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This cross-sectional study aims to extend the preliminary validation of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire (FPSQ) and Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) in the Vietnamese context by examining associations between maternal feeding practices, child eating behaviours, and child weight status.Modified versions of the FPSQ and CEBQ were used to measure maternal feeding practices and child eating behaviours, respectively, in a sample of Vietnamese mothers of children within the age range of two to five years (n = 100). Children's weight-for-height z-scores (WHZs) were calculated using weight and height measurements obtained by clinicians. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to examine bivariate associations between maternal feeding practices, child eating behaviours, and child WHZs. Significant variables were then entered into a multivariable regression model.Child WHZs were associated with maternal persuasive feeding, and child slowness in eating, enjoyment of food/food responsiveness, and emotional undereating, but in multivariable regression analysis, only persuasive feeding (β = -0.44, p = 0.027) and slowness in eating (β = -0.39, p = 0.036) contributed significantly to the model.The findings provide some evidence of construct validity for the modified questionnaires. Potential implications of dietary-related behaviours on weight status in preschool-aged children in Viet Nam are evident. However, further validation and analysis in larger datasets must be undertaken in order to examine these associations with increased certainty.

This paper presents a framework to develop the automated design of fixtures using the combination of design automation (DA), multidisciplinary optimization and robotic simulation. MDO necessitates the use of concurrent and parametric designs which are created by DA and knowledge-based engineering tools. This approach is designed to decrease the time and cost of the fixture design process by increasing the degree of automation. AutoFix provides methods and tools for automatically optimizing resource-intensive fixture design utilizing digital tools from different disciplines.

Non-AIDS-associated chronic diseases in HIV+ patients have been on the rise since the advent of antiretroviral therapy. Especially cardiovascular diseases and disruption in the gastrointestinal tract have limited health-related quality of life (QoL). Several of those complications have been associated with chronic systemic inflammation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), with propionate as one of the major compounds, have been described as an important link between gut microbiota and the immune system, defining the pro- and the anti-inflammatory milieu through direct and indirect regulation of T-cell homeostasis. The effects of dietary supplementation of sodium propionate (SP) in people living with HIV (PLHIV) have not yet been investigated prior to this study.To investigate the impact of SP uptake among PLHIV and its relevance to improve QoL, the study aimed to investigate metabolic, immunological, microbiome and patient-reported QoL-related changes post-SP supplementation with follow-up.A prospective, non-randomized, controlled, monocentric interventional study was conducted in WIR, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, in Bochum, Germany. 32 HIV+ patients with unaltered ART-regimen in the last three months were included. Participants were given SP for a duration of 12 weeks in the form of daily oral supplementation and were additionally followed-up for another 12 weeks.The supplementation of SP was well tolerated. We found an improvement in lipid profiles and long-term blood glucose levels. A decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and a depletion of effector T cells was observed. Regulatory T cells and IL-10 decreased. Furthermore, changes in taxonomic composition of the microbiome during follow-up were observed and improvement of items of self-reported life-quality assessment.Taken together, the beneficial impact of SP in PLHIV reflects its potential in improving metabolic parameters and modulating pro-inflammatory immune responses. Thus, possibly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disorders and facilitating long-term improvement of the gut flora.

Disasters or hazards have the potential to cause catastrophic damage and significant socioeconomic loss. The year 2022 has been recorded as the eighth consecutive year with 10 or more billion-dollar weather or climate related disasters. As a result, an AI powered Disaster Management system is developed. It aims to strengthen disaster mitigation strategies using AI technology. It helps in detecting and preparing for the extreme weather and other hazards, and also to communicate to people and communities effectively about the necessary response. AI helps response teams to understand the hazards or accidents, monitor events in real time and anticipate specific pitfalls in the face of impending or on-going disasters. The disasters can either be predicted with the help of AI technology by training machine learning models or be detected from live news feeds. AI is used during different phases of disaster operation first, vaticination and protuberance; also, to help communicate what has passed; and in the monitoring and early discovery of implicit new pitfalls.

