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One of the main causes of death worldwide is lung cancer, which is largely caused by cigarette smoking. The crucial transcription factor NF-κB, which controls inflammatory responses and various cellular processes, is a constitutively present cytoplasmic protein strictly regulated by inhibitors like IκB proteins. Upon activation by external stimuli, it undergoes phosphorylation, translocates into the nucleus, and modulates the expression of specific genes. The incontrovertible association between pulmonary malignancy and tobacco consumption underscores and highlights a public health concern. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines, potent carcinogenic compounds present in the aerosol emitted from combusted tobacco, elicit profound deleterious effects upon inhalation, resulting in severe perturbation of pulmonary tissue integrity. The pathogenesis of smoking-induced lung cancer encompasses an intricate process wherein NF-κB activation plays a pivotal role, triggered by exposure to cigarette smoke through diverse signaling pathways, including those associated with oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Unraveling the participation of NF-κB in smoking-induced lung cancer provides pivotal insights into molecular processes, wherein intricate crosstalk between NF-κB and pathways such as MAPK and PI3K-Akt amplifies the inflammatory response, fostering an environment conducive to the formation of lung cancer. This study reviews the critical function of NF-κB in the complex molecular pathways linked to the initiation and advancement of lung carcinogenesis as well as potential treatment targets.

Abstract Erlotinib is a reversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts by inhibiting signaling pathways, resulting in the disruption of cancerous cell proliferation. Erlotinib is a promising anticancer agent mainly utilized in the mitigation of non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) and pancreatic tumor. Apart from NSCLC and pancreatic tumor, erlotinib has also been employed in different malignancies, including metastatic colorectal cancer, malignant glioma, breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, etc. Despite erlotinib’s distinctive qualities as a targeted drug, its applications are still limited by poor solubility, variable oral bioavailability, a high daily dose requirement, large protein binding, and primitive or acquired therapeutic resistance. Nanotechnology is a favorable approach to increase therapeutic effectiveness of erlotinib. It is one of the newest scientific field directed toward the diagnosis and targeted treatment of cancer. This technology aids in the distinction between normal and malignant cells, which overlays the strategy for targeted delivery. This manuscript discussed the advances of erlotinib nanoformulations in the management of different cancers. Moreover, the manuscript also comprises various research outcomes of erlotinib nanoformulations with other therapeutic agents as combinational therapy. Erlotinib can be delivered to a precise target in the body utilizing different polymers, lipids, and metals.

The intricate molecular landscape of cancer pathogenesis continues to captivate researchers worldwide, with Circular RNAs (circRNAs) emerging as pivotal players in the dynamic regulation of biological functions. The study investigates the elusive link between circRNAs and the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signalling pathway, exploring their collective influence on cancer progression and metastasis. Our comprehensive investigation begins by profiling circRNA expression patterns in diverse cancer types, revealing a repertoire of circRNAs intricately linked to the TGF-β pathway. Through integrated bioinformatics analyses and functional experiments, we elucidate the specific circRNA-mRNA interactions that modulate TGF-β signalling, unveiling the regulatory controls governing this crucial pathway. Furthermore, we provide compelling evidence of the impact of circRNA-mediated TGF-β modulation on key cellular processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and cell proliferation. In addition to their mechanistic roles, circRNAs have shown promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as potential molecular targets for cancer therapy. Their ability to modulate critical pathways, such as the TGF-β signalling axis, underscores their significance in cancer biology and clinical applications. The intricate interplay between circRNAs and TGF-β is dissected, uncovering novel regulatory circuits that contribute to the complexity of cancer biology. This review unravels a previously unexplored dimension of carcinogenesis, emphasizing the crucial role of circRNAs in shaping the TGF-β signalling landscape.

Purpose: International guidelines for the management of patients with low back pain (LBP) are available, but there are no India-specific guidelines for the diagnosis and management of LBP in primary care. This article aims to provide clinical insights for the diagnosis and treatment of LBP for primary care practitioners in India. Methods: A 3-step modified Delphi method was used to get insights and opinions from a panel of 9 multidisciplinary specialist (neurology, orthopedics, and pain management). In rounds 1 and 2, 203 and 60 statements, respectively, were circulated to the expert panel and they were asked to respond with an “agree” or “disagree” to each statement and provide comments. At least 80% of the experts had to agree for a statement to reach a concordance. More than 80% concordance was reached for 175 and 32 statements in rounds 1 and 2, respectively. Round 3 was a direct interaction with the experts. Results: There was good agreement among the expert panelist in round 3 for the consensus-derived statements from the earlier two rounds of the survey. The panel agreed that diagnostic triage is important to exclude specific spinal pathology, routine imaging is not recommended unless suspecting serious pathology, specialist referral is needed for serious pathologies/no improvement in pain with treatment, and management is to be individualized depending on etiology and patient factors. Conclusions: Primary care physicians are the first point of contact for patients with back pain. These consensus recommendations will assist primary care physicians in India to choose an appropriate course of action for managing patients with LBP.

