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Naushad Ahmad Khan,1,2 Mradul Kumar Daga,1 Istaq Ahmad,2 Govind Mawari,1 Suman Kumar,3 Naresh Kumar,1 Syed Akhter Husain2 1Department of Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, 2Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, 3Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India Introduction: BODE index, a multidimensional grading system which is based on Body mass index, airway Obstruction, Dyspnea scale, and Exercise capacity, has been increasingly used for the evaluation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many of the systemic manifestations of COPD are shown to be mediated by elevated levels of proinflammatory biomarkers.Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the BODE index, its components, disease severity, and proinflammatory biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study which included 290 clinically stable COPD patients and 80 smoker controls was conducted. Medical history, body mass index, pulmonary function tests, 6-minute walking test, and modified scale of Medical Research Council dyspnea scale were evaluated. BODE scores were determined. Systemic inflammation was evaluated with the measurement of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the serum samples of all studied subjects. The correlation between inflammatory biomarkers and BODE index was assessed in COPD patients.Results: We found a significant relationship between COPD stages and BODE index. Our analysis showed significant association between systemic biomarkers and components of the BODE index. Both TNF-α and CRP levels exhibited weak but significant correlation with BODE index. Serum IL-6 concentrations exhibited significant correlation with 6-minute walking test, modified scale of Medical Research Council, and BODE index (r=0.201, P=0.004; r=0.068, P=0.001; and r=0.530, P=0.001, respectively). Also, an inverse and significant correlation was observed between BODE index and FEV1 (r=0.567, P=0.001). IL-6 exhibited a highly significant and inverse correlation with FEV1 (r=−0.580, P=0.001).Conclusion: BODE index should be considered for evaluating patients with COPD. Also, IL-6 seems to be a potential biomarker that may enable determination of the severity and prediction of the course of the disease. Keywords: BODE index, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, systemic inflammation, biomarkers

Iraj Poureslami,1,2 Susan Kwan,3 Stephen Lam,4,5 Nadia A Khan,6,7 John Mark FitzGerald 8,9 1Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; 2Department of Graduate Studies, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; 3Respiratory Department, Burnaby Hospital, University of British Columbia, Burnaby, Canada; 4Respiratory Division, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; 5Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; 7Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Health Care Authority, Vancouver, Canada; 8VGH Divisions of Respiratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; 9Respiratory Medicine, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Institute for Heart and Lung Health, The Lung Centre, Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, Vancouver, Canada Background: Patient education is a key component in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Delivering effective education to ethnic groups with COPD is a challenge. The objective of this study was to develop and assess the effectiveness of culturally and linguistically specific audiovisual educational materials in supporting self-management practices in Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking patients. Methods: Educational materials were developed using participatory approach (patients involved in the development and pilot test of educational materials), followed by a randomized controlled trial that assigned 91 patients to three intervention groups with audiovisual educational interventions and one control group (pamphlet). The patients were recruited from outpatient clinics. The primary outcomes were improved inhaler technique and perceived self-efficacy to manage COPD. The secondary outcome was improved patient understanding of pulmonary rehabilitation procedures. Results: Subjects in all three intervention groups, compared with control subjects, demonstrated postintervention improvements in inhaler technique (P

Abstract Background The stimulatory effect of CO2 on ethylene evolution in plants is known, but the extent to which ethylene controls photosynthesis is not clear. Studies on the effects of ethylene on CO2 metabolism have shown conflicting results. Increase or inhibition of photosynthesis by ethylene has been reported. To understand the physiological processes responsible for ethylene-mediated changes in photosynthesis, stomatal and mesophyll effects on photosynthesis and ethylene biosynthesis in response to ethephon treatment in mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivars differing in photosynthetic capacity were studied. Results The effects of ethephon on photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gS), carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) activity and ethylene evolution were similar in both the cultivars. Increasing ethephon concentration up to 1.5 mM increased PN, gS and CA maximally, whereas 3.0 mM ethephon proved inhibitory. ACS activity and ethylene evolution increased with increasing concentrations of ethephon. The corresponding changes in gs and CA activity suggest that the changes in photosynthesis in response to ethephon were triggered by altered stomatal and mesophyll processes. Stomatal conductance changed in parallel with changes in mesophyll photosynthetic properties. In both the cultivars ACS activity and ethylene increased up to 3.0 mM ethephon, but 1.5 mM ethephon caused maximum effects on photosynthetic parameters. Conclusion These results suggest that ethephon affects foliar gas exchange responses. The changes in photosynthesis in response to ethephon were due to stomatal and mesophyll effects. The changes in gS were a response maintaining stable intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) under the given treatment in both the cultivars. Also, the high photosynthetic capacity cultivar, Varuna responded less to ethephon than the low photosynthetic capacity cultivar, RH30. The photosynthetic capacity of RH30 increased with the increase in ethylene evolution due to 1.5 mM ethephon application.

