Search

Adolescent growth depends on impulse control, which impacts wellbeing, social interactions and academic achievement. The purpose of this narrative review is to assess the efficacy of therapeutic and educational initiatives aimed at enhancing impulse control during this crucial developmental phase. The review highlights various successful interventions that can be used to improve impulse control in adolescents. These interventions include self-regulation strategies, serious games, mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioural approaches and biopsychosocial workshops. To support comprehensive adolescent development, future research should focus on long-term outcomes and the integration of these interventions into broader educational and therapeutic frameworks.

The present study aims to elucidate the nutritional, functional, flow, and antioxidant properties of Ulva fasciata, Ulva lactuca, Chaetomorpha linum, and Gracilaria edulis. The highest percentage of protein (24.26 %) in U. fasciata; fat (6.33 %) and total carbohydrates (46.39 %) in C. linum; crude fibre (8.67 %) in U. lactuca; ash (22.45 %) content in G. edulis was observed among the four-seaweed. The highest oil absorption capacity was found for C. linum (1.59 %), followed by G. edulis (1.21 %), U. lactuca (1.04 %), and U. fasciata (0.91 %). The water absorption capacity in U. fasciata (4.55 %) was observed to be the highest followed by C. linum (3.84 %), U. lactuca (3.78 %), and G. edulis (2.22 %). U. fasciata exhibited the highest solubility (35.83 ± 1.97 %) and emulsifying capacity (99.00 ± 0.00 %), while G. edulis showed the highest foaming capacity (75.00 ± 1.00 %). The angle of repose of G. edulis and C. linum powder showed excellent flowability than U. lactuca and U. fasciata. Carr's index and Hausner ratio showed that all seaweed samples were free-flowability, except for G. edulis and C. linum. The bulk density (0.71 g/cm3) and tapped density (0.85 g/cm3) of U. fasciata were observed to be the highest, whereas true density (1.11 g/cm3) was recorded highest in U. lactuca. The most increased antioxidant activity was found in G. edulis (65.90 %) followed by C. linum (53.01 %), U. lactuca (51.76 %), and U. fasciata (43.56 %). The total phenolic content (10.93 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (1.71 mg QE/g) were higher in U. fasciata. FTIR analysis detected the presence of amide, amino, hydroxyl, ester groups and it can conclude the presence of essential components such as proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and fat. Thus, the selected four marine seaweeds act as a good source of functional components and can be utilized for the development of functional food products such as bread, biscuits, cookies, tea, snacks, soups and beverages.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of antral follicle count (AFC) on follicular and luteal development during the estrous cycle and superovulatory period, as well as on superovulatory response and in vivo embryo quality within the MOET program. A total of 48 estrus-induced (500 μg PGF2α, Single dose, IM) Sahiwal cows (Bos indicus) with a BCS between 3.5 and 4.0 were selected for the study. On the day of wave emergence, the animals were divided into two groups based on the AFC, i.e., low AFC (≤18) and high AFC (>18). Both the groups were monitored daily using B-mode ultrasonography (USG) for one cycle, and the superovulation protocol was initiated on the 9th day of the subsequent estrous cycle. A total of 240 μg of FSH in eight divided doses were given in a tapering sequence for 4 days and simultaneous administration of 500 μg PGF2α, along with the fifth dose of FSH. Donors were inseminated at superovulatory estrus using double straws of high-quality frozen semen thrice at 12-h intervals, and non-surgical flushing was performed on day 7 of the superovulatory estrus followed by embryo searching and evaluation under a stereo zoom microscope. Ovulatory waves of the high-AFC Sahiwal cows have significantly (p ≤ 0.05) larger sizes of preovulatory follicles (POF) (12.06 ± 0.19 mm vs 11.56 ± 0.16 mm) and corpus luteum (CL) (19.57 ± 0.28 mm vs 18.26 ± 0.35 mm), as compared to low AFC. The ovarian size was significantly (p