Relevance. Crime in border regions poses the greatest danger to society and the state in the digital world. During the period of digitalization of society, the problem of criminal law risks with the use of information technology is becoming more dangerous, large-scale and intractable. As you know, the era of the dominance of digital technologies has not only positive consequences, opening up new opportunities for the development of society and the state, but also creates additional criminal threats to national security. In such circumstances, government policy is aimed at building an effective system of digital confrontation. In a digital society, the crime prevention system in the border regions of the Russian Federation, although based on the unified legal framework of state policy in the field of combating crime, cannot be the same for all regions of the country. Its construction should take into account regional economic, social, demographic, ethno-confessional, territorial, historical, cultural and national characteristics. Purpose and methods. The purpose of the scientific report is to summarize the criminal risks of digitalization for the national security of border regions and to analyze some areas of state policy in the field of combating crime in a digital society. To achieve this goal, the research uses methods of analysis and synthesis; generalization of expert opinions in various fields of science, materials of legal statistics and investigative practice; analysis of messages in mass media; dialectical and sociological methods. Conclusion. The digitalization of society is associated with an increase in the number of criminal law risks in all areas of public life. At the same time, the development of digital technologies also affects the successful organization of preventive activities within the framework of public policy. The use of achievements in the field of digital technologies makes it possible to significantly improve the criminal procedure and penal enforcement policy of

This study aimed to improve the stability and prolonged gefitinib release from the nanoliposomes. Nanoliposomes were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation and optimized using Box-Behnken design to investigate the influence of sonication time (X1), tween 80 / soya phosphatidylcholine ratio (X2), and cholesterol / soya phosphatidylcholine ratio (X3) on nanoliposomes. Optimized nanoliposomes were quasi-spherical shaped, with a mean dimension of 93.2 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 87.56±0.17 %. Surface decoration of the optimized batch was done using different concentrations of chitosan. The optimal chitosan concentration required to adorn the surface of nanoliposomes was 0.01 %. In comparison to unadorned nanoliposomes (82.16±0.65 %), adorned nanoliposomes (78.04±0.35 %) released the drug consistently over 24 h via Fickian diffusion. The IC50 values for surface-adorned nanoliposomes in A549 and H1299 cells were 6.53±0.75 and 4.73±0.46 µM, respectively. Cytotoxicity of the surface-decorated nanoliposomes may be due to their higher zeta potential and prolonged drug release. At 4°C, adorned and unadorned nanoliposomes are most stable. In conclusion, the developed nanoliposomes may offer a new path for melanoma clinics.

Background This study investigates various surface treatment methods to assess shear bond strength between set Cention N (alkasite-based restorative material) and new alkasite based restorative material. Assessing different surface treatments provide insights in optimizing repair procedure that enables durability of the restoration, thus potentially benefitting clinical outcomes. Methods A total of 48 alkasite based restorative material blocks, measuring 4 mm in depth and 4 mm in diameter, were prepared. The samples were randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 6) according to the surface treatment done. Group I: Surface preparation by bur; Group II: Surface treatment by laser; Group III: Application of 2-step etch and rinse adhesive (Adper Single Bond 2 adhesive),Group IV: Application of single step self-etch adhesive (Scotchbond Universal adhesive); Group V: Bur preparation followed by application of 2-step etch and rinse adhesive; Group VI: Bur preparation followed by application of single step self-etch adhesive; Group VII: Laser preparation followed by application of 2-step etch and rinse adhesive; and Group VIII: Laser preparation followed by application of single step self-etch adhesive. Post-surface preparation, all the specimens were restored with newly mixed alkasite material. Repair bond strength measurements were assessed with universal testing machine. Shapiro-Wilk and Levene's tests were used to check normality and Homogeneity of variance. ANOVA with post-hoc Games-Howell test and two-way ANOVA with post-hoc Bonferroni test was performed to evaluate the influence of surface preparation on the repair bond strength. Results Using a 2-step etch and rinse adhesive resulted in a higher repair bond strength (26.05±2.12) compared to other surface treatments. In contrast, roughening of the surface with burs led to lowest repair bond strength (17.06±3.29) (P=0.02). Conclusion Application of 2-step etch and rinse adhesive to the existing alkasite based restorative material provides superior bonding with the newly added alkasite based restorative material.

