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In this study, p-morpholinomethylcalix[4]arene (p-MC4) was synthesized using Mannich reaction and utilized for the fabrication of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers impregnated with p-morpholinomethylcalix[4]arene (PAN/p-MC4) using electrospinning. The nanofibers were prepared by blending 12% solution of PAN with 20% solution of p-MC4. The PAN/p-MC4 NFs were thoroughly evaluated for their removal efficiency of Cu2+ from the aqueous media. The selectivity of PAN/-p-MC4 nanofibers was also examined by adsorbing a set of metal ions with same charge and similar ionic radius. The results of distribution ratio showed that PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers have superior selectivity for Cu2+ as compared to other heavy metal ions. The relative selectivity coefficients of PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers were found to be 25.2, 14.1, 8.9, and 4.03 for Cu2+/Ni2+, Cu2+/Co2+, Cu2+/Cd2+ and Cu2+/Pb2+, respectively. This indicates that PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers have a higher selectivity for Cu2+ ions. Numerous parameters such as pH, time, adsorbent dosage and analyte concentration were optimized to evaluate the maximum adsorption capacity of nanofibers for Cu2+. Adsorption isotherm models showed that the adsorption is promising and follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Whereas, PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers followed pseudo- second order kinetics during adsorption experiments. The PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers showed excellent adsorption capacity (qo) of 65.35 mg/g for Cu2+ at pH 5 in 60 min under shaking speed of 120 rpm. Moreover, PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers had been used to remove Cu2+ from real surface water samples. According to the results, PAN/p-MC4 nanofibers are more effective adsorbent for removing Cu2+ from contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To identify outcomes of wound healing after using Plasma rich platelet therapy METHODOLOGY: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at ISRA University Hospital, Hyderabad, from July to December 2022, with a sample size of 50 and a non-probability sampling technique. Both genders aged 45 to 75 years, Diabetes mellitus type II, Chronic or Non-healing wounds/ulcers for 3 to 6 months, and Wound size 2cm to 6cm were included. Participants who were not willing to study, Patients on steroid and Anticoagulant therapy and Immunosuppressive drugs, Pregnant females, those with Cardiovascular Disorders, and Associated Lymphoedema were excluded. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled after matching the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The age range was 40 years to 70 years. Thirty-one were males, and 19 were females. Co-morbid conditions included were diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension. The most common cause of lower limb ulcers was diabetic foot, and the most common site was the dorsum of the foot. 52% of patients had <2cm size ulcers, and they responded well to plasma-rich platelet therapy in a single session. PRP is a cost-effective, advanced therapy and safe procedure to manage wound healing. It improves quality of life, reduces hospitalization, and decreases hospital visits, which would lessen the patient burden. It works on cellular regeneration, so it helps in faster recovery and avoidance of old traditional methods and excessive or misuse of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Plasma Rich Platelet therapy is a safe method for treating chronic and non-healing ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on ternary hybrid nanofluids is driven by the hope that combining various nanoparticles will lead to better heat transfer efficiency, thermal conductivity, as well as other desired properties. The goal of study is to create a nanofluid that performs better than its binary equivalents by deliberately choosing and combining nanoparticles with different sizes, designs, and thermal conductivities. This research delves into the intricacies of stagnation point flow, taking into account suction/injection, a stretching/shrinking sheet, and slip flow boundary conditions. Employing a ternary hybrid nanofluid (THNF) composed of titanium oxide, silver, and zinc oxide provides insights into the velocity field and thermal characteristics. The study leverages the Tiwari Das nanofluid model and boundary flow equations in two dimensions. The governing equations undergo a transformation into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) via a similarity transformation. These ODEs are subsequently tackled using the finite element method. A meticulous parametric study is executed, manipulating the stretching/shrinking parameter, suction/injection parameter, slip flow parameter, and total volume fraction of the ternary nanofluids. The chosen ranges for these parameters are -1 to 0.5, -1 to 1, 0 to 1, and 0.03 to 0.3, respectively. The observed trend reveals a consistent decrease in the percentage change in temperature concerning the ambient temperature with an increase in normalized distance from the stagnation point, whether the sheet is stretching or shrinking. Notably, the temperature decline is more pronounced in the case of a shrinking sheet. Additionally, in instances involving injection, the transformation from a shrinking sheet to a stretching one exerts a more substantial impact on the percentage change in temperature relative to ambient conditions compared to the suction case. The novelty of the work lies in the study's discovery of correlations for average velocity and average temperature profiles related to the slip flow parameter, suction parameter, and stretching/shrinking parameter, providing a more accurate estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnostic medicine with technologies like Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and ultrasound scans being widely used to assist radiologists and medical experts in reaching concrete diagnosis. Given the recent massive uplift in the storage and processing capabilities of computers, and the publicly available big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has also started contributing to improving diagnostic radiology. Edge computing devices and handheld gadgets can serve as useful tools to process medical data in remote areas with limited network and computational resources. In this research, the capabilities of multiple platforms are evaluated for the real-time deployment of diagnostic tools. MRI classification and segmentation applications developed in previous studies are used for testing the performance using different hardware and software configurations. Cost–benefit analysis is carried out using a workstation with a NVIDIA Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Jetson Xavier NX, Raspberry Pi 4B, and Android phone, using MATLAB, Python, and Android Studio. The mean computational times for the classification app on the PC, Jetson Xavier NX, and Raspberry Pi are 1.2074, 3.7627, and 3.4747 s, respectively. On the low-cost Android phone, this time is observed to be 0.1068 s using the Dynamic Range Quantized TFLite version of the baseline model, with slight degradation in accuracy. For the segmentation app, the times are 1.8241, 5.2641, 6.2162, and 3.2023 s, respectively, when using JPEG inputs. The Jetson Xavier NX and Android phone stand out as the best platforms due to their compact size, fast inference times, and affordability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate 5-year effect of laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (LVSG) versus laparoscopic roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) solely based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 5-year postoperative GERD data comparing LVSG and LRYGB in adults were undertaken. Electronic databases were searched from January 2015 to March 2024 for publications meeting inclusion criteria. The Hartung–Knapp–Sidik–Jonkman random effects model was applied to estimate pooled odds ratio where meta-analysis was possible. Bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2 and GRADE. Results: Five RCTs were analysed (LVSG n = 554, LRYGB n = 539). LVSG was associated with increased adverse GERD outcomes compared to LRYGB at 5 years. The odds for revisional surgery to treat GERD in LVSG patients were 11 times higher compared to LRYGB (OR 11.47, 95% CI 1.83 to 71.69; p = 0.02; I2 = 0% High level of certainty). Similarly pharmacological management for increasing GERD was significantly more frequent in LVSG patients compared to LRYGB (OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.31 to 6.55; p ≤ 0.01; I2 = 0% Moderate level of certainty). Overall, LVSG was associated with significantly more interventions (both medical and surgical) for either worsening GERD and/or development of de novo GERD compared to LRYGB (OR 5.98, 95% CI 3.48 to 10.29; p ≤ 0.01; I2 = 0%) Moderate level of certainty). Conclusions: The development and worsening of GERD symptoms are frequently associated with LVSG compared to LRYGB at 5 years postoperatively requiring either initiation or increase of pharmacotherapy or failing that revisional bariatric surgery. Appropriate patient/surgical selection is crucial to reduce these postoperative risks of GERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased blood pressure is called a "silent killer" as it is often asymptomatic and can persist without the knowledge of the sufferer. It is one of the most prevalent and strong predictive factors for cardiovascular diseases. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted to find out any association of the ABO blood group with blood pressure and includes 581 randomly selected subjects from the different organizations of district Hyderabad including Universities, colleges, Hospitals, their students, faculty members, and their employees. This study was conducted from February 2021 to January 2022. Informed consent was obtained from volunteers. A detailed history was taken followed by a thorough clinical examination. Blood pressure was recorded with a mercury sphygmomanometer in sitting position. Blood grouping was done by ABO typing. Data obtained were analyzed by SPSS version 23.0. Results: In this study, the B blood group participants were 205 (34.22%) was found more prevalent in district Hyderabad, the mean systolic blood pressure was 119.10 ± 16.57, and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 78.89 ± 29.85. and in blood group B participants systolic blood pressure was found 46.82% and diastolic blood pressure was found 43.90% also in B blood group participants followed by A, O, and AB. Conclusion: The incidence of hypertension is high in Pakistan as found in other developing countries. In this study, the evidence is suggestive of the association of the B blood group with increased blood pressure in young healthy adults of district Hyderabad Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the drought resistance mechanisms of different populations of Sporobolus ioclados (Poaceae), locally known as "Sawri," "Drabhri" and "Dhrbholi" native to Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. These populations were grown in conventional nursery practices at Khawaja Fareed Government College in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, and subsequently subjected to four distinct levels of drought within carefully monitored experimental settings. The experiment was conducted in a two-factorial design involving populations and drought treatments and was repeated three times. The physiological and morphological responses of S. ioclados, including plant height, number of roots, root length, flag leaf area, stomatal features, proline concentration and nitrogen content, displayed significant variability in response to the imposed drought stress. Drought resulted in increases in proline concentration and nitrogen content. The number of roots decreased, while the length and width of the stomata increased in various populations. A combination of advanced statistical techniques, such as ANOVA, PCA, HCA, and DFA, provided a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of plant adaptation and the extent of population diversity within the species. The Yazman and Nwab Wala populations exhibited the highest rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, while S. ioclados demonstrated notable drought tolerance at the T4 level of drought stress. A negative correlation was found between proline levels, nitrogen contents, and photosynthesis, suggesting that proline has a protective role in drought. The diverse adaptation strategies indicated by S. ioclados populations have revealed the potential of this species for afforestation and climate change mitigation in dry environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the drought resistance mechanisms of different populations of Sporobolus ioclados (Poaceae), locally known as "Sawri," "Drabhri" and "Dhrbholi" native to Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. These populations were grown in conventional nursery practices at Khawaja Fareed Government College in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, and subsequently subjected to four distinct levels of drought within carefully monitored experimental settings. The experiment was conducted in a two-factorial design involving populations and drought treatments and was repeated three times. The physiological and morphological responses of S. ioclados, including plant height, number of roots, root length, flag leaf area, stomatal features, proline concentration and nitrogen content, displayed significant variability in response to the imposed drought stress. Drought resulted in increases in proline concentration and nitrogen content. The number of roots decreased, while the length and width of the stomata increased in various populations. A combination of advanced statistical techniques, such as ANOVA, PCA, HCA, and DFA, provided a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of plant adaptation and the extent of population diversity within the species. The Yazman and Nwab Wala populations exhibited the highest rates of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, while S. ioclados demonstrated notable drought tolerance at the T4 level of drought stress. A negative correlation was found between proline levels, nitrogen contents, and photosynthesis, suggesting that proline has a protective role in drought. The diverse adaptation strategies indicated by S. ioclados populations have revealed the potential of this species for afforestation and climate change mitigation in dry environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, from April 2022 to October 2022. Patients with history of intrauterine growth retardation or preeclampsia after 20 weeks of gestation, age more than 18 years were included in this study. Patients were assessed for cardiovascular risk factors during pregnancy. Results: The average age and gestational age were almost equal in preeclampsia and IUGR patients, (p≤0.050). The primparous were higher in preeclampsia than IUGR, n=286 (73.5%) and n=80 (52.3%), respectively, (p=0.000). The average birth weight of IUGR was lower than preeclampsia patients, 925.19±6.35 gram and 1324.76±10.19 gram, respectively, (p=0.000). The average systolic and diastolic blood pressure of IUGR patients was less than preeclampsia patients, (p=0.000). But, the chronic hypertension was higher in preeclampsia patients n=99 (25.4%) as compare to IUGR n=13 (8.5%) patients, (p=0.000). The average cholesterol level in IUGR was 5.52±0.58(mmol/L) versus preeclampsia 5.34±1.01(mmol/L), (p=0.043). The average triglycerides was almost equal in both the groups, (p=0.924). The mean Lp(a) in preeclampsia patients was 177.15±20.15(mg/L) versus 202.94±24.83 (mg/L), (p=0.000). Conclusion: Findings of this study help conclude that women with known history of IUGR or preeclampsia must be screened for possible cardiovascular risk factors and treated for these risk factors in order to avoid future mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGCs) are suggested to be important calcium-conducting channels and are involved in various biological functions such as plant development, phytohormone responses, and plant--pathogen interactions. Nevertheless, CNGC gene family identification has not yet been conducted for date palm crops. In this study, genome-wide identification and pharmacological analysis of date CNGCs were conducted against fungal pathogens including Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. Twentysix PdCNGC genes were identified using extensive bioinformatics tools. Gene Ontology analysis revealed the signal transduction, transmembrane transport, and ion-binding proteins to be the major regulators in the biological processes and molecular functions of PdCNGCs. Protein--protein interactions of PdCNGCs and their patterns confirmed an integrated role that may be related to nitric oxide and calcium ion-mediated signal transduction and plant--pathogen interactions. Extensive phylogenetic analysis provided clear evidence that group IV had ancient origins. This was supported by the fact that the entire sets of CNGCs from both nonvascular plants (moss) and vascular nonflowering plants (Selaginella) were clustered together with groups IVa and IVb, emphasizing the evolutionary antiquity of this group. Furthermore, a pharmacological assay suggested that the application of cGMP and cAMP as CNGC activators may enhance susceptibility against Aspergillus spp. in the leaves and stems of date palm, respectively. Treatment with LaCl3 as a calcium channel blocker reduced the resistance of date fruit to Fusarium spp. These results suggest a valuable role for CNGC and calcium ions, which may be negatively regulated in date palm against fungal pathogens. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further functional analysis of date palm CNGCs and their molecular mechanisms in the context of pharmacological assessments of plant disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat exchangers play a vital important role in industries and processing equipment's. Among them, the double pipe heat exchanger facilitates the exchange of heat between two fluids through surface tubes. This study aimed to investigate various thermal performance parameters of baseline water and Aluminum oxide nanofluid at various volume concentrations and flow rates. The results were compared between baseline water and Aluminum oxide nanofluid using a test rig at the temperature range of 60 °C for industrial applications. The nanofluid sample was prepared by adding very small-sized (20nm) Al2O3 nanoparticles in the baseline water within the range of 0.10% to 0.175% using a standard two step method for the sterilization process. The nanoparticle and baseline water were under set by a hot plate mechanical stirrer for approximately 2 hours to ensure the proper dispersion before the tests, rendering the nanofluid stable for 12 hours. The Laminar-Transition flow double pipe heat exchanger (test rig) operated at flow rates ranging from 1.6×10-5-3.3×10-5 m3/sec (1-2 LPM) within the range of Reynolds number from 1700 to 3400 at volume concentration of 0.10% to 0.175% Moreover, an addition of 0.175% of Al2O3 nanoparticle in the baseline improved the average heat transfer coefficient from 140% to 155%, thermal conductivity of 21.6% and, 5.94% efficiency in counter flow direction and also showed higher friction factor i.e. 2.81% than baseline water. The results suggest that Al2O3-nanofluid at 0.175% could function very well as working fluid for industrial requirements compared to the conventional baseline water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the application of reactive multiparticle collision (RMPC) dynamics, a