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Objective: This prospective, double-blind, randomized study aimed to compare the effects of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl on the latency and amplitude of transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) under propofol-based total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) in spine surgery. Secondarily, intraoperative hemodynamics, total propofol consumption, recovery profile, and surgical field quality were compared. Methods: TcMEP amplitude and latency recordings of bilateral abductor pollicis brevis and abductor hallucis muscles posted for elective lumbar spine surgery under TcMEP monitoring randomly divided into two study groups. Throughout the surgery, TIVA was administered using intravenous propofol (100-150 µg kg-1 min-1) and dexmedetomidine (0.5-0.7 µg kg-1 h-1) in group D and intravenous propofol (100-150 µg kg-1 min-1) and fentanyl (1 µg kg-1 h-1) in group F. TcMEPs were recorded at various time points during the surgery. Immediately after extubation recovery from anaesthesia was noted. Additionally, hemodynamic parameters, total propofol consumption, and surgical field quality were assessed. Results: Latency and amplitude were comparable between the groups. Time to extubation was significantly longer in group D, but the mean (standard deviation) duration of stay in recovery was shorter in group D [47.55 (7.51) 95% confidence interval (CI) (44.863-50.237)] (P=0.046). Total propofol consumption was reduced in group D [220 (38) 95% CI (206.402-233.598)] (P=0.025) and surgical field condition was better in group D. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine and fentanyl do not have any effect on TcMEP amplitude and latency. However, dexmedetomidine provides the additional advantage of reduced total propofol consumption, shorter stay in recovery, and better surgical field quality.

Abstract Due to the excessive growth of PM 2.5 in aerosol, the cases of lung cancer are increasing rapidly and are most severe among other types as the highest mortality rate. In most of the cases, lung cancer is detected with least symptoms at its later stage. Hence, clinical records may play a vital role to diagnose this disease at the correct stage for suitable medication to cure it. To detect lung cancer an accurate prediction method is needed which is significantly reliable. In the digital clinical record era with advancement in computing algorithms including machine learning techniques opens an opportunity to ease the process. Various machine learning algorithms may be applied over realistic clinical data but the predictive power is yet to be comprehended for accurate results. This paper envisages to compare twelve potential machine learning algorithms over clinical data with eleven symptoms of lung cancer along with two major habits of patients to predict a positive case accurately. The result has been found based on classification and heat map correlation. K-Nearest Neighbor Model and Bernoulli Naive Bayes Model are found most significant methods for early lung cancer prediction.

The paper outlines the challenges faced by street-connected children in India, particularly the lack of accurate data and the failure of governance systems to address their needs. It introduces the Rag Dreams Weaver Association case study in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, focusing on their mentorship programs to empower street-connected children in urban planning and policy-making processes. The paper argues for the inclusion of youth voices in participatory design, challenging traditional skepticism within city agencies. It suggests that involving young people in decision-making can rectify historical planning errors and create more equitable urban environments.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. Many prenatal and early childhood exposures impact both later physical health and development. Moreover, early deficits in physical health, such as growth and vision, are associated with differences in brain development, language and cognitive functioning. For these reasons, the HBCD Study includes measures of early childhood physical health, many of which have clinical relevance, and are applicable for use as both predictors and outcomes. Study measures assess a broad range of physical health domains and include both objective measurement of child growth and health and subjective caregiver report of behaviors and attitudes about constructs known to influence growth and physical development. Lastly, we obtain caregiver report of the child’s routine medical care as well as acute and chronic medical issues. We anticipate that these data will contextualize the impact of child physical growth and health on child brain development and function. In this report we present the rationale for each domain and an overview of the physical health measures included in the current HBCD Study protocol.

In recent years, there's been a strong focus on enhancing high-strength structural steels (HSSSs), making them tougher, stronger, lighter, and more weldable. However, these steels face challenges like cold cracking sensitivity (CCS) and reduced toughness with higher heat input. Therefore, exploring HSSSs with advanced welding techniques like electron beam welding (EBW) is crucial. EBW known for its innovation and precision, is gaining popularity in HSSSs applications for vehicles, construction industries etc. offering advantages like narrow welds, reduced heat-affected zone (HAZ) and low distortion. It is essential to understand the influence of residual stresses (RS) in HSSSs which ultimately affect structural integrity and fatigue life. Using EBW on HSSSs, coupled with synchrotron XRD for residual stress studies, has great potential to advance this research significantly. In this work, a 15-mm-thick EB-welded joint of S960QL and S960 M steels was used to study the RS. At an energy level of 20 keV, RS data from the synchrotron XRD method and its result on the top of welded joints for both types of steel were compared. S960 M steel showed a longitudinal tensile stress of 250 MPa at the weld toe, approximately 1.8 times higher than the 138 MPa observed in S960QL steel under similar conditions. In transverse stress, S960QL exhibits a higher stress of 279 MPa compared to S960 M 46 MPa at the weld toe, approximately 83% lower. The synchrotron method measured 76% lower LRS for S960QL compared to conventional XRD, while S960 M exhibited 55% lower LRS using the same approach.

Abstract Background Reducing and breaking up sitting is recommended for optimal management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Yet, there is limited evidence of interventions targeting these outcomes in individuals with this condition. The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of delivering and evaluating a tailored online intervention to reduce and break up sitting in adults with T2DM. Methods A mixed-methods two-arm randomised controlled feasibility trial was conducted in ambulatory adults with T2DM who were randomised 1:1 to the REgulate your SItting Time (RESIT) intervention or usual care control group. The intervention included online education, self-monitoring and prompt tools (wearable devices, smartphone apps, computer apps) and health coaching. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment, attrition, data completion rates and intervention acceptability. Measurements of device-assessed sitting (intended primary outcome for definitive trial), standing and stepping, and physical function, psychosocial health and wellbeing were taken at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted at six-months (post intervention) to explore acceptability, feasibility and experiences of the trial and intervention using the Framework Method. Results Seventy participants aged 55 ± 11 years were recruited. Recruitment rate (proportion of eligible participants enrolled into the study) was 67% and participant retention rate at 6 months was 93% (n = 5 withdrawals). Data completion rates for daily sitting were 100% at baseline and ranged from 83 to 91% at 3 months and 6 months. Descriptive analysis demonstrated potential for the intervention to reduce device-measured sitting, which was 30.9 ± 87.2 and 22.2 ± 82.5 min/day lower in the intervention group at 3 and 6 months, respectively, compared with baseline. In the control group, sitting was 4.4 ± 99.5 and 23.7 ± 85.2 min/day lower at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Qualitative analysis identified three themes: reasons for participating in the trial, acceptability of study procedures, and the delivery and experience of taking part in the RESIT intervention. Overall, the measurement visits and intervention were acceptable to participants. Conclusions This study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the RESIT intervention and evaluation methods, supporting a future definitive trial. If RESIT is found to be clinically effective, this could lead to changes in diabetes healthcare with a focus on reducing sitting. Trial registration The trial was registered with ISRCTN (number ISRCTN14832389).