This review highlights the evolution in the scope of eye banking activities in India. The roles and responsibilities of the eye banks have expanded to match the requirements and necessities that arose because of advancements in keratoplasty techniques and the need for corneal surgeons. Adoption of different types of corneal preservation solutions and methods of donor cornea preservation was a consequence of the changing and unprecedented times. The growth of eye banking in India has been a commendable journey and has placed the country in an “almost sufficient” category in eye banking and corneal transplantation. There exists a potential to reach the status of cornea surplus country in the future. The rules and laws governing eye banking operations need dynamic amendments based on the trends in keratoplasty, surgical practice patterns, and status of self-sufficiency. Newer technological advances and quality measures must be adopted in donor cornea evaluation and tissue preparation. Research should be integrated as an important component of eye banking, especially in developing novel methods of donor preservation, and evaluating and validating the existing and changing practices of eye banking.

Abstract Severe outbreaks and deaths have been linked to the emergence and global spread of fluoroquinolone-resistant Clostridioides difficile over the past two decades. At the same time, metronidazole, a nitro-containing antibiotic, has shown decreasing clinical efficacy in treating C. difficile infection (CDI). Most metronidazole-resistant C. difficile exhibit an unusual resistance phenotype that can only be detected in susceptibility tests using molecularly intact heme. Here, we describe the mechanism underlying this trait. We find that most metronidazole-resistant C. difficile strains carry a T-to-G mutation (which we term PnimB G ) in the promoter of gene nimB, resulting in constitutive transcription. Silencing or deleting nimB eliminates metronidazole resistance. NimB is related to Nim proteins that are known to confer resistance to nitroimidazoles. We show that NimB is a heme-dependent flavin enzyme that degrades nitroimidazoles to amines lacking antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, occurrence of the PnimB G mutation is associated with a Thr82Ile substitution in DNA gyrase that confers fluoroquinolone resistance in epidemic strains. Our findings suggest that the pandemic of fluoroquinolone-resistant C. difficile occurring over the past few decades has also been characterized by widespread resistance to metronidazole.

Background Pre-anaesthetic evaluation must include airway assessment. In the field of regional anaesthesia, ultrasound is regarded as the gold standard and a priceless tool.

Quorum sensing plays a vital role in the environmental and host life cycles of Vibrio cholerae. The quorum-sensing circuit involves the consorted action of autoinducers, small RNAs, and regulatory proteins to control a plethora of physiological events in this bacterium. Among the regulatory proteins, LuxO is considered a low-cell-density master regulator. It is a homolog of NtrC, a two-component response regulator. NtrC belongs to an evolving protein family that works with the alternative sigma factor σ54 to trigger gene transcription. Structurally, these proteins comprise 3 domains: a receiver domain, a central AAA+ATPase domain, and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain (DBD). LuxO communicates with its cognate promoters by employing its DNA binding domain. In the present study, we desired to identify the critical residues in the DBD of LuxO. Our combined mutagenesis and biochemical assays resulted in the identification of eleven residues that contribute significantly to LuxO regulatory function.

