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In this work, we delved into the intriguing realm of nuclear physics by investigating fusion reactions initiated by 7 0 Zn projectiles colliding with various stable isotopes of thorium nuclei, including 2 2 7 − 2 3 2 , 2 3 4 Th. Our primary objective was the synthesis of the superheavy element Z = 1 2 0. To achieve this, we employed an advanced statistical model to evaluate the evaporation residue cross-sections. Remarkably, we observed that the fusion reaction between 7 0 Zn and 2 3 1 Th exhibited the highest evaporation residue cross-sections, reaching a peak value. Furthermore, the 3n channel within this fusion reaction yielded substantially larger evaporation cross-sections, with a notable value of 0.89 picobarns. The predicted cross-sections fall within the measurable range, making them highly valuable for experimental endeavors aimed at synthesizing the superheavy element Z = 1 2 0. This research not only contributes to our understanding of nuclear reactions but also holds promise for expanding our knowledge of the heaviest elements in the periodic table, potentially opening new frontiers in nuclear science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary studies have shown that yoga as well as fenugreek are beneficial in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This clinical trial is the first of its kind to prospectively evaluate in a multicentric, randomized, and controlled design if yoga and fenugreek can prevent the composite outcome of T2DM in prediabetic individuals. It aims to investigate whether there is an effective and safe treatment modality for the prevention of T2DMwhich is also-cost effective and can be implemented easily on a large scale so as to reduce the burden of T2DM. One thousand five hundred obese prediabetic individual aged 30–70 years were proposed to be identified on the basis of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and randomized to one of the three intervention arms viz standard life style measures + placebo (n = 500), standard life style measures + placebo + yoga (n = 500), and Standard life style measures + fenugreek (n = 500). Yoga consisted of a 40-min session each day which included yoga asanas and pranayamas. Fenugreek was given as fenugreek powder. All subjects were followed on an outpatient basis for 3 years, and annual OGTTs were done to pick up incident cases of diabetes mellitus. Incident rates, time to event analysis, and hazard ratios were compared between the groups. Secondary outcomes studied were change in glycemia, quality of life, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, beta cell function (HOMA-B), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and adverse events. Trial registration: Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2013/01/003316. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rotational night shift work has been shown to be associated with increased risk of diabetes. However, the exact mechanism is not clear. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of TCF7L2 and PPAR-γ genes in healthcare workers with normal glucose tolerance performing rotational night shift duties. Methods: The expression of TCF7L2 and PPAR-γ genes in peripheral blood was compared in two groups (n = 20 each group) of healthcare workers with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The first group included NGT healthcare workers performing rotational night shift duties. The second group included NGT healthcare workers performing regular day shifts. Blood samples in the study group were collected 1 week after the last night shift to document the long-term effects of night shift work on the expression of TCF7L2 and PPAR-γ genes. Results: The age of study participants in the first group was 29.7 ± 3.92 and in the second group was 29.7 ± 2.23 years. Body mass index was 23.69 ± 2.59 and 24.35 ± 2.82 kg/m2 in both groups, respectively (p = 0.4). The expression of TCF7L2 gene was found to be 4.6-fold increased in NGT healthcare workers performing rotational night shift duties compared to those performing day shift duties (p = 0.02). The expression of PPAR-γ gene was found to be 3.7-fold decreased in NGT healthcare workers performing rotational night shift duties compared to those performing day shift duties (p = 0.04). The mean duration of exposure to rotational night shift work was 4.6 years. Conclusion: Rotational night shift work adversely affects the expression of common diabetogenic genes TCF7L2 and PPAR-γ in healthcare workers with normal glucose tolerance. This suggests a possible role for the dysregulation of these genes in shift work associated diabetes risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: General anaesthesia is associated with marked cardiovascular changes. Previous studies say that etomidate can be used in patients with limited hemodynamic reserve and propofol can lead to more hemodynamic instabilities. Hence, the present study was undertaken to compare the effects of propofol and etomidate on hemodynamicA changes during induction of general anaesthesia. Method: total 70 patients of ASA grade I & II, aged 18-60 years, weighs 40-80 kg, undergoing surgeries with general anesthesia were included and randomly divided into two equal groups. Induction of anaesthesia was carried out by using 0.3 mg/kg of etomidate in group A patients and 2.0 mg/kg of propofol in group B patients. Hemodynamic parameters such as: heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and O2 saturation (SpO2) was measured and recorded at 1,3,5 and 10 minutes after intubation. Results: Both the groups were comparable and found no significant difference regarding demographic profile of patients, (p>0.05). At various time intervals i.e., T0 (before induction), T1 (after 1 min), T2 (after 3 mins), T3 (after 5 mins) and T4 (after 10 mins) the mean values of HR and SpO2 was comparable between two groups, (p>0.05) while the mean values of SBP, DBP and MAP were significantly lower in group B compared to group A, (p<0.05). Conclusion:Etomidate is haemodynamically more stable compared to propofol as the incidence and severity of hypotension are higher with propofol. Etomidate is a better option in patient's particularly prone to hemodynamic instability at induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work utilized the conventional transesterification process to convert waste pork fat into pork fat biodiesel. The produced biodiesel was meant to serve as a diesel fuel substitution for common rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engines. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) as an antioxidant doping with waste pork fat biodiesel-diesel blend has not been analyzed in CRDI diesel engines. Therefore, to improve the ignition process and reduce the engine exhaust emissions in a research CRDI diesel engine, the BHT was employed to combine with diesel-biodiesel mixtures in this work. BHT antioxidants are partially mixed (BHT 50, 100, and 150 ppm) to improve the physicochemical qualities of test fuel and enhance the combustion process of diesel-biodiesel blends (B20). The antioxidant purity was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), structures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyzer spectrograph was utilized to study the biodiesel chemical components. After mixing the BHT, the overall phase of the base fuel remained constant. The experiment outcomes revealed that the biodiesel had higher cylinder pressure than the other test fuels, and the BHT100 ppm blend had a higher heat release rate (HRR). B20BHT100 blend shows 3.98% higher brake thermal efficiency (BTE) at full load operation than pure biodiesel but lowered to diesel fuel. Biodiesel (B100) decreases the smoke opacity by 4.5% compared to diesel fuel. BHT has been incorporated into the biodiesel blend to minimize oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions at all loads. The B20BHT150 blend decreased NOx emissions by 5.06% more than diesel fuel at maximum load. Compared to pure biodiesel, the B20 blends reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 7.1% and hydrocarbon emission (HC) by 12.5%. This research found that adding BHT to biodiesel blends lowers NOx emissions with a slight impact on performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Table 1 Chemical and physical properties of mercerized and untreated AJ fibers HT

Swarm intelligence algorithms are nature-inspired algorithms that mimic natural phenomena to solve optimization problems. These natural phenomena are intelligent animal behavior used by animals for survival from hunting prey, migration, escaping predators, and reproduction. Some examples are ant colonies, flocking of birds, tracking patterns of hawks, herding behaviour of animals, bacterial growth, fish schooling, and intelligent microbial organisms. The Rubik's cube is a 3D combinatorial puzzle with six faces covered by nine stickers of colors: white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow. The objective is to turn the scrambled cube, where each side will have more than one colour, into a solved cube having only one colour on each side. This study uses the following algorithms - particle swarm optimization, ant colony optimization, discrete krill herd optimization, and a greedy tree search algorithm - to investigate which of the four can solve the Rubik's cube in the shortest time using the shortest possible move sequence and show that swarm intelligence algorithms are capable of solving the Rubik's cube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective: Early detection and prompt treatment of GDM will go a long way in reducing the burden of T2DM. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether abnormal lipid profile including fasting as well as postprandial triglycerides, fasting total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol at 12 weeks of gestation (first trimester) may be used as simple predictive risk markers for developing GDM at a later stage. Methods: It was a prospective case-control study carried out in 45 subjects with GDM and selected equal number of age and BMI matched non-GDM subjects. A mixed meal consisting of two plain parathas and 20-g butter was given to all the subjects to evaluate 4-h triglyceride levels. Lipid levels were measured in all subjects at 11–13 weeks of gestation. At 24–28 weeks, all subjects were screened for GDM using a standardized oral glucose tolerance test. Results: The study found significantly higher levels of fasting cholesterol, LDLc, and PPTg levels in subjects in their first trimester in those with GDM compared to those without GDM. Logistic regression analysis revealed higher odds of GDM with increasing 4-h PPTg levels {OR=1.01(1.001-1.02), p=0.02} and fasting cholesterol [OR=1.02 (1.001-1.03), p=0.001]. The ROC curve generated for the combined model of total cholesterol and PPTg has a higher area under the curve as compared to other parameters. Conclusion: A combination of elevated fasting cholesterol and PPTg levels at an early stage of gestation can significantly predict future GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) is a lesser-known complication of diabetes mellitus that affects the stomach's ability to empty properly. The prevalence of DGP is high in many parts of the world, including Brazil, Thailand, and China. However, it is suspected that DGP is under-reported in Asian countries due to a lack of awareness among physicians and limited diagnostic equipment. DGP can cause symptoms such as early satiety, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. It can also impair the quality of life and increase mortality rates in patients with diabetes. The diagnosis of DGP requires delayed gastric emptying by scintigraphy, but this test may not be readily available in all healthcare facilities. Treatment