This paper aims to identify the constrains faced by female entrepreneurs in Egypt. This study also intends to examine the influence of formal and informal institutional factors on women’s entry into entrepreneurship in Egypt. In addition, to explore the factors enable women entrepreneurs to overcome the barriers they may face. The qualitative research approach was adopted in the study to explore the challenges experienced by Egyptian female entrepreneurs. Purposeful sampling was employed and twenty-five (25) women entrepreneurs were selected from five Egyptian governorates to conduct semi-structured interviews to collect primary data. The findings indicated that the main constraints faced Egyptian women entrepreneurs arise from difficulty in raising capital, socio-culture commitments, sexual harassment, work-family conflict and lack of managerial skills. The study found factors such family-husband support, religious values, personal traits and technological skills are crucial for overcome constraints faced by women entrepreneurs. The study recommends creating a funding program targeting female entrepreneurs and raise the awareness about the importance of women entrepreneurship as well as take necessary actions to prevent sexual harassment phenomenon. Minimal research has examined female entrepreneurship in Egypt. Therefore, this study offers valuable insights of constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in Egypt. The study contributes to the women’s entrepreneurship literature from the perspective of an Arab Islamic developing country.

Abstract It has recently become well-established that there is a connection between Alzheimer’s disease pathology and gut microbiome dysbiosis. We have previously demonstrated that antibiotic-mediated gut microbiota perturbations lead to attenuation of Aβ deposition, phosphorylated tau accumulation, and disease-associated glial cell phenotypes in a sex-dependent manner. In this regard, we were intrigued by the finding that a marine-derived oligosaccharide, GV-971, was reported to alter gut microbiota and reduce Aβ amyloidosis in the 5XFAD mouse model that were treated at a point when Aβ burden was near plateau levels. Utilizing comparable methodologies, but with distinct technical and temporal features, we now report on the impact of GV-971 on gut microbiota, Aβ amyloidosis and microglial phenotypes in the APPPS1-21 model, studies performed at the University of Chicago, and independently in the 5X FAD model, studies performed at Washington University, St. Louis. Methods To comprehensively characterize the effects of GV-971 on the microbiota-microglia-amyloid axis, we conducted two separate investigations at independent institutions. There was no coordination of the experimental design or execution between the two laboratories. Indeed, the two laboratories were not aware of each other’s experiments until the studies were completed. Male and female APPPS1-21 mice were treated daily with 40, 80, or 160 mg/kg of GV-971 from 8, when Aβ burden was detectable upto 12 weeks of age when Aβ burden was near maximal levels. In parallel, and to corroborate existing published studies and further investigate sex-related differences, male and female 5XFAD mice were treated daily with 100 mg/kg of GV-971 from 7 to 9 months of age when Aβ burden was near peak levels. Subsequently, the two laboratories independently assessed amyloid-β deposition, metagenomic, and neuroinflammatory profiles. Finally, studies were initiated at the University of Chicago to evaluate the metabolites in cecal tissue from vehicle and GV-971-treated 5XFAD mice. Results These studies showed that independent of the procedural differences (dosage, timing and duration of treatment) between the two laboratories, cerebral amyloidosis was reduced primarily in male mice, independent of strain. We also observed sex-specific microbiota differences following GV-971 treatment. Interestingly, GV-971 significantly altered multiple overlapping bacterial species at both institutions. Moreover, we discovered that GV-971 significantly impacted microbiome metabolism, particularly by elevating amino acid production and influencing the tryptophan pathway. The metagenomics and metabolomics changes correspond with notable reductions in peripheral pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profiles. Furthermore, GV-971 treatment dampened astrocyte and microglia activation, significantly decreasing plaque-associated reactive microglia while concurrently increasing homeostatic microglia only in male mice. Bulk RNAseq analysis unveiled sex-specific changes in cerebral cortex transcriptome profiles, but most importantly, the transcriptome changes in the GV-971-treated male group revealed the involvement of microglia and inflammatory responses. Conclusions In conclusion, these studies demonstrate the connection between the gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease pathology while highlighting the potential therapeutic effect of GV-971. GV-971 targets the microbiota-microglia-amyloid axis, leading to the lowering of plaque pathology and neuroinflammatory signatures in a sex-dependent manner when given at the onset of Aβ deposition or when given after Aβ deposition is already at higher levels.

Abstract It is well-established that women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The mechanisms underlying this sex-specific disparity are not fully understood, but several factors that are often associated-including interactions of sex hormones, genetic factors, and the gut microbiome-likely contribute to the disease's etiology. Here, we have examined the role of sex hormones and the gut microbiome in mediating Aβ amyloidosis and neuroinflammation in APPPS1-21 mice. We report that postnatal gut microbiome perturbation in female APPPS1-21 mice leads to an elevation in levels of circulating estradiol. Early stage ovariectomy (OVX) leads to a reduction of plasma estradiol that is correlated with a significant alteration of gut microbiome composition and reduction in Aβ pathology. On the other hand, supplementation of OVX-treated animals with estradiol restores Aβ burden and influences gut microbiome composition. The reduction of Aβ pathology with OVX is paralleled by diminished levels of plaque-associated microglia that acquire a neurodegenerative phenotype (MGnD-type) while estradiol supplementation of OVX-treated animals leads to a restoration of activated microglia around plaques. In summary, our investigation elucidates the complex interplay between sex-specific hormonal modulations, gut microbiome dynamics, metabolic perturbations, and microglial functionality in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

The objective of this research is to assess the influence of in-situ localised electron beam post-weld heat treatment (LEB-PWHT) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high-strength S690QL steel welded joints utilising highly sophisticated electron beam welding (EBW) technology. Although EBW is well-known for creating high-quality welds, the addition of the novel LEB-PWHT technique may significantly improve the characteristics of the welded joints. To systematically analyse the impacts of PWHT on the welded joints, the study employs microstructural analysis like optical microscopy and mechanical properties like microhardness testing, bending, tensile, and impact tests. Furthermore, tensile fractography analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to provide detailed insights into the fracture behaviour of the welded joints. The results show that the in-situ PWHT approach improves the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of the welded joints, such as a lower hardness peak in the heat affected zone (HAZ), increased tensile strength (5%), and improved toughness by 7 times. LEB-PWHT fractured surface revealed smaller, more sharply defined dimples and micro-voids. These results suggest that in-situ PWHT is an attractive option for improving the quality and performance of welds in a wide range of applications incorporating S690QL steel.