Background: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to pose a significant public health threat worldwide, with India experiencing a substantial burden. Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) play a pivotal role in addressing HIV/AIDS by providing crucial healthcare access and dispelling misconceptions surrounding the disease. Objectives: To study the profile of PLHIV patients attending ICTC centre. Methodology: This descriptive record-based study was conducted at the ICTC of Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, aiming to profile HIV-positive attendees. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, mode of transmission, referrals, and counseling practices were collected from records of 137 seropositive attendees using convenient sampling. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 11.5. Results: The study revealed that most attendees were male (63.5%), married (78.8%), and aged 40 and above (40.1%). Heterosexual contact was identified as the primary mode of transmission (95.6%), with no cases attributed to blood transfusion. Private health facilities were the primary referrers (72.9%), and ICTC mainly referred patients to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centers (72.3%). Post-test counseling included spousal testing (33.6%) and condom counseling (90.5%), with limited condom uptake (18.9%) and follow-up of seropositive attendees (35.8%). Conclusion: The study underscores the critical role of ICTCs in HIV/AIDS management, highlighting trends in attendee profiles, transmission modes, referrals, and counseling practices. It emphasizes the necessity for targeted interventions to enhance follow-up and promote condom usage, alongside continued efforts to mitigate HIV transmission.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an insidious, irreversible, and progressive neurodegenerative health condition manifesting as cognitive deficits and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Approximately 50 million individuals are affected by AD, and the number is rapidly increasing globally. This review explores the role of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in the management of AD and its clinical manifestations. Aim of Review: This review aims to provide a deep insight into the recent progress in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and its use against neurodegenerative disorders, specifically AD. However, we have referred to its use against parkinsons’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and other human diseases, as is one of the most promising and emerging technologies for disease treatment. Key Scientific Concepts of Review: The pathophysiology of AD is known to be linked with gene mutations, that is, presenilin (PSEN) and amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). However, clinical trials focused at the genetic level could not meet the desired efficiency. The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tool is one of the most powerful technologies for correcting inconsistent genetic signatures and now extensively used for AD management. It has significant potential for the correction of undesired gene mutations associated with AD. This technology has allowed the development of empirical AD models, therapeutic lines, and diagnostic approaches for better understanding the nervous system, from in vitro to in vivo models.

The eyes, being one of the most prominent facial features, play a crucial role in facial symmetry and are subject to extensive scrutiny in terms of their morphological and functional aspects. Numerous studies have explored the association between facial symmetry and the morphology of the eyes. Symmetrical faces are generally perceived as more attractive and are believed to indicate good genetic health. As a result, research has focused on the measurements of ocular symmetry, including inter-eye distance, eye shape, and eyelid symmetry. It has been found that individuals with more symmetrical eyes are often perceived as more attractive and exhibit enhanced social desirability. The eyes play a crucial role in facial expression and are vital sensory organs. A 49-year-old patient presented with a chief complaint of facial disfigurement due to shrunken right eyelids resulting from trauma-related evisceration. Various techniques for iris positioning have been reported in the literature, but they have had limitations. This clinical report presents an improved and effective technique utilizing a customized iris positioning device, consisting of a transparent graph sheet attached to a forehead clip. The customized ocular prosthesis significantly improved the patient’s quality of life and restored her self-confidence. The customized iris positioning device offered enhanced proximity to the eye and provided several advantages, including accurate pupil centralization, customization, re-verification, and being cost-effective.

Nanoliposomes are bilayer phospholipid vesicles used to encapsulate and deliver therapeutic agents. The study was aimed to investigate the effects of critical variables on nanoliposomes characteristics. Imatinib mesylate-loaded nanoliposomes were formulated by the two-step emulsification process using a high-speed homogenizer system and probe-type ultrasonicator. The Box-Behnken design was utilized to optimize the process parameters. The mean particle size of nanoliposomes was found to be 211 nm to 623.3 nm with a low value of polydispersity index (0.005 to 0.7). Zeta potential values varied from ‒27.6 mV to ‒9.2 mV in uncoated nanoliposomes to +27.5 mV in chitosan-coated nanoliposomes. The encapsulation efficiency in formulation NLP-H8 containing 200 mg of phosphatidylcholine, homogenization speed of 12000 rpm, and 7 min of sonication time was found to be 76.49% without the coating and 85.4% in 0.2% w/v chitosan-coated nanoliposomes. TEM image confirmed the spherical shape of nanoliposomes. In-vitro drug release study demonstrated that the optimized nanoliposomal formulations released 84.67% of the loaded drug after 24 h in 0.1 N HCl. The IC50 value of formulation NLP-H8 was found to be 7.98 μM. Nanoliposomal formulations were prepared successfully with suitable size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release. The models developed in this study may be utilized further as a response surface for the various parameters of nanoliposomes.

