and consequently, these relativistic effects dominantly control the properties of the heavier elements (mainly the 6th and 7th period elements). These aspects are not given the proper importance in most of the inorganic chemistry text books and in chemistry education at the university level.

Anguina tritici is the first plant-parasitic nematode described in literature, dating back to the year 1743. It is responsible for causing earcockle (seed gall) and tundu diseases in wheat and rye. Notably, this nematode has been observed to survive in an anhydrobiotic state for up to 32 years within wheat seed galls. These exceptional characteristics have inspired the sequencing of the A. tritici genome. In this study, we present the initial draft genome of A. tritici, obtained using the Illumina MiSeq platform with coverage of 60-fold. The genome is estimated to have a size of 164 Mb and comprises 39,965 protein-coding genes, exhibiting a GC content of 39.1%. The availability of this genome data will serve as a foundation for future functional biological investigations, particularly for genes whose functions remain unknown to this day.

Ankita Khataniar,1,&ast; Abhichandan Das,1,&ast; Manash J Baruah,2 Kusum K Bania,2 Sanchaita Rajkhowa,1,&ast; Sami A Al-Hussain,3 Magdi EA Zaki3 1Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, As-786004, India; 2Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, As-784028, India; 3Department of Chemistry, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sanchaita Rajkhowa; Magdi EA Zaki, Email s_rajkhowa@dibru.ac.in; mezaki@imamu.edu.saBackground: The present study investigates the potential bioactivity of twelve experimentally designed C-2 quaternary indolinones against Providencia spp., a bacterial group of the Enterobacteriaceae family known to cause urinary tract infections. The study aims to provide insights into the bioactive properties of the investigated compounds and their potential use in developing novel treatments against Providencia spp. The experimental design of indolinones, combined with their unique chemical structure, makes them attractive candidates for further investigation. The results of this research may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic agents to combat Providencia spp. infections.Methods: The synthesized indolinones (moL1-moL12) are evaluated to identify any superior activity, particularly focusing on moL12, which possesses aza functionality. The antimicrobial activities of all twelve compounds are tested in triplicates against six different Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, including P. vermicola (P< 0.05). Computational methods have been employed to assess the pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds.Results: Among the synthesized indolinones, moL12 exhibits superior activity compared to the other compounds with similar skeleton but different functional moieties. All six strains tested, including P. vermicola, demonstrated sensitivity to moL12. Computational studies support the pharmacokinetic properties of moL12, indicating acceptable absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity characteristics.Conclusion: Utilizing the PPI approach, we have identified a promising target, FabD, in Gram-negative bacteria. Our analysis has shown that moL12 exhibits significant potential in binding with FabD, thereby, might inhibit cell wall formation, and display superior antimicrobial activity compared to other compounds. Consequently, moL12 may be a potential therapeutic agent that could be used to combat urinary tract infections caused by Providencia spp. The findings of this research hold significant promise for the development of new and effective treatments for bacterial infections. Keywords: C-2 quaternary indolinones, Providencia vermicola, Providencia stuartii, multi-drug resistance, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation

Manjunath M Shenoy,1 Abhishek De,2 Bela Shah,3 Anupam Das,4 Abir Saraswat,5 Koushik Lahiri,2 Sheetal Yadav,6 Aarti Sarda,2 Disha Chakraborty,7 Dharmender J,2 Shruti Kamat,2 Yashika Doshi,2 Nelry Gonsalves,2 Ankita Choudhary,2 Dhiraj Dhoot,8 Namrata Mahadkar,8 Sumit Bhushan,8 Rujuta Gadkari,8 Hanmant Barkate8 1Department of Dermatology, Omega Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India; 2Department of Dermatology, Wizderm Specialty Skin and Hair Clinic, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 3Department of Dermatology, BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; 4Department of Dermatology, Iris Multispecialty Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 5Department of Dermatology, Indushree Skin Clinic, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; 6Department of Dermatology, ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India; 7Department of Dermatology, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 8Department of Global Medical Affairs, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Mumbai, Maharashtra, IndiaCorrespondence: Dhiraj Dhoot, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, B D Sawant Marg, Chakala, Andheri (E), Mumbai, India, 400099, Tel +91 9619811219, Email dddhoot@gmail.comIntroduction: Itraconazole follows non-linear pharmacokinetics and hence is recommended once daily, but in real-world practice, is commonly prescribed as twice daily. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of super-bioavailable-itraconazole-130 mg (SB-130) and conventional-itraconazole-200 mg (CITZ-200) once daily compared with conventional-itraconazole-100 mg (CITZ-100) twice daily in glabrous tinea.Methods: A total of 261 eligible patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, clinical study from December-2021 to August-2022 at seven centers in India. Efficacy and safety assessments were done at week-3 and 6, with follow-up at week-10 for relapse. The primary objective was to assess the proportion of patients who achieved complete cure at week-6 following treatment in all itraconazole groups. The secondary outcomes were safety and clinical and mycological cure rates.Results: Of 261 patients, 240 were included in the analysis. At week-6, 140 patients were completely cured; thus, overall cure rate was 58.33%. Fifty-five patients (69%) in SB-130 while 47/77 (61%) and 38/83 (46%) patients were completely cured in CITZ-200 and CITZ-100 groups respectively (p< 0.05; SB-130: CITZ-100, p=0.32; SB-130: CITZ-200, p=0.058; CITZ-200: CITZ-100). There was no statistical difference in the mycological cure rate and area clearance rate between any of the groups (p=0.14); however, a statistically significant difference was noted for OD dosing over BD dosing in achieving clinical cure rates (p< 0.05). A total of 13/140 patients (9%) relapsed following complete cure, with no statistically significant difference between any of the groups (p=0.50). All treatments were safe and well-tolerated, with no discontinuation.Conclusion: In this clinical study, moderate efficacy with all doses of ITZ was reported but was better with OD dosing. Although there was no statistical difference between SB-130 and CITZ-200, SB-130 may be preferred over CITZ-200 owing to the advantage of SB over the conventional ITZ.Keywords: itraconazole, super-bioavailable itraconazole, 130mg, efficacy, safety, India, OD, dermatophytosis, relapse