Solar cells have become the centre of academic research in recent times, primarily owing to their ability to generate cost-effective and environmentally friendly sustainable energy on a commercial and industrial level. In this study, we propose the initiation of a research attempt focused on polymer solar cells that employ PBDB-T/ITIC as the active material. To facilitate this investigation, we have employed SCAPS-1D, a robust simulation program widely recognized for its effectiveness in the field. The objective of this study is to enhance the efficiency of a polymer solar cell composed of PBDB-T/ITIC as the absorber, P3HT as the Hole Transport Layer (HTL), and WS2 as the Electron Transport Layer (ETL) through the utilization of SCAPS simulation techniques. By systematically manipulating various parameters within the SCAPS device simulator, we have successfully incorporated the impact of temperature, thickness, defect density, and metal contacts on key performance parameters such as Open Circuit Voltage (Voc), Short Circuit Current density (Jsc), Fill Factor (FF), and Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE). We have developed a novel polymer-based solar cell utilizing the PBDB-T/ITIC material, which exhibits enhanced efficiency, improved temperature stability, and reduced environmental impact. The findings of our study may have the potential to assist the thin-film photovoltaic industry in the development of economically feasible and highly efficient polymer based solar cells.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate therapeutic potentials of Hydroxyquinoline Sulfanilamide (HSM) for Alzheimer’s disease in a mice model of Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. The antioxidant analysis of mice brain homogenates was carried out by catalase (CAT) assay, reduced glutathione (GSH) assay, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) assay. Biochemical analysis of blood plasma was conducted by peroxidase (POD) assay and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay. The expression of mice brain proteins was evaluated using Western Blotting analysis. The administration of HSM increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes including CAT, SOD, GSH, and POD and lowered LPO actions. These findings indicate that STZ may lead to diabetes in mice, followed by hypercholesterolemia, expressed as triglycerides in mice blood. However, HSM significantly decreased STZ-induced hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia in adult albino mice. The data confirmed that HSM lowered STZ-induced oxidative stress, inhibited phosphorylated JNK, NF-kB, and upregulated Nrf-2 to improve and restore the synapse and memory defects in adult albino mice. Conclusively, the current findings suggested that HSM is a safe, novel, and potential drug candidate against metabolic dysfunction and induced cognitive impairment.

The current work examined the therapeutic potential of 6-aminoflavone (6AF) against mouse model-based oxidative stress-driven synaptic and memory impairment caused by lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). In the brains of the experimental mice, LPS administration for 3 weeks significantly increased oxidative stress by inhibiting antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione, and upregulating lipid peroxidase. Male albino mice were arbitrarily divided into four groups including (1) Control, (2) LPS treated (250 µg/kg, for 3 weeks), (3) LPS plus 6AF treated (30 mg/kg for 2 weeks), and (4) 6AF treated (30 mg/kg for 2 weeks). Different antioxidant enzyme assays, behavior tasks, and the western blotting technique were used to test the therapeutic potentials of this 6AF. Remarkably, the dosage of 6AF significantly reversed the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced neuroinflammation in adult albino mice. Additionally, 6HF also improved the synapse (both pre- and post-proteins) and restored the impaired memory against LPS. In short, these findings propose that 6AF is a natural, non-toxic, and potent therapeutic agent to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

The body of literature on the nexus concerning innovation, the development of financial systems, and economic growth has gained increasing attention in recent times. However, it is observed that the majority of studies are conducted in developed and emerging economies. This study is unique in its own right by exploring the effect of innovation and financial development on economic growth using panel data for 30 sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from 2001-2018. The study employed symmetric panel ARDL, common correlated effect ARDL, and asymmetric panel ARDL. Our empirical findings revealed a long-run effect of innovation and financial development on the economic growth of SSA. This means that expansion of the financial sector and better innovation activities in SSA stimulate long-term economic growth. Robustness tests provided consistent results with the baseline findings. The study therefore recommends that to promote sustained economic growth and development in the region, policy makers must collectively work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders in enhancing regional financial reforms and innovative activities.