particle-based method, to epidemic models. First, we consider a susceptible-infectious-recovered framework to obtain data on contacts of susceptibles with infectious people in a population. It is found that the number of contacts increases and the contact duration decreases with increases in the disease transmission rate and average population speed. Next, we obtain reinfection statistics for a general infectious disease from RMPC simulations of a susceptible-infectious-recovered-susceptible model. Finally, we simulate a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model and gather the exposure, infection, and recovery time for the individuals in the population under consideration. It is worth mentioning that we can collect data in the form of average contact duration, average initial infection time, etc., from RMPC simulations of these models, which is not possible with population-based stochastic models, or deterministic systems. This study provides quantitative insights on the potential of RMPC to simulate epidemic models and motivates future efforts for its application in the field of mathematical epidemiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Cholecystocolonic fistula occurring as a complication of colonic diverticular disease is a rarely encountered clinical entity in which the patient may remain asymptomatic or present with vague abdominal or systemic symptoms. Imaging studies are usually not very reliable or effective in detecting direct communication between gallbladder and colon. However, indirect signs such as pneumobilia, gallstones, gallbladder adherent to colon and colonic diverticulosis may help reach the diagnosis. Treatment of cholecystocolonic fistula in symptomatic patients is usually surgical. However, in asymptomatic patients or patients with risk factors and comorbidities, non‐surgical options such as conservative management or biliary stenting can be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) are restricted to case reports (~ 11 patients) and long-term follow-up data are further scarce. We describe our experience on managing TIO from a tertiary care center in India. Retrospective study of patients with localized TIO was performed and clinical, biochemical, treatment and follow-up details were retrieved. Normalization of serum phosphorus in absence of phosphate supplementation was defined as remission. Of 33 patients (23 males), 24 patients underwent surgery as first-line treatment, and early remission, delayed remission (> 1 month for phosphorus normalization) and persistence were observed 12, 3, and 9 patients at a median follow-up of 5 (4–9) years. The gender, age, tumor size, location of tumors and FGF23 levels were not statistically different in patients who were in remission after surgery versus those with persistent disease. Second/third line treatment included conventional medical treatment and/or repeat surgery (n = 3), radiotherapy (n = 3), peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (n = 1), RFA (n = 1). Two patients had transient worsening (weeks) of weakness post-surgery. 10 patients underwent RFA (first-line n = 9); at the last follow-up 5 (4–10) years, 7 are in remission. Two of three persistent disease patients had large tumors (5.6 and 3.6 cm). There were no RFA-related complications except local ulcer in one. Although persistent disease was present in a few patients in both arms, there was no recurrence in either RFA or surgical cohort. RFA provide durable response similar to surgery, persistence requires multi-modality treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-pyrolysis behaviors of peanut shells (PS) and tea plant branches (TPB) were explored with a focus on the physicochemical properties, thermal degradation behavior, synergistic effect, and thermo-kinetic analyses. The differences between individual biomass and the equivalent blend were also highlighted. Results showed that the blend sample showed an enhancement in fixed carbon content but a reduction in moisture and ash contents, when compared to those of the individual PS. The average activation energies (Ea) of the equivalent blend estimated by three isoconversional methods (i.e., Friedman, KAS, and Starink methods) were 181.65, 166.87, and 167.14 kJ/mol, respectively. The average Ea and ΔH of the blend were quite lower than those of the TPB but slightly higher than those of the PS. During pyrolysis, ΔH and ΔG exhibited positive values which showed the decomposition was endothermic and non-spontaneous. Negative ΔS values were first observed, followed by positive ΔS values at late conversion stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) is a rare form of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for around 2% of all NHL in pediatrics and adults. It is considered the least common subtype of marginal zone lymphoma, which is rarely seen in pediatrics and is usually viewed as a mild disease. In adults, its presentation varies from mild to aggressive disease with multiple lymph node enlargement and systemic symptoms. Case Report: Here, we report an interesting case of a 31‐month‐old boy who developed refractory EBV‐positive NMZL with extensive disease. The tumor did not respond well to conventional chemotherapy and Rituximab. Therefore, we manage the disease with second‐line chemotherapy, including bortezomib, followed by an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with an excellent outcome. Conclusion: Very few cases have been reported for aggressive NMZL children. The tumor was refractory to first line chemotherapy. However, the successful outcome was achieved by allogeneic stem cell transplant with myeloablative conditioning chemotherapy. The significance of this particular case is that this is the first reported case from pediatrics for refractory NMZL, which responded well to allogeneic stem cell transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progressive downscaling of silicon‐based microelectronic devices delivers compact and advanced integrated circuits for fast data processing and computing. Similarly, the miniaturization of conventional optoelectronics is also an important frontier of technology for emerging lighting, imaging, communication, and sensing. Herein, this study reports a miniature dual‐functional diode (DF‐diode) with both light‐emitting and light‐detecting functionalities. The proposed micro‐scale DF‐diode exhibits a record high responsivity of 300 mA W−1 at 265 nm with an ultrafast response rise time of 3.7 ns in light‐detecting mode. While operating in emitting mode, it demonstrates an extraordinarily high −3 dB optical bandwidth above 585 MHz with an enhanced external quantum efficiency performance. Significantly, the development of micro‐scale DF‐diodes has opened up a new avenue toward the realization of an effective and long‐distance solar‐blind optical communication system in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time series analysis is pivotal for business and financial decision making, especially with the increasing integration of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, leveraging time series data for forecasting requires extensive preprocessing to address challenges such as missing values, heteroscedasticity, seasonality, outliers, and noise. Different approaches are necessary for univariate and multivariate time series, Gaussian and non-Gaussian time series, and stationary versus non-stationary time series. Handling missing data alone is complex, demanding unique solutions for each type. Extracting statistical features, identifying data quality issues, and selecting appropriate cleaning and forecasting techniques require significant effort, time, and expertise. To streamline this process, we propose an automated strategy called Preptimize, which integrates statistical and machine learning techniques and recommends prediction model blueprints, suggesting the most suitable approaches for a given dataset as an initial step towards further analysis. Preptimize reads a sample from a large dataset and recommends the blueprint model based on optimization, making it easy to use even for non-experts. The results of various experiments indicated that Preptimize either outperformed or had comparable performance to benchmark models across multiple sectors, including stock prices, cryptocurrency, and power consumption prediction. This demonstrates the framework's effectiveness in recommending suitable prediction models for various time series datasets, highlighting its broad applicability across different domains in time series forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nested within the vast genetic landscape of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a cluster of genes assumes a pivotal role in pathogen recognition and orchestrating mechanisms for disease resistance. This investigation successfully cloned and sequenced the complete 786 bp cDNA entity corresponding to the MHC-DQB gene in yaks. A comprehensive analysis of the sequence unveiled distinct features, including highly conserved peptide binding sites (PBS) spanning 8 amino acids and specific nucleotide-binding regions at designated positions (–1, –28, 2, 3, 29, 64, 93, and 108). The pronounced uniformity and remarkable preservation demonstrated by the yak MHC-DQB gene underscore its potential in providing protection against pathogens and the inherent stability within the DQB genetic framework. Moreover, a comparison across six distinct domains of the Yak-DQB gene revealed notable similarities with closely related species. Particularly significant is the identification of a conserved peptide-binding region consisting of 16 amino acids, alongside the detection of multiple conserved nucleotide-binding regions. When conducting a comparative analysis of amino acid lengths in the Yak-DQB orthologous sequence, a substantial homology with cattle was observed, registering at 91.2%. Interestingly, however, the DQB gene in yaks exhibited discrepancies in 23 amino