The study addresses the growing concern of microplastic pollution in environmental matrices, emphasizing the significance of monitoring for understanding their distribution, sources, and mitigation. Laboratory-based spectral reflectance analysis of water samples containing visible microplastics revealed distinctive spectral signatures. Coastal water samples collected over two campaigns were subjected to pre-treatment in order to extract microplastics and microscopic inspection followed by spectroscopic confirmation. Results indicated average microplastics concentrations of 0.633 and 0.324mg/L, along with 7.85 and 5.30 items/L in the datasets. Leveraging these findings, along with Sentinel-2 (Level-1C) data and spectral signatures, an empirical spectral microplastics model was developed to convert Sentinel-2's reflectance into microplastics concentrations. This model displayed an 87.30% R2 and ±0.015mg/L RMSE. Subsequently, the model was employed to estimate microplastics concentrations in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, showcasing its potential for monitoring microplastics pollution in the study area and similar regions.

Over 30 million people rely on Lake Victoria for survival in Northeast African countries, including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibout. The lake faces significant challenges due to changes in land use and climate. This study used multi-source remote sensing data in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to create Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), land surface temperature (LST), and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) layers in the period 2000–2023 to understand the impact of LULC and climate change on Lake Victoria Basin. The land use/land cover trends before 2020 indicated an increase in the urban areas from 0.13% in 2000 to 0.16% in 2020. Croplands increased from 6.51% in 2000 to 7.88% in 2020. The water surface area averaged 61,559 square km, which has increased since 2000 with an average rate of 1.3%. The “Permanent Wetland” size change from 2000 to 2020 varied from 1.70% to 1.83%. Cropland/Natural Vegetation Mosaics rose from 12.77% to 15.01%, through 2000 to 2020. However, more than 29,000 residents were displaced in mid-2020 as the water increased by 1.21 m from the fall of 2019 to the middle of 2020. Furthermore, land-surface temperature averaged 23.98 degrees in 2000 and 23.49 in 2024.

Background Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) is a complex of cryptic species with subtle morphological differences and distinct genetic backgrounds; thus, species identification using traditional methods remains challenging. The existence of different haplotypes and genotypes within a species can significantly influence various aspects of its biology, including host preference, reproductive capacity, resistance to pesticides, and vector competence for plant viruses. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of cryptic species within T. tabaci will not only aid in the development of more effective control strategies tailored to specific genetic variants but also in monitoring population dynamics, tracking invasive species, and implementing quarantine measures to prevent the spread of economically damaging thrips biotypes. Methods This study aims to explore intraspecies genetic diversity and molecular evolutionary relationships of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I (mtCOI) in T. tabaci populations from India. To capture diversity within the Indian T. tabaci populations, amplicon sequencing was performed for the thrips mtCOI gene from eight diverse localities in India. A total of 48 sequences retrieved for the mtCOI gene from the NCBI Nucleotide database were analysed. Results Multiple insertions and deletions were detected at various genomic positions across the populations from different localities, with the highest variation observed in the 300–400 genome position range. Molecular diversity analyses identified 30 haplotypes within the population, with certain subpopulations exhibiting higher gene flow. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism patterns within the mtCOI gene across diverse Indian locales revealed significant intrapopulation genetic heterogeneity and its potential repercussions on gene functionality. Elevated F statistics (Fst) values in the northern–western subpopulations suggested high genetic variability, particularly evident in haplotype networks originating mainly from the northern region, notably Delhi. While most populations displayed stable and ancient evolutionary histories, thrips populations from northern, western, and north-eastern regions indicated rapid growth.

This study investigates the incidence of heat wave and cold wave condition during 2000 – 2022 in the Bathinda district of South-Western region of Punjab. Notable spikes in heat wave (HW) activity were observed in 2002 and 2022 with 29 and 27 days respectively. Similarly, for severe heat waves (SHW), 2010 and 2022 witnessed the highest frequencies recording 16 and 18 days respectively. Conversely, cold wave (CW) events peaked in 2005 and 2008 with 10 and 11 days respectively. Notably, 2008 also observed the highest frequency of severe cold wave (SCW) days with 15 days. However, results revealed decline in cold wave days towards the latter years, while severe cold wave days also exhibited decreasing frequencies like 2015 and 2016 recorded zero CW and SCW days. One key finding highlights a substantial correlation between land surface temperature (LST) and maximum air temperature during heat wave periods (R2 = 0.83), indicating LST's efficacy as an indicator for monitoring temperature trends during heat wave events.

