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Ethylene is a plant hormone involved in many aspects of plant growth and development as well as responses to stress. The role of ethylene in plant-microbe interactions has been explored from the perspective of plants. However, only a small number of studies have examined the role of ethylene in microbes. We demonstrated that Azospirillum brasilense contains a functional ethylene receptor that we call Azospirillum Ethylene Response1 (AzoEtr1) after the nomenclature used in plants. AzoEtr1 directly binds ethylene with high affinity. Treating cells with ethylene or disrupting the receptor reduces biofilm formation and colonization of plant root surfaces. Additionally, RNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics showed that ethylene causes wide-spread metabolic changes that affect carbon and nitrogen metabolism. One result is the accumulation of poly-hydroxybutyrate. Our data suggests a model in which ethylene from host plants alters the density of colonization by A. brasilense and re-wires its metabolism, suggesting that the bacterium implements an adaptation program upon sensing ethylene. These data provide potential new targets to regulate beneficial plant-microbe interactions. Author summary: Food production is becoming a major concern because of reduced arable land from an increased human population and climate change. Application of beneficial microbes to plants is being explored to increase crop productivity. However, this approach often underperforms in field conditions. To better sustain beneficial plant-microbe associations, we must understand what controls the formation and maintenance of these associations. Azospirillum brasilense is a soil bacterium that associates with plant roots and is used as a bioinoculant to boost plant growth and stress tolerance. We provide evidence that A. brasilense contains a functional receptor for the gaseous plant hormone ethylene. Application of ethylene regulates biofilm formation and root colonization of several plant hosts by A. brasilense. Additionally, ethylene causes wide-spread metabolic changes in A. brasilense. This is the first study to demonstrate that a beneficial soil bacterium contains a functional ethylene receptor. These findings suggest that ethylene may act as a cross-kingdom signaling molecule from plants to bacteria that contain these ethylene receptors thereby identifying a potential target to potentially improve beneficial plant-microbe interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented work explores the quasi-static response of AA2524-T3 alloy studied under hot tensile loading. The impact on the flow stress of this alloy due to different strain rates in the range of 0.001 s - 1 to 0.1 s - 1 and temperatures between 25 and 300 °C are investigated experimentally. The initial microstructural features and subsequent microstructural changes after taking the alloy to various test temperatures, but prior to tensile testing, are characterized through extensive microscopical analysis. The formation of fine cell structures and the occurrence of more intense recovery mechanism are observed at 250 °C. Above this temperature, it is observed the presence of more amount of S ′ precipitates. After performing hot tensile loading on AA2524-T3 under a various combination of test temperatures and strain rates, the fracture morphology of tested samples are examined. Notably, the ductility of AA2524-T3 alloy decreases marginally with an increase in strain rate up to 200 °C and beyond this temperature, it increases considerably for increase in strain rates. In addition to the experimental study, the parameters of Johnson–Cook constitutive model are determined to predict the flow stress behavior of AA2524-T3 for selected testing conditions. Finally, the strain rate sensitivity and thermal softening coefficient, the key parameters in Johnson–Cook model, are optimized for the chosen test ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define a new equivalence relation ' ∼ ' on the set of all Hadamard inequivalent complex Hadamard matrices of order 4 and show that pairs (u , v) of equivalent matrices u ∼ v produce an infinite family of potentially new subfactors of the hyperfinite type I I 1 factor R. All these subfactors are irreducible with the Jones index 4 n , n ≥ 2 , including all possibilities. We also show that this family contains infinitely many infinite-depth subfactors. As an application, we compute the Connes–Størmer relative entropy and the angle between the pair (R u , R v ⊂ R) of spin model subfactors arising from the pair (u , v) of equivalent matrices. On the other hand, pairs (u , v) of inequivalent matrices u ≁ v lead to subalgebras of R with infinite Pimsner–Popa index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the differential prognosis of PLNM as compared to ENE and postulate a sub-classification of the pN3 stage of carcinoma penis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of all the patients of penile squamous cell carcinoma operated at our institute between Jan 2016 and May 2023 was conducted. LASSO Cox regression was used to select variables affecting OS. Cox multivariate analysis was performed to derive significant factors which were permuted to form probable sub-classifications. The best sub-classification was selected based on Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) and Kaplan Meier analysis. Results: Seventy three patients were included in the study. ENE (HR: 2.6, p = 0.038) and PLNM (HR: 3.3, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with OS on Cox multivariate analysis using LASSO based variable selection. Four probable sub-classifications were created of which pN3a (only ENE) and pN3b (only PLNM and ENE+PLNM) showed least AIC (235.065). The mean OS was 36.6 and 17.2 months respectively for pN3a and pN3b subgroups. Conclusions: ENE had a better OS as compared to PLNM and ENE+PLNM in our study. A sub-classification of pN3 stage of TNM classification is proposed. Multi-institutional prospective studies with large number of patients and longer follow-up should validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Younger adults (YA) and older adults (OA) used a joystick to stabilize an unstable visual inverted pendulum (VIP) with a fundamental frequency (.27 Hz) of half that of bipedal human sway. Their task was to keep the VIP upright and to avoid ± 60° "fall" boundaries. Both age groups were tested with joystick gains and delays simulating age-related muscle strength and reflex slowing, respectively. In previous VIP and analogous self-balancing tasks, we observed a mixture of discrete corrective commands toward the balance point and destabilizing commands toward an impending fall. We hypothesized that (1) OA would fall more than YA, (2) traditional whole-trial stability and variability measures would differ across age groups and VIP conditions, and (3) different dynamics of corrective and destabilizing commands would discriminate falling from recovery. Results: (i) Traditional whole-trial performance metrics of fall incidence and the variance of position and velocity were worse in OA than YA and worse with longer delays and excessive joystick gains; (ii) OA made fewer corrective and more destabilizing commands than YA only when falling was imminent; (iii) when falls were imminent, a logistic model fit the percentage of inactive, corrective, and destabilizing commands as a function of time