options for DGP include anti-emetic and gastric motility-enhancing drugs, dietary modifications, and better glycemic control. Ongoing research is exploring the use of ghrelin receptor analogues, 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5HT-4) agonists, neurokinin-1 antagonists, and motilin agonists as potential therapies for DGP. A recent study has shown promising results with the use of Pistacia lentiscus stem extract, which improved gastric emptying and symptoms of DGP without significant adverse effects. Increased recognition of DGP by healthcare providers is crucial for improving diagnosis, treatment, and research in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) has been the "gold standard" for surgical removal of the enlarged prostatic adenoma for many decades, and is likely to remain so despite the advent of multiple minimally invasive alternative procedures. TURP has stood the test of time, whereas the alternatives have come and gone in succession, as we have witnessed over the years. The accompanying video demonstrates the complete steps of TURP in a case of prostatic adenoma, highlighting the important nuances of the principles and the technique of resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Asian‑Indian individuals with diabetes have been shown to have low vitamin D levels. Whether this hypovitamonisis D is associated with hyperleptinaemia is unclear. Also, whether this association is different in those with and without insulin resistance has not been ascertained. The present study aimed to investigate the association of 25‑hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH) vitamin D] and leptin in individuals with and without insulin resistance. Methods: Ninety two individuals were recruited in two study groups (n = 46 each group). First group included individuals with insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA‑IR] ≥2.0). Second group included those without insulin resistance (HOMA‑IR <2.0). Comparison of 25(OH) vitamin D, leptin, anthropometry, and biochemical parameters was done between two groups and correlations between 25(OH) vitamin D, leptin, and HOMA‑IR were studied. Results: Individuals with insulin resistance were of simiar age (39.6 ± 5.3 years) and body mass index (24.4 ± 3.2 kg/m² ) as those without (39.5 ± 5.2 years and 23.6 ± 3.2 kg/m² ). Individuals with insulin resistance showed significantly lower 25(OH) vitamin D (17.8 ± 7.1 vs. 22.3 ± 11.6 ng/mL, P = .03) and significantly higher leptin levels (16.9 ± 15.8 vs. 9.6 ± 9.3 ng/mL, P = .09) compared to those without. Significant negative correlation was observed between 25(OH) vitamin D and leptin levels overall (r = ‑0.3, P = .008). HOMA‑IR showed significantly negative correlation with 25(OH) vitamin D levels in individuals with insulin resistance (r = ‑0.33, P = .027). Conclusion: The present study found higher circulating leptin levels and lower 25(OH) vitamin D levels in individuals with insulin resistance. 25(OH) vitamin D levels were inversely associated with leptin levels particularly in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a cost-effective unconventional machining method used for machining any composites materials. EDM is based on the thermoelectric energy between the electrode and workpiece. In this work, boron carbide particles of 50 nm (6 wt.%) are reinforced with aluminum 7075 (94 wt.%) prepared using stir casting method. The stir casting process is carried out at speed of 700–800 rev/min. The fabricated aluminum-boron carbide nanometal matrix composites are used as workpiece (anode); copper electrode is used as tool (cathode). This work investigates the influence of EDM process parameters such as current (I), pulse on-time (ton), and tool diameter (d) during machining of Al-B4C composite on metal removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR). The design of experimental plan is executed by Taguchi approach, and the responses of each parameter are influenced by analysis of variances (ANOVA). Response table for average value of MRR and TWR shows that the current is the significant parameter affecting MRR and TWR. From this work, it was observed that material removal rate increased with increasing the current, and the tool wear rate decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This current study focuses on the suitability evaluation of cellulose fibers from the stem of Albizia julibrissin (AJ) plant. Density, Diameter, chemical constitutions, thermal degradation nature, crystallinity and topographical properties of AJF was evaluated. The results concluded that the cellulose percentage was higher with 55.83 wt. % with a lower percentage of lignin (16.03 wt. %) and hemicellulose (10.74 wt. %) for AJ fibers. The X-Ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystallinity index value of the proposed fiber is 27.77% and the crystalline size is 6.79 nm. The thermo gravimetric analysis showed excellent stability with a char residue of 25.23% and a maximum degradation temperature of 330°C. Based on the outcomes in comparison with other cellulose fibers, it is proved that AJ fibers could be effectively used as reinforcement in the manufacturing of lightweight composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last few decades, natural fibers are used as reinforcement in polymer composites and they have been continuously used in the field of automotive, aircraft, and biomedical industries. In this work, carbon fiber polymer composites (CFPC) with seaweed fillers were fabricated using the hand-layup method. Sliding wear experiments were conducted under the dry condition on the fabricated samples. The effect of operating parameters like sliding speed (m/s), load (kg), sliding distance (m), and seaweed filler loading on specific wear rate (Ws) was investigated. Experimental results showed exceptional wear resistance of carbon fiber epoxy composite containing seaweed filler. Especially, 10 