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Abstract Our understanding of drought evolution and land-atmosphere interactions under climate mitigation scenarios remains limited. Here, we analyzed future drought under net-zero and net-negative emission scenarios using the Community Earth System Model version 2, particularly focusing on three atmospheric CO2 states: linearly increases, decreases, and a return to the initial state. Interestingly, results revealed that net-zero emissions are more effective for drought mitigation than net-negative targets. Drying trends and drought characteristics — such as the duration, frequency, intensity, and area expansion are prominently increased under net-negative emissions due to higher potential evapotranspiration (PET). This is because the soil moisture and temperature couplings are stronger over drought regions and years, especially under net-negative forcing, with notable impacts in Central Africa and South Asia. Nevertheless, both target scenarios offer regional benefits, such as weakened dryness. This suggests that mitigating CO2 alone may not be sufficient to manage future droughts, highlighting the need for advanced water management strategies.

Abstract Brain tumors are among the most fatal and devastating diseases, and they often result in a significant reduction in life expectancy. The devising of treatment plans that can extend the lives of affected individuals hinges on an accurate diagnosis of these tumors. Identifying and analyzing large volumes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data manually proves to be both challenging and time-consuming. As a result, there exists a pressing need for a reliable machine-learning approach to accurately diagnose brain tumors, and numerous methods have already been proposed over the last decade. In this paper, a novel, comprehensive approach is proposed for identifying and classifying a given MR brain image as abnormal. Three common brain diseases, namely glioma, meningioma, and pituitary tumor, are chosen as abnormal brains, and the Figshare MRI brain image dataset was collected from the Kaggle and IEEE websites. The proposed method is initiated by employing 1st-order statistics, 2nd-order statistics, and higher-order transformed (DWT) feature extraction to extract features from images. Then missing data is addressed and handled using KNNImputer, followed by the application of the ExtratreesClassifier and PCA feature selection methods to identify the most relevant features and reduce the dimensions of these features. Subsequently, the reduced features are submitted to seven machine learning models, namely RF, GB, CB, SVM, LGBM, DT, and LR. The strategy of k-fold cross-validation is utilized to enhance the performance of those models. Finally, the models are evaluated using XAI approaches, which ensure transparent decision-making processes and provide insights into the model’s predictions. Remarkably, our approach achieves the highest accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, MCC, Kappa, AUC-ROC, and R2, as well as the lowest loss, among the seven models evaluated, proving its effectiveness and applicability in multiple analytic applications relying on publicly available datasets.

Abstract Serverless computing is one of the recent compelling paradigms in cloud computing. Serverless computing can quickly run user applications and services regardless of the underlying server architecture. Despite the availability of several commercial and open-source serverless platforms, there are still some open issues and challenges to address. One of the key concerns in serverless computing platforms is security. Therefore, in this paper, we present a multi-layer abstract model of serverless computing for an security investigation. We conduct a quantitative analysis of security risks for each layer. We observe that the Attack Tree and Attack-Defense Tree methodologies are viable approaches in this regard. Consequently, we make use of the Attack Tree and the Attack-Defense Tree to quantify the security risks and countermeasures of serverless computing. We also propose a novel measure called the Relative Risk Matrix (RRM) to quantify the probability of attack success. Stakeholders including application developers, researchers, and cloud providers can potentially apply these findings and implications to better understand and further enhance the security of serverless computing.

Abstract Older adults residing in refugee settlements with unhealthy living environments, inadequate access to health care services, and limited psychosocial support are vulnerable to experience mental health problems jeopardizing their mental well-being. The present study aims to explore the mental well-being status and its socio-economic determinants among the older adults living in the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥ 60 residing in five sub-camps within the Rohingya refugee camp of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted between November and December 2021. The 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale was used to assess mental well-being. A cumulated score was derived using the scale ranging from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mental well-being. A generalized linear regression model was used to examine the socio-economic factors associated with the mental well-being of older adults. A total of 864 older adults participated in the study having a mean mental well-being score of 45.4. Regression analysis revealed that the difference in the logs of mental well-being score was expected to be significantly lower among participants aged 70–79 years (β: − 1.661; 95% CI: − 2.750 to − 0.572; p = 0.003), aged ≥ 80 years (β: − 3.198; 95% CI: − 5.114 to − 1.282; p = 0.001), and those with any non-communicable chronic conditions (β: − 2.903; 95% CI: − 3.833 to − 1.974; p

Background and Aim: Small ruminants require vaccines to prevent and manage diseases. Unfortunately, no studies have been conducted in Bangladesh to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of small ruminant farmers (SRF) regarding vaccine use against infectious diseases, affecting the success of vaccination campaigns. The present study aims to assess SRF’s KAP regarding vaccines, revealing gaps and barriers to efficient vaccination. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight SRF in northern Bangladesh were surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from random participants through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. KAP levels were categorized as “good” or “poor” and “positive” or “negative” using a scoring method with a 60% cutoff. The analysis comprised the utilization of descriptive statistics as well as logistic regression models. Results: Results showed that most participants were female (60.5%), aged 31–40 (34.2%), with secondary education (28.1%), and vaccination training (22.8%). While 75% knew about vaccines, only 37.3% understood their role in preventing infectious diseases, and 63.6% in reducing antibiotic use 68.4% of farmers were aware of negative drawbacks, and 61.8% reported vaccinating their herds. About 42.1% of the farmers had good knowledge, 52.6% had a positive attitude, and 22.8% followed good practices. Female farmers with graduate degrees and 6–10 years of goat farming experience, but not those with vaccination training, demonstrated stronger knowledge. Female farmers with a graduate degree and 6–10 years of goat farming experience displayed positive attitudes. Female goat farmers from Thakurgaon had a higher likelihood of following good vaccination practices than those with vaccination training. Conclusion: The study unearths disparities in KAP scores among farmers. To effectively address KAP gaps concerning vaccine usage and prevent potential infectious diseases, it is essential to design focused educational and training programs. About 52.6% of SRF hold a positive view toward vaccines.

Introduction: Skin adnexal neoplasms are quite rare in routine pathology practice, yet the domain of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) remains relatively unexplored. This current study explored different Adnexal Tumours (ATs) through FNAC, emphasising the efficacy of cytological diagnosis as a safe, simple, quick, and cost-effective tool with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing skin ATs. Aim: To diagnose various appendageal tumours through cytological examination, confirm and categorise them (benign/malignant) via histopathological examination, and identify any cytohistological discrepancies. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a five-year period (January 2016-December 2021) at the Department of Pathology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, following ethical approval. Patients underwent history and physical examination followed by FNAC. ATs were diagnosed cytologically in 78 out of 23,852 FNAC cases. The results were compared with histopathological diagnosis to assess concordance or discordance based on predefined criteria. Leishman-Giemsa (L&G) stain was used for cytological examination, and Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain for histopathology. Results: Cytologically, ATs were diagnosed in 78 cases (0.33%), with the majority being benign 69 (88.46%). There was a female preponderance (49, 62.82%) with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.7. Nodular Hidradenoma (NH) was the most common diagnosis (16/48=33.33%). Out of 59 biopsy-confirmed lesions, 55 showed cytohistological concordance (93.22%), with only four discordant cases (6.78%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for detecting malignancy in this series were 70%, 97.90%, 87.50%, and 94.10%, respectively. Conclusion: FNAC should be the primary choice for detecting skin ATs due to its safety, reliability, high predictive value, and low chance of discordance. Although occasional cytohistological discrepancies may occur, proper clinical correlation, aspiration from multiple sites, expert cytopathologists, and high-quality staining are essential to avoid misdiagnosis.