Timely diagnosis is crucial for the successful treatment of a serious medical condition like brain hemorrhage. Deep learning algorithms have shown great promise in applications for medical image analysis, like the identification of brain hemorrhages. The goal of this study is to assess how well various deep learning algorithms can detect brain hemorrhages. Using a suitable dataset, the study evaluates the computational efficiency, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the selected algorithms. The results demonstrate the potential of deep learning models to assist physicians in identifying this potentially fatal condition and demonstrate how well they can identify brain hemorrhages. The study's findings improve automated brain hemorrhage detection technology, improving patient outcomes and the efficiency of healthcare delivery. EfficientNetB3 typically achieves higher accuracy due to its increased model complexity. Despite its increased complexity, EfficientNetB3 is still more parameter-efficient and computationally efficient than many alternative architectures. EfficientNetB3's strong performance and feature extraction capabilities make it a good choice for transfer learning tasks. Out of all the models implemented in this paper, the proposed model with EfficientNetB3 gave the best accuracy for training as well as validation i.e. 99.95% and 93.29% respectively followed by EfficientNetB2, ResNet, SEResNext and ResNext. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rapid sequence induction requires quick and single attempt intubation to secure airway without any untoward complications. As the number of attempts increase, risk of desaturation and aspiration increase which is potentially life threatening. In such circumstances, miscalculation may cost loss of time which may prove fatal. Various adjuncts and techniques have been devised to prevent such calamities. Aim: To compare ease of intubation with angulated stylet versus distally preloaded bougie for rapid sequence intubation in elective general anaesthesia procedures. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical trial was conducted in 100 patients belonging to 18-60 years of age from November 2019 to October 2020. Patients were intubated using rapid sequence including cricoid pressure by either styletted endotracheal tube (group S) or distally preloaded bougie (group B), for surgeries performed under general anaesthesia. The primary outcome was to determine mean Time to Intubation (TTI) and number of attempts, while secondary outcomes were haemodynamic responses to intubation and complications. Data comparison between independent groups in this normally distributed data was done using student -t test while intragroup analysis was done using chi-square test. Results: A total of 100 patients were randomised into two groups- group S (mean age: 41.12 years) and group B (mean age: 37.34 years), of 50 patients each. Number of intubation attempts with stylet were single in 82%, two in 18% cases while with preloaded bougie, it was 80% and 14%, respectively (p-value=0.196). Time to intubation was 22.16 seconds (group S) versus 33.78 seconds (group B) (p-value

Background and Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mode of mechanical ventilation; pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) vs. volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) on airway pressures, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and intra-operative surgical bleeding in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Methods: This was a prospective, randomised study that included 50 American Society of Anesthesiologists class I and II patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery who were mechanically ventilated using PCV or VCV mode. The respiratory parameters (peak and plateau pressures) and IAP were measured after anaesthesia induction in supine position, 10 min after the patients were changed from supine to prone position, at the end of the surgery in prone position, and after the patients were changed from prone to supine position. The amount of intraoperative surgical bleeding was measured by objective and subjective methods. Results: The primary outcome was the amount of intraoperative surgical bleeding. It was significantly less in the PCV group than in the VCV group (137 ± 24.37 mL vs. 311 ± 66.98 mL) (P = 0.000). Similarly, on comparing other parameters like peak inspiratory pressures, plateau pressures and IAP, the patients in PCV group had significantly lower parameters than those in VCV group (P < 0.05). No harmful events were recorded. Conclusion: In patie,nts undergoing lumbar spine surgery, use of PCV mode decreased intraoperative surgical bleeding, which may be related to lower intraoperative respiratory pressures and IAP.

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a proliferative fibrous lesion causing severe gingival enlargement, affecting the esthetics, as well as posing various periodontal problems. This case report addresses the diagnosis and treatment of one such rare case of HGF where the patient presented with generalized diffuse gingival enlargement involving the maxillary and mandibular arches extending on the buccal and lingual/palatal surfaces and covering the incisal/occlusal third of the tooth, resulting in altered esthetics, difficulty in speech, and mastication. Gingivectomy was carried out in all the four quadrants using diode laser. The healing was uneventful; the patient was satisfied with her esthetics and was able to resume her oral hygiene practices. Even though recurrence cannot be predicted, the risk of recurrence can be outweighed with the psychological and functional benefits. Long-term follow-up will be required to evaluate the predictability of the different surgical techniques.