Tracheostomy is a life saving procedure of placement of a surgical airway. It is imperative for every medical personnel to be conversant with it as it helps secure airway, the first step in resuscitation when necessary. It is not only thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the neck and procedural technique but also the awareness of the unusual challenging situations likely during this procedure that can help avoid complications and enable one to be better prepared for any eventuality. This chapter aims to draw the attention to the likely challenges during tracheostomy including pediatric tracheostomy and percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. An encounter with pseudoneurysm of the internal carotid artery helps understand the gravity of the likely challenges that a surgeon must be prepared to manage.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has gained much interest over few decades in the field of biomedical research due to their ease of synthesis, cost effectiveness, enhanced bioactivity and biocompatibility compared to the chemical synthesis. Recent studies on silver nanoparticles have shown their potential in various fields like antimicrobial, anticancer, larvicidal, catalytic, and wound healing properties. In the present study, entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles. These silver nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FESEM, FETEM and FTIR. Compared to the chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles, the mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles (MaAgNP) showed high yield. The size of mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles was found to be 5-20 nm and was spherical in shape. FTIR results confirmed the possible functional groups that are responsible for the reduction of silver ions. The mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and the calculated IC50 value for MaAgNP was found to be 16.50 μg ml-1 whereas the chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity but with increasing concentration, no further significant reduction in cell viability was observed. The possible reason behind improved cytotoxicity of MaAgNP can be the presence of extracellular secondary metabolites present in the fungal filtrate used to synthesize the nanoparticles. The MaAgNP was also observed to induce cell death through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Genome editing technologies operate by inducing site-specific DNA perturbations that are resolved by cellular DNA repair pathways. Products of genome editors include DNA breaks generated by CRISPR-associated nucleases, base modifications induced by base editors, DNA flaps created by prime editors, and integration intermediates formed by site-specific recombinases and transposases associated with CRISPR systems. Here, we discuss the cellular processes that repair CRISPR-generated DNA lesions and describe strategies to obtain desirable genomic changes through modulation of DNA repair pathways. Advances in our understanding of the DNA repair circuitry, in conjunction with the rapid development of innovative genome editing technologies, promise to greatly enhance our ability to improve food production, combat environmental pollution, develop cell-based therapies, and cure genetic and infectious diseases.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion using an insulin pump has been documented to have significant clinical benefits as a treatment plan for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. However, despite this, adoption in resource constrained settings like India is severely limited. This is often attributed to the costs associated with the device.The usage of such a device is closely associated with a patient's lifestyle and its design demands a more user-centric approach to engineering design. The stakeholder involvement is needed for validation and guiding the product development direction. In this paper, we've outlined a user-in-the-loop approach to engineering design using the design of an insulin pump as a case study.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (AMLC) leaf juice (supplementation (20 g/100 ml) for 60 days among type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects. Design Randomised-controlled trial. Setting Veraval. Gir-Somnath, Gujarat, India. Intervention Confirmed type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects (n = 60), were randomly divided to experimental (n = 30) AMLC leaf juice supplementation (20 g/100 ml) and control group (n = 30) for 8 weeks. Main outcome measures: body-mass-index (BMI), body-fat-percent (BF%), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and post prandial blood glucose (FBG, HbA1c and PPBG), total, high, low and very low density lipoproteins and triglycerides (TC, HDL, LDL-cholesterol and TG), C-reactive protein (CRP), liver enzyme tests serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT and SGOT), kidney function tests (creatinine), total protein (TP, albumin, globulin) and serum ferric reducing antioxidant potential (serum FRAP). Results At 4 weeks, significant reduction was recorded in blood pressure SBP – 6.45%; DBP – 4.6%, FBG & HbA1c-20%; PPBG-15%; total cholesterol (TC-8%), LDL-15%), triglycerides (TG-11%), liver functions SGOT-19% and, SGPT-13%, increase in serum (FRAP-18%) in the subjects of EG post supplementation compared to baseline. When compared to control group, it reduced BF%, FBG, HbA1c, cholesterol, TG, LDL-cholesterol, CRP and raised HDL-cholesterol as well as improved antioxidant activity. Conclusion AMLC leaf juice supplementation (20 g/100 ml) for 60 days showed improvement in all bio-chemical parameters of type 2 diabetes mellitus, with enhanced efficacy and negligible adverse-effects. This juice can therefore, be supplemented along with oral hypoglycemic drugs to keep the above parameters in control. AMLC leaf being easily available and low cost, can be used as complementary therapy in the management of diabetes possibly due to presence of active components, aegelin 2, scopoletin and sitosterol in the leaf.