Background The aim of this manuscript is to review the evidence and compare the efficacy and safety of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors (COMT-Is), dopamine receptor agonists (DRAs) and monoamine-oxidase B inhibitors (MAOB-Is) as adjunctive treatment to levodopa in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experiencing motor complications.Methods In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, literature searches were performed in MEDLINE and Embase to identify eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimal follow-up of at least 4 weeks published in English between 1980 and 2021. RCTs were included if either a COMT-I, DRA or MAOB-I was evaluated as an adjunctive therapy to levodopa in patients with PD experiencing motor complications and dyskinesia. The main outcomes included daily off-medication time, motor and non-motor examination scales, and adverse events including dyskinesia.Results 74 RCTs reporting on 18 693 patients were included. All three studied drug classes decreased daily off-medication time compared with placebo (COMT-Is mean −0.8 hours (95% CI −1.0 to −0.6), DRAs −1.1 hours (95% CI −1.4 to −0.8), MAOB-Is −0.9 hours (95% CI −1.2 to −0.6)). Safety analysis showed an increased risk of dyskinesia for all three drug classes (COMT-Is OR 3.3 (95% CI 2.7 to 4.0), DRAs 3.0 (95% CI 2.5 to 3.5), MAOB-Is 1.6 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.2)). According to surface under the cumulative ranking curve scores, pramipexole IR was associated with the most favourable benefit–risk profile.Conclusions COMT-Is, DRAs and MAOB-Is effectively reduce motor complications and increase incidence of dyskinesia. In the network meta-analysis, adjunctive use of DRAs appeared most effective.

Abstract Background Microglia, the brain-resident macrophages perform immune surveillance and engage with pathological processes resulting in phenotype changes necessary for maintaining homeostasis. In preceding studies, we showed that antibiotic-induced perturbations of the gut microbiome of APPPS1-21 mice resulted in significant attenuation in Aβ amyloidosis and altered microglial phenotypes that are specific to male mice. The molecular events underlying microglial phenotypic transitions remain unclear. Here, by generating ‘APPPS1-21-CD11br’ reporter mice, we investigated the translational state of microglial/macrophage ribosomes during their phenotypic transition and in a sex-specific manner. Methods Six groups of mice that included WT-CD11br, antibiotic (ABX) or vehicle-treated APPPS1-21-CD11br males and females were sacrificed at 7-weeks of age (n = 15/group) and used for immunoprecipitation of microglial/macrophage polysomes from cortical homogenates using anti-FLAG antibody. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry and label-free quantification was used to identify newly synthesized peptides isolated from polysomes. Results We show that ABX-treatment leads to decreased Aβ levels in male APPPS1-21-CD11br mice with no significant changes in females. We identified microglial/macrophage polypeptides involved in mitochondrial dysfunction and altered calcium signaling that are associated with Aβ-induced oxidative stress. Notably, female mice also showed downregulation of newly-synthesized ribosomal proteins. Furthermore, male mice showed an increase in newly-synthesized polypeptides involved in FcγR-mediated phagocytosis, while females showed an increase in newly-synthesized polypeptides responsible for actin organization associated with microglial activation. Next, we show that ABX-treatment resulted in substantial remodeling of the epigenetic landscape, leading to a metabolic shift that accommodates the increased bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands associated with microglial polarization in a sex-specific manner. While microglia in ABX-treated male mice exhibited a metabolic shift towards a neuroprotective phenotype that promotes Aβ clearance, microglia in ABX-treated female mice exhibited loss of energy homeostasis due to persistent mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired lysosomal clearance that was associated with inflammatory phenotypes. Conclusions Our studies provide the first snapshot of the translational state of microglial/macrophage cells in a mouse model of Aβ amyloidosis that was subject to ABX treatment. ABX-mediated changes resulted in metabolic reprogramming of microglial phenotypes to modulate immune responses and amyloid clearance in a sex-specific manner. This microglial plasticity to support neuro-energetic homeostasis for its function based on sex paves the path for therapeutic modulation of immunometabolism for neurodegeneration.

Abstract Background The effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy for Parkinson’s disease can be limited by side-effects caused by electrical current spillover into structures adjacent to the target area. The objective of the STEEred versus RING-mode DBS for Parkinson’s disease (STEERING) study is to investigate if directional DBS for Parkinson’s disease results in a better clinical outcome when compared to ring-mode DBS. Methods The STEERING study is a prospective multi-centre double-blind randomised crossover trial. Inclusion criteria are Parkinson’s disease, subthalamic nucleus DBS in a ‘classic’ ring-mode setting for a minimum of six months, and optimal ring-mode settings have been established. Participants are categorised into one of two subgroups according to their clinical response to the ring-mode settings as ‘responders’ (i.e., patient with a satisfactory effect of ring-mode DBS) or ‘non-responder’ (i.e., patient with a non-satisfactory effect of ring-mode DBS). A total of 64 responders and 38 non-responders will be included (total 102 patients). After an optimisation period in which an optimal directional setting is found, participants are randomised to first receive ring-mode DBS for 56 days (range 28–66) followed by directional DBS for 56 days (28–66) or vice-versa. The primary outcome is the difference between ring-mode DBS and directional DBS settings on the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale – Motor Evaluation (MDS-UPDRS-ME) in the off-medication state. Secondary outcome measures consist of MDS-UPDRS-ME in the on-medication state, MDS-UPDRS Activities of Daily Living, MDS-UPDRS Motor Complications–Dyskinesia, disease related quality of life measured with the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire 39, stimulation-induced side-effects, antiparkinsonian medication use, and DBS-parameters. Participants’ therapy preference is measured at the end of the study. Outcomes will be analysed for both responder and non-responder groups, as well as for both groups pooled together. Discussion The STEERING trial will provide insights into whether or not directional DBS should be standardly used in all Parkinson’s disease DBS patients or if directional DBS should only be used in a case-based approach. Trial registration This trial was registered on the Netherlands Trial Register, as trial NL6508 ( NTR6696 ) on June 23, 2017.

Traditional approaches employing natural plant products to treat a wide array of ailments have been documented and described for thousands of years. However, there remains limited scientific study of the therapeutic potential or effectiveness of ethnobotanical applications. Increases in the incidence of cancer and emerging infectious diseases demonstrate a growing need for advances in the development of therapeutic options. In this study, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of aqueous extracts prepared from four plants, purple aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) Nemsom), common sage (Salvia lyrata (L.)), northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume), and lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina (K.) Koch)) traditionally used in Native American medicine in Indiana, USA. Using a combination of cytotoxicity assays, immunofluorescence microscopy, and antiviral assays, we found that sage and spicebush extracts exhibit cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on HeLa cell proliferation and that sage, spicebush, and aster extracts were capable of significantly inhibiting human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), a major respiratory pathogen of infants and the elderly. Chemical analysis of the four extracts identified four major compounds which were subsequently evaluated to identify the responsible constituents in the extracts. While none of the identified compounds were shown to induce significant impacts on HeLa cell proliferation, two of the compounds, (1S)-(-)-Borneol and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-furfural, identified in sage and spicebush, respectively, were shown to have antiviral activities. Our data suggest that several of the extracts tested exhibited either anti-proliferative or antiviral activity supporting future further analysis.