acids compared to the bovine sequence. Specifically, a detailed examination revealed that 15 of these variable amino acids were clustered within the Beta 1 (в1) domain. These insights provide valuable information about the distinct characteristics of the MHC gene in both ruminant and non-ruminant species, unraveling the complexities of their comparative molecular genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study emphasizes the importance and application of bioinspired cellular membrane vesicles as smart drug delivery carriers. The lessons can be learned from nature for the smart drug delivery system. Biological membranes are essential to provide stable and functional compartments, preserve cellular architecture, and promote selective signaling and transportation, which are mediated by embedded integral or peripheral proteins. Bioinspired mimicking of natural components in organisms has demonstrated their potential to serve as an innovative system for theranostic applications. However, mimicking the cell membrane in an artificial system is complex because of the multifarious biological structures. The primary advantage of these bioinspired delivery systems is the systematic biodistribution that nonnative delivery systems could not possess. This review will present biomimics resulting from self-assembling amphiphilic polymers. The promising artificial self-assemblies tagged with biomolecules by encapsulation, hybridization, or insertion can serve as means for the development of a smart drug delivery system. Moreover, in case the developed system is stimuli-responsive, the system allows for the triggered or on demand release of payload with in situ specific reaction. In conclusion, cellular membrane vesicles offer an important approach to efficient drug-targeted treatments at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, bioinspired cellular membrane vesicles are discussed along with their applications. Relevant examples of bioinspired membrane mimics are included for an overview of drug delivery candidates. The advantages of using biomimetic membranes and current limitations for future improvements are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is still a great source of energy, but its high sulfur content causes environmental pollution and problems in its processing. This study used a method of combined oxidation and alkali leaching to desulfurize low-grade, high-sulfur Lakhra coal at different ranges of temperature, alkali concentration, leaching time, partial pressure of oxygen, and agitation speed. The optimum values for the leaching reaction were observed to be an alkali (NaOH) concentration of 0.8 mM, a leaching time of 1.5 h, an oxygen partial pressure of 150 psi, and an agitation speed of 800 rpm. The ash content of the coal initially increased at higher values of reaction time and temperature, and then became saturated at a certain peak. The raw coal was characterized for ultimate and proximate analysis, and the product was characterized for ash content and total sulfur content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study focuses on the shadow of prion protein (Sho) encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene (SPRN), which associates with PrP and promotes the progression of prion diseases. While genetic polymorphisms in SPRN are linked to susceptibility in several species, rabbit SPRN gene polymorphisms have not been extensively studied. Through amplicon sequencing, we identified novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the rabbit SPRN gene and found strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between them. However, strong LD was not observed between polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP) and SPRN genes in rabbits. Comparison of amino acid sequences revealed differences in SPRN between rabbits and other species susceptible or resistant to prion diseases. This study represents the first examination of genetic features of the rabbit SPRN gene. Prion disorders are fatal infectious diseases that are caused by a buildup of pathogenic prion protein (PrPSc) in susceptible mammals. According to new findings, the shadow of prion protein (Sho) encoded by the shadow of prion protein gene (SPRN) is associated with prion protein (PrP), promoting the progression of prion diseases. Although genetic polymorphisms in SPRN are associated with susceptibility to several prion diseases, genetic polymorphisms in the rabbit SPRN gene have not been investigated in depth. We discovered two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leporine SPRN gene on chromosome 18 and found strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between them. Additionally, strong LD was not found between the polymorphisms of PRNP and SPRN genes in rabbits. Furthermore, nonsynonymous SNPs that alter the amino acid sequences within the open reading frame (ORF) of SPRN have been observed in prion disease-susceptible animals, but this is the first report in rabbits. As far as we are aware, this study represents the first examination of the genetic features of the rabbit SPRN gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of evidence regarding the rate of adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) media guidelines of vernacular newspapers reporting on suicides in Pakistan. Also, the relevance of this report is based on the lack of official data regarding the number of suicides across the country. The aim of this study was to explore the rate of adherence to the WHO guidelines of two popular newspapers in reporting on suicides in Pakistan. We daily analysed the online version of two popular newspapers in Pakistan, the daily Jeejal (in Sindhi) and daily Jang (in Urdu), from 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2022; we performed a content analysis of news reporting on national suicides and evaluated their rate of adherence to the WHO media guidelines. One hundred and seventy-three reports of suicides were identified and analysed; 84% of them reported the names of victims, 70% reported their age, and 46% included information regarding their occupation. Characteristics of suicide methods were reported in 87% of reports, reasons for suicide in 66%, as well as locations in 87%. In general, 84% of newspapers reported incomplete information regarding suicide prevention and help-seeking, so we may conclude they were not fully adherent to the WHO recommendations. This study indicates that national vernacular newspapers may improve their reporting on suicides and should revise their policy in order to be adherent to the WHO guidelines. Also, better and responsible reporting may provide an accurate epidemiological source regarding suicide where official data are missing at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the epidemiological trends and risk factors during the dengue outbreak among population of East Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Retrospective Analysis and Review. Setting: Dengue Control and Prevention Center, East Karachi. Period: September 2020 to November 2020. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 1012 patients from East Karachi who were tested positive for dengue virus during the study period. Patients demographics, travel history, vector source, and outcomes were recorded. Statistical analysis was done using IBM-SPSS, version 26.0. Results: Most of the patients were male (60.6%), with the majority (21.0%) belonging to the 30- to 39-year-old age group. Majority (81.2%) were from Gulshan Town. Overall, UC14 and Faisal Can't have the highest number of cases (18.3%) followed by UC 5, Gulshan-1 (8.5%), and UC 10, Pehalwan Goth (8.3%). A total of 80% of the patients were alive, and 20% expired. The majority (40%) were found to have a vector-prone area in vicinity, primarily a botanical nursery. An abrupt surge in cases can be seen for the month of October. The number of dengue cases showed rapid increase in Karachi East, Pakistan. Conclusion: There is a need to educate the population about the preventive measures against the spread of viruses. The concerned authorities should devise an adequate and effective plan to flatten the infectivity curve. If necessary changes are not made, future outbreaks could be more serious, disastrous, and uncontrollable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel robust output feedback control that simultaneously performs both stabilization and trajectory tracking for a class of underactuated nonholonomic systems despite model uncertainties, external disturbance, and the absence of velocity measurement. To solve this challenging problem, a generalized normal form has been successfully created by employing an input–output feedback linearization approach and a change in coordinates (diffeomorphism). This research mainly focuses on the stabilization problem of nonholonomic systems that can be transformed to a normal form and pose several challenges, including (i) a nontriangular normal form, (ii) the internal dynamics of the system are non-affine in control, and (iii) the zero dynamics of the system are not in minimum phase. The proposed scheme utilizes combined backstepping and sliding mode control (SMC) techniques. Furthermore, the full-order high gain observer (HGO) has been developed to estimate the derivative of output functions and internal dynamics. Then, full-order HGO and the backstepping SMC have been integrated to synthesize a robust output feedback controller. A differential-drive type (2,0) the wheeled mobile robot has been considered as an example to support the theoretical results. The simulation results demonstrate that the backstepping SMC exhibits robustness against bounded uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effect of alpha blocker drugs on reduction of Double J Stent related symptoms. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Urology, The Kidney Centre, Post Graduate Training Institute, Karachi Pakistan, from May 2014 to Nov 2019. Methodology: Total 92 patients who had unilateral stent, inserted retrograde or antegrade, were studied. On 7th postoperative day double J stent related symptoms were documented on Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire and alpha-blocker was started if score is >10. After 4 weeks, data was again colected to assess mean change in Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire score. Results: Of 92 patients, pre-treatment mean Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire score was 38.36±16.07 and post treatment was 14.87±8.62. Mean difference between pre and post Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire score was found significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Administration of Tamsulosin has a positive effect on stent related urinary symptoms and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the influence of serum ferritin levels on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan. Period: July 2021 to December 2021. Material & Methods: A total of 180 patients of 30-60 years of age and either gender, and known cases of diabetes mellitus for =3 year duration were included. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data was recorded. HbA1c below 7% was labeled as good glycemic control while HbA1c above or equal to 7% was designated as poor glycemic control. The serum ferritin =307 µg/L was considered as raised. Association of glycemic control with respect to serum ferritin levels was noted. Results: In a total of 180 patients of T2DM, the mean age, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c were 53.62 ± 5.82 years, 11.91±4.92 years, and 12.41 ± 5.73% respectively. The mean serum ferritin was 512±22.53 ug/L, whereas serum ferritin was raised in 109 (60.5%). The serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients with poor glycemic control than those having good glycemic control (56.0% versus 44.0%, p=0.044). Conclusion: In contrast to individuals with good glycemic control, patients with poor glycemic control more frequently had elevated serum ferritin levels, according to the current study. In order to properly manage diabetes patients and prevent the negative effects of elevated serum ferritin levels, serum ferritin should be included in the usual screening protocol of diabetic patients while monitoring their glycemic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Soft denture lining materials act as a cushion between the denture base and tissues. Alongside having many advantages, its main problem is candida growth due to its rubbery and porous texture. Many interventions have been performed to halt the growth of candida within soft lining materials such as the use of antifungal therapy and strict oral and denture hygiene but there are consequences such as recurrence, drug resistance, and toxicity related to these interventions. Since natural agents such as aloe vera and chitosan have been proven to have antibacterial and antifungal properties with minimum adverse effects, this study aimed to study the effectiveness of chitosan and aloe vera powders incorporated within denture soft lining materials against candida adherence. Methodology. A total of 60 soft-lining material samples were prepared that were equally divided into three groups, viz., group 1 (chitosan incorporation), group 2 (aloe vera incorporation), and group 3 (control). Candida was obtained from the microbiology lab to form a candidal suspension, diluted in 0.9% NaCl to match the McFarland standard bacteriologic solution. Samples were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours in test tubes containing 100 mL of the candidal suspension and 9.9 mL of the previously prepared Sabouraud dextrose agar. Crystal violet stain was used to stain the adhering cells by fixing them with methanol 80%. For each sample, the adhering candida cells were counted on three standard fields by using an inverted light microscope, and the mean of those fields was recorded. Results. The mean value for samples containing aloe vera was 41.15, while the mean values for samples containing chitosan and the control group were 16.05 and 79.1, respectively. Of all the three groups, aloe vera powder had a significant efficacy against candida growth as compared to the chitosan and control groups (P value = 0.001). Conclusion. Both herbal agents were effective against candida growth. In comparison, aloe vera was more effective against candida growth compared to chitosan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness levels regarding the right to health and its correlation with sociodemographic variables among patients hospitalized in a tertiary care facility in Sindh, Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 390 patients admitted to various medical and surgical wards at Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan, from January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022. The research received approval from the Research Ethics Committee, LUMHS Jamshoro (letter No: LUMHS/REC/-135 dated 16.08.2021), and informed consent was obtained from study participants. Patients aged >18 years, hospitalized for ≥ 3 days, were recruited through convenient sampling. Data collection utilized a questionnaire encompassing queries on the patients' sociodemographic characteristics. Patients' awareness of their rights to health was measured on a Likert scale and cumulatively expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Results: The majority of patients were aged >38 years (58.46%), with a male preponderance (62.05%). Awareness gaps were identified, particularly in the domain of being informed about diagnosis and treatment (1.72±1.06). Marital status and gender of the study subjects demonstrated a statistically significant association with the outcome measure of interest (p = 0.002 and 0.00, respectively), while patients' educational and occupational statuses yielded insignificant results (p = 0.08 and 0.10, respectively). Conclusion: Patients' perspectives regarding their right to health exhibit diverse associations with sociodemographic characteristics. This knowledge can be leveraged to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chiltan formation is a potential hydrocarbon-producing reservoir in the Indus Basin, Pakistan. However, its diagenetic alterations and heterogeneous behavior lead to significant challenges in accurately characterizing the reservoir and production performance. This manuscript aims to utilize six carbonate core samples of the Chiltan limestone to conduct an in-depth analysis of the diagenetic impacts on reservoir quality. The comprehensive formation evaluation was carried out through thin-section analysis, SEM-EDS, and FTIR investigation, as well as plug porosity and permeability measurements under varying stress conditions. In result, petrography revealed three microfacies of intraclastic packestone (MF1), bioclastic pelliodal packestone (MF2), and bioclastic ooidal grainstone (MF3), with distinct diagenetic features and micro-nano fossil assemblages. The MF1 microfacies consist of bioclasts, ooids, pellets, and induced calcite, while the MF2 microfacies contain micrite cemented peloids, algae, and gastropods. Although, the MF3 grainstone microfacies contains key features of bioclasts, milliods, bivalves, echinoderms, and branchiopods with intense micritization. Diagenesis has a significant impact on petrophysical properties, leading to increased reservoir heterogeneity. The specified depositional environment exposed the alteration of the Chiltan formation during distinct diagenetic phases in marine, meteoric, and burial settings. Marine diagenesis involves biogenic carbonates and micro-nano fossils, while meteoric diagenesis involves mineral dissolution, reprecipitation, secondary porosity, compaction, cementation, and stylolite formation. Pore morphology and mineralogy reveal a complex pore network within the formation, including a micro-nano pore structure, inter–intra particle, moldic, vuggy, and fenestral pores with variations in shape, connectivity, and distribution. Various carbonate mineral phases in the formation samples were analyzed, including the calcite matrix and dolomite crystals, while silica, calcite, and clay minerals were commonly observed cement types in the analysis. The core samples analyzed showed poor reservoir quality, with porosity values ranging from 2.02% to 5.31% and permeability values from 0.264 mD to 0.732 mD, with a standard deviation of 1.21. Stress sensitivity was determined using Klinkenberg-corrected permeability at increasing pore pressure conditions, which indicated around 22%–25% reduction in the measured gas permeability and 7% in Klinkenberg permeability due to increasing the net confining stress. In conclusion, the Chiltan formation possesses intricate reservoir heterogeneity and varied micropore structures caused by diagenesis and depositional settings. The formation exhibits nonuniform pore geometry and low petrophysical properties caused by the diverse depositional environment and various minerals and cement types that result in a low-quality reservoir. Stress sensitivity further decreases the permeability with varying stress levels, emphasizing the need of stress effects in reservoir management. The results of this study provide a solid foundation in reservoir characterization and quality assessment that has implications for predicting fluid flow behavior, providing insight into geological evolution and its impact on reservoir quality and leading to improving resource exploration and production strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing new acceptors is critical for intrinsically stretchable organic solar cells (IS‐OSCs) with high efficiency and mechanical robustness. However, nearly all stretchable polymer acceptors exhibit limited efficiency and high‐performance small molecular acceptors are very brittle. In this regard, we select thienylene‐alkane‐thienylene (TAT) as the conjugate‐break