Context: Female bladder outlet obstruction (fBOO) is a relatively uncommon condition compared with its male counterpart. Several criteria have been proposed to define fBOO, but the comparative diagnostic accuracy of these remains uncertain. Objective: To identify and compare different tests to diagnose fBOO through a systematic review process. Evidence acquisition: A systematic review of the literature was performed according to the Cochrane Handbook and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist. The EMBASE/MEDLINE/Cochrane databases were searched up to August 4, 2020. Studies on women ≥18 yr of age with suspected bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) involving diagnostic tests were included. Pressure-flow studies or fluoroscopy was used as the reference standard where possible. Two reviewers independently screened all articles, searched reference lists of retrieved articles, and performed data extraction. The risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). Evidence synthesis: Overall, 28 nonrandomised studies involving 10 248 patients were included in the qualitative analysis. There was significant heterogeneity regarding the characteristics of women included in BOO cohorts (ie, mixed cohorts including both anatomical and functional BOO). Pressure-flow studies ± fluoroscopy was evaluated in 25 studies. Transperineal Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate bladder neck dynamics in two studies. One study tested the efficacy of transvaginal ultrasound. The urodynamic definition of fBOO also varied amongst studies with different parameters and thresholds used, which precluded a meta-analysis. Three studies derived nomograms using the maximum flow rate (Qmax) and voiding detrusor pressure at Qmax. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy ranges were 54.6–92.5%, 64.6–93.9%, and 64.1–92.2%, respectively. Conclusions: The available evidence on diagnostic tests for fBOO is limited and heterogeneous. Pressure-flow studies ± fluoroscopy remains the current standard for diagnosing fBOO. Patient summary: Evidence on tests used to diagnose female bladder outlet obstruction was reviewed. The most common test used was pressure-flow studies ± fluoroscopy, which remains the current standard for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction in women. Take Home Message: The available evidence on diagnostic tests for female bladder outlet obstruction is limited and heterogeneous. The most common test used was video-urodynamics, which remains the current standard for diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction in women. © 2021 European Association of Urology

Developmental testing of gas turbine propulsion systems involves iterative experimental studies right from First Engine to Test (FETT) till production release. During initial design validation tests, engines require dedicated instrumentation for carrying out online monitoring with a capability to detect and isolate impending failures which may lead to structural damage. Instrumentation may be optimized further over the developmental lifecycle to determine the general engine health and life consumption of critical parts. Instrumentation generally focuses on monitoring of structural and aerodynamic behavior of engine subsystems. It is challenging to arrive at optimum instrumentation and methodologies of measurement with respect to engine performance and structural health monitoring. Structural health monitoring of rotating engine components poses challenges in acquiring high bandwidth data through either contact or non-contact sensing techniques and further data processing. Special instrumentation systems used for measuring various parameters from rotating parts as a part of health monitoring include slip rings, rotating telemetry, and non-intrusive strain measurement systems. Instrumentation of other engine parameters includes temperature, pressure, rotational speed, casing vibration, control actuator positions, flow rate, clearance between stationary and rotating parts and lubrication oil quality. Gas turbine engines are a complex assembly of rotating and stationary parts which operate at extreme temperatures which limits the operational capability of sensors. It is a challenging task to error budget complete measurement chains and arrive at uncertainties. Various aspects discussed in this paper are complex and inter disciplinary in nature. This paper provides a bird’s eye view of the challenges associated with measurement systems during developmental stage of a gas turbine engine.

