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Chronic pruritus (CP) is a poorly characterized condition associated with intense pruritus without a primary skin eruption. This condition tends to emerge more commonly in older adults, and there is limited research on triggering factors.

IMPORTANCE: Prurigo nodularis (PN) and chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) are chronic pruritic diseases that dramatically impair quality of life, but therapeutic options are limited. Abrocitinib, a Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, represents a promising therapy for both conditions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of 200-mg oral abrocitinib administered once daily in adults with moderate to severe PN or CPUO. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This phase 2, open-label, nonrandomized controlled trial conducted between September 2021 and July 2022 took place at a single center in the US. A total of 25 adult patients with moderate to severe PN or CPUO were screened. Ten patients with PN and 10 patients with CPUO were enrolled. All 20 patients completed the 12-week treatment period, 18 of whom completed the 4-week follow-up period. INTERVENTION: Abrocitinib, 200 mg, by mouth once daily for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary efficacy end point was the percent change in weekly Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) scores from baseline to week 12. Key secondary end points included the percentage of patients achieving at least a 4-point reduction in weekly PP-NRS score from baseline to week 12 and the percent change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients with PN (mean [SD] age, 58.6 [13.1] years; all were female) and 10 patients with CPUO (mean [SD] age, 70.7 [5.6] years; 2 were female) enrolled in the study. The mean (SD) baseline PP-NRS score was 9.2 (1.0) for PN and 8.2 (1.2) for CPUO. PP-NRS scores decreased by 78.3% in PN (95% CI, −118.5 to −38.1; P < .001) and 53.7% in CPUO (95% CI, −98.8 to −8.6; P = .01) by week 12. From baseline to week 12, 8 of 10 patients with PN and 6 of 10 patients with CPUO achieved at least a 4-point improvement on the PP-NRS. Both groups experienced significant improvement in quality of life as demonstrated by percent change in DLQI scores (PN: −53.2% [95% CI, −75.3% to −31.1%]; P = .002; CPUO: −49.0% [95% CI, −89.6% to −8.0%]; P = .02). The most common adverse event among patients was acneiform eruption in 2 of 20 patients (10%). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this nonrandomized controlled trial suggest that abrocitinib monotherapy may be effective and tolerated well in adults with PN or CPUO. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05038982

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is an important technique for the characterization of materials by measuring the heat produced due to the non-radiative transitions. Here, the authors have fabricated a photoacoustic cell and made parametric studies to get maximum signal sensitivity. For the optimum signal, the cavity volume of the sample chamber is found to be 1.763 × 10–6m3. After optimization of the cell, the thermal diffusivity of hummers method synthesized graphene oxide (GO) powder was measured using laser excitation at 980 nm and it is found to ∼(1.84 ± 0.10) × 10–4m2/s. Also, the thermal diffusivity of the same sample was measured using 560 and 680 nm excitation wavelengths. No measurable change in thermal diffusivity with excitation wavelength is seen and it confirms that thermal diffusivity is independent of the excitation wavelength. Lastly, photoacoustic spectrum of the GO sample was measured in the 400–1200 nm range and compared with the spectrum of lamp black.

FactSage has become one of the most important modeling tools in simulating the high-temperature metallurgical processes. The usefulness of the FactSage has been demonstrated in this work using several examples of steelmaking processes. Primary steelmaking (basic oxygen furnace) simulation was done with the available process data, and process charts similar to the standard ones were obtained. Ladle refining furnace process for free-cutting steels was simulated and it was observed that absolute non-equilibrium condition exists in steel during casting due to S injection. It was found that non-metallic inclusion formation is thermodynamically possible at final processing stages during Ca and S injection with variable recoveries. A significant change in the nature of non-metallic inclusions formed in re-sulfur steel causes clogging during continuous casting of liquid steel, and its influence on the process has been discussed, for mere 2 ppm of Ca difference in the liquid steel composition.

Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) is a complex mechanism of material degradation and depends upon the fluid hydrodynamic parameters, material microstructure and compositions, and environmental chemistry. The effect of flow velocity and dissolved oxygen on FAC behavior of API 5L X56 steels in 0.3 M NaCl solution is investigated. Electrochemical and weight loss measurements were taken in a closed-loop corrosion evaluation system at flow velocities of ~ 0.25, 1.0, 1.6, and 2.3 m/s and dissolved oxygen (DO) contents of ~ 50, 500, 1500, 2500, and 4500 ppb. The corrosion rate observed to increase with flow velocity and dissolved oxygen content. The post-corrosion topography and corrosion products were investigated using 3D profilometry, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The corrosion products mainly contained hematite (α-Fe2O3), lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), goethite (α-FeOOH), and magnetite (Fe3O4). The wall shear stress (τ) induced on specimen surface was simulated through CFD approaches and correlated with corrosion resistance of the steel at different flow velocities.

IMPORTANCE: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a debilitating skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and hyperkeratotic skin nodules. Nemolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 31 receptor α, is a promising novel therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe PN. The biological mechanisms by which nemolizumab promotes improvement of itch and skin lesions in PN are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes in plasma protein biomarkers associated with clinical response to nemolizumab in patients with PN. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter cohort study included patients recruited from Austria, France, Germany, Poland, and the US from a phase 2 clinical trial. Adults diagnosed with moderate to severe PN with severe pruritus for at least 6 months were included in the original trial. Patients in the nemolizumab group were included in the present study if they achieved at least a 4-point decrease in the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS) from baseline to week 12 during nemolizumab treatment. Placebo controls did not experience a 4-point decrease in PP-NRS. Mass spectrometry with tandem mass tags to enrich skin-specific protein detection was used to characterize changes in plasma protein expression in nemolizumab and placebo groups. Data were collected from November 2, 2017, to September 26, 2018, and analyzed from December 6, 2019, to April 8, 2022. INTERVENTION: As part of the clinical trial, patients were treated with 3 doses of nemolizumab or placebo at 0, 4, and 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Changes in plasma and epidermal protein expression in nemolizumab-treated patients compared with the placebo group at 0, 4, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Among the 38 patients included in the analysis (22 women and 16 men; mean [SD] age, 55.8 [15.8] years), enrichment analysis of canonical pathways, biological functions, and upstream regulators showed downregulation of terms involving inflammation (IL-6, acute-phase response, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and interferon γ), neural processes (synaptogenesis signaling and neuritogenesis), tissue remodeling and fibrosis (transforming growth factor β1 and endothelin-1), and epidermal differentiation (epithelial mesenchymal transition) in the plasma of nemolizumab group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, differences between nemolizumab and placebo groups included modulation of inflammatory signaling, neural development, and epithelial differentiation, suggesting a promising potential approach for clinical management of PN.

So as to produce totally anomalous systemic venous connection, all of the systemic venous tributaries, along with the coronary sinus, should be connected with the morphologically left atrium. Previous descriptions of this rare constellation of anomalous connections of the systemic venous tributaries of the heart have been compromised by the inclusion of individuals having isomeric atrial appendages. In these settings, most frequently, the totally, or almost totally, anomalous systemic venous connections are associated with a sinus venosus defect. It is the anomalous pulmonary venous connections that then create a venovenous bridge, which permits the systemic venous tributaries to drain into the morphologically left atrium, even though they may be predominantly connected to the right atrium. More rarely, it is feasible for the primary atrial septum to develop so as to leave the systemic venous sinus in direct connection with the body of the morphologically left, rather than the morphologically right, atrium. We report a series of patients potentially falling into the category of anomalous systemic venous connections. The findings show a spectrum from partially to totally anomalous connections, with some better interpreted on the basis of anomalous drainage. Included in our cases, nonetheless, is an autopsied example of totally anomalous systemic venous connection produced by an abnormal location of the primary atrial septum. We discuss the potential morphogenesis for this finding. We emphasize the distinction that needs to be made between anomalous systemic venous connections and anomalous systemic venous drainage.

