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Background Despite its utility, uncertainty exists on the feasibility of acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) and optimal PD catheter type for very low birth weight (VLBW < 1500 g) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW < 1000 g) infants. We hereby report our experience of acute PD among these high-risk infants and compare the outcome between stylet-based rigid catheter (SRC) and Cook Mac-Loc Multipurpose Drainage catheters® (CMMDC). Methods Case notes of infants < 1500 g undergoing PD between 2012 and 2021 in a network of five participating neonatal units supported by a tertiary paediatric nephrology centre in Kolkata, India, were retrospectively reviewed. PD was conducted either with SRC or after 2018 with CMMDC. Outcome parameters included complications, survival during PD, and survival to discharge. Results 24 infants (VLBW: n = 13 and ELBW: n = 11) underwent PD at median age 4.5 days (IQR 3-6) with either CMMDC (n = 14) or SRC (n = 10). Significant improvement in biochemical parameters and fluid removal was seen in both ELBW and VLBW infants. CMMDC was associated with significantly fewer PD-related complications 7/14 (50%) vs. 9/10 (90%) (p = 0.04) and higher survival during PD 13/14 (93%) vs. 5/10 (50%) (p = 0.02), without significant difference in survival to hospital discharge 8/14 (57%) vs. 3/10 (30%) (p = 0.25). CMMDC also enabled longer duration of PD, higher ultrafiltration, and better control of acidosis. Consumable cost was higher for CMMDC (USD$60) than SRC (USD$14). Conclusions In a low resource setting, CMMDC had lower PD complications and superior short-term survival among ELBW/VLBW infants. Graphical abstract A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information, Author(s): Rajiv Sinha [sup.1] [sup.2] , Rana Saha [sup.1] [sup.3] [sup.4] , Deblina Dasgupta [sup.1] , Niladri Bose [sup.1] , Shamik Ghosh [sup.5] , Ashok Modi [sup.4] , Bikramjit Das [...]

Childhood and adolescent obesity is a public health concern worldwide. However, little attention has been paid on status of overweight and body composition of Indian Bengali urban middle and high SES population. The objective was to determine the prevalence of overweight and body composition status by age and sex in children, adolescents and young adults. This cross-sectional study was carried out among 4194 unmarried school and college students (1999 males and 2195 females) aged 7–21 years belonging to the Bengali Hindu Population in Kolkata, India. The survey period was from 1999 to 2011. Anthropometry of participants were measured. Age and sex specific ≥85 percentile of body mass index (BMI) for children (

With increasing interest and investment, the shipping industry is witnessing solid development in autonomous operations of vessels and transport networks in various configurations including the Shore Control Center (SCC) concept where command, control, and/or monitoring of ships will take place from the shore. However, detailed competence requirements for the SCC Operator (SCCO) are yet to be established. This study aims to map the competence requirements for SCCOs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with expert informants (n = 10) from four different backgrounds, including academia, regulatory, technology developers and other stakeholders, who were selected through a purposive sampling technique. Results revealed three key competences to develop: (i) System understanding, (ii) Communicational and technical knowledge, and (iii) Maritime competence. Knowledge of regulations, Navigational competence, and Basic engineering knowledge—will also be required. The discussion also highlighted the scope of new regulations and a manning plan for SCC. The author concludes that several modifications of the competence and training requirements will occur during the early functioning period of SSC depending on the technological advancement and operational experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition-metal dichalcogenides intercalated with 3d-transition metals within the van der Waals (vdW) gaps have been the focus of intense investigations owing to their fascinating structural and magnetic properties. At certain concentrations the intercalated atoms form ordered superstructures that exhibit ferromagnetic or anti-ferromagnetic ordering. Here we show that the self-intercalated compound Cr1+δTe2 with δ ≈ 0.3 exhibits a new, so far unseen, three-dimensionally ordered (2×2×2) superstructure. Furthermore, high resolution X-ray diffraction reveals that there is an asymmetric occupation of the two inequivalent vdW gaps in the unit cell. The structure thus lacks inversion symmetry, which, thereby, allows for chiral non-collinear magnetic nanostructures. Indeed, Néel-type skyrmions are directly observed using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. The skyrmions are stable within the accessible temperature range (100–200 K) as well as in zero magnetic field. The diameter of the Néel skyrmions increases with lamella thickness and varies with applied magnetic field, indicating the role of long-range dipole fields. Our studies show that self-intercalation in vdW materials is a novel route to the formation of synthetic non-collinear spin textures. Here, Saha et al. show that self-intercalation of e2Cr atoms in CrTe2 create an asymmetry in the number of atoms intercalated in the van der Waals gaps between the layers of CrTe2. This inversion symmetry breaking leads to non-collinear spin-textures and Néel-type magnetic skyrmions over a wide temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]