This preliminary pilot study aims to explore the use of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire (FPSQ) and Children's Eating Behaviour Question (CEBQ) in a sample of Vietnamese mothers.Cross-sectional data from the FPSQ and CEBQ were collected from a convenience sample of mothers (n = 102) who attended the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Centre in Viet Nam. Mothers had at least one child aged 2-5 years. The reliability of the questionnaire subscales was tested using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Face validity was assessed using dialogue from a translation-back-translation procedure undertaken by an expert committee, and cognitive interviews conducted in a subsample of mothers (n = 6). Based on these findings, exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) were performed to assess the underlying structures of both questionnaires in this sample.Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the original questionnaires ranged from 0.23 to 0.92. Limitations in translation and comprehension of items surfaced, warranting modifications of the questionnaires, which were subsequently examined using EFA. EFA of the FPSQ and CEBQ revealed a six-factor structure with 23 items, and a six-factor structure with 27 items, respectively, which were interpretable solutions for this sample. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were0.70 for all subscales in the revised questionnaires.Modified versions of the FPSQ and CEBQ are proposed for use in Viet Nam. However, prior to their use, further reliability and validity testing must be undertaken in larger samples, including assessment of test-retest reliability and construct validity, as well as confirmatory factor analysis to verify the proposed factor structures.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a public private multi-stake holders comprehensive intervention on the linear growth, and weight status among children 0–59 mo. METHODS: A cluster randomized efficacy trial of a public private multi-stake holders comprehensive intervention package designed for Anganwadi centers (n = 20, 10 experimental (E) and 10 control (C) centers, including 679 children aged 0–5 y) of the Government run ICDS program was conducted in Western India in Surat city, Gujarat, (October, 2016 -January, 2018). The intervention package included additional 100 ml milk supplementation, health education, infrastructure development and upgradation of anganwadis including pediatrician's visits as compared to only routine government activities in the control anganwadis for a period of 1 year. Data on anthropometry, demographics, household characteristics, child morbidity, feeding practices and community facilities were collected and analyzed using WHO Anthro software and SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Of the 368 only 86.9% E and 311 (74.0%, C) participants completed the study after 1 year. Children in intervention arm had lower maternal education, and poorer anthropometry status at baseline but were similar in age and household incomes. In models adjusted for maternal education, conditional on random effects, the intervention improved HAZ by 0.85 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.08), WHZ by 0.53 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.74), and MUACZ by 0.30 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.42) at 14 mo. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive intervention packages for Anganwadis can potentially improve growth outcomes in Indian children 0–59 mo on successful implementation. FUNDING SOURCES: Rotary Club, District 3060 and Surat Municipal Corporation.

In Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia and Sabah in Malaysia, the spread of two diseases, aggravated by damage by fauna, and by the humid tropical environment, has forced a change of planted specie...

Background: Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) a vision threatening disorder requires early diagnosis and prompt treatment. High dose steroid injections, optic nerve decompression or combined therapy are the available current treatment options. This study aims to determine the visual outcome with transnasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression in patients with TON having no improvement in vision despite high dose steroids.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the department of ENT, government medical college Kozhikode; on patients who presented with loss of vision following history of trauma. All patients suspected of compressive optic neuropathy received injection methyl prednisolone (30 mg/kg/day) with assessment of vision and HRCT scan. Patients with deterioration or no improvement in vision despite high steroid therapy were taken up for trans-nasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression.Results: In our study 19 patients with TON underwent trans-nasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression. 11(57.9%) patients had improvement of vision, 7 (36.8%) patients had no improvement of vision and 1 (5.3%) patient had worsening of vision. The visual improvement was seen in 8 (80%) patients when treatment was initiated within 7 days and in only 3(33.3%) patients when treatment was initiated after 7 days. The visual acuity at presentation and time interval between trauma and intervention are factors that determine better visual outcomes.Conclusions: The decreased visual acuity in TON requires prompt treatment. High dose steroid must be started at once when it is suspected or diagnosed. The timely surgical intervention with trans-nasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression is a relatively safe and effective technique enabling better visual prognosis.

