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A network system called Wireless Sensor Network is made up of wireless sensor node devices that are spread at random (WSN). WSNs are a critical paradigm for the Internet of Things' evolution (IoT). Strong security measures must be done to protect the network from security threats and malicious assaults in order to make it more efficient. To identify and isolate hostile sensor nodes in a cloud-assisted WSN-IoT system, the Trusted Anonymous Lightweight Attacker Detection (TALAD) scheme is presented. The TALAD strategy creates a routing path to the cloud with highly trusted nodes, subject to a desired path length limit. Using the binomial algebraic theorem, the node identities are formed with bogus identities, and the original identity is hidden from the other nodes in the network. If only the forward key and the reverse key string are matched, the nodes' original identities are exposed. The forward and reverse keys are mapped using a context-free grammar rule. Even when a major chunk of the network drops to forward packets, TALAD successfully avoids incursions, according to the simulation results.

The Cissus quadrangularisstem fiber (CQSF)-reinforced epoxy composite particulate filled with micro-red mud has been fabricated, and the mechanical and thermal behaviors have been investigated. The different compositions of the samples were prepared by the hand layup method. The base material was prepared with the composition of epoxy resin and 30 wt% CQSF at 40 mm of fiber length. Excluding base material, four more samples have been prepared by adding filler material at 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt%. The tensile and flexural strength of the materials increased up to 5 wt% addition of red mud and reduced thereafter, whereas the hardness increased gradually with the addition of filler content. The maximum energy absorption capacity was obtained at 7.5 wt% red mud addition. The highest char production was achieved at 10 wt% red mud filler addition, according to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimized wear and mechanical characteristics were supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures of the mechanically broken surfaces.

It is an essential component of the operational weather forecast agencies to capture the diurnal behavior of the rainfall on the spatiotemporal scale by numerical models for its accurate prediction. In this study, the mean diurnal cycle of precipitation is investigated with (i) atmospheric model-based predictions, (ii) space-based estimates, and (iii) ground-based rainfall observations during the active phase of Indian monsoon. Further, high-resolution precipitation data are used to identify the characteristics features of the model forecasts. The variability of mean diurnal variations in rain rate and frequency of rain is analyzed to determine the characteristics feature of precipitation. It is found that precipitation activity over Western Ghats, Bay of Bengal regions, is maximum during late afternoon. The time of peak rain rate is advanced during day time. The active phase of monsoon has the highest amplitude of diurnal variation in precipitation. The variability in the specific humidity is increased during this active period. The numbers of rainy hours are highly varying in nature for the space-based rainfall estimation than the model.

Cymothoid isopods are parasitic crustaceans of fishes that can cause considerable damage to their host. The first record of Mothocya melanosticta(Schiöedte and Meinert 1884) parasitizing blue flying fish Exocoetus volitansLinnaeus 1758 and Indian sardine Sardinella sindensis(Day, 1878) is here reported from the southeast coast of India. The species M. melanostictahas not been previously reported on members of the Clupeidae family of fishes. Mothocya melanostictaoccurs in the Indian and Pacific oceans, with a new locality from India in this present study. Collected cymothoiids ranged from a moderate body size of 14.7─17.0 mm (ovigerous female) and 8.1─10.2 mm (male). Mothocya melanostictais recognized by the rostrum moderately produced and folded back, coxae 2─5 progressively longer than wide, coxae 6 and 7 distinctly rounded, short pleotelson, pleopods 3─5 endopods with moderately developed proximomedial lobes and pleopods 5 larger in size than pleopods 4.

Identity Verification Based Cryptosystem (IDVBC) mechanism is implemented here for providing a novel and secure data transmission among nodes. Here, token-based node identity verification along with certificates and data encoding mechanism is carried out to reduce the complexity in wireless networks. By applying local identity verification scheme, the communication overheads get reduced and hence the certificate management process is simplified. Each sensor owns a local private key and should get matched with the public key generated by the base station. Encoding process uses hash signature schemes for enhancing the security measures in the network. Source node sends the encrypted or encoded data with the generated local private key and labelled token ID. Once the token ID verification is done and the key matches with the global private key generated by the BS, the decrypted or decoded data is received by the receiver. The proposed IDVBC scheme has the ability to detect malicious activity of the node, to provide high-level security and able to tolerate several security attacks. Proposed scheme is improved with 39% efficiency better than the conventional method in terms of secured data transmission.