Uppermost internode length (UIL) and panicle exsertion are two important traits that contribute significantly to increased yield in rice. The present study was conducted using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) comprising 201 lines derived from RTN10B and IRG213. These RILs were evaluated at three different locations— Delhi, Karnal, and Aduthurai. We report the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for uppermost internode length and the panicle exsertion ratio (PER), as well as QTLs for plant height (PH), tiller number, length of the second internode, length of the third internode, length from the flag leaf to the panicle tip (PFL), and panicle length (PL). Mapping was performed using a custom microsatellite linkage map constructed for the population, having a total span of 2077.1 cM with 104 markers. A total of 22 QTLs were identified for various traits, among which 19 were found distributed in four hotspots. A total of 11 major effect QTLs and 11 minor effect QTLs were identified for various internode length-related traits. Among the four QTLs identified for PFL, three QTLs—qPFL1.1, qPFL1.2, and qPFL2.1—co-localized with previously reported QTLs, while qPFL8.1 was a novel QTL. A major QTL hotspot was identified on chromosome 1, located at the marker interval of RM12055-RM320. The size of the major QTL hotspot on chromosome 1 was 1.4 Mb and contained a total of seven HEs for PER, PFL, PH, PL, UIL, SIL, and TIL. Based on the in-silico analysis of the major QTL hotspot on chromosome 1, we identified 15 putative candidate genes associated with internode length- and panicle-related traits. Furthermore, narrowing the genomic region through the fine mapping of the marker intervals facilitated the identification of candidate genes to enable more precise marker-assisted selection for uppermost internode length and panicle exsertion.

Abstract Confounding results of engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) used as cellular vehicles has plagued technologies whereby success or failure of novel approaches may be dismissed or inaccurately ascribed solely to the biotechnology platform rather than suitability of the human donor. Polymeric materials were screened for non‐viral engineering of MSCs from multiple human donors to deliver bone morphogenic protein‐4 (BMP4), a protein previously investigated in clinical trials for glioblastoma (GBM) to combat a subpopulation of highly invasive and tumorigenic clones. A “smart technology” that target the migratory and stem‐like nature of GBM will require: (1) a cellular vehicle (MSC) which can scavenge and target residual cells left behind after surgical debulking and deliver; (2) anti‐glioma cargo (BMP4). Multiple MSC donors are safely engineered, though varied in susceptibility to accept BMP4 due to intrinsic characteristics revealed by their molecular signatures. Efficiency is compared via secretion, downstream signaling, differentiation, and anti‐proliferative properties across all donors. In a clinically relevant resection and recurrence model of patient‐derived human GBM, we demonstrate that nanoengineered MSCs are not “donor agnostic” and efficacy is influenced by the inherent suitability of the MSC to the cargo. Therefore, donor profiles hold greater influence in determining downstream outcomes than the technical capabilities of the engineering technology.

Abstract Silver sulfide (Ag2S) chalcogenide compound can be a viable absorber in the applications of thin film solar cells owing to its optimum bandgap of 1.1 eV and high absorption coefficient. Herein, we propose a novel Ag2S‐based n‐CdS/p‐Ag2S/p+‐SnS double‐heterojunction solar cell. The numerical analysis of the device has been performed with SCAPS‐1D (Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator). In the case of single heterojunction, n‐CdS/p‐Ag2S manifests an efficiency of 19.75%, where VOC = 0.66 V, JSC = 36.99 mA/cm2 and FF = 81.50%. However, Ag2S‐based double‐heterojunction device with optimized structure provides the efficiency of 29.51% with VOC = 0.81 V, JSC = 42.81 mA/cm2 and FF =85.24%. The noteworthy augmentation of VOC and JSC in double‐heterojunction results from the reduction in surface recombination velocity and rise in built‐in voltage in the p‐Ag2S/p+‐SnS hetero‐interfaces that promote the higher efficiency of the device. These theoretical insights indicate a path for fabrication of an efficient Ag2S based thin film solar cell.

The study involved extracting different fractions from black pepper using solvents of varying polarities. The three fractions obtained were the PEF, CHF, and AQF. The yield values of the fractions were determined, and it was found that PEF had the highest yield, while AQF had the lowest. Subsequently, three in vitro hypoglycemic tests were performed to evaluate the hypoglycaemic activity of black pepper. The IC50 value (the concentration required for 50 % inhibition) for the α-amylase inhibitory activity was found to be 1.191 for PEF and 3.591 for CHF where acarbose, a standard hypoglycaemic drug, was used as a reference in this test. The second test evaluated the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, where PEF exhibited an IC50 value of 1.47, and CHF had an IC50 value of 2.95 and again acarbose was utilized as the standard for comparison. The third test involved assessing glucose uptake by yeast cells. At 5 Mm glucose concentration and 5 mg/ml extract concentration, the percentage of glucose uptake by yeast cell was 69 for CHF and 76 for PEF. At 10 Mm glucose concentration and 5 mg/ml extract concentration, the percentage of glucose uptake by yeast cell was 43 for CHF and 57 for PEF. At 25 Mm glucose concentration and 5 mg/ml extract concentration, the percentage of glucose uptake by yeast cell was 28 for CHF and 30 for PEF. It was concluded that the PEF fraction of black pepper exhibited better hypoglycaemic activity compared to the standard metronidazole from the tests. However, further research and studies are necessary to isolate and identify the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed hypoglycaemic effects and to evaluate their efficacy and safety.

SO and SO2 are two potential candidates to trace the different evolutionary phases of the low-mass star-formation process. Here, we report observations of SO and SO2 along with their isotopologues, 34SO and 34SO2, respectively, in four distinct phases of the low-mass star-formation process (prestellar core, first hydrostatic core, Class 0, and Class I) with an unbiased survey carried out using the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) 30 m telescope. Interestingly, the estimated abundances of SO and SO2 show an increasing trend from the prestellar phase to the Class 0 stage and then a decrease in the Class I phase. A similar trend is obtained for OCS and H2S. In contrast, the obtained SO/SO2 ratio decreases gradually from the prestellar core to the Class I stage. We have used the three-phase Rokko chemical code to explain our observations. The modeled abundances of SO and SO2 exhibit an increase within the inner region as the cold gas transforms into a hot gas. The modeled abundance ratio of SO to SO2 exhibits a notably high value in cold gas environments. This ratio decreases to less than 1 within the temperature range of 100–300 K and then increases to approximately 1 beyond 300 K. In the outer region, the simulated ratio consistently exceeds the value of 1. Our work is an observational testbed for modeling the chemistry of SO/SO2 during low-mass star formation. However, our findings may require more sample sources with higher resolution and a more robust model for validation.

Copper cadmium tin selenide (Cu2CdSnSe4) based photodetector (PD) has been explored with the solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D). Herein, cadmium sulfide (CdS) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are used as a window and back surface field (BSF) layers, respectively. The physical attributes, such as width, carrier density and bulk defects have been adjusted to attain the optimal conditions. In an optimized environment, the performance parameters of the Cu2CdSnSe4 (CCTSe) PD e.g. open circuit voltage (VOC), short circuit current (JSC), responsivity, and detectivity are determined as 0.76 V, 45.57 mA/cm2, 0.72 A/W and 5.05 × 1014 Jones, respectively without a BSF layer. After insertion of the BSF layer, the performance of the CCTSe PD is significantly upgraded because of the production of high built-in potential which rises the magnitude of VOC from 0.76 V to 0.84 V. For this reason, the responsivity and detectivity of CCTSe PD are also grows with the value of 0.84 A/W and 2.32 × 1015 Jones, respectively that indicate its future potential.