wt. % of seaweed fillers offered lower wear rate as compared to conventional carbon composite. In this investigation, a minimum wear rate of 2.4 µm was obtained for the sliding velocity of 1.5 m/sec, applied load of 2 N, and sliding distance of 1000 m in 10 wt. % of seaweed-filled composites. It was noted that resistance to wear in seaweed-filled composite was mainly due to fiber fracture mechanism and microcracking. The increasing trend of impact strength has been well perceived from the dipping trend in specific wear rate on seaweed dispersion in the CF10SW epoxy composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using US data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and following propensity score matching analysis, the study demonstrates that church attendance during youth has significant positive effects on an individual's psychological capital endowments in the form of self-esteem, positive attitude and self-satisfaction during adulthood. Since a higher level of psychological capital is associated with better economic performance, the study further demonstrates that church attendance during earlier years of life affects an individual's future earnings indirectly through its direct effects on his/her psychological capital endowments. The study offers an important policy proposal and recommends further research for its validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) known to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Topics include appropriate management of the women during pregnancy followed by suitable lifestyle interventions in the mother in the postpartum period; and biomarkers for prediction of GDM showing infammatory markers and adipocytokines.

An introduction is presented in which author discusses articles on topics including focuses on diabetes patients with and without hepatic steatosis and considered previous studies have reported positive correlation between HbA1c and NAFLD in both diabetes patients and those without diabetes.

Introduction: Leptin resistance is believed to cause insulin resistance though the exact mechanism is not fully understood. The present study aims to investigate the temporal profile of postprandial triglyceride (PPTG) and leptin levels, and their association with each other as well as with markers of metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: Serum leptin and PPTG levels were measured longitudinally till 26 weeks in Wistar rats fed on controlled diet (group 1) and high sucrose diet (HSD) (group 2). Two additional groups fed on HSD were taken and treated with pioglitazone (group 3) and atorvastatin (group 4). Body weight, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and glucose intolerance were also measured during this period. Comparison of the groups were done and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to ascertain the association. Results: Leptin levels were significantly higher in all three groups receiving HSD compared to controlled diet group from week 2 to week 26 (P < 0.01). The postprandial triglyceride area under the curve (PPTG AUCs) were significantly higher in group 2 than controls during this period (P < 0.001). Body weight, HOMA-IR and glucose AUC were found to be significantly higher in group 2 rats than controls only from week 6, 8, and 12 respectively. In HSD-fed rats, but not in control, mean serum leptin levels from 2-26 weeks as well as peak (10th week) and 26th week were strongly associated with corresponding as well as preceding PPTG levels. Leptin levels significantly predicted HOMA-IR and prediabetes in group 2. Conclusion: This study found significant hyperleptinemia associated with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia that predicted insulin resistance and prediabetes in high sucrose diet–fed rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread phenomenon in Ethiopia, the relationship between help-seeking sources and IPV is not well understood. Better understanding of this relationship could play a role in preventing IPV. We used data collected in the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey and limited our study to women who have ever been married, aged 15 to 49 years (n = 4469). Overall, the proportions of women who have ever experienced emotional abuse, physical, or sexual violence were 24%, 23.1%, and 10.1%. Women who sought informal help (family) were 2.42 times more likely (OR = 2.42; CI 1.29–4.55) to have ever experienced emotional abuse than women who did not seek family help. Neither formal nor informal help-seeking significantly associated with physical or sexual violence. The results may indicate difficulties women face in seeking help and cultural and social norms that tolerate IPV as an acceptable part of family life in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAFLD is twice as more common in adolescents than in older patients with type 2 diabetes and is commonly associated with insulin resistance in adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes. The high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the parents of young people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes reflects a stronger genetic predisposition. The registry of youth-onset diabetes in India (YDR) reported that over 25% of youth-onset diabetes less than 25 years were type 2 diabetes mellitus [[5]] with an incidence of 0.5 cases/100,000 in those under 19 years [[6]]. A majority of patients with type 2 diabetes have at least one parent with type 2 diabetes mellitus [[9]]. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on Sarcopenia that is an age-related degenerative skeletal muscle disorder. Topics include considered that it is characterized by a progressive and generalized decrease in muscle mass, and muscle strength and function as there are many bidirectional links between diabetes mellitus and sarcopenia, and the existence of one may increase the risk of developing other.

