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Community-acquired infections (CAIs) represent a major burden for health-care system. This directly aids the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. India is not immune to it. This review assessed the current guideline recommendations for the usage of oral cephalosporins in the management of common CAIs. The researchers conducted iterative searches in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar for published articles using various keywords. The search was conducted in November 2022 and considered articles published till date. Different CAIs are caused by similar organisms, susceptible to first-line antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins. Most of the guidelines recommend the use of oral cephalosporins for the management of the commonly prevalent CAIs. These antibiotics however should be used as a monotherapy and not as fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), as FDCs with oral cephalosporins lack scientific basis and may be detrimental. For burden of CAIs intensified by anti-microbial resistance, guidelines are useful for the management of CAIs to educate the prescribers and preserve currently available antibiotics.

Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder which affects approximately 400,000 people globally. Differing healthcare reimbursement systems, budgetary constraints and geographical and cultural factors make it difficult for any country to fully deliver ideal care. Although developed countries have sufficient treatment products available, they are burdened by the higher expectation of outcomes, coupled with insufficient supportive care to monitor adherence and outcomes and to implement regular follow-up. In contrast, developing regions may not have ready access to factor replacement, but have developed excellent physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs. Although there are multiple studies that have attempted to assess country-specific variations in hemophilia care, very few compare hemophilia care between economically unequal countries and the challenges in achieving optimal hemophilia care. This literature review tries to bridge this gap and throws light on the country-specific differences in epidemiology, standard of hemophilia care and challenges faced in Canada and China. Data sources resulted in 20 studies (11 from Canada and 9 from China), which were reviewed. In a developed country, the main advantages are: the early treatment of bleeding episodes and the presence of a specialized interdisciplinary and comprehensive treatment concept. This is not the case in most developing countries, where the government does not have the resources to buy the necessary quantities of coagulation factors in the face of more urgent health priorities and hardly a few patients can afford to pay for their own treatment, even the on-demand home therapy.

Abstract Evapotranspiration and water availability are driven by changing climate and land cover parameters. In the present study, climatological records and land cover data were analysed simultaneously to accomplish the spatial distributions of climate change effects on water resources in Varanasi district, north India. Humidity–aridity was assessed by Lang's rain factor and De Martonne's aridity index, based on mean monthly rainfall and air temperature from seven meteorological stations. The climate change effect on water resources was evaluated using a 5 × 5 matrix that includes water availability and the aridity index by considering two time periods: 1941–1970 (1950s) and 1971–2000 (1980s). The methodology is based on seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (initial, mid‐season, end season and cold season) and annual water availability calculations. The high values (≤ 1,045 mm) of ETc were identified during the mid‐season stage. Water availability indicates decreases in the maximums from 718 to 636 mm during the two analysed periods, with a negative impact at the spatial scale. Lang's rain factor ( 40) in the south. De Martonne's aridity index indicates rapid aridization from south to north (28.3 in the 1950s and 25.6 in the 1980s). The high and very high climate effects on water resources in Varanasi district were found mainly in the crop lands, while in the urban areas the climate effect is low. The much affected area by climate change and land cover was depicted during the recent period (1980s). This statement was proved also by the Mann and Kendall test, which indicates a negative trend for annual precipitation at all stations (for the period 1941–2000), while the mean annual temperature had a positive trend for four stations. These findings suggest that climate change had a negative effect on water resources during the last 60 years in the study area.

Testosterone deficiency is associated with autoimmunity and increased B cell numbers, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here the authors show that testosterone may modulate the production of B cell survival factor BAFF by fibroblastic reticular cells via regulation of splenic neurotransmitter levels.

Abstract Recently, the use of phototrophs for wastewater treatment has been revisited because of new approaches to separate them from effluent streams. One manifestation uses oxygenic photogranules (OPGs) which are dense, easily-settleable granular biofilms of cyanobacteria, which surrounding populations of heterotrophs, autotrophs, and microalgae. OPGs can remove COD and nitrogenous compounds without external aeration. To better grow and maintain biomass in the proposed wastewater process, this study seeks to understand the factors that contribute to successful granulation. Availability of initial inorganic nitrogen, particularly ammonium, was associated with successful cultivation of OPGs. In the first days of granulation, a decrease in ammonium coupled with an increase in a cyanobacterial-specific 16S rRNA gene, may suggest that ammonium was assimilated in cyanobacteria offering a competitive environment for growth. Though both successful and unsuccessful OPG formation demonstrated a shift from non-phototrophic bacterial dominated communities on day 0 to cyanobacterial dominated communities on day 42, the successful community had a greater relative abundance (46%) of OTUs associated with genera Oscillatoria and Geitlernema than the unsuccessful community (27%), supporting that filamentous cyanobacteria are essential for successful OPG formation. A greater concentration of chlorophyll b in the unsuccessful OPG formation suggested a greater abundance of algal species. This study offers indicators of granulation success, notably availability of inorganic nitrogen and chlorophyll a and b concentrations for monitoring the health and growth of biomass for a potential OPG process.