Introduction: Colorectal Carcinoma (CRC) is one of the significant causes of fatality worldwide. High-grade and high-stage cancers contribute to this fatality. In most terminal cases, new immunomarkers (CD55 and CD59) are commonly detected as positive. The expression of these immunomarkers and their clinical relevance in CRC has not yet been firmly established. While their upregulation has been demonstrated in some CRC several groups have also reported that they are not highly expressed in CRC tissues. Aim: To study the expression of CD55 and CD59 in CRC. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 90 patients with colorectal growth, conducted from February 2020 to July 2021 in the Department of Pathology in collaboration with the Department of General Surgery at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Histopathological findings were evaluated, and associations of grading, staging, tumour type, tumour location, age, and sex were studied with immunomarkers (CD55 and CD59). Clinical parameters of the patients with CRC diagnosed by colonoscopic biopsy were also studied, including age, sex, clinical pictures, food habits, family history of CRC, and prior chemotherapy. The Chi-square test was used to determine the significance of the study. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0 (IBM, Illinois, US). A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 90 CRC patients were included in this study, with the majority being male 56 (62.2%) aged 51-60 years. Most cases 59 (65.6%) were moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, followed by poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma 18 (20%) and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma 13 (14.4%). About 62 (68.9%) and 28 (31.1%) patients showed strong and weak CD55 expression, respectively. In total, 65 (72.2%) and 25 (27.8%) patients exhibited strong and weak CD59 expression, respectively. The association of CRC grade and stage with CD55 and CD59 was significant (p-value=0.0001, p-value=0.0013, p-value=0.0001, and p-value=0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: There are several variables to consider during the histopathological reporting of CRC, with tumour differentiation, grade, and stage being among the most important. Particularly, high-grade (poorly differentiated) and high-stage adenocarcinomas demonstrate enhanced expression of CD55 and CD59, indicating a poor prognosis. It is essential for pathologists to meticulously perform grossing and reporting of CRC and dispatch the histopathology report after proper clinicopathological correlations. These immunomarkers can also be included in a routine IHC panel for prognostic and therapeutic purposes.

Background: Septal surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in Otolaryngology. Following septal surgery, nasal packing is administered to prevent potential postoperative complications, including septal hematoma, hemorrhage, and synechiae formation. Nasal packing is commonly done using either ribbon gauze or non-absorbable materials like Merocele (Medtronic Xomed Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA). Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study is to compare the post-operative outcomes of ribbon gauze packing and merocele packing. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective observation study, conducted in Burdwan Medical College and Hospital from August 2023 to October 2023. The study population was 40 with equal distribution between the two groups. Patients older than 18 years undergoing only septal surgery are included in the study. All the surgeries are performed by the same surgeon, both packs are removed after 48 h and followed up with diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE) after 1 month. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM Inc., US). Results: The total number of patients in our cohort was 40, out of which 20 were given ribbon gauze packs (Group A) and the rest were given merocele packs (Group B). The mean visual analog scale score for nasal pain (4.25±1.77), headache (4.30±1.63), dysphagia (2.50±1.15), sleep disturbance (3.15±1.09) in Group B was significantly lower than in Group A (6.65±1.63, 5.40±1.70, 4.00±1.84, and 5.40±2.35 respectively, p all

ABSTRACTThe world is facing a tremendous problem in the form of food insecurity that is posing a great challenge to achieving sustainable development goal 2 of creating a hunger-free world. Refugees and displaced populations are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition, who lack any productive assets and depend on aid. Rohingya refugees, displaced from Myanmar and took refuge in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, live in a crowded unhealthy environment and are severely vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition. In our recent study, we found that only 21.6% of the households in Rohingya refugee camps had acceptable food security status. Interestingly, this study further revealed that acceptable food security status was significantly higher among the households that had some additional income aside from aid, compared to those relying on aid alone. This shows the importance of promoting livelihood opportunities to improve food security status among the camp dwellers. In this paper, we presented our views on promoting livelihood opportunities to address the overwhelming food insecurity crisis among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

The phytotoxicity of fluoride and its build-up in agricultural plants and subsequently the entry into the food chain is a serious threat to human health. The present study highlighted the green synthesis of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) and characterization using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. Further, synthesized CaO NPs (0, 10, and 50 mg/L) were applied on fluoride-stressed (10 mg/L) rice seedlings to check its possible ameliorative effects towards growth and fluoride accumulation in different parts of rice seedlings. Characterization revealed that nanoparticles were crystalline (46.72 %) and spherical in shape, with an average diameter of 20–25 nm. Results of the seedling growth analysis revealed that CaO NPs inhibited the translocation of fluoride in rice plants, which in turn decreased the phytotoxicity caused by fluoride, including lipid peroxidation and chlorosis, and enhanced the overall growth of seedlings. The co-exposure of CaO NPs with fluoride also showed a reduction in the fluoride-induced oxidative stress, as demonstrated by lower MDA, O2•- contents, and activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and POD) as compared to fluoride treatment alone. The application of CaO NPs also restored potassium content in seedlings grown under fluoride stress. Furthermore, the highest reduction of fluoride accumulation by 65 and 76 % in roots and shoots was recorded at 50 mg/L of CaO NPs treatment, respectively. Therefore, the present study clearly indicated the ameliorative potential of CaO NPs towards fluoride stress in rice. However, a field study is needed to establish the social acceptance of this valuable nanofertilizer in fluoride-contaminated areas.

The production of ruminant livestock is greatly impacted by climate change, as it is anticipated to jeopardise food security due to the increasing heat stress experienced by the animals, which can be measured using the Temperature Humidity Index (THI). The objective of our study was to analyze climatic patterns, identify influential variables and evaluate heat stress episodes through the utilization of the THI to establish a rearing system for ruminants in Bangladesh. The THI value was determined by analyzing meteorological station data spanning from 1995 to 2022 across various climatic zones in Bangladesh. The Mann–Kendall evaluation was used to analyze the THI patterns throughout the study. Our findings indicated that heat stress problems are expected to occur in Bangladesh when THI for ruminant rearing exceeds 74, particularly from February to December. The severity of heat stress in THIruminant 71–90 varied significantly, ranging from normal to extremely severe. We observed that June (90) was the hottest month in the west central region, while January (71) was the coldest in the northwest area. When examining the impact of climatic factors on the THI, we found that air temperature has the highest influence, while relative humidity had the second-highest influence on THI in all areas of Bangladesh. Sunlight length and wind speed influenced the yearly THI marginally but not seasonally. Our findings highlighted a seasonal threat associated with heat stress in the climatic conditions of Bangladesh. It is essential to identify heat stress in ruminants, especially considering the continuing global warming issue. Our results recommend the implementation of heat stress mitigation strategies for ruminant farmers in Bangladesh.