linker and synthesize four dimerized acceptors by the regulation of connecting sites and halogen substitutions. It is found that the connecting sites and halogen substitutions considerably impact the overall electronic structures, aggregation behaviors, and charge transport properties. Benefiting from the optimization of the molecular structure, the dimerized acceptor exhibits rational phase separation within the blend films, which significantly facilitates exciton dissociation while effectively suppressing charge recombination processes. Consequently, FDY‐m‐TAT‐based rigid OSCs render the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.07 % among reported acceptors containing conjugate‐break linker. Most importantly, FDY‐m‐TAT‐based IS‐OSCs achieve high PCE (14.29 %) and remarkable stretchability (crack‐onset strain [COS]=18.23 %), significantly surpassing Y6‐based counterpart (PCE=12.80 % and COS=8.50 %). To sum up, these findings demonstrate that dimerized acceptors containing conjugate‐break linkers have immense potential in developing highly efficient and mechanically robust OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing new acceptors is critical for intrinsically stretchable organic solar cells (IS‐OSCs) with high efficiency and mechanical robustness. However, nearly all stretchable polymer acceptors exhibit limited efficiency and high‐performance small molecular acceptors are very brittle. In this regard, we select thienylene‐alkane‐thienylene (TAT) as the conjugate‐break linker and synthesize four dimerized acceptors by the regulation of connecting sites and halogen substitutions. It is found that the connecting sites and halogen substitutions considerably impact the overall electronic structures, aggregation behaviors, and charge transport properties. Benefiting from the optimization of the molecular structure, the dimerized acceptor exhibits rational phase separation within the blend films, which significantly facilitates exciton dissociation while effectively suppressing charge recombination processes. Consequently, FDY‐m‐TAT‐based rigid OSCs render the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.07 % among reported acceptors containing conjugate‐break linker. Most importantly, FDY‐m‐TAT‐based IS‐OSCs achieve high PCE (14.29 %) and remarkable stretchability (crack‐onset strain [COS]=18.23 %), significantly surpassing Y6‐based counterpart (PCE=12.80 % and COS=8.50 %). To sum up, these findings demonstrate that dimerized acceptors containing conjugate‐break linkers have immense potential in developing highly efficient and mechanically robust OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While various biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been associated with general cognitive function, their association to visual-perceptive function across the AD spectrum warrant more attention due to its significant impact on quality of life. Thus, this study explores how AD biomarkers are associated with decline in this cognitive domain. Objective: To explore associations between various fluid and imaging biomarkers and visual-based cognitive assessments in participants across the AD spectrum. Methods: Data from participants (N = 1,460) in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were analyzed, including fluid and imaging biomarkers. Along with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), three specific visual-based cognitive tests were investigated: Trail Making Test (TMT) A and TMT B, and the Boston Naming Test (BNT). Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing curves and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine associations. Results: MMSE showed the strongest correlations with most biomarkers, followed by TMT-B. The p-tau181/Aβ1–42 ratio, along with the volume of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, had the strongest associations among the biomarkers. Conclusions: Several biomarkers are associated with visual processing across the disease spectrum, emphasizing their potential in assessing disease severity and contributing to progression models of visual function and cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Laparoscopic surgery is generally considered as better than open surgery in terms of less complications, minimal hospital stays and quick healing of the wounds. Our objective was to compare the immediate and early outcome of the different incarcerated hernias of anterior abdominal wall operated on as emergency cases by open and laparoscopic approach. Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study which was conducted at two hospitals of AlAhsa city of the Eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from July, 2017 to June, 2022. The data were retrieved from the medical records of the hospitals. All male and female patients having different types of incarcerated hernias of anterior abdominal wall presenting to the emergency room were included in the study. The patients were divided in two groups; those who were operated on by open approach (Group-I) and those who were operated on by laparoscopic approach (Group-II). Results: Out of total 70 male and female patients, 42 were in Group-I and 28 in Group-II. The variety of the incarcerated hernias in both groups overall was para-umbilical 26(37.14%), incisional 18(25.71%), inguinal (right & left) 17(24.28%) and epigastric 9(12.86%). The mean operative time taken by Group I and II was 126.07 (±9.728) and 98.57 (±10.079) minutes respectively with a difference of 27.50 minutes (p=0.807). The mean hospital stay of the patients in Group I and II was 1.36(±0.719) and 1.57(±0.997) days respectively (p=0.482). The post-operative complications rate in Group-I was 6(14.28%) and in Group-II, 6(21.43%) (p=0.658). Overall, 12(17.14%) patients developed the complications in both groups. When the number of the complications is compared, it shows that there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.583). Conclusion: Laparoscopic approach is not superior to the open approach in the terms of the immediate and early outcome/complications of the incarcerated hernias of the anterior abdominal wall operated as emergency cases in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Viral hepatitis is a major public health concern in low-middle income countries. Hepatitis-E infection (HEV) is found globally but most prevalent in low-income countries especially those with poor sanitation systems, access to clean drinking water and health services. Superinfection with HEV in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) can cause severe hepatic decompensation leading to increased morbidity and mortality. To determine the frequency of seroprevalence of Hepatitis-E virus Immunoglobulin g (IgG) and its association with chronic liver disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Pakistan from January till May 2022. A total of 196 patients of aged > 18 years, presenting in gastroenterology clinics were included in the study after informed consent. Result: Among 196 patients, one third of patient were male (73.5%). Out of which 162 (82.7%) had liver disease and 34 (17.3%) were without liver disease. The median age of patient was 45 (33-51) years. The overall seroprevalence of HEV IgG among study population was 69.4%. HEV IgG was present in 114 and 22 in CLD and non CLD patients respectively. Multivariable regression shows no association between seroprevalence of HEV in CLD and non-CLD patient (AOR 1.02, 95% CI 0.45-2.313). Conclusion: Our study showed high frequency of HEV seropositivity. No difference was observed in HEV seropositivity among CLD and non-CLD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context/Aims: Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare tumors, and data on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in these patients and the effect of blocking on ABPM parameters is limited. We aimed to describe ABPM parameters in a cohort of PPGL at our center in western India. Methods: Retrospective study of patients with PPGL whose ABPM data was available. Demographic details, secretory status, and ABPM data were retrieved. Coefficient of variability (CV) was calculated as standard deviation/mean in percentage. Results: In the 39 included patients, mean age at presentation was 39.3 ± 14.2 yr; 20 (51.3%) were males, 25 (64.1%) hypertensive, and mean tumor diameter was 5.3 cm. In 18 patients whose baseline ABPM was done without medications, those with nocturnal blood pressure dipping (6/18, 33%) had higher serum metanephrines (median 313.2 vs. 34.7 pg/ml, P = 0.028). Despite normal office blood pressure (BP), 8.9% of systolic BP readings were >140 mmHg, and 1.2% were >160 mmHg. Among 29 patients with both pre and post-block ABPM, mean BP (systolic 121.6 vs. 132.5 mmHg, P = 0.014; diastolic 68.9 vs. 76.4 mmHg, P = 0.005) and percentage of BP readings above 140 mmHg (median 9.4% vs. 24.4%, P = 0.016) were significantly lowered after the preoperative blockade in hypertensive (n = 19) patients, whereas CV was similar. The post-blockade ABPM characteristics were similar in patients blocked with amlodipine or prazosin. Conclusion: ABPM provides additional information about BP characteristics in PPGL. The preoperative blocking decreases the magnitude of BP excursions but does not affect BP variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithuania is located on the East of Baltic sedimentary basin and has a geothermal anomaly situated in the southwestern region of the country. There are two primary geothermal complexes within the anomaly, composed of Cambrian and Devonian aquifers. The Cambrian formation is composed of sandstones that have a reservoir temperature reaching up to 96 °C (depth > 2000 m). The Devonian aquifer is composed of unconsolidated sands of Parnu–Kemeri and has a reservoir temperature of up to 46 °C (depth > 1000 m). Historically, both formations have been investigated for geothermal energy production. In this article, we present a