Introduction: Transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumours presents challenges for an anaesthesiologist due to haemodynamic fluctuations caused by intense nociceptive stimuli during different surgical stages. This relatively short procedure requires a smooth and rapid emergence for spontaneous airway control and assessment of surgical outcomes. Therefore, the chosen anaesthetic agent should provide effective haemodynamic control and facilitate rapid recovery. Alpha-2 agonists such as dexmedetomidine and clonidine are known to centrally decrease noradrenaline release, thus reducing sympathetic outflow. This could be particularly beneficial in minimising haemodynamic fluctuations during such surgeries. Aim: To compare the effects of preoperative clonidine and perioperative dexmedetomidine in attenuating haemodynamic responses and blood loss in patients undergoing elective Transnasal Transsphenoidal resection (TNTS) of pituitary tumours. Materials and Methods: A randomised, double-blinded study was conducted in the Department of Neuroanesthesiology at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, over a period of one year, from February 2022 to January 2023. Sixty patients of either sex, aged 18-65 years with ASA I or II, scheduled for elective TNTS pituitary surgery, were enrolled and divided into group A and group B. Group A received clonidine tablets (3 mcg/kg) 180 minutes prior to surgery, while group B received intravenous (i.v.) infusion of dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg/min) over 10 minutes before induction, followed by 0.5-0.7 mcg/kg/hr. Group A received a placebo of 0.9% Normal Saline (NS) (50 mL). Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) were recorded at baseline, intubation, nasal pack insertion, endoscope insertion, and at various time intervals. Data obtained were analysed using unpaired sample t-test for independent groups, and Chi-square test was used for categorical data. A probability value of 0.05 was considered significant for both statistical tests. Results: The mean age of participants was 42±11 years for group A and 43±12 years for group B, with a male: female ratio of 66.6% to 33.3% in group A and 70% to 30% in group B, respectively. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.4±3.2 in group A and 25.2±1.7 in group B. HR, SBP, and MAP decreased at various stages in group B compared to group A, and these differences were statistically significant (p-value

Abstract Background Previous studies show that antibiotic-mediated (abx) alteration of the gut microbiome (GMB) results in a reduction of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and proinflammatory microglial phenotype in male APPPS1-21 mice. However, the effect of GMB perturbation on astrocyte phenotypes and microglial-astrocyte communication in the context of amyloidosis has not been examined. Methods To study whether the GMB modulates astrocyte phenotype in the context of amyloidosis, APPPS1-21 male and female mice were treated with broad-spectrum abx leading to GMB perturbation. GFAP + astrocytes, plaque-associated astrocytes (PAA), PAA morphological parameters, and astrocyte complement component C3 levels were quantified using a combination of immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, widefield microscopy, and confocal microscopy. Furthermore, these same astrocyte phenotypes were assessed in abx-treated APPPS1-21 male mice that received either fecal matter transplant (FMT) from untreated APPPS1-21 male donors to restore their microbiome or vehicle control. To assess complete absence of the GMB on astrocyte phenotypes, the same astrocyte phenotypes were quantified in APPPS1-21 male mice raised in germ-free (GF) or specific-pathogen free conditions (SPF). Lastly, we assessed whether microglia are necessary for abx-induced astrocyte phenotypes by depleting microglia in APPPS1-21 male mice via treatment with a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor (PLX5622) and vehicle control or PLX5622 and abx. Results Herein, we demonstrate that postnatal treatment of male APPPS1-21 mice with broad-spectrum abx leading to GMB perturbation reduces GFAP + reactive astrocytes and PAAs, suggesting that the GMB plays a role in regulating reactive astrocyte induction and recruitment to Aβ plaques. Additionally, we show that compared to controls, PAAs in abx-treated male APPPS1-21 mice exhibit an altered morphology with increased number and length of processes and reduced astrocytic complement C3, consistent with a homeostatic phenotype. GFAP + astrocyte reduction, PAA reduction, astrocyte morphological changes, and C3 levels are restored when abx-treated mice are subject to FMT from untreated APPPS1-21 male donor mice. Next, we found that APPPS1-21 male mice raised in GF conditions have similar astrocyte phenotypes as abx-treated male APPPS1-21 male mice. Correlational analysis revealed that pathogenic bacteria depleted by abx correlate with GFAP + astrocytosis, PAAs, and astrocyte morphological changes. Finally, we determined that abx-mediated reduction in GFAP + astrocytosis, PAAs, and astrocytic C3 expression is independent of microglia. However, abx-induced astrocyte morphological alterations are dependent on the presence of microglia, suggesting that there is both microglial independent and dependent GMB control of reactive astrocyte phenotypes. Conclusions We show for the first time, in the context of amyloidosis, that the GMB plays an important role in controlling reactive astrocyte induction, morphology, and astrocyte recruitment to Aβ plaques. GMB regulation of these astrocytic phenotypes is both independent and dependent on microglia.

Key Clinical Message Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) is a subtype of venous thromboembolism, which occurs in the dural venous sinuses. Blockage of the venous drainage of the brain leads to the development of hemorrhages. Strokes can hence develop in any individual, irrespective of age or sex. CVST is a very serious condition requiring immediate thrombolysis to prevent residual neurological deficits. We report the case of a lady aged 25 years, who presented to the emergency department with a severe diffuse headache for 4 days, associated with vomiting. This was followed by multiple episodes of seizures and altered sensorium the previous day. She had been taking desogestrel for the past 2 months. On examination, the patient was unconscious and febrile (102.8 F). On admission, Glasgow Coma Scale score of E2V2M3 and bilateral extensor plantar response were noted. Signs of meningeal irritation were absent. Her pupils were mid‐dilated, sluggishly reactive to light, and papilledema was present bilaterally. Based on imaging studies, she was diagnosed with a case of CVST. Her homocysteine levels were elevated. She recovered on appropriate treatment and was discharged on Ryle's feeding tube after 26 days of hospital stay with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of E4V5M6 and a flexor plantar response. The case emphasizes the need to rule out CVST in young adult females on oral contraceptive pills (OCP) presenting with severe neurological dysfunction. Vigilant screening, clinical suspicion and timely management can help cut down the associated mortality and morbidity in such cases.