The ever-changing technology landscape has seen a significant breakthrough with the introduction of edge computing. This innovation has revolutionized various domains, and one of its critical applications is in the domain of accident detection. Edge computing can help enhance road safety and emergency response by enabling real-time processing and analysis of sensory information from onboard sensors, cameras, and other connected devices. By integrating edge computing into accident detection systems, we can overcome the limitations of conventional centralized cloud-based methods and create a safer transportation network. In this article, we have proposed an accident detection framework using Deep Learning (DL) in the edge cloud environment. For accident detection, we have used a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)- based DL model. The DL model detects the accident in the edge node which is near the data source. The proposed framework provides low latency, minimal network usage, and lower execution time as compared to only cloud-based deployment. Additionally, the proposed accident detection model is accurate up to 95.91% with Precision 0.9574, Recall 0.9574 and F1 score 0.9574 in the cloud-edge environment.

Scar endometriosis is a rare, extra-pelvic endometriosis which occurs following uterine surgeries and can be a diagnostic challenge due to its varied clinical presentations. Clinically, it can mimic conditions such as abscess, suture granuloma, desmoid tumor, and even metastatic malignancy. As it usually presents as a swelling near the scar site, fine-needle aspiration and cytology often becomes the first diagnostic test that the clinicians ask for and it plays a significant role in providing the right diagnosis and guide for management. We report one such case, of a 35-year-old female who presented with a swelling in the left lower abdomen, with a clinical diagnosis of lipoma where fine-needle aspiration and cytology helped to clinch the diagnosis of scar endometriosis.

Introduction: Breast cancer is a common and deadly malignancy affecting women worldwide. Various immune markers, such as Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2/neu), are commonly used to assess prognosis. Currently, ongoing research aims to evaluate molecular pathways that contribute to invasion and metastasis. One important immunomarker under investigation is CD10, a zinc-dependent Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) that degrades bioactive peptides. CD10 expression in the tumour stroma has been associated with the biological aggressiveness of several epithelial malignancies, including breast carcinoma. Aim: To analyse the association between stromal CD10 expression and different prognostic factors, such as age, histological grade, and status of ER, PR, and HER2/neu markers, in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This institutional-based, crosssectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMC) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India over a period of one and a half years (February 2021 to July 2022). It included 120 cases of breast carcinoma diagnosed through histopathological examination of formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections, which were prepared from trucut biopsies and resection specimens referred from the Department of General Surgery, NRSMC. CD10 expression was assessed by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all cases and scored as negative, weak, or strong. The study examined the association between CD10 expression and the following parameters: age, histopathological grade, and the status of ER, PR, and HER2/neu markers. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel (MS) for statistical analysis. The significance of the study was determined using the Chi-square test, and data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 (IBM, Illinois, US). A p-value of

Abstract Drought has a paramount impact on global agriculture and food security. However, the study on future cropland areas that can incur drought is inadequate. This paper uses input parameters from 7 CMIP6 models for 7 future scenarios (SSP1‐1.9, SSP1‐2.6, SSP4‐3.4, SSP2‐4.5, SSP4‐6.0, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5) to measure South Asian cropland exposure to drought and its underlying factors. Some defined epochs such as 2021–2040 (near‐term), 2041–2060 (mid‐term), 2081–2100 (long‐term), and 1995–2014 (reference period) are designed to explore diverse outlooks of the change. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index and the Run theory methods are applied to detect drought. Results indicate an intensified cropland (under SSP4‐3.4, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5) in the Indo‐Gangetic Plain region of South Asia, where mostly the variation occurs among scenarios and periods. Notably, the future cropland exposed to drought will increase in the 2021–2040, and 2041–2060 periods, but it intends to decline during the 2081–2100. Relatively, the exposed cropland will upturn highest by 49.2% (SSP3‐7.0) in the mid‐term period and decrease by −8.2% (SSP5‐8.5) in the end future. Spatially, distributed cropland in the central, south‐west, and portion of the northeast of South Asia are subjective to be exposed largely, but it can drop greatly across the eastern part by the end future. Importantly, the climate change effect plays a grounding role in future exposure change over the region during the near to mid‐term periods, while the cropland change effect is predominant in the long‐term perspectives. However, these findings signify the urgency of policymaking focusing on drought mitigation to ensure food security.

An experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2022–23 at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand to assess how well nano- urea performs in maize under different field conditions and investigate its compatibility with other N sources. Results showed that root weight (fresh and dry), partial factor productivity (N, P2O5 and K2O), N concentration (grain and stover), grain yield, biological yield and harvest index of maize were all significantly affected by the application of various N rates and nano-fertilizers. The grain yield of maize was comparable to the yield obtained under RDF and 75% of the recommended N + two nano-urea sprays. These findings indicate that the concurrent use of these nano-fertilizers has the potential to reduce N fertilization by as much as 25%. Furthermore, the results highlight the prospect of augmenting biological yield of maize by incorporating 2 nano-urea sprays alongside the prescribed N quantity from prilled urea, as well as full applications of P2O5 and K2O.

Research has been conducted on a solar cell utilizing Tin Selenide (SnSe) as the absorber material having a structure of n-CdS/p-SnSe/p+-CuInSe2/p++-WSe2 with CuInSe2 (CIS) current augmenting and WSe2 back surface field (BSF) layers. The various parameters in CdS, SnSe, CIS, and WSe2 layers have been adjusted methodically for the optimum output. Under the optimum conditions, the proposed n-CdS/p-SnSe solar cell showcases a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.12 % with VOC = 0.788 V, JSC = 38.62 mA/cm2, and FF = 85.78 %. The PCE of the device enhances to 33.88 % with VOC = 1.09 V, JSC = 38.64 mA/cm2, and FF = 80.24 % owing to the incorporation of the WSe2 BSF layer. However, a conjunction of the CIS layer with the SnSe achieves a higher JSC of 42.54 mA/cm2 and a PCE of 36.45 %. These in-depth simulation findings demonstrate the enormous potential of the SnSe absorber with the CIS current boosting layer for the creation of a thin film solar cell that is both affordable and highly efficient.

Introduction: The most common malignancy of the ovary is serous carcinoma, which can be classified as either Low-grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (LGSOC) or High-grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSOC) and originates from the surface epithelium. However, the overall prognosis for both cancers is very poor. Immunohistochemical analysis of p53 and p16 expression is commonly used to detect mutations. Diffuse and strong mutations (mutant type) are almost always observed in cases of HGSOC, while focal expression (wild type) suggests the absence of mutations in HGSOC. LGSOCs are characterised by a low number or absence of genetic mutations. Aim: To investigate the association between p53 and p16 expression in different grades and stages of Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (SOC). Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 62 patients diagnosed with ovarian serous carcinoma. The study focused on examining the expressions of p53 and p16 using Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the Department of Pathology, Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, over a period of one and a half years (February 2021 to July 2022). The study parameters included clinical features, histological findings, staging, The Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), grading, p53 and p16 expression by IHC in all cases, and the association between p53 and p16 expression with the grade and stage of the cancer. Statistical analysis was performed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 62 cases were included in the study, with 55 cases (88.70%) classified as LGSOC and 7 cases (11.29%) as HGSOC. The mean age for LGSOC was 53.5 years, while for HGSOC it was 54 years. Among the HGSOC cases (n=55), 45 cases (81.80%) showed diffuse positive results (mutant type) for p53. In contrast, there was no diffuse p53 expression in LGSOC cases (n=7), with 5 cases (71.40%) showing focal positivity (wild type). The p-value for comparing p53 expression in both cases was significant (

Abstract Anti-Microbial Peptide Database version 1 (AMPDB v1) is a meticulously curated resource that aims to address the limitations of existing databases in the field of antimicrobial research. We have utilized the latest technology and put our best efforts into adding all relevant tools to cater to the needs of our users. AMPDB v1 is a derived database, built upon information gathered from the available resources and boasts a significant size of 59,122 entries which are classified into 88 classes. All the information in this resource was curated manually. Sequence alignment and protein feature calculation tools were integrated into the database in the form of web applications, to make them easy to use, quick, and responsive in real-time. We have included multiple types of browsing and searching options to enhance the user experience, from simple text search to a completely customizable advanced search page with intuitive options that let the user combine multiple options together to make a powerful search query. The database is accessible by a web browser at https://bblserver.org.in/ampdb/ .