Background: Scrub typhus is an emerging public health threat in South-Asian countries; with the growing number of cases in India, an understanding of local patterns of disease and factors that place individuals at risk is pivotal to future preventive measures. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological features- annual number of cases, age distribution, sex distribution, and seasonal distribution over the four years. To find out the clinical profile, laboratory features and outcomes of cases of scrub typhus, and to identify the predictors of disease severity. Methodology: A comprehensive retrospective review of scrub typhus cases reported over a 4-year period (2019-2023) was done, with a monthly trend of patients admitted. Data was collected from the case records of patients for demographic characteristics, clinical features, treatment, and outcomes, length of stay (LOS), complications, and mortality. Data was presented in frequencies and proportions, odds ratio (OR) was calculated and a p-value of Results: A total of 886 cases were reported over the four-years. There was a declining epidemiological trend in 2020-21 and then an increasing one. Scrub typhus cases exhibited seasonality, with a peak incidence during winter season. Males were more commonly affected (58.01%), and the age group most susceptible was 19-64 years (52.22%), followed by one-month to 18years (32.22%). Clinical presentations typically included fever (96%), eschar formation (8%) and rash (8%). Complications like pneumonia (13.88%) and AKI (11.73%), were observed in a significant proportion of cases. Mortality was reported in 4.40% of cases. Altered sensorium, deranged LFT, hypotension requiring ionotropic support, requirement of ventilatory support predicted poor outcome. Conclusion: Scrub typhus was seen to cause a multi-system infection among the studied population, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The conditions found associated with poor outcome and mortality can be used as risk factor predictors and help patient management.

Man-made activities can release the ozone depleting substances (ODSs) like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halocarbons stable in atmosphere and ultimately, they migrate to the stratosphere where they can destroy the ozone layer through the XOx catalytic cycle (X = Cl, Br). The active forms in this catalytic cycle are X and XO that can be arrested in the inactive forms like XONO2 (halogen nitrate, an additive compound of two odd electron molecules XO and NO2) and HX (produced in the reaction of X with CH4) in the stratosphere to prevent the ozone depletion cycle. The catalytically active forms from these inactive species can be regenerated in the reactions on heterogeneous solid surface like polar stratospheric cloud (specially Type II PSC formed at about −85 °C). Formation of such PSC in the stratosphere is only possible in the supercooled stable Antarctic vortex produced in the prolonged winter. In fact, formation of such PSC in the stratosphere is not possible in the other regions of the earth and not even in the Arctic pole where no stable Arctic vortex is generally formed in the winter. Thus nature confines the ozone depletion reactions mainly in the stratosphere of Antarctica pole which is practically inhabited.

Dinesh Kumar Chellappan,1 Jestin Chellian,1 Nur Suraiza Nabila Rahmah,2 Wee Jin Gan,2 Priyanka Banerjee,3 Saptarshi Sanyal,3 Pradipta Banerjee,4 Nandini Ghosh,4 Tanner Guith,4 Amitava Das,4 Gaurav Gupta,5– 7 Sachin Kumar Singh,8,9 Kamal Dua,9,10 Anil Philip Kunnath,11 Nur Azeyanti Norhashim,12,13 Kuan Hung Ong,13 Kishneth Palaniveloo13 1Department of Life Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia; 2School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Medical Sciences, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 4Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 5School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302017, India; 6Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India; 7Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai, India; 8School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India; 9Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia; 10Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; 11Division of Applied Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia; 12Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Core Technology Facility, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK; 13Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Dinesh Kumar Chellappan; Anil Philip Kunnath, Tel +6012 636 1308 ; +6012 618 7831, Email dinesh_kumar@imu.edu.my; anilphilip_kunnath@imu.edu.myAbstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder recognized as a major health problem globally. A defective insulin activity contributes to the prevalence and expansion of DM. Treatment of DM is often hampered by limited options of conventional therapies and adverse effects associated with existing procedures. This has led to a spike in the exploration for potential therapeutic agents from various natural resources for clinical applications. The marine environment is a huge store of unexplored diversity of chemicals produced by a multitude of organisms. To date, marine microorganisms, microalgae, macroalgae, corals, sponges, and fishes have been evaluated for their anti-diabetic properties. The structural diversity of bioactive metabolites discovered has shown promising hypoglycaemic potential through in vitro and in vivo screenings via various mechanisms of action, such as PTP1B, α-glucosidase, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, and aldose reductase inhibition as well as PPAR alpha/gamma dual agonists activities. On the other hand, hypoglycaemic effect is also shown to be exerted through the balance of antioxidants and free radicals. This review highlights marine-derived chemicals with hypoglycaemic effects and their respective mechanisms of action in the management of DM in humans.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, marine organisms, bioactive metabolites, α-amylase inhibition, α-glucosidase inhibition, PTP1B inhibition, antioxidants