Mangroves are imperative to coastal systems, providing security against extreme weather events by acting as natural barriers. These halophytic plants play a crucial role in mitigating global warming and act as an invaluable resource for consumption. Despite proving to be resilient, mangroves exhibit sensitivity to climatic (e.g., Land Surface Temperature, Salinity, etc.) and man-made factors (e.g., Land Use/Land Cover Changes). Numerous past studies recording the relationship between mangrove growth & development with the aforesaid constituents, but those were mostly restricted to visual observation/pattern recognition and single type of regression analysis. Also, the evaluation of simultaneous exploration of multiple aspects influencing mangrove evolution was not prominent. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to focus on the impact of both salinity and land surface temperature on mangrove biomass by the joint-venture of remote sensing, geographic information system and several machine learning algorithms. The study considered appropriate mangrove site selections with pre-processing of the acquired satellite images. Also, mathematical computations were performed on the raster layers to determine the previously mentioned natural aspects. Finally, several types of regression analysis were conducted to delineate potential patterns, governing mangrove vegetation health by virtue of temperature and salinity. Mangroves’ relationship with temperature and salinity showed insignificant coefficient of determination. However, the generated response curves postulated that high mangrove biomass could be achieved for a specific temperature window (30-33◦C) and vegetation health could deteriorate at increasing salinity. Overall, combined effects of surface temperature and salinity on mangrove vegetation were significantly more (i.e., Maximum coefficient of determination of 0.31) than individual component alone.

In an attempt to improvise the analgesia in patients with femoral fractures, we aimed at depositing local anesthetic deep to anterior psoas fascia (APf) under ultrasound (US) guidance to block lumbar plexus elements which emerge lateral, anterior, and medial to the psoas major muscle. We termed this as circumpsoas block (CPB). Clinical and computed tomography contrast studies revealed that a continuous CPB infusion with a catheter provided a reliable block of the lumbar plexus elements. No adverse were events noted. We conclude that US guided CPB is a reliable technique for managing postoperative pain after surgery of femur fractures.

Abstract Background Several anti-retroviral drugs are available against Human immunodeficiency virus type-1, but have multiple adverse side effects. Hence, there is an incessant compulsion for effectual anti-retroviral agents with minimal or no intricacy. Traditionally, natural products have been the most successful source for the development of new medications. Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, is the utmost treasured medicinal plant used in Ayurveda, which holds the potential to give adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, and antiviral effects. However, its effect on HIV-1 replication at the cellular level has never been explored. Herein, we focused on the anti-HIV-1 activity and the probable mechanism of action of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Withania somnifera roots and its phytomolecules. Methods The cytotoxicity of the extracts was determined through MTT assay, while the in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity was assessed in TZM-bl cells against the HIV-1 strains of X4 and R5 subtypes. Results were confirmed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, using the HIV-1 p24 antigen assay. Additionally, the mechanism of action was determined through the Time of Addition assay, which was further validated through the series of enzymatic assays, i.e. HIV-1 Integrase, Reverse transcriptase, and Protease assays. To explore the role of the identified active metabolites of Withania somnifera in antiretroviral activity, molecular docking analyses were performed against these key HIV-1 replication enzymes. Results The hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Withania somnifera roots were found to be safer at the sub-cytotoxic concentrations and exhibited their ability to inhibit replication of two primary isolates of HIV-1 through cell-associated and cell-free assays, in dose-dependent kinetics. Several active phytomolecules found in Withania somnifera successfully established hydrogens bonds in the active binding pocket site residues responsible for the catalytic activity of HIV replication and therefore, signifying their role in the attenuation of HIV-1 infection as implied through the in silico molecular docking studies. Conclusions Our research identified both the hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Withania somnifera roots as potent inhibitors of HIV-1 infection. The in silico analyses also indicated the key components of Withania somnifera with the highest binding affinity against the HIV-1 Integrase by 12-Deoxywithastramonolide and 27-Hydroxywithanone, HIV-1 Protease by Ashwagandhanolide and Withacoagin, and HIV-1 Reverse transcriptase by Ashwagandhanolide and Withanolide B, thereby showing possible mechanisms of HIV-1 extenuation. Overall, this study classified the role of Withania somnifera extracts and their active compounds as potential agents against HIV-1 infection.