Background In India first wave of COVID-19 pandemic was followed by a massive surge of COVID-19 cases. Present study was conducted to compare demographic characteristics, clinical and mortality profile of admitted patients during first and second waves of coronavirus outbreak. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study of medical records of admitted patients in a tertiary care centre. Medical records of 500 patients in each of the two waves were chosen randomly for study. Each record included demographic details and clinical records of patients. Statistical analysis: Data was entered on Microsoft Excel 2013, and analysed using STATA version 17. 0. Chi-square test was used for comparison of qualitative data and for quantitative data unpaired t-test was used.

Abstract Background Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an established treatment for disabling motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that persist despite optimal pharmacological treatment. Currently, DBS is not performed if there is concomitant significant cognitive impairment based on concerns of cognitive deterioration, higher complication rate and less functional improvement. However, this has not been investigated so far. Methods A single center, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point (PROBE design) pilot clinical trial is being performed. Patients are eligible for the trial if they have PD dementia (PDD), are able to provide informed consent, and experience disabling motor response fluctuations, bradykinesia, dyskinesia, or painful dystonia, despite optimal pharmacological treatment. In total 44 patients will be randomized to either STN-DBS accompanied by best medical treatment (DBS group) or to best medical treatment alone (BMT group). The primary outcome measure is the change from baseline to 30 weeks on the Movement Disorder Society—Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III score in a standardized off-drug phase. The main secondary outcome measures consist of scales assessing cognitive aspects of daily living, neuropsychiatric symptoms and impulsive compulsive disorders. Additional secondary outcome measures include motor signs during on-drug phase, dyskinesia, motor fluctuations, cognitive performance, (severe) adverse events, treatment satisfaction, and caregiver burden. Patients will be followed during 52 weeks after randomization. Discussion The Deep Brain Stimulation for MOtor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease DEmentia (DBS-MODE) trial directly compares the effectiveness and safety of DBS with BMT in patients with PDD. Trial registration The DBS-MODE trial has been registered in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (NL9361) on the 24th of March 2021 ( https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NL9361 ).

In this study, we have theoretically presented a prepare-and-measure based SARG04 protocol over free-space. It has been shown that the highest secret key rate is achievable even under free-space losses with a maximum noise tolerance.

This paper examines the influence of gross domestic product (GDP) and energy consumption (renewable energy and non-renewable energy) on carbon emissions in European Union (EU) Countries use of panel data from 2000 to 2020. By using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) machine learning computational technique, variables are categorized into input and output parameters. The result from the analyses shows that RMSE values of all variables are significant. Further, the normalized importance obtained from the multilayer perception ANN algorithm highlights the importance of variables and their association. The finding suggests that EU countries should adopt a clean energy strategy and policy for environmental protection without compromising economic growth.

Extensive studies related to women’s entrepreneurial motivation are available in the western context, however, only a few studies are found focused on factors that motivate Egyptian women to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The study explores in-depth the motivations behind female entrepreneurs’ efforts to establish business ventures in Egypt. It analyses the influence of macrosocial realities and cultural values on the motivation for entrepreneurship. The finding demonstrates how post materialism factors motivate Egyptian women to embrace entrepreneurial activity as a way to maintaining “personal freedom”. The results demonstrate the impact of the Arab patriarchal culture on shaping the Egyptian women motivation. The qualitative research approach is adopted in this study to explore the entrepreneurial motivations of Egyptian women entrepreneurs. Through purposeful sampling, 20 women entrepreneurs were selected from five Egyptian governorates to administer a semi structured interview for the collection of primary data. The findings indicated that the motivation of Egyptian women entrepreneurs cover a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Intrinsic motivations include maintaining personal freedom, satisfying their creative impulses, utilizing their knowledge derived from education training courses and work experiences, exploiting business opportunities, achieving a sense of self -actualization, improving social motivation. On the other hand, extrinsic factors include the inability to find a suitable job, death or illness of a family member, the need to supplement the family income, unfavorable job routine. The research on female entrepreneurs in the context of Egypt is essential as this study responded to calls for a thorough understanding of women’s entrepreneurial motivations. By studying these factors, the study would be able to show that motivations are unique and differentiate from other contexts.

In this research work, we attempted to know the positive response of putrescine on plant growth and flowering of annual flower gypsophila. Putrescine is important because it has been shown that exogenous treatment can enhance the production or accumulation of bioactive chemicals that show a positive impact on plant growth and development. Significant results were obtained in various growth and flowering parameters of annual gypsophila due to foliar treatment with putrescine. Maximum plant height, maximum plant spread, maximum number of leaves per plant, maximum number of primary branches and secondary branches per plant at 60 DAT and 90 DAT as well as maximum number of flower clusters per branch and maximum number of flower clusters per plant was recorded from 1.50 mmol of putrescine application.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, results in a sustained decline in cognition. There are currently few effective disease modifying therapies for AD, but insights into the mechanisms that mediate the onset and progression of disease may lead to new, effective therapeutic strategies. Amyloid beta oligomers and plaques, tau aggregates, and neuroinflammation play a critical role in neurodegeneration and impact clinical AD progression. The upstream modulators of these pathological features have not been fully clarified, but recent evidence indicates that the gut microbiome (GMB) may have an influence on these features and therefore may influence AD progression in human patients. In this review, we summarize studies that have identified alterations in the GMB that correlate with pathophysiology in AD patients and AD mouse models. Additionally, we discuss findings with GMB manipulations in AD models and potential GMB-targeted therapeutics for AD. Lastly, we discuss diet, sleep, and exercise as potential modifiers of the relationship between the GMB and AD and conclude with future directions and recommendations for further studies of this topic.

Introduction: The admission of the baby to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a stressful predicament for parents. This study aims to evaluate parental stress levels and the factors impacting them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the NICU of a tertiary care centre for 3 months. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics of parents, neonates and Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) to measure parental stress. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test. Results: P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most of the parents reported medium stress levels (3–3.9). The mean total parental stress score of parents was 3.31 (0.36). Amongst the PSS: NICU subscales, the NICU sight and sound caused maximum stress to the parents (mean = 3.35 [0.48]) followed by the relationship with the baby and parental role (mean = 3.34 [0.44]). Mothers felt more stressed as compared to fathers (mean = 3.60 [0.23] vs. 3.08 [0.28]; P < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher parental stress levels were seen in lower age group (18–25 years), less than high school education, unemployed and previous history of neonatal death, outborn deliveries, pre-term (gestational age 3 days), intubated with ventilatory support, not started on feeds and not given kangaroo mother care. Parents of NICU-admitted neonates are under significant stress, and there is a necessity to provide family-centred care.