Machine learning provides a powerful mechanism to enhance the capabilities of the next generation of smart cities. Whether healthcare monitoring, building automation, energy management, or traffic management, use cases of capability enhancement using machine learning have been significant in recent years. This paper proposes a modeling approach for scheduling energy consumption within smart homes based on a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA). Distributed energy management plays a significant role in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions as compared to centralized energy generation. Multiple energy consumers can schedule energy-consuming household tasks using home energy management systems in coordination to reduce economic costs and greenhouse gas emissions. In this work, such a home energy management system is used to collect energy price data from the electricity company via an embedded device-enabled smart meter and schedule energy consumption tasks based on this data. We schedule daily power consumption tasks using a multiobjective optimization method that considers environmental and economic sustainability. Two conflicting objectives are minimizing daily energy costs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Based on electricity tariffs, CO2 intensity, and the window of time during which electricity is consumed, energy consumption tasks involving distributed energy resources (DERs) and electricity consumption are scheduled. The proposed model is implemented in a model smart building consisting of 30 homes under 3 pricing schemes. The energy demand is spread out across a 24-hour period for points A2–A4 under CPP-PDC, which produces a more flattened curve than point A1. There are competing goals between electricity costs and carbon footprints at points B2–B4 under the CPP-PDC, where electricity demand is set between 20:00 and 0:00. Power grids’ peak energy demand is comparatively low when scheduling under CPP-PDC for points A5 and B5. Reducing carbon emissions, CPP-PDC reduces the maximum demand for electricity from the grid and the overall demand above the predetermined level. The maximum power demand from the grid is minimized for points A5 and B5, reducing up to 22% compared to A2. The proposed method minimizes both energy costs as well as CO2 emissions. A Pareto curve illustrates the trade-off between cost and CO2 emissions.

Background: Multiple hypertension guidelines recommend out-of-office measurements for the diagnosis of hypertension in non-pregnant adults, whereas pregnancy guidelines recommend in-office blood pressure measurements. The objective of our study was to determine how Canadian Obstetric Medicine and Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists measure blood pressure in pregnancy. Methods: An email survey was sent to 69 Canadian Obstetric Medicine and Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists in academic centers across Canada to explore the practice patterns of blood pressure measurement in pregnant women. Results: The response rate was 48%. The majority of respondents (63.6%) preferred office blood pressure measurement for diagnosing hypertension, but relied on home blood pressure readings for ongoing monitoring and management of hypertension during pregnancy (59.4%). The preferred method of out-of-office blood pressure measurement was home monitoring; 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was not used due to limited availability and cost. Conclusions: There is wide practice variation in methods of measuring blood pressure among Canadian specialists managing hypertension in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of sustainability & wearing comfort, denim manufacturers are entering a new era of product variety. Tencel's regenerative nature and unique mechanical qualities usher in a new era for the denim industry. In this work, denim fabrics were manufactured using Tencel Cotton blended yarn using very fi ne yarn (20 Tex or 30 Ne), and fabric performance was examined following factors like tensile strength and other relevant metrics. For better evaluation, All the structures were 2/1 RHT (right-hand twill) that contained 115 EPI & 70 PPI and also indigo blue dyed. According to the result of the investigation, 100% Tencel Fabric (both the warp and the weft yarn were 100% Tencel) demonstrated the highest quality of fabric performance in terms of tensile strength, tearing strength, stiff ness, air permeability, and water vapor permeability than any other cotton or cotton Tencel blended fabric. However, a downward trend of abrasion resistance was observed in Tencel or cotton Tencel blended fabric concerning the percentage change of Tencel. Additionally, the performance of the fabric was significantly improved by the percentage addition of Tencel fiber in the warp and weft directions. In addition, a denim fabric made entirely of cotton performed the least well when compared to fabrics made entirely of Tencel or a blend of Tencel and cotton.