Abstract Circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPCs) provide a noninvasive alternative for measuring tumor burden in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Moreover, measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment in peripheral blood (PBMRD) can provide an ideal alternative to bone marrow MRD, which is limited by its painful nature and technical challenges. However, the clinical significance of PBMRD in NDMM still remains uncertain. Additionally, data on CTPC in NDMM patients not treated with transplant are scarce. We prospectively studied CTPC and PBMRD in 141 NDMM patients using highly sensitive multicolor flow cytometry (HS‐MFC). PBMRD was monitored at the end of three cycles (PBMRD1) and six cycles (PBMRD2) of chemotherapy in patients with detectable baseline CTPC. Patients received bortezomib‐based triplet therapy and were not planned for an upfront transplant. Among baseline risk factors, CTPC ≥ 0.01% was independently associated with poor progression‐free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.77; p = 0.0047) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.9; p = 0.023) on multivariate analysis. In patients with detectable baseline CTPC, undetectable PBMRD at both subsequent time points was associated with longer PFS (HR = 0.46; p = 0.0037), whereas detectable PBMRD at any time point was associated with short OS (HR = 3.25; p = 0.004). Undetectable combined PBMRD (PBMRD1 and PBMRD2) outperformed the serum‐immunofixation‐based response. On multivariate analysis, detectable PBMRD at any time point was independently associated with poor PFS (HR = 2.0; p = 0.025) and OS (HR = 3.97; p = 0.013). Thus, our findings showed that CTPC and PBMRD assessment using HS‐MFC provides a robust, noninvasive biomarker for NDMM patients not planned for an upfront transplant. Sequential PBMRD monitoring has great potential to improve the impact of the existing risk stratification and response assessment models.

BRCA2-mutant cells are defective in homologous recombination, making them vulnerable to the inactivation of other pathways for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). This concept can be clinically exploited but is currently limited due to insufficient knowledge about how DSBs are repaired in the absence of BRCA2. We show that DNA polymerase θ (POLθ)-mediated end joining (TMEJ) repairs DSBs arising during the S phase in BRCA2-deficient cells only after the onset of the ensuing mitosis. This process is regulated by RAD52, whose loss causes the premature usage of TMEJ and the formation of chromosomal fusions. Purified RAD52 and BRCA2 proteins both block the DNA polymerase function of POLθ, suggesting a mechanism explaining their synthetic lethal relationships. We propose that the delay of TMEJ until mitosis ensures the conversion of originally one-ended DSBs into two-ended DSBs. Mitotic chromatin condensation might further serve to juxtapose correct break ends and limit chromosomal fusions.

Pipe leakage in water distribution networks (WDNs) has been an emerging concern for water utilities worldwide due to its public health and economic significance. Not only does it cause significant water losses, but it also deteriorates the quality of the treated water in WDNs. Hence, a prompt response is required to avoid or minimize the eventual consequences. This raises the necessity of exploring the possible approaches for detecting and locating leaks in WDNs promptly. Currently, various leak detection methods exist, but they are not accurate and reliable in detecting leaks. This paper presents a novel GIS-based spatial machine learning technique that utilizes currently installed pressure, flow, and water quality monitoring sensors in WDNs, specifically employing the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Local Outlier Factor (LOF) models, based on a WDN dataset provided by our partner utility authority. In addition to its ability as a regression model for predicting a dependent variable based on input variables, GWR was selected to help identify locations on the WDN where coefficients deviate the most from the overall coefficients. To corroborate the GWR results, the Local Outlier Factor (LOF) is used as an unsupervised machine learning model to predict leak locations based on spatial local density, where locality is given by k-nearest neighbours. The sample WDN dataset provided by our utility partner was split into 70:30 for training and testing of the GWR model. The GWR model was able to predict leaks (detection and location) with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.909. The LOF model was able to predict the leaks with a matching of 80% with the GWR results. Then, a customized GIS interface was developed to automate the detection process in real-time as the sensor’s readings were recorded and spatial machine learning was used to process the readings. The results obtained demonstrate the ability of the proposed method to robustly detect and locate leaks in WDNs.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries experience a harsh environment with low precipitation and high evaporation rates. This presents a significant challenge of water scarcity and water quality degradation which is exacerbated by land use practices. Agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization are impacting the management of water resources. This paper examines the state of water resources in the GCC countries and presents the impact of land use practices. A detailed analysis of the relationship between land use and groundwater is conducted with a focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Sultanate of Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The results indicate a drop in agricultural activities, an increase in bare land and urban areas, depletion of groundwater, and water quality degradation. These changes were attributed to excessive agricultural and industrial uses, climate change, and rapid urbanization. The findings show the need for sustainable land use practices and water resources management. Further research addressing the impact of land use on water in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, and evaluating the effectiveness of policy, is essential.