Objective: To assess frequency, clinical indications, and cumulative effective dose (CED) of patients undergoing multiple 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT scans performed at a university hospital for 11 years was done. The effective dose was estimated from activity administered and dose-length-product. Results: A total of 55,424 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed in 32,658 patients. The average injected activity was 421 MBq and median 417 MBq. 24.2% of the patients were scanned 2–5 times in a year, 16.7% of them being unique patients (not counted as a separate patient in different years). The maximum PET/CT scans in a year for any patient was five. 23,571 (72.2%) patients underwent a single 18F-FDG PET/CT scan, while 9087 (27.8%) unique patients underwent 2–23 scans during 11 years. 82% of the scanned patients had a malignant disease, and 2.4% of patients with ≥ 2 18scans in a year had non-malignant indications. 1.4% of patients received CED ≥ 100 mSv in one year from multiple 18F-FDG PET/CT scans and 0.8% of them received ≥ 100 mSv in a year more than one time, the CED of 27.8% (9087 patients) who underwent 2 to 23 18F-FDG PET/CT scans over 11-years ranged from 38 to 575 mSv (median: 271 mSv). Conclusion: This largest ever study covering analysis of 11-years’ data of 18F-FDG PET/CT patients showed that a sizeable number of patients, largely with malignant disease (82%) undergo recurrent imaging during one year and non-ignorable fraction exceed 100 mSv in one year.

Nanocapsules are polymeric nanoparticles encased in a polymeric coating composed of a predominantly non-ionic surfactant, macromolecules, phospholipids, and an oil core. Lipophilic drugs have been entrapped using various nanocarriers, including lipid cores, likely lipid nanocapsules, solid lipid nanoparticles, and others. A phase inversion temperature approach is used to create lipid nanocapsules. The PEG (polyethyleneglycol) is primarily utilised to produce nanocapsules and is a critical parameter influencing capsule residence time. With their broad drug-loading features, lipid nanocapsules have a distinct advantage in drug delivery systems, such as the capacity to encapsulate hydrophilic or lipophilic pharmaceuticals. Lipid nanocapsules, as detailed in this review, are surface modified, contain target-specific patterns, and have stable physical and chemical properties. Furthermore, lipid nanocapsules have target-specific delivery and are commonly employed as a marker in the diagnosis of numerous illnesses. This review focuses on nanocapsule synthesis, characterisation, and application, which will help understand the unique features of nanocapsules and their application in drug delivery systems.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that disproportionately affects African Americans and features intensely pruritic, hyperkeratotic nodules on the extremities and trunk. PN is understudied compared with other inflammatory skin diseases, with the spatial organization of the cutaneous infiltrate in PN yet to be characterized. In this work, we employ spatial imaging mass cytometry to visualize PN lesional skin inflammation and architecture with single-cell resolution through an unbiased machine learning approach. PN lesional skin has increased expression of caspase 3, NF-kB, and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 compared with healthy skin. Keratinocytes in lesional skin are subdivided into CD14+CD33+, CD11c+, CD63+, and caspase 3–positive innate subpopulations. CD14+ macrophage populations expressing phosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 correlate positively with patient-reported itch (P = .006). Hierarchical clustering reveals a cluster of patients with PN with greater atopy, increased NF-kB+ signal transducer and activator of transcription 3–positive phosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2–positive monocyte-derived myeloid dendritic cells, and increased vimentin expression (P< .05). Neighborhood analysis finds interactions between CD14+ macrophages, CD3+ T cells, monocyte-derived myeloid dendritic cells, and keratinocytes expressing innate immune markers. These findings highlight phosphorylated extracellular signal–regulated kinase–positive CD14+ macrophages as contributors to itch and suggest an epithelial–immune axis in PN pathogenesis.