Introduction:COVID-19 infection disproportionally impacts non-Whites with higher morbidity and mortality. However, differences by race and ethnicity in COVID-19 patients with concomitant STEMI have not been previously described.Methods:The North American COVID-19 STEMI (NACMI) registry is a prospective, observational registry enrolling COVID-19 patients with concomitant STEMI from 64 centers in Canada and the United States from March 2020 to December 2021. We compared clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and in-hospital mortality risks by race/ethnicity.Results:Among 679 STEMI patients with concomitant COVID-19, 54.5% were White, 14.3% Black, 19.4% Hispanic/Latinx, and 11.8% Asian/Indigenous/Other. Blacks had the highest prevalence of current smokers, and Whites had the lowest prevalence of diabetes. The rate of high-risk features including cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, and inotropic support was comparable between the groups. Presence of infiltrates and cardiomegaly was higher in Blacks and Hispanic/Latinx; whereas, COVID-19 severity was similar in the groups. Blacks and Hispanic/Latinx and Blacks were more likely to not have coronary angiography performed. Among patients that underwent angiography, Whites and Hispanic/Latinx were more likely to be treated with primary PCI. In-hospital mortality was highest in Hispanic/Latinx (38%) and the Asian/Indigenous/Other group (Table).Conclusions:Despite no difference in high-risk features in patients with COVID-19 and STEMI, there was a significant difference in in-hospital mortality between Whites and non-Whites with highest risk in Hispanic/Latinx and Asian/Indigenous/Other. Further research in needed to explore discrepant outcomes in racial/ethnic minorities in this patient population and the role of discrepant management.

In this manuscript, a blockchain enabled joint trust (MF‐WWO‐WO) algorithm for clustered based energy efficient routing protocol in wireless sensor network (WSN) is proposed for secure data transmission by finding the optimum cluster head (CH) in the network. Here, MayflyWater Wave Optimization (MF‐WWO) algorithm is used for CH selection accurately. After the selection of CH, the malicious node occurs in the cluster. Hence, the multi objective whale optimization algorithm is proposed to find the trust path from the several paths. At last, the optimized selected trust paths are given to the blockchain for communications in the network that is safe and more trustworthy. The simulation is done in MATLAB. The proposed MF‐WWO‐WO achieves high throughput, high efficiency, high network life time, high packet delivery ratio, low delay, low energy consumption, and low packet loss ratio. The outcomes shows the better performance of the proposed approach when compared to the existing approaches, like blockchain and clustered based secured data aware energy efficient using fitness averaged rider optimization algorithm FA‐ROA blockchain and clustered based secured data aware energy efficient using trusted moth flame optimization and genetic optimization algorithm TMFO‐GOA. Finally, the proposed approach attains better energy efficiency and security. In this manuscript, blockchain enabled joint trust (MF‐WWO‐WO) algorithm for clustered based energy efficient routing protocol on wireless sensor network is proposed for secure data transmission by finding the optimum CHs under network. Initially, MayflyWater Wave Optimization (MF‐WWO) algorithm is used for the selection of CH accurately. After the selection of CH, arrival of malicious node is occurred in the cluster. Hence, multi objective whale optimization algorithm is suggested to find the trust path from the several paths. At last, the optimized selected trust paths are given to the blockchain for communications in the network that is safe and more trustworthy.

AbstractSolid waste, which is a consequence of day-to-day activity of human kind, needs to be managed properly. Addis Ababa, like other cities in developing countries, faces problems associated with poorly managed solid waste operation. This study deals with analysis of the city’s current municipal solid waste management problems, opportunities and existing solid waste management practices. The survey was conducted in Bole and Akaki Kality sub-city. Different sampling methods were employed to select the study units including: stratified sampling, systematic random sampling, and purposive sampling. Though the bulk of the data collected were qualitative in nature, it was also supported by quantitative information collected through survey and secondary sources. The study revealed that the reasons for low performance of SWM in the city includes: inaccessibility of the city due to the geographical and urban structure, lack of properly designed collection route system and time schedule, inadequate and malfunctioning operation equipment, open burning of garbage, poor condition of the final dump site, littering of the corner around the skips which encouraged illegal dumping are the technical problem identified. Insufficient funds as well as lack of promotion on-waste reduction: recycling, absence of cost recovery, practice of energy option, waste separation and composting are among the financial challenge. Social problems encountered include: lack of public awareness, illegal dumping, poor condition of waste workers, lack of private sector and community involvement. Incompetence of organizations in terms of equipment required for operation and man power/staff qualifications, training and human resource developments/and unreliable service are the institutional challenge that the city encountered in the sector. Finally, the study forwarded some important recommendations towards improving the statuesque.