Background: Annual prevalence of chronic neck pain in general population averages between 30%-50%. Among various causes of chronic neck pain cervical facet joint involvement accounts for about 54% to 67%. Interventional procedures such as medial branch nerve block, trigger point injections and dry needling have been described for management of chronic neck pain. Objectives: To determine the clinical effectiveness of cervical medial branch block and trigger point injections in the management chronic neck pain. Design: Randomized, double blinded, prospective study conducted at two different centers in India, Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesiology, J.N. Medical College hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Delhi Pain management centre, New Delhi, India. Methods: Data analysis was done from a total of 60 patients with 30 patients in each group. Group CMB received cervical medial branch block and group TP received trigger point injection with levobupivacaine (0.25%) and triamcinolone (20mg) at two different levels. There was no sham group. Outcome Measure: Numeric rating scale (NRS), Neck Pain Disability Index (NDI), weekly analgesic requirement and subjective evaluation of patients was done at 1st week, 3rd week, 6th week and 12th week of follow up and compared with the pre-procedure value. Results: Significant pain relief was observed in both the groups of study, at 1st week of study, compared to baseline. Further follow up showed significantly better pain relief in patients receiving medial branch nerve block than patient receiving tender point injections at 3rd, 6th week and 12th week. NDI score in-group CMB was significantly better as compared to group TP at 3rd, 6th and 12th week follow up. Subjective evaluation of pain showed significantly greater proportion of patient with good to excellent pain relief in group receiving medial branch block. Analgesic requirement was significantly less in group CMB compared to group TP during follow up. Conclusion: Cervical medial branch block with local anaesthetic and steroid may provide long-term relief in patients with chronic neck pain than trigger point injection with no major incidence of complications in either group.

Preventing extremism and terrorism crimes in the republics of the North Caucasus in the near future is relevant, since today’s volatile situation in society calls for constant reference to the problem in order to comprehend the development of these crimes in the face of the liberalization of public life. Evaluating regional and territorial characteristics of crime suggests that its content depends not only on the state of society at large, but also on the way social processes are organized in the regions. Therefore, there are some significant differences in the level of terrorism and extremism crime among young people in different regions of the Russian Federation. In this sense, the nature and rate of crime in the border regions are relatively localized within regional-territorial frameworks. This is due to the factthat, some regions of the Russian Federation have developed peculiar demographic, cultural, socio-economic, geopolitical conditions that affect the qualitative and quantitative indicators of youth crime, causing peculiar criminological situations to develop in certain regions. Regional analysis of crime is a mandatory attribute of criminological research. Within its framework, terrorism and extremism crime among young people is considered as an integrative output of complex social territory-specific interactions. Attempts to feature terrorism and extremism crime among young people in the republics of the North Caucasus, the way it differs from this kind of crime in other regions of the Russian Federation are of great preventive importance.

The study addresses the problem of physical violence in the family, which has become the most relevant in criminology, especially in the period of digitalization. The purpose of the study was to determine the forms of physical violence against vulnerable family members and identify the causes and conditions for violence against women, the elderly, and children in a digital society. The authors consider that vulnerable family members in the republics of the North Caucasus are most in need of protection due to the closeness of the topic of violence to observe traditions and customs. The paper shows the fate of women in extremist families. In a digital society, the threat of violence using the latest technologies is relevant. This type of abuse contains psychological aspects, it is a form of digital violence. Constant pressure in the form of control over social networks, the requirements to instantly call back or answer a message is becoming common in a digital society. The purpose of the study was to identify the factors that determine physical violence against helpless family members in a digital society and to find areas for improving the criminal law on violence against family members. With due regard to the purpose of the study, the determinants of violence against helpless family members are revealed. Based on the study of the factors that trigger physical violence against vulnerable family members, some methods for improving the criminal legislation are proposed. The study is of practical relevance, and its results can be used for combating physical violence against helpless family members and improving legislation on violence against family members.

Research suggests that racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 in the US are largely driven by higher rates of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among Hispanic/Latino and Black populations. Occupational exposures play a large role in structuring risk of exposure, and essential workers are at elevated risk of COVID-19 infection. At a national-level, workers categorized as “essential” and “high-risk” are disproportionately Hispanic/Latino, but we lack analysis examining local-level racial/ethnic disparities in potential occupational exposures. Using the 2015–2019 5-year American Community Survey, we estimated disparities between the proportion of US Born Hispanic/Latino, foreign-born Hispanic/Latino, and non-Hispanic white (NHW) essential or high-risk workers in 27 of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. We found that, on average, 66.3%, 69.9%, and 62.6% of US-born Hispanics, foreign-born Hispanics, and NHW, respectively, are essential workers, while 50.7%, 49.9%, 49.5% are high exposure risk workers, respectively. The median absolute difference in proportions of US born Hispanic/Latino and NHW essential workers was 4.2%, and between foreign-born Hispanic/Latino and NHW essential workers was 7.5%, but these disparities varied widely by city. High likelihood of occupational transmission may help explain disparities in COVID-19 infection and mortality for Hispanic/Latino populations, especially foreign-born, and may also help explain heterogeneity in the magnitude of these disparities, with relevance for other acute infectious respiratory illnesses spread in the workplace.