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Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are primary skin commensals that have long been considered contaminants even when grown in blood cultures. This group of organisms has been recently recognized as a potential causative pathogen of septicemia. This increase has been attributed to the increased use of intravascular and prosthetic devices. Hence, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of CoNS as a true pathogen in adult and pediatric blood cultures along with their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. A total of 1076 adult and 611 pediatric blood cultures were subjected to an automated BacT/ALERT continuous monitoring system. Isolated CoNS were considered true pathogens if they met the diagnostic, clinical, and laboratory criteria. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for pathogenic CoNS was carried out using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and interpreted as per CLSI 2021. CoNS were considered true pathogens in 23 (42.5%) of 54 adults and 12 (41.3%) of 29 pediatric CoNS isolated from blood cultures. Methicillin-resistant CoNS was detected in 66% and 70% of adult and pediatric cultures, respectively. All the CoNS isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) can either be a contaminant or a true pathogen, whose discrimination based on clinical and laboratory indices plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with sepsis.

This paper reports the findings of the university teachers’ competencies on content, pedagogical, and technological knowledge based on TPACK model. Infomed by the cross-sectional research design, this research applied structural equation modeling and machine learning as the major statistical tools to analyse the data derived from self-administered survey and qualitative narratives of the 405 teachers involved in teacher education programs at 23 community and constituent campuses of Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Among the six types of knowledge viz. content, pedagogical, technological, content-pedagogical, technological-content, and technological-pedagogical knowledge observed, technology-related knowledge is found comparatively inadequate in the teachers. Since technological knowledge is the main predictor among these types of knowledge, it should be integrated in instructional planning, learning management system, and use of the digital devices.

Vulture Safe Feeding Sites (VSFS) provide diclofenac-free food and create an ideal environment for long-term ecological research on vultures. This study determines the population status and investigates the diurnal behavior White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) at the Ghachowk VSFS in Kaski, Nepal. We deployed the absolute count method to determine population of White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), while scan sampling was applied to investigate their diurnal behaviour. The observed population of Gyps bengalensis ranged from 34 to 65 individuals (with an average of 50±10, based on a sample size of 9). Throughout the daytime, a total of 1651 instances of 11 distinct activities were recorded for the species in 729 separate observations. The most frequent daytime behaviour observed was perching (28%) followed by preening (14%), basking (13%), scratching (13%) flapping (10%), flying (9%) and disturbance (7%). Other behaviors, like feeding, sleeping (roosting), fighting (competition), and bathing, were observed less frequently (

Background: Burn injuries are a significant public health concern associated with high morbidity and mortality. Surgical interventions, including early excision and grafting or delayed excision and grafting are crucial for deep burns. This study compares graft take, number of procedures, duration of stay, and burn wound infections between early excision and grafting and delayed excision and grafting groups. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted at a burn referral center from January 1st to March 31st, 2020. Eighty-six patients (43 in each group) with deep burns covering 10-20% TBSA were included. Early excision and grafting and delayed excision and grafting groups were determined by the timing of the first operation (within or beyond 7 days post-injury). Parameters compared included graft take, number of grafting procedures, duration of stay, and graft site infection. Results: Both groups had a mean age of 42.6 years, with predominantly female populations. The mean total body surface area % of burn area was 15%. Early excision and grafting and delayed excision and grafting groups showed comparable outcomes in graft take (90.6% vs. 88.16%), mean duration of hospital stay (16.72 vs. 16.53 days), number of surgical procedures (1.3 vs. 1.4), and graft site infection (23.3% vs. 30.2%). Conclusion Graft take, duration of hospital stay, number of surgical procedures, and graft site infections were comparable in Early excision and grafting and delayed excision and grafting groups for burns covering less than twenty percent body surface area. Delay in excision and grafting did not significantly impact outcomes in smaller burns, providing valuable insights for managing delayed burn presentations.

Visual mimicry is less understood in birds than in other taxa. The interspecific social dominance mimicry (ISDM) hypothesis asserts that subordinate species resemble dominant ones to reduce aggression. Plumage mimicry has also been consistently noted in mixed-species flocks (MSFs), suggesting a connection to grouping behaviour, although it is unclear whether this is linked to ISDM. We studied greater necklaced laughingthrush (GNLT, Pterorhinus pectoralis) and lesser necklaced laughingthrush (LNLT, Garrulax monileger), which were recently placed in different genera. Measurements of 162 museum specimens showed LNLT converging in sympatry with GNLT in necklace colour, but diverging in necklace to body ratio, with proportionally smaller necklaces. The species were closely associated in six of seven MSF systems from Nepal to China. In a study of foraging behaviour in Nepal, aggression was rare between the species, LNLT followed GNLT and had lower foraging rates when further from GNLT. Our data suggest a link between this MSF-associated mimicry and ISDM, and that the subordinate LNLT may be the mimic and gain more from the resemblance. The species spend much time together in dense and poorly lit vegetation, where the LNLTs resemblance to GNLTs potentially allows them to forage closer to GNLTs than would be otherwise possible.