Background: Morphology and morphometry of lengths of bones with respect of the height of the person vary from country to country and from place to place. Objective: objective was to study relationship between the percutaneous length of fibula & height of that individual in adult bengalee population. Methods: In a cross sectional descriptive study, 400 (200male & 200 female) adult bengalee person were studied and the percutaneous length of fibula & their height were measured and analysed. Results: Positive correlation was found between the height of the person and the length of both right and left fibula separately both in case of male and female subjects. Also correlation between the right and left fibula was statistically significant both in male and female subjects. Conclusion: In the present study the results showed that length of fibula is important for estimating height in respect of specific racial, geographical and gender specific population group (here adult Bengalee population). Separate and independent linear regression equation derived for the specific population group & it demonstrates that the length of fibula (long bone) can be used to estimate the stature of adult Bengalee population in Burdwan District.

With the vigorous development of big data and cloud computing, containers are becoming the main platform for running applications due to their flexible and lightweight features. Using a container cluster management system can more effectively manage multiocean containers on multiple machine nodes, and Kubernetes has become a leader in container cluster management systems, with its powerful container orchestration capabilities. However, the current default Kubernetes components and settings have appeared to have a performance bottleneck and are not adaptable to complex usage environments. In particular, the issues are data distribution latency, inefficient cluster backup and restore leading to poor disaster recovery, poor rolling update leading to downtime, inefficiency in load balancing and handling requests, poor autoscaling and scheduling strategy leading to quality of service (QoS) violations and insufficient resource usage, and many others. Aiming at the insufficient performance of the default Kubernetes platform, this paper focuses on reducing the data distribution latency, improving the cluster backup and restore strategies toward better disaster recovery, optimizing zero-downtime rolling updates, incorporating better strategies for load balancing and handling requests, optimizing autoscaling, introducing better scheduling strategy, and so on. At the same time, the relevant experimental analysis is carried out. The experiment results show that compared with the default settings, the optimized Kubernetes platform can handle more than 2000 concurrent requests, reduce the CPU overhead by more than 1.5%, reduce the memory by more than 0.6%, reduce the average request time by an average of 7.6%, and reduce the number of request failures by at least 32.4%, achieving the expected effect.

An English-Bengali machine translation (MT) application can convert an English text into a corresponding Bengali translation. To build a better model for this task, we can optimize English-Bengali MT. MT for languages with rich resources, like English-German, started decades ago. However, MT for languages lacking many parallel corpora remains challenging. In our study, we employed back-translation to improve the translation accuracy. With back-translation, we can have a pseudo-parallel corpus, and the generated (pseudo) corpus can be added to the original dataset to obtain an augmented dataset. However, the new data can be regarded as noisy data because they are generated by models that may not be trained very well or not evaluated well, like human translators. Since the original output of a translation model is a probability distribution of candidate words, to make the model more robust, different decoding methods are used, such as beam search, top-k random sampling and random sampling with temperature T, and others. Notably, top-k random sampling and random sampling with temperature T are more commonly used and more optimal decoding methods than the beam search. To this end, our study compares LSTM (Long-Short Term Memory, as a baseline) and Transformer. Our results show that Transformer (BLEU: 27.80 in validation, 1.33 in test) outperforms LSTM (3.62 in validation, 0.00 in test) by a large margin in the English-Bengali translation task. (Evaluating LSTM and Transformer without any augmented data is our baseline study.) We also incorporate two decoding methods, top-k random sampling and random sampling with temperature T, for back-translation that help improve the translation accuracy of the model. The results show that data generated by back-translation without top-k or temperature sampling (“no strategy”) help improve the accuracy (BLEU 38.22, +10.42 on validation, 2.07, +0.74 on test). Specifically, back-translation with top-k sampling is less effective (k=10, BLEU 29.43, +1.83 on validation, 1.36, +0.03 on test), while sampling with a proper value of T, T=0.5 makes the model achieve a higher score (T=0.5, BLEU 35.02, +7.22 on validation, 2.35, +1.02 on test). This implies that in English-Bengali MT, we can augment the training set through back-translation using random sampling with a proper temperature T.

Abstract Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) in TNBC patients’ plasma promote T cell dysfunction and tumor progression. Here we show that tumor cell-derived exosomes (TEX) carrying surface PDL-1, PD-1, Fas, FasL, TRAIL, CTLA-4 and TGF-β1 induce apoptosis of CD8+T and CD4+T cells but spare B and NK cells. Inhibitors blocking TEX-induce receptor/ligand signals and TEX pretreatments with proteinase K or heat fail to prevent T cell apoptosis. Cytochalasin D, Dynosore or Pit Stop 2, partly inhibit TEX uptake but do not prevent T cell apoptosis. TEX entry into T cells induces cytochrome C and Smac release from mitochondria and caspase-3 and PARP cleavage in the cytosol. Expression of survival proteins is reduced in T cells undergoing apoptosis. Independently of external death receptor signaling, TEX entry into T cells induces mitochondrial stress, initiating relentless intrinsic apoptosis, which is responsible for death of activated T cells in the tumor-bearing hosts. The abundance of TEX in cancer plasma represents a danger for adoptively transferred T cells, limiting their therapeutic potential.

Abstract This study deals with the characterization of a natural fiber which is extracted from the stem of an unexplored plant of Cyperus platystylis R.Br. (CPS) with an aim to establish it as a potent alternative fiber for the plant fiber-based industries. CPS fiber has been investigated for its physical, chemical, thermal, mechanical, and morphological characteristics. The presence of different functional groups in CPS fiber i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin which was ensured by Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometer analysis. X-ray diffraction and chemical constituent analysis revealed high cellulose content and crystallinity i.e., 66.1% and 41.12% respectively, which is comparatively moderate in the case of CPS fiber. Scherrer's equation has been used to determine crystallite size i.e., 2.28 nm. The mean length and diameter of the CPS fiber were 382.0 and 23.36 μm, respectively. The maximum tensile strength was obtained at 657 ± 58.8 MPa for 50 mm fiber and young’s modulus 88.76 ± 30.42 MPa for 50 mm fiber. The required energy to break has been recorded at 346.16 J. Thermal analysis revealed that CPS fibers have thermal stability up to 279 °C. The unique Cyperus platystylis stem fibers could therefore be a suitable reinforcement material for the bio-composites used in semi-structural applications since they have higher functional qualities.