The primary goals of the study are to present a qualitative examination of household awareness of renewable energy sources and to ascertain their requirements, as well as their expectations for an improvement in quality of life as a consequence of using renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while improving public health. There are no empirical studies examining the level of household awareness of renewable energy in EU countries, so this gap is also considered a further area of empirical research. Seven European nations were selected for the study: the Czech Republic, Slovenia, France, Portugal, Spain, Austria, and Germany. The survey was conducted from April 2021 to June 2022 with over 17030 respondents. Additionally, it was given a statistical analysis by using the C-Pearson coefficient. Results of our study showed that households’ awareness is low and they also expect that they will not pay more for tourist services that use renewable energy sources. Moreover, results showed that when renewable energy sources are used, in households’ opinions, levels of CO2 will decrease and that this will have a favorable effect on the environment, but they still think that this will have a detrimental influence on their health.

Background Considering college students' food consumption habits and the importance of consumers' comprehension and awareness of food labels in healthy food choices, our study primarily aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) about food labelling among medical & nursing students and also to compare the KAP between them.

Background: Primary or essential thrombocytosis in children is very rare but reactive thrombocytosis occurs in children and respiratory tract infection is the commonest cause. The study aimed to determine the association of thrombocytosis with severity of lower respiratory tract infection; and the association of degree of thrombocytosis with severity of pneumonia. Materials and methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College & Hospital, Barpeta in Assam. This study was done on 120 children aged between 2 months and 5 years who were admitted with lower respiratory tract infection and classified according to WHO guidelines. Complete general physical examination and systemic examination with special orientation towards respiratory system was done. Complete blood count was performed with automated system sysmex xs800i cell counter. Thrombocytosis was noted and severity of thrombocytosis was classified. Results: Among 120 cases of lower respiratory tract infections, 48 children had thrombocytosis. 13 (48.1%) children with very severe disease, 29 (46.1%) children with severe pneumonia and 6(20%) children with pneumonia had thrombocytosis. Thus it was seen that there was significant association between platelet count and severity of pneumonia (p value=0.018). Two children had severe thrombocytosis (9.01-10.00L/mm3) and both of them had very severe disease. It indicates that degree of thrombocytosis increases as severity of pneumonia increases. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between thrombocytosis and severity of pneumonia. Also degree of thrombocytosis increases as severity of pneumonia increases.

Debdulal Chakraborty,1 Soumen Mondal,1 Subhendu Boral,1 Arnab Das,1 Tushar Kanti Sinha,1 Saptorshi Majumdar,1 Ranabir Bhattacharya,2 Ritobroto Maitra3 1Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 2Department of MIS, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 3Radical Health Tech, New Delhi, IndiaCorrespondence: Debdulal Chakraborty, Department of Vitreoretinal services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Tel +91 33 66360000, Email devdc@rediffmail.comPurpose: To analyse outcomes of innovator ranibizumab (IRM) (Lucentis) and biosimilar ranibizumab (BRM) (Razumab) in Indian eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).Methods: Retrospective observational study in nAMD patients, who were treated with IRM or BRM (3 loading doses followed by pro re nata (PRN). Primary outcome measures were change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) along with safety analysis. Secondary outcomes measures were changes in the subretinal fluid (SRF) and intraretinal fluid (IRF).Results: Inclusion criteria were satisfied in 164 eyes (60.74%). A total of 87 eyes were treated with IRM, and 77 eyes received BRM. Baseline BCVA was 0.57± 0.27 logMAR in IRM group and 0.61± 0.25 in the BRM group. At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months BCVA was 0.27± 0.22 (p< 0.0001), 0.34± 0.23 (p< 0.0001), 0.39± 0.25 (p< 0.0001), and 12 months 0.41± 0.23 (p< 0.0001) in the IRM group and 0.24± 0.16 (p< 0.0001), 0.27± 0.16 (p< 0.0001), 0.34± 0.17 (p< 0.0001), 0.38± 0.18 (p< 0.0001) in the BRM group. Baseline CMT was 420.39± 54.45 μm in IRM group and 407.82± 53.07 μm in BRM group. At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, CMT decreased to 258.28± 20.4 μm (p< 0.0001), 268.38± 19.5 μm (p< 0.0001), 269.51± 32.41 μm (p< 0.0001), and 278.28± 16.56 μm (p< 0.0001) in the IRM group and 258.84± 17.47 μm (p< 0.0001), 265.69± 17.29 μm (p< 0.0001), 273.64± 23.13 μm (p< 0.0001), and 283.09± 19.66 μm (p< 0.0001) in the BRM group. Similar improvements in IRF and SRF levels in the patients were noted in both groups. Required number of doses of IRM and BRM was similar over the 12 month period in both groups. A similar profile of adverse events was noted in both the groups.Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of IRM and BRM show similar efficacy and safety in Indian eyes with nAMD.Keywords: neovascular age-related macular degeneration, anti-VEGF, ranibizumab, biosimilar ranibizumab