Medicinal plants are integral part of Indian tradition. This traditional practice helped people of India to sustain successfully in this pandemic situation. According to the WHO, approximately 80% of the world’s population relies on plant-based preparations for their primary health care needs. The present work was carried to identify the medicinal plants and their ethno botanical use. The area under study is the Amarawati region of state Maharashtra, India. The study was carried out for six months and Ethno botanical data was acquired by conducting interviews using specially designed techniques for collecting ethno pharmacological information. The study reveals the presence of 45 plant species belonging to 22 angiosperm families, which were commonly used for medicinal purposes. Most of time urban developmental activities cause damage to such flora. Whereas the community which is familiar with potential of such species try to utilize them on different alignments in over extend.

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. having more than 300 serovars. These serovars can infect a variety of hosts, some being asymptomatic carriers and others showing varied symptoms of mild to severe infection. Since lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major antigen which defines serovar specificity, this different course of infection may be attributed to a differential innate response against this antigen. Previous studies have shown that Leptospira LPS is less endotoxic. However, it is unclear whether there is a difference in the ability of LPS isolated from different serovars to modulate the innate response. In this study, we purified LPS from three widely prevalent pathogenic serovars, i.e. Icterohaemorrhagiae strain RGA, Pomona, Hardjo, and from non-pathogenic L. biflexa serovar semeranga strain Potac 1 collectively termed as L-LPS and tested their ability to modulate innate response in macrophages from both resistant (mice) and susceptible (human and bovine) hosts. L-LPS induced differential response being more proinflammatory in mouse and less proinflammatory in human and bovine macrophages but overall less immunostimulatory than E. coli LPS (E-LPS). Irrespective of serovar, this response was TLR2-dependent in humans, whereas TLR4-dependent/CD14-independent in mouse using MyD88 adapter and signalling through P38 and ERK-dependent MAP kinase pathway. L-LPS-activated macrophages were able to phagocytose Leptospira and this effect was significantly higher or more pronounced when the macrophages were stimulated with L-LPS from the corresponding serovar. L-LPS activated both canonical and non-canonical inflammasome, producing IL-1β without inducing pyroptosis. Further, L-LPS induced both TNF-mediated early and NO-mediated late apoptosis. Altogether, these results indicate that L-LPS induces a differential innate response that is quite distinct from that induced by E-LPS and may be attributed to the structural differences and its atypical nature.