Abstract Blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is emerging as a key pathogenic factor in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where increased microvascular endothelial permeability has been proposed to play an important role. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to increased brain microvascular permeability in AD are not fully understood. We studied brain endothelial permeability in female APPswe/PS1∆E9 (APP/PS1) mice which constitute a transgenic mouse model of amyloid-beta (Aβ) amyloidosis and found that permeability increases with aging in the areas showing the greatest amyloid plaque deposition. We performed an unbiased bulk RNA-sequencing analysis of brain endothelial cells (BECs) in female APP/PS1 transgenic mice. We observed that upregulation of interferon signaling gene expression pathways in BECs was among the most prominent transcriptomic signatures in the brain endothelium. Immunofluorescence analysis of isolated BECs from female APP/PS1 mice demonstrated higher levels of the Type I interferon-stimulated gene IFIT2. Immunoblotting of APP/PS1 BECs showed downregulation of the adherens junction protein VE-cadherin. Stimulation of human brain endothelial cells with interferon-β decreased the levels of the adherens junction protein VE-cadherin as well as tight junction proteins Occludin and Claudin-5 and increased barrier leakiness. Depletion of the Type I interferon receptor in human brain endothelial cells prevented interferon-β-induced VE-cadherin downregulation and restored endothelial barrier integrity. Our study suggests that Type I interferon signaling contributes to brain endothelial dysfunction in AD.

This study examines the potential of business investments in wind offshore farm in the United Arab Emirates through projection of five different possible scenarios. The evaluation was done by using real option approach and Monte Carlo simulation imbibing the potential risk on investment with the source of funds used. Our analysis indicates that the return on investments and the risk on delay option remain at the highest degree if the project is financed with 50% government support and 50% investor’s own equity. On the contrary, a 100% bank-financed project yields lowest investments return and lowest risk option to delay. This implies that the financial leverage and the high bank interest rate are significant factors in influencing the economic risk and return of the wind farm project. This research contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the significance of real options application in the most-sought energy sector – wind farm. Moreover, this will pave way for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE to invest in this energy field.

The process of examining the data flow over the internet to identify abnormalities in wireless network performance is known as network traffic analysis. When analyzing network traffic data, traffic classification becomes an important task. The traffic data classification is used to determine whether data in network traffic is in real-time or not. This analysis controls network traffic data in a network and allows for efficient network performance improvement. Real-time and non-real-time data are effectively classified from the given input data set using data mining clustering and classification algorithms. The proposed work focuses on the performance of traffic data classification with high clustering accuracy and low Classification Time (CT). This research work is carried out to fill the gap in the existing network traffic classification algorithms. However, the traffic data classification remained unaddressed for performing the network traffic analysis effectively. Then, we proposed an Enhanced Self-Learning-based Clustering Scheme (ESLCS) using an enhanced unsupervised algorithm and adaptive seeding approach to improve the classification accuracy while performing the real-time traffic data distribution in wireless networks. Test-bed results demonstrate that the proposed model enhances the clustering accuracy and True Positive Rate (TPR) effectively as well as reduces the CT time and Communication Overhead (CO) substantially to compare with the peer-existing routing techniques.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) represent a group of opportunistic organisms that cause a wide variety of infections including the nosocomial. The organism is found to cause sepsis and is also reported to cause blood stream infections in malignancy. Here, we present a case series of five patients with sepsis in which an unsual violet pigment producing BCC was isolated. Keywords: Violet pigment, Burkholderia, Sepsis, Malignancy

Skyrmions in synthetic antiferromagnets are appealing for use in future memory and computing devices, combining small size and fast motion, but creating, stabilizing, and observing them remains a challenge. Here, Juge et al demonstrate the stabilization and current and light induced nucleation of skyrmions in a synthetic antiferromagnet, observing the magnetization texture in each layer using X-ray magnetic microscopy.

Purpose: This study evaluated the growth of Fintech to measure the contribution towards the sustainable development goal of the United Nation in terms of financial inclusion through exploring the connectedness of fintech with several thematic indices. The study navigates the co-movements in short and long window-time frames. Design/methodology/approach: This study used wavelet coherence method to analyze linkages between two-time series by considering the stock market co-movements. Wavelet coherence is applied on the pairwise Fintech-Index with the MSCI benchmarks for investment portfolio purposes. Findings: The global correlation among indices signifying that the benchmark of MSCI USA has a greater level of interactions with the nascent industries but is not highly correlated with other benchmark equity indices. The Global FinTech Index indicates the highest values among the thematic indices. The Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index has revealed a lower level of association with the MSCI Latin American Index among the overall correlations. Practical implications: First, borrowing and lending and mitigating the risk needs to be addressed. Second, financial regulations would deal with market failures and vulnerabilities. Third, people would be expected to access innovative financial services and would be treated fairly with adequate access to payments, credit, insurance, and savings products. Originality: The study covers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index (IAIQ), Blockchain Index (ILEGR), Disruptive Technology Index (IDTEC), Global Fintech Index (IFINIX). A key contribution of this research is to analyze the growth of Fintech in terms of size, participants, user market growth, and the role of stakeholders and policymakers.

Introduction: Hearing impairment is caused by damage in the inner ear (can be even birth defect), ear infection, ruptured eardrum and so on. It can be prevented using early detection thus, helps in avoiding severe psychosocial, educational, and linguistic repercussions. Infants, who are not diagnosed of hearing impairment before six months of age, will have delays in speech and language development. Aim: To determine the prevalence of hearing impairment in high-risk neonates and to establish the fact that, these neonates have higher prevalence of hearing impairment as compared to normal population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. The duration of the study was six months, from December 2012 to May 2013. A total of 500 babies including 297 normal and 203 high-risk babies were enrolled into the study. All the neonates were screened using Behavioural Observation Audiometry (BOA) and Distortion Product Oto-acoustic Emission (DPOAE) preferably within three days of life. Those, who failed under this test, underwent for Brain stem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). Data was collected in the Microsoft Excel and analysis done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Results: The mean age of the newborns on admission, was 3.86±4.25 days and the mean weight was 2560±510 g. Out of 500 newborns screened, 58 babies had abnormal results with the first screening test. When these 58 babies subjected to BERA, eight babies showed Hearing Loss (HL). Sepsis, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay >5 days and use of aminoglycosides >7 days were the important risk factors associated with hearing impairment. Prevalence of hearing impairment in the present study was came out to be 16/1000. This finding was statistically significant with p-value5 days and use of aminoglycosides >7 days should have mandatory audiologic evaluation at discharge.