A new binary liquid-liquid extraction technique incorporating 3-hydroxy-2-[1'-phenyl-3'-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4'-pyrazolyl]-4H-chromen-4-one (HPMPC) has been developed for the trace spectrophotometric detection and determination of Zr(IV). The optimal conditions for the formation of Zr(IV)-HPMPC complex in a ratio of 1 : 3 (M : L) were investigated. The resulting complex has yellow color and allows for the micro level measurement of zirconium in a straightforward and cost-effective manner. The process is quick, sensitive (1.073 x 10.sup.5 L/mol cm) and selective. A good linearity (r = 0.9998) was observed for Zr(IV) in the range of 0.20-0.8 [micro]g/mL. The approach is extremely repeatable with acceptable precision and accuracy (RSD of 0.3%) and can be expanded to include the examination of zirconium in a variety of samples (synthetic, natural and technical). The analytical investigation was successfully extended to DFT calculations to forecast the structural geometry and confirm the complex ultimate stoichiometry. The calculations not only produced an optimal complex structure, but also confirmed the bidentate ligand chelating efficacy by coordinating benzopyran ring to the metal center., Author(s): Chetna Dhonchak [sup.1] , Nivedita Agnihotri [sup.1] , Akshay Kumar [sup.2] , Raj Kamal [sup.3] , Abhinay Thakur [sup.4] , Ashish Kumar [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.440699.6, 0000 0001 [...]

Introduction Aedes mosquitoes are the primary vectors for the spread of viruses like dengue (DENV), zika (ZIKV) and chikungunya (CHIKV), all of which affect humans. Those diseases contribute to global public health issues because of their great dispersion in rural and urban areas. Mathematical and statistical models have become helpful in understanding these diseases’ epidemiological dynamics. However, modelling the complexity of a real phenomenon, such as a viral disease, should consider several factors. This scoping review aims to document, identify and classify the most important factors as well as the modelling strategies for the spread of DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV.Methods and analysis We will conduct searches in electronic bibliographic databases such as PubMed, MathSciNet and the Web of Science for full-text peer-reviewed articles written in English, French and Spanish. These articles should use mathematical and statistical modelling frameworks to study dengue, zika and chikungunya, and their cocirculation/coinfection with other diseases, with a publication date between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2023. Eligible studies should employ deterministic, stochastic or statistical modelling approaches, consider control measures and incorporate parameters’ estimation or considering calibration/validation approaches. We will exclude articles focusing on clinical/laboratory experiments or theoretical articles that do not include any case study. Two reviewers specialised in zoonotic diseases and mathematical/statistical modelling will independently screen and retain relevant studies. Data extraction will be performed using a structured form, and the findings of the study will be summarised through classification and descriptive analysis. Three scoping reviews will be published, each focusing on one disease and its cocirculation/co-infection with other diseases.Ethics and dissemination This protocol is exempt from ethics approval because it is carried out on published manuscripts and without the participation of humans and/or animals. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations in conferences.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the TNF superfamily (TNFSF). It acts through its receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). Studies have indicated that TWEAK/Fn14 pathway activation controls multiple cellular responses, including proliferation, angiogenesis and induction of inflammatory cytokines. TWEAK/Fn14 is manifested in many tissues of our body and most importantly in the skin causing inflammation and many autoimmune and neoplastic cutaneous disorders. Evidence suggests that the TWEAK/Fn14 axis, the downstream signalling pathway and its inflammatory molecular expressions are involved in the pathogenesis of many cutaneous disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) vitiligo and melanoma. So, this literature review describes a brief introduction of TWEAK and TWEAK/Fn14 pathway and summarises the case-series and open-label studies performed in the field of dermatology and its potential therapeutic benefit.

Abstract Objective The aim of this research is to study the prevalence of urolithiasis among the population of Sarawak Malaysia and the associated risk factors. Patients and Methods A survey was conducted among individuals aged ≥18 years age in three primary health care clinics in the main cities of Sarawak from March 2019 to March 2020. Participants underwent face‐to‐face interview using a predesigned and standardised questionnaire. Details on demographic data, comorbidities, dietary variables and lifestyle were collected. Ultrasonographic examination of the kidney, ureter and bladder was performed followed by blood and urine sampling. Prevalence was defined as the proportion of participants with kidney stones, and univariate logistic regression was used to estimate the associated factors. Results A total of 1087 participants (486 male, 601 female) completed the questionnaire. Ultrasonographic examination and laboratory investigation were carried out, with an overall response rate of 98.8%. The prevalence of ultrasonographic proven urolithiasis in the sample studied was 4.04%. The mean age of patients with urolithiasis was 50.05 (SD 14.6, range 18–89), and the male to female ratio was 1.2: 1. Univariate analysis showed that odd ratio of personal history of urolithiasis (0.16, p:0.00), salty food intake (0.39, p:0.02), family history of urolithiasis (0.39, p:0.01), and hypertension (1.77, p:0.04) was significantly associated with a greater risk of urolithiasis. Conclusion The prevalence of urolithiasis in this study population is 4.04%. It affects males and females equally; 61.4% are in the age group of 25–64 years. Hypertension, high salt diet, personal history of urolithiasis and family history of urolithiasis are significant risk factors.