Background: Oral rehydration salts (ORS) therapy for diarrheal diseases is considered an effective therapy that can be applied in many resource-poor settings. Nevertheless, it has been consistently underutilized, and as a result, its potential to reduce child mortality has not been fully exploited. In Ethiopia, the use of ORS therapy for children under five has been inadequate. Like any other health behavior, the provision of ORS therapy to children during diarrheal episodes by caregivers is complex and context dependent. Identifying the factors may help promote wider application. Design and methods: We used data from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS-2016). Samples were selected by a two-stage stratified cluster sampling method. We used data on children under five years of age whose mothers (aged 15-49 years) reported that the child had had diarrhea within two weeks before the survey was conducted (n=1221). The dependent variable was whether these children received ORS therapy. The contextual independent factors were socio-demographic variables (mothers’ age, child’s age, child’s sex, child’s place of residence, household wealth, and mother/ husband/partner’s education levels and work status), as well as media exposure and healthcare utilization. Results: The prevalence of ORS therapy use among the children was 30%. Mothers who had made at least four prenatal visits during their last pregnancy were 87% more likely to use ORS therapy for their children than those who had fewer prenatal visits (OR=1.874; CI: 1.140-3.082; p=0.013). Conclusions: Integrating efforts for scaling-up ORS use with prenatal health care services may have an extra benefit of promoting children’s wellbeing and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform an analysis of the average generalization dynamics of large neural networks trained using gradient descent. We study the practically-relevant "high-dimensional" regime where the number of free parameters in the network is on the order of or even larger than the number of examples in the dataset. Using random matrix theory and exact solutions in linear models, we derive the generalization error and training error dynamics of learning and analyze how they depend on the dimensionality of data and signal to noise ratio of the learning problem. We find that the dynamics of gradient descent learning naturally protect against overtraining and overfitting in large networks. Overtraining is worst at intermediate network sizes, when the effective number of free parameters equals the number of samples, and thus can be reduced by making a network smaller or larger. Additionally, in the high-dimensional regime, low generalization error requires starting with small initial weights. We then turn to non-linear neural networks, and show that making networks very large does not harm their generalization performance. On the contrary, it can in fact reduce overtraining, even without early stopping or regularization of any sort. We identify two novel phenomena underlying this behavior in overcomplete models: first, there is a frozen subspace of the weights in which no learning occurs under gradient descent; and second, the statistical properties of the high-dimensional regime yield better-conditioned input correlations which protect against overtraining. We demonstrate that standard application of theories such as Rademacher complexity are inaccurate in predicting the generalization performance of deep neural networks, and derive an alternative bound which incorporates the frozen subspace and conditioning effects and qualitatively matches the behavior observed in simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-view triangulation is an essential step in recovering three-dimensional structure from a set of images. It is a well-studied problem in computer vision with many suboptimal and optimal methods based on different optimality criteria. In this paper, we assess the ability of evolutionary computation (EC) methods in finding highly accurate solutions to this problem. We use an overlaying Luus–Jaakola optimizer to find good parameter configurations and determine appropriate computational budget for the EC methods. Empirical results on synthetic and real data demonstrate the superior performance of EC methods over existing triangulation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Wheat is preferable over rice due to its lower glycemic index (GI). It is not known if the same is true when these staples are a part of mixed meals, hence we compared the Glycemic responses of wheat/rice containing mixed meals. Materials and Methods: Glycemic responses of 2 mixed meals were compared with reference meal (glucose) where each was designed to provide a total of 50 g of available carbohydrate (AvCHO), in 10 healthy adult volunteers as per recent recommendations. Test meal 1 comprised of a pulse preparation (green gram dal), a vegetable (ladies' finger), and 2 wheat chapattis. In test meal 2 these wheat chapattis were replaced by cooked rice supplying an equal amount of AvCHO. After an overnight fast of 10- 14 h, capillary blood glucose estimations were done subsequent to eating each test meal or glucose. GI of test meals was calculated by comparing their area under curve (AUCs) with AUC for glucose. GI of test meals were compared using unpaired t test. Results: The study sample comprised of 7 males and 3 females with mean age 30.9 ± 5.1y. The GI of test meal 1 (85.5 ± 11.8%) and test meal 2 (83.6 ± 11.4%) was not significantly different (P = 0.7095). Conclusion: The present study found no differences in