Abstract Background The older adults of refugee camps might be vulnerable to exhibiting limited functional abilities because of the limited resources available to create a supportive environment for older population in the camps. This study aims to explore the prevalence and determinants of self-reported functional status among the older adults residing in the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 864 older adults aged 60 years and above living in five selected sub-camps of Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews of the participants between November-December 2021. Functional status was measured using the Barthel Index. Information on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported chronic diseases and lifestyle characteristics were also collected. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the factors associated with self-reported functional abilities among the participants. Results The overall percentage of people having limited self-reported functional ability was 26.5% (male: 22.6% and female: 31.5%) with inability most found in grooming (33.2%), bathing (31.8%), stair using (13.2%) and mobility (10.7%). In the final adjusted model, having age of 80 years or more (aOR = 2.01,95% CI: 1.08,3.75), being female (aOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.04,2.0), having low memory or concentration (aOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.30,2.56), loneliness (aOR = 2.89, 95% CI:1.74,4.80) and living with aid alone (aOR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.74,4.80) were found to be associated with self-reported limited functional ability. Conclusion The findings of this study highlight the need for attention from policymakers and public health practitioners on addressing functional limitations among older adults residing in the Rohingya refugee camp. Our findings emphasize the need for the development of comprehensive interventions that can address the wider unmet needs (e.g., ensuring family/caregiver support, engaging in social and physical activities, providing nutritional support packages, etc.) to improve the health and well-being of older Rohingya adults.

Introduction: Heatwaves (HWs) are the serious natural disaster that exert great impacts on human health and social economy. Projecting future changes in HWs is crucial for the development of effective adaptation strategies.Method: This study investigates the variations of HWs in Xinjiang for three time periods (near-term, mid-term, and long-term) under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) using multi-model ensemble (MME). To enhance confidence in HWs projection, we evaluate the performance of 17 climate models in simulating HWs in terms of interannual variability and spatial patterns using interannual variability skill score (IVS) and distance between indices of simulation and observation (DISO), respectively, and generate MME using the overall performance.Results: Compared to the observed data, the overall performance of MME outperforms most of individual models, although many models effectively capture the characteristics of HWs. Projections indicate that HWs in Xinjiang will become more longer lasting and severe. Specifically, heatwave frequency (HWF) and heatwave duration (HWD) are projected to reach 7.5 times and 61 days, respectively, in the long-term under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. The spatial distribution of HWs exhibits significant heterogeneity, with high value regions primarily distributed in eastern Xinjiang and the eastern part of southern Xinjiang. Although the HWs area is projected to expand under all scenarios, the spatial pattern is anticipated to remain largely unchanged.Conclusion: These findings provide a comprehensive assessment of future variations in HWs, which are necessary for improving regional adaptive capacity to extreme heat risk.

Background: The present comprehensive protocol is focused on the detection of pathogenic enteric RNA viruses, explicitly focusing on norovirus genogroup Ⅱ (GⅡ), astrovirus, rotavirus, Aichi virus, sapovirus, hepatitis A and E viruses in wastewater treatment plants through droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Enteric viruses are of significant public health concern, as they are the leading cause of diseases like gastroenteritis. Regular monitoring of environmental samples, particularly from wastewater treatment plants, is crucial for early detection and control of these viruses. This research aims to improve the understanding of the prevalence and dynamics of enteric viruses in urban India and will serve as a model for similar studies in other regions. Our protocol's objective is to establish a novel ddPCR-based methodology for the detection and molecular characterization of enteric viruses present in wastewater samples sourced from Bhopal, India. Our assay is capable of accurately quantifying virus concentrations without standard curves, minimizing extensive optimization, and enhancing sensitivity and precision, especially for low-abundance targets. Methods: The study involves fortnightly collecting and analyzing samples from nine wastewater treatment plants over two years, ensuring comprehensive coverage and consistent data. Our study innovatively applies ddPCR to simultaneously detect and quantify enteric viruses in wastewater, a more advanced technique. Additionally, we will employ next-generation sequencing for detailed viral genome identification in samples tested positive for pathogenic viruses. Conclusion: This study will aid in understanding these viruses’ genetic diversity and mutation rates, which is crucial for developing tailored intervention strategies. The findings will be instrumental in shaping public health responses and improving epidemiological surveillance, especially in localities heaving sewage networks.

Anxiety and depression are common psychological disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which was upsurging worldwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore factors associated with anxiety and depression among T2DM patients in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients using face-to-face interviews. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the CAS and PHQ-9 scales. Outcomes were assessed including sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and challenges of getting routine medical and healthcare access-related questions. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 29.8% and 22.7%, respectively. Regression analysis reported that males older than 50 years, illiterate, unemployed or retired, urban residents, below the recommended level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), low dietary diversity score (DDS) and obese respondents were associated with higher odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Moreover, respondents with transport difficulties, unaffordable medicine, medicine shortages, close friends or family members diagnosed with COVID-19 and financial problems during COVID-19 had higher odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms than their counterparts, respectively. Our study suggests providing psychological support, such as home-based psychological interventions, and highlighting policy implications to ensure the well-being of T2DM patients in Bangladesh during the pandemic.

At Asiacrypt 2017, Rønjom et al. presented key-independent distinguishers for different numbers of rounds of AES, ranging from 3 to 6 rounds, in their work titled “Yoyo Tricks with AES”. The reported data complexities for these distinguishers were 3, 4, 225.8, and 2122.83, respectively. In this work, we revisit those key-independent distinguishers and analyze their success probabilities. We show that the distinguishing algorithms provided for 5 and 6 rounds of AES in the paper of Rønjom et al. are ineffective with the proposed data complexities. Our thorough theoretical analysis has revealed that the success probability of these distinguishers for both 5-round and 6-round AES is approximately 0.5, with the corresponding data complexities mentioned earlier. We investigate the reasons behind this seemingly random behavior of those reported distinguishers. Based on our theoretical findings, we have revised the distinguishing algorithm for 5-round AES. Our revised algorithm demonstrates success probabilities of approximately 0.55 and 0.81 for 5-round AES, with data complexities of 229.95 and 230.65, respectively. We have also conducted experimental tests to validate our theoretical findings, which further support our findings. Additionally, we have theoretically demonstrated that improving the success probability of the distinguisher for 6-round AES from 0.50000 to 0.50004 would require a data complexity of 2129.15. This finding invalidates the reported distinguisher by Rønjom et al. for 6-round AES.

AbstractKarakoram Himalayas are vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which cause catastrophic floods in the surrounding areas. The increasing natural and anthropogenic activities, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plains at the southern flank of the towering Himalayas, could be the cause of climate change affecting the frequency of the natural hazards in the Himalayas. In the present study, a detailed analysis of the Shisper Lake breach of 7 May 2022 is carried out using satellite remote sensing. A decreasing trend in the glacial mass balance is observed between 2017 and 2021; in this period, frequent GLOF episodes occurred. A pronounced decline in the snow cover and glacial debris (before the cascade) and an abnormal increase in land surface temperature (LST) retrieved from satellite data could be responsible for the enhanced snow/glacial melting prior to the breach. Alteration in glacial mobility (cm/12 days) is observed at the locations where the glacier melts due to an increase in LST with increased debris cover. In the paper, we have studied changes in water quality and land cover along the stream after the GLOF. An increment in normalized difference turbidity index (NDTI) is observed before the flood showing turbulence and sediment load. Increased glacial melt contribution into the stream results in increased flow rate and decreased water quality as observed through normalized difference water index (NDWI) and normalized difference chlorophyll index (NDCI), near the Karakoram Highway Bridge. Sentinel-1 backscatter coefficient indicates increased discharge from the melting of glaciers. A significant reduction in co-flood coherence is observed, attributed to the bridge collapse and severe bank erosion.