left to fall; and (iv) OA were like YA in switching between inaction and action, but exhibited less frequent and less prompt corrective commands than destabilizing commands relative to YA. We discuss whether such a decision-like process may also operate in a bipedal stance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango being a climacteric fruit undergoes various metabolic processes after its harvest that affect the fruit quality. Henceforth, an investigation was undertaken to preserve the postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of mango fruit by preharvest putrescine application. Mature plants of mango cv. Dashehari were sprayed with four different concentrations of putrescine; 1, 2, 3, and 4 mM at 14 and 7 days before harvesting respectively. Physiologically developed mango fruits were taken from treated plants, packed in corrugated fiberboard boxes, and stored at 12 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of 85–90%. Research findings indicated that in comparison to untreated fruits, fruits treated with 3 mM putrescine 14 days before harvesting resulted in reduced weight loss (12.10%), fruit spoilage (8.83%) along with retention of higher firmness (44.54 N), titratable acidity (0.58%), antioxidant activity (54.55%), TSS (18.84 °Brix), and total sugars (14.86%) by the end of storage. Overall, it could be inferred that 3 mM putrescine application 14 days before harvest could be used to maintain the physicochemical attributes and extend the shelf life of mango fruit under low-temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive cancer affecting the skin, blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. It occurs more often in older men. It is difficult to diagnose this condition because it is rare and has many possible symptoms. Early, accurate diagnosis is important, so patients can receive the only available treatment, tagraxofusp, to help extend their survival until stem cell transplantation, which may cure the disease. Fewer cases of BPDCN have been diagnosed in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) than expected because doctors may be unfamiliar with BPDCN, and there is currently no agreement on what set of blood markers can be used to diagnose this disease. A panel of experts who know this region reviewed the literature and developed practical recommendations to help doctors diagnose BPDCN quickly and accurately in the GCC. Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive orphan hematopoietic malignancy characterized by cutaneous and systemic hematologic involvement. BPDCN is frequently misidentified, but early, accurate diagnosis is critical to extending patient survival using tagraxofusp, a first-in-class CD123-targeted therapy, and increasing their chances of receiving a potentially curative stem cell transplantation. Cases of BPDCN in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are lower than the extrapolated incidence from other geographic locations due to lack of awareness of key diagnostic features, lack of consensus on the minimal phenotype for diagnosis, and lack of local immunohistochemistry testing facilities, contributing to underdiagnosis in this region. Practical recommendations, a streamlined diagnostic panel, and suggested multidisciplinary approaches based on expert experience regarding diagnostic and clinical challenges specific to this region, and a review of the literature are presented here to facilitate diagnosis of BPDCN in this region by primary care physicians, dermatologists, and hematologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem definition: Limited resources in the judicial system can lead to costly delays, stunted economic development, and even failure to deliver justice. Using the Supreme Court of India as an exemplar for such resource-constrained settings, we apply ideas from service operations to study delay. Specifically, court dynamics constitute a case-management queue, whereby each case may experience multiple service encounters spread across time, but all are necessarily with the same server. Our goal is to elucidate the drivers of congestion, focusing on metrics such as the expected case-disposition time (delay) and expected number of cases awaiting adjudication (pendency), and leverage this understanding to recommend operational interventions. Methodology/results: We employ data-driven calibrated simulations to model the analytically intractable case-management queue. The life cycle of a case comprises two stages: preadmission (before determining its merit for detailed hearings) and postadmission. Our methodology allows us to capture the queueing dynamics in which the judges are shared resources across the two stages. It also permits modeling of holiday capacity, which is flexibly tailored to address any surplus work that spills over from the regular year. We find that the second stage of this judicial queue is overloaded, but holiday capacity creates a perception of stability by steadying performance metrics. Managerial implications: The sources of inefficiency that drive congestion include a misalignment between scheduling guidelines and judicial capacity, coupled with the requirement to schedule hearings in advance. Together, these factors inhibit utilization of shared capacity across the two-stage judicial queue. We demonstrate how interventions that account for these inefficiencies can successfully tackle judicial delay. In particular, scheduling to improve the allocation of time across preadmission and postadmission cases can cut down the expected delay by as much as 65%. Funding: This study is (partially) supported by a Korea University Business School Research Grant. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.0530. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a climate-relevant trace gas and its emissions from coastal areas are a major contribution to the global atmospheric N2O budget. However, coastal N2O emissions are associated with a high degree of uncertainty because of the temporal and spatial variability of N2O production and consumption pathways. Here we investigated N2O production in the Saptamukhi, Thakuran, and Matla estuaries of the Indian Sundarbans (northern Bay of Bengal). Our study suggests nitrification may possibly be the major N2O production pathway in the estuarine waters. Our observations also indicated a pronounced seasonal trend, with peak DIN and N2O levels occurring during the monsoon season and the lowest concentrations post-monsoon. N2O production rates similarly increased from the pre-monsoon to monsoon periods, heavily influenced by the environmental factors of the system. The N2O emissions to the atmosphere were not balanced by sedimentary release and nitrification in the water, but were most probably fed by advection of N2O-enriched waters of riverine origin. This phenomenon may have contributed to the high N2O concentrations in three estuaries. Further detailed studies on nitrification in these estuaries may prove useful to develop further research on N2O sources and emission from the Indian Sundarbans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, with limited treatment options yielding poor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with locally advanced unresectable and de-novo metastatic PDAC in Saudi Arabia, providing regional data to compare with international benchmarks. Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study involving 350 patients diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced or de-novo metastatic PDAC between January 2015 and November 2023. Data were collected from 10 oncology centers across Saudi Arabia. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 60 years, with 63% of patients presenting with multiple metastatic sites, primarily in the liver (66.3%). FOLFIRINOX was the most common first-line treatment (55.1%), followed by gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (15.1%). The median PFS for first-line treatment was 5.3 months, with FOLFIRINOX achieving the longest PFS (6.5 months). The median OS was 10.34 months for the entire cohort, with better survival outcomes observed in patients receiving FOLFIRINOX (12.3 months). Independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS included performance status, first-line regimen, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Among patients tested, 7.1% had deficient mismatch repair (d-MMR), and 5.8% harbored BRCA mutations. Conclusions: This real-world study confirms that clinical outcomes for locally advanced unresectable and metastatic PDAC in Saudi Arabia are consistent with international data, with FOLFIRINOX showing superior outcomes over gemcitabine-based regimens. However, both treatments reflect the persistent poor prognosis of PDAC, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Further research is warranted to optimize treatment selection and improve survival outcomes in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Kernel texture plays a principal role in determining technological flour properties and end-use quality of wheat products. Hence, a multi-year mutation induction programme was conducted to isolate advanced wheat mutant lines with agro-morphologically superior performance, higher disease resistance and harder grain texture. Materials and methods: Radiation mutagenesis was employed in soft textured wheat variety HPW 89 using gamma rays dose of 250, 300 and 350 Gy (Co60: BARC, Mumbai) and evaluated across M1–5 generations. Promising superior mutants selected were evaluated during M4 and M5 generation for induced variability and trait association for agro-morphological and quality traits. The screened mutants were also determined for induced changes at genetic level using gene specific markers for puroindoline genes. Results: A total of 293 agro-morphologically superior mutants isolated showed significant genetic variation in the M4 generation. Single kernel characterization system categorized 267 mutants (8.79–50.06) with higher grain hardness than the HPW 89 variety (7.39). Among these, 108 mutants were selected for agro-morphological and molecular characterization. Significant variations were found in these mutants in either pina and pinb or both puroindoline genes. Clustering among these mutants led to the formation of five clusters and a total of eleven mutants were found with better set of agro-morphological, disease resistance and quality traits. Conclusion: These mutants can serve as important genetic resource for developing harder texture bread wheat varieties in the future grain quality improvement programmes. These mutants will also bridge the need of bakers and millers' requirement of varieties with specific texture and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid complexes of tolfenamic acid (tolfH) with Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), and Ba(II) have been synthesized and characterized by CHN, metal contents analysis, FTIR, UV, 1H‐NMR spectroscopy, thermal (TGA, DTG, DTA, and DSC) analysis, molar conductance, powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDX). Based on these studies, the probable formulae for the complexes are [Mg(tolf)Cl(H2O)3].4H2O, [Ca(tolf)2(H2O)2], [Sr2(tolf)4(H2O)4], and [Ba2(tolf)4(H2O)4]. The ligand tolfenamate ion (tolf) exhibited different modes of coordination, including bidentate and chelating. The 1H‐NMR displayed the presence of tolfenamato ions in the coordination sphere, the purity and stability of the complexes in solution. The average crystallite sizes of the complexes were determined by XRD and ranged from 55 to 70 nm. SEM micrographs showed the rod‐ or plate‐like morphology of the prepared complexes. The complexes showed promising antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical scavenging method, with an IC50 value of 12–15 μg/mL. Against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, as well as fungi, the metal complexes also demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity. In the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the metal complexes exhibited significantly highest cytotoxicity with the range of 15.25–24.57 μg/mL. All the complexes showed cytotoxicity against human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell lines, while the ligand itself did not show any cytotoxicity to these cancer cells. Furthermore, the metal complexes exhibited improved central and peripheral analgesic activity compared to tolfenamic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Asthma and COPD are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, impacting over 260 million people and causing over 3 million deaths globally (Momtaz-Manesh, S. et al., 2023). Pulmonary symptoms can impair tolerance and increase the negative attribution of anxiety sensations. Reciprocally, anxiety associated with dyspnea can induce hyperventilation. This perpetuates a cycle of symptom exacerbation and poor treatment adherence. Managing labored breathing is challenging due to its subjective nature. Dyspnea is a sufferer's endless pursuit to breathe, rendering its experience as truly, "Sisyphean." Aim: This study explored the role of anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance in dyspnea among adults with asthma and COPD (N = 107). A single-group cross-sectional research design was used. Data from pulmonologist-diagnosed adults with asthma and COPD were collected across various clinics in Delhi-NCR. Results: It was found that anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance and dyspnea were strongly correlated. Also, an increase in anxiety sensitivity was strongly predictive of dyspnea severity. Further, distress tolerance acted as a partial mediator between anxiety sensitivity and dyspnea. Conclusions: Improving distress tolerance can act as an adjuvant in effective dyspnea management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to detect carbapenemase genes among the carbapenemresistant isolates in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia by phenotypic and molecular methods. METHODS: The current investigation was conducted in the Department of Microbiology in collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesia, Government Medical College Patiala, on 200 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli from different clinical samples, such as urine, pus, wound, sputum, blood, endotracheal aspirate, pleural fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid, received from indoor patients of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Results: In our study, the maximum number of isolates was from patients aged 41-60 years (38%), followed by 61-80 yrs (36%) and 21-40 yrs (14.50%). The age range was found to be 23 years to 86 years, while the median age was observed as 42 years, and the Mean age was 42.23±18.17. The male-to-female ratio was 1:4.5. 