Objectives: To capture and compare the differences in experiences of public health Specialty Registrars who commenced training prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-pandemic Registrars) and those who commenced training during the pandemic (post-pandemic Registrars). Study design: This is a mixed methods study comprising a cross-sectional survey and participatory action research. Methods: A questionnaire of 10 open and 5 closed questions exploring participants experience of training during the pandemic was sent to East Midlands Specialty Registrars. Thematic analysis and double coding were undertaken, coded based on pre- or post-pandemic Registrar status. Participatory action research was then undertaken in 2 rounds with 2 groups, based on pre/post-pandemic status to consolidate themes. Results: The survey was completed by 17 Registrars (8 pre-pandemic, and 9 post-pandemic) and 19 Registrars took part in participatory action research. The findings showed pre-pandemic Registrars noted the importance of negative impacts on their mental health whilst post-pandemic Registrars were more positive and felt well supported in their training. Conclusions: There is a stark difference in the impact of the pandemic for Registrars who started training before compared to during the pandemic. The training programme was not resilient to the impact of the pandemic. Robustness could be increased by encouraging early leadership experience and providing wellbeing support, particularly for post pandemic Registrars now and in future.

The paper seeks to examine the association that exists among a number of energy-related variables such as energy use, renewable energy use, carbon pollutants and the economic growth of European Union countries. The examination of variables focus on twenty-one years of data from 2000 to 2020 using a multidimensional data framework. The findings come from empirical analysis carried out using panel VECM model and associated tests such as, panel unit root test, cointegration and the causality one. The different variables indicated above have positive effects on the growth of economies in various EU member states. Results obtained from the use of the heterogeneous causality test indicated that there is an indirect causality between energy use and the rate at which economies develop. Based on the findings obtained from the study, there is a need for EU member states to establish policies that should help to enhance efficiency in energy use to promote economic development.

In this paper, the dataset values of the Instrumented Charpy V-notch impact tests (ICITs) of base material (BM), heat affected zone (HAZ) and fusion zone (FZ) of the electron beam welded (EBW) joints of S960M high strength steel (HSS) of the related article have been presented. This dataset provides the force obtained by the ICITs, which can be used to further plot figures and describes the force (F)-displacement (s) graphs of the individual tested samples of the article. The absorbed impact energy measurements in each sample provide information on the material's behaviour under the impact load. The obtained absorbed impact energy indicates the material's toughness and whether the material failure will be ductile or brittle under impact load. The force-displacement curves from axial tensile loading of S960M specimens are presented. The graphs give information about the highest load and behaviour of load-displacement in axial tensile load testing. In addition, the microstructure images of the base material, fusion zone and different heat-affected subzones were taken by the optical microscopic and are the other parts of the data. ICITs data were collected during in situ impact testing of high strength structural steel S960M using Heckert instrumented impact testing equipment connected to a four-channel digital oscilloscope. A more detailed interpretation of the data presented in this article. The presented data are produced as part of the main work entitled “Experimental assessment of microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam welded S960M high strength structural steel”.

Summary: Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are effective at reducing inpatient opiate use. There is a paucity of studies on the effects of an ERAS protocol on outpatient opiate prescriptions. The aim of this study was to determine whether an ERAS protocol for plastic and reconstructive surgery would reduce opiate use in the outpatient postoperative setting. Methods: A statewide (Massachusetts, USA) controlled substance prescription monitoring database was retrospectively reviewed to assess the prescribing patterns of a single academic plastic surgeon performing common plastic surgical outpatient operations. The time period prior to implementation of the ERAS protocol was then compared with the time period following protocol implementation. An additional three months of post-implementation data were then compared with those of each of the previous time periods to investigate whether the results were sustained. Results: A comparison of opiate prescriptions in pre-ERAS, immediate post-ERAS procedures, and follow-up ERAS implementation procedures revealed a statistically significant decrease in opiate prescriptions after ERAS protocol implementation. This decrease in the quantity of opiates prescribed was sustained over time. Conclusions: ERAS protocols are effective at reducing outpatient opiate prescriptions after a variety of plastic surgery operations. Appropriate patient and physician education is paramount for success.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the buccal infiltration (BI) technique with the buccal plus palatal infiltration (BPI) technique using 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. Methods: A total of 50 adult patients received BI, and the other 50 adult patients received BPI with 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. During RCT procedure, when the patient experienced pain, the treatment was stopped and the extent of the procedure was documented. When a patient reported “no pain” (0 mm) or “weak/mild pain” (0

Equilibrium status among 226Ra and radon daughters was studied in soil samples around Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. It was found that the increase in radioactivity of 214Bi (radon daughter) due to complete radon buildup in the sealed container is within 15% which establishes that 226Ra remains in equilibrium with radon daughter in soil of Rawatbhata. Radioactivity of 238U was estimated from the radioactivity of 235U using natural uranium isotopic radioactivity ratio (238U/235U) of 21.5. 238U radioactivity in soil was found in the range 25.8–49.5 Bq/kg with an average of 36.7 Bq/kg which is comparable to the global average of 35 Bq/kg.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the endothelial cell loss during manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) using the viscoelastic-assisted nucleus removal versus basal salt solution plus technique. Methods: This was a prospective randomized trial of 204 patients who underwent MSICS using viscoelastic-assisted nucleus removal (Group 1- OVD) versus basal salt solution plus technique (Group 2- BSS) at a tertiary eye care hospital in North India from January 2018 to 2021. Of these 204 patients, 103 (50.5%) and 101 (49.5%) were allocated to Group 1 and 2, respectively. The parameters assessed were detailed history, demographics, and anterior and posterior segment details. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), keratometry, pachymetry, and endothelial cell density were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively on day 1 and 30. Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.5 ± 8.2 years (range 48–82 years). There were 129 (63.2%) males and 75 (36.8%) females. The mean LogMAR visual acuity for both groups on day 1 (Group 1- 0.3 ± 0.1, Group 2- 0.5 ± 0.2) and day 30 (Group 1- 0.1 ± 0.2, Group 2- 0.1 ± 0.1) was statistically significant (P < 0.001), and the mean IOP value showed a statistically significant value (P < 0.009) on day 1 in Group 2 (15.0 ± 2.4 mmHg) and on day 30 (P < 0.001) in both the groups (Group 1- 13.6 ± 1.8 mmHg, Group 2- 13.5 ± 2 mmHg). The horizontal and vertical k values also showed a statistically significant difference on day 1 and day 30 (P < 0.001). The mean percentage change of central corneal thickness (CCT) in Group 1 was 17.7% and in Group 2 was 17.4% on day 1, and it was 1.1% on day 30 in both the groups, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001) compared to preoperative values. The percentage change in endothelial cell density on day 1 was 9% in Group 1 and 4.6% in Group 2, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). On day 30, it was 9.7% and 4.8%, respectively, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study highlights statistically significant endothelial cell loss with viscoelastic-assisted nuclear delivery compared to BSS-assisted nuclear delivery during MSICS in a short follow-up of 1 month. The CCT values showed a slight increase, and the keratometry and IOP were unaffected compared to the preoperative parameters in both the groups.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer of women worldwide. Early diagnosis of it has a very important role in its management. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a key to the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 females of Jaipur city. This study was conducted by a house-to-house survey through a systematic random sampling technique in the field practice area of the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) of SMS medical college, Jaipur (Rajasthan), India. A predesigned semi-structured questionnaire containing predesigned questions regarding knowledge and practice of BSE was used to collect data. A Chi-square test was used to find out associations. Results: Only 18% of females were aware of BSE and 5.7% of the females were practicing BSE. Health professionals (31.03%) were the main source of knowledge. Only 50% of females who have heard the name of BSE, knew that it is performed by self. Awareness and practice of BSE both were found to be associated with religion, education, socioeconomic status, and occupation and there was no association with age and marital status. Females with higher education and socioeconomic status were more aware of BSE. The most common (94.69%) reason for not practicing BSE was the lack of awareness of steps followed by ‘find it unnecessary’. Conclusion: As knowledge and practice of BSE were observed very poor and considering the important role that can be played by BSE in the early diagnosis and management of breast cancer, there is an urgent need to implement and reinforce BSE in the existing cancer awareness and screening programs. IEC activities regarding BSE also motivated proper knowledge of BSE.