AbstractThe main objective of this study was assessing the level of sanitation and hygiene information and identifying factors that determine its access and utilization by rural households in Alaba District, Southern Ethiopia. The study generated the required data from 162 respondents selected from four rural ‘kebeles’/villages using multistage sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected, and then the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Ordered Logit Model. The analysis revealed that rural households in the study area have limited access to sanitation and hygiene information. Taking selected indicators of sanitation and hygiene: once in a week basis, 3.1% of the respondents accessed the messages on hand washing which is followed by safe excreta disposal (1.9%), safe water collection and storage (1.2%), food hygiene (0.6%), household waste disposal (0.6%) and disease causing vectors (0%). With regard to utilization of the accessed information, safe excreta disposal accounts for (57.4%), hand washing (26.5%), safe water collection and storage (16%), disease causing vectors (9.3%), food hygiene (4.3%), and household waste disposal (3.1%). The Ordered Logit regression result indicated that educational status of the respondent, health extension worker contact, information seeking behavior and perception of the respondent were found to be significant determinants of access to sanitation and hygiene information among rural households in the study area. Regarding sanitation and hygiene information utilization, the analysis of Ordered Logit showed that educational status of the respondent, contact with health extension worker and knowledge level significantly affect the utilization decision of sanitation and hygiene information accessed by rural households. The overall findings of the study underlined the importance of communication and behavioral factors in the areas of sanitation and hygiene information access and level of utilization. Therefore, policy and health interventions should give emphasis to improvement of information sources, which can address the rural households and more focuses should be given to adult education and behavioral change communication approaches.

India has accepted liberalisation as an instrument of its economic policy. It follows that Indian markets are now open and that domestic products have to compete in the global economy with those from other countries for a share even in our own neighbourhood market. In the globalised economy, the competence and the quality of our products have to meet the world standards. In preparing India for the task, no other system of the society has a crucial role to play as that of higher education and especially technical education. This paper provides a strategy to predict the effectiveness of a technological institution using conjoint techniques. A model has been developed to achieve Six Sigma in technological institutions. Achievable highest percentage of efficiency for an institution is found to be 93%, with optimal controllable factors. Governance of technological institutions is ranked first, followed by knowledge assimilation in importance ranking.

Screening for enteric pathogens in stool samples from 249 children under the age of 36 months, admitted to hospital for non-gastrointestinal disorders, was positive at admission in 41 (16.4 per cent) in a prospective study of enteric pathogen acquisition and diarrhoea in hospitalized children. Infection with multiple organisms was found in 31/41 (75.6 per cent) children who were positive when screened at admission. Of 194 children who had no enteric pathogens on admission and could be followed up for 3 days after discharge, clinical or laboratory data showed nosocomial enteric infections in 39 (20.1 per cent). Presumed nosocomial infection with more than one organism was seen in only two patients and no pathogens were isolated in 14 (35.8 per cent). Children presenting to hospital may asymptomatically carry enteric pathogens and potentially act as a source of nosocomial infections. One in five children admitted into hospital without an enteric infection is at risk of developing a nosocomial gastrointestinal infection, with rotavirus being the most common aetiological agent.

We provide evidence here that b(0,+) amino acid transporter (b(0, +)AT) interacts with 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) as well as with the protein related to b(0,+) amino acid transporter (rBAT) to constitute functionally competent b(0,+)-like amino acid transport systems. This evidence has been obtained by co-expression of b(0, +)AT and 4F2hc or b(0,+)AT and rBAT in human retinal pigment epithelial cells and in COS-1 cells. The ability to interact with 4F2hc and rBAT is demonstrable with mouse b(0,+)AT as well as with human b(0,+)AT. Even though both the 4F2hc x b(0,+)AT complex and the rBAT x b(0,+)AT complex exhibit substrate specificity that is characteristic of system b(0,+), these two complexes differ significantly in substrate affinity. The 4F2hc x b(0,+)AT complex has higher substrate affinity than the rBAT x b(0,+)AT complex. In situ hybridization studies demonstrate that the regional distribution pattern of mRNA in the kidney is identical for b(0,+)AT and 4F2hc. The pattern of rBAT mRNA expression is different from that of b(0,+)AT mRNA and 4F2hc mRNA, but there are regions in the kidney where b(0,+)AT mRNA expression overlaps with rBAT mRNA expression as well as with 4F2hc mRNA expression.