AbstractAccurately measuring willingness-to-pay (WTP) for newly developed food products is critical for academicians and marketing managers. This study measures consumers’ preference and WTP for five newly developed convenient (ready-to-cook) catfish products by surveying 128 participants from Arkansas and Florida. An ordered probit model was applied to survey data to investigate factors influencing consumers’ WTP. Results indicated that the surveyed participants preferred all the inspected products as their WTP was ranged between average and high. The significant variables affecting the participants’ WTP include product appearance, eagerness to buy, preference ranking, preferred form, and consumption pattern. The consumer’s WTP was significantly correlated with the participant’s gender, age, race, and for some groups, income.

AbstractThe U.S. catfish aquaculture industry is arguably one of the earliest aquaculture segments in the world to industrialize, and a pioneer in demonstrating the benefits of innovation-driven aquaculture supply chain development over wild-harvested fisheries. However, the industry substantially contracted through the 2003–2013 period. High and volatile feed prices, volatile farm prices, a rapid surge in low-priced imports, and a strict regulatory compliance burden on a maturing industry are thought to be some of the major factors causing this decline. We analyze the price volatility spillovers in the U.S. catfish industry and the related feed/feed ingredient markets. Our empirical model is the multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model allowing for cross-market and own-market impacts from shocks and volatilities in prices. Our results indicate bidirectional spillovers among catfish market prices and most of the feed ingredient prices.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and skin nodules. Beyond the skin, PN involves circulating blood inflammation that may contribute to systemic disease comorbidities. Dupilumab was recently approved for treatment of PN, but its effects on systemic inflammation are unknown. Thus, we aimed to characterize changes in plasma concentrations of inflammatory proteins after dupilumab treatment. In this exploratory study, plasma samples were collected from 3 patients with moderate-to-severe PN before and after ≥6 months of dupilumab treatment. All patients exhibited clinically significant improvements after treatment. Of the 2569 proteins tested, 186 were differentially expressed after treatment (q < 0.1, fold change > 1.3). Downregulated proteins included cytokines associated with T helper (Th) 1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α), Th2 (IL-4, IL-13), and Th17/Th22 (IL-6, IL-22) signaling. Markers of innate immunity (IL-19, toll-like receptor 1, nitric oxide synthase 2), immune cell migration (CCL20, CD177), and fibrosis (IL-11, IL-22) were also decreased (q < 0.1). Gene set variation analysis of Th2, Th17, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition gene sets showed reduced pathway expression in the post-treatment cohort (P< .05). Plasma cytokine levels of IL-11, nitric oxide synthase 2, IL-13, IL-4, and IFNG (R2> 0.75, q < 0.10) showed the strongest correlations with pruritus severity. Dupilumab may reduce systemic inflammatory proteins associated with multiple immune and fibrosis pathways in patients with PN, potentially modulating the development of systemic disease comorbidities.

In Petroleum Refineries, the financial impact due to steam energy leakage is negligible compared to the hourly production disruption. Thus, the steam leak jobs are given less priority than production optimization. However, fuel consumption and environmental impact due to steam leaks lead to new awareness. In a typical Petroleum Refinery, steam energy consumption is about 30% of the total energy mix. The several reports published on steam trap performance evaluation indicate that around 20% of the steam generated in a boiler unit is lost via leaking traps in the steam distribution network (U.S. Department of Energy, Advanced technologies for evaluating the performance of steam traps, federal energy management program). The steam distribution network’s overall effectiveness is vital for Refineries operations, safety, and product yield. The Refineries need proactive methods to minimize steam energy losses via the distribution network. The replacement of defective steam traps with identical ones based on periodic audit reports would not be the best option because of existing pipeline corrosion or previous water hammer effects, or both on the steam traps and pipelines. This paper presents an integrated method to maintain the overall effectiveness of a steam distribution network in a Petroleum Refinery. The integrated methodology consists of correct steam trap installation along with regular preventive maintenance of the steam network. This case study focused on frequent monitoring of high capacity traps and the root cause failure analysis of steam network elements. Finally, evaluation of the overall effectiveness of the steam distribution network has been done as per UNFCCC guidelines (CDM Executive Board, Rev to approved baseline methodology AM0017/Version 02, 22, 2005).