Background:Chlorophytumborivilianum L. is a recognized herbal medicine for the management of impotency in South Asian countries. In Ayurveda, it is used for the management of multiple health conditions, including diabetes, infection, and cardiovascular diseases. Parts of the plant have been used as excellent antioxidants and scavengers of free radicals. Since oxidative stress plays an important role in spermatogenesis and fertility in male populations, this study evaluated the role of ethanolic extract of C. borivilianum roots in epididymal sperm maturation against adversities posed by ionizing gamma irradiation.Materials and methods: Antioxidant potential of C. borivilianum root extract (CRE) was evaluated through DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) and NO (nitric oxide) scavenging assays. Four groups of healthy Swiss albino mice were constituted, which were labeled as follows: Group I: sham control, Group II: 7-day pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg CRE, Group III: 6 Gy irradiation without pre-treatment, and Group IV: 7-day pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg CRE and 6 Gy irradiation on day 7. Swiss albino mice were observed for 30 days and later sacrificed to evaluate sperm quality parameters.Results: CRE showed a remarkable antioxidant potential with IC50 values of 46.37 μg/ml and 98.39 μg/ml for DPPH and NO, respectively. A significant decline (p < 0.001) in cauda epididymal sperm count, motility, and viability was observed in Group III animals. Group IV also showed a substantial decline (p < 0.01) in all three parameters compared to Group I; nonetheless, these were significantly higher than Group III. Morphological alterations indicated a coiled and bent tail, with the presence of cytoplasmic droplets in Group III, which declined substantially in Group IV. The ultrastructure of sperm indicated higher curvature of hook in Group III than Group IV, indicating specific interferences in the sperm maturation process.Conclusion: It was concluded that pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg body weight of CRE could protect sperm during epididymal maturation against oxidative stress.

Vector Auto regression model (VAR) a time -varying parameter is applied to study the effect of oil price shocks on the returns of stocks in the LATAM (Latin American) markets. Coherent Wavelet analysis highlights possibilities of connectedness of the oil price and LATAM stock markets through the presence of different patterns in a time series. The structural demand shocks standard deviations during the COVID-19 era remain high and the pass-through effects on stock returns due to oil prices differ for different time frames. The fundamental linkages are demonstrated due to oil market specific demand. The main motive of the research work is to identify the influence of oil price on stocks and identify the fundamental source of contagion. A random effects model is applied to the panel data of LATAM markets with the Global stock market index, MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index), domestic money market rates and currency exchange rates during the period of study, 15 March 2019 to 31 July 2021 with 684 observations of controlled non-observed characteristics from individual country. The findings of this research recommend the pass-through effect of the oil prices on the stock market returns are based on time frequency. The contribution of this paper helps the policy makers to restore the confidence amongst the investors in the stock markets and strategies to be adopted by the investors to mitigate the risk by ideal portfolio management.

In online advertising, the user-clicks dataset based fraudulent publishers’ classification models exhibit poor performance due to high skewness in class distribution of the publishers. The nearest-neighbor based classification techniques are popularly used to reduce the impact of class skewness on performance. The Nearest-Neighbor techniques use Prototype Selection (PS) methods to select promising samples before classifying them for reducing the size of training data. Although Nearest-Neighbor techniques are simple to use and reduce the negative impact of the loss of potential information, they suffer from higher storage requirements and slower classification speed when applied on datasets with skewed class distributions. In this paper, we propose a Quad Division Prototype Selection-based k-Nearest Neighbor classifier (QDPSKNN) by introducing quad division method for handling uneven class distribution. The quad-division divides the data into four quartiles (groups) and performs controlled under-sampling for balancing class distribution. It reduces the size of the training dataset by selecting only the relevant prototypes in the form of nearest-neighbors. The performance of QDPSKNN is evaluated on Fraud Detection in Mobile Advertising (FDMA) user-click dataset and fifteen other benchmark imbalanced datasets to test its generalizing behaviour. The performance is also compared with one baseline model (k-NN) and four other prototype selection methods such as NearMiss-1, NearMiss-2, NearMiss-3, and Condensed Nearest-Neighbor. The results show improved classification performance with QDPSKNN in terms of precision, recall, f-measure, g-mean, reduction rate and execution time, compared to existing prototype selection methods in the classification of fraudulent publishers as well as on other benchmark imbalanced datasets. Wilcoxon signed ranked test is conducted to demonstrate significant differences amid QDPSKNN and state-of-the-art methods.

Abstract Alterations in the canonical processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein generate proteoforms that contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. Modified composition of γ-secretase or mutations in its subunits has been directly linked to altered generation of Amyloid beta. Despite biochemical evidence about the role of γ-secretase in the generation of APP, the molecular origin of how spatial heterogeneity in the generation of proteoforms arises is not well understood. Here, we evaluated the localization of Nicastrin, a γ-secretase subunit, at nanometer sized functional zones of the synapse. With the help of super resolution microscopy, we confirm that Nicastrin is organized into nanodomains of high molecular density within an excitatory synapse. A similar nanoorganization was also observed for APP and the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, Presenilin 1, that were discretely associated with Nicastrin nanodomains. Though Nicastrin is a functional subunit of γ-secretase, the Nicastrin and Presenilin1 nanodomains were either colocalized or localized independent of each other. The Nicastrin and Presenilin domains highlight a potential independent regulation of these molecules different from their canonical secretase function. The collisions between secretases and substrate molecules decide the probability and rate of product formation for transmembrane proteolysis. Our observations of secretase nanodomains indicate a spatial difference in the confinement of substrate and secretases, affecting the local probability of product formation by increasing their molecular availability, resulting in differential generation of proteoforms even within single synapses.