165 cases (82.50%) belonged to the urban background, and 35 cases (17.50%) belonged to the rural background. In this study, the majority of gram-negative isolates was from urine (63.50%), followed by blood (12.50%), pus (11.50%), sputum (7.50%), body fluids (1.50%), tracheal aspirates (1.50%), and Endotracheal tip (1%), and followed by wound swabs (1%). The most common offender was Klebsiella pneumoniae (65%), followed by Escherichia coli (35%) among gram-negative isolates. Conclusion: The present study revealed a worrisome prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates. It is essential to detect isolates that are responsible for the production of Carbapenemases to guide antibiotic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary retroperitoneal seminoma is an exceedingly rare type of germ cell tumor, accounting for less than 5% of all such tumors. These tumors are typically large at presentation due to their slow growth and the nonspecific nature of symptoms, which often leads to delayed diagnosis. Case Presentation: A 40‐year‐old male presented with intermittent abdominal pain and a palpable lump in the right paraumbilical region. Ultrasonography revealed a large retroperitoneal mass. Fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed the diagnosis of poorly differentiated malignant tumor, for which he was evaluated with CT‐angiogram of the abdomen and FDG PET‐CT scans, which showed a large retroperitoneal mass. The patient, then, had a surgical resection of the mass, with postoperative histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of primary retroperitoneal seminoma, and then underwent three cycles of BEP chemotherapy. Scrotal ultrasonography showed no testicular abnormalities, obviating the need for orchiectomy. FDG PET showed a complete response following treatment completion. Postoperative management included routine monitoring of tumor markers and follow‐up imaging, which showed a complete response. Conclusion: This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of primary retroperitoneal seminoma. A multidisciplinary approach, including accurate histopathological diagnosis and a combination of chemotherapy and surgery, is essential for optimal management. Early diagnosis and tailored treatment strategies significantly improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition labels on packaged food items provide at-a-glance information about the nutritional composition of the food, serving as a quick guide for consumers to assess the quality of food products. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the nutritional information on the front and back of pack labels of selected packaged foods in the Indian market. A total of 432 food products in six categories (idli mix, breakfast cereals, porridge mix, soup mix, beverage mix and extruded snacks) were investigated by a survey. Nutritional profiling of the foods was done based on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) claims regulations. The healthiness of the packaged foods was assessed utilising nutritional traffic light system. The products were classified into 'healthy', 'moderately healthy' and 'less healthy' based on the fat, saturated fat, and sugar content. Most of the food products evaluated belong to healthy' and 'moderately healthy' categories except for products in extruded snacks. Reformulation of 'extruded snacks' are necessary to decrease the total and saturated fat content. The nutrient content claims were classified using the International Network for Food and Obesity / NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) taxonomy. Protein, dietary fibre, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals were the most referred nutrients in the nutrient content claims. Breakfast cereal carried highest number of nutritional claims while porridge mix had the lowest number of claims. The overall compliance of the nutrient content claims for the studied food products is 80.5%. This study gives an overall view about the nutritional quality of the studied convenience food products and snacks in Indian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study delves into the distribution of cervical nodal metastasis among patients diagnosed with carcinoma of unknown primary who underwent definitive diagnostic surgical management in form of transoral robotic surgery assisted ipsilateral radical tonsillectomy and tongue base mucosal wedge biopsy with concurrent therapeutic open ipsilateral neck dissection. We conducted a prospective study at a tertiary care center over two-years, enrolling patients with unilateral neck swelling histopathologically confirmed as squamous cell carcinoma neck metastasis. For cases where the primary site remained undetected despite evaluation, patients underwent Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) assisted ipsilateral radical tonsillectomy and tongue base wedge biopsy, along with concurrent open ipsilateral neck dissection. The study examines the clinicopathological correlation of nodal metastasis in carcinoma of unknown primary and explores the concepts of Lymph node yield (LNY) and Lymph node density (LND). Clinicoradiologically, the majority of patients exhibited N2b disease (n = 10/18, 55.55%). However, histopathological examination of the neck dissection specimen revealed N3b disease in the majority (n = 5/17, 29.4%). Neck dissection was aborted for 1 patient with unresectable N3b nodal metastasis during the procedure. The most commonly affected lymph node level clinicoradiologically was level II (n = 18/18, 100%), which corresponded to level II pathologically in most cases (n = 15/18, 88.2%). Ipsilateral radical neck dissection was required in the majority of cases (n = 10/17, 58.82%). The median Lymph Node Yield (LNY) from ipsilateral neck dissection was 30.78 ± 3.52, with the highest Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) detected from level II (11.1 ± 1.56). In the context of carcinoma of unknown primary with secondary neck metastasis, exploring emerging concepts such as Lymph Node Ratio (LNR) and Lymph Node Density (LND) alongside other clinicopathological parameters is crucial. These concepts provide valuable insights into the metastatic burden and may aid in refining prognostication and treatment strategies for patients with this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the third of a series of works [1-2] aimed at renormalizing the Standard Model effective field theory at one loop and to order 1/Λ4, with Λ being the new physics cut-off. On this occasion, we concentrate on the running of two-fermion operators induced by pairs of dimension-six interactions. We work mostly off-shell, for which we obtain and provide a new and explicitly hermitian basis of dimension-eight Green’s functions. All our results can be accessed in . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dairying in India has witnessed a radical transformation from a largely unorganised activity into a thriving organised industry. However, there are only a limited number of earlier attempts that specifically evaluated the milk production pattern of India. Moreover, most of these earlier studies are quite dated and have employed autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models, which suffer from the problem of local optima. To overcome this lacuna, we have utilised a genetic algorithm (GA) in the ARIMA framework. Its suitability to forecast the annual milk production in India has also been assessed comparatively with respect to the traditional ARIMA methodology. Methods: For the current study, data on annual milk production (in million tonnes) in India for the period from 1980 to 2019 have been utilised. For both the approaches under investigation, the whole data series is first divided into two sets, namely the training set and the testing set. The production data of 1980-2016 have been utilised for the model building purpose while retaining the last 3 years' data for the post-sample evaluation. Result: Outcomes emanated from the post-sample assessment clearly suggest that the ARIMA-GA approach has outperformed the traditional ARIMA methodology in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values. It is also evident that GA has substantially minimised the error related to the parameter estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optically transparent metal semi organic single crystal of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane‐1,4‐diium tris(nitrato)‐silver (DTNS) is synthesized using slow evaporation solution technique. This single crystal is grown with dimension up to 3×0.6×0.2cm3$3 \times 0.6 \times 0.2 \,\,{\rm{cm^3}}$ using 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as solute and water and methanol as solvent in the presence metal salt silver nitrate. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) study showed a trigonal structure with space group P3c1 and the sum formula C6H14AgN5O9$C_6 H_{14} Ag N_5 O_9$. The composition of metal Silver (Ag) in single crystal is confirmed through Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Analysis. The confirmation of various functional groups in DTNS molecular structure is characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR). UV–Visible absorption study showed the cut‐off wavelength at 250 nm with transparency 350–700 nm and the bandgap is about 3.3 eV. The thermal stability and melting point temperature is analyzed by Thermogravimetry‐Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG/DSC). The third order Non Linear Optics (NLO) efficiency of the synthesized crystal is 2×106$2 \times 10^6$ times greater than that of KDP. All of these analysis implies that DTNS crystal can be beneficial element for non‐linear optical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is an eco-friendly farming strategy involving balanced application of organic manures, biofertilizers and organic formulations to boost plant growth and yields. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different organic sources of nutrients, alone or in combination, on the growth and yield attributes of the strawberry cultivar Flavia. The study comprised ten treatments and laid in a randomized block design (RBD). The results indicated that, compared with the control treatment (T10), all the treatments (T1 to T9) enhanced the growth and yield. The combination comprising 60% RDN - 30% through vermicompost (90 g/m²) + 30% through neem cake (45 g/m²) and biochar (800 g/m²) + Panchgavya + Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM), each @ 50 mL/plant (T9), resulted in a significant increase in vegetative growth and yield attributes. The vegetative parameters included highest plant height (6.7 and 13.33 cm), plant spread in East-West direction (EW) (15.87 and 24.63 cm), plant spread in North-South (NS) (14.00 and 25.59 cm), number of trifoliate leaves (5.97 and 17.40) at 45 and 90 days after planting (DAP), respectively and stem girth (3.41 cm). Similarly, this treatment combination also contributed to the maximum chlorophyll index (57.90 SPAD), leaf area (48.76 cm²), along with highest number of fruits per plant (28.14), average berry weight (16.53 g), yield per plant (447.88 g) and yield efficiency (0.47 kg/cm²), compared to the other treatment combinations and the control. These results offer practical guidance for sustainable strawberry cultivation and lay the groundwork for future research on organic nutrient management in various crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the connection between tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) vertical column density levels and asthma hospitalization cases in Louisiana from 2005 to 2020. Utilizing NO2 data from NASA's Ozone Measurement Instrument (OMI) aboard the Aura satellite, the research integrates these atmospheric measurements with socioeconomic data at the census tract level. This study employs a generalized linear mixed model (GLIMMIX) with a logit link and Beta distribution to analyze the relationship between seasonal NO2 levels and asthma hospitalization cases during winter, fall, spring, and summer. By analyzing OMI data, this research quantifies seasonal variations in NO2 levels and their corresponding impact on asthma hospitalizations. The findings reveal a relationship between NO2 levels and asthma hospitalizations, particularly in communities with high Black and/or low-income populations, with the strongest effects observed during winter. Specifically, the analysis shows that, for each unit increase in NO2 levels, the odds of asthma-related hospitalizations increase by approximately 26.3% (p < 0.0001), with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 23.3% to 29.5%. Assuming a causal link between NO2 and asthma, these findings suggest that reducing NO2 emissions could alleviate healthcare burdens associated with respiratory diseases such as asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, designing an intelligent controller in a process control system has been focused on by many researchers, due to their ability for handling multivariable complex systems. Recent developments in the control system led to the development of fractional order control systems that are becoming increasingly popular and used in process control. Fractional order systems enhance the notion of integer order controls and add to the existing results. Therefore, fractional calculus in conjunction with conventional control systems can improve the existing control techniques significantly. In view of improving the response from the Coupled Tank System (CTS) having the non-linear mathematical model, a novel intelligent fuzzy fractional order proportional-integral controller (FFOPI) is proposed in this paper and the system performance is demonstrated for changes in set-points of the liquid levels. Fractional-order PI controllers (FOPI) have more flexibility and better performance than conventional PI controllers. Applying a fuzzy system to the fractional order PI controller to calculate all the control parameters as an adaptive controller in MIMO non-linear systems is found to be beneficial. Hence, the proposed FFOPI controller combines the effect of fractional-order PI (FOPI) control with self-tuning fuzzy logic to provide a reliable and efficient controller. It has been observed from simulation and validation, that the limitations of the conventional PI controller can be overcome with a FFOPI controller in terms of less rise time, reduced settling time, no overshoot, and zero steady-state error. So, the goal of the current research work is to contribute and highlight the importance of intelligent control in the field of industrial liquid level control type problems for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of stable genotypes for high yield and quality is of paramount importance, particularly under changing climatic scenarios. The objective of the study was to identify stable, high-yielding and high-quality sugarcane varieties to meet the food and energy