The paper presents analysis of failure in a reformer tube used for hydrogen generation in a petro-chemical industry. The tube, which was manufactured by centrifugal casting of Nb-modified 25Cr35Ni alloy, developed a longitudinal crack of 200 mm length after 61,500 h of service against a design life of 100,000 h. Microstructural studies on the damaged tube material revealed presence of innumerable number of small planar cracks aligned parallel to the main crack. The damages in the material include formation of voids and cracks around the carbide particles at inter-dendritic regions. The microstructural changes observed in the tube material are typical of creep damage in 25Cr35Ni alloy. Study revealed that coalescence of voids led to the formation of small cracks and these cracks grew predominantly in radial directions in the bulk of the tube-wall. Some of the localized cracks joined to form a major crack in the longitudinal direction of the tube. Through microstructural studies, it was established that the failure in the reformer tube occurred due to exposure to temperatures higher than the safe operating temperature for a prolonged period of time.

The International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) is the world’s largest professional organization in the field of medical physics and has official non-governmental organization status with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IOMP is charged with a mission to advance medical physics practice worldwide by disseminating scientific and technical information, fostering the educational and professional development of medical physics and promoting the highest quality medical services for patients. IOMP’s activities are directed towards the promotion of medical physics globally, improving patient care, and contributing to the benefit of healthcare to the society. Major organizational activities include but are not limited to scientific events, international collaborations, dissemination of information, education, training, and research. For nearly 60 years of existence, IOMP turned into a key factor not only in the field of medical physics, but also healthcare, and other related disciplines. IOMP is looking forward to future perspectives in international collaboration and enhancement of the professional skills, all directed towards enhancing patient benefit.

Basilar artery fenestration aneurysms are very rare and endovascular management of large and complex aneurysms is extremely challenging. Most of these type of cases are managed with stent assisted coiling, dual flow diverters (FD) and single FD with additional coiling of aneurysm and occlusion of one of the vertebral artery. Here, we report a case of large complex basilar artery fenestration aneurysm successfully treated with single FD using novel technique called “crossing flow diverter technique” without any additional coiling of aneurysm or occlusion of vertebral artery. Using this technique cost of procedure and procedural complexity inherent with other above mentioned techniques can be significantly reduced.

AbstractBoulder blasting is a different process from conventional bench blasting. Fly-rock produced in boulder blasting is a major safety concern due to the presence of 360° free-face which may result into excessive throw of the fragments radially up to 900 m distance causing accidents. Many researchers have attempted to predict the fly-rock using empirical and soft computing tools in bench blasting. But, there is paucity of literature to predict the extent of fly-rock in boulder blasting. Machine learning techniques are frequently used in bench blasting to predict ground vibrations, air overpressure, fly-rocks, but it has been rarely used in boulder blasting. In this study, an attempt has been made to use Classification and Regression Trees (CART) technique to predict the fly-rock distance in boulder blasting. Multiple linear regression (MLR) technique has been used to compare the results obtained by the CART technique. Sixty-one boulder blasting events were monitored while excavating the accident-prone slope areas of Konkan Railways. The performance of the developed models using both the techniques has been evaluated using the coefficients of determination (R2) and root-mean-square error (RSME) values. The results indicate that CART model (R2= 0.9555 and RMSE = 1.141) provides better output than MLR model. This paper suggests the use of CART technique in boulder blasting, which will be useful in execution at sensitive locations to predict and control the fly-rock distance.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic spread across the globe, transplant programs suffered a setback. We report the first experience of COVID‐19 infection within 1 month of living donor kidney transplant (LDKT). We describe 2 LDKT recipients who were detected positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection at day 19 and day 7 posttransplant. They had minimal symptoms at diagnosis and did not develop any respiratory complications or allograft dysfunction. Immunosuppression was de‐escalated; however, nasopharyngeal swab real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT‐PCR) remained positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 for a prolonged time. Younger age, absence of other comorbidities, and lower dose of anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG) used as induction possibly contributed to good outcome in our recent LDKT recipients compared with earlier published cases of recent deceased donor kidney transplant recipients with COVID‐19. Good outcomes for two patients with COVID‐19 within 1 month of living donor kidney transplantation are described.