Pelviureteric Junction Obstruction (PUJO) can cause recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), pain, and loss of renal unit function. Surgical intervention is often required, and numerous treatment strategies have been employed. Vertical flap pyeloplasty was initially described as the technique of choice in PUJO patients with the large box-shaped extra-renal pelvis and longer segment strictures (usually >2 cm). In the present case series, 11 patients underwent vertical flap pyeloplasty for PUJO with a large extrarenal box-shaped pelvis. Demographic, perioperative, and follow-up data were recorded. Success was defined as symptomatic improvement and an improvement in early Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetate (DTPA) renogram at six months. In the present series, all 11 patients showed an improvement in Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) with an average improvement of 11.9 mL. The procedure was technically easier, less time-consuming, and produced acceptable results. Vertical flap pyeloplasty could be considered as a practical, technically easier, and effective treatment option in PUJO with a large extrarenal pelvis and long segment strictures.

Remanufacturing industry gives an opportunity to rework defective products from a production system and make them useful again. When an industry remanufactures multiple similar types of products, every type of product goes through the same procedure repetitively. Repetition of the same procedure for similar products causes the overuse of a machine. This study investigates a flexible production system to reduce the overuse of machines for repetitive tasks. A two-stage flexible production system is considered where the common parts of multiple products are produced and remanufactured in the Stage 1. Continuing from Stage 1, the rest product-specific production of each product and remanufacturing processes are completed in Stage 2. Transportation of products uses a multiple delivery policy. This study aims to optimize the cycle time for the production process along with the production rate for Stages 1 and 2. The model is solved by a classical optimization technique and numerical results find the minimum cost of the remanufacturing system. A linear along with non-linear relationship effect of the shared-production process on the production cost are discussed. Results show that the two-stage production system with a shared-production process is cost-efficient and reduce the cycle time.

Abstract Ectopic fat deposition is more strongly associated with obesity-related health problems including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), hypothyroidism, arthritis, etc. Our study aimed at identifying the cumulative role of several risk factors in developing obesity and the role of ectopic fat (visceral fat) in predicting cardiovascular disease risk in varied age groups among urban adult academic professionals in West Bengal. 650 adults (Male = 456; Female = 194) associated with the academic job (age 20–65 years) in urban West Bengal were randomly selected for anthropometric, blood biochemical, and questionnaire-based analyses. Body Mass Index and Visceral Fat% exhibited comparable association with all the other anthropometric parameters (e.g. Whole body Subcutaneous fat%: male-Linear Regression Comparison: F = 11.68; P

Inconel 718’s exceptional strength and corrosion resistance make it a versatile superalloy widely adopted in diverse industries, attesting to its reliability. Electrochemical machining (ECM) further enhances its suitability for intricate part fabrication, ensuring complex shapes, dimensional accuracy, stress-free results, and minimal thermal damage. Thus, this research endeavors to conduct a novel investigation into the electrochemical machining (ECM) of the superalloy Inconel 718. The study focuses on unraveling the intricate influence of key input process parameters—namely, electrolytic concentration, tool feed rate, and voltage—on critical response variables such as surface roughness (SR), material removal rate (MRR), and radial overcut (RO) in the machining process. The powerful tool, response surface methodology (RSM), is used for understanding and optimizing complex systems by developing mathematical models that describe the relationships between input and response variables. Under a 95% confidence level, analysis of variance (ANOVA) suggests that electrolyte concentration, voltage, and tool feed rate are the most important factors influencing the response characteristics. Moreover, the incorporation of ANN modeling and the MOGA-ANN optimization algorithm introduces a novel and comprehensive approach to determining the optimal machining parameters. It considers multiple objectives simultaneously, considering the trade-offs between them, and provides a set of solutions that achieve the desired balance between MRR, SR, and RO. Confirmation experiments are carried out, and the absolute percentage errors between experimental and optimized values are assessed. The detailed surface topography and elemental mapping were performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The nano/micro particles of Inconel 718 metal powder, obtained from ECM sludge/cakes, along with the released hydrogen byproducts, offer promising opportunities for recycling and various applications. These materials can be effectively utilized in powder metallurgy products, leading to enhanced cost efficiency.

Multinucleated Giant Cells (MGCs) are specialized cells that develop from the fusion of multiple cells, and their presence is commonly observed in human cells during various infections. However, MGC formation is not restricted to infections alone but can also occur through different mechanisms, such as endoreplication and abortive cell cycle. These processes lead to the formation of polyploid cells, eventually resulting in the formation of MGCs. In Entamoeba, a protozoan parasite that causes amoebic dysentery and liver abscesses in humans, the formation of MGCs is a unique phenomenon and not been reported in any other protozoa. This organism is exposed to various hostile environmental conditions, including changes in temperature, pH, and nutrient availability, which can lead to stress and damage to its cells. The formation of MGCs in Entamoeba is thought to be a survival strategy to cope with these adverse conditions. This organism forms MGCs through cell aggregation and fusion in response to osmotic and heat stress. The MGCs in Entamoeba are thought to have increased resistance to various stresses and can survive longer than normal cells under adverse conditions. This increased survival could be due to the presence of multiple nuclei, which could provide redundancy in case of DNA damage or mutations. Additionally, MGCs may play a role in the virulence of Entamoeba as they are found in the inflammatory foci of amoebic liver abscesses and other infections caused by Entamoeba. The presence of MGCs in these infections suggests that they may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Overall, this article offers valuable insights into the intriguing phenomenon of MGC formation in Entamoeba. By unraveling the mechanisms behind this process and examining its implications, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the complex biology of Entamoeba and potentially identify new targets for therapeutic interventions. The study of MGCs in Entamoeba serves as a gateway to exploring the broader field of cell fusion in various organisms, providing a foundation for future investigations into related cellular processes and their significance in health and disease.

Background: Integrated teaching has been recognized by the National Medical Commission as an effective method for enhancing knowledge and clinical correlation abilities among undergraduate medical students. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of first-phase undergraduate medical students and faculty toward the vertically integrated teaching–learning sessions in anatomy. Methodology: Three sessions of shared integration were conducted in the department of anatomy, involving the departments of surgery and orthopedics. After completion of the sessions, 147 students and 47 faculty members filled out prevalidated questionnaires to assess their perception of the integrated sessions. Feedback from the faculty was also taken. Statistical analysis was done by expressing the responses to the questionnaire on the five-point Likert scale as frequencies. Results: More than 85% of the students and faculty found these sessions engaging, interesting, and useful for understanding clinical problems related to anatomy. The students and faculty perceived the knowledge gained during these sessions as beneficial for answering university examination questions and for future clinical phases. However, 66% of the faculty expressed concerns about the time and coordination required for these sessions, and 89% considered arranging them challenging due to limited workforce availability. Conclusion: The findings indicate that undergraduate medical students perceive integrated teaching as a practical approach for acquiring anatomical knowledge and correlating it with the clinical aspects of a problem. Faculty members also acknowledged the usefulness of these sessions, but the challenges of regular arrangement were also highlighted. These results emphasize the importance of balancing clinical and anatomical education and provide insights for implementing integrated teaching strategies in the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Background and Aims: Magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate have been reported to attenuate postoperative sore throat (POST). The study aims to compare the effect of preoperative magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate gargle on the incidence and severity of POST following endotracheal intubation within 24 h. Methods: After ethics committee approval, 132 patients were randomly allocated to three groups (M, Z and D). Fifteen minutes before laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, patients assigned to groups M and Z received a solution for gargle containing magnesium sulphate 20 mg/kg and zinc sulphate containing 40 mg of elemental zinc dissolved in 20 ml of 5% dextrose solution, respectively. Group D received 20 ml of 5% dextrose solution. Incidence and severity of POST (4-point score: Grade 0- no sore throat, Grade 1- mild sore throat, Grade 2- moderate sore throat, Grade 3- severe sore throat) was assessed for 24 h after extubation. Statistica, Version 8.0 (StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA) was used for analysing the data. Results: The lowest incidence of POST in group M was 13.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–23.7) compared to 0% in group Z, whereas the highest incidence recorded in group M was 25% (95% CI 12.2–37.7) in contrast to 13.6% (95% CI 3.5–23.7) in group Z during the first 24 h after operation. It was observed that the incidence of mild POST (POST score 1) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in group Z compared to group M in the first 4 h postoperatively. Conclusion: Zinc sulphate gargle before laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is more effective for reducing the incidence of POST than magnesium sulphate gargle.