The present works describes the mechanical properties of AA 7050 metal matrix composites reinforced with TiC. TiC particles of size 325 mesh was taken as the reinforcement material to prepare the metal matrix composites using stir casting technique. The percentage of reinforcement varied from 0 to 6% wt in steps of 2%. Mechanical characterization, such as tensile strength, hardness test, density tests were conducted as per ASTM standards. Experiment results reveal that there is an improvement in Ultimate tensile strength and hardness properties with the increase in the percentage of reinforcement. Optical microscopy technique was used to examine microstructures of the sample specimens and the microstructure revealed uniform distribution of particles and presence of reinforcements in the matrix phase. Experimental studies invokes that the 6%wt of TiC increases the tensile strength by 9% and hardness values by 10% comparing with that of as cast AA7050. Results also evident that there was a decrease in ductility and percentage of elongation with the increase in the percentage reinforcement.

Ni-Mn based heusler alloy with Ni50-xFexMn30Sn20-yIny where 1

Background: Foreign bodies (FBs) of the hypopharynx and esophagus are among the common otolaryngologic emergencies. Every new case poses a clinical challenge with need for optimal treatment strategy. The objective of our study is to highlight a few of the challenges faced while treating these patients.Methods: A prospective study was done on all patients who reported to the ENT casualty, Government Medical College Kozhikode with history or suspicion of foreign body throat from January 2020 to January 2021. A total of 160 patients reported of which 48 (30%) patients required further evaluation with rigid endoscopy and foreign body removal in the operative room. A few challenges like migration of foreign bodies, dilemma in diagnosis with FB mimicking ossified cartilages on X-ray, FB removal in mentally challenged patients and treatment of esophageal perforation post rigid endoscopy are discussed.Results: Only 48 (30%) patients of the total 160 patients required rigid endoscopy and foreign body removal in the operating room. The foreign body was obtained in 42 (87.5%) patients while 6 (12.5%) patients improved post rigid endoscopy though foreign body was not obtained. One patient with denture in the esophagus developed esophageal perforation requiring prolonged hospital stay.Conclusions: A high index of suspicion among patients presenting with dysphagia, neck pain and sudden decrease in food intake is warranted. Early diagnosis with appropriate imaging modalities is essential for confirmation of diagnosis. Dentures are among FBs that necessitate more caution. Esophageal perforation, a rare but life-threatening complication must be diagnosed timely with appropriate surgical intervention.

An experiment in a second rotation acacia hybrid (Acacia mangium × A. auriculiformis) clonal plantation in central Vietnam examined factors determining total wood production and its apportionment t...

Homologous recombination (HR) mediates the error-free repair of DNA double-strand breaks to maintain genomic stability. Here we characterize C17orf53/MCM8IP, an OB-fold containing protein that binds ssDNA, as a DNA repair factor involved in HR. MCM8IP-deficient cells exhibit HR defects, especially in long-tract gene conversion, occurring downstream of RAD51 loading, consistent with a role for MCM8IP in HR-dependent DNA synthesis. Moreover, loss of MCM8IP confers cellular sensitivity to crosslinking agents and PARP inhibition. Importantly, we report that MCM8IP directly associates with MCM8-9, a helicase complex mutated in primary ovarian insufficiency, and RPA1. We additionally show that the interactions of MCM8IP with MCM8-9 and RPA facilitate HR and promote replication fork progression and cellular viability in response to treatment with crosslinking agents. Mechanistically, MCM8IP stimulates the helicase activity of MCM8-9. Collectively, our work identifies MCM8IP as a key regulator of MCM8-9-dependent DNA synthesis during DNA recombination and replication., Nature Communications, 11 (1), ISSN:2041-1723

Atherosclerosis: A major cause of death in todayes world- is an inflammatory disease resulting from high plasma concentrations of cholesterol, especially that of Low - density lipoprotein (LDL). It leads to formation of lipid laden plaques which later blocks coronary arteries leading to heart attacks. Current medications used for the treatment and prevention are statins. However, statins have dangerous neuronal side effects. Traditional System of medicine in India- Ayurveda lists medicines which also serve as food in our daily lives, hence the name Nutraceuticals: The knowledge of these Nutraceuticals is currently being integrated into therapeutic regimen, considering the serious side effects of allopathic drugs. Medicinal plants have wide range of anti-atherosclerotic compounds many of which are as yet unexplored. Many of these plants have even shown reversal of atherosclerotic plaques. The present review provides a comparison of the action of Nutraceuticals with statins and shows how statins could one day be replaced with Nutraceuticals as the major therapy for atherosclerosis.