AbstractThe U.S. catfish aquaculture industry has undergone a continuous and alarming contraction over the last 15 years or so. The rapid increase in cheaper imports, which has coincided with the decline in the domestic catfish farming industry, is being blamed by industry commentators as a major cause of the decline. The impact of increased market share of imports on prices is of particular significance as prices are fundamental to the market process. We use an innovative approach to understand the impact of import shares on the linkage among prices in the U.S. catfish market. We divide the time-series data on market prices into high-import and low-import regimes using empirical techniques and analyze the difference in responsiveness of prices to shocks in the two regimes. Our main finding is that the domestic prices at the farm and processor level have become more responsive to shocks in each other and in themselves in the high-import regime.

Surface functionalization of graphene oxide with sulfonate group and subsequent grafting with polyurethane chains leads to the significant improvement in the properties of polymer and modified graphene as a filler. Modification of graphene oxide is revealed through spectroscopy while grafting of polymer chain over sulfonated graphene is confirmed through 1H NMR and other techniques. Higher order of self-assembly phenomena is observed in nanohybrids as compared to pure polymer through greater interaction between polymer chain and sulfonated graphene. Significant improvement in corrosion inhibition phenomena is observed using nanohybrids at low concentration as compared to pure polymer indicating its superior efficiency as a corrosion inhibitor. Nanohybrids also exhibit better biocompatible nature in lower concentration of filler with considerable sustained release of drug vis-à-vis pure polymer suggest its potential to use as a biomaterial for tissue engineering applications.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an understudied inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic, hyperkeratotic nodules. Identifying the genetic factors underlying PN could help to better understand its etiology and guide the development of therapies. In this study, we developed a polygenic risk score that predicts a diagnosis of PN (OR = 1.41, P = 1.6 × 10−5) in two independent and continentally distinct populations. We also performed GWASs, which uncovered genetic variants associated with PN, including one near PLCB4(rs6039266: OR = 3.15, P = 4.8 × 10−8) and others near TXNRD1(rs34217906: OR = 1.71, P = 6.4 × 10−7; rs7134193: OR = 1.57, P = 1.1 × 10−6). Finally, we discovered that Black patients have over a two-times greater genetic risk of developing PN (OR = 2.63, P = 7.8 × 10−4). Combining the polygenic risk score and self-reported race together was significantly predictive of PN (OR = 1.32, P = 4.7 × 10−3). Strikingly, this association was more significant with race than after adjusting for genetic ancestry. Because race is a sociocultural construct and not a genetically bound category, our findings suggest that genetics, environmental influence, and social determinants of health likely affect the development of PN and may contribute to clinically observed racial disparities.

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is an intensely pruritic, inflammatory skin disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis. We performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of 28,695 lesional and nonlesional PN cells. Lesional PN has increased dysregulated fibroblasts (FBs) and myofibroblasts. FBs in lesional PN were shifted toward a cancer-associated FB–like phenotype, with POSTN+WNT5A+ cancer-associated FBs increased in PN and similarly so in squamous cell carcinoma. A multicenter cohort study revealed an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma and cancer-associated FB–associated malignancies (breast and colorectal) in patients with PN. Systemic fibroproliferative diseases (renal sclerosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) were upregulated in patients with PN. Ligand–receptor analyses demonstrated an FB neuronal axis with FB-derived WNT5A and periostin interactions with neuronal receptors melanoma cell adhesion molecule and ITGAV. These findings identify a pathogenic and targetable POSTN+WNT5A+ FB subpopulation that may predispose cancer-associated FB–associated malignancies in patients with PN.