glycemic index of wheat chapatti and rice based mixed meals with equivalent AvCHO content of the staple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been identified as one of the most promising renewable energy system for use in automotive applications. However, due to the wide range of weather conditions around the world, the PEMFCs must be stable for operating under these variable conditions. One of the inefficiencies of PEMFCs in automotive applications is during vehicle warm-up, where the low hydration level within the PEMFC can lead to a low performance of the fuel cell. In this study, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) was prepared with regular, microstructured features tuned over a range of aspect ratios. These microstructured membranes were incorporated into MEAs and analyzed for their membrane, proton, and oxygen transport resistances. These fuel cells were tested under different conditions to simulate vehicle start-up, normal operating conditions, and hot operating conditions. It was determined that microstructured PEMs improved performance over planar PEMs under both the start-up and hot conditions. Despite the improved performance of the microstructured PEMs, a high hydrogen cross-over and short-circuit current were also observed for these samples. Adjusting the preparation techniques and tuning the dimensions of the microstructures may provide avenues for further optimization of PEMFC performance. Image 1 • Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were prepared with regular arrays of recessed features. • Aspect ratio of the microstructures was controlled by tuning the hot-embossing method. • Structured membranes were coated with catalysts and evaluated for fuel cell performance. • Analyses included assessing the electron, proton, and oxygen transport resistances. • Microstructured PEMs improved performance under both the start-up and hot conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously found that km23‐1/DYNLRB1 is required for transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) production through Ras/ERK pathways in TGFβ‐sensitive epithelial cells and in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Here we demonstrate that km23‐1/DYNLRB1 is required for mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) activation in human CRC cells, detected by km23‐1/DYNLRB1‐siRNA inhibition of phospho‐(p)‐MEK immunostaining in RKO cells. Furthermore, we show that CRISPR‐Cas9 knock‐out (KO) of km23‐1/DYNLRB1 reduced cell migration in two additional CRC models, HCT116 and DLD‐1. Of interest, in contrast to our previous work showing that dynein motor activity was required for TGFβ‐mediated nuclear translocation of Smad2, in the current report, we demonstrate for the first time that disruption of dynein motor activity did not reduce TGFβ‐mediated activation of MEK1/2 or c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, size exclusion chromatography of RKO cell lysates revealed that B‐Raf, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), and p‐ERK were not present in the large molecular weight fractions containing dynein holocomplex components. Furthermore, sucrose gradient fractionation of cell lysates from both HCT116 and CBS CRC cells demonstrated that km23‐1/DYNLRB1 co‐sedimented with Ras, p‐ERK, and ERK in fractions that did not contain components of holo‐dynein. Thus, km23‐1/DYNLRB1 may be associated with activated Ras/ERK signaling complexes in cell compartments that do not contain the dynein holoprotein complex, suggesting dynein‐independent km23‐1/DYNLRB1 functions in Ras/ERK signaling. Finally, of the Ras isoforms, R‐Ras is most often associated with cell migration, adhesion, and protrusive activity. Here, we show that a significant fraction of km23‐1/DYNLRB1 and RRas wase co‐localized at the protruding edges of migrating HCT116 cells, suggesting an important role for the km23‐1/DYNLRB1‐R‐Ras complex in CRC invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: The prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by serum adiponectin levels has shown promise in Western literature. This study looks at the first trimester serum adiponectin levels as a predictor of gestational diabetes in Indian women. Material and Methods: A total of 450 pregnant women were screened at 11--13 weeks of gestation and serum samples were stored. All the women underwent an oral glucose tolerance test to diagnose GDM by International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy study Group criteria at 24--28 weeks of gestation. Amongst these, 45 women who had developed GDM were compared with 45 controls. The first trimester serum adiponectin levels were compared between the two groups. Results: Mean first trimester adiponectin in GDM and non-GDM group was 7.21 ± 2.49 μg/ml and 12.20 ± 2.91 μg/ml, respectively (P < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that low adiponectin was the strongest independent risk factor followed by body mass index and HbA1c. Receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that a cut-off value of adiponectin of 9.10 μg/ml in the first trimester was associated with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 95.6% in predicting GDM. Conclusions: This is the first study from India which has studied the prediction of GDM by first trimester adiponectin levels. First trimester serum adiponectin may be a strong predictor of GDM in Asian Indian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal diffusivity measurements on two nanofluids and their base fluids were made using an optical technique called forced Rayleigh