Therapeutic use of cephaloridine, a beta-lactam antibiotic, in humans is associated with carnitine deficiency. A potential mechanism for the development of carnitine deficiency is competition between cephaloridine and carnitine for the renal reabsorptive process. OCTN2 is an organic cation/carnitine transporter that is responsible for Na(+)-coupled transport of carnitine in the kidney and other tissues. We investigated the interaction of several beta-lactam antibiotics with OCTN2 using human cell lines that express the transporter constitutively as well as using cloned human and rat OCTN2s expressed heterologously in human cell lines. The beta-lactam antibiotics cephaloridine, cefoselis, cefepime, and cefluprenam were found to inhibit OCTN2-mediated carnitine transport. These antibiotics possess a quaternary nitrogen as does carnitine. Several other beta-lactam antibiotics that do not possess this structural feature did not interact with OCTN2. The interaction of cephaloridine with OCTN2 is competitive with respect to carnitine. Interestingly, many of the beta-lactam antibiotics that were not recognized by OCTN2 were good substrates for the H(+)-coupled peptide transporters PEPT1 and PEPT2. In contrast, cephaloridine, cefoselis, cefepime, and cefluprenam, which were recognized by OCTN2, did not interact with PEPT1 and PEPT2. The interaction of cephaloridine with OCTN2 was Na(+)-dependent, whereas the interaction of cefoselis and cefepime with OCTN2 was largely Na(+)-independent. Furthermore, the Na(+)-dependent, OCTN2-mediated cellular uptake of cephaloridine could be demonstrated by direct uptake measurements. These studies show that OCTN2 plays a crucial role in the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of certain beta-lactam antibiotics such as cephaloridine and that cephaloridine-induced carnitine deficiency is likely to be due to inhibition of carnitine reabsorption in the kidney.

We have demonstrated in the present study that novel organic cation transporter (OCTN) 2 is a transporter for organic cations as well as carnitine. OCTN2 transports organic cations without involving Na(+), but it transports carnitine only in the presence of Na(+). The ability to transport organic cations and carnitine is demonstrable with human, rat, and mouse OCTN2s. Na(+) does not influence the affinity of OCTN2 for organic cations, but it increases the affinity severalfold for carnitine. The short-chain acyl esters of carnitine are also transported by OCTN2. Two mutations, M352R and P478L, in human OCTN2 are associated with loss of transport function, but the protein expression of these mutants is comparable to that of the wild-type human OCTN2. In situ hybridization in the rat shows that OCTN2 is expressed in the proximal and distal tubules and in the glomeruli in the kidney, in the myocardium, valves, and arterioles in the heart, in the labyrinthine layer of the placenta, and in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum in the brain. This is the first report that OCTN2 is a Na(+)-independent organic cation transporter as well as a Na(+)-dependent carnitine transporter and that OCTN2 is expressed not only in the heart, kidney, and placenta but also in the brain.

We have cloned a transporter protein from rabbit small intestine, which, when coexpressed with the 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) in mammalian cells, induces a b(0,+)-like amino acid transport activity. This protein (4F2-lc6 for the sixth member of the 4F2 light chain family) consists of 487 amino acids and has 12 putative transmembrane domains. At the level of amino acid sequence, 4F2-lc6 shows significant homology (44% identity) to the other five known members of the 4F2 light chain family, namely LAT1 (4F2-lc1), y(+)LAT1 (4F2-lc2), y(+)LAT2 (4F2-lc3), xCT (4F2-lc4), and LAT2 (4F2-lc5). The 4F2hc/4F2-lc6 complex-mediated transport process is Na(+)-independent and exhibits high affinity for neutral and cationic amino acids and cystine. These characteristics are similar to those of the b(0,+)-like amino acid transport activity previously shown to be associated with rBAT (protein related to b(0,+) amino acid transport system). However, the newly cloned 4F2-lc6 does not interact with rBAT. This is the first report of the existence of a b(0,+)-like amino acid transport process that is independent of rBAT. 4F2-lc6 is expressed predominantly in the small intestine and kidney. Based on the characteristics of the transport process mediated by the 4F2hc/4F2-lc6 complex and the expression pattern of 4F2-lc6 in mammalian tissues, we suggest that 4F2-lc6 is a new candidate gene for cystinuria.

We have cloned a transporter protein from rabbit small intestine, which, when coexpressed with the 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) in mammalian cells, induces a b0,+-like amino acid transport activity. This protein (4F2-lc6 for the sixth member of the 4F2 light chain family) consists of 487 amino acids and has 12 putative transmembrane domains. At the level of amino acid sequence, 4F2-lc6 shows significant homology (44% identity) to the other five known members of the 4F2 light chain family, namely LAT1 (4F2-lc1), y+LAT1 (4F2-lc2), y+LAT2 (4F2-lc3), xCT (4F2-lc4), and LAT2 (4F2-lc5). The 4F2hc/4F2-lc6 complex-mediated transport process is Na+-independent and exhibits high affinity for neutral and cationic amino acids and cystine. These characteristics are similar to those of the b0,+-like amino acid transport activity previously shown to be associated with rBAT (protein related to b0,+amino acid transport system). However, the newly cloned 4F2-lc6 does not interact with rBAT. This is the first report of the existence of a b0,+-like amino acid transport process that is independent of rBAT. 4F2-lc6 is expressed predominantly in the small intestine and kidney. Based on the characteristics of the transport process mediated by the 4F2hc/4F2-lc6 complex and the expression pattern of 4F2-lc6 in mammalian tissues, we suggest that 4F2-lc6is a new candidate gene for cystinuria.