Ankita Mohanty,1 Swadheena Patro,1 Antarikshya Das,1 Sanjay Miglani,2 Alexander Maniangat Luke,3,4 Ajinkya M Pawar,5 Rodolfo Reda,6 Alessio Zanza,6 Luca Testarelli6 1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India; 2Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, 110025, India; 3Department of Clinical Science, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Al-Jurf, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; 4Center of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Al-Jurf, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; 5Department of Conservative Dentistry and Enododntics, Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400008, India; 6Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, ItalyCorrespondence: Alexander Maniangat Luke, Department of Clinical Science, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Al-Jurf, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates, Email a.luke@ajman.ac.ae Ajinkya M Pawar, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Enododntics, Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400008, India, Email ajinkya@drpawars.comAim: The present study was designed to assess trends in contemporary endodontic practice regarding the techniques and materials used in endodontic therapy among dental practitioners from various regions of India.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted amongst dentists who were pursuing postgraduates in endodontics (PG Endo) and other branches (PG-OB), specialists from other branches (MDS-OB) and specialists in endodontics (MDS-Endo) in various dental colleges representing East, West, North, South, and Central zones through an e-survey using Google forms. State-wise postgraduate dental college lists were obtained from the Dental Council of India (DCI) website. Using a multistage cluster random sampling method and considering the unanticipated response rate, emails were sent to 2100. A 29-item close-ended questionnaire, framed according to different aspects of endodontic treatment, was used to record the responses.Results: When the distribution of the groups of dentists was compared, the central zone had the highest number of PG-OB (44.2%) and the lowest number of MDS-Endo (8.4%). The electronic apex locator (EAL) method of working length determination has been reported less among MDS-Endo than MDS-OB. The difference between the usage of various methods for working length determination was significant among the different groups in all the zones. (p < 0.0001) Most MDS-Endo preferred the rotary method of instrumentation over the combination method for different zones. The majority of dental practitioners preferred a combination method of instrumentation.Conclusion: Zone-wise comparisons among dentists showed the majority of general dental practitioners preferred the combination method (radiographs and electronic apex locator) for working length determination. Most MDS-Endo preferred the rotary method of instrumentation over the combination method for different zones. All dental practitioners did not so commonly use magnification in all the zones. The single cone technique was the most opted by dental practitioners of all the zones.Keywords: endodontic practices, endodontists, dental practitioners, survey

Background: The amniotic fluid volume is maintained by a balance between production (fetal urine and fetal lung fluid) and resorption (swallowing and intramembranous flow). Any imbalance in this process could lead to either oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. The incidence of polyhydramnios varies from 1-2%. It is a significant obstetric condition, the etiology of which is still largely unknown. The underlying maternal factors include diabetes mellitus, pregnancy induced hypertension, twin pregnancy, negative Rh factor, cardiac and renal diseases. The study aims to study the risk factors associated with polyhydramnios among the women seeking maternal health care in the study hospitals and to assess the socio-demographic correlates of polyhydramnios among the study population. Methodology: The study was conducted in the Government Lady Goschen Hospital and Kasturba Medical College Attavar, among 66 cases (Pregnant women admitted with polyhydramnios) and 132 controls(age matched pregnant women admitted to the study hospitals during the study period). Odds ratio was calculated, Chi square test was used to compare the groups. Results: Proportion of anemia among our cases was 20% and control was 25.6%. 7.6% of the cases were associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and 0.8% of controls had hypertensive disorders. 12.1% of polyhydramnios cases with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Conclusion: Majority of the polyhydramnios cases were in the age group 20-29 years. The proportion of Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, Rh negative pregnancies, malpresentation were higher among polyhydramnios cases. The association was significant for hypertension.

Despite the availability of factor replacement therapy, including prophylaxis, to treat and prevent bleeding, haemophilic arthropathy continues to be the most common complication of haemophilia and significantly impairs the quality of life in people with haemophilia (PwH). Regular periodic assessment of joint status in PwH is essential to identify early arthropathic changes and prevent the development or progression of haemophilic arthropathy. Kinematic and kinetic assessment are preferable and MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing haemophilic arthropathy, but availability is limited in developing countries. HJHS and ultrasound in conjunction with HEAD-US have been shown to effective in assessing changes indicating arthropathy.