Abstract This article presents an enormously effective Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS)‐based n‐ZnS/p‐CZTS/p+‐WSe2 thin film solar cell. The device has been studied by varying the thickness, doping concentration and defect density of each layer utilizing SCAPS‐1D simulation software. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) for n‐ZnS/p‐CZTS single heterojunction is 14.06% with the JSC = 20.26 mA cm−2, VOC = 0.88 V and FF = 78.59%, respectively. This PCE is elevated to 27.31% with the JSC = 33.72 mA cm−2, VOC = 0.97 V and FF = 83.75%, respectively due to insertion of WSe2 back surface field (BSF) layer in the same structure. The significant improvement of PCE mainly depends on short circuit current which is resulted due to WSe2 layer that absorbs sub‐band gap photons through tail‐states‐assisted (TSA) photon upconversion method. These entire results demonstrate the potential of WSe2 as BSF layer in CZTS‐based thin film solar cells.

Himalayan mountain ranges separate the Tibetan plateau from the Indian subcontinent, where challenging topography, ongoing orogeny, and weather conditions are significant factors behind mass movements. The detachment of a composite rock-ice mass occurred on 7-Feb-2021 over the north-eastern slope of the Trisul mountain resulting in devastation along the Rishiganga-Dhauliganga valley, Uttarakhand. In this study, an attempt is made to understand the failure mechanism of the overhang wedge, where prolonged glacial mobility is seen as a possible factor behind the formation of such a structure. The temporal movement (2020–2021; annual & seasonal) of metamorphosed ice is assessed using sub-pixel offset tracking of Sentinel-1A-GRD data. Kinematic analysis checks failure susceptibility due to joint sets within the rockmass. Slope stability analysis is performed using probabilistic back analysis for three values of coefficient of variation (CoV), i.e., 10%, 15%, and 20% considering cohesion (c) and angle of internal friction (ϕ) as random variables. The detachment impact is quantified using rockfall simulation and parameters such as maximum bounce height, total kinetic energy, and translational velocity. Finally, probabilistic analysis of parameters is performed that may be useful in developing a mitigation system.

Abstract In this article, we demonstrate the solution methodology of start-up electrokinetic flow of non-Newtonian fluids in a microfluidic channel having square cross-section using Spreadsheet analysis tool. In order to incorporate the rheology of the non-Newtonian fluids, we take into consideration the Ostwald-de Waele power law model. By making a comprehensive discussion on the implementation details of the discretized form of the transport equations in Spreadsheet analysis tool, and establishing the analytical solution for a special case of the start-up flow, we compare the results both during initial transience as well as in case of steady-state scenario. Also, to substantiate the efficacy of the proposed spreadsheet analysis in addressing the detailed flow physics of rheological fluids, we verify the results for several cases with the corresponding numerical results. It is found that the solution obtained from the Spreadsheet analysis is in good agreement with the numerical results—a finding supporting spreadsheet analysis's suitability for capturing the fine details of microscale flows. We strongly believe that our analysis study will open up a new research scope in simulating microscale transport process of non-Newtonian fluids in the framework of cost-effective and non-time consuming manner.

Abstract Background The complement system functions primarily as a first-line host defense against invading microbes, including viruses. However, the interaction of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with the complement-components during chronic HBV infection remains largely unknown. We investigated the mechanism by which HBV inhibits the formation of cytolytic complement membrane-attack complex (MAC) and studied its impact on MAC-mediated microbicidal activity and disease pathogenesis. Methods Blood/liver tissues were collected from chronically HBV-infected patients and controls. HepG2hNTCP cells were infected with HBV particles and Huh7 cells were transfected with full-length linear HBV-monomer or plasmids containing different HBV-ORFs and expression of complement components or other host genes were evaluated. Additionally, ELISA, Real-time PCR, Western blot, bioinformatics analysis, gene overexpression/knock-down, mutagenesis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, epigenetic studies, immunofluorescence, and quantification of serum HBV-DNA, bacterial-DNA and endotoxin were performed. Results Among the MAC components (C5b-C9), significant reduction was noted in the expression of C9, the major constituent of MAC, in HBV-infected HepG2hNTCP cells and in Huh7 cells transfected with full-length HBV as well as HBX. C9 level was also marked low in sera/liver of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and Immune-tolerant (IT) patients than inactive carriers and healthy controls. HBX strongly repressed C9-promoter activity in Huh7 cells but CpG-island was not detected in C9-promoter. We identified USF-1 as the key transcription factor that drives C9 expression and demonstrated that HBX-induced hypermethylation of USF-1-promoter is the leading cause of USF-1 downregulation that in turn diminished C9 transcription. Reduced MAC formation and impaired lysis of HBV-transfected Huh7 and bacterial cells were observed following incubation of these cells with C9-deficient CHB sera but was reversed upon C9 supplementation. Significant inverse correlation was noted between C9 concentration and HBV-DNA, bacterial-DNA and endotoxin content in HBV-infected patients. One-year Tenofovir therapy resulted in improvement in C9 level and decline in viral/bacterial/endotoxin load in CHB patients. Conclusion Collectively, HBX suppressed C9 transcription by restricting the availability of USF-1 through hypermethylation of USF-1-promoter and consequently hinder the formation and lytic functions of MAC. Early therapy is needed for both CHB and IT to normalize the aberrant complement profile and contain viral and bacterial infection and limit disease progression.

Background: Brain imaging techniques provide the ability to noninvasively map the structure and functions of the brain. Brain vascular malformation mainly affects people in the 5th decade followed by 4th and 3rd decade. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic supremacy of computed tomography angiography (CTA)/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the detection of intracranial vascular anomalies. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive study with cross-sectional design was performed among 50 patients of both sexes undergoing DSA test at Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata with acute stroke syndrome or any other symptoms suggesting intracranial vascular lesion, who were investigated with one or more index tests and a reference standard diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) or MR scanning or other parameters. DSA served as the standard of reference for presence of intracranial vascular anomalies. Results: Out of the 50 patients included in the study, 41 were diagnosed with vascular malformations by DSA. Moya moya disease was diagnosed in three and distal AV fistula in six patients. In the 41 patients with vascular malformations, CTA could correctly identify 17 (41.5%) cases whereas MRA could identify 73.2% cases. Conclusion: DSA can be used for both diagnostic and interventional angiography. Its high spatial and temporal resolution have maintained DSA as a very important tool. The study reveal DSA is more superior to accurate angioarchitectural delineation of different intracerebral vascular malformation.