demands of India and to sustain the productivity. The study focused on the effects of genotype-by-environment (G × E) interaction on yield and quality parameters, and multivariate analyses, specifically AMMI and GGE biplot, were employed. Seventeen elite sugarcane genotypes along with standard Co 86032 were evaluated in RCBD with three replications at two environments of Tamil Nadu (Nellikuppam: coastal region, and Alapuram: drought-prone area) during 2019–2021 seasons as two plant and one ratoon crops. AMMI analysis of variance revealed that environmental factors and G × E interactions significantly influenced all the four traits under study, viz., sugar yield, cane yield, CCS per cent and sucrose per cent. AMMI analysis identified four entries, viz., Co 12009, Co 14002, Co 14005 and Co 18009 superior to sugar and cane yield, and among these Co 14002 was stable across environments and Co 12009 was moderately stable. Co 17003 was identified as superior and stable entry for quality parameters. GGE biplot analysis further supported these findings, with the first two principal components explaining significant proportions of total G + GE variation for each trait. Co 12009 and Co 14005 were highlighted as winning genotypes for CCS yield, with Co12009 showing moderate stability. Co 12009, Co 14002 and Co 14027 were identified as superior and stable high yielding varieties and Co 17003 as high-quality genotype across the locations. GGE biplot provided insights into the relationships among the test environments. Based on the comprehensive analysis sugarcane cultivars, Co 12009, Co 14002 and Co 14005 were identified for commercial cultivation considering their stability and superior performance across the various environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let k and n be positive coprime integers with k < n. Let T denote the subgroup of diagonal matrices in SL (n , ℂ). We study the GIT quotient of Richardson varieties X w v in the Grassmannian Gr k , n by T with respect to a T -linearized line bundle ℒ corresponding to the Plücker embedding. We give necessary and sufficient combinatorial conditions for the quotient variety T ⑊ (X w v) T s s (ℒ) to be smooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the implications of recovering real-world conditional expectation of return functions using options on the S&P 500 index and Treasury bond futures. First, we construct estimates of the probability of disasters, defined as higher than 6%, 5%, or 4% equity market declines over option expiration cycles. This measure of disaster probability forecasts realized disasters. Second, we employ options on the futures of the 10- and 30-year Treasury bonds to construct estimates for the expected return of bond futures. These measures display forecasting ability for subsequent futures returns beyond the level, slope, and curvature variables extracted from the yield curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grounded in the established Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, the present research conducts empirical inquiry into the multifaceted impact of various promotional factors on online impulse buying behaviour. Additionally, this study delves into the mediating role of impulse buying tendency, bridging the link between diverse promotional variables and online impulse buying behaviour. The investigation centrally revolves around the contemporary promotional strategies prevalent among online retailers, notably Online Campaigns (inclusive of shopping festivals), Product Recommendations, and Limited Time Deals. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to scrutinize the hypothesized associations within the research model. The findings unveil that both Product Recommendations and Limited Time Deals significantly influence online impulse buying behavior. However, Online Campaigns do not exhibit a direct influence on online impulse buying behavior; instead, the mediating presence of impulse buying tendency fully mediates this relationship. Furthermore, the research provides valuable insights into the positive association between impulse buying tendency and online impulse buying behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Relay selection plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance of wireless networks particularly in the context of cognitive radio (CR) systems with energy harvesters. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, namely, CGAPSO Shapley, for the best relay selection while simultaneously optimizing the parameters of signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio (SINR), throughput, and outage probability. The CGAPSO Shapley algorithm combines the Shapley value, a cooperative game theory concept, with cellular genetic algorithm particle swarm optimization (CGAPSO) to achieve effective and efficient optimization of relay selection. The CGAPSO framework provides a hybrid structure that integrates cellular genetic algorithm (CGA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), enabling simultaneous evolution of the population and particles within cells. The incorporation of the Shapley value and the hybrid CGAPSO framework enables effective exploration of the solution space and provides decision‐makers with comprehensive insights for relay selection. By utilizing the Shapley value, we assign weights to the relay nodes based on their contributions to the overall optimization objectives, considering their CR capabilities and energy harvesting capabilities. Some benchmark test functions are used to compare the hybrid algorithm with both the standard CGAPSO, Particle swarm optimization gravitational search algorithm (PSOGSA) and PSO algorithms in evolving best solution. The results show the hybrid algorithm possesses a better capability to escape from local optimums with faster convergence than the standard algorithms. The novel CGAPSO Shapley approach achieves an outage probability of 0.323324, marking a significant improvement of 60% over the outage probability achieved with conventional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive and negative parity rotational band structures of odd–odd Nb isotopes with atomic masses 90, 92 and 94 are investigated using the theoretical framework of the projected shell model. These odd–odd nuclei are found to be ideal for investigating the significant structural changes occurring in the region situated far from the valley of stability. This is the first time that such comprehensive theoretical data for both positive and negative parities together for the odd–odd 9 0 − 9 4 Nb isotopes have been disclosed. The g-factor and electromagnetic transition probabilities are among the various nuclear structure quantities that are examined for the first time. Using a broad configuration space for both protons and neutrons, the computed data have been anticipated up to high spin values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem definition: Shocks that trigger supply chain disruptions inflict initial losses by damaging firms' assets. The disruption can then cascade when an affected firm fails to deliver to its buyer, thereby interrupting the buyer's operations, and continue thus across multiple levels (tiers) in the supply chain. To protect against such disruption cascades, firms can make ex ante investments in risk mitigation. These investments depend heavily on the operational characteristics of network participants and their interconnections. Gathering