In this article, some new generalizations of Darbo’s fixed-point theorem are given and the solvability of an infinite system of weighted fractional integral equations of a function with respect to another function is studied. Also, with the help of a proper example, we illustrate our findings.

In this paper, we procure the idea of weighted neutrosophic soft multiset (WNSMS) as a generalization of neutrosophic soft multiset (NSMS) and its basic properties are to be showed. Besides, we present a new adjustable approach to WNSMS based on decision-making, for solving decision-making in an indeterminacy situation.

Debdulal Chakraborty,1 Aniruddha Maiti,2 Jay U Sheth,3 Soumen Mondal,1 Subhendu Boral,1 Krishnendu Nandi,4 Tushar Kanti Sinha,1 Arnab Das1 1Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 2Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Global Eye Hospitals Eye, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 3Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Shantilal Shanghvi Eye Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 4Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Netralayam Super Speciality Eye Care Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaCorrespondence: Debdulal Chakraborty, Department of Vitreoretinal services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Tel +91 9433059923, Email devdc@rediffmail.comPurpose: To report the 52-week real-world efficacy and safety outcomes of brolucizumab therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in Indian eyes.Patients and Methods: A retrospective, multicentre chart analysis of 82 eyes of 82 patients with nAMD (switch therapy: 65 eyes; treatment-naïve: 17 eyes) with 52-week follow-up data was performed. Pro-re-nata re-treatment was offered based on visual and tomographic criteria. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), central-subfield thickness (CST), and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) were the key outcome measures, coupled with the safety profile.Results: The mean age of the study population was 67.65 (± 10.67) years, with 57 male patients (69.5%). The study’s mean number of injections was 4.8 (± 0.77). After brolucizumab therapy, the BCVA improved significantly at weeks 4 (P< 0.001), and maintained up to week 52 (P< 0.001). The CST also reduced significantly at all the visits (Baseline: 413.6 ± 64.6 μm; 52-week: 292.37 ± 13.5 μm; P< 0.001). Significantly fewer eyes demonstrated residual SRF (P< 0.001) and IRF (P< 0.001) at all visits, starting with week 12 and continuing until week 52. The PED resolution was significant from week 24 through week 52 (P=0.004). Each of the 82 eyes received four injections of brolucizumab, with 63.4% (52 eyes) receiving a fifth dose and only 17.1% requiring a sixth. Mild intraocular inflammation (IOI) was seen in three eyes (3.66%) that resolved conservatively. One patient (1.2%) developed mild fever that subsided with oral medications.Conclusion: The 52-week BRAILLE study demonstrates that brolucizumab is effective and safe in nAMD eyes in a real-world setting. Brolucizumab treatment can reduce the therapeutic burden in patients with nAMD due to its rapid, sustained efficacy and favourable safety profile.Keywords: brolucizumab, inflammation, age-related macular degeneration

Accurate and efficient detection of ships from aerial images is an intriguing and difficult task of extreme societal importance due to their implication and association with maritime infractions, and other suspicious actions. Having an automated system with the required capabilities indicates a substantial reduction in the related man-hours of characterization and the overall underlying processes. With the advent of various image processing techniques and advancements in the field of machine learning and deep learning, specialized methodologies can be created for the said task. An intuition for the enhancement of existing methodologies would be a study on attention-based cognition and the development of improved neural architectures with the available attention modules. This paper offers a novel study and empirical analysis of the utility of various attention modules with U-Net and other subsidiary architectures as a backbone for the task of computationally efficient and accurate ship detection. The best performing models are depicted and explained thoroughly, while considering their temporal performance.

In this paper, we introduce a new family of circulants GA(t, k), called Generalized Andrásfai graphs, where t, k ≥ 2 are integers. We study various parameters like diameter, girth, domination number etc. of GA(t, k). Moreover, we find the full automorphism group of GA(t, k) and compute its determining number.

The health impact of groundwater arsenic contamination shall remain partially understood while its psychological aspects are not studied. So, this correlational survey research explored mental health as a function of perceived social support in arsenic-induced cancer (AIC), which is highly prevalent in the middle Gangetic plain. Mental health inventory and multidimensional scale of perceived social support were used to assess mental health (MH) and perceived social support (PSS) respectively in 77 AIC patients. Findings show significant impact of PSS on MH in the arsenic-affected regions. PSS from significant others have strong impact on overall MH. Perception of reality was predicted by PSS from family while global PSS predicted two dimensions of MH, i.e. positive self-evaluation and environmental mastery. This baseline study suggests that global PSS and that from family and significant others is important and has a strong impact on MH of this population. These findings would help early identification and/or psychological intervention (from non-government organizations, oncology social workers/researchers, and policy makers) to promote better health and well-being in this arsenic-affected population. HIGHLIGHTS Ground water arsenic contamination in the Indo Gangetic plain bears health risk beyond physiological consequences.; Mental health is explored in arsenic induced cancer (AIC) patients.; Perceived social supports from friends, family and significant others have protective impact on mental health.; Psychological aspects of As exposure calls for policy making and timely intervention to achieve the UN-SDG-3.;