scattering. The nanofluids studied were a citrate-stabilized Au nanoparticle suspension in water and an Al2O3 nanoparticle suspension in a petroleum oil. Thermal diffusivity measurements on the nanofluids and base fluids were made at temperatures in the range of 25–75 °C. From these data, it was possible to estimate the thermal conductivity enhancement in the nanofluids as a function of temperature. In contrast to previous reports on similar systems, our experiments are consistent with thermal conductivity enhancement predictions from effective medium theory. In particular, we find that the level of thermal conductivity enhancement is independent of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the extraction of natural pigment curcumin from curcuma longa and their linear and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics. The characterization techniques viz., UV–Visible absorption, FT-IR, Micro Raman and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrum (GC–MS) are used to study the spectral characteristics of curcumin. Third-order NLO features of curcumin are studied using Z‒scan technique with a semiconductor diode laser working at 405 nm wavelength. The natural pigment exhibits negative nonlinear index of refraction resulting from self-defocusing and positive coefficient of absorption is the consequence of reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The order of nonlinear index of refraction (n2) and nonlinear coefficient of absorption (β) is measured to be 10−7 cm2/W and 10−2 cm/W, respectively. Third-order NLO susceptibility (χ(3)) and second-order hyperpolarizability (γ) of curcumin is measured to be 2.73 × 10‒7 esu and 1.67 × 10‒31 esu, respectively. A low optical limiting (OL) threshold of 0.71 mW is observed in the extracted pigment. The experimental results are supplemented by quantum mechanical calculations of the NLO parameters. The overall result finding is that curcumin extracted from curcuma longa has the potential to be novel optical candidates for photonics and optoelectronics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the authors did not measure urinary iodine excretion, placental iodine levels were used as a surrogate marker for iodine status.[[3]] In this issue, Sarmah I et al. i reported higher GDM prevalence in the mild iodine deficiency group.[[4]] There were no cases of GDM in the moderate iodine deficiency probably due to small number of cases in this group. Iodine is a crucial micronutrient for production of thyroid hormones including triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). [Extracted from the article]

In this issue, Kumar I et al i . have reported endocrine abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with a focus on thyroid and adrenal function.[[2]] Thyroid diseases are common endocrine disorders; and accordingly, a lot of attention has gone into the study of how COVID-19 affects the thyroid. Although the majority of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients remain euthyroid, a significant proportion of those with severe disease manifest with abnormalities in thyroid function. This finding is not surprising as the adrenal crisis has been reported in asymptomatic COVID -19 patients.[[12]] Vascular complications in the adrenals can also occur. The COVID-19 pandemic is well into its second year of existence and our knowledge about this novel infection has increased substantially in this period. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease and its categorization into different clusters has revealed distinct subgroups from all over the world including India but no such study has been done till date in north India. Aims and Objectives: To identify clusters intype 2 diabetes mellitus by k means clustering and to describe different characteristics of patients in each of the identified clusters. Methods: Optimal number of clusters i.e., the K value was decided by two step clustering and the subtypes of the clusters were obtained by K means clustering using SPSS version 29 software. Variables which were used for clustering were age atdiagnosis, BMI, HbA1c, HOMA islet and HOMA insulin resistance (based on fasting C-peptide levels) along with waist circumference which has important role in type 2 diabetes mellitus physiology in south east Asians. Results: Total number of participants were 520, out of which 47.7% were males and females were 52.3%. The optimal number of clusters i.e., K = 4 was determined based on silhouette width. Using this K value K means clustering was done which resulted in formation of clusters differing in phenotypic characters. Cluster 1 severe insulin deficient diabetes (SIDD), Cluster 2 Mild age-related diabetes (MARD), Cluster 3 severe insulin resistant diabetes (SIRD), Cluster 4 mild obesity related diabetes (MOD). Phenotypically these clusters were same as defined by Ahlqvist et al in Scandinavian population. When compared with these Swedish clusters, MOD cluster was most common in our study population (37.1% vs 21.6%). SIDD cluster was more common than in Swedish study (21.3% vs 17.5%). In Swedish study MARD cluster was most common (39.1%) where as in our study it constituted 24.2% of patients. Conclusion: This study suggests that clusters in type 2 diabetes can be replicated in different ethnicities and highlights importance of including waist circumference in clustering in Asian Indians. Further studies are needed to look at differences in treatment response when treatment targeting the basic pathophysiological mechanism in different clusters is given to the respective clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared postprandial triglyceride (PPTg) responses to fat challenge between risk allele and wild-type variant of two common TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms to ascertain if the risk of T2DM associated with this gene is related to its effects on PPTg metabolism. Postprandial triglyceride levels were evaluated in 71 NGT subjects with at least one first-degree relative with T2DM. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed for genotyping of SNP rs7903146 C/T and SNP rs12255372 G/T of TCF7L2 gene, and the PPTg levels were compared in the risk allele and wild-type variant of both these SNPs. Postprandial triglyceride responses were similar in wild and risk allele groups for both the SNPs. There was no significant difference in Tg-AUC (2027.04 ± 1313.54 vs 1853.58 ± 712.00, p = 0.472) and Peak Tg levels (343.95 ± 225.08 mg/dl vs 320.60 ± 137.49 mg/dl, p = 0.591) between CC and CT + TT of SNP rs7903146. Also, no significant difference was observed between Tg-AUC (1936.41 ± 1120.77 vs 1891.38 ± 812.69, p = 0.845) and peak Tg levels (324.89 ± 186.99 mg/dl vs 330.42 ± 158.64 mg/dl, p = 0.894) between GG and GT + TT of SNP rs12255372. The present study did not find any significant difference in PPTg responses between the risk allele and wild type of rs7903146(C/T) and rs12255372 (G/T) SNPs of TCF7L2 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites are finding increased applications in the field of automotive manufacture and aircraft industries due to their appreciative combination of high strength and low weight. The machining of these composites with economically viable and high part qualities requires enhancement in machining strategies. Delamination and surface roughness are the undesirable geometrical defects inherent in abrasive jet machining of layered polymer composites. This investigation focuses on the mechanism of delamination and surface roughness in abrasive jet machining of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composite. The paper endeavors at the exploration of the viability of imparting swirling motion to SiC abrasive particles by presenting internal threads in the newly designed nozzle. In this research, a novel threaded nozzle was introduced in the abrasive jet machine for making holes on the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites with the objective of reducing the delamination and surface roughness. This is a distinctive attempt of its kind and this has brought down the delamination factor considerably and, as a consequence, surface roughness obtained was minimum. Holes were made on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composite by abrasive jet machining with a modified nozzle with and without an internal thread. The influence of abrasive jet parameters on the delamination factor (bottom and top) and surface roughness (Ra) was investigated. Maximum pressure and minimum SOD cause decrease in delamination and surface roughness in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composite composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grading of prostate cancer is usually done using Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy followed by microscopic examination of histological images by the pathologist. TRUS is a painful procedure which leads to infections of severe nature. In the recent past, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has emerged as a modality which can be used for the diagnosis of prostate cancer without subjecting patients to biopsies. A novel method for grading of prostate cancer based on MRI utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and LADTree classifier is explored in this paper. T2 weighted (T2W), high B-value Diffusion Weighted (BVALDW) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) MRI images obtained from the training dataset of PROSTATEx-2 2017 challenge are used for this study. A quadratic weighted Cohen's kappa score of 0.3772 is attained in predicting different grade groups of cancer and a positive predictive value of 81.58% in predicting high-grade cancer. The method also attained an unweighted kappa score of 0.3993, and weighted Area Under Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC), accuracy and F-score of 0.74, 58.04 and 0.56, respectively. The above-mentioned results are better than that obtained by the winning method of PROSTATEx-2 2017 challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever growing video data over the internet has raised the challenge of efficient storage and retrieval of multimedia data. Video Summarization is one of the solutions to the problem which extracts interesting parts of a video. These summaries capture the essential content of the original video and enable the viewers to pick out interesting videos from huge video repositories by viewing its compact representation. To address the challenge of managing the video data, a new method for static video summarization is proposed here which is capable of describing input videos using a precise yet meaningful subset of frames. The method utilizes HOG descriptors of Gabor maps of input frames. A high-level representation of HOG descriptors is created using sparse auto-encoders (SAE). The final summary of the video is formed using candidate frames obtained after K-means clustering of these feature vectors. The summarization step is preceded by redundancy elimination to overcome computational burden. The method provides better results compared to the other state-of-the-art video summarization methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]