Background: The unprecedented onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a huge impact on health-care facilities, leading to different psychosocial challenges among health-care workers (HCWs) during this pandemic. Aim: This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the work, family, and personal life of HCWs engaged in COVID-19 duties during the first wave in India and gain insights on the coping strategies. Materials and Methods: The findings from 12 qualitative in-depth interviews were analyzed and presented in this article. This study is a part of a mix-method design study conducted at two hospitals and one community site in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The present qualitative sample was drawn conveniently from the randomly selected quantitative sample chosen from the three sites. Results: This study highlights that in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs experienced transition in work life, burnout, disruption in family life, negative emotions such as fear, and experiences of stigma. The findings also reveal that while institutional workers faced discrimination and stigma outside their workplace, noninstitutional workers faced discrimination at multiple sites during traveling and at in their residential places and additionally faced harassment while working in the community. The findings also suggest that despite numerous challenges faced by HCWs, they were driven by a sense of responsibility and displayed resilience. Conclusion: Considering the HCWs as the backbone of the health-care system, it is crucial to boost and maintain the mental well-being of HCWs by providing timely and tailored interventions to sustain their resilience and build better responses to future pandemic.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic infection that causes painful or pruritic dermatologic lesions on the face, trunk, limbs, genitals, and mucosal surfaces. Monkeypox cases increased exponentially in 2022, prompting the World Health Organization and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to proclaim it a public health emergency. The role of community health nurses towards monkeypox prevention and control in transmission. We searched various databases like World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Nurses Association (ANA), EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were comprehensively searched. This review article focuses on the monkeypox pandemic, the transmission of the infection, vaccination and the role of healthcare workers. The healthcare role is crucial in preventing and promoting the monkeypox pandemic. These results can be consolidated when policymakers plan to increase the implementation of the healthcare worker in the face of monkeypox and future global threats.

Over 30 million people rely on Lake Victoria for survival in Northeast African countries, including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibout. The lake faces significant challenges due to changes in land use and climate. This study used multi-source remote sensing data in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to create Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), land surface temperature (LST), and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) layers in the period 2000–2023 to understand the impact of LULC and climate change on Lake Victoria Basin. The land use/land cover trends before 2020 indicated an increase in the urban areas from 0.13% in 2000 to 0.16% in 2020. Croplands increased from 6.51% in 2000 to 7.88% in 2020. The water surface area averaged 61,559 square km, which has increased since 2000 with an average rate of 1.3%. The "Permanent Wetland" size change from 2000 to 2020 varied from 1.70% to 1.83%. Cropland/Natural Vegetation Mosaics rose from 12.77% to 15.01%, through 2000 to 2020. However, more than 29,000 residents were displaced in mid-2020 as the water increased by 1.21 m from the fall of 2019 to the middle of 2020. Furthermore, land-surface temperature averaged 23.98 degrees in 2000 and 23.49 in 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases, including COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), pose significant threats to global health. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these diseases. This review highlights the applications of nanotechnology in combating infectious diseases. Nanoparticles, such as metallic nanoparticles, liposomes, and quantum dots, have been employed in the detection and treatment of infectious diseases. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have improved the efficacy and reduced the toxicity of antiviral and antibacterial drugs. Additionally, nanotechnology has enabled the development of point-of-care diagnostics and vaccines for infectious diseases. This review provides an overview of the current state of nanotechnology in infectious disease management and highlights its potential to revolutionize the field. By leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles, nanotechnology can provide innovative solutions for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases, ultimately improving global health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of antral follicle count (AFC) on follicular and luteal development during the estrous cycle and superovulatory period, as well as on superovulatory response and in vivo embryo quality within the MOET program. A total of 48 estrus-induced (500 μg PGF2α, Single dose, IM) Sahiwal cows (Bos indicus) with a BCS between 3.5 and 4.0 were selected for the study. On the day of wave emergence, the animals were divided into two groups based on the AFC, i.e., low AFC (≤18) and high AFC (>18). Both the groups were monitored daily using B-mode ultrasonography (USG) for one cycle, and the superovulation protocol was initiated on the 9th day of the subsequent estrous cycle. A total of 240 μg of FSH in eight divided doses were given in a tapering sequence for 4 days and simultaneous administration of 500 μg PGF2α, along with the fifth