Knowledge on water quality and its assessment, is necessary for both human health and environmental benefit. To account for spatial distribution, surface water quality parameters were analysed using integrated interpolation, geographical information systems (GIS) and multivariate analysis. A total of 19 locations and 13 water quality indicators were analysed, for a duration of six years (2018-2024). The study’s main objective was to assess the seasonal and regional variations in the water quality index (WQI) of Mahanadi River in Odisha using (N) pi, (S) pi, (O) pi, (C) pi, (E)y-WQI, Int w-WQI and Multivariate Statistical tools namely Factor Analysis (Fa). However, in the current investigation, pH, HCO3-, Na+, K+ and Mg2+ were within the permissible limits as per WHO standards. According to this study, the order of prevalence of ion concentrations is signified as follows: Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Na+ for cations and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- for anions. The analysis of (N) pi indicated that about 15.79% of the sampled area, is affected by turbidity content, which is highly unsuitable for consumption. However, the remaining area (84.21%) is within the safe category of water. Classification of water based on (S) pi represents most of water samples falls between good water quality. Three unsuitable samples is noted as a result of excessive TDS and EC. In case of (O)pi, over 84.21% of the samples fell into categories of excellent, indicating the suitability for human activities. Using surface water quality results from (C) pi model, that reflects that out of 19 samples, 16 were suitable for drinking. Whereas 2 were polluted and 1 is seriously polluted, thus promotes unsuitability. Although there are several established techniques for calculating the WQI, the current study uses the quality index to consider a variety of water quality concerns in a cohesive manner. Meanwhile, in case of (E)y-WQI, 84.30% were excellent whereas 10% and 5% were poor and high polluted category. Over 42.11% of the samples fell into the categories of poor/very poor/not suitable, using the Int w-WQI diagram. Therefore, using these six approaches resembles a precise and comprehensive method to comprehend water quality in relation to pollution for human usage. In later stage, a factor analysis (Fa) can be applied to lessen the subjectivity and dimension of water quality characteristics. It reveals that the first five principal components explain almost 95.61% of dataset variation. This method removes the aggregation problems, weighting, opacity, and biases seen in traditional water quality evaluation techniques. The results of Fa suggested that turbidity, TKN, Ca2+ and Cl-, were the primary determinants of the water’s quality. The amount of organic pollution that was released into the river was influenced by anthropogenic activity in the vicinity of the river. In addition, the traditional dense habitation next to the river and the manufacturing waste that is transported from upstream to downstream are the sources of the high amount of TKN in urine and faeces. Therefore, given the high spatial distribution of geogenic turbidity and TKN occurrence, the study’s findings minimize uncertain causes and offer insights into surface water pollution regimes. They will also be useful to policy makers in helping to better plan, allocate resources, and manage the area’s potable water supply.

Surface water is the best source of drinking water available. However, climate change, over-pumping, and a variety of contaminants have all led to the depletion of this valuable resource. Conducting surface water quality assessments for home usage, especially drinking water, is essential to safeguarding human health and effectively managing resources. In this study, this work has highlighted an evaluation of surface water quality of river Mahanadi, Odisha, for drinking purposes using Relief Algorithm (RA) based WQI (RA-WQI), with reliability-based MLs (Machine Learning) such as Weight of Evidence (WOE) have been employed. For this, water samples from 19 locations were taken for a period of 2018-2023, to test 20 physicochemical parameters in the selected sampling sites. The findings indicated that although pH changes, the water is alkaline and its value spanned from 7.73 to 7.9. The concentration of coliform and TKN is found to be higher at all locations. The highest levels of Cl- and SO42- are located close to the downstream area. Based on the results, anions and cations are observing a shift in the trend, i.e., Fe2+ > B+ and Cl- > SO42- > NO3- > F- respectively, throughout the occupied duration. Further, the calculated RAWQI revealed that 63.16% belong to poor water quality while 31.57% of sites come under the zone of excellent water. However, 5.26% of samples indicated an unsuitable water class. The analysis primarily revealed that at 8 samples, the main cause could be deterioration of domestic water, illegally dumped municipal solid waste, and agricultural runoff were the leading sources causing adulteration of the river’s water quality. As a result, a renowned ML models, such as WOE, were adopted and it suggests location SP-(9) was the most polluted in comparison with other locations, followed by SP-(8), (19), and (2) respectively. Following this, the analytic findings also suggests from the highest RA-WQI values that consists of 488, 243, 277 and 285 at this location. However, it was relevant that the degree of pollution at these stations was more closely linked to a wide range of expanding human activities, such as excessive water use, fertilizer effects, agricultural runoff, and industrial activity in and around the river corridor. According to the drinking water quality indices, the surface water in the area under investigation is classified as suitable for human consumption. Thus, the results illuminate the preservation and distribution of drinkable and irrigable surface water supplies, and provide decision-makers with a valuable resource for implementing successful surface water protection strategies in the area under study.