detailed literature review of the geothermal work carried out on both formations, including past, present, and some possible future studies. The study presented in this paper highlights the key findings of previous research work, summarizes the research gaps, and then elaborates on the possible applications of emerging technologies to bridge the research gaps and improve our understanding of geothermal complexes in Lithuania. Although it is not the main aim of this article, this article also touches upon the important need to develop 2D/3D numerical models, to quantify uncertainties, in the evaluation of the geothermal potential in Lithuania for commercial development. This study also highlights possibilities of extending geothermal development to depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs through repurposing the high-water-production wells. Moreover, from the literature review, it can be concluded that the Lithuanian geothermal aquifers are hyper-saline in nature and temperature changes lead to the deposition of salts both upstream and downstream of the reservoir. Therefore, there is a need for developing multiphysics thermo-mechanical–chemical (THMC) models for evaluation of reservoir behavior. The literature also describes the potential use and development of the THMC model as a part of future work that must be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a microbiome in the urinary system has been established through recent advancements in technology and investigation of microbial communities in the human body. The study of the taxonomic and genomic ecology of microbial communities has been greatly improved by the use of metagenomics. The research in this area has expanded our understanding of microbial ecosystems and shows that the urinary tract contains over 100 species from over 50 genera, with Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, and Streptococcus being the most common. Previous studies have suggested that the microbiota in the urinary tract may play a role in carcinogenesis by causing chronic inflammation and genotoxicity, but more research is needed to reach a definite conclusion. This is a narrative review. We conducted a search for relevant publications by using the databases Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar. The search was based on keywords such as "urinary microbiome," "bladder cancer," "carcinogenesis," "urothelial carcinoma," and "next-generation sequencing." The retrieved publications were then reviewed to study the contribution of the urinary microbiome in the development of bladder cancer. The results have been categorized into four sections to enhance understanding of the urinary microbiome and to highlight its role in the emergence of bladder cancer through alterations in the immune response that involve T-cells and antibodies. The immune system and microbiome play crucial roles in maintaining health and preventing disease. Manipulating the immune system is a key aspect of various cancer treatments, and certain gut bacteria have been linked to positive responses to immunotherapies. However, the impact of these treatments on the urinary microbiome, and how diet and lifestyle affect it, are not well understood. Research in this area could have significant implications for improving bladder cancer treatment and patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several works report on overcoming the challenge of complex general-purpose signal processing algorithms that result in quick utilization of chip area resources (like FPGA in implementing system on chip or network on chip). However, with the advent of machine learning and deep learning algorithms, reducing this complexity and immense use of resources is a challenging task that can improve the system's performance in real time. One of the approaches is algorithm optimization, which consumes fewer resources and produces an equivalent performance. This approach may likely be accepted in less-sensitive applications, like voice or video processing. Recently, an optimized algorithm of correlation-less Wiener–Hopf-based adaptive channel equalizer is reported, in which the overall complexity of the system is reduced by employing a more compact way of weight optimization. This paper is the continuation of that work that reports the modification in the Steepest-Descent-based adaptive channel equalizer algorithm by keeping the autocorrelation matrix out of the algorithm. The proposed design is simulated and tested at equivalent spectral performance and produces comparable performance with fewer chip resources when translated on FPGA. The proposed design supports that algorithm-level optimization may be accepted extensively for the optimal hardware-based design of DSP systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of virtual reality on static and dynamic balance among individuals with Down syndrome. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Imran Rehabilitation Center, Karachi, Pakistan, from Nov 2020 to April 2021 through a randomized sampling technique. Twenty-four Down syndrome individuals between 6 and 9 years of Age were included. Children who could stand and walk independently, comprehend the instructions and were diagnosed with 50% to 70% IQ level (assessed using the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale) were included. In contrast, DS children with autism, impaired vision or hearing loss and any associated neurological disorders, i.e. Epilepsy, muscular dystrophies and traumatic brain injury (TBI), were excluded. Data was analyzed using the SPSS version 23. RESULTS: Group A (n=12) participants had a mean age of 8.08±0.79 years, and Group B (n=12) participants had a mean age of 7.61±0.94 years. Both groups had similar gestational Age and IQ levels. The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and Rhomberg test assessed balance and motor control. Withingroup analysis revealed significant improvements in both groups for PBS scores. Group analysis did not demonstrate significant differences in the PBS scores or Rhomberg test outcomes. The mean PBS scores for Group A and Group B were 50.33±2.22 and 49.41±3.20, respectively. In the Rhomberg test, no significant differences were found between the two groups with eyes open or closed. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that static and dynamic balance was significantly improved in both groups; however, virtual reality group intervention showed a more significant improvement in static balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the frequency of functional outcomes in managing post-burn neck contractures. Descriptive study. At the department of plastic surgery. Methods: A total of 150 cases presenting from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences with any degree of post-burn neck contracture admitted to the plastic surgery unit and fulfilling the inclusion criteria, were included in the study. A detailed clinical and radiological examination was carried out. Before the interventional procedure was instituted, the cause of burn injury and functional grade of neck contracture was documented. A follow-up of 6 months was done to evaluate the range of neck motion and postoperative improvement in neck extension to document patient satisfaction. All data was recorded on a predesigned proforma. Results: The average age of the patient was 29.67±7.67 years. Out of 150, 96 (64%) patients showed satisfactory outcomes, 52 (34.67%) had good outcomes and 2 (1.33%) patients were poor outcomes. Conclusion: After oral intubation and SSG resurfacing of the raw region, it can be stated that contracture release under tumescent anaesthesia is a successful treatment for individuals with post-burn contractures of the neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Venous puncture is the process of obtaining intravenous access to get blood samples. Superficial veins of Upper-Limb, mainly dorsal metacarpal veins and median cubital veins are the commonest site for access. In order to get acquaintance about anatomic variation to perform safe venous puncture, the main objective of this study was to examine the variations in superficial veins of upper limb by using Near-Infrared Illumination Device. Methods A sample size of 50 participants (100 records of both limbs) has been documented. Staff and students of LUMHS of both genders; with the age ranging from 18-60 years, were included in the study. Tourniquet/ Blood Pressure monitor cuff application was applied to visualize superficial cubital veins. Another technique of Near-infrared illumination device (sure view vein illumination system ZD-JM-260-01) was applied to observe superficial veins of hand dorsum in adults with and without Hinna (Mehndi) causing artificial discoloration of skin. Results The Study results showed that 46(92.0%) of the total participants reported Type A right arm cubital fossa. 47(94.0%) reported Type A left cubital fossa. 15(30.0%) of the male participants had Type 6 Right hand dorsum venous arrangement. Likewise, 5(10.0%) of the female participants had Type 6 right hand dorsum venous arrangement. 14(28.0%) male participants had Type 6 Left hand dorsum venous arrangement. Similarly, 7(14.0%) males had Type 2, and 13(26.0%) males had Type 3 left hand dorsum venous arrangements. Likewise, 5(10.0%) of the female participants had Type 3 left hand dorsum venous arrangement. Moreover, 03 adult females presented with Henna (Mehndi) already applied on dorsum of hands and superficial veins were as visible as in rest of subjects without application of Henna (Mehndi). Conclusion Type-A was observed most frequently in venous arrangement in cubital fossa of both left and right arms of the participants, while Type 6 was the most generally observed type in hand dorsum of both right and left arms. Moreover. Artificial discoloration of skin caused by Henna (Mehndi) did not seem to effect the visibility of vein structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant role of long non-coding 7S RNA in controlling mitochondrial transcription highlights its importance in mitochondrial function. Considering the suggested connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and the onset of mental disorders, this study aimed to explore the potential involvement of 7S RNA in the context of depression/anxiety. A total of 181 patients in primary health care (age 20–64 years) with depression/anxiety and 59 healthy controls were included in the study. 