A gene bank of Sau3A1-generated Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23 DNA fragments was constructed in Escherichia coli K-12 with the low-copy-number cosmid vector pOU61cos. Clone lysates were screened by immunoblotting using a mouse antiserum raised against a crude pneumococcal hyaluronidase preparation. One immunoreactive clone was isolated, and it produced high level of hyaluronidase activity. This clone contained a recombinant cosmid (designated pJCP800) with an approximately 35-kb DNA insert, and the putative hyaluronidase coding sequence was subcloned into pBluescript SK as a 3.8-kb PstI-ClaI fragment (designated pJCP802). The complete nucleotide sequence of this insert was determined. The region included an open reading frame sufficient to encode a polypeptide with an M(r) of 107,751. An active hyaluronidase with an M(r) of approximately 89,000 was purified to homogeneity from E. coli DH5 alpha(pJCP802). N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the purified protein suggested that translation initiation was occurring primarily at a TTG codon within the major open reading frame. However, immunoblot analysis using antiserum raised against the purified 89-kDa hyaluronidase indicated that E. coli DH5 alpha(pJCP802) also expressed the 107-kDa form of the enzyme. This antiserum labelled a 107-kDa protein in partially purified hyaluronidase preparations from S. pneumoniae. The hyaluronidase activity in this pneumococcal extract was also neutralized by the antiserum.

This paper describes the relationship between detection threshold and reaction time for pure tones presented within the context of a two-interval forced-choice signal detection paradigm. Three variables manipulated were stimulus frequency (500 and 4000 Hz), duration (50 and 300 ms) and rise/decay time for the longer stimulus (10 and 100 ms). The data for three practised, normal-hearing subjects indicated that stimulus energy was a good predictor of the detection threshold. Threshold measurements decreased as a function of the increase in stimulus duration and the decrease in rise/decay time. Both correct and incorrect reaction times also decreased with the increase in duration but were insensitive to a change in rise/decay time. The non-monotonicity of the function relating threshold and reaction time, as well as wide differences in reaction time for the same level of hearing acuity across subjects, led to the major conclusion that the two psychophysical measures were not interchangeable.

The authors report the occurrence of infective endocarditis in a 32-year-old man with a ventricular septal defect and a left ventricular–to–right-atrial shunt who adhered to the revised 2007 American Heart Association guidelines for infective endocarditis. The patient had received antibiotic prophylaxis prior to multiple previous dental procedures. At a recent dental evaluation for fillings, he was informed that he no longer needed prophylaxis. Fatigue and fevers developed 1 week later, and he was treated with an oral course of ciprofloxacin. The symptoms recurred, and blood cultures grew Streptococcus viridans. A 7-mm vegetative mass was seen on the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve during transesophageal echocardiography. This report raises the concern that patients with ventricular septal defects and left ventricular–to–right-atrial shunts are at higher risk for endocarditis and may require antibiotic prophylaxis.

Aortocaval fistulas are an uncommon complication of atherosclerotic aneurysms that can present with a variety of clinical symptoms. Many of these patients present with oliguric renal failure, a contraindication for the use of iodinated contrast in radiological studies. We present a case of an aortocaval fistula diagnosed by using carbon dioxide gas without the use of traditional contrast media.

Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni was isolated from the feces of 14.8% of a random sample of the healthy population of rural southern India. The rate of isolation was highest in preschool children. This finding emphasizes the need to identify markers of pathogenicity in strains of C. fetus subsp. jejuni, which so far are identified only by cultural characteristics. The pathogenic role of this organism in patients with diarrhoea in tropical developing countries can be understood when such markers of pathogenicity are found.

•The effect of GLP on Macrobrachium rosenbergiifor 60 days was investigated.•Dietary supplementation of GLP can enhance growth and innate immune responses of prawn.•Dietary supplementation of GLP can enhance the ability of prawn to resistance the Aeromonas hydrophilainfection.•Supplementation of 1.5 g/kg GLP is recommended to the prawn farming.