Stainless steels are readily available and inexpensively priced on the market. The reasonable corrosion resistance of AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel has made it a popular choice. Although it is not very ductile, AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel is very strong, robust, and resistant to wear. Due to their exceptional hardness and resistance to wear, martensitic stainless steels were favored for certain limited applications. Therefore tempering was chosen to improve the ductility by keeping stability in brittleness and hardness. The samples were underwent with tempering at 230°C, 430°C, 630°C and designated as T1, T2,T3 respectively. The samples were made cylindrical in shape with 12 mm diameter, length of 42 mm. A pin-on disc wear test instrument was used to assess the material's resistance to wear for all the samples. A sample that has not been treated is set aside for results comparison. All the samples were undergone with hardness measurement and Scanning electron microscope to examine the microstructure and the resulting data were compared.

An alloy of iron and chromium is called stainless steel. The compositionratio of stainless steel will vary depending on the grade required and the intended use of the steel, although it must contain at least 0.5% chromium. Numerous applications exist for stainless steel in the industrial and consumer markets because of its superior corrosion resistance, high strength and good appearance aesthetic wise. Because of the chemical composition, martensitic steel is a kind of stainless steel that can be strengthened, hardened with heat and ageing processes. Because of these techniques, Martensitic steel is stronger than other kinds, which makes it a good option for manufacturing mechanical valves, turbine parts, medical equipment applications. AISI 410 martensitic stainless are strong and wear resistant one. The usage of this material is limited because of its hardness. For enhancing the ductility, these steels were subjected to normalizing process at 740°C, 840°C, 940°C and designated as N1, N2, N3 respectively. The samples were made cylindrical in shape with 11 mm diameter, length of 40 mm. The outcomes of the results like measurement of hardness, loss of wear were noted down and comparisons of microstructures with all the samples were carried out.

Mixtures of recycled tyre aggregates and common granular geo-material such as gravel and sand have been widely used for various applications in geotechnical engineering, such as backfill, lightweight construction geomaterial and pavement subbase layers. The mechanical properties and characteristics of various soft-rigid granular blends has been extensively studied in the past. The main objective of these studies is to determine suitable mix designs for different applications and provide a better understanding of material response under applied loads. Experimental and numerical studies indicate the paramount importance of particle interaction at the microscale on the response of the soft-rigid granular mixtures at the macro scale. The stark contrast in stiffness (or flexibility) of soft tyre particles to rigid sand or gravel particles, means that in the soft-rigid mixtures under shearing or compressive loads, the deformation of soft tyre particles and continuous change of shape and contact area and hence constant evolution of frictional resistance plays an important role in the behaviour of these blends. In the present research mixtures of gravel and tyre particles in a range of volume ratios and size ratios were modelled using DEM (discrete element method) and calibrated to match one-dimensional compressibility experimental data obtained by the team. The effect of the shape of soft particles on the compressive response of soft-rigid granular mixtures is studied through rolling resistance in DEM. The role of rolling friction is studied in detail. Rolling resistance is found to be an important parameter to simulate the behaviour of the particle shape of these mixtures. Microscopic studies like spin analysis and share of contact force is performed to understand the observed response better. However, the increase in rolling resistance value beyond a calibrated value is found to have little impact on the macroscopic behaviour of these mixes.

This experimental study deals with the upgrading of rubber fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete with silica fumes as replacement of fine aggregate. Researches are experimenting with replacing ordinary portland cement with GGBS as binder. GGBS has several positive environmental impacts. It reduces the carbon footprints of concrete producing by completely or partially replacing a portion of cement, which is a significant source of CO2 emission. In this experiment fine aggregate also partially replaced with silica fume by 10%,20%,30%,40% and 50%. Silica fumes is extremely fine particles, with high surface area and reactivity, make it an excellent material for enhancing the properties of concrete. When adding to concrete mixture silica fumes filled the voids between cement particles leading to denser and stronger concrete. Cube and cylinder are the specimens cured at 7 and 28 days for determining the mechanical properties like compressive strength and split tensile strength. Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were the alkali solution used as an admixture for the concrete grade-M30. The rubber fibres are added at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% to the obtained optimum value. From 10%-50%, 30% of silica fumes in geopolymer shows the optimum mix when compared to conventional Portland cement concrete mix. Our project point to emphasize an advanced concrete mix that is sustainable, durable and ecofriendly for the construction field.