ABSTRACT The therapeutic use of bacteriophages (phages) provides great promise for treating multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. However, an incomplete understanding of the interactions between phages and bacteria has negatively impacted the application of phage therapy. Here, we explored engineered anti-CRISPR (Acr) gene-containing phages (EATPs, eat Pseudomonas) by introducing Type I anti-CRISPR (AcrIF1, AcrIF2, and AcrIF3) genes into the P. aeruginosa bacteriophage DMS3/DMS3m to render the potential for blocking P. aeruginosa replication and infection. In order to achieve effective antibacterial activities along with high safety against clinically isolated MDR P. aeruginosa through an anti-CRISPR immunity mechanism in vitro and in vivo, the inhibitory concentration for EATPs was 1 × 108 PFU/mL with a multiplicity of infection value of 0.2. In addition, the EATPs significantly suppressed the antibiotic resistance caused by a highly antibiotic-resistant PA14 infection. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that engineered phages may be an alternative, viable approach by which to treat patients with an intractable bacterial infection, especially an infection by clinically MDR bacteria that are unresponsive to conventional antibiotic therapy. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium that causes severe infection in immune-weakened individuals, especially patients with cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Treating P. aeruginosa infection with conventional antibiotics is difficult due to its intrinsic multidrug resistance. Engineered bacteriophage therapeutics, acting as highly viable alternative treatments of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections, have great potential to break through the evolutionary constraints of bacteriophages to create next-generation antimicrobials. Here, we found that engineered anti-CRISPR (Acr) gene-containing phages (EATPs, eat Pseudomonas) display effective antibacterial activities along with high safety against clinically isolated MDR P. aeruginosa through an anti-CRISPR immunity mechanism in vitro and in vivo. EATPs also significantly suppressed the antibiotic resistance caused by a highly antibiotic-resistant PA14 infection, which may provide novel insight toward developing bacteriophages to treat patients with intractable bacterial infections, especially infections by clinically MDR bacteria that are unresponsive to conventional antibiotic therapy.

Al-Mg-Si alloys have wide applications in industries such as aerospace, marine, automobile, construction. In this work, newly developed friction stir welding (FSW) was utilized for joining of AA6082-T6 alloy. The effect of major FSW process variables like rotational speed, traverse speed, and shoulder diameter of tool is studied over microstructural and mechanical characteristics of friction stir welded (FSWed) joints. Experimental design was done using Taguchi method (L9 orthogonal array). Three factors viz. rotational speed, welding speed, and diameter of tool shoulder were taken at three levels each. Mathematical modelling was developed in order to optimize the tensile strength of weld joints. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to determine the percentage contribution of input variables. The results of present study exhibits that shoulder diameter, rotation, and welding speed of tool significantly affect the mechanical strength of FSWed joints.

Simulations were performed under continuous processing conditions using the 2D continuum model to describe the internal state of a multi-solid system, comprising solid particles of different sizes and densities at the same time. The feed consisted of 35 types of solid particle species with five different sizes, 1.70, 1.20, 0.85, 0.60 and 0.35 mm, and seven different densities ranging from 1400 to 2000 kg/m3. The simulations results have been used to plot the concentration profiles of solid particles along the bed height. The concentration profiles of the solid particles depicted that the fine dense particles, 0.60 mm, having density equal to 1900 kg/m3 and terminal velocity 0.058 m/s moved downwards and discharged into the underflow. However, the low-density coarse particles, 1.20 mm, having density equal to 1400 kg/m3 and terminal velocity 0.068 m/s moved upwards and conveyed to the overflow, hence, show a separation process based on the density difference. Furthermore, simulation results showed that the particle species having densities close to the value of the separation relative density exhibited higher concentrations along the system height, and the suspension within the system was mainly composed of these species.

Aim: Pirfenidone is a novel anti-fibrotic agent utilized in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It has been implicated in mitigating myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction in animal models. However, its impact on LV mechanics in humans remains unknown. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of pirfenidone on echocardiographic parameters of LV function and structure in patients with IPF.