operational information can be challenging. Our aim is to shed light on the forces that govern information requirements for risk mitigation. Methodology/results: We introduce a game-theoretic model to characterize the equilibrium mitigation by firms in a decentralized arborescent network facing severe disruptions. We find that when the trigger shocks are nonconcurrent events, the equilibrium mitigation by a firm displays a limited vertical dependence on the operational attributes of suppliers that are farther away in tier (network) distance. Specifically, we show that information about a firm's extended local neighborhood—up to its tier 2 suppliers—suffices to characterize its equilibrium mitigation. Allowing for concurrent shocks to simultaneously strike multiple firms increases the information requirement at partner firms that typically lie within two tiers downstream from the firms experiencing concurrent shocks. Managerial implications: Full supply chain visibility is costly. The literature offers little guidance on how to prioritize efforts to enhance visibility into the attributes of supply chain partners. Rather than a blanket call for greater visibility, our results proffer nuanced managerial prescriptions for the extent to which risk mitigation requires such visibility. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0408. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional interscalene brachial plexus block of C5 and C6 roots provides excellent anesthesia and analgesia for shoulder surgery and proximal humerus surgery, but frequently results in hemidiaphragmatic paresis. Superior trunk block (STB) along with local infiltration to supraclavicular nerve branches gives equal analgesic potency and distribution as interscalene brachial plexus block without affecting the phrenic nerve. The present study was carried out on 30 patients undergoing shoulder and proximal humerus surgery under STB of brachial plexus. Aims and Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis and minimum numerical rating scale (pain score) at rest in the post-anesthesia care unit, block duration, and patients' satisfaction in patients receiving STB along with local infiltration to supraclavicular nerve branches. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients undergoing shoulder and proximal humerus surgery between 18 and 80 years age group with the American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status I-III of either sex were given ultrasound-guided STB (15 mL) along with a local infiltration (5 mL) superficial to scalenus medias muscle using 0.5% ropivacaine. Primary outcomes and secondary outcomes (patients' satisfaction, block duration, and pain score) were recorded and analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Results: Mean sensory block duration (hours) was 16.99±1.27 (95% confidence interval [16.51-17.47]). Incidence of hemidiaphragmatic palsy was minimum (3.3%). Post-operative analgesia was good as reflected by 28 (93.33%) patients having Visual Analog Scale score <3 at 24 h after completion of surgery. Patient satisfaction was also excellent (Likert scores 4 and 5 in 93.33% of patients). Conclusion: STB along with local infiltration superficial to scalenus media's muscle is associated with excellent intraoperative anesthesia and analgesia with minimal respiratory complication and remarkable patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces a special issue on "Recent Trends in Multimedia Forensics," categorizing articles into three main areas: Adversarial Attacks, Security Preservation, and Deepfake Detection. Various methods are proposed to protect privacy, detect deepfakes, and enhance copyright protection in multimedia content. The research aims to address challenges in detecting deepfakes, identifying sources, maintaining generalization, and implementing proactive defense mechanisms. The special issue also includes a comprehensive survey on methods for image integrity, offering insights into the prevention and identification of counterfeit images. [Extracted from the article]

We explored in 75 s long trials the effects of visually induced self-rotation and displacement (SR&D) on the horizontally extended right arm of standing subjects (N = 12). A "tool condition" was included in which subjects held a long rod. The extent of arm movement was contingent on whether the arm was extended out Freely or Pointing at a briefly proprioceptively specified target position. The results were nearly identical when subjects held the rod. Subjects in the Free conditions showed significant unintentional arm deviations, averaging 55° in the direction opposite the induced illusory self-motion. Deviations in the Pointing conditions were on average a fifth of those in the Free condition. Deviations of head and torso positions also occurred in all conditions. Total arm and head deviations were the sum of deviations of the arm and head with respect to the torso and deviations of the torso with respect to space. Pointing subjects were able to detect and correct for arm and head deviations with respect to the torso but not for the arm and head deviations with respect to space due to deviations of the torso. In all conditions, arm, head, and torso deviations began before subjects experienced SR&D. We relate our findings to being an extension of the manual following response (MFR) mechanism to influence passive arm control and arm target maintenance as well. Visual-vestibular convergence at vestibular nuclei cells and multiple cortical movement related areas can explain our results, MFR results, and classical Pass Pointing. We distinguish two Phases in the induction of SR&D. In Phase 1, the visual stimulation period prior to SR&D onset, the arm, head, and torso deviations are first apparent, circa < 1 s after stimulus begins. They are augmented at the onset of Phase 2 that starts when SR&D is first sensed. In Phase 2, reaching movements first show curved paths that are compensatory for the Coriolis forces that would be generated on the reaching arm were subjects actually physically rotating. These movement deviations are in the opposite direction to the MFR and the arm, head, and torso deviations reported here. Our results have implications for vehicle control in environments that can induce illusory self motion and displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method to explicitly compute a complete set of orthogonal primitive idempotents in a simple component with Schur index 1 of a rational group algebra \mathbb {Q}G for G a finite generalized strongly monomial group. For the same groups with no exceptional simple components in \mathbb {Q}G, we describe a subgroup of finite index in the group of units \mathcal {U}(\mathbb {Z}G) of the integral group ring \mathbb {Z}G that is generated by three nilpotent groups for which we give explicit description of their generators. We exemplify the theoretical constructions with a detailed concrete example to illustrate the theory. We also show that the Frobenius groups of odd order with a cyclic complement are a class of generalized strongly monomial groups where the theory developed in this paper is applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting pilosebaceous units causing painful nodules, abscesses, and scarring. Despite global studies linking HS to metabolic syndrome, insights specific to Indian patients are limited. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to describe the clinicodemographic characteristics and study frequency of metabolic syndrome in Indian HS patients. In this cross-sectional study, 100 HS patients were evaluated for clinical characteristics, comorbidities, pain and suppuration scores, quality of life, and ophthalmological and dental abnormalities. Metabolic parameters, including anthropometry and blood markers, were performed in all cases and 100 age- and gender-matched controls. Results: The mean age was 29.47 years, with a male predominance of 57%. HS predominantly affected a combination of two or more sites (60%), with nodules as primary lesions (95%). Quality of life was significantly impaired, with 49% experiencing moderate impact as per Dermatology Life Quality Index. Metabolic derangements, represented by an increased body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and fasting insulin, were significantly more frequent in HS cases compared to controls (P < 0.001). The frequency of metabolic syndrome in HS patients was 42%, significantly higher than controls (8%, P < 0.001) with a relative risk of 5.25 (95% CI 2.68–10.58). Dental and ophthalmological abnormalities were observed in 35% and 21.7% of screened patients, respectively. Limitations: Cross-sectional nature, no prospective assessment to determine evolution with time, and limited patient number are the limitations of the study. Conclusion: A substantial association with metabolic syndrome and considerable impact on quality of life is seen in Indian HS patients, emphasizing the need for metabolic screening and holistic management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melanocytes in the hair and melanocytes in the stria vascularis of the inner ear have common origins. Many congenital and acquired disorders of cutaneous pigmentation have auditory abnormalities. There is a paucity of studies on the auditory associations of early graying. Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the association between early graying and auditory system abnormalities. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was done on 100 patients with early graying and 100 controls. Pure tone audiometry was done at 0.25 to 4 kHz for bone conduction, conventional and high frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz for air conduction, and extended high frequencies from 9 kHz to 20 kHz for air conduction in both ears. Results: Bilateral hearing loss >25 dB was present in three patients with early graying based on the four-frequency average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Patients with early graying had significantly higher thresholds for hearing except at 0.25 kHz in the right ears and 0.25, 2, 10, and 11 kHz in the left ears. Limitations: We did not assess cochlear function with otoacoustic emissions, and our study design did not allow us to assess causality and temporal association. Conclusion: Our study found that early graying may be a visible marker of changes in auditory thresholds. Patients with early graying need periodic auditory evaluations and health education to prevent further hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Character association studies in seedling origin guava (Psidium guajava L.) plants growing in Jammu, Samba and Akhnoor areas lying in sub-tropical zone of Jammu region indicated that fruit yield was positively and significantly affected by plant spread, trunk girth, trunk cross sectional area, fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit volume, number of per fruit, 100 seed weight, seed weight per fruit, pulp weight and percentage. Positive and direct effect on fruit yield was observed with fruit volume, fruit diameter, fruit weight, tree spread, pulp percentage and pulp weight. Positive direct effect of fruit volume, fruit diameter, fruit weight, tree spread and pulp percentage also showed significant and positive correlation with fruit yield, whereas, trunk girth, TCSA, leaf area, seed weight per fruit, 100 seed weight also showed direct effect along with positive correlation on fruit yield suggesting that these traits should be given due importance while selecting a genotype. Principle component analysis grouped 29 morphological and bio-chemical parameters into five major principal components contributing 86.07% of the total variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Spreading of a viscous drop after impact onto a spherical target" in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics explores the dynamics of liquid droplets colliding with solid spherical particles. It investigates both non-axisymmetric and axisymmetric impacts, analyzing parameters such as drop shape, residual film thickness, and spreading angle. The study introduces a new method for measuring liquid viscosity during drop impacts, with potential applications in industrial processes. The research sheds light on optimizing processes involving drop collisions and offers valuable insights for various industries. [Extracted from the article]

Pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis W.) is one of the most difficult nut fruit species to propagate. Long juvenile stage, hard shelled nature of seed and poor success rate has been the major concerns in pecan nut production in the world. The aim of this experiment was to standardize the pecan nut propagation technique for production of elite planting material in summer season to overcome the problems of success rate and to lessen the long juvenile period of 10-12 years. The study was conducted to determine the effect of four flap or banana grafting technique in conjugation with different grating time, viz., 2nd week of May, 3rd week of May, 4th week of May and 1st week of June. The highest graft success (86.33%), survival per cent (94.66 %) and marketable plant percentage (100.00 %) were recorded in the treatment T3: FFG + 4th week of May. While, the growth parameters viz., shoot length, shoot girth, number of leaves and leaf area recorded were 88.20 cm, 3.83, 12.13mm, 21.66 and 287.48 cm² respectively, also in the same treatment T3: FFG + 4th week of May. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suitable growing media and optimum time are considered the basic requirements to get the maximum yield and high profit for their direct and significant impact on seedlings quality and productivity of trees later. This experiment was carried out to explore the effect of different growing media (GM): sandy soil 100% (GM1); sandy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (2:1:1) (GM2) by volume; sandy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:2:1) (GM3); loamy soil: sandy soil: vermicompost (2:1: 1) (GM4); loamy soil: sandy soil: vermicompost (1:2:1) (GM5); loamy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (2:1:1) (GM6) and loamy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:2:1) (GM7). Pecan nut seeds were planted on three different dates viz., 10th December, 20th December and 1st February at 20 days interval in polythene bags (60 × 25 cm) after soaking in water for 48 hours. The results obtained from this study showed that the maximum germination percentage, number of leaves/seedling, leaf area, stem diameter, stem fresh and dry weight, root length and root fresh and dry weight were recorded when the pecan nut seed was planted on 10th December in the growing media combination (GM3) contained sandy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:2:1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]