Haemophilia is an inherited X-linked bleeding disorder characterised by a deficiency or absence of clotting factor VIII (haemophilia A) or IX (haemophilia B), which can cause musculoskeletal bleeding. The standard treatment for haemophilia is with factor concentrates to replace the missing or deficient clotting factor. However, there is a risk that the immune system develops antibodies against the exogenous factor, known as inhibitors. Managing patients with haemophilia and inhibitors who develop bleeding in unusual sites can be challenging for the treating physician. Here, we present a rare case of patient with severe haemophilia A who was diagnosed with inhibitors after developing bleeding in the left posterior chest wall (extra pleural haematoma). The patient was successfully managed with activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) (FEIBA: FVIII inhibitor bypassing activity; Baxter AG), and the pain and swelling gradually resolved over three weeks. This case emphasises the importance of clinical suspicion of inhibitor formation in a patient already diagnosed with haemophilia A presenting with unusual bleeding that does not respond to standard treatment.

The hot workability of microalloyed steel was studied in the deformation temperature range of 850–1200ºC and strain rate of 0.001-100s-1. The constitutive relation of flow stress with temperature, strain rate and strain was established to construct processing maps of the microalloyed steel. The processing maps were constructed using conventional power law, integral method, and Arrhenius equations. The developed processing maps were used to predict the optimal hot deformation conditions and were validated with metallurgical examinations. The safe regime for hot working of the experimental steel was found to be in the intermediate temperature-strain rate range (1000-1150ºC;0.001-10 s-1), where the deformation process was dominated by dynamic recrystallization and dynamic recovery of the austenitic phase. The processing map constructed using Arrhenius equations increased continuously with an increase in deformation temperature and decrease in strain rate and it did not reveal relevant information of hot workability with respect to deformation temperature and strain rate. The dynamic recrystallization behavior of experimental steel was affected by both deformation temperature and strain rate which was explained in detail through microstructural examination.

Objective: The massive popularity of digital gaming in recent decades has led to an inevitable surge in the use of digital technologies. This has made the younger population more prone to gaming, and causing an exponential rise in excessive video gaming among both children and adolescents. This scoping review summarizes and determines the scope, or coverage, of the body of empirical literature on Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD); published from 2010 to 2021. It was conducted to identify and map the available empirical evidence on IGD pertaining to its: prevalence, determinants, comorbidities and health consequences. Material and Methods: Literature searches were made in databases; including, Google Scholar, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and PubMed to identify relevant articles published from 2010 to 2021. This was performed using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and the meta-analyses technique (PRISMA) exclusion and inclusion criteria. Twenty-six empirical research studies are included in the present review. Results: There have been unexplored areas related to IGD since its introduction into the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Although its harmful impact on mental health and well-being remains untouched across the world, IGD is growing rapidly and calls for substantial worldwide consideration. Conclusion: Findings advance the understanding of IGD, identify gaps in research and propose future research directions. Research and innovations must focus on assessment, tools, prevention, intervention and treatment of IGD.

Debdulal Chakraborty,1 Aniruddha Maiti,2 Jay U Sheth,3 Subhendu Boral,1 Soumen Mondal,1 Krishnendu Nandi,2 Tushar Sinha,1 Arnab Das1 1Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 2Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Netralayam Super Speciality Eye Care Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, India; 3Department of Vitreoretinal Services, Surya Eye Institute and Research Center, Mumbai, Maharashtra, IndiaCorrespondence: Debdulal ChakrabortyDepartment of Vitreoretinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaTel +91 9433059923Email devdc.dr@gmail.comPurpose: To assess the short-term efficacy and safety profile of intravitreal brolucizumab injection in Indian eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) under real-world conditions.Patients and Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review of 94 eyes of 94 patients with nAMD (treatment-naïve and switch-therapy) undergoing brolucizumab therapy. Re-treatment as per pro-re-nata protocol was performed based on fixed visual and tomographic criteria. The main outcome measures were changes in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraretinal fluid (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF), central subfield thickness (CST), and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) along with safety analysis.Results: Of the 94 eyes, 20 eyes (21.3%) were treatment-naïve, whereas the rest 74 eyes (78.7%) underwent switch therapy. One hundred and twenty-six injections were given over a mean follow-up of 7.3 ± 2.2 (range 5– 30) weeks. The BCVA improved significantly from 0.82 ± 0.5 LogMAR at baseline to 0.66 ± 0.5 LogMAR at the final visit (p < 0.0001). Significant reduction in CST was simultaneously noted (Baseline: 408.45 ± 65.63 μm; Final: 281.14 ± 37.74 μm; p < 0.0001). On qualitative analysis, resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF), intraretinal fluid (IRF), and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) was observed in 15.5%, 39.29%, and 23.81% of the eyes, respectively. The mean interval of repeat injection was 10.2 ± 2.1 weeks. Three episodes of ocular adverse drug reaction were reported, including two patients developing subretinal hemorrhage while one having a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear. Notably, no intraocular inflammation (IOI) was seen in any of the eyes, and no systemic side effects were identified.Conclusion: In a real-world scenario, brolucizumab therapy is efficacious and safe in the management of nAMD over the short term. Further long-term studies are warranted to validate these findings. Additionally, lack of ocular inflammation after 126 brolucizumab injections in our Indian data is peculiar and underlines the necessity to explore the role of race and genetics in predisposing to/safeguarding against brolucizumab-related IOIs.Keywords: brolucizumab, inflammation, age-related macular degeneration