Virus infections induce CD8+ T cell responses comprised of a large population of terminal effector cells and a smaller subset of long-lived memory cells. The transcription factors regulating the relative expansion versus the long-term survival potential of anti-viral CD8+ T cells are not completely understood. We identified ZBTB32 as a transcription factor that is transiently expressed in effector CD8+ T cells. After acute virus infection, CD8+ T cells deficient in ZBTB32 showed enhanced virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses, and generated increased numbers of virus-specific memory cells; in contrast, persistent expression of ZBTB32 suppressed memory cell formation. The dysregulation of CD8+ T cell responses in the absence of ZBTB32 was catastrophic, as Zbtb32-/- mice succumbed to a systemic viral infection and showed evidence of severe lung pathology. We found that ZBTB32 and Blimp-1 were co-expressed following CD8+ T cell activation, bound to each other, and cooperatively regulated Blimp-1 target genes Eomes and Cd27. These findings demonstrate that ZBTB32 is a key transcription factor in CD8+ effector T cells that is required for the balanced regulation of effector versus memory responses to infection.

Abstract Climate variability significantly affects rainfall, air temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation. In subtropical regions like India, intense monsoon rainfall primarily causes floods. This study aims to analyze the climatic factors contributing to flood occurrence in the Middle Ganga Plain (MGP) by examining meteorological parameters through various analyses, including monthly and yearly trends, spatial variability, exceedance probability, historical highest intensity rainfall, and wind trajectory analysis. By establishing a strong link between climatic variables and flood events, this research provides valuable insights into the impact of climate variability on flood patterns in the MGP. Results indicate that monsoon rainfall peaks from July to October, correlating with major flood events. During these months, high relative humidity increases the likelihood of rainfall. Spatial analysis shows higher rainfall in the northern Middle Ganga Plain (MGP), which aligns with observed flood patterns. Trend detection tests reveal increasing annual rainfall and rising average temperatures. Geostatistical analysis identifies the western and eastern MGP as areas prone to extreme rainfall. Exceedance probability analysis confirms the occurrence of substantial monsoon rainfall events. Wind trajectory analysis uncovers seasonal shifts that lead to low-pressure systems and heavy monsoon rainfall. The study establishes a strong link between climatic variables and flood events in the MGP region.

Abstract Rajasthan faces significant environmental challenges, including the pressing need for effective climate change mitigation strategies. Recognizing afforestation as a vital tool in this endeavor, this study leverages the latest in remote sensing and geospatial analysis to map out the state's afforestation potential. The goal is to assess land suitability across Rajasthan for afforestation projects and evaluate the potential carbon sequestration capabilities of different tree species. This aims to inform sustainable land management strategies that can contribute to climate change mitigation. By integrating satellite imagery, land cover data, terrain analysis, and vegetation indices, the study evaluates environmental factors such as slope, soil moisture, and vegetation health to identify areas optimal for tree planting. A carbon sequestration model was also developed to estimate sequestration rates based on species-specific growth patterns. Findings indicate that approximately 40% of Rajasthan is suitable for afforestation, with potential carbon sequestration rates ranging from 2 to 8 tons per hectare per year. Species such as Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Prosopis cineraria (Khejri) are identified as particularly effective for short-term sequestration, while Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) and Ziziphus mauritiana (Ber) are better suited for long-term carbon capture. This research highlights the importance of targeted afforestation using suitable tree species as a nature-based solution (NBS) for climate change mitigation in Rajasthan. The study offers a data-driven approach to enhancing ecosystem resilience and supports decision-making for climate adaptation in arid regions, highlighting the significant potential of Rajasthan's land for carbon sequestration through afforestation.

This study employs the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to evaluate soil loss within the Shilabati and Dwarkeswar River Basin of West Bengal, serving as a pilot investigation into soil erosion levels at ungauged stations during the post-monsoon season. Detailed data for temperature, precipitation, wind speed, solar radiation, and relative humidity for 2000–2022 were collected. A land use map, soil map, and slope map were prepared to execute the model. The model categorizes the watershed region into 19 sub-basins and 227 Hydrological Response Units (HRUs). A detailed study with regard to soil loss was carried out. A detailed examination of soil erosion patterns over four distinct time periods (2003–2007, 2007–2012, 2013–2017, and 2018–2022) indicated variability in soil loss severity across sub-basins. The years 2008–2012, characterized by lower precipitation, witnessed reduced soil erosion. Sub-basins 6, 16, 17, and 19 consistently faced substantial soil loss, while minimal erosion was observed in sub-basins 14 and 18. The absence of a definitive soil loss pattern highlights the region’s susceptibility to climatic variables. Reduced soil erosion from 2018 to 2022 is attributed to diminished precipitation and subsequent lower discharge levels. The study emphasizes the intricate relationship between climatic factors and soil erosion dynamics.