dose of FSH. Donors were inseminated at superovulatory estrus using double straws of high-quality frozen semen thrice at 12-h intervals, and non-surgical flushing was performed on day 7 of the superovulatory estrus followed by embryo searching and evaluation under a stereo zoom microscope. Ovulatory waves of the high-AFC Sahiwal cows have significantly (p ≤ 0.05) larger sizes of preovulatory follicles (POF) (12.06 ± 0.19 mm vs 11.56 ± 0.16 mm) and corpus luteum (CL) (19.57 ± 0.28 mm vs 18.26 ± 0.35 mm), as compared to low AFC. The ovarian size was significantly (p < 0.0001) larger in cows with high AFC during the superovulatory protocol. The number of large, medium, and small follicles was significantly (p < 0.0001) high on the day of superovulatory estrus (SOE), PGF2α administration, and initiation of superovulatory protocol, respectively, in high AFC. Donors with high AFC had a notably greater (p < 0.0001) count of CL and embryos retrieved per flushing, including excellent and fair-quality embryos. A strong association (p < 0.0001) between high AFC and ovarian size (r = 0.9136), superovulatory response (r = 0.9350), and embryo quality (x2 = 8.788; p = 0.032) and number (r = 0.9858) were also recorded. Based on these results, AFC is considered a dependable indicator for forecasting reproductive capacity. Bos indicus donors with an average AFC of 30 or higher are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health problem that affects about 1.24 billion people around the world, mostly children and women of childbearing age. IDA happens when the body doesn't get enough iron, loses too much iron, or can't absorb it properly. This makes erythropoiesis, cellular metabolism, and immune function worse. The World Health Organization says that 40% of women who are pregnant and 32.5% of women who are not pregnant have anemia. People with IDA often feel tired, weak, pale, and have trouble thinking clearly. Lab tests, such as hemoglobin, blood ferritin, and transferrin saturation, are used to make the diagnosis. You can treat the condition in two ways: by taking iron supplements by mouth, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous fumarate; or, for serious cases, by giving iron through an IV. Strategies for prevention depend on increasing the amount of iron you get from food, making it more bioavailable, and keeping infections under control. Food addition and fortification programs have been shown to help lower the number of people with IDA. However, problems still exist, especially in areas with poor economies. Recent advance in acknowledging how iron is used and controlled has implications for creating targeted therapeutic approaches. A key regulator of iron balance, hepcidin, is a key player in the pathophysiology of IDA. This review shows how complicated IDA is and how important it is to have treatment plans that consider underlying causes, dietary factors, and socioeconomic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Pfeiffer in 1938 observed the crystallization pattern of cupric chloride on admixture with blood of cancer patient. Most of the oral squamous cell carcinoma develops from potentially malignant disorders (PMDs). Aim: The aim of this study is to validate the efficacy of crystallization test in screening of oral PMDs. Setting and Design: The study was carried out in the Department of Oral Medicine and radiology and oral Pathology and Microbiology. Methods and Material: The study included 20 oral PMDs and 20 normal healthy participants. One drop of blood was collected and dilution of 6% hemolyzed blood was done; 0.1 to 0.2 cc of this blood sample is added to 10 cc of 20% cupric chloride solution and further is subjected to crystallization test. Statistical Analysis Used: The Chi-square test was applied and “P” value was found to be significant. This indicates that crystallization test was statistically significant for the detection of oral PMDs. Results: In this study, sensitivity 85% and specificity 90% of crystallization test in screening PMDs was observed. Among 20 PMDs, 17 were positive and 3 were negative and among 20 normal cases, 18 were negative, and 2 were positive for the crystallization test. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value was found to be 89.47% and 85.47% respectively. Conclusion: This test is simple, less invasive, economical and can be used at the community level in mass screening of high-risk individuals more prone to develop potentially malignant oral lesions.

Leakages in the water distribution networks (WDNs) are real problems for utilities and other governmental agencies. Timely leak detection and location identification have been challenges. In this paper, an integrated approach to geospatial and infrared image processing was used for robust leak detection. The method combines drops in flow, pressure, and chlorine residuals to determine potential water leakage locations in the WDN using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. GIS layers were created from the hourly values of these three parameters for the city of Sharjah provided by the Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (SEWA). These layers are then analyzed for locations with dropped values of each of the parameters and are overlaid with each other. In the case where there were no overlaying locations between flow and pressure, further water quality analysis was avoided, assuming no potential leak. In the case where there are locations with drops in flow and pressure layers, these overlaying locations are then examined for drops in chlorine values. If overlaying locations are found, then these regions are considered potential leak locations. Once potential leak locations are identified, a specialized remote sensing technique can be used to pinpoint the leak location. This study also demonstrated the suitability of using an infrared camera for leak detection in a laboratory-based setup. This paper concludes that the following methodology can help water utility companies in the timely detection of leaks, saving money, time, and effort.