Cubic phase Tm3+/Yb3+:Y2O3and Tm3+/Yb3+/Gd3+:Y2O3phosphors were prepared by low temperature combustion technique for upconversion emission in UV–Visible range. The 980 nm excitation has generated UV emission at 314 nm in tridoped phosphor due to the energy transfer from Tm3+to Gd3+ion. Characteristic emission bands from Tm3+are also observed in both the phosphors. Thermally coupled Stark sublevels 1G4(a)(476 nm) and 1G4(b)(488 nm) of Tm3+ion were utilised for optical thermometry using fluorescent intensity ratio (FIR) method. The result shows that maximum absolute sensitivity in tridoped phosphor is observed to be 1.33 × 10−3 K−1 at 298 K. Moreover, temperature rise of phosphor at various pump power densities was also measured and it is estimated to achieve 407 K at the pump power density of 38.46 W/cm2.

In this article, microstructural evolution in an NiTiPt high-temperature shape memory alloy during processing and its effect on transformation behaviour have been reported. Cast NiTiPt alloy revealed an inhomogeneous microstructure, wherein the interdendritic regions were rich in Ti and Ni, and depleted in Pt compared to the dendritic regions. Inhomogeneity in the microstructure resulted in an alloy with a wide transformation width (Ms–Mfor Af–As) of about 160 °C. Homogenization of the cast alloy at 1050 °C resulted in complete dissolution of dendrites in the microstructure and reduction in the phase transformation width to 35–40 °C. Further microstructural refinement in the homogenized alloy was achieved through hot working and a combination of cold working and annealing. The wrought alloy possessed an average grain size of about 10 μm and phase transformation width of 20–25 °C. TEM microstructure of cold drawn and shape memory annealed wire showed recrystallized microstructure with grain size of 200–300 nm and well-defined martensite twin variants.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease that causes permanent disability (elephantiasis). Currently used antifilarial drugs are failing to control LF and there is resurgence in some areas. Looking for new antifilarial leads, we found that Calotropis procera plant parts have been used in traditional medicine for alleviating elephantiasis but the antifilarial activity is not known. Objective: In the present study, the antifilarial activity of ethanolic extract (A001) and its hexane fraction (F001) of C. procera flowers was investigated using the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi. Methods: A001 and F001 were tested for antifilarial activity using motility and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays (in vitro) and in the rodent models B. malayi- Meriones unguiculatus and B. malayi-Mastomys coucha. In the rodent models, A001 and F001 were administered orally for 5 consecutive days, and the adult worm burden and course of microfilaraemia were determined. Results: Both A001 and F001 showed microfilaricidal and macrofilaricidal activity in vitro. In animal models, A001 killed ~49-54% adult worms. In M. coucha model, F001 killed 12-60% adult worms in a dose (125-500 mg/kg) dependent manner; A001 and F001 suppressed microfilaraemia till days 91 and 35 post initiation of treatment, respectively. HPTLC revealed 0.61% lupeol, 0.50% β-sitosterol and 1.50% triacontanol in F001. Conclusion: Flowers of C. procera have definite microfilaricidal and macrofilaricidal activities. Whether this activity is due to lupeol, β-sitosterol and triacontanol found in the hexane fraction remains to be investigated. This is the first report on the antifilarial efficacy of flowers of the plant C. procera.

Continuous dose monitoring and patient follow-up provide timely feedback to interventionalists and promote high-dose procedure reduction over time.

AbstractVolatility in catfish pond bank and feed prices lead to profit uncertainty in the catfish industry. Analysis of the factors that affect those prices and development of a forecasting model would provide guidance to catfish farm managers. Error-correction models (ECM) based on cointegrating relationships among variables were specified following development of a single-equation ARIMAX model. Factors identified as those that influence catfish price were: lagged value of catfish, feed and substitute product prices, while those that influenced feed price were: lagged value of feed, corn and soybean prices. ECM estimates implied that fish price adjusts approximately 6% and feed price 22% to the long-run equilibrium in 1 month. The analysis showed that it takes less than 17 months and 5 months to correct for long-run disequilibrium for catfish and feed prices, respectively. The ARIMAX model demonstrated a better fit for both in-sample and out-of-sample forecasting for catfish price and had better out-of-sample predictive ability for feed prices.