Background Neonatal cholestasis is an important etiology of chronic liver disease in young children. It has a varied etiology. There is considerable delay in presentation and diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis in Bangladesh. Lack of awareness and knowledge among the pediatricians regarding etiological diagnosis and outcome of neonatal cholestasis is the reasons for poor outcome in major portion of cases in Bangladesh. Objective To evaluate the etiological spectrum of neonatal cholestasis. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. We reviewed medical records of children who were diagnosed with neonatal cholestasis. Complete diagnostic profiles of every cases with age of presentation, male-female ratio and final diagnosis were analyzed. Results A total of 114 children with neonatal cholestasis were evaluated. Subjects’ male-female ratio was 1.92: 1.0, and mean age at hospitalization was 92.7 (SD 39.5) days. Biliary atresia was the most common etiology (47.4%), followed by idiopathic neonatal hepatitis/INH (21.9%). Other identified etiologies were, toxoplasmosis, others (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus b19), rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes/TORCH infection (8.61%), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis/PFIC (4.4%), galactosemia (4.4%), choledochal cyst (3.5%), sepsis (1.8%), urinary tract infection/UTI (1.8%), hypothyroidism (1.8%), lipid storage disease/Niemann-Pick disease (0.9%), non-syndromic paucity of interlobular bile ducts (2.67%), and Caroli’s disease (0.9%). Conclusion In Bangladesh, neonatal cholestasis cases are most often due to obstructive causes, particularly biliary atresia. Idiopathic (INH), infectious (primarily TORCH), metabolic, and endocrine causes followed in terms of frequency.

Exploration of nanoparticles (NPs) for various biological and environmental applications has become one of the most important attributes of nanotechnology. Due to remarkable physicochemical properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most explored and used NPs in wide-ranging applications. Also, they have proven to be of high commercial use since they possess great chemical stability, conductivity, catalytic activity, and antimicrobial potential. Though several methods including chemical and physical methods have been devised, biological approaches using organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and plants have emerged as economical, safe, and effective alternatives for the biosynthesis of AgNPs. Recent studies highlight the potential of AgNPs in modern agricultural practices to control the growth and spread of infectious pathogenic microorganisms since the introduction of AgNPs effectively reduces plant diseases caused by a spectrum of bacteria and fungi. In this review, we highlight the biosynthesis of AgNPs and discuss their applications in plant disease management with recent examples. It is proposed that AgNPs are prospective NPs for the successful inhibition of pathogen growth and plant disease management. This review gives a better understanding of new biological approaches for AgNP synthesis and modes of their optimized applications that could contribute to sustainable agriculture.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), came as a significant health care challenge for humans in 2019–20. Based on recent laboratory and epidemiological studies, a growing list of mutations in the virus has the potential to enhance its transmission or help it evade the immune response. To further compound the problems, there are considerable challenges to the availability of effective, affordable, safe vaccines on a mass scale. These impediments have led some to explore additional options available in traditional medicines, especially immune-boosting natural products. Saffron has been used for centuries to treat fever, bronchitis, cold and other immune, respiratory disorders. Herein, we discuss the potential role of saffron during and after COVID-19 infection, focusing on immunomodulation, respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular functions. As a nutraceutical or drug supplement, it can alleviate the magnitude of COVID-19 symptoms in patients. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other medicinal properties attributed to saffron bioactive compounds can help in both pre-and post-infection management strategies. The abnormalities associated with COVID-19 survivors include anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Saffron can help manage these post-hospitalization abnormalities (sub-acute and chronic) too, owing to its anti-depressant property. It can help common people boost immunity and manage depression, stress and anxiety caused due to prolonged lockdown, isolation or quarantine.

The main objective of the present investigation is to examine the couple stress fluid flow occurring as a result of rotation of a disk. On implementing a suitable transformation, the governing system of partial differential equations (PDEs) is converted into nonlinear differential equations of a single independent variable. These equations are solved analytically by virtue of the Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM) which gives solutions in the form of a series. The solution of most of the governing problems is determined in terms of the absolute exponential and decaying functions by means of this powerful technique. To support analytic results, some graphs are plotted for determining the convergence of the solution. Also the graphical interpretation of velocity profiles corresponding to the effects of pertinent parameters are shown and discussed in detail. The numerical results are calculated for evaluation of the influence of fluid parameter. It can also be anticipated that the radial and axial velocity components show decreasing behavior due to rise in the values of couple stress parameter which conflict the behavior of the tangential component of velocity.