7S RNA was measured using quantitative real-time PCR in plasma samples collected before (baseline) and after 8 weeks of treatment (mindfulness or cognitive-based behavioral therapy). Upon adjustment for age and sex, the baseline plasma levels of 7S RNA were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Notably, post-treatment, there was a significant reduction in 7S RNA levels (p = 0.03). These changes in 7S RNA were related to the treatment response, as indicated by HADS-D (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) scores (ß = −0.04, p = 0.04), even after accounting for baseline scores and other cofounders. The findings of this study indicate an association between plasma 7S RNA levels and depression/anxiety, as well as treatment response. While further confirmatory analyses are necessary, plasma 7S RNA holds promise as a potential predictive biomarker for both depression/anxiety and the treatment response within these disorders. • Mitochondria non-coding RNA, 7S RNA regulates mitochondrial transcription. • The expression and the roles of 7S RNA in depression/anxiety remain unclear. • The initial expression levels of 7S RNA exhibited a notable increase in patients compared to the healthy control group. • Post-treatment, 7S RNA levels notably decreased, showing a connection with treatment response through HADS-D scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare 5-year gastroesophageal reflux outcomes following Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (LVSG) and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) based on high quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We conducted a sub-analysis of our systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs of primary LVSG and LRYGB procedures in adults for 5-year post-operative complications (PROSPERO CRD42018112054). Electronic databases were searched from January 2015 to July 2021 for publications meeting inclusion criteria. The Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random effects model was utilized to estimate weighted mean differences where meta-analysis was possible. Bias and certainty of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2 and GRADE. Four RCTs were included (LVSG n = 266, LRYGB n = 259). An increase in adverse GERD outcomes were observed at 5 years postoperatively in LVSG compared to LRYGB in all outcomes considered: Overall worsened GERD, including the development de novo GERD, occurred more commonly following LVSG compared to LRYGB (OR 5.34, 95% CI 1.67 to 17.05; p = 0.02; I 2 = 0%; (Moderate level of certainty); Reoperations to treat severe GERD (OR 7.22, 95% CI 0.82 to 63.63; p = 0.06; I 2 = 0%; High level of certainty) and non-surgical management for worsened GERD (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.16 to 10.05; p = 0.04; I 2 = 0%; Low level of certainty) was more common in LVSG patients. LVSG is associated with the development and worsening of GERD symptoms compared to LRYGB at 5 years postoperatively leading to either introduction/increased pharmacological requirement or further surgical treatment. Appropriate patient/surgical selection is critical to minimize these postoperative risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Femoral-femoral Veno-Venous ExtraCorporeal Life Support (V-V ECLS) has been associated with higher infections rates, vascular site bleeding complications, and restricted patient mobility. Jugular or bicaval dual lumen V-V ECLS conceptually overcomes some of these adverse factors, but experience has shown that jugular vein cannulation still limits mobility and has increased bleeding complications. Technique and outcomes of subclavian vein single-cannulation with Crescent jugular dual-lumen V-V ECLS is described. Method: five patients with COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) underwent right subclavian vein V-V ECLS placement with the Crescent 32 French jugular dual-lumen V-V ECLS catheter. A standardized percutaneous technique was developed that allowed efficient insertion without need for any specialized imaging (i.e. transesophageal echocardiogram) and outcomes assessed. Results: Mean age of the five patients was 41.2 years, all obese with an average basal mass index of 45.2 kg/m2 and mean days to decannulation of 24.2 days. Outcomes discovered included; improved patient mobility allowing physical rehabilitation, no vascular access site related complications requiring surgery or endovascular intervention, and none had evidence of superior vena cava syndrome. One patient had subclavian/axillary vein thrombosis with resolution after 3 months of direct-acting oral anticoagulants, and one patient had blood cultures positive at day 37, nearing decannulation. Conclusion: Subclavian vein access for crescent jugular dual lumen V-V ECLS catheter appears to be safe and feasible with added benefits of decreased bleeding and increased mobility over jugular or femoral-femoral access site for long term V-V ECLS support in COVID-19 related ARDS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fanconi renotubular syndromes (FRTS) are a rare group of inherited phosphaturic disorders with limited Indian as well as global data on this condition. Here, we describe the experience of a single Endocrinology center from Western India on FRTS. Materials and methods: Comprehensive clinical, biochemical, radiological, management, and genetic details of FRTS patients managed between 2010 and 2023 were collected and analyzed. Results: FRTS probands had mutations (eight novel) in six genes [CLCN5 (n = 4), SLC2A2 (n = 2), GATM, EHHADH, HNF4A, and OCRL (1 each)]. Among 15 FRTS patients (11 families), rickets/osteomalacia was the most common (n = 14) presentation with wide inter- and intra-familial phenotypic variability. Delayed diagnosis (median: 8.8 years), initial misdiagnosis (8/11 probands), and syndrome-specific discriminatory features (8/11 probands) were commonly seen. Hypophosphatemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, normal parathyroid hormone (median: 36 pg/ml), high-normal/elevated 1,25(OH)2D (median: 152 pg/ml), hypercalciuria (median spot urinary calcium to creatinine ratio: 0.32), and variable proximal tubular dysfunction(s) were observed. Elevated C-terminal fibroblast growth factor 23 in two probands was misleading, till the genetic diagnosis was reached. Novel observations in our FRTS cohort were preserved renal function (till sixth decade) and enthesopathy in FRTS1 and FRTS3 families, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings underscore frequent under- and misdiagnosis of FRTS; hence, a high index of suspicion for FRTS in phosphopenic rickets/osteomalacia, with early consideration of genetic testing is essential to ensure timely diagnosis of FRTS. The novel variants and phenotypic manifestations described here expand the disease spectrum of FRTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ontario education policy articulates an explicit commitment to equity and inclusion for increasingly diverse classrooms. Despite policy commitments, when equity and inclusion intersect with religion, enactments remain underwhelming. This paper draws on the voices of 30 Ontario public school educators, all of whom self-identify as Muslim, to share the ways they affect and have been affected in attempting to enact a responsive pedagogy for faith-centred learners. Through the use of dialogic portraits in two different school boards, the voices of Muslim educators express consistent sentiments of responsibility to advocate for basic religious accommodations while at the same time needing to tread carefully with anything to do with religion in order to not be marginalised by colleagues. Participants in this study reinforce the need for more robust conceptions of equity and inclusion that consider the complexities of the religious identities of learners and educators in public education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Healthcare is a vitally important field in the industry and evolving day by day in the aspect of technology, services, computing, and management. Its potential significance can be increased by incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) technology to make it smart in the aspect of automating activities, which is then further reformed in the healthcare domain with the help of blockchain technology. Blockchain technology provides many features to IoT‐based healthcare domain applications such as restructuring by securing traditional practices, data management, data sharing, patient remote monitoring, and drug analysis. In this study, a systematic literature review has been carried out in which a total of 52 studies were selected to conduct systematic literature review from databases PubMed, IEEE Access, and Scopus; the study includes IoT technology and blockchain integration in healthcare domain‐related application areas. This study also includes taxonomy that mentions the aspects and areas in healthcare domain incorporating the traditional system with the integration of IoT and blockchain to provide transparency, security, privacy, and immutability. This study also includes the incorporation of related sensors, platforms of blockchain, the objective focus of selected studies, and future directions by incorporating IoT and blockchain in healthcare domain. This study will help researchers